Category Archives: art

Small worlds, big talent

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I had a blast at summer Art Camp – I taught an online class at Artful Gathering called Small Worlds: Creating Fantastic Landscapes with Altered Pages. The session just ended today and the student work (many are practicing artists) was phenomenal. Some of you have taken this workshop with me at the Studio, and you will especially appreciate these collages. Wowzers!

The majority of these altered papers were created with Citra-Solv cleaner, which I’ve mentioned often. If the idea intrigues you, you can get a good introduction to the process at this link on the Citra-Solv artists’ page. Heck, after seeing all of this good work, I need to schedule another workshop! I’m inspired – and I’m grateful to these fantastic workshop participants who allowed me to share their work.

I can’t show you photos from the art-filled week, but I did do my homework. . .

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It’s a foggy morning here in Boston, and I am still processing all of the incredible art I’ve seen this past week, here, and in New York. You are temporarily off the hook for having to see my zillions of photos of art, though, because of some “saving errors” on my little Mac. But I will definitely post them when I get home later this week.

The most spectacular art museum I saw was the Whitney Museum of American Art – I hope you get to visit sometime. Their new location is breathtaking, and the exhibit, America is Hard to See, is like walking in person through the most exciting decades of American art. What an experience!!

The IMG_7381best new-to-me artist I discovered was Arlene Shechet. Here’s a photo from a video of her working on one of her large clay sculptures. If you visit her site, you can see the work I saw at Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art. I was especially fond of the indigo and white mandalas that she did between 2002-2005. She is amazingly versatile, eclectic and visionary.

I did do my homework for Jane Davies‘ class while I’ve been here in Boston – Jane is an amazing teacher and painter – hope she doesn’t mind my sharing this approach to composing a painting study. It’s very worthwhile – it involves concentrating on two separate areas at a time within a randomly executed beginning. Take a look – I didn’t produce a “finished” painting, but I learned a lot and had fun doing it. And I did it on the dining room table with limited supplies – shows that you can do your art anywhere.

Home soon!! Can’t wait to be back to the Studio.

Monday morning roundup

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fabricGoddesses were out in force at the Goddess Banner workshop yesterday. It was a gorgeous afternoon for drying colorful, glittery fabric on the rack outside the Studio. Among the participants were Monika Astara (my favorite fashion designer) and Lisa Stamper Meyer from Roadhouse Arts, as well as several talented FASA members who specialize in surface design. So, even though we used the some of the same images, the results were totally diverse and eclectically spectacular. Take a look at the video, and then I’ll tell you about some of the techniques.

Aren’t those wonderful? We did a combination of Small Space Dyeing that Rosemary Uchniat teaches in her workshop and digital image transfer that’s done with hand sanitizer (yep!). I learned about this technique from an artist in Rehoboth, Delaware, and it works great on fabric. Basically, you print your image on an inkjet overhead transparency, spread a layer of hand sanitizer gel on your fabric, place the image face down, pat gently and leave for 15 minutes. You’ll get different results based on how much gel is on the fabric, but it works great. We protected the digital transfer by taping freezer paper on the back.

And speaking of Rosemary Uchniat, guess who won the Friday Freebie Mermaid Shard? Yep, Rosemary – congrats – it was totally random. Now she’ll have to make a mermaid!

Have a great Monday, y’all – I’m headed to NYC and Boston for a few days to see the family. Will send art reports along the way!

 

Friday night’s opening – the art and the chef

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Art and food – what a combination. Both were in abundance Friday night at Pablo Solomon’s opening. It was a huge success – lots of conversation, an amazing spontaneous yoga demonstration, and good sales and feedback from the guests – thanks, everyone. And the food – well, read on.

Michael Belisle, the Studio Chef, outdid himself as usual for this event. Here are a few of his culinary creations:

Chef Mike is an integral part of the Studio events – workshop participants and art patrons alike know that they will be well-fed when they visit. He spares no effort to obtain the best and freshest ingredients – here he is “procuring” eggs from the neighbor’s chicken coop. Don’t tell.

mike

Thanks, Chef Mike, for all you do to make Lyn Belisle Studio a place of creative belonging – and creative eating!

