The texture workshop using Powertex art materials this past weekend was so inspirational. Each participant adds a dynamic to the work room that is benificial to everyone attending, including myself. Facilltating is twofold as I always seem to aquire new knowledge for my toolbox as well. It never fails-put a group of artists in a room with materials and fresh approches to its use explode!  It is a pleasure to teach these workshops and share with other artists the benefits of adding this innovative material to their artmaking process. Powertex is definitely a mixed media asset not to be missed.

The first day techniques for creating heavily textured backgrounds are explored using Stoneart and dry pigments. Participants learn how to mix clay from liquid Powertex and Stoneart and form design elements. Collage work and hardening paper are touched on and our canvases are left to dry overnight, ready and waiting for the next days work.

Day two encompasses the qualities of Powertex as a fabric hardener, collage medium, painting medium, sculpting material and its many other applications. The different elements are brought together in one piece giving the participant a 'sampler' of usages to take home. We finish off with a group critique and go home with our heads jammed  full of new ideas!

The current 3D project has to do birds (of course). Here they are ready to be sealed using transparent Powertex to harden the paperclay. I built the armature from wire and foil covered in masking tape then fleshed everything out with the clay. As soon as it's all dry other components can be added. The idea sparked with plastic handles  dismantled from an old gaming joystick. The handles looked like minature caps from some sort of mad scientist experiment, all that was needed was a figure underneath. Well, that's an  understatement....I'll be adding a number of interesting oddities and paint and such.