Stamping… Over the Rainbow

Posted By Phil on August 7, 2007

I’ve spoken before about how I stumbled upon the world of crafting more or less by accident. To me, it’s something I consider fortuitous, mainly because through stamping, I discovered a creative side I never knew I had. It’s funny how things we don’t give much thought to can suddenly change us, and finding new forms of expression can open our world to whole new vistas.

In the spring, Robert and I went to a stamp convention here in Albuquerque. A week later, itching for an excuse to get out of town for a few days, we followed the convention to Mesa, Arizona. We wandered around the Mesa convention, visiting booths we recognized from the previous week as well as new ones we’d never even heard of before.

While chatting with people at a familiar booth, I looked over to the booth next to them. At this booth, I saw a gentleman sitting at his booth table with a stamped image in front of him. He was very focused, and appeared to be using colored pencils to bring to life a formerly black and white image.

This gentleman, as it turned out, was none other than Terry Medaris. We wandered over to his table, and he told us how he draws images, which are then turned into rubber stamps, and how he colors them. Terry uses wax-based colored pencils of deeply vibrant color in his art. I was completely stunned when I saw his work. I also knew, right then, that I would never be able to do what it is he does. And it was there that I was proven wrong.

This past Saturday, August 4, Terry made a stop here in Albuquerque to teach an all-day workshop at Rhonda’s Creative Crafting Center. The day was split up into three different classes, each building on the one before it.

Using Prismacolor wax colored pencils, Terry taught us his unique blending technique for coloring. Throughout the course of the day, we learned how to use colors together to create blending effects, and by the end of the day we were even learning how to use color to create more three-dimensional effects. We even learned how to use a color wheel, something I had no idea how to use and so was fascinated with how it helped put color into new perspective for me.

By the end of the day, I was completely overwhelmed by everything I had learned. What amazes me most, though, is that I was actually able to participate, and I enjoyed having the opportunity to try everything out. I still can’t believe that I can actually do some of this stuff, and I had so much fun with it that I’m planning on doing it more.

Over the next few weeks, as we finish some of the projects we’re working on, Robert and I will be posting some of the work we did at the workshop with Terry. For now, we want to thank Terry very much for coming to town and teaching. We’ll never forget what a great experience it was.

Pictured above, from left to right: Robert, Terry, Phil.

Category: classes, terrymedaris
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