Sketching birds

This is a link to an interesting site.  I've been working on improving my sketching for my Certificate 4 Visual Arts (Textiles) because I am working on a mixed-media book in which I draw birds.  As I never drew anything except stick men until a couple of years ago, it's a big learning curve but I am getting better.  I find it less stressful to talk about sketching rather than drawing, it feels more relaxed and less perfectionistic.

Journals

I'm really enjoying art journalling at the moment.  True to form, I've bought some books about it and found a cool blog, and here is the link.

Tie-dye paper

I've been experimenting with tie-dyeing paper and post a photo here. This was a piece of white tissue paper which I pole-wrapped shibori-style and dyed with blue Procion dye.  Sorry about the floral background I photographed it on, but the blue crinkles give a good sea effect.

 

You can find more on tie-dyeing paper at Sarah Bell Smith's blog,

  http://sarahbellsmith.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/orizomegami.html

Sarah used to be one of my textile art teachers last year and does cool contemporary work.

Learning experience ...

I've been experimenting with making bookmarks, and after deciding my beaded ones were too bulky, I made some out of card.  I painted them with acrylic paint and stamped birds and other stamps on them with stamp pad ink.  After a few days they were still inclined to stick together, so I coated with with a coat of Mod Podge sealer - Oh!!! the ink from the stamps smeared and spoiled them.  I journalled about it and this is my journal page, in which I come to terms with it as "just something small".
Also, my web site is back to normal.