Botanical Monotype Collage Starts Friday!

I'm very excited about my new live online class, Botanical Monotype Collage, which begins on Friday.  It's packed with content and covers sooooooo many art-making techniques.

You are probably familiar with the idea of making pretty papers on the gelatin plate and then using them for collage.  That is NOT what we are doing.

Class one is all about creating the stuff you will use in your artwork -- a mixture of "base layers" and collage papers (and I will be sharing how to tell the difference between the two).  You will also learn:

• The basics of gelatin printing.
• How to get the perfect pull.
• Using stencils in your gelatin printing -- both positive and negative images.
• How to choose which stencils to use.
• How to print with flowers and leaves, three ways.
• How different brands/types of acrylic paint can affect your print.
• Choosing a color palette.
• Why a color palette matters.
• How to clean your plate the lazy way.
• How to create a super simple printing matrix for perfect print registration every single time.

Class two is all about creating great designs -- using collage, printing, and drawing!  You will learn:

• The basics of collage (from smooth papers to which glue to use when).
• How to determine which monotypes are keepers and which are collage fodder.
• My five tips for great design.
• Understanding of opacity/transparency and how to make paints more opaque and more transparent.
• The secrets of layering.
• When to use collage.
• When to use printing. 
• When to use drawing. (Even if you can't draw.)
• How to know where to place your collage elements.
• Making your own stencils, including how to create a design that works.
• How to make collage paper based on your monotypes.
• How to re-register something once you've removed it from the printing matrix.

Class three is all about pulling those compositions together into finished artwork!  Yay!  So many students tell me that they can't tell when their work is done, so I wanted to spend a good chunk of time on this question.  You will learn:

• What it takes to create a clear focal point.
• Drastic moves to save a disastrous piece.
• The signature finishing touches that make your work yours.
• How to fix "mistakes."
• How to mat your artwork.

Things to know:

• Class is recorded, so you won't miss out on anything if you can't make it to the live classes. 
• You can download the recordings and keep them forever.
• There is an online classroom where you can share your artwork and get feedback from me and the other students between classes.
• If you're looking at the enormous lists of the things you'll learn and thinking that I've smushed together a bunch of classes into one big class...you're right.  I've taken all of my favorite things to do and created a class for you!
• This class is appropriate for beginners through advanced students.  As a teacher, I always try to meet you where you are and create an experience that challenges and encourages you, wherever you are in your art journey.  Much like an exercise class for all levels, I can offer modifications to beginners and more complicated ideas to advanced students. 😁
• As a reminder, we are taking our inspiration from nature, but your final work doesn't necessarily have to be representational or botanical!

I hope to see you in class!  Sign up today and don't miss out!

Thanks for stopping by!