365/2013 - Day 346

cool stuff

Several things happened all around the same time today.   I went to the Northville Art House to meet up with one of the "[small] Works Exhibit" artists and talk to Joan.

And speaking of "[small] Works Exhibit" -- tomorrow is the final day of the show -- there are still many wonderful small format artworks that would be a really wonderful/thoughtful/unique holiday gift for your hard-to-surprise loved ones.  Art is also a fabulous and special gift for yourself -- you deserve it!  This is a cash-and-carry show, so you get to take your new art home with you right then.

The hours tomorrow are 1:00 - 5:00 and the phone number for more information is (248) 344-0497.   The Northville Art House is located at 215 W. Cady, Northville, MI, 48167.

Carla came by to say hello!  It was good to see Carla, and to chat about "[small] Works Exhibit" because Carla was in charge of the exhibit last year...it was great to hear her comments on this year's show.

Brenda Beene Shackleford came in to pick up her two pieces.

There has been a good amount of sales at this show -- hopefully we will get a few more tomorrow -- the final day of the exhibit.  These small works would make a really wonderful gift -- or be a super gift to yourself!

On the way home I had a couple of errands to do, including stopping at Hiller's Market.  Oh boy, Channel 4 News was in the parking lot.

I was very happy to see that the crew was there to do stories about the Salvation Army -- there is a kettle in the lobby and the band was there in uniforms.

On the way out of the store they were still there.  It looked like maybe they were also talking to groups who are involved with volunteering.

And tonight I finally got around to gathering up all of the various animal and people magazine images I have.  I want to sort them better.  I might have enough images to match up to do the 100 blocks for Art-o-mat without needing to go through more magazines.  I still have all kinds of cutting to do and then the collages need to be constructed and phrases need to be selected for each collage.  Yeah...I am still in the early early early stages of this process.

And I changed my mind about those shelves I had cut and that I painted...the ones I was going to put my vinyl toy collections on.  I am still going to do that, but now I am going to put them up in the wet studio rather than in my studio bathroom...because I started to put my ceramic tiles collection up in there instead.

And Joan gave me a small box of the new Winter/Spring classes to stuff and bring back tomorrow.  I am very happy to do this sort of volunteer job -- I like the repetition and rhythm...I really, really do.  And I especially like that I was able to bring these home to work on tonight -- I can get comfortable in my chair in front of tv and they will be done in no time.

2012/365 - Day 282

acrylic painting class 

Ruth and Carla and my sister Sue and I are all taking Julie Woodard's 3-week acrylic painting session at the Northville Art House on Monday(s).  I am so thrilled my sister is able to join us -- it has been a very long time since she set aside some time for herself and for art.

Julie is a really great communicator and teacher.  You know how much I dislike painting...well, Julie made it fun.  As a matter of fact -- I was so absorbed in what she was showing us that I even forgot to take photos during the process!

So here are some shots from after the class...while we were still hanging around and working on another project for next week.

Downstairs in the classroom area at the Northville Art House.

Julie Woodard showing what she showed us.

(Re-enactment)

Sue and Ruth

Sue and Carla

My painting -- not too bad for a first try.

After the paint had dried a bit more I found an inexpensive frame in the basement and popped my painting into it.  I switched another piece of art out for it -- in the guest bathroom.

I am happy with it for what it is...my first exercise in making an acrylic painting.

I am looking forward to next week's class!

2012/365 - Day 281

new project

That should probably be new project/distraction.

I am not totally sure of the details for this, but I know we are to make something out of this cool plain artist's manikin.  I thought it was going to be one of the mini ones, but this guy is 12" tall!

Two years ago Carla and Peggy participated in this project.  I know it is a auction fundraiser for a Novi (MI) arts group but I'm not totally who/what.  And there is also the possibility of them being displayed somewhere.  I will blog more details as I go along.  

This is a pose on the box the manikin came in.  Pretty cool, but you know I have to mess around with it.

