Thought Wheel

Ann Chiappetta

Playing with Stencils

| Filed under blindness

“Celtic”

4 x 6: acrylic on canvas.

The artwork is rectangular with a deep red or burgundy background. It features an ornate Celtic-style knot design in the center, rendered in gold/yellow and black colors. The interlaced pattern is symmetrical and decorative, with flowing curves and loops characteristic of Celtic knotwork. The are is framed in split wood dowels to give it a rustic and mystic accent.

One of the first tools I found helpful in my journey of mixed media and collage art is the stencil. It is a balance of preciseness while being forgiving. It’s like the adult version of not being afraid of drawing outside the lines. I also found a few tricks along the way. I tape the stencil down, and if needed, use copy paper to help keep the surface free from errors.  When a good image reveals itself once the stencil is peeled away, it’s like being a kid on Christmas.

 

There are also plenty of sloppy or poor images. I keep some of them for other collages for background and layering.

 

As for the stencils, any craft store, online or physical, will have a wide selection and most are sold in themed packages in many sizes. I would suggest starting with simple stencils first no larger than 5 x 7 inches and begin with acrylic markers and use medical gloves, as you will end up with ink and/or paint on your fingers.

 

If you do not like wearing gloves, have wet wipes handy, you will need them. If you want to start, just do it. Practice,  and let your creativity flow.

The Visual Artist Who Can’t See 👀

| Filed under blindness

I am asked how I make visual art without the benefit of sight. Being a writer and artist who is blind does not always mean I create alone. I am a collaborator, I get a surge of personal satisfaction when a group project succeeds, receives positive feedback or receives praise and recognition. It is larger than me, honors the hard work, insight and forethought of others.

 

Sometimes, though, I get stuck or run up against a barrier I cannot navigate when I am working solo. When it happens, I open my networking space and search for an answer. It could be a group, organization, small group or a good friend or colleague agreeing to assist me. My sister, Cheryll, is the photographer responsible for most of my book covers. I describe my idea and she sorts through her expansive catalog to find the right image. Other times I cast a line out to a wide audience, like when I wanted feedback on an article about blindness, low vision and participating in a choir.  If you would like a copy of the article, email me at president@friendsinart.org .

 

In terms of my mixed media and collage art, I get assistance with trimming, gluing and orienting myself. If you want to know where to buy various sizes of paper punches, including one that resembles a jigsaw puzzle piece, I am your gal.:)

 

I ask my family for the simple things like making sure I have the right color of paint or paper.  I use the Be My Eyes app for sighted assistance and AIRA is another subscription-based video call assistant app I use when accuracy is important, like for photos of my work. I use a product label scanning app called Seeing AI to identify a product, then mark it for easier identification. I use what is called RFID labels from a company called HABLE. The app is called SpeechLable. The adhesive stickers can be scanned and record a spoken description and saved to the app.

 

Jerry and April both assist with hot gluing because I like my fingerprints. 🤕🤕

Another ask is to assist me when choosing paint pens in the vast assortment I have acquired over the years. For some reason AI is not good at this unless I use white paper and draw on it for a color analysis. It is easier and faster to just ask a person. I still have not produced a reliable way to keep the fifty or so acrylic markers and gel pens sorted by color.

 

Things I do not need help with encompasses about 95% of my art-making and  framing and 98% of my writing. I do have a few trusted writers who love to help me with simple tasks like checking my poem is left-justified or formatted according to a journal’s guidelines if I am stuck.

Creating happens in a internalized, cerebral bubble but taking it outside the dome is invigorating. It builds my confidence.  I began collage with small panels and over time, expanded the size to 18 x 24 canvas boards. I started simply, then grew with the experience.

I gravitate to intimate art pieces but hope to grow with the process.

 

Visit my gallery:

https://www.annchiappetta.com/whispering-vines-studio

 

 

 

Wood wall art featuring a black bird accented in yellow and orange on a green lefy background in a dark wood frame.

 

 

🪼

My Artist’s Journey of Discovery

| Filed under blindness

A Mixed Media Journey

 

I am Annie. This is my journey of getting back into painting,abstract and collage art after thirty years. Going blind meant saying so long to visual arts, or so I thought. Now that I am retired and exploring new things and renewing my connection to the arts, I am inviting you to come with me.

 

It will be messy and my work might make you scratch your noodle, but it is my hands, fingers, and imagination expressing who I am that will hopefully resonate with you .

 

To view my gallery, visit

https://www.annchiappetta.com/whispering-vines-studio/

All my pieces are tagged with alt text for the blind and low vision visitors.

The first piece is  called “Swirl” It is one of my larger pieces, measuring 18 x18”.I used heavy weight watercolor paper, a stencil, acrylic paint and stamps. It is my statement to the labyrinth and Celtic designs.

What I learned from making this piece: purples and magentas compliment green nicely, stamping is much more precise and better quality than twenty years ago, and trying to get the stencil to release from the paper after I let it dry too long made me groan with frustration.

 

Each piece I’ve made has taught me to be patient, prepare and think about the statement I want to convey visually, and do my best not to be hard on myself when I do mess up.

Until next time –

The artwork features a buttercream and gold  shimmer paint background.  The circular labyrinth contains curved lines in green and magenta at the center, resembling a stylized maze. Surrounding these lines are eight large and small black, simple leaf  shapes scattered  along  the white space. The edge resembles a lace fabric design.