Birds hold a special place in my heart. These feathered friends carry with them a symbolic sense of a carefree spirit with an innate ability to inspire simply from the beautiful color they display.
In this workshop we’ll paint free with the spirit of the bird and create rich, textural backgrounds. We will then delve into expression and create our own version of our favorite birds….or even make up our own. I will show you how to create your bird using paper to achieve a collaged look. We will explore a variety of poses whether it is from the air, a nest, or perched on top of a house. To create dimension and depth, I’ll show you simple shading techniques that aren’t intimidating. Feel free to bring photos/printouts of birds for inspiration.
Supply List:
- 2-4 canvas panel board or wood boards (size 6x6” or 8x8”)
- Bits of ephemera (old sheet music, fabric pieces, old maps, patterned paper, vintage dress patterns, etc)
- Acrylic paints - bring your favorite colors.
- bring a dark brown color for the nest, branch, eyes (I like golden van dyke brown hue)
- Your favorite stamps
- Golden medium - Regular gel (gloss)
- Stabilo marks all pencil in Black
- Portfolio water soluble oil pastels
- Palette knife or old credit card
- Brushes - a variety of sizes (I prefer the cheap hogs hair variety pack)
- A couple foam brushes 1”
- Container for water
- Rags or several paper towel sheets
- Palette paper or paper plates
- Scissors
Optional:
- Craft heat tool
- Bird photos for inspiration
- Fabric bits, lace
A Little About ME
Mindy Lacefield draws inspiration from her collection of dolls from the 80s and the nostalgia of simpler times. These revisits have taken her art in mixed-media to a whole new world of whimsical enchantments. It is here, in this world of play and folly, that she feels most comfortable. Remembering how a child paints - using hands, creating free without restrictions, and not worrying about what the grownups will think - is the power of art.
Mindy is a full time artist living in central Arkansas with her husband and two pooches. When she’s not in the studio, she loves to watch independent films and is inspired by the movies of Tim Burton, Alfred Hitchcock, and Stanley Kubrick.
