Plaster is a versatile and delicious surface to work on! You can achieve incredible texture and depth with very little effort and the options for surface creation are endless. In this workshop we will create a sampler of effects that can be achieved with this humble and inexpensive medium with the focus being on making your own richly textured substrates. A variety of options will be taught and you will get to explore the way plaster responds to paint when the plaster is still uncured (what we will make in class) and cured (what I will provide to you that has been pre-made).
We will push paint around in washes and opaque coverage. We will scratch into the plaster and cover it with more plaster and resist techniques. We will combine plaster with fabric and cardboard and wood. In the end, you will have a wide range of effects and substrates that you have learned to make which you can now translate into your own art forms.
Supply List:
- 1 roll 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)
- 2-4 pieces of corrugated cardboard in whatever size you want – no larger than 10 x 10
- ¼” yard of quilting weight cotton muslin (printed or plain – doesn’t matter)
- scissors
- apron
- mark-making tools such as inexpensive wood carving tools, awl, combs, etc.
- 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)
- palette paper or tray
- brushes including 1, 1-2”wide brush + 1 fine detail brush + 1 filbert (optional)
- water container
- 1 big plastic garbage bag
- Rags – terry cloth or t-shirt material, not just paper towels. IMPORTANT!
Optional:
- 4-6 small wood substrates (I recommend 6 x 6 panels such as found here in whatever thickness you like: . Feel free to bring a variety of sizes if you prefer.)
- Collage ephemera
- Package of wipes (you’ll be glad you have them!)
- Gel medium for the ephemera (I will have some on hand) – just a little bit is fine
- Heat gun or hair dryer
Teacher will bring:
- wood panels for each student
- plaster and plaster products
- plaster coated burlap for each student
- 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.
