Art Unraveled Workshop - August 9, 2010

I love creating digital prints and then using them for collage or elements in my art books and journals. On Aug 9, next month, I will be teaching "Eclectic Digital Elements Journal" at Art Unraveled in Phoenix Arizona.

We all have photographs that we love and would like to add to our journals or artwork.  This workshop introduces you to printing your photographs on uncommon surfaces. Eclectic Digital Elements Journal expands the way you think about your photographs.  This concept will even get you thinking about what kind of photographs to take for your work in the future.

One of the great things about this subject is the versatility of the information. This is a great mixed media class; from the fabric embellished cover, to the dyed watercolor pages, concluding with the collage of the pages in the journal itself. There is no end to the ideas once you start using digital elements in your art. This workshop opens a door of expression in a whole new way.

This is a process that takes a path and presents the fundamentals for constructing a custom journal.  Techniques are just a bit edgy.  Each student in the workshop will express their ideas in their own unique voice.

We will be using my Epson PM260 4" x 6" printer to create our digital elements.  This printer is amazing at printing beautiful images on alternative surfaces.  The workshop is 2 fold in that you learn the process for printing on uncommon surfaces ad you will make a clearly custom journal reflecting your personality.

There is a youtube video posted on this workshop, you will be able to see the journal live. Check my blog post from Dec 9 last year for a complete class description.  Then join me in Phoenix for this inspiring workshop.  Now here are tons of pics of collage with digital prints.

Digital Prints on Alternative Surfaces:Skins and Metal Mesh

My online workshop Digital Prints on Alternative Surfaces:Skins and Metal Mesh has been posted to  KathyAnne Art.  If you are a member of KathyAnne Art be sure to log in to be sure to get  your 20% discount on the workshop.

Using skins, creating texture with them, embedding other elements, using them in 3D compositions, these things appeal to me.  As long as the surface fits  through my printer, there are unlimited constructions ideas open to this alternative surface. In this workshop we will explore the basics, look at some of the ideas about building skins and learn how to print them successfully.

Metal mesh, the other subject of this workshop, creates an incredible surfaces. This surface will have the texture of the mesh as underlying interest.  Metal is an interesting surface to print. When the metal is a mesh it is pliable and alluring.  


Join me on this look at creating alternative surfaces with skins and metal mesh.  This workshop has a video that can be downloaded to your computer when you view it.  It also has a PDF Workbook that you can download, with pictures, descriptions, step by step for both skins and mesh, list of supplies and other thoughts and hints about these  
intriguing surfaces.  


Video access never expires, so as long as you keep the information on passwords and url of the video, you will be able to view it as long as you wish. Feel free to email me with questions at any time. 


Once you learn the techniques you will find what works for you, what you like or not and you can tailor make your surfaces to fit your work.  

The workshop workbook contains descriptions of the inkAID precoats, suitable for this process, along with other information on resourses.

Watch my youtube introduction video to view some of the printed surfaces.

You can also view the video on my Inside KathyAnne Art  blog

The cost of the workshop for non-members is $50.

Remember members get 20% off when they log in before they purchase the workshop.
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Changes in Printing Boxes for Photoshop CS5

Several of my online workshops will need updates since Adobe released CS5 last month. I will be adding addendum's to the workshops, but until that is in place, I thought I would give you a look at the new print boxes.
With a cursory explanation. This is for Photoshop CS 5.



When I select print - this box will open. I am printing with my 2400, so I chose that printer first.

My presets say last used settings. Since I can't remember what I printed last, I will want to review those settings in a minute.

My paper size is a custom size. I created this by using the paper size pull down menu, using manage custom sizes and entering the size of my print.

So before I choose save, I will go to layout in the presets pulldown menu to see if I want to use my last used settings again.



From this list, I pick print settings...





I chose the media type I will be printing and then under color settings I chose off no color adjustment. This is important, so my color will be correct from my photoshop file and the printer won' manage my color. I still want to make another change, so back to the list I used when I chose print settings. I choose extension settings







This is a thicker surface and I am using a carrier sheet, so I want to be sure my printer knows. I check the thick paper box.

Now if I want to use the same profile for my next print, it will save me having to make all the choices again when I use last used settings in the original box. Once I save my changes, I click save and get back to the print box.


As I get back to the print box, in the column on the right, I will make sure Photoshop manages my color and that I again choose my media type. Then I can click print.

More details on this later and also I will do show you this process with Photoshop Elements 8.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Textures from the Sea

Well these textures are not actually from the sea, but from a zoo aquarium. I was at the Omaha Zoo this week and took these pictures from a series of small separate tanks. Wasn't sure this would work through the glass, but turns out it did.

There is tremendous potential for creating textures using the elements in these scenes. Some of the obvious ideas would be designs for crochet, embroidery, beading and other fiber projects. I am looking to create digital
Textures based on the photographs. Future postings will show the results.















- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Skins and Metal Mesh

Skins and Metal Mesh, a new online workshop, in the video stage since Memorial Day. Hopefully the entire workshop will be finished in a little more then a week. The videos are over half done. What is left now, is the printing process and the information for the workshop workbook. Documenting the process with photos and words, take longer to create then the videos themselves. Since I will be out of town until Tuesday next week, it will add some time to the launch date. The workshop description will be in the June Enews and posted here when it is online and ready.

Here are a few pictures of some printed surfaces at will be covered in the workshop.






Skins -assemblage ideas. How you can use them in your work.













Printing copper mesh






Overprinting skins with elements

Posted from my iPad.

In Studio Workshops

This summer, I will be teaching 2 day workshops covering the digital printing process with alternative surfaces, in my studio in Prescott, Arizona.

Three dates to choose from this summer:

June 19 and 20
July 10 and 11
August 21 and 22

There are lots of places to stay in the Prescott area.  I would be happy to help you with this.  You can contact me  with questions.

All supplies will be provided in the workshop price.

During the course of this workshop we will:
Learn the basics and information on all the pre-coats.
Prepare and print fabric and specialty paper.
Prepare and print beverage cans.
Prepare and print skins.

Prepare and print metal mesh.
Prepare and overprint a surface.
Experience the complete printing process.
Use tutorials in Photoshop and/or Photoshop Elements
Receive written instruction and suppliers for future use.

This 2 day workshop will prepare you with hands on instruction on how to get the most from
your digital prints on alternative surfaces.

Bring your laptop to work on images during the workshop.

Even without a laptop,  you can still participate in any image manipulation discussions.

I will be happy to answer any questions you have before and after the workshop.  To enroll for one of these workshops use the buy now button, below for the date of your choice.

Workshop price of $325.00 includes all materials for the workshop.
Once you enroll, you will receive  workshop details by email.
Workshop size is limited to 4 people.

June 19 and 20, 2010

July 10 and 11, 2010

August 21 and 22

Dyed and Painted Journal Pages

Here is a little hint on getting interesting color when painting paper or fabric.

In my art journals, overprint digitals, any type of books, I often paint watercolor paper as a base.  My favorite paper Fabriano Artistico hot press 140 lb watercolor has a scrumptious hand. Of course it is watercolor paper, but there is not a watercolor palette involved.  I use acrylic or liquid acrylic with water mixed with different colors of dye.  Type of dyes? Procion Fiber Reactive Dye in powder form from Dharma Trading Company.  Many times, it is the left over dye from other projects that is used to color the acrylics.  

Mixing dys with the acrylic paint does great thing to the colors.  The color is mixed right on the paper or fabric.  Sometimes the dyed water is lightly spilled on the paper first before adding some splashes of paint.  Other times a few dabs of acrylic will be first and a very wet brush with the dye water will spread the acrylic around.  The technique is spontaneous and quick and many sheets can be colored in a short period of time.  

Here is the workspace set up and some of the results.  These pages are for a combination fabric and watercolor paper that is currently in construction.

Mariposa Grove 3 Almost Ready

Today was spent reconfiguring my large piece for the opening of an exhibition on Friday night.  See yesterdays blog post for the details.  Well the piece is now almost ready, just a few things to do while it is on the wall.  Here are pics of todays progress, starting with the piece after it was taken apart and put on the floor to rearrange.

Back up with a few things to straighten fix

Detail

The drawback of  pictures is they cannot show the detail, texture or feel of this piece.

Finished size is 103" in length, 120" in width.  There are 2200 cut can pieces that

have been digitally printed.  There were 350 cans printed to create this piece.

The piece is joined with hemp and has twigs wrapped in amate bark paper on the 

center of each can piece.

Crazy:)

Last weekend I finished all the work for my upcoming show:
Arizona Commission on the Arts Awards: 2009 Prescott Project Grant Recipients -May 21-June 25, 2010, Yavapai College Art Gallery.

Outside my studio is a covered patio, where I assembled my Mariposa Grove 3 to see what it would look like once it was in the gallery.  I had been over the ideas for installation with the powers that be in the gallery.  To make a long story short ( and not to sound like I am complaining) it didn't work out the way it was planned, so today I took the strands apart and right now they are laying on the gallery floor till tomorrow, when I will reassemble it in another way to hang on the wall, flat and not the way it was intended.

Hopefully this will have a happy ending.  The show opens Friday night this week and after 3 months of work it would be great to hang this piece.  Stay tuned and we will see what happens.  Until then here are some pictures of the piece 10 feet long and 42 inches across the circle.

Puppet Warp-Photoshop CS5

Before








Haven't had much time lately as I am finishing my artwork for an upcoming show, but yesterday I was playing with puppet warp to take a break from construction.  Here is the before and after.  This particular feature of the new version of photoshop takes some practice and I am looking forward to doing just that.  It will open many doors for the images I will be using in upcoming work.





After

After Puppet Warp, using 3 photographs.