New Experiments and "Abbess & Entrepreneur"

I leave for Art and Soul Retreat in Hampton, VA day after tomorrow! I can't believe it's finally here. I've been rushing around getting ready but had time to do a few pieces to take with me. Here are two pieces using what was at hand, including stained shop cloths used to wipe paint.

The Time Before Mixed Media on Panel

This piece is 6" square. I used re-inkers, acrylic paint, acrylic glaze medium, alcohol inks, and a piece of stained shop cloth.

Contemplative Chaos Mixed Media on Panel

For the above piece I used a lot of the stained shopcloth, photo transfer, re-inker, acrylic medium, and Asian paper.

Iris Mixed Media on Board Magazine pages, re-inkers, acrylic paint, and acrylic medium

Below are photos of some very creative work done by students in my PSU weekend class, "The Abbess & the Entrepreneur."

The class in mid-creation

Lindsey decorated this very handsome mixed media picture frame in honor of artist, nun, writer, musician, and saint, Caterina Vigri, also known as St. Catherine of Bologna.

Sophia's elegant and well-composed paper and fabric collage honoring Lavinia Fontana and Artemisia Gentileschi's paintings of strong women heroines.

Nakita stayed up late Friday night to get a start on this beautifully framed poem by Caterina. Nakita made a late-night trip to Michael's to find these faux flower petals and other embellishments for her frame.

Patti, who is Sophia's mother-in-law and a long-time student of mine, made this lively collage painting combination honoring Caterina Vigri. I think this is her most creative class piece to date.

Neomi, another long-time student, created this layered, free flowing collage for Caterina Vigri. There's so much richness in this piece.

Neomi's sister, Beatriz has been in my classes before also, but this is the first class I have been able to have them together. Beatriz prefers a more ordered collage. This one to Lavinia Fontana expresses perfectly the artist's discipline and love of beauty.

Melissa, another long-time student, did her first painting of Caterina Vigri. Great job! She really caught Caterina's experience as a mystic.

Kate made this amazing assemblage, complete with halo, for Caterina. Wow.

Jae created her first painting also, of Lavinia Fontana. It's a wonderful, humorous tribute to the artist and her work.

Chelsey likes to use her class projects for her everyday life in order to better be inspired by the women we study. This is going to be her Women's Studies notebook.

Here's the inside of Chelsey's notebook, honoring both artists we covered. What an inspiration to see this every day!

Leticia had the brilliant idea of re-writing Caterina's "Seven Spriritual Weapons" for her three year old daughter who was going to be presented at her church the next day. Leticia updated Caterina's ideas in this keepsake for her daughter, "aged" to look like the heirloom it will be.

This will be my last weekend class until next fall. I'll miss my inventive, brave, and totally enjoyable students.