Carol
  • Home
  • Gallery
    • Mixed Media >
      • Inspirational Tags
      • Art Tags
      • Vessels
      • Artist Books
    • Conversations: Years
    • Fiber Paintings
    • Portraits
    • Silk Explosions
    • Stitch & Slash
    • Slices
    • Stupendous Stitching
  • Workshops & Lectures
  • Online Classes
    • My Favorite Instructors
    • Craftsy Deals
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Store
  • About
    • Exhibits
    • Resume
    • Contact

Mixed Media Art

4/3/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
I love the transparency and contrast in this piece.  I wish I knew how I did it so I could do it again.
0 Comments

Sketchbook Revival

3/27/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Last year, I joined Sketchbook Revival — a free 2 week course introducing me to many different artists all over the world.

I diligently, tried each and every project and found it exhausting.  This year, I'm just viewing the videos, getting some new ideas, and trying out some (but not all) the techniques.  
​
This one encouraged me to work with one color in watercolor and then to draw on top of the shapes.  This was fun and challenging.  I'm sure I will get some new ideas over the next week.
Check it out at https://www.karenabend.com/sketchbook-revival-2022/
​Enjoy!


0 Comments

Art Book

3/20/2022

2 Comments

 
Picture
Lately, I've been making these art books that are really fun to make and flip through.

There are lots of steps involved in creating these but every step is something I like to do!  It starts with Gelli printing on both sides of white card stock.  You can get so many different textures using acrylic paints and texture tools I make myself.  Sometimes, I emboss on the surface.  Other times, I use stencils.  When the pages are dry, I cut them into 2" x 3-1/2" rectangles and then the fun begins.

I trim them into different shapes and use a Posca pen to draw around the edges.  I also gelli print a piece of mixed media paper, cut to 6" x 24" and fold to create the "spine" of the book.  Then I glue in all the small pieces, add a cover and it's done.  

Every artist book I make is unique.  Perhaps that's why I'm drawn to this art form.  It's never boring!
2 Comments

Bed Quilt

3/12/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Even though I've been writing books and designing and making art quilts thoughout my life, I have never made a bed sized quilt.  Until now.  And here it is.

My granddaughter asked me to make her one so what to do?  Of course, I made her one.

This design is from the late 1800's and is called "broken dishes".  I just picked it up from a long-armer today and she did a great job in adding the quilting, squaring it up and doing the binding.  I also pieced together some shams that I will finish myself tomorrow.

Even though it's a very old pattern, it is also very contemporary-looking.  Just goes to show "what's old is new again".  I hope my granddaughter likes it because I had a good time making it, thinking of her for days while cutting and piecing the top.  These are the family heirlooms that are the most meaningful.


0 Comments

Sometimes, less really IS more...

3/6/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
.If you know me from my work in fiber, you have heard me say "More Is Better".  

When I create my Stupendous Stitching pieces, I like to cover the entire surface with couching, decorative stitches and embroidery.  This technique creates amazing texture and interest.

But,, when I'm painting, this technique doesn't work as well.  

So I started restricting myself to seven "mark making" steps to created these small 10 x 10 works of mixed media.  This one uses two colors of acrylic paint, a water soluble black pencil, charcoal, black acrylic applied with a cardboard tube, some black acrylic paint applied over a punchinella stencil, lines drawn with a Posca pen, and two circles cut out from a gel plate print.

It seems like a lot but the white background really makes this painting stand out..  But what made me think it was good was when my 26 year old nephew saw them and asked if I would give him a couple to hang in his apartment.  

I don't make art to please other people but having a "hip" young person living in Chicago with roommates and wanting to hang my art on his walls, made this 73 year old artist "cool".  I think I will explore working larger and seeing where this leads me on to my next adventure.
​

0 Comments

My Collage Book

2/28/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Since I am a full time studio artist, I have to make art every day. Sometimes, I work in fabric, sometime I paint, and sometimes I work in my collage artist book.

I find collage very challenging since it's all about composition and value.  So some days, it comes easy and other days, not so much.  But I force myself to complete at least one 2-page spread in my collage book every day.  I find this makes me hone my skills and eventually, I come out with a spread I like. 