Jazz Hands guy

Prancy Guy -- I like this one a lot.

"Damn these hooves!" Guy -- another favorite.















I am fairly sure I will plaster cloth the manikin.  Whether I pose it and then plaster cloth him forever into that position or maybe plaster cloth each section and leave the joints exposed (or some of them) ... not sure just yet.  I like that he comes on a stand already -- I hope I can keep him balanced once the plaster cloth goes on...

365 Day 171

Shaqe Kalaj's relief printmaking class at Art & Ideas -- class #4

I am having such a blast at this class -- I am SO glad I gathered my nerve and signed up for it. I generally don't take a class unless I have a pal/accomplice to sign up with. I LOVE this class!
I look forward to Monday nights like you wouldn't even believe...it is hard to get through the day until it is time to leave for class...that's how much I look forward to it.

And it is HARD work. I am an old out-of-shape woman with lots of aches and pains and physical complaints. This class is giving me muscles in my right hand and forearm from carving into the lino material. And tonight Carla and I got to try out the wood carving tools. MAN -- THAT takes some effort and you really need to stand the whole time to get leverage on the tools. It was really fun. I don't think I am quite ready for that yet, but I really liked it. All the tools make such different marks in the wood. Carla and I both took turns trying out each tool. Carla made a "deer bird" and I made some sort of creature standing in front of water.

Then we went back to working on our stiffer golden lino material that we started working on last week. Believe me...after trying out the wood carving, the lino material felt as easy as the gray easy cut stuff! LOL

Carla and I get to submit a piece of work we are doing in this class to the Student Show at Art & Ideas. It is an all age show -- this will be really cool.

Carla's piece is an amazing self portrait with really intricate designs and textures. There are elephants on her face, elements of Turkish tiles and an Egyptian eye among some of the really neat stuff. Shaqe and Carla helped me choose the print I will make. We all chose my bearish creature with the white arms.

We worked on printing our show piece tonight towards the end of class. I think I was just physically worn out because I could not make a single good print to save my life. Something went wrong with each one. Shaqe had me make notes to myself on each of the failed prints and bring them home so I could study what went wrong. Good idea. One was too inky, one slipped when I was re-inking parts of it, one was too sticky in spots and then slipped with too much ink in another area...Shaqe is very patient...thank goodness.

I am going to get some good paper at Utrecht tomorrow and I will eventually get a good print during the week. We need to deliver our framed pieces next Monday. I am really excited to be included in this Student Show. I think it will be really cool to have it be all ages, too.

Here are some photos from tonight's class:



this is the continuation of my fox woman creature golden lino block -- last week I only had the creature and part of the moon behind her done. Shaqe really kept pushing me all during class to keep adding more and more elements and texture and lines to the piece...just as an exercise in learning how to let go and be more intuitive and fluid instead of being so controlled and patterny and orderly...it was a really good lesson














detail of the swirly wind parts in the sky...I had just the swirls and Shaqe had me add more lines, then showed me how to add more motion and texture














Shaqe's wood working tools














piece of Baltic birch that Carla and I got to practice on -- this is Carla's "deer bird"















My (much smaller) creature in front of some water -- we both used all of the tools to see what sort of lines/marks they would make


















Carla working some finishing touches on her golden lino block



















Carla still working

















Carla's print of her self portrait -- you should see it in person -- it is really amazing
















taa-daa...show the class your work, Carla!


















results of my labors tonight...this still needs more work. it is basically an exercise in textures and lines and learning the new material.

















block and print













detail













Shaqe in the brainstorming-about-titles-for-our-show-piece part of the class

















Shaqe patiently cutting me one more piece of the good paper to try and print my piece for the show while we were still in class...I was just too worn out -- but I did learn a lot















Whew! I am going to sleep well tonight! I am looking forward to going to Utrecht tomorrow to choose some nice papers for printing. And I am JUST going to make my midnight deadline for posting this blog entry!