Radiantly Gothic

On Saturday I got to combine two of my favorite things:  taking a class with Lynne Perrella, and spending time with friends.  Pat, Heidi, Michele and I headed downtown to Westbeth's classroom to take the Ink Pad sponsored Radiant Gothic Triptych class.  Say that five times fast.

I've lost track of the number of classes and weekend workshops I've taken with Lynne.  Sometimes I'm asked if I don't get tired of it.  Short answer: NO!  Explanation:  I always learn something new.  Always.  And I just love the sense of community that Lynne promotes in every class.  As she always says, "you have to find your tribe."  If your friends and family don't understand your art, find some people who will.  Your tribe.

The current issue of Somerset Studio just so happens to have a full article by Lynne, in which she explains how the triptych came to be.  Our class project is based on the piece she did.  Check it out if you can.

We began with a wood triptych (unassembled at this point), which we sanded and painted.  We applied gothic images that we colored with oil pastels, added trim, gems, and a whole lot of stenciling.

 

 

I am not really great at photographing shiny stuff, and the bling and metallic paint are causing some glare.  The colors are way richer in person, and I am really happy with the way this came out.  I'm also thrilled to have figured out how to attach the hinges so they aren't visible from the front.  Don't ask how long that took.  My brain is just not wired that way.

 

 

While it really isn't necessary to decorate the backs of the three pieces, I decided to anyway.  I kind of like the way the triptych looks partially closed, with just the face peeking out, and I wanted the side panels to have a little something on them.  Lynne had given us extra images, so that's what I used.

 

 



 

Check out the fabulous stenciling on the back of the center panel.  I finally got to use the fleur de lis stencil Michelle Ward did for Stencil Girl.  Isn't it fabulous! I overlayed it on top of another stencil in a different color of metallic paint.  Very cool effect.  (And you can also see how the hinges were attached).

 

 

 

 

Speaking of Michelle Ward and Lynne Perrella, they are teaming up to teach a three day workshop called Far Away Places.  It is happening in May at the lovely Interlaken Hotel in Connecticut.  I know I'll be there.  How about you?  Details are on Lynne's site, and I believe there may be some spots open.