Category Archives: Other Artists

Thank you, Brother Cletus

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Saying goodbye to this San Antonio icon and artist is so hard. Brother Cletus died yesterday. Cletus Behlmann, S.M., a Marianist Brother, taught for 19 years before arriving in San Antonio to become a full time artist. He settled in San Antonio in 1977 and began operating the St. Mary’s University Art Center.

He captured the heart of the city in his painting and in his personal life with his affable, self-effacing wit and generous spirit. Those of us who were lucky enough to know him were blessed, but his work speaks to everybody through joyous color and dancing line.

Thank you, Brother Cletus, for sharing your life and art with us – we will miss you so much, but we know where you live. 🙂

 

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The fiber world of Jude Hill – Feel Free

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Jude Hill’s introduction photo to her Spirit Cloth 101 free and open tutorial

One of the best aspects of the “gift of fire” that is the Internet is the generosity of artists who share their passion. For free. As a wannabe fiber artist, I happily discovered Jude Hill – she freely gives her expertise, her thoughts and vision, and her extensive library of online lessons about creating personal statements in fiber.

Jude Hill – completed study

Her blog itself is called Spirit Cloth and the free lesson site within it is – Feel Free! It’s perfect for people who want to experience the idea of fiber art by working on small pieces and learning techniques while incorporating interesting concepts. Like cats! Like magic! Like magic cats!

Jude Hill “Conjure”

And . . . she grows her own Indigo!

Samples of indigo – Jude Hill

Take a look around Jude’s blog site – it’s packed with ideas and inspiration, and not just for fiber artists. I found myself sketching some nifty ideas for cat spirit dolls after I looked at some of her creations. There’s a place on her site to donate if you feel so inclined. I did. This is what she wrote about her teaching and sharing:

Here, at THIS place I call Feel Free, I intend to share something beyond the “thing”. Feel Free to look around and use what I share.  Feel free to share this place with others. THIS is my gift. THIS is not a business.

With Trust and Peace.
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Isn’t that perfect for a day when we think about the concept of freedom? Free to share, free to learn. Happy Independence Day, everyone.

Color sketch by Jude Hill

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Pamela Taylor and the issue of incarceration

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I took a quick break last evening to visit with friend and art activist Pamela Taylor, whose exhibit of paintings opened at IAMA Coffee House just outside the Pearl on Broadway.

Called “Confinement (In)Justice: A Dichotomy” it aims to call attention to the unparalleled rate of incarceration in the United States.

Here is a bit more about Pamela – I cherish her friendship and encourage you to get by IAMA this month to see her work.

Pamela Taylor, M.S., a San Antonio native, is an abstract expressionist painter whose work is intense and chaotic, symbolizing her personal pain and concern about society”s increasing tolerance of inequality, harassment, and intimidation, which has created an environment of incivility in schools, workplaces, and politics. She is the Co-Founder of Dress for Success San Antonio and Founder of Career Gear San Antonio, workforce development non-profit organizations serving the disenfranchised; Taylor served as CEO for nearly 14 years. While there, she worked directly with inmates of Bexar County Jail for 2 years. Taylor has been featured in the San Antonio Express News and local media on numerous occasions and is a survivor of domestic violence. In 2011, Taylor spoke about her ordeal in a TED Talk at Trinity University.

Confinement (In)Justice: A Dichotomy will be on display at The IAMA Coffee House from June 28-July 26, 2016.

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Summertime at the Studio – Dyeing to Share

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DSCN2548I told Rosemary Uchniat on Saturday that putting together a video from her dyeing workshops was always no-fail because the pictures were consistently  bright, artistic  and colorful! Just look at that drying rack – wow!

Despite the fact that Rosemary had laryngitis, she persevered and taught a spectacular class to rave reviews! What a trouper that woman is.

Small Space Dyeing with Rosemary – the Video:

And on Sunday, the Show and Tell sharing session was just as colorful in every conceivable way with many different media. Some folks presented their work, some just soaked in all of the vibes, and some said they came specifically to steal ideas! Maybe I should change the name to Show and Steal.

Take a look at some of the very creative things that the Show-ers and Tell-ers brought in, and feel free to steal like an artist!.

Show and Tell always sparks discussion – there were some especially good ones yesterday, everything from art activism to construction technique to poetry as creative inspiration. It’s such a pleasure and privilege to host these once-a-month gatherings at Lyn Belisle Studio.

July is going to be a quiet month – I’ve kept the Studio Calendar free from workshops and lessons (even Show and Tell) so I can explore my own work while developing new ideas. If you have workshop inspirations, send ’em along!

