The annual artEAST fundraiser 150′ of Art is upon us again. I love the idea: artEAST members produce works within the same 12″x12″ format for an online auction (running May 6-29 this year), and I have happily participated before, with my piece Verdant Haze. Of course, that time, I already had a piece I loved, in the right format, ready to go by the deadline.

This time, I took a blank canvas, which presented a new set of challenges. What was I going to put on there before March was done? Perhaps unwisely, I viewed this as a chance to try out some new techniques. I had been inspired by textures I’d seen in acrylic work, and I had a new medium for printing my digital collages, Lutradur. It’s a fusible interfacing product, familiar from my sewing days, but cut to fit a printer! I got it through the Contemporary Cloth site, yet another great resource discovered via Twitter.

As when I try out new recipes for dinner guests, the results are not always guaranteed. While I am not completely thrilled with the results (ain’t that often the way?), here’s what I learned:

• Acrylic painting on texture is tricky! The ole brush doesn’t just glide over those bumps. As I have so many times before, I admire anyone who’s taken technique to new levels.
• Testing my composition digitally is a good plan.
• Trying to integrate an 8.5″x11″ piece onto a 12″ square canvas is NOT a good pan.
• There is some good potential in the Lutradur medium. It’s not quite transparent with acrylic medium, but maybe with wax…?
• Trying new things is more important than guaranteeing success. Creating is scary, but I still have to do it.

So, there you have it — a deadline down, and some lessons learned. Does a deadline help you create, or does it get in the way?