The Studio Workshop Page Updated: 8-29-10

Whew...I was on a roll this weekend, you know that feeling you get when you are on a roll...euphoric.  Classes were hammered out with Lucy, at The Studio, I cleaned up my write ups with proper dates for classes, listed classes through November on the workshop page, finished a sample for a November class (Altered Pointe Shoes), and almost....almost finished laying out the papers for my latest piece.  Once I finish laying out the pieces, I will fuse them to the substrate.  I love when I can cross things off the Longgggggg list.  Since a lot of the administrative computer stuff is done (she said with a huge grin), I can concentrate on getting some art done this upcoming week.  Here is the pointe shoe I altered.  Its on Facebook and on the Workshop page.  Now I am going to take a deep breath, calm down, and start dinner.

k
P.S.  I forget that everyone may not be savvy to what a pointe shoe is.  This shoe is used by ballerinas for going up on their toes (on pointe).  The material on the outside is satin (usually pink) and perfect for altering.

Class Outlines Completed...8-24-10

Today, well today was a wash.I am getting my class room ready for our pre-k open house tomorrow and well doing some general house cleaning.  Curriculum has to be prepped for the first week back (day after Labor Day) and that is what I was doing today.  The director of the pre- school told me I have a 9 in my class (there is still room for one more).  I am excited to meet the children.  At 5, well you know how eager they are to learn (for the most part).  I love introducing them to stories that they have never heard before like the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Native American tales and so forth.  I often tell the stories without a book and play act them.  The kids love it.  In their free time, I will see them playing Nutcracker or being a coyote etc...  It won't be long now so I better get some art finished.  If my computer had not crashed, I could have gone right into the school year effortlessly.  But you guessed it, all of my pre-k files are gone.  Sigh.....

The classes that I hope to teach at The Studio this fall and into winter are all outlined and ready to be reviewed by Lucy.  I should be ready to promote these on my blog by Friday.  I hope to do another Artistic Dialogues class (journal class) right off the bat in September.  Plus I want to offer the collage crate class again.  Making this crate will really help sharpen collage skills especially for what I have in mind for 2011.  Because I am impatient, I want to give a brief preview.  Let me preface this by saying:  I first became aware of this project from Laura Lein-Svencner    (http://lonecrowart.blogspot.com/   search on the word bundles to read her entries).  She in turn read about this project from Seth Apter, a New York Artist (http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/ and search on disintegration).  And now I hope to continue in the same vein.  The picture below is what I am calling a paper packet.  It will be assembled and then hung outside at The Studio for about 5 months after which time we will open up our packets, dry the contents, and then make art.  More to follow if the class goes, if not, well I am doing this anyway.  I think the concept is right up any collage artists alley!  Keeping my fingers crossed.

k

Paper Packet prototype.

Productive Weekend: 8-22-10

And that is just what it has been.  My good art friend, Lucy, owner of The Studio in McHenry, sent me a sweet little message letting me know that the fall schedule of art classes is underway and asking if I would like to book some fall classes to teach at The Studio.  Oh heck yea I would, especially since I have stopped feeling sorry for myself, picked up my self esteem, and got back to work.  With that gentle nudge, I have been at my desk, both yesterday and today, flushing out classes and moving forward with ideas.  I tend to multi task, not very well actually, and so I don't have any pictures just yet to show but I am working on it. Once classes are approved and scheduled I will post here (on the The Studio Classes page).  I am finally motivated to get moving on class samples and finish off that 12 by 12 inch piece I started for The Art of the Land show.  Finally, the found art piece, posted below, is wrapped nicely and still sitting on the kitchen table.  I have not "found" the "perfect" spot to leave it yet.  Sigh...

k

Studio Time, Yipee.

I have a few precious weeks to myself now that the kids are back in school and I am not back to work just yet.  Our pre-school starts right after Labor Day.  I divided the time I set aside for productivity in two: two hours for computer work (yes still recovering from the crash), and three hours in the studio.  In the studio today I developed this rhythm that moved me along further than I thought I would get.  You know that feeling you get when you break through what I call the creative beginning block (of any given new work)?  I was even humming along with Beach Boys.  As I searched through some of my altered papers, I think I managed to find some nice textures and the right color scheme for this piece.  I coated a bunch of the papers with polymer media and then altered a few more National Geographic pages. The results from the National Geographics were just what I was looking for.  Now I can't wait to get them laid our on the masonite board.  Tomorrow maybe. 

I also found a small 4 by 4 inch canvas board with a very old work on it (from 2005).  It was really, really bad.  Usually I would throw something like that away but I decided that I would work with it some more.  I de-collaged the piece a bit using sandpaper and then redid the facial features of the person.  I left the message alone.  This will be my next found art piece.  It is done so I just need to figure out when and where I will leave it.  So those of you in the area, be watching my face book page.  Free Art soon!

k

Kelly Rae's E-Book Series

I just wanted to give a little plug to a wonderful series of E-Books that Kelly Rae Roberts put together after her 5 week Class called Flying Lessons.  As I was taking the classes, my computer crashed.  I can't tell you how extremely frustrated I was and very saddened that I could not finish the class (I missed out on the last two sessions).  Kelly published E-Books for the class and I managed to get the class done.  I am so glad that I purchased her series because I now have excellent references for future business expansion.  The tips she gave on web resources were invaluable to me.  Some of her suggestions are out of my realm because I can't afford the time nor dollars to build my own website (for example) but many other tips were greatly appreciated.  If you are the creative type and wanting to start or expand a web based business and presence, these books are wonderful.  I have a link on the side if you are interested in taking a peek.
K

Another Week, Almost over!

