SURFACE DESIGN WORKSHOP

Local NORBAG members meet the second Saturday every month for a workshop/play day. We usually bring rulers, cutting implements, and papers cut to various sizes and shapes. We receive an instruction sheet and focus intently on making a structure that we hope to duplicate on our own. We ask lots of questions, discuss grain, adhesives, and cutting and scoring methods. We learn a lot and still have time to chat and laugh.

At the June workshop Michele Kamprath and Sandy Vrem gave us samples of various surface designs to experiment with. The tools we brought were crayons, acrylic paint, texture plates and paper. Sandy and Michele led us through a really fun day.

Sandy prepared the table loaded with fun materials.

This is Michele taking a look at the exchange books.

Crayons and paper and balloons, Oh My!

Samples of balloon prints

More samples... toward the back, is a kind of paste paper.

 

Faux batik

Rubbings

This is how we started, with all of our materials lined up and ready to go.

Simple rubbings were really quite fun. We used a texture plate underneath the paper. Some members used deli paper and others used sketching paper or medium to lightweight papers they brought from home.

We had plastic texture plates, stencils and even a rubber stamp or two.

We put the stencil or texture plate under the paper
 and rubbed a crayon over it to show the design.

We used stencils and a lot of color.

These are two different types of plates we used. 

We also used a batik like process that was fun. We started by covering a piece of paper (painter's masking paper which is thin and folds crisply) with crayons. We then crumpled the paper. Next, we painted acrylic paint (slightly diluted) over the entire surface, let it sit for a minute and then wiped the paint off. All of the creases absorbed the paint and it was similar to the look of batik.

One of our members used her own design to make the batik pattern.

Another person colored over the entire background and then
 used a very dark contrast color to really bring out the lines.

It was getting messy and we were thankful for the plastic on the tables. And for the towels and baby-wipes. 

The next thing we tried was balloon painting. We used a palette and undiluted craft acrylics. Some used a single color and others multiple colors. After much laughter, we inflated our little balloons and dipped them lightly into the liquid paints. We had a choice to either blot gently on a paper towel or go directly to the paper. We experimented with different pressures to see how the patterns would occur.

We started with a palette of color, then daubed the paint onto the balloon.

Then you pounce the balloon onto the paper.

And get an explosion of color. 

This was a palette for balloon painting.

Not a balloon painting, just a serendipitous explosion of color
 on a palette that I loved.

And last was the faux paste paper. Michele and Sandy instructed us to use a heavier paper (watercolor, mixed media) and cover it heavily with crayons. Then we painted it with thick acrylic paint and used a comb to make a design just as you do with paste paper. 

Crayons, paint, and a few blobs (technical term) of a contrasting color. 
We needed to work quickly with this one so that the paints didn't dry.

We pulled a comb through it to make our design.

Here is a closeup. As long as the paint was still wet,
 you could continue adding more combing.

Do you notice how clean her hands are? Mine weren't. Took me half an hour to get the dried paint off at home. Well worth it because we had such fun.

We also had the "Show and Tell" table here. One of our members brought in the results of her class from the Newport Paper and Book Art Festival held this past April. Another member brought in a sample of napkin decoupage that we will be learning in one of our next workshops. And there is a certificate that you should look at.

On the left is a certificate for honorable mention received by Edge Gerring for her book submission to the "Focus on Fiber Exhibition" in Humboldt County. To the right are pictures of Peter and Donna Thomas who will be giving us a special presentation and workshop on October 26, (not a regular meeting). The caravan is their "home away from home" as they travel the country giving workshops. You can take a look at who they are by going to wanderingbookartists.blogspot.com. More information about their visit will come in future articles.

SURFACE DESIGNS

The June 8 NORBAG workshop will be taught by Michele Kamprath and Sandy Vrem. Surface design techniques will be used to decorate a variety of papers that can then be used as decorative elements in books, cards, collage and more. We will learn four different ways to decorate papers using crayon batik, crayon rubbings with texture plates and stencils, balloon printing, and combing through acrylic paint. Check out these beautiful examples and come prepared to have fun creating different designs.

Tools to Bring:

• water container, wide enough for your brush
• foam brush (1" to 3")
• plastic fork or paste paper comb
• cutting mat
• apron

Materials to bring (only if you already have them):

• favorite acrylic paints
• card stock, mixed media, drawing, and watercolor papers (8.5" x 11")
• paper towels or baby wipes
• crayons
• stencils, texture plates, paint marking tools
• newspaper to cover your workspace and for drying

Materials provided:

• balloons
• paint pallet
• deli paper
• painter's paper
• telephone and dictionary pages
• assorted acrylic paints

When?    Saturday, June 8 at noon
Where?   Eureka Methodist Church, Del Norte and F Streets
Bring?     See above list
Cost?      50 cents
RSVP?     YES, by Wednesday June 5 to Michele
               (contact information in the newsletter)

Surface Design

There is a new display of NORBAG artist's books in the kiosk at the Humboldt County Library. This display features different methods of surface design. According to the sign in the display, surface design refers to the methods artists use to color or decorate the papers in their books. Some examples of this include marbling, stamping, painting, linoleum block printing, spattering, sanding, sponging, and embossing. This display will be up until early September so if you're in Eureka stop by to check it out.

