How the Universe Works

By total serendipity, I found myself in Lynn Perella's class on Saturday. I wasn't totally prepared art supply-wise, but my classmates were very kind and generous and shared anything I found myself needing without a second thought. Luckily, I keep my artbox stocked with basic supplies so I had paint brushes, gesso, scissors, etc and managed just fine.

I bought Lynn's book, Alphabetica in February as soon as it hit the shelves here in Canada and though I had looked through it many, many times and even gone so far as to tab the pages that especially spoke to me, I really had no idea how to achieve the beautiful layers Lynn makes. After Saturday's class, that is no longer the great mystery it once was. This is one of the sections of a huge "canvass" I painted and collaged in class. (My favourite section.)

There were a couple of supplies I was pretty sure would be hard to find at home so I made sure I stopped and picked them up on the way home-the paper and water soluable pastels. Today I have spent the enitre day painting and collaging.












These are ATCs I made for a swap with friends created from papers I layered and collaged this morning. I turned the paper over when I cut it so that I wouldn't know what I was getting until I was finished cutting. I like the randomness of the cards. Some of the stamps came from the ephemera packets I received as trades at Artfest.

I really loved Lynn's class-she is very nurturing and makes sure she comes by and encourages you while you are working, which is something I really like from a teacher. It's good to know that you are on the right track.

At the beginning of Lynn's class, she asked us all to come and sit in a circle and share where you were from and what you do. By the time we went around the circle, we were all teary eyed. It was really nice to have a chance to slow down a bit (while our gesso was drying) and really connect with one another. At the end of the class, one of the ladies, Joyce came up to me and gifted me with all her brand new Golden Paints. She said she needed the room in her suitcase for things she bought at vendor's night and wanted to give them to someone she knew would appreciate them. She said she decided she wanted me to have them based on something I did for someone else. It was quite a surprise and reminded me that when you bless other people, you open yourself up to be blessed too. It was really sweet of her and something I will never forget.

So...here is today's bit of artful joy, made with paints from Joyce and inspiration from Lynn.