I first just wanted to welcome you wonderful new followers to my little piece of cyber space. I don't look at my statistics that often ( those types of things don't drive me anymore), but I do delight in seeing new faces on the follower list. So many of you are already accomplishes artists and that really humbles me to think that I might have something interesting to say to all of you. So welcome again!

My husband and I have been trying our best to fit in some last minute day trips with our 3 teens. School starts Monday. I hate this time of year, really I do. I hate seeing them walk out the door and get on the bus. They are that much older, that much wiser, that much more grown up. My oldest will be 18 in February! My twins, turn 16 next April. They have their own opinions, want to be as independent as possible, have their own dreams and aspirations, and are either dating or on the verge of dating. I am happy for them and sad for me. As a parent, you revel in the fact that you have raised them to be good kids and that at this age, they have not strayed from the path just yet. At the same time you also know that as the apron strings are unraveled, there are many more perils they will face, more dangerous than falling off a bike or crashing head first on in line skates, or ...well the list could go on. Sigh....

To continue, we took the kids to the museum, the Field Museum in downtown Chicago. Since I was a little girl, that museum has been my favorite. It is now my Colin's favorite (so cool). We specifically went to see Lyuba, the perfectly preserved, one month old baby Mammoth. Gosh she was beautiful. I have never been so drawn into this period of Earth's history that is until, this exhibit. Simply fascinating. Picture taking was limited however I was able to use my iPhone to snap a few. Lyuba's (meaning love in Russian) story is very well documented in a National Geographic Special and here is the link:

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/waking-the-baby-mammoth-3630.
And here is the link from the Field Museum:
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/mammoths/allaboutmammoths_lyuba_1.asp

Kaitie,Claire,& Friend

Because this baby mammoth was so well preserved, they have DNA, DNA that can actually be cloned. So exciting. Who knows what may come out of this incredible find.

Baby Lyuba

We also joined in the museums 10 year anniversary celebration of Sue, the worlds most famous T-Rex. They had a sort of cheesy interactive experience with robot dinosaurs. I think it was probably more appropriate for 10 year olds but I enjoyed it.

Robo Dino

Shopping has also been a heavy part of our agenda. It is a tax holiday in Illinois (August 6-15th) and clothes and shoe supplies are state tax free. Yipee. With two teen girls, that helps the bank out quite a bit :) Today, shoes for my son and some basic wardrobe needs.

Art- I finally put out a found art piece. It felt good to let loose an "old" work for some strangers enjoyment. I have been meaning to jump back on the band wagon for sometime now but just never got around to it. I'm back baby! I am still working on a write up for a workshop, and wish I was more motivated right now. Tomorrow, my daughters want to hit the Russian Pointe Store in the city. Sigh...Art?

Found Art at Crystal Lake train station

k

A Week Summary 8-6-10

My week has been filled with teens, period.  Registering for school, annual doctor appointment, buying school supplies, transporting to drop in dance classes (August is Colin and Claire's month off, ha ha), and finally transporting for summer end sleep overs and pool parties. I have to shake my head...when does it get less hectic...when I ask myself ?  I did manage to cross a few art related items off my very long list. I also was able to cross off other items that had to get done this week (ordering Kaitie's senior pictures for one)  Art related items did not include studio time and I am in need of a fix.  I had started two works the week before but they sit on my table.  Perhaps the most rewarding art related task that I accomplished was starting a write up for a class I hope I will be able to teach.  It is turning into a small thesis.  I made a major dent in the write up and so I am happy.  I need to get into the studio to experiment with some methods for putting this project together. 

On the found art front, I began a write up for an explanation of what found art is, to be placed with a work (to be left in the community soon).  I have that work for sale now on etsy, you can see it here: 
http://www.etsy.com/listing/23196579/john-original-mixed-media-collage?ref=em     
but I decided once the listing expires, I will leave the piece for someone to find.  I will detail its location via a picture of where it has been place and a few clues and then post on face book.  So those of you who follow, well if you are in the area, you have the best chance to find the work.  I think it will be fun. This work is special in that the photo is from my collection, circa 1946.  It is a relative (I never knew his name) and I call him John.  To me he looked pretty dapper in that fedora, hence the verbage.  The work is framed.

Finally, I had a really pleasant surprise today when I found out, through a tweet (thank you Rosa) that my blog is on a list for the best blogs on found art.  http://www.guidetoartschools.com/tips-and-tools/found-art .  I bet I can thank google for that and of course the good folks at Guide to Art Schools.  I am really excited at having been recognized.  It is nice when your words resonate with others.

k