Here’s the recipe for Chef Mike’s  herby cheesy crackers. Warning – they really are addictive.

Herbed Cheese Crackers

2 (10 1/2-ounce) boxes cheese crackers (Cheezits)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 (1-ounce) package salad dressing mix (recommended: Hidden Valley Original Ranch)
1 heaping tablespoon dried dill
1 teaspoon garlic powdeR
1 teaspoon celery salt

Place the crackers in a large sealable freezer container. In a bowl, mix the oil, salad dressing mix, dill, garlic powder, and celery salt. Pour this mixture over the crackers, cover the container, and invert it to coat the crackers with seasoning. Refrigerate for at least 24 hours, turning the container every so often to keep the crackers coated. Let the mixture come to room temperature before serving. Store in the covered container in refrigerator.

 

 

 

Pablo and photo ops . . .

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Tomorrow! You are invited!! This should be fun.

INVIT

Pablo Solomon at Lyn Belisle Studio

lb

Lyn Belisle by Kevin Dome, Boring Tuna Studio

Right before the opening at six, my photographer/web designer friend Kevin Dome of Boring Tuna will take photos of Pablo in my Studio. I love Kevin’s work – delighted that he’ll be “shooting” Pablo.

And you’ll love Pablo’s work – he’s a consummate conversationalist, and his wife Beverly is beautiful and charming. Meet them both tomorrow at the Studio from 6-9 and enjoy some wine and munchies.

ugur

Ugur

And speaking of photography, so many artists would like to be able to work confidently with digital images for reference or content. Here’s a great workshop opportunity from artist pals Susan Carlin and Ugur Kilic  at Whistle Stop Corner Art Studio:whistle

 

 

You can even stay at Whistle Stop during the workshop – they have charming rooms in a historic compound/studio/B&B – check it out!

Hope to see you tomorrow at Pablo Solomon’s opening party.

Goddess Banners – wishes on the wind

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Goddess banner surface design in process during workshop

Goddess banner surface design in process during workshop

In my last post, I said that I was excited about the upcoming Goddess Banner Workshop because it was something new for me. The idea was a combination of influences – Joanna Powell Colbert’s Gaian Soul Retreat, of course, and also the small-space dyeing techniques that Rosemary Uchniat teaches. And personally, I’ve felt an urge to explore the healing aspects of iconic feminine energy and consciousness, aka just plain ol’ being kind and being nurturing, both to ourselves and the planet we live on. Soooo – it was a joy to work with the eight women who participated in yesterday’s Goddess Banner workshop.

Before you look at the video, you should know that every person worked with the exact same image, an anonymous early 20th century photograph (1915) from the Flickr Commons archives. But each face look very different in the individual completed banners. We all remarked on this – each of us brings ourselves into the process and transforms our images unconsciously and almost magically. I’ll be offering this workshop again soon. Thanks to the participants who helped me bring this idea to reality in yesterday’s class. Wonderful banners all!!

Back from Boston, and summer at the Studio

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artwalk

Setting up in the little courtyard off Charles Street in Beacon Hill, Boston

Boston was great – I met lots of interesting people at my third annual Beacon Hill Art Walk, had a number of folks recognize me from last year (“Hey, Shard Lady!”), and sold some art. Interestingly, the encaustic pieces got most of the attention, but the Citra-solv landscapes got most of the bucks.

lsThese little mixed media landscape collages are always popular with art buyers, and  easy and fun to construct. As a matter of fact (what a coincidence), I’m having a workshop on Sunday, June 21st from 2-5 to show you how to make the collages, and there are lots of spaces left. You’ll learn how to create some amazing decorative artisan papers using Citra-solv cleaning solvent, and you will learn a lot about composition, as well. All materials are provided, as usual. Here’s a link if you’re interested. Come join me!

There are other summer workshops coming up at the Studio, including a Goddess Banner class on Sunday.goddessbanner That class is full, but I have had so much fun developing it that I’ll offer it again later. I’ve combined small-space dyeing with transfer, paper “quilting,” and other fabric surface design to make a layered banner that celebrates the idea of the Divine Feminine in whatever fashion pleases you. Here’s a first look at the prototype. When you hang a banner made with intention, like this one, the wish or affirmation is supposedly sent by the wind in all directions. I like that!

