Experimenting with Image Transfer

It's been busy here on the home front as I continue to prepare for October's Arts and Crafts Fair in Raleigh.  In an attempt to create some new pieces for the fair, I spent one weekend experimenting with image transfer.  I've always wondered how it was done, particularly when creating a mixed media collage.  I found the following video on Vimeo and was determined to learn how to do it myself:

Mixed Media / Image Transfer from Jarrod Renaud on Vimeo.
So with supplies in hand, I began to experiment.


I began with taping down a piece of water color paper and saturating it with water.  I also trimmed some images that I wanted to transfer to my paper.




Next, I began applying color to the saturated paper.


Once the color and paper were dry, I began to spread a thick coat of gel medium evenly on my images.  Once the images were coated, I plopped them face down on my paper.  To ensure even adherence to the paper, I used a brayer to flatten the images.


I allowed the images to dry completely.  Once the images were dry, I used a spray bottle of water to saturate the images.  Using my fingers and a sponge, I rubbed off the paper backing of the images.  As I rubbed the paper away, I could start to see mirror images of my... well... images.  This is what I ended up with:



The first few image transfers I created, I went back over with pen and ink to create details and faces.  Although I like the final pieces, I felt that the pen and ink work took away from the original images.


On my second round of image transfers, I tried something different.  Instead of coloring the paper first, I transferred the images first and did the water color last.  As you can see, the gel medium blocked the water color from saturating the paper.


Although I enjoyed experimenting with image transfers, I still think I need quite a bit of practice, both in patience and in technique.

"Why not go out on a limb?  Isn't that where the fruit is?"

- Frank Scully

Art Exchange

As I go through the process of emerging as a bonafide artist, I sometimes have doubts about myself.  Although I enjoy creating art, I wonder if what I create is enough.  I'll be the first to admit that what I create doesn't push the boundaries of art by being risque or by making some kind of political or religious statement... at least, not at this point in my journey.  I simply create to make something beautiful, pretty, and even cute.  Typically, I like to create something girlie, colorful, and cheery as these are my subjects of choice.

Knowing this, my friend, Carlleena, who is also an artist going through her own creative journey, asked if I would paint something for her.  I agreed as long as she would paint something for me as well -- we would have an art exchange of sorts.  To give me some direction on what I would paint for her, I only asked that Carlleena give me two of her favorite colors and a verb she liked.  She gave me turquoise, red, and inspire.

With just those three words, I began to paint.  As I painted, I began to remember the good ol' days we had in high school.  (It's been a very long time since I've seen Carlleena and a visit is long overdue, I know.)  I knew I wanted to incorporate her sense of strength, adventure, and playfulness -- all traits that inspire those who know her.  In the end, I ended up with this interpretation, using fluid acrylic paints, scrapbook paper, ink, and gloss gel medium.




I enjoyed the process so much, that I requested my fans on Facebook to give me two colors and a word they like.  I received a lot of good suggestions so far... Now to find the time to execute them and, hopefully, have something to show soon.

"As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life." 

- John Lubbock

Busy, Busy, Busy

In July, I decided to take my first professional leap into presenting myself as an artist to the public.  Prior to making this decision, I recently completed two online courses.  The first was The Joy Equation where I worked through my own quarter life crisis and actively defined for myself what my authentic joy looked like.  I did this with the guidance of one lovely Molly Hoyne.  The second was Flying Lessons where I had access to a special blog created by Kelly Rae Roberts that revealed all the things I ever wanted to know about being a self-starter artist.  Both women gave me the motivation I needed to believe, "I can do this!"


After completing the courses, I received an email from the Raleigh Parks and Recreation saying that they were offering an early bird registration special for local artists and crafters to be vendors in their fall arts and crafts fair.  I took it as a sign from the universe that it was either now or never and sent in my application.  (Specific details about the event to come later.)


Since then, I've been using my time after work to research, prepare, and create items for my first arts and crafts fair.  There's a lot to do, but I have been enjoying  spending my evenings and weekends working on things for the fair.  It's made me realize the energy and commitment that is needed to do this thing I love.  I've been using some great online resources and have also been reading The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin.  As the days pass and the fair gets closer, my excitement and nervousness grows.  That first weekend in October is going to be surreal.  I hope Jason has a nice glass of Zinfandel waiting for me when I get home that evening.  Now back to work...

"There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way."

- Christopher Morley

Get Your Motor Runnin': Shannon Takes on Sturgis

My friend, Shannon, is taking advantage of her youth and traveling across the country as we speak to Sturgis, South Dakota.  Why?  To take part in the 70th anniversary Sturgis Rally of course.  She will be spending a full week there, witnessing all of the fun and craziness that is rumored to come with biker rallies.  Cue theme music, please...




Now, when you meet Shannon for the first time, you would never guess that she was a biker chick... And,  well, she wasn't when I met her.  But she has found a man that has really made her very happy, and he happens to enjoy riding a motorcycle.  In fact, he belongs to a biker club known as JABG. Jim (the lucky man's name) has been able to share his love of the open road with Shannon, and she seems to really love it.

When she told everyone that she would be going to Sturgis for the biker rally, Shannon's mom, Cree, asked if I would help her with a surprise for Shannon.  She wanted to give her something special for her trip.  We put our heads together and came up with some design ideas for fashionable biker chick wear using thin strap tank tops.