I’ll blog from time to time, of course, especially when I find great stuff to steal, show, and share! Stay cool, y’all!

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Summer Solstice Studio Party with Pablo Solomon

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This is our fourth year together! The annual Solstice Party with Pablo and Beverly Solomon is always delightful. This year, Pablo premiered his new paintings, which are filled with color, energy, and his iconic female figures.

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In his artist talk, Pablo discussed how the act of painting can represent a cathartic release of emotions that speak to certain people on many levels – almost like a secret code. The multi-talented artist also described his love for ecological stewardship and recycling old materials into re-invented art.

I invite you to share their Solstice celebration in the video, below – thanks, as always, to Pablo and Beverly! And today, as is our tradition, we get to go junk shopping with them for new art fodder!! Hooray, YeYa’s, here we come!

 

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Quebradillas: a feast for the senses – there’s an app for that

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I am so proud to be a part of this amazing project! Two years in the making, Quebradillas is a fusion of poetry, intimate audio readings, and gorgeous photos developed in the style of a coffee table book but accessible on your iPad. In a word, it’s stunning. You can purchase it here for only $4.99 – but truly, Quebradillas is priceless!

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Me, Quebradillas author John Dickey, and photographer Scott Taylor at a meeting in my studio in 2015

John Dickey, a dear friend, came to me with this idea about two years ago. He had written a lovely and reflective book of poems titled Quebradillas, inspired by his home in Puerto Rico, and wanted to combine them with photos taken by his son-in-law, photo artist and world-traveler Scott Taylor. I knew just enough to design the epub layout in InDesign and worked closely with John and Scott putting the visuals together. John recorded each poem in his wise, endearing voice.

Larry Ketchersid, app wizard

For turning the concept into reality, we enlisted the invaluable help of Larry Ketchersid, honco at JoSara Media. I had met Larry through another friend, author Bob Flynn and knew he’s be perfect for the job. Larry broke new ground developing Quebradillas in app form, adding an audio file for every poem and making each page glide smoothly across the gorgeous photos.

I hope you will look at the app. I hope you will buy it and show it to your friends! I hope you will cherish the poems and the photos as I do. It’s been an extraordinary collaboration – please share 🙂

Here are two of my favorite poems from Quebradillas – hearing John read them on my iPad is a double delight. And for you non-techies, there may be a hardcover version in the near future! Stay tuned.

Q1 Q2

 

 

 

 

 

Rainy day re-discovered books, and FF winner

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Does this sound familiar? You’re looking for a particular book in your overcrowded art book stash, and you find one or two that you forgot you even bought. You check them out – hey, wow! These are good! Just what you were looking for and didn’t even know it! Serendipity strikes again.

That just happened to me on this rainy stay-in morning, so I’m sharing these with you – the first one is Mixed Media Books by Gabe Cyr. It is a treasury of mixed media ideas, and not just for re-imagined books.

The Tools and Material section alone is worth the price of the book, including a great page on adhesives with a chart comparing and contrasting different ways to stick stuff to other stuff. And the photos are drool-y.

Mixed Media Books by Gabe Cyr

Mixed Media Books by Gabe Cyr

 

It's about more than just altered books

It’s about more than just altered books

 

There's a nice section on collaboration

There’s a nice section on collaboration

 

The second is a book published in 2010 by Annie Lockhart called Objects of Reflection: A Soulful Journey through Assemblage. Annie Lockhart’s recent work is based on Soulful Painting, but this is all about collections and construction.

This book is wonderful for anyone doing assemblage because it has maps and legends of the components. And it has another invaluable section on joining things together. The book is printed on tan paper with monochromatic photos – interesting.

Prompts and inspirations

Prompts and inspirations

A legend of components

A legend of components

Objects of Reflectin by Annie Lockhart

Objects of Reflectin by Annie Lockhart

One big fat request: I’m giving you the Amazon links so you can “look inside” but if you want to order these books, please PLEASE check first with your independent book store and see if they have them or can get them for you!!  If you’re in San Antonio, here’s a link to The Twig Book Shop.

And now – tah dah – the winner of the Cat Starter Kit Friday Freebie is – – – – – Carlos Haun. Carlos, email me about how to collect your Shaman Kitty kit.

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Saturday Show and Tell, April 30th

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My cup runneth over with good stuff! Yesterday’s Show and Tell was a feast of creativity and sharing. It was an almost serene experience – everyone’s work seemed to be somehow connected, and the afternoon flowed from fiber to metal to painting to digital images and poetry.