There’s a Spirit Box Workshop in July, and a Mixed Media Collage workshop in August – that one may focus on Goddess Banners again. Any takers for another Goddess Banner session? Email me!

It’s strange to think that I won’t be going back to Trinity University in the fall to teach, and it’s scarily liberating. FYI, Friday Freebies will return next week.

speedyFinally, one of the nicest things that happened during the Beacon Hill Art Walk was a Close Encounter of the Dog Kind – I was walking down a crowded street in Beacon Hill when a little doggie on a leash dragged her human over to see me, and began jumping up and down. It was my son’s dog, Speedy! Rick and his family were out of town, but Speedy recognized me and came bounding over to say hello. The pet sitter was very surprised, because he didn’t know who I was, and Speedy is usually a shy dog. But she is a good art critic – she looked at my art and licked my face in approval. 🙂

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone – hope it’s filled with dog licks, ice cream, and fun.

 

 

 

 

Yes, you do have homework this weekend

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I’m outta here, headed to Boston, but you guys have homework. I want you to go see two shows, one tonight, one Sunday.

Tonight’s show is at La Vida Gallery at 1110 S. Alamo in Southtown. It’s the gallery where my work is shown, too, but the fabulous Yvette Shadrock has an opening tonight. I told Yvette that it kills me to miss this – she is amazing.

The second MUST-SEE show is at the San Antonio Art League at 130 King William Street on Sunday from 3-5. Five contemporary artists are represented: Richard Conn, Elizabeth Elequin, Linda Hammond, Stefani Spears, and Jim Stoker. Here are some pics I took when I got a sneak preview on Wednesday. Go!

OK, no excuses, do your homework – I want a report when I get back. Get out there and see these shows!

A must-read poem from Maripat

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maripatLucky me to have dear friends who share their creative insights. Maripat Munley is one of these. Maripat is an RN with a masters in Art Therapy who has made art all her life. She studied oriental brush painting while living in Seoul, Korea, and her life reflects a balance of eastern serenity and western practicality.

Currently, she’s working on a poetry project with incarcerated women – she practices the healing power of art every day in every way – pretty cool. Maripat was a joy to work with in the recent workshop I did with Lesta Frank. Afterwards, I sent out the video to the participants, saying how proud I was of their beautiful folding handmade books. Maripat wrote back with this heartfelt poem, which I have permission to share with you. Thank you, Maripat, for all you do and all you are!

How to Be an Artist

Be still; silently breathe in my studio
wherever that studio is.
Use simple tools and colors that draw me.
Remember, making art is my spiritual practice.

Begin by releasing attachment to outcome or product
Bless eyes, hands, tools, paint and mixes.
See, touch, hear, smell everything I use.
Become one with the materials.
Remember, making art is my spiritual practice.

Immerse myself in the art process.
Let it be my prayer and my calling.
Draw and paint for the joy of it.
Be patient, able to stand back and gaze.
Remember, making art is my spiritual practice.

Get up early to walk, to meditate, to create
Draw EVERY day.
Spend time in the company of other artists.
Learn from them.
Remember, making art is my spiritual practice.

Let my quiet breathing prayer
mirror images beckoned from that silence.
Accept these images from the depth of my soul.
Remember, making art is my spiritual practice.

Maripat Munley

Sumi-e painting by Maripat Munley

Sumi-e painting by Maripat Munley

 

Sensational stormy Saturday show and tell

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This has been a week of frustrating tech woes and long calls to support people (all resolved, hopefully), so I was especially looking forward to yesterday’s Show and Tell at my Studio. I hadn’t heard from many people and there were more storms predicted in our area, and I didn’t expect a crowd. Surprise!

crowd

Almost thirty people came to listen and learn, network and eat, and enjoy the creative company. These informal Saturday afternoons have become my favorite Studio event because it’s a happy free-for-all marathon of collaborating and brainstorming. Take a look at the video and you’ll see what I mean – it was a fun day, even when the storm knocked out the power! Hope everyone got home OK :). And if you’re around next month, be sure and join us – details coming soon.