coloring outside the lines is encouraged

You know what I like more than anything? proving to people that they CAN make art. We've had some pretty skeptical people in the studio lately who were dragged to Happy Hour Art by their friends kicking and screaming because they just can't do it.

 

Nonsense I say.

 

 

Here are the rules of the studio:

 

1. Color outside the lines

2. There are no mistakes in art

3. Happy Accidents

 

and the Supreme Rule

ART: Break all the rules

 

So don't let something someone in authority said to you back in the day stop you from exploring your creativity today.

 

Art is necessary.

Art is fun.

Art is therapy.

Art is good for you.

 

This painting was chosen recently for a private party:

 

 

When I asked if everyone wanted to use the colors in the samples one person spoke up and said she wanted fall colors. Ok I can do that. And a big harvest moon....that works.....and the trees not as stylized maybe more tree like....and the rest of the group chimed in - yeah I want that too. I had two choices- I could panic or I could make it work. I chose to make it work and I painted along with the class. They got to see me develop an idea, make some mistakes, paint over them and add in some of this and some of that until we ended up with this:

 

nothing at all like the sample BUT that's OK! Everyone was on board to jump in and learn together. We were definitely coloring outside the lines that night. So don't be afraid - come in and give our Happy Hour Art classes a try.

 

And if you can't quite bring yourself to come to the studio and make art take baby steps. Get yourself a coloring book for adults and some colored pencils.

 

I am happy to report that those people who were scared walked out of here with a beautiful painting and a huge smile on their face.

 

 

 

 

 



 



Color me happy!

Two weeks ago I was gifted with some pretty awesome stuff. Antique picture frames- very ornate- and some with just enough character (chipped plaster) to appeal to my style. A couple of  vintage candle chandeliers (do I leave them shabby off white or totally go wild and paint them in -your -face pink?) A few other assorted items and a stack of sheet music.

I have had quite a lot happening in the studio lately with getting the summer schedule figured out and a  counter filled with repair orders. So everything pretty much was left right where I put it when I walked in the door. I finally got it all organized and put away so it didn't look quite as much like a flea market in here.

As I was stacking the sheet music into a neater pile I unearthed these beauties.

I LOVE coloring books and these are even better because these are REAL MOVIE STARS.

OK- Doris Day not so much- I never liked her or her movies but Elizabeth Taylor and Esther Williams...HUGE SIGH.....

 I spent hours and hours with my box of crayons and coloring books. So imagine my genuine pleasure when I saw these. Yes some of the pages have been colored- by a very neat and particular young lady who put pieces of tissue paper between the pages she colored to keep them neat. OH be still my heart! I can just picture her in 1954-55 ( copyright of these books) in her rolled up dungarees and sneakers dreaming about movie stars. The Esther Williams book is not only a coloring book but also a PAPER DOLL book too with not one but TWO PAPER DOLLS! I loved watching Esther Williams movies- I couldn't swim but she made it look so glamorous and sexy. And none of them have been cut out. I am pretty sure she was saving them for a special occasion.

I f my mom were still alive I am pretty sure she would have told me she had coloring books just like them and maybe we would have sat down and colored some pages together. She often told me stories about writing postcards to MGM stars and getting autographed photos back in return and how she would spend Saturday afternoons at the matinees.

These coloring books are over sized with hard covers on them and the paper quality is so much better than what it is today.

Sigh.....color me  happy and oh so nostalgic