Go For Baroque

Colorful, opulent, lavish, theatrical…..Mixed Media at it’s MOST excessive! Begin by selecting a classic fascinating portrait – any Countess, Renaissance Prince, or Notorious Personage will do – and then spend a whole day learning about maximum layering, embellishing, encrusting, dripping and splattering, and building a rich lavish surface. If your mantra is “More is more”, this class is for you. You’ll not only walk away with a ransom of endless ideas, but you will also create a baronial-sized (18 X 35) mixed media embellished panel. All of these ideas will illuminate your future work in collage, art journals, and mixed media paintings. The Baroque Age comes to Artfest – For celebrants of color, pattern, embellishment, and layering. For Seekers and Adventurers.

Kit Fee: $10

Supply List:

• 8 oz. container of white gesso
• 8 oz. container of acrylic matte medium (for paper collage)
• Small container of gel medium (for heavier collage items)
• Scissors or exacto blade
• Masking tape
• Your usual mark-making tools – gel pens, Sharpies, soft pencil, etc.
• A china marker/grease pencil
• Pack of index cards, any size or color
• I will bring large paper to work on, but you can also bring your usual art journal for note-taking or any additional work you want to do during class.
• 4 Sheets of different colored tissue papers
• Texturing tools: Small pieces of corrugated cardboard, cheesecloth, string, faux finishing tools or sequin waste, rubber stamps, etc. You don’t need all of these – just bring a selection of interesting texturing options.
• A selection of inexpensive acrylic paints. Bring at least 8-10 colors, including black and one metallic in the grouping.
• Portfolio brand water soluble oil pastels. Very inexpensive and available at Staples. We will be working with these a lot – please bring this brand if at all possible. My favorite new art supply, and I will give you a lot of ideas.
• Palette for paints, water container for brushes
• A selection of inexpensive bristle brushes – 4 different sizes, from large to small. Include a small detail brush.
• A package of foam make-up wedge sponges
• Decorative stencils: Bring a selection of various-sized motifs from small geometrics to large lavish paisleys, swirls and flourishes. Die-cut scrapbook papers work well, as well as inexpensive plastic stencils from craft stores and online shops.
• For Collage: This project is ALL about collage papers and lavish embellishment, so bring plenty of options to work with.
• Select your “Personage” for the central focal point of your panel. Choose someone fascinating and intriguing. An anonymous King, an infamous Countess, a Medieval Queen, a classic Composer. Make at least 4 good-quality blk-wht toner copies of their face - 10” from chin to hairline.
• Bring a selection of at least 12-14 colorful decorative papers, to carry out the Baroque theme. Various patterns and motifs. Choose from scrapbook papers, giftwrap, old correspondence, marbleized, geometrics, paper lace, old wallpaper…..anything that will suggest lavish and opulent.
• Also bring blk/wht toner copies to create a collaged “scene” at the bottom of the panel. Vintage architecture, palatial gardens, elaborate pageants or processions, castles, medieval, settings, etc. (finished panel is 18” wide, so bring enough to fill the space)
• Embellishments: Raid the trimmings aisle! Braids, ribbons, buttons, tassels, velvet leaves, passementerie. Bring items that are easily glued onto a surface. A needle and sturdy black cotton thread might be useful, depending on your embellishments.