Monday, January 25, 2016

Watercolor for Card Makers - Intermediate Techniques


January 25, 2016

I'm excited to be starting a new class today, something I've wanted to learn more about since my mother took her first watercolor class.  I hope she's looking down and smiling !


The class is called Watercolor for Card Makers - Intermediate Techniques




http://onlinecardclasses.com/WC-IT/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/WC-IT_participant.png www.onlinecardclasses.com

and it's presented by Online Card Classes.  I've had my supplies for a month or more, but realized painting in watercolor was a LOT  harder than I thought it would be.  No, you can't just pick up a brush and become a Georgia O'Keeffe overnight. Time to get some education!

I'll be using this blog post to save some of my class work. Honestly,  it's really for my own benefit and allows me a location to upload to the class gallery.  I know most of you are fellow soap makers and that's typically what I've blogged about, so I hope you'll forgive.

If you're interested in watercolor, feel free to comment or link to your own work, I'd love to see it !!  Or just stick around and watch me attempt to learn more about this technique.
Today is the first day, so there's still time to jump in if you'd like to join !


My best,
Suzy


My first attempt at watercolor prior to class.

 

Day 1 homework -   wet on wet technique, color dropping
 

Day 2 homework - brush technique, color blending.  Those are supposed to be cornflowers on the bottom left !

 
 
Day 5 and 6 techniques: florals and leaves   - This is going to take lots of practice !!



 
 
For anyone interested in watercolor, I highly recommend this class.  It breaks techniques down into manageable blocks of time, has several videos each day presented by guest artists with different styles and offers supply recommendations but continually stress to use what you have available to you. If that's Crayola watercolors and a .50 cent brush, so be it.  They just want you give it your best and have fun!





Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Great Cakes Soap Challenge November 2015 - The Tall & Skinny Shimmy !

Tatsiana Serko is truly a soap master. She makes this technique look so effortless!  It took me two attempts, but I was finally able to achieve something close to the goal.  I can just see an entire series using this technique with color gradients. I'll certainly give it another try because I think the results can be stunning.

Here are the seven colors I used: 
Pearl Yellow (TKB),  Bronze Mica (TKB), Shamrock Green (The Conservatory), Peach  Sunset (The Conservatory), Mermaid's Gold (TKB), Peak Green (one of my favorite greens from The Conservatory) and Coral Reef Blue (TKB).

I fragranced this soap with Forest Essential Blend from Essential Wholesale Lab.  It behaved like a dream and is a subtle fragrance.  

I didn't bevel these bars as I think it would detract from the design.

Thanks for visiting !!

Suzy 
www.spoonbridgesoaps.com and www.artbottega.com Artista Bottega Art Gallery at 937 W. 7th Street in the Lowertown art district of St. Paul, Minnesota.




Monday, November 9, 2015

Eight new soaps on sale at www.spoonbridgesoaps.com !

New soaps now available!    www.spoonbridgesoaps.com

Dirty Hippie
Tinsel & Garland
Pearberry
Rosemary & Mint
Beeswax & Honey Plus Champagne
Mermaid's Gold
Cranberry Rose
and
Bai Cha & Ginger

Also available at Artista Botttega at 937 W. 7th St. in St. Paul if you're in the area....it's a fun shop with all sorts of original artwork, antiques and gift items.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Spoonbridge Soaps now for sale at Artista Bottega Art Gallery, 937 7th Street W, St. Paul, Minnesota !



Spoonbridge Soaps is excited to announce that our products are being sold at Artista Bottega Art Gallery in St. Paul!  If you're in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area and looking for a unique gift item, Artista Bottega is the place to go. Artists from the Lowertown area have works on sale and the items are ever changing. 

Check out this quaint gallery !! 

~Suzy