We all have our days of half-wittedness and there is nothing worse than going it alone. Embrace your moments of fuzzy logic and slow-on-the-uptakeness and make a friend to share it with you.
In this class we will bring out our inner mud monkey to create half-wit plaster bowls to hold whatever something (or nothing) you want. We’ll bring the bowl form to life with noses and mouths and cheeks and chins (heck, even ears, if you want) – all that is needed to be certified “Half Full”. In the process of all the play, you’ll learn how to work with the amazing medium of plaster in ways that you can translate into countless art forms. Depending on the size of your bowls, you can make as many as time will allow. (I will encourage each student to have two to work on simultaneously.)
note: because of the ambient humidity of Port Townsend in spring, the plaster will set but not fully cure in one day. It will be the perfect environment for us to focus on painting techniques that are ideal for moist plaster to achieve effects we cannot achieve on fully cured plaster.
Supply List:
- 4 -6 rolls of 4” x 180” plaster gauze (I prefer the Rigid-Wrap brand for its texture but any kind will do) (if you are not able to travel with this, please contact me to arrange for me to provide it for you: stephanielee@q.com)
- Package of wipes (you’ll be glad you have them!) IMPORTANT!
- Rags – terry cloth or t-shirt material, not just paper towels. IMPORTANT!
- scissors
- apron
- 5-6 acrylic paints in your favorite colors INCLUDING 1 raw umber (cheap craft paints are fine)
- 1 Titanium white heavy bodied acrylic paint (go for the good stuff)
- brushes including 1, 1-2”wide brush + 1 fine detail brush + 1 filbert (optional)
- water container
- 1 big plastic garbage bag
Optional:
- Plastic bowl in the size and shape you like (I’ll be bringing extras in various sizes)
- Collage ephemera
- Gel medium for the ephemera (I will have some on hand) – just a little bit is necessary
- Heat gun or hair dryer
Teacher will bring:
- Extra bowls for form construction
- plaster and plaster products
- misc. tools and supplies
A Little About ME
A modern day expeditioner, I am most inspired by nature and reinventing the ordinary into something expressive and. Having traveled all over the United States and internationally to offer creative instruction, I find respite in my home studio in the valleys of Southern Oregon. My book "Semiprecious Salvage" arrived in bookstores February 2008. I have also co-authored a book with Judy Wise titled “Plaster Workshop” which will be in bookstores Spring 2011.
