Graffiti, Art or Vandalism?

Fossils.

                  A plaster of Paris 'fossil bed' made  by a 4 year old boy all by himself. Isn't it wonderful?

Printing with Gocco Inks.

All ready to add the main element to the background which is almost ready for scanning and Photoshop.

Background Beginning.

I have now started ironing on torn pieces of the different colours of Vliesofix (Bondaweb) to make an interesting background for the art that I have in mind. I may not use this actual piece of Lutradur, perhaps a scan and further computer manipulation. I'm not sure how it will all work out!

Now for a Background.

                                 Painting some Lutradur with a mixture of Gesso and acrylic paint.

                     Painting some Vliesofix (Bondaweb) with various hues of green and brown acylic paint.

More Sampling.

As I find that it is almost impossible to clean the Gocco screens if I use the correct oil based Gocco ink, I had thought I might get away with using acrylic paint, but once I realised that nothing else was going to work well, I used the 'correct' ink. Makes quite a difference! Of course I have now had to throw away the original screen as it was well and truly clogged up with ink, but it will only take a few minutes to make a new one if  I need another.

Trying to get a Good Print.

 Here I have masked off the purple flowers to that I can get the green paint through the screen for the plant stems and strappy leaves.  This screen is I think too small and fine to work very well.

 After many prints, applying the paint with different tools, such as a sponge, paint brush and daubber, I have chosen the best print to tidy up in Photoshop. As the final image need only be quite small, I think this will do.

Still With the Fringe Lily.

This image is a design combining all the various stamp elements that I have made previously and I'm going to make a small Gocco screen from it to see what that looks like as a print. It may be too small to see all the fine detail however.

Weighty Crown.

This 'crown' used to be on top of the very tall brick chimney of an old brewery. The weight of it was used to stabilise the tower and when it was demolished, the crown ended up here at the University of Melbourne as a garden ornament. Note the fern that has found a 'root-hold' on the side of the crown.

New Town Sign.

This is the new sign at the entrance to Violet Town in the Strathbogie Ranges in Victoria.  The sign was designed by local identity Michael Leunig and has brought a smile to the many people who stop to look at it. With one exception, expressed in a letter to the local paper, the people of Violet Town have happily accepted their whimsical new sign. If you want to know more about Violet Town's history see here.......... http://shawfactor.com/gazetteer/victoria/violet-town/

Lucky Insect!

I wonder if this Huntsman spider knows that there is an entrée hanging about behind him. I didn't see the insect when I took the photo, only when I enlarged it on the computer screen.

Boy Meets Echidna.

Garden Visitor.

Fungus Fotos.

This rather marine looking toadstool is definitely not for eating, unless you are an insect or a wallaby.

                                                  I don't fancy eating either of these either.

These below however are deliciously edible.

Owlet Night-jar again.

The little Owlet Night-jar is still in the nest box, peeping out to see what's going on.   This time I was able to get closer and get a better photo. Close up it's easier to see just how tiny he really is, about 20 cm including a long tail. What a cutie!

Misty in the Sun.

What better place for an elderly cat to be than sleeping in the sun surrounded by flowers. Misty, an Australian Blue Spotted Mist cat, which I believe is the only Australian breed of cat, is 19 years old and not very well.  However she does love to sleep in the sun whenever possible.

Mystery Object.

Just a little fun picture to look at while I explore the new stamps and decide on how best to use them.

Bud Print.

       It's all starting to come together.  Now to put all the various components into some sort of textile art.

Carving the Buds.

I wonder how this one will print out.  I usually have to do a fair bit of fine trimming initially, so I'm sure this one will be no exception. It will have to wait for tomorrow though.

Having Photoshop Fun.

This is a very stylised version of my new rubber stamp. I also made a stamp within Photoshop, shown here with the original flower. Lots of fun to to be had with this new image I think. Now to carve a stamp of the bud.

Printing.

                                         Now it's time to try and get a good clear and crisp print.

Back to the beautiful 'Common Fringe Lily'.

It's time to start the next stamp, of the very pretty Common Fringe Lily that I have been collecting images of.

I have photographed it many times over the years, but the details of the buds and growth habits aren't very clear in my pictures, hence the  gathering of other images.

                 How am I going to make the fringes look right I wonder, just hope for the best I guess!

          Nearly there, and so far so good. The angle of the petals isn't quite right, but I claim artistic license.

Finished!

This is the bottom left hand corner of the finished piece.  It needs a name for the exhibition, but as yet I haven't thought of a good one. It needs something a bit catchy and interesting. Any suggestions?

Pot Bound!

I thought that this plant was looking a bit 'off-colour' and no wonder, it was totally pot bound with all the roots wound tightly round and round inside the pot. Time for a bigger pot!

Four Fellows.

Made in Germany around 1910-1920, these little boys have such appealing little faces. Don't you just love their knickerbocker all-in-one suits and their clumping boots? The tallest is about 7" high and it's interesting to note that one of the big boys has movable legs and the other doesn't.

Nearly Finished.

Just a little more stitching to go and this will be finished. I used 4 different whites for the seeds and I'm very happy with how they  worked out.

Gift of Figs.

A kind friend gave me some figs from her tree, one that was started from a seed that was casually dropped by a bird some years ago. As I had also recently been given a Fig Chutney recipe by another friend, I thought that I would try the recipe out with the gift of figs. The chutney is delicious, but rather runny.  I'm not sure if this is how the recipe should turn out, but the flavour is excellent.

Return to the Dandelions.

I have just suddenly realised that I need to have a piece finished and photographed for an exhibition entry by March 16th, actually at the gallery by that date! Luckily I had done all the preliminary work with just the stitching to do, and it must measure less than 30cm on any side including the frame, so there is a chance that I can finish it in time.

Reflections.

Out for Lunch!

                               Pannacotta and strawberries poached in Cointreau..................Yumm!!!!!!!

Tidying Up.

I seem to have accumulated a large number of craft items that I have never used, and never will, things that have been sitting in drawers for years. Time to have a clear out, beginning with these!