All DeMeng'd

Well today's class with Michael DeMeng was FABULOUS! He would have to rate amongst the best teachers ever. He was entertaining and informative - I learnt so much today. I've got a headache - probably because all that new knowledge is trying to find a new home in my brain - I can feel it jostling with 1980s song lyrics and old phone numbers for residence in my memory. Here I am playing grasshopper to the master DeMeng. Just look at the look of concentration on my face as I absorb Michael's words:

I'm stroking my imaginary beard, and I'm forgetting to suck in my gut. **Thanks Jo for the photo**

Michael took us through treatment of a transparency, adding texture to a flat surface, paint techniques using Golden acrylics (my new fave product), and what I thought was the best bit, spent the last hour of the day giving a critique of everyone's work. I found this bit valuable because with his artist's eye, Michael broke down each piece, and from his interpretation I could work out why I liked a particular piece, or why it may not have pleased my eye. For example, he said the eye is drawn into nooks and crannies (eg keyholes), so you'd better put something in that space, or people viewing your art will feel a bit ripped off. His words will resound in my ears when I next try a composition - his lovely smooth voice and captivating laugh.

I guess you want to see what I made. For the first piece, I started with this:

.......and ended up with this:

This second piece started life out as a clock. I picked it up at a market for $1, added some black paint at the bottom and some verdigris effect at the top.

Keep in mind I'm not happy with them as complete pieces - I'm treating them as examples of techniques to help jog the memory when I next start a piece.
Here are some ATCs I made for swapping:

This is the one I gave Michael. This little couple remind me of him and Judy - so happy in love.

Well that's it folks - if my camera batteries had held out a little longer, I'd have had photos of everyone else's work to show you as well. My favourite piece for the day was Julian's, so be sure to check out her blog in the next few days for a photo of that. Also see Jo's, Gail's, Jenny's, Greta's, Liz's and Kathy's- they did some fabulous work too. I had such a fun day - even tho I had to stare at Jo's ARSEmblage all day ;)). A special thanks must go to Barb Conroy, who sat next to me and had to stand up and let me through every time I got another bright idea. Poor thing - I hope your legs are not too sore!