“When we allow the process of creating to come from our center we are in the flow. I firmly believe that art
exists for humans to experience its benefits. Flow allows freedom to occur while creating.” ~Annie Allen
Techniques such as blind contour drawing, doodling, upside down techniques, and listening to descriptions as we create with our eyes shut.
Experimentation with water: pouring, spraying and sponging. This leads to questions such as when to apply paint on a wet surface and how long to wait for surfaces to dry. It’s a magical quest where nothing is wrong.
Each surface reacts differently to water, dyes and acrylics. This is also pure experimentation and fun!
Certain colors will retract while others will interact with each other.
Study of the color wheel will be discussed. Complimentary, primary, secondary and mixing (with white and dark) will be visited.
Our final pieces will be created on muslin and watercolor postcards. We will be learning about mono-printing and using this technique for the final piece.
The theory for this type of creation is a sense of freedom and allowing the human spirit to feel free to create no matter the subject matter. “Our journey is not about perfection but pure expression of the human spirit.”
open-ended is honored to host Annie Allen, an exquisite colorist and generous spirit as well as a Bitterroot Valley favorite!
Annie began her career 50 years ago as a youth on a farm in Havre Montana. The land spoke to her at an early age and continues to speak to her today. Connections to the land and the energy that surrounds the land ignite the art process within her. These connections provide the fuel and passion to createmeaningful art work. Annie has explored combining different mediums, dyes and techniques on varying surfaces including fibers, wood, and paper. This allows a rich diverse tapestry of color to prevail in her work. Annie has developed art programs for all age groups centered on using environmental techniques that work with surrounding land, vegetation and water, ran a gallery (Roasted) that built a strong foundation for the arts in rural Montana, and worked through the Montana Arts Council as a coach for the MAP program.