I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Saturday 17 January 2015

Workshop Worship Part 1 - Andy Skinner

Hello all, and a warm welcome on this chilly January day.  Thank you for all your lovely comments on my illuminated book at PaperArtsy.  I promise I will get around to returning some visits very soon!

For now, I'm finally getting around to sharing some of what I made at the November workshop with Andy Skinner that I was lucky enough to go to.  We were at It's Crafting Time in Shepreth - a great space, and we had a fantastic time, Saturday and Sunday.

I won't let you in on the techniques - they're Andy's to share - but here are some photos of what we created.  Some of them I added my favourite rusty wire to after I got home!

We were working with the DecoArt Media Line both days.  On the Saturday, we created what Andy calls "Antiquated Appliques", layered panels made of foamboard.  Having given us the basic techniques for these panels, we were basically free to play and create what we wanted, with Andy offering expert tips and advice as we played.


I made two separate "Appliques" with the materials we were given...


... working in my favourite blues and browns.  Every time I did try to go in another colour direction, I ended up coming back again!





We were creating rusty effects...










 ... and crackle...













... and weathered looks.












Those are real nails, rusted up with some more DecoArt.

But the flat nail heads are just cardboard, as you've seen before.











I love all the textures and crackle on both pieces, with that lovely sheen from the colours.













And I love the layering of the elements to create loads of dimension.












I was rather pleased with the finish on this heart - and it got a word of praise from the master himself!














And the weathered edges to the crackle really make me happy, as do those "iron girders".





On the Sunday, we altered this wooden book box using different techniques on each of the mosaic panels.


Again, we played with a wealth of different techniques, but this time Andy took us all through it panel by panel.  Obviously we still had a free colour choice... hmmm, what should I choose?!






Love this silvery "metal" panel...  (Now there's a stamp I'll be buying as soon as it's available - watch out for Andy's new releases, they're amazing!)







Love this really cool scratched look - done (surprise, surprise) by scratching the panel!!














Such brilliant weathering and decay - Andy is a paint magician!













You've seen the rusty nail heads putting in an appearance on several projects here at Words and Pictures (like my Merry Little Christmas ATCs).











Best use of tissue tape ever!













You'll recognise techniques from both days - I used some of them on my Secret Santa offering for A Vintage Journey.












And on the back we used the same technique we used for our altered notebooks earlier in the year.  (That's where you also saw the rusty compass if it's bugging you!)












We got a chance to use some of the new stencils and stamps which are part of Andy's release at this CHA...









Let's just say I've been saving up to get hold of some of them as soon as I can!

Well, as you can see, I had the most fantastic weekend.  I think Andy's work is fabulous, his techniques are beyond brilliant, and the workshops were such fun.  A huge thank you to him for the inspiration, and to Nina at It's Crafting Time for the organisation.  Now all I need is more time to play...

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend.





The mediocre teacher tells.  The good teacher explains.  The superior teacher demonstrates.  The great teacher inspires.
William Arthur Ward

60 comments:

maria's knutselplezier said...

Woooooow, What a fantastic work of ART , I really love it, great use of mixed media materials, love the rusty effects on the iron, I really would like to have an workshop with you or with Andy skinner, I could learn a lot of you!!!

Have a nice weekend
Maria

Unknown said...

Oh I'm in love! I've been Andy's fan for quite some time and you really listened, didn't you :) it's absolutely gorgeous and the rusty pieces are great! Love, love!! Xxx

Helen said...

You sure had a great weekend making these, what fabulous pieces you've created! Love the crackled heart, and all the rust is fantastic!

brenda said...

Another super creation Alison.

Hope you have a lovely weekend.

B x

Unknown said...

WOW that must have been some workshop!! These pieces are pure works of art!!! Plus there's nothing wrong sticking with a colour palette you know and love, blues and Browns are just gorgeous, as evident in your work above xx

froebelsternchen said...

This pieces are just G*O*R*G*E*O*U*S...

that must have been a fantastic workshop!

Amanda said...

Alison WOW! Love these, what a fabulous weekend this must have been. It's all fabulous and that rust technique looks scrummy, I especially love the heart and keep going back for another look.
Love
Amanda x

chrissie said...

Stunning works of art and something I have never seen before. The colours are very Alison and fit the techniques so well. It must have been amazing to see them develop into these master pieces.

Love Chrissie

massofhair said...

DecoArt paints and mediums are fantastic to work with aren't they! 🌟

Your choice of colours is as always fantastic and right up my street.

Glad you enjoyed the weekend workshops, both projects are awesome.

Andy has shown how to do a couple of the above techniques in a CHA video and am hoping to get a chance to try them very soon.

