Trees stand alone in their unmeasurable magnificence. However, for some reason, we humans, can not help but feel urges to accessorize them with various ritual adornments: carvings, graffiti, taggings, lights, misc. objects, and even wrap them with knittings and other man-made materials. For centuries, trees have been used by us as platforms on which to recite our not-so-subtle poetry, a surface on which to assert our visual messages, a vessel through which to carry our voices onto the world. In this workshop we will have an opportunity to do all of the above, guilt-free. We will create a book of trees. In a guerilla journaling fashion, taking references from street art, we will dress up our trees with our faux grunge, stenciled images, found-on-the-street papers, photocopies, scribbles, tags, and words. We will impress our trees with visual stories and expressive messages of independence and rebellion, creating a book that is filled with vibrancy and texture, rich imagery, and lively spirit.
Supply List:
- A children's board book, pre-sanded and gessoed or peeled off of glossy outer layers (quite therapeutic)
- B+W photocopies of photographs of your face (photocopied with a darker setting to achieve sharp contrast)
- Water-based spray dyes, various colors of Adirondack Color Wash by Ranger
- A couple of sheets of sandpaper (different grits)
- Molding paste (by Golden or Liquitex)
- Matte Medium (Golden or Liquitex)
- 2 ziplock bags with found-on-the-street papers, by you. One for you, the other for our 'bank of finds'
- White and black Gesso
- Various Acrylic paints, and painting supplies (brushes, paper towel, water container, etc.)
- Masking tape, Black and Tan
- Scissors
- X-acto knife and cutting mat (an old plastic placemat will do)
- Favorite pens for lettering, sharpies, Copic markers, and such
- Stenciling sponges (on a handle)
- Heat gun (optional)
Teacher will Bring:
- Square baskets of curiosities and other related imagery and ‘tools’
A Little About ME
I truly believe that the need to be witnessed by the self and by others is a human-core-need to be fulfilled by the act of creating. Therefore, a compelling part of my journey is the teaching of art making and visual journaling. As a young adult in Israel, I had studied Fine Arts in an artists' village nestled at the foot of Mount Carmel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, and later, in the Netherlands, Graphic Design at the University of Arts in the contemporary yet history-drenched city of Utrecht. Now living by the beach of Southern California with my family, I take in all the magnificence of the landscapes that shaped me and of the visual languages I have acquired along the way. I am passionate about the process of marrying multiple media to create a unique visual experience for both the eye and the spirit.
