The Giving Tree by Kimberly Winkle

As a craft artist I have consistently been impressed by the unwavering generosity of my peers. When a question arises about a technique or material, it is quickly snapped up by another maker who promptly answers it with happiness and generosity. This act of boundless sharing is one of the wonderful aspects of the craft community that I cherish most. I am lucky and honored to be a part.

I have been involved in various collaborative art making events, which have all proven to be utterly fantastic. However, unfortunately, I have not had the privilege to attend the Yuma Symposium before. Until now!!! I am very eager to forge new friendships, share techniques, exchange ideas and have a heap of fun. The collective energy of all in attendance, including myself, is sure to be magical.

In keeping with the giving nature, I am super excited to share some of my techniques of using Milk Paint on wood. The material is unlike any other painting media in a variety of ways, which I’ll happily explain at Yuma (teaser!). But, some of my favorite characteristics of Milk Paint are the surface qualities and its ability to amplify textured surfaces. You can see some of this displayed on my House on a Hillside Boxes. The curvature of the boxes suggests the swollen arc of a hillside, while the striated texture is evocative of windblown grass. I will be presenting the techniques I used on these boxes, along with other techniques, at Yuma. The emphasis of my presentation will be on combining shaping, texturing, and mark making methods with Milk Paint on wood. But, it can also be applied to a variety of other supports. The paint really is that good.

On the other end of things, I am equally excited to indulge in the bounty of the event by soaking up as much of the Yuma experience as possible. I am excited to see what everyone else is presenting, sharing and making so that I can go back to my studio in rural Tennessee reinvigorated, energized, and with a whole slew of new friends and inspiration.