Thank you to Lynne Gurnee for arranging the display and providing the photographs.

August, 2015 Workshop - Surface Design

On Saturday, August 8, Carolyn Jones invited us into her home for a Surface Design play day presented by Terri Tinkham, Vikki Young, and herself. We were told to bring aprons and gloves, but you would be surprised at how many of us were so excited to start that we left our gloves and aprons in our totes. 

Before starting, we had a quick tour through the stations. We received a handout that gave us the general instructions and what materials were used. After that, our goal was to play with all of the surface design options.

• String Printing – a string was saturated with paint, put between two pieces of paper, weight applied and then the string was pulled out quickly to leave behind trails of paint.

• Wax Paper Prints – acrylic paints were applied directly to waxed paper and a monoprint was made.

Miriam H. displays both string and waxed paper prints.

• Smoke Printing – a lit candle was used to deposit smoke on paper. A fixative was then applied to set the smoke.

•  Bubble Printing – a water bath with dye and a bit of detergent was agitated with a straw and then paper was laid on the bubbles for a print.

  

Michele K. is under the hat stirring up the bubbles.

• Suminagashi - Japanese inks are floated on water and printed to a paper laid directly on the surface.

 

Suminagashi print

  Crystalline Paper – Gel medium is applied to tissue papers either as a single layer or using multiple tissues making a collage.

 

Crystalline paper on the left just has gel medium on it.  When dry, the tissue paper is considerably stronger. On the right, gel medium is use to collage other papers to the base tissue paper.

•  Direct prints – apply acrylic paint to one side of an object, turn over, cover, and roll over with a brayer.

•  Rubbings – lay a piece of paper on a textured object and rub a crayon or colored pencil over the surface.

  

• Encaustic - melt 2 or more colors of crayon on an iron and then transfer to paper.

First we applied colored wax to the iron and then applied to paper.

•  Paste Paper – using a paste that has been colored with acrylics, coat paper and make designs using various tools.

Michele K. is at the paste paper table. The following photos show some of the paste papers drying.

•  Brayer Printing – wrap a brayer with textured items, apply inks or acrylics and roll on paper to print.

For the business part of the workshop there were twelve books for the exchange theme of "Book Game" (a book that's a game).

We also received a delightful gift of letters cut from discarded books which spelled NORBAG from Carol Stallard, her husband Butch, and Bonnie Julien.

It was Carol's idea that the letters be given to celebrate NORBAG's 20th anniversary. Her suggestion was for them to be used for exhibits etc. They started collecting various books almost a year ago.  Part of the fun was finding covers that reflected the letter in some way. It was a team effort. Bonnie traced the letters onto the books, Carol cut them on the band saw, Butch did the interior cuttings of the A, B, R, etc. with a scroll saw, and Bonnie did the finish sanding. Carol added the little tree (that was made during one of their play dates with Randi Parkhurst) in the middle of the O. Bonnie added a mini book made from old NORBAG newsletters to be placed inside the G. 

Don't forget to look at the exchange books on our Flickr page.  They will be up by the end of the month.

SURFACE DESIGN

   Are you ready to play? The August workshop will be both messy and fun! Carolyn J., Terri T., & Vikki Y. will guide you through an afternoon of surface design techniques for making one-of-a-kind papers. Stations for exploring at least ten different techniques will be available...some familiar, some new...try as few or as many as you like. These techniques all emphasize playfulness, spontaneity and exploration, plus an openness to serendipity over control. Workshops will be set up both in and out of doors. All basic materials will be provided.

Materials & Tools To Bring:

• An apron or wear old clothes
• Rubber gloves
• A hat (if it's a sunny day)
• A brayer (any size, if you have one)
• Papers to experiment with (some will be provided, but variety is always good.

What Will Be Provided:

• Stacks of miscellaneous paper
• All inks, paints, dyes
• All tools needed to create at least 10 different surface designs
• Printed explanations of each technique

WHEN:   Saturday, August 8 at 12 noon

WHERE: Carolyn's house. please check the newsletter for directions

RSVP:    By Aug. 6 to Carolyn (contact information in the newsletter) 

COST:    None