Workshop | Storyteller Pendant with Cathi Rivera

As someone who has spent countless hours at home during the pandemic, I have found great joy and inspiration in my garden, planting, photographing, and painting my flowers and plants and then turning these paintings into wearable art. I will show you my techniques for composing close-up photography using your cell phone where you can capture the beauty of nature with one click. In this mixed media class, I will teach you how to use watercolors to replicate the colors and textures in your photograph on watercolor paper. You will be amazed at how easy it is when you use your photographs as your reference. Make sure you bring your phone charger so you can always look at your pictures while you paint. I will guide you as you create several small watercolors which will be used to your storyteller pendant. While the paintings dry, I will teach you how to create a three-dimensional metal cover for your watercolors using tooling aluminum and the traditional metalsmithing technique called repousse. I will have all the tools you need. Using acrylic paint, we will highlight and polish our repousse with simple household implements. While the metal is drying, I will teach you how to write a simple phrase that you can use in your pendant. Using thin pens and calligraphy examples you will add the words to your watercolors. You will be amazed at how beautiful your finished piece looks after I show you how to combine all your work and embellish it with beads, found objects and thin wire.

We’re looking forward to rescheduling soon.