3D Projects
Altered Art: Powertex figurines

Posted on 25th May 2018 by Neil

It’s been some time since I have had my Powertex and old t-shirts out. This week, however, saw four new figurines completed. For the uninitiated, Powertex is a pigmented liquid textile hardener – add to absorbent fabrics/surfaces, squeeze out, drape and allow to dry. With the addition of varnish and more pigments, it is possible to create faux-bronze finishes.

A bit more detail

Ranging in height from 16½”/42cm to 23″/53cm, they stand on faux-granite wooden bases. The heads and shoulders are pre-cast plaster. Everything else is either a wooden dowel, masking tape, foil or an old t-shirt. I also raided my button box for suitable buttons to make brooches.

Art Journal
TV: Art Journal Extravaganza for That’s Crafty!

Posted on 21st May 2018 by Neil

I’m on your viewing screens again today, at 11am and 3pm. I’ll be demonstrating various mixed media techniques featuring an art journal bundle packed with specialist papers and card. Alongside this will be new stamps, stencils, paints and sprays from That’s Crafty!. The Design Team have produced some amazing samples – it’s worth tuning in just to see those.

You can watch on Sky 673, Freeview 85 or Freesat 817 or live at hochanda.com if you are an international viewer. You can also catch up using the TV schedule button on the Hochanda website up to 10 days after the shows go out.

If you have a moment, send some love (or some questions) to studio@hochanda.com and see if you can get your email on air!

Tangle Patterns
Tangle Pattern: Contorted Hazel

Posted on 19th May 2018 by Neil

Ok, a random new tangle pattern. This one is a little more narrative than step-by-step and is inspired by a contorted hazel outside The Studio. Each spring, it is covered in catkins and I have tried to capture its appearance in this pattern. A great space filler.

Art Journal
Bible Journaling: The Bishop’s School of Prayer Pair

Posted on 18th May 2018 by Neil

For last week’s Bishop’s School of Prayer, I created two more print-and-colour Bible journaling illustrations. They weren’t used in the end as I (strongly) encouraged workshop participants to create their own.

To download a free copy of these illustrations for your own use, click button:

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Original Designs
The Studio’s Wonderwall

Posted on 16th May 2018 by Neil

I’m not sure what came over me… One evening I decided that my cupboard doors in the Studio were looking a little tired and cluttered. Up to that moment, there was a collection of five year’s worth of samples, colour charts and reference material covering the doors. It took a day to strip off all the double-sided tape. I’d only discovered dual tack tape half way through… The blank canvas looked, well, very blank and very white. Thus formed the idea for my very own wonderwall:

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3D Projects
Bishop’s School of Prayer, 2018: Praying Hands

Posted on 14th May 2018 by Neil

I’ve just returned from the inaugural Bishop’s School of Prayer, hosted at Launde Abbey by Bishop Martyn Snow. I was dubbed ‘artist-in-residence’ and was responsible for creative input, visual prayer workshops and an artist’s overview of the four-day conference. It was an amazing experience, and I hope it happens again (though probably won’t be annual).

As a ‘corporate act of art’, I created a pair of praying hands and invited attendees to add their own prayers and intercessions. After a short will-they-won’t-they period, they came good and prayers were stuck on steadily over the time at the School. For more details on the making, read on below, but in the meantime here are some pics of the finished sculpture, which will be remaining at Launde Abbey.

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Altered Art
Arts in Worship: Prayer Tiles

Posted on 17th April 2018 by Neil

As regular readers may remember, I’m going to be artist-in-residence at this year’s inaugural Bishop’s School of Prayer, 9th-13th May at Launde Abbey in Leicestershire. There are three full days, the afternoons of which will feature workshops led by the day’s teachers, myself and the musician-in-residence. I’ve been prepping some potential workshop projects, and here are a couple of experiments that have made the grade:

There are still spaces available for the course, with both residential spaces and day passes. I do hope you will join Bishop Martyn and the other teachers and leaders for what is essentially a three-day conference on prayer.

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Altered Art
That’s Crafty! Showpieces (March)

Posted on 6th April 2018 by Neil

Apologies – I intended to post my show samples for my March shows somewhat sooner than this. But, as they say, better late than never! Keep reading for more details on each project.

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Art Journal
Bible Journaling: Keep on Knocking

Posted on 18th March 2018 by Neil

I’ve tried another bible journaling experiment – this time using an image transfer technique. The text and image are printed on a laser printer, and the toner is essentially glued to the page and the paper is taken off. The colouring behind the text is acrylic paint, dabbed on and off with a baby wipe. A little tweaking with coloured pencils and it’s turned out ok, I think.

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Card Craft
Card Craft: Celtic Birthday Drypoint

Posted on 17th March 2018 by Neil

Just before I cleared the decks in preparation for the arrival of a laser cutter that I have been impatiently waiting for (for two and a half years!), I cranked out a few more drypoint prints for cards more suitable for those not into the floral elements on my previous ones.

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