Schedule

Using gesso (black, white & clear) and metallic underpainting to prepare page surfaces and backs for painting, stamping, and drawing. Learn to prevent pages from curling, create a ground for dry and wet pigments, and prepare your journal for working.

Simple recipes for watercolor washes. A wash can serve as a wonderful background for an Art Journal page. Washes can also serve as a unifying element to tie your Journal entries together.

Watercolor washes create smooth backgrounds. With acrylic and resists you can create more textured looks using gel mediums and pastes. Colors can be kept separate and bright.

Paint isn't the only way to create a background image for an Art Journal page. In this class we'll explore the art of collaging to create a surface for paint, ink, and other media.

If you already have paper images that you would like to use, please bring them to class.

Create transfers from photocopies, and to do direct transfers onto acrylic paint and gesso. Some of these techniques take multiple days, but others can be completed in just an hour or two.

Bring black & white photocopies of images that you would like to use in your journals. Do not bring inkjet or home laser-printed copies -- they will not work the same way. You can, however, also bring USB sticks with jpgs you would like to transfer. I will show you how to print them on the correct paper so they can be transfered.

Traditional hand-lettering techniques require an immense amount of practice. Here are some simpler techniques to get you started, and to make sure that your written text looks good from the start.

There are thousands of commercial stencils available, but sometimes nothing will do but a custom stenciled image. This class will show you how to prepare your paper, cut, and use home-made stencils with acrylic paint and ink.

Please bring solid-body images that you feel would make good stencils. A good stencil image has clean lines, is distinct when the outline is filled in with a solid color.

There's no need for fancy presses or commercially manufactured stamps -- you can learn to make your own stamps from common household objects, from potatoes to children's toys. In this class we'll explore methods for making our own stamps, including carving and printing from existing objects (both natural and human-made).

Fabrics aren't just for sewing! You can collage them into your journal pages, decorate them with paints, stamps or beads, and use interesting fabric patterns as a basis for your own design. Dig through your fabric collection and bring your favorite scraps to class.

Learn metal-leafing skills, and to decorate your journal pages with art glitter and metallic foils.

Add pop-ups, wheels, windows and other paper-engineered ornaments to your journal pages. Turn each page into a wonderland of secret compartments and wild decorations.

When no other model is available, you can always draw yourself! This class session is devoted to helping you explore the facets of self-portraiture. You don't need to a skilled artist to find ways to accurately represent your looks and your personality.