Did you know Tesco now sells foamboard? Saw it last week in a local store while getting copier paper, was quite surprised to find it there lol.

Thank you for sharing your works of heARt :-) xxx

Pamellia said...

Holy cow Alison, not sure where to begin! My favourite colour combo too! The rusted and distressed metals are out of this world, I can't believe how real they look, wow!! The nail heads are great, and I love that you threw in some real nails! These pieces are just incredible, I want to reach out and touch them! So lucky of you to attend one of his workshops, that must have been a fabulous time!! Have a great weekend, hugs :)

Ruth said...

Well what a wonderful way to start to the day, I'm in crafty heaven.........AWESOME!! you can do blue and brown all the time as far as I'm concerned. Fabulous close ups. I so want to take one of Andy's workshops, it's been on my wish list for a long time, such inspiring work. Ruth x

Fliss said...

Absolutely stunning and so beautifully textured Alison and I love the colour theme too.
Lucky you to have classes by Andy too as he's such an amazingly inspirational teacher.
Fliss xx

Cardgenie said...

Alison, these pieces have blown me away - you are so lucky to have done one of Andy's classes - the results are amazing - love, love, love them. Thanks so much for sharing. Jean.x

Nan G said...

Love love love......LOVE! How lucky of you to attend a workshop with Andy! I hope he puts some of these techniques in an online class for those who can't attend his workshops. Your pieces are amazing! Love all that rusted goodness...and those crackled weathered textures. Swoon...

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

All I can say is STUNNING....think Mr Skinner may have you as a rival ruster soon too ;)

Big hugs
Donna xxx

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Andy's workshops are great, I was lucky too to follow one of him, while he was in the Netherlands.
And you show such a gorgeous make...woww....
Greetings, Alie :-)

Ellie Knol said...

It is really adorable, wish I could have attended these classes, :)

Redanne said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous work Alison - that must have been the most fantastic workshop to attend. Your creations are stunning! Anne xx

Terry said...

Taking his online class, I was so amazed at the real talent this man has and not to mention he is a technique KING! Alison, I love your incredible work, so beautiful! I am so hoping that he will start doing classes in the US! Have a great weekend. Hugs!

Rosie said...

Ooooh, wowowowow, Alison this is absolutely gorgeous. Great pieces of art

Have a wonderful weekend

Krisha said...

Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful creations. Just stunning effects!!!!!

experiments in paper said...

Andy is brilliant and so are you! What a fabulous display of techniques in the Butterfly style! xx Lynn

sally said...

Looks to have been a fab course, something I miss from my Embroiderers Guild days! Not managed to go on one for 3 years now :-(

Sally

Cocofolies said...

They are fabulous Alison, I fell in love with the wooden book in particular, but all is really amazing. Thank you for sharing with so many beautiful pics and details all these projects!!!
And of course I have LOVED your own project for Paper Artsy, your illuminated bood was an genious idea!! Coco xxx

Cocofolies said...

I forget to tell you to go on my blog when you can... You will see a little make inspired by your wintry pages lol, thank you :)

craftytrog said...

Fantastic makes Alison, that rusty looking heart is so beautiful! xxx

Dagmar said...

oh wow - it´s so fantastic - what greats work of art!!!!!!

Julie Lee said...

What a feast for the eyes this post was! I love all this marvellous crackle and the rusty heart is 'to die for'! What amazing paint effects and excellent rusting. I love these wonderful blues and browns so much. What a great weekend you must have had and what great art you created. Thank you for brightening this dark winter's day with your glorious work. xxx

Meggymay said...

Wow, stunning project, good to see all the close up photos, loved all the textures , even the rusty nails.
Yvonne xx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

You made so much, and it's rustilicious!!!! The more I learn and see from Andy, the more I LOVE his work and products. I'd love to take a class!

Renee said...

I'm embarrassed at how many times I've gone back to look at this again. Absolutely amazing and stunning work. I dream of taking a class with Andy. I love the blues that you used, beautiful against the rust color.

Lucy Edmondson said...

This sounds like a great workshop and you have done Andy proud with your great work!

Lucy x

Jackie PN said...

Alison!
Where do I begin? Your pieces are breathtaking! You have achieved the Andy Skinner look and beyond! You really have taken his techniques to your own signature level- your color palette and design and style are so evident to me! I am truly in awe!When shall you be touring and teaching? ")
I do love Mr. Skinner's art, teaching and way with DecoArt- I only hope to someday take a class in person from him. Maybe you and he will be here on the same teaching circuit? hmmm?
love and hugs and all good things!

Rupa Swaminathan said...