I also work throughout the book, adding bits and pieces, without an idea of what the finished spread will look like.  It's kind of like not facing a blank page when you start.  

I don't know if this spread is finished but I'm liking it so far.  

If you want to discover how to make collage papers and also to compose in your own sketchbook, I highly recommend Robyn McClendon's YouTube videos.  She is a wonderful teacher and so generous about teaching her techniques.
https://www.youtube.com/user/RobynMcClendon

Remember, not every day is a good day for making art but making art every day is essential for your spirit and growth.  As Nike says "just do it"!


0 Comments

File Folder Books

2/14/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
I love making these books.

The base is a file folder but when you add papers, card stock, and lots of inserts, they become little interactive art journals.  Great for gifts and just having fun making them.  
​
0 Comments

Quilting Photos

2/6/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
When I first started making art quilts, I experimented with sewing on top of a printed photo on fabric.  It was a great way to practice freehand machine quilting and precision.  I choose a photo of a beautiful window that I took when visiting my friend in Charleston, SC where flower boxes are abundant.  When I finished it, I sent it to my friend as a reminder of our visit and so she would have a piece of me in her home.

A couple of years ago, her house flooded and, long story short, my quilted photo was lost.

The good thing about using a photo is that a work of art can be re-created.  (Not so with any of my other fiber art pieces).  So I found the photo and spent the day free hand machine quilting to re-create this piece again for my friend.  Luckily, over the years I've become much better at this so she will receive a piece that is more polished and professional.  And, I hope it will still remind her of our friendship.
0 Comments

Valentina's Quilt

1/30/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
When I got a "text" from my 15 year-old granddaughter asking me to make her a quilt, I was shocked.

She had no idea that I have never made a bed-sized quit in my life.  As a fiber artist, my work is made to hang on the wall, not on a bed.  But, how could I say no?

Gulp!  She sent me some photos of fabrics she liked and they were easy -- greens, blues and browns.  I sent a couple of designs to her and she chose an antique design made in the late 1880's.  Broken Dishes.  Today, a contemporary pattern as well as a traditional pattern.  

I finished the top this week and gave it to a long-armer to quilt and bind.  Too large for me to manage and I know she will do a good job.  I will share a photo of the entire quilt in March.  Meanwhile, here is a snippet.

Making a bed-size quilt for my Granddaughter was challenging but fulfilling.  I wish my grandmother did the same for me.

0 Comments

Envelope Notebook

1/23/2022

1 Comment

 
Picture

I find making books/booklets addictive.

I love using beautiful papers and fabrics and also using up stuff from my stash and turning ordinary things into small art treasures.

My latest passion is making these envelope notebooks.  These are made from envelopes, covered with papers.  I did download some papers used in this video but ended up using all my gelli printed pages for the rest.  I don't usually use other artist's work in my work so I'm much happier with the results from the ones I'm working on now (all the journals in the back of the first two pieces).  But they are all "in process" so I thought I would show you the two in the front that were my first attempts.  I probably won't "embellish" these to the extent Luise does (see her second video) because my esthetic is different than hers but she does give some interesting ideas on how to make these envelope journals even more interesting.

I learned this process from Luise Heinzl, a German junk journal artist. She publishes her YouTube videos in German and English.  I am always in awe of of people who speak several languages since I failed both Spanish and French in high school.  

These make great gifts for your friends and family AND are fun to make!

1 Comment
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Carol Ann Waugh

    I am a mixed media artist and love color and texture!

    Archive

    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016

    Categories

    All

  • Home
  • Gallery
    • Mixed Media >
      • Inspirational Tags
      • Art Tags
      • Vessels
      • Artist Books
    • Conversations: Years
    • Fiber Paintings
    • Portraits
    • Silk Explosions
    • Stitch & Slash
    • Slices
    • Stupendous Stitching
  • Workshops & Lectures
  • Online Classes
    • My Favorite Instructors
    • Craftsy Deals
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Store
  • About
    • Exhibits
    • Resume
    • Contact