The AfterGlo: Taking the 5 week course with Misty Mawn

Gosh it is so hard to believe the course/class is over.  Misty Mawn's Stretching Within course did just that.  It had something for everyone.  Once I figured out that there was no way I could "keep up" with all the assignments.  I just picked what I would enjoy the most.  I did "stretch" myself with drawing assignments and the painting exercises.  There was so much more though and some I really had no interest in, at least for right now.  I did take notes for future reference and I did copy all the useful links with her favorite tools of the trade.  For example, I can't wait to try the white gel pen she has recommended.  I have yet to find a brand that will handle mixed media works.  I promise to review it once I order and receive it :) 



"Industrial Evilution."

 So how much art did I get done.  Well, not too much.  I sketched more that I have in decades.  I did a couple of paintings and one collage that you see here.  This work will be mailed to Misty for a future article in Somerset Studio (about her course).  I plan on getting it out early next week.  Bottom line, would I take a class with her again?  Oh yea.  Having wanted to study with her for years...this on-line class was the next best thing for me because travel is out of the question at this time. 

A little bit about this work.  Often times I try to make some kind of commentary with my mixed media/collage works.  This one definitely is full of my ire with how things are going in the world.Lets just leave the rest to your interpretation.  I used images that Misty gave us (the bust of the woman, her head piece and her hand).  In this work I did a total of 10 transfers, all of which turned out pretty good.  My collage glue for this work was soft gel matte medium (Golden). Some of the media I used included: acrylics, water soluble oil pastels, graphite, washers, and a variety of papers.   I composed the piece, if you will, lying in bed before I fell asleep (over about a week).  And I will say that I am pleased with it because it actually does convey some deep emotion.  So now it is time to move on.  I am grateful for this experience and will use it to build some new work that will emerge out of my paper packets.

The Blizzard of this decade so far: 2/1/11

"Through the Screen." Really, really snowed in.

It has been an interesting couple of days.  On Monday I had a colossal headache so I knew that something big was coming.  Snow started gently on Monday, stopped, and then again started Tuesday morning.  My headache cleared up Monday afternoon, only to return Tuesday morning at work.  I know my body well enough by now to recognize that this headache was not due to my pre-k class (screaming five year olds), but rather that a huge front was going to hit our area.  The meteorologists had predicted this huge Midwest storm but again, due to experience, I often don't believe them.  I mean really, they are more wrong than right.  But my head always knows....  Good thing I made all the copies I needed for my class on Tuesday at noon (just before it started to get bad) for the next time we meet.  So by Tuesday night, roads were impassable, school had been canceled for today (2/2/11), and ballet classes had been canceled. It was wonderful cuddling up in my snuggie and renting a movie (U-Verse) knowing that I did not have to work today and the kids were home too.   Ahhh the good life.  Today, as you can see, we were snowed in.  Could not go anywhere.  The plow only just came through our subdivision and school was canceled for tomorrow as was dance (for tonight, not good by the way since Colin and Claire have performances this weekend in Schaumburg).  So I tried to be productive and I guess you could say that I was.  Our Christmas stuff is finally all down and put away, carpets vacuumed, and I managed to work on a collage for the Misty Mawn course I am taking.  Misty's course is just wonderful but I have been wayyyyy behind on the lesson because of life (good reason I guess).  Since we will be off tomorrow, I will get some more art time :))))  Hopefully the kids will have their

Later in the day, with help from a plow (thanks Kurt)

dress rehearsal tomorrow evening.  They worked  so hard
on rehearsals for these upcoming performances.




k

Week two of Misty's class: painting using acrylics

So it would not have been my life if I was not running all around this weekend.  I mean really...On top of everything, I now have a whopper of a cold.  The creative factor is kind of low right now.  So here is my first painting for the week.  A lone tangerine makes its debut.  I basically did a simple contour drawing using the Stabilio marks all pencil and then painted the image (Golden Acrylics) after dragging the shadows in.  I used primary colors of red, yellow, and blue to mix secondary and tertiary colors and then went to town.  Not sure where I am heading next.  But where ever it is, I know I'll have fun getting there :)   K

Two weeks into the New Year....

And I feel like it is April already.  How much stuff can you jam into 2 weeks?????  Hitting the ground running for me means that it is audition time for major ballet companies summer intensive programs.  There are photos that needed to be taken , registrations that needed to be filled out, spreadsheets made, and finally, the auditions themselves.  Colin and Claire are both auditioning.  This is their first time doing this so it is all about getting comfortable in front of teachers/judges.  The weekends will be long around here for several weeks now. 



Claire in an arabesque on pointe



My quail for daily drawing practice.



In addition, on January 1oth, I started an on-line course with one of my favorite mixed media artists, Misty Mawn.  I have dreamed about taking one of her workshops but for several years, places like Portland, Italy,  Valley Ridge, Wisconsin etc...have been out of the question.  But on-line is a different story :)))) In week one we are drawing everyday and have "homework" every day.  It will be an intense 5 weeks but that's just fine with me.  I really need to push myself and this is one good way to do it.  More on Misty's class later.

I am also gearing up for my first class of the new year at the Studio.  Our group will be doing an abstract winterscape.  Fun.  I am going through the altering paper process very slowly.  And I wish I could say I would have a sample ready for the class but not sure that is possible.  I need to add pictures soon of January's paper packets as well.  I guess I might as well be resigned to no sleep :)



Day 2, quails.