River Garden Studio

Printmaking Unleashed Inspired by Traci Bautista

 

When I received Traci Baustista's new book, Printmaking Unleashed I was excited and amazed to see so many printmaking ideas! Beautiful projects seemed to spill out of every single page. First I looked at all the photographs, and then I began reading, first skipping around and then from back to front. Tracy's joy and playfulness in her creating process became a joy to me as well!

Tracy also sent me a packet of very fun and unusual tools for me to experiment with and I have to say, my very favorite was the adhesive craft foam! I have wanted to cut more of my own stamps for some time, and have been looking for this wonderful product!!

I looked up symbols on Pinterest, and other ideas on my Hand Carved Stamp Ideas page here. Then I began to draw and cut up my stamp ideas on the foam.

I cut out my new stamp designs, pulled off the protective backside and pressed the sticky side on to cardboard.

 

I was happily surprised at how securely my designs stuck to the card board pieces!

Next came the very fun part of making images with my stamps and trying different inks!  I printed on tissue papers and rice papers, silk and gauze and linen, even notebook and graph paper. Then I tore or cut out each individual image and started playing with collages!

After I found a collage design I liked, I used Traci's adhesive and adhered my images on to pieces of watercolor paper that I had already covered with a light weight piece of rice paper, fabric and white gesso.

Finally when my projects were all finished I added a bit of stitching. 

Thank you Traci, for sharing your amazing and inspiring book with me and the world!!

 

Work spaces, garden light

 

 

As November begins my heart is full of love and gratitude.  For my family, my home, my friends and my art. This year has been one of my most creative years ever and such a great year for teaching workshops.  I have learned so much, and grown as well. I think I am finding my flow.

I have many wonderful plans for next year, not only with new workshops and retreats, but with my family. My son is graduating from Oregon State University this winter and my daughter is getting married in the spring. New beginnings for them and I am so proud.  

The photographs I want to share with you are work and garden spaces from our Red Oak Book Arts workshop at Laura's house last week... nestled deep in the Hill Country of Texas.

Laura is also known as HastyPearl and you won't want to miss her blog, this post or her Etsy Shop, or if you are in Boerne, her antique space, where I have done quite a bit of shopping myself! I taught this workshop with the amazing Leslie Marsh, and we came together from opposite sides of the United States to teach. We have known eachother since I started blogging and were kindred spirits from the beginning.

 

 

 

  

 

I love these photographs, the golden light you see on each workspace comes from huge windows that are imprinted in my mind and overlook Laura's gardens,an oasis  of ponds,trees,flowers and butterflies, even in October. The love and creativity that Laura has poured into her home inside and out is apparent in every detail.

 

 

 

 

Although these works of art are works in progress, I wanted to show our processes. How beautiful unfinished work can be. How given the same materials everyone creates something completely unique. And how we thrived as artists, learning and growing together. We all were glowing from start to finish.

 

 

 

 

  

  

  

  

  

 

A special thanks to Laura and Leslie, Kip, Elissa, Carol and Melody for making this magical workshop happen.

 

  

 

 

 

 

You can see more photographs of the garden mandalas that we made here.

And photos of our finished books and projects here.

And here are photos of some inside pages.

Thanks so much for visiting and I would love it if you have time to comment.

There are also new art pieces available in my

River Garden Studio Shop if you would like to see!