Painted Nature Collage, Outdoor Painting and Community Experiences

Using the earth and its elements as the foundation of artistic inspiration, texture and form you can tap into my vast collections of leaves, soils, lichens and more and learn some of my trade secrets.

• 5 weeks
• July 7 through August 4th
• $150 + $25 materials Fee (one ticket pays for all 5 weeks)
• All materials provided

We begin by exploring how to work with delicate and fragile materials like lichen, seaweed and leaf skeletons and begin making and learning about the best adhesives to use, participants will adhere their natural forms to multiple painting supports and create a nature filled textural composition. Then we use a layer of white gesso or primer to prepare our nature collage to be painted. We will explore which type of varnish works best to protect and seal the natural materials. In the next workshop we create layers of poured and painted ink which sink into the details of the painting. With guidance and demonstrations students will learn to add detail to our painting with acrylic paint to their series of nature collage paintings.

These techniques of adhering natural materials, layering them, priming, painting and sealing them are very unique. We will be using various textures of soil, different types of leaves and dried flowers as well as lichens to create eco inspired compositions that draw on the glorious perfection of natural forms and the sensuous textures that can be found in nature.

A lovely painting made by a student in my Painted Nature Collage class taught through the Santa Rosa Junior College Lifelong Learning program.

Host or Publisher Amanda Rose Hopkins @ Riley Street Art Supply