The glorious days of summer are almost upon us, but let’s keep our enthusiasm in check shall we? Keep in mind the multitude of ailments the sun’s harsh rays are responsible for, leaving us to reap its benefits from pills in a bottle rather than a stroll in the noonday sun. And don’t forget those cottage visits, where hopes of a little R & R are dashed by a variety of blood-sucking insects that make the three hour trek not worth ANY amount of engaging conversation or wine. When we finally nod off, we are plagued by memories of garbage strikes, liquefied rubbish and fruit fly infestations. Back to the urban jungle and we’re forced to cross paths with humans unschooled in the fine art of deodorant use. We are worn out by relentless sweating, and subjected to olfactory distress caused by the ongoing stench. Goodness, that’s starting to sound a bit harsh. Shall we begin again? The glorious days of summer are almost upon us. Heavenly scented lilacs have just finished blooming, followed by a magnificent display of rhododendrons. Spring showers have greened the landscape and provided the perfect backdrop for the abundance of colourful flowers whose petals flutter in the breeze and provide delicate landing pads for those busy little bees collecting pollen, like the little bugger who stung me on the leg yesterday while I was sweeping… Let’s just make the fan which will enable us to cope with the heat in style.
Materials
- fan
- acrylic paint
- masking tape
Instructions
While it’s quite possible to make a multitude of homemade fan designs by accordion-folding paper, I came across a delightful, ready-made fan all set for painting. Get thee to Chinatown I say, and spare yourself the trouble. In Toronto, Plaiter Place on Spadina is the shop to head to, and for a wee bit of money you will have a great base to work on.
Once you have your fan, decide which colours you would like to use and mix them with enough water to be able to splatter them, but don’t dilute your colours too much or they will lose their intensity. Cover the handle and base of the fan with masking tape to protect them from the paint.
To splatter the paint, load the brush and make a throwing action over the fan. Make sure your workspace is well protected with newspapers, or better yet, do it outside. Remember, acrylic paints do stain. Once the paint has been applied, remove the masking tape and allow to dry. Acrylic paints are preferred because they will not crack like tempera or gouche. Now you’re all set to face the summer heat.
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