The first tank top stencil design I drafted featured her destination, Sturgis.  Our goal was to make her the envy of all the biker chicks there.


The second tank top stencil that was drafted was designed to make her an official member of the JABG.


The final tank top stencil drafted featured Shannon's childhood nickname (which I like to use even now).  I figured it's better for a biker to have a nickname, no?


When Cree and I presented the tank tops to Shannon, she was so surprised and happy.  (Yay!)  I'm glad she'll be sporting my unique biker chick fashions at the rally.  A girl has to look good while kicking @ss and taking names, right? 

If you'd like to follow Shannon on her adventure, take a sneak peak of her travel blog here.  I'm sure there are going to be some interesting tales for her to share.  I hope she has a fantastic trip and comes home safely... maybe even with a tattoo or two.  (Just kidding, Cree.)

"We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment." 

- Hilaire Belloc

My Wish for Brady

Nine months ago, my sister shared with me that she was going to have another baby.  I was overjoyed and excited for her.  I have such a strong emotional attachment to her daughter and love her with all my heart - that to add on to that love with another baby - I just couldn't be happier.

During her pregnancy, I was hungry for updates from her and devoured every snippet of news and every ultrasound I could get my hands on for the new baby.  During around her 18 week ultrasound, she learned that she was going to have a boy... and she learned that he had a heart defect known as right atrial isomerism.

She was devastated.

As an older sister, I felt helpless.  All I could do was cry with her and try to comfort her, but what could I say or do?  All I could think was the worst and all I could hope for was the best.

After the initial shock of the news, I saw a side of my sister I had never seen before.  After she mourned the idea of having a perfect child, she began to take charge of the situation by learning about the baby's condition and actively asking questions of the doctor and of the surgeon who would be attending to his care.  The feedback that she would receive from the doctors was ever changing.  Sometimes they would say that the baby had a 99% chance of surviving his first surgery, but then, at another check up, their estimate dropped down to 33%.  It was an emotional roller coaster ride as the assessment of the baby's health changed at each visit.

We were hesitant to do the normal things you do when expecting a baby.  Plans for a baby shower were postponed.  But as it got closer to her due date, Barbara began preparing the baby's nursery and asked me to create a custom nursery display for his room.  So, up until the day he was born, I created the following display for the baby:



Brady - that was the darling name she chose for him.  I thought about Brady with every stitch I sewed and every stroke of paint I brushed.  It was my way of helping her and sending good thoughts into the universe.

On July 19th at 3:32 p.m., Brady Charles Dauberman was born.  I had the honor of being in the room during his birth, and it was the most amazing experience I had ever witnessed.  My sister became a superhero in my eyes that day.  And, just like the birth of her daughter, I fell in love with Brady.  My heart overflowed with joy.




Brady has already undergone his first of many surgeries and is still in the hospital recuperating.  Barbara has been right by his side, providing me with daily updates about his progress.  Now that he is here, I can only for wish for him to have a speedy recovery so that he can be brought home and doted upon by the people who love him most.  He will not have an easy life, but he will be loved and cherished.  Until Barbara is able to bring sweet Brady home, please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

"Children are the reward of life."

- Congolese Proverb

Rainy Day Activity - Flower Pins!

It's pouring down rain today.  What better way to pass the time than a little crafting?

A friend of mine asked how I make flower pins, so I thought I'd share that process with you.  They're so easy to make and make great gifts.

First, you need the following materials:

• felt
• thread and needle (preferably the same color as the felt)
• buttons
• hot glue and hot glue gun
• 1.25" bar pins
• ribbon (optional)

Step One: Cut a strip of felt, long ways.



Step Two: Cut your petal pattern.  These can be as long or as skinny as you want.  I chose this pattern to make a daisy.




Step Three:  Fold the first petal in half and pinch it.  Sew the pinched felt at the top.  Go to the next petal and repeat.  As you move along petal to petal, sew each new petal to the one before it.






Step Four: Sew the first and last petals together so that your flower is fully formed.

Step Five: Turn the flower over and close the hole by sewing one petal to the petal directly across from it.  Continue sewing the petals in a crisscross manner.

Step Six: Turn the flower back over to the front and select a button to hot glue to the front.  Once you have a button, put a small dab of hot glue in the center of the flower.  Quickly press the button on top, making sure that some of the glue comes up through the button holes.  This will help to provide extra support to keep the button on the flower.

Step Six and Half: If you want to add any embellishments like leaves or ribbon, measure out your embellishments so that they can be seen from behind the flower.  If you are happy with the placement, hot glue them to the back of the flower.

Step Seven: Cut an oval shaped piece of felt to cover the back of the flower.  (If you have added any embellishments, this piece would just go over the back of the embellishments.)  Once you have the piece prepared, hot glue it to the back of the flower.

Step Eight: Get a bar pin to hot glue to the back of the felt cover.  Carefully put hot glue on the back of the bar pin, and like the button in the front, push it to the felt so that some of the hot glue comes up through the holes.

Step Nine: Wait for the hot glue to cool completely.  Wear with any of your outfits to jazz up your wardrobe and feel like a diva instantly.

"Flowers really do intoxicate me."

- Vita Sackville-West