All works of beauty, Alison. What an amazing workshop and thank you so much for sharing all these works! The different elements, textures and colors are stunning! The heart is the show steal-er, LOVE it. Thanks as always for your inspiring works!

Shirley said...

You are also a paint magician Alison every piece your create is definitely made with your magical hands and magical mind.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

Shilpa Nagaonkar said...

Stunning creations, Alison!!

Dorthe said...

Amazing is not enough here, dear Alison, what a magnificent and fantastic project, you created. The rust is goegeous with the aqua and blue tones, and all the stenciling and crackling so masterly done .
I love every inch of what you created.
Hugs from Dorthe

Claire said...

Wow! These projects are so stunning! Lucky you attending that workshop - all that beautiful crackling and rustiness is fab! And it's great that you've used the new techniques you learned in new projects, I love being able to recreate parts of a workshop successfully at home. Claire x

Anneke said...

This just looks gorgeous.nthanks for your trip showing us
how you made it. You can be proud of yourself. Wonderful .
Thanks for inspiring me Anneke.

Paper Profusion said...

Gosh Alison, these are so so impressive!! I LOVE your terrifically authentic looking rust and delectable trademark blues! Will have to get my mitts on this latest crackle. I'm not surprised your tutor heaped praise for your results. All gorgeous, gorgeous work. You make a wonderful 'advertisement' for the new media wares and Andy's techniques. Nicola x

Kay Wallace said...

Such impressive work, Alison! I lot all that texture, the color palette is my favorite ever, and your rusty bits are the perfect embellishment! Way to go!

cathylynn said...

What a blessing to create a weekend in Andy's classes. Each of your pieces of art are phenomenal. I love the textures, colors and rust ! All so amazing.
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

pearshapedcrafting said...

Just drooled at all those fabulous layers, textures and colours! You lucky girl!! Andy is a great teacher although I've only been lucky enough myself to have attended one of his workshops! Hugs, Chrisx

Corrie Herriman said...

Wow, love your projects ! I was lucky enough to follow the Antiquated Appliques workshop also and I enjoyed it very much. Looks like you did too ! Brilliant !
Corrie x

Kirsten said...

They look spectacularly fabulous! I'm glad you had such a great time.

barbarayaya62 said...

Your post is fantastic! There are so much things to look! These projects are stunning, all stunning! Really wonderful! BArbarayaya

Juliz Design Post said...

I'm drooling over these projects Alison, they are so inspirational and what an amazing time you must have had.
Julie x

Sue said...

These are gorgeous Alison, I love the rusty effect. I envy you taking an Andy Skinner class, this is something I would love to do xx

Unknown said...

Holy Moly!! All three of these projects are amazing, Alison!! You are soooo lucky to have gotten to spend a whole weekend learning from Andy Skinner!! I think I'll be enrolling in his online classes :) If I can't be there in person to learn, then I'll learn from afar...just like I do with you!! XOXO-Shari

Julia said...

Love, love, love those rusty things. You are so lucky to have been to one of Andy Skinner's workshops, I love his work. These projects are amazing, totally your style and beautiful. x

Astrid Maclean said...

Running behind myself again like usual.... but so glad I came to have a look at this.... Amazing pieces and I am a deep shade of green, I would love to do a workshop with Andy, the effects you have achieved are truly amazing, oops, sorry, repeating myself, but they really are, - specially love the heart panel, but that book box is so cool too. Can't wait to see the stamps and stencils IRL.... more for that never ending wishlist...

Karenliz Henderson said...

WOW what stunning creations. Absolutely gorgeous. Love all the antiqued and rusty effects. Amazing.

mark gould said...

Absolutely stunning Alison, the attention to detail as always is amazing, great finishing touches x

Karin said...

Both are utterly gorgeous

Princess Judy Palmer said...

You certainly were right in your elements with Andy's workshops, weren't you?! The end results are just fabulous and look like they were fun to make!

Brenda Brown said...

Love how you have taken Andy's techniques and made them your own, I can see you in these wonderful projects so clearly. xxx

Marjie Kemper said...

Oh my goodness! These are positively stunning. Love the texture, the colors.... the works!

Elly said...

Well, after scrolling down half an hour and being the 58th comment, is there anything i can say which wasn't already written from your other fan's? Maybe uber cool and/or utterly stunning! :o) Holy cow, the blue colours look amazing next to the rust. xoxo

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow I so wish I could take a class with him, this makes are totally rusty delight and all the fab details wow. Happy Art :-) Kezzy xxx

www.deeadamsart.blogspot.co.uk said...

This is amazing Alison I can't believe i missed this post I really must get myself on a coarse with Andy. This is absolutely stunning. x