August workshop - Botanical Collage

Using the outlines of flowers, leaves, seedpods and branches, this workshop focused on the use of collage.

I prepared nine collages to illustrate different techniques that could be employed.

Robyn Bauer Botanical Collage

Paper was prepared first with a swish of acrylic ink.

Robyn Bauer Botanical Collage

Various papers were sourced, including napkins and tissue paper. This provided the first layers.

Robyn Bauer Botanical Collage

There is some stenciling done here with paper doilies. Posca pens on the top layer.

Robyn Bauer Botanical Collage

I realised fairly early in this process that using large pieces of coloured tissue provided a transparent layer of colour that linked disparate elements.

Robyn Bauer Botanical Collage

There are bits of wrapping paper on this one and the black ink was added with a twig. Purple flowers painted with acrylic.

Robyn Bauer Botanical Collage

The one above probably has the most collaged areas of all of them. The four flowers have multiple layers of petals. I have ripped up some of my own paintings into petal shaped pieces. The coloured lines are Posca pens and an ink drawing in the middle.

Robyn Bauer Botanical Collage 

Sometimes if an area becomes too complex you can always collage some white paper over the top such as this white flower on the left.

Robyn Bauer Botanical Collage

This one started with some acrylic ink splashes, then tissue paper then ink and Posca pen.

Robyn Bauer Botanical Collage

This one is based on a painting I had already done of a lotus flower from the pond near the library. Lots of tissue paper to indicate the leaves.

Robyn Bauer Botanical Workshop

Lots of information about the different approaches on the white board behind.

Botanical Collage Workshop

As an extra source of inspiration I bought along my collection of fabric flowers.

Half way through

We worked the surfaces from broad backgrounds to details last.

Botanical Workshop

In the photo above you can see some of my framed collages on the back table.

Robyn Bauer Botanical Workshop

I had such a variety of papers we considered tonal values as we went.

Robyn Bauer Workshop

So many approaches covered meant there were many different outcomes from the group.

Fun with the flowers

As you can see above there was some wearable art experimented with.

Student works

Finally the results. Some outstanding responses. Some of the students continued these at home and I've seen the results on Instagram. They really came alive with some final touches.

Weeks 5 and 6 including Workshop 1.

Robyn Bauer Workshop

Finally some welcome rain! Unfortunately though it was the day of my first workshop in the gardens. I had several contingency plans for light rain, heavy rain or just spitting. Luckily for an hour or so it held off and we could draw outside.

My first workshop was entitled "The Body Language of Trees" and we worked with charcoal.

We started in the seminar room for the overall teaching component and then headed to the Australian rainforest area and Aboriginal trail. Here are a few pictures from the day.

Robyn Bauer Workshop

Robyn Bauer Workshop

Robyn Bauer Workshop

Robyn Bauer Workshop

Robyn Bauer Workshop

Apart from the teaching, I have spent several days in the Gardens drawing on location as usual.

I am still formulating ideas about how these observations will translate into much larger works. I have started a couple. But in the meantime, still drawing. Drawing is the basis of everything.