Little Pieces of Art by Brandie Butcher- Isley

She's On Her Way

 

"She's on Her Way"

My daughter Ali graduates high school in May of this year.  She has switched her college major plans from science to photography/film just this last semester.  Of course I am quite happy with this decision, but I feel a little bad for her knowing of her great love for science.  I am confident she will be taking the elective science course or two each semester, and science is so relative to art as is evident in the amazing work that she does. The main obstacle she faces is not having taken any art courses throughout her high school career.  She has one photography class to her credit in 9th grade, all other credits were geared toward a potential engineering career, so she will be going to DMACC for awhile to build the photography portfolio and art credits she will need to get into an art institute.

Yes, she is on her way... and even though she will be close to us for a couple more years yet, it hurts my heart to know she will be moving from our home soon...

Ali is the perfect example of a young woman who is true to herself, and never afraid to follow her heart... 

Thank you all for looking,

Brandie

I Don't Know What I Want to be Yet"

 

Isn't that why we have to cause trouble all the time?  We are just out here figuring out who we are and where we want to be.

The first layer on this piece is made of paste paper.  This technique uses light weight paper over flat objects such as letter stencils, torn paper, tape, whatever you can come up with.  You dampen the paper and spread a mixture of paste you've made in 3 different colors across the paper.  Then you take a credit card and scrape the paint off, leaving a rubbing of the image underneath. The paste mixture gives the paper body and strength. The finished papers have a nice dimensional quality.

I used book paper.  It's lightweight, but strong. It is not unlike the paper book pages are printed on.

Paste mixture:

1/4 cup light molding paste

1/4 teaspoon of fluid acrylic paint

ZNE Convenzione Is Just Around the Corner!

 

VariaZioNe (ZNE) is a social networking group that has been a haven for me and many other mixed media and indie artists.  I have been beyond excited since learning of the amazing opportunity of being chosen as one of the 30 instructors to share their techniques at this incredible event. 

I am offering 2 fabulous workshops, as are several other artists on the talent packed teaching roster!  I myself do many workshops locally and am known for the fun environment I bring to class. My students take home completed work, plus secrets and skills that go way beyond the classroom! There are many instructors on this roster that are well known for the workshops they teach and the national publications that have published their work and techniques!  What an opportunity it will be to meet them and learn from them! 

Please click on the image below to learn more about this event!  OH, the FUN WE WILL HAVE.

but wait...  don't click yet... 

If the current economic times have made it impossible for you to attend this event ZNE has developed two programs in response to the effect these hard economic times have had on the ability for many of you to join us at Convenzione. 

The spirit of community in ZNE shines through in the generosity put forth to make this event accessible to you! 

Links are provided for these below as well.  CHECK THEM OUT BEFORE YOU SAY NO!!!

ZNE's Scholarship:

The Mano Amica Program

and look...  Tell ZNE what you would like to participate in and how much you can afford and they will see if they can help:

The Pay What You Can Plan

What an opportunity for us to connect in person, one that should not be passed by...

So click the link above, and register today!

Thanks you!

Brandie

"Light Hearted"

  I have been doing a study...  I wanted to measure my improvements, or my changes.  I am interested in looking at how my work has evolved over the last couple of years.  My first piece in this study was Pride, my most recent post.  Now I have redone "Light Hearted".  I have included a scan of the first piece of this title at the end of this post.

I stayed pretty true to the composition with some sutle improvements.  One definite change in my work is the use of paint and various mediums.  I am not afraid of paint anymore.  This took some time and courage.  I have never been confident in my painterly skills, despite the encouragement from teachers and my family and friends.

This piece was created on size an 8 x 12 x 2 inch masonite cradled panel.  I have included below the sides of this piece.  When given the dimensions to work with I will often carry the work onto the sides.  This piece has a little paper and a lot of paint on the sides... I have sanded to bring out the paper edges slightly.  The only design carried over is the sun rays.

 

The image below is a scan of the "light hearted" ATC created in 2006.  You will notice it is almost entirely of paper, scrapbook and decorative papers.  No paint or even ephemera...

 

Thank you all for looking!

Brandie