Mixed Media; art with the ability to inspire
- ashleighdwan
- Apr 19, 2016
- 2 min read
As a journalist I am always looking for an opportunity to write a story, so when an international artist was teaching at my Mum's work I figured I should go along and check it out. See the published version on the Glasshouse Country and Maleny News website in the April 20th edition here.
Pungent paint fumes fill the air as the door opens to Donna Downey’s “Metamorphosis” workshop, a 2-day mixed media and fabric art event held at Joybells Scrapbooking in Landsborough.
With the buzz of heat guns, bare feet and paint stained fingertips, 20 ladies have had their heart set on learning from one of the industry’s most famous US artists.
From Gladstone to Glasshouse, these women have travelled up to seven hours to be here for the weekend, leaving the housework and their families for the opportunity to develop their skills as artists.
But coming together in a group like this means more than meeting their idol as this workshop forms an inspirational and creative space to learn from one another.
Joy Muscillo, the owner of Joybells and mixed media artist herself, says, “it’s the creating and watching everyone else creating” that is so important about the weekend.
She says, “the inspiration is contagious” as you can practically feel the creativity when Donna talks about the importance of colour and the use of different mediums.
Mixed media is a specialist art form that requires the use of different layers to create the overall piece. This workshop looks at the idea of transformation, beginning with muslin fabrics and building structural layers before stenciling and adding coloured paint.
Although it’s only art, it speaks to the soul and is a spiritual process for the artists.
Where there was once a perception that art was scary, it is now something that allows you to make mistakes and learn from it. In a way mixed media is like taking a step back to your childhood, as your fingers become the main tool and paint is a medium to express yourself.
It has become so prominent that the lines are blurring between art and scrapbooking.
“It used to be sacrilege to add anything like that to your scrapbook page but now we are and there’s this crossover,” says Joy.
Donna, an all-round creative force and leading edge mixed media experimenter, loves the travel that is associated with her job and the receptive international audiences.
“I like hanging out with like-minded people, and that’s kind of a thrill.
“It’s nice to be in a whole room of people who get it when you get excited when you talk about paint,” she says.
This is the third time she has taught at Joybells in Australia after making contact with Joy at an international art convention and there are talks about another workshop next year.
You can visit Joybells Scrapbooking at 11 Maleny St, Landsborough and visit Donna’s website at http://www.donnadowney.com.
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