When other artists and friends take the time to come to these sessions, it truly makes Lyn Belisle Studio a Place of Creative Belonging. Thanks to all of you – I am pretty dang blessed.

If you see some work here that you’d like to know more about, feel free to email me and I’ll put you in touch with the artist. Happy May Day!!

What a weekend – high fives all around

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I absolutely love showing off my students’ work, and this weekend I had two workshop opportunities to give a round of high fives!

Saturday, the talented Karen McCauley, artist and teacher at the Coppini Academy, brought her group over to the studio for three hours of encaustic  collage exploration. Here are some of the details of their work – notice the depth and texture that the beeswax layers produce. (Remember, if you can’t see the photo gallery, click on the top of this post to take you to the original site)

Lots of people ask me about the foil that produces those fine gold lines – encaustic artists call it “Book Foil.” I learned about it from Michelle Belto. You can order it under other names, including this one from Amazon. Just remember, it takes a few layers of wax to make it stick to the surface of your work.

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On Sunday, I taught an acrylic painting workshop inspired by some of the techniques I learned with Jane Davies at our Big Fat Art Weekend – line, shape, texture pattern, layering (thanks, Jane!).

This was not an easy workshop to grasp, particularly for beginning painters who had just three hours to practice the process. but they did it! The abstract acrylic studies they produced are beautifully symbolic and richly constructed over layers of marks and color history. Take a look!

I am convinced that there is some sort of magic synergy that takes place at the Studio when a group gathers for a three-hour workshop. The students never fail to amaze me – and themselves – with their insightful artwork. They help make Lyn Belisle Studio a true place of creative belonging, and, dang, am I grateful! Good work, everyone – what a winner of a weekend!

 

 

 

Art openings this weekend – gotta love the San Antonio art scene!

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OK, all you local art lovers – we’ve got some gallery hopping to do this weekend. Friday night there are at least two don’t-miss openings.

The first one is at Blue Star (Studio Building B) , sponsored by the San Antonio Art Educators Association. Called “Artists Who Teach 2016,” this exhibit showcases the best art educators in the region. I got a sneak preview when I dropped off my work there.

It’s going to an excellent show – I particularly loved Deborah Keller-Rihn’s illuminated photographs. This is one of the pieces I submitted, a photoencaustic assemblage titled “Loving Virginia Woolf” which was constructed inside a vintage drawer. Opening hours for Artists Who Teach reception are 6-9 pm.

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Loving Virginia Wolff – encaustic and found objects – Lyn Belisle

 

Not far away at 1800 Fredericksburg Road, Centro Cultural Aztlan present an exhibit of new paintings by Andy A. Villarreal called Indigenous Jaguar Spirits from the Yucatan. Opening Reception is also Friday April 8, 2016 from 6-9. Andy’s work is powerful, colorful, and magical.

On Saturday, fiber art stars at the Fiber Artists of San Antonio Runway Show at Oak Hills Country Club. The luncheon has been sold our for weeks, but the vendors tables’ open at 10:00 and are always exciting. I know that Monika Astara will be there – if you miss her at the FASA event, she’ll be at my Studio on April 24th – more about that soon.

Bryce Milligan constructs hand-sewn chapbooks

Saturday evening is a must-see event – Bryce Milligan’s World of Words and Design opens April 9, 6-9 pm, at Bihl Haus Arts. Bryce (above) is a  Renaissance Man – poet, publisher, artist, designer, musician and all-around iconic fellow. The show opens with a reception, which is free and open to the public, on Saturday, April 9, from 6 to 9 pm. The evening includes poolside jazz by George & Aaron Prado, libations and light hors d’oeuvres. More on the exhibit and related special events here.

The San Antonio Art League and Museum

Last but definitely not least, The San Antonio Art League and Museum’s Annual Juried Exhibit opens on Sunday.  This venerable exhibit is highly competitive and was juried this year by Peter Trippi, Editor of Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine. The opening reception is this Sunday, April 10th, 2016 from 3 to 5pm. The SAALM is located at 130 King William Street.

I was thrilled to learn that two Belisle Studio alums (Gloria Hill, Mary Beth Swofford) were not only accepted but had won awards for their work – congrats, you guys!

Here’s a sneak preview piece from this exhibit by one of my favorite artists, Billy Keene, who is the SAALM’s 2016 Artist of the Year. Don’t miss this exhibit and one of the city’s prettiest gallery locations!

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