Tea Book

 

This has to be the ugliest book cover I have ever made. It was my first time to ever make an embossed cover and use Modge Podge, which I will never use again. Then the burgundy color for the cover not only doesn't photograph well, it doesn't look that good in real life. The highlights are copper. The letters are cut from leather and also the metallic copper color. I have never used a ribbon to tie a journal shut before or used cheesecloth as head and tail bands. But other than that it was a win. The inside has turned out fine. The purpose is to house all of my collected tea ephemera.

I did crochet edging on one page.

Inside I included two woodblock reduction carvings I did in 2009. The blue one is on rice paper. The teal one is on printmaking paper.

Also I put in one of my old watercolors of a stack of my teacups.

The first page in the book is a paper weaving I did 20 years ago. Also included in the journal are blank tea-stained papers for notes, maps, antique tea labels, tea bag tags, and tea envelopes or packets, ribbons, and other packaging from tea shops I have collected.

Hang in there

Last week I forgot to pack the snow pics I had taken for my Wednesday group. Luckily I found one of the tea cup set ups so the morning wasn't a waste.  Then I forgot to post the small painting. Probably because I really didn't like the results. I can't paint the detail that the delicate tea cups require on paper this rough. I know it is suppose to be cold press but it seems a bit rough for that finish. Anyway enough excuses this is my final go at the teacups for now. The first photo is where I ended on Wednesday. When I got home I decided to put in a neutral background. Then I went darker and the second photo was the end result.

Three Tea Cups in Watercolor

I have decided that I am just fickle, the medium that I like best is the one that I am working at that time. This little watercolor was very sad before I added the patterns to the cups. Not quite complete but about 90% finished at this point. The cups and saucers (yes there are two of them even if the division between them isn't very obvious) are a bit wonky and it hasn't earned a frame but at least I am painting. I think my "crisis" is not what medium to paint in but subject matter. Nothing has really inspired me recently. Need to keep my camera handy and my eyes open. 

Only 3 Cups (3rd session)

Put in some more details, highlights but I think I need more darks. Granted it is white but there isn't enough contrast right now to show the curvature of the cups and the delineation of the cup bowls and handles. Like the background and shadow. Finding out that I much prefer the smooth surface to the canvas texture on these boards.

Only 3 Cups (2nd session)

Continuing working on this little painting. Painting in acrylics is fun and is bringing me joy no matter the subject. Enjoying this much more than the watercolors or oriental brush paintings I have worked on recently. Must get some more canvases/boards in different sizes and proportions. Figured out that by adding a touch of gel medium to the paint it is easier to apply to this canvas textured board.

Only 3 Cups

Started another 6" x 6" acrylic tea cup painting. I bought four panels late last year. Two of the panel were only 1/8" thick with a smooth very slick finish. Thought I wouldn't like them but I did. The other two panels are 3/4" thick with a primed canvas texture. The texture may be too much for such a small area now that I have started laying in the painting. I am liking the strong opaque quality of acrylic although I know some of the pigments are transparent which is also a good attribute in some cases. It is more fun to paint with than watercolor at this point. But really like watercolor for my sketchbook and laying out compositions.

Three Stacked Tea Cups

This little painting is another on a 6" x 6" board. Nothing has inspired me to paint it lately. So I defaulted to the theory paint what ever you see, you might fall in love with the subject. Well not exactly but it is good to paint. Now should I proceed with the other 2 compositions I set up? Not sure but decided to do the same set up in acrylic and then in watercolor. 

The 8" x 10" watercolor isn't finished. This was painted in Catherine Hillis Wednesday watercolor class. I need to think what direction to go with it, or stick it in the flat file for awhile. Should I darken the background, darken the foreground, or add the china patterns to the cups?

tea cup thumbnail

Some composition sketches for a new painting series.