We met at my studio yesterday and enjoyed two hours of making little clay faces and adornments – it went way too fast. I was so glad to share my techniques and press molds and stamps with the participants. Wednesday, after the work is fired, we’ll meet at Ann Pearce’s jewelry design studio to finish our creations. Fingers crossed for a good firing!
I’m really excited about these new journals. My friend Pat recently suggested that I create some hand-made books with a San Antonio theme for the Nueva Street Gallery. These would not be tacky souvenir stuff, but designs that really celebrated the soul of the city. Here are the first four. They feature windows, old photos, angels from San Fernando, architectural detail – all from San Antonio or the region. I’m taking them to the gallery today – can’t wait to hear what they think about this new series called ArteSanAnto. If you like them, that’s where they’ll be available:
These little books are so lovely to work on – they are small enough to complete in a rather short time, and they are small enough so that they show off a few special embellishments. Here are four that I completed today for the Nueva Street Gallery:
I’m stealing this idea – great for getting organized – always an issue in my little studio.
I’m in Rehoboth Delaware this weekend enjoying the Eastern Shore. I got to give a workshop in abstract painting (stealing a lot of ideas from Gwen Fox) to my vacation companions, Pat Semmes and our host Victoria Jennings. We’ve spend the day painting and critiquing. Here are some of our results. It’s always interesting to see how different the paintings are even with the same techniques and materials.
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What a treat to visit Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard!
I taught a small class on Journal making, and everyone was an art teacher or an artist of some sort. We had such a good time. One of highlights of the day was lunch – the new chef outdid himself. Dessert included ice cream made with olive oil from Sandy’s orchard. It had a fresh green peppery taste – delicious! The second highlinght was being invited back to teach another workshop soon.
Take a look at the talented participants and their journals:
Yesterday I created three small “painterly” collages on canvas and took them to Nueva Street Gallery for their feedback. Ugur, one of the gallery owners, liked them, but I was in such a hurry to get them down there, I forgot to take photos. Arg. Each one had acrylic paint elements inspired by Gwen Fox’s workshop. Here’s a video of our week with Gwen. Everyone in the group is keeping in touch – the whole experience was challenging, bonding, humbling, rewarding and encouraging.
Today in the painting workshop, Gwen showed us how to rescue a dog – a dog of a painting, that is. Then we had a timed painting exercise, and I produced my own dog of a painting. Fellow painters suggested that it looked like a bird coming out of an outhouse door with a gun in his hand, firing at an unseen target. So what do YOU see? I’m keeping this one to remind me that everybody has a bad day, particularly when (as I did) you try to copy someone else’s style
Here are the ones I started this afternoon. I like them much better – I tried some new techniques but especially liked using the transparent acrylic inks. There are designed to be companion pieces.
Here is the same painting at the end of the day today – it’s different!
Day Two of Gwen Fox’s workshop and I am on a steep learning curve and loving it. This morning Gwen demonstrated color mixing with three basic colors only – then we painted. My first attempt at abstract layout (far from finished) is below.
I have no idea what I am doing but it’s fun not to know – at the moment, I like Gwen’s color chart better than my painting, but we shall see.
