And this is just the first week of summer!

Schools almost over for another year! Check out the classes being offered at Artworks Studio!

World Market:
Travel to Russia with us and make your own set of 3 nesting Matryoshka Dolls.
Monday June 3
10:00 - 11:30 AM
Ages 9 and older
Fee: $24
There are 3 spaces left in this class.







Ultimate Tree House:
Have you ever dreamed of making a tree house? In this class you get to make a tree house in a real tree! Tree houses are approximately 24" high.
Mondays June 3, 10,17 and 24th
1:00-3:00PM
Ages 10 and older
Fee: $85
There are 2 spaces left in this session.
There is one space left in this session.






Collage Painting:
This is an advanced course for students wanting to learn more about the collage process. We will combine acrylic painting techniques with artistic papers to create a 12 x 12 finished piece.
Tuesdays June 4, 11,18 and 25th
Ages 12 and older
1:00-3:00PM
Fee: $75
There are 4 spaces left in this class.






Mosaic Wall Art:
Using Italian glass tiles and fine grout you can create a beautiful picture in this time honored way.
Wednesdays June 5, 12 and 19th
Ages 10 and older
1:00 - 3:00 PM
Fee: $75


Fairy Tale Castles:
Up-cycle cardboard tubes, paint and construction paper to create you very own fairy tale castle!
Thursday June 6
10:00 - NOON
Ages 7 and older
$35
There are 5 spaces left in this class

Photo Words:
Grab your digital camera and let's find letters of the alphabet! Students will learn to look at everyday objects with new eyes.  Must provide your own digital camera!
Fridays June 7,14 and 21st
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Ages 10 and older
Fee: $90
There are 2 spaces left in this class.

Button Bracelets:
Friday afternoons are all about crafting in the studio. The first Friday Afternoon Craft class is Button Bracelets. Using hemp, leather and of course buttons we will make two different styles of bracelets. Make as many as you like! Bring a friend!
Friday June 7
1:00 - 2:30 PM
Ages 10 and older Fee: $22

Summer Class Schedule 2013!

WORLD MARKET
Exploring the world through crafts
Monday 10AM -11:30AM
June 3 – Russian Dolls
June 10 – Mexican Painted Bowls
June 17- Native American Dream Catchers
June 24 – Indian Reverse Batik
Ages: 9 and older
Fee: $24 per class Class size 8

  ULTIMATE TREE HOUSE
Design and build your dream tree house.
Caution: Hot glue guns and sharp blades will be used 
SESSION 1: Mondays 1:00-3:00PM June 3-24
SESSION 2: Wednesdays 10AM – Noon July 10-31
Ages: 10 and older
Fee: $85
Class size: 6












Kinder Artists ages 3-4
Tuesdays 10:00 AM - 10:45AM
Class size: 10
FEE: $8 per classJune 4-Tissue Paper Painting
June 11 – Painted Fish
June 18 - Beach Pictures
June 25 – Google Eye Monsters
July 2 – Painted Snails
July 9 – Painted Book Pages
July 16 – Painted Turtles
July 23 – Painted owls
July 30- Foil paintings

Kinder Artists ages 5-6
Fridays 10:00AM-10:45AM
Class Size: 10
FEE: $8 per class
June 7-Tissue Paper Painting                                 
June 14 – Painted Fish
June 21 - Beach Pictures
June 28 – Google Eye Monsters
July 11 – Painted Snails
July18 – Painted Book Pages
July 25 – Painted Turtles





COLLAGE PAINTING
Learn to create a finished painting on a 12 x 12” canvas board using acrylic paint and paper collage techniques

Ages 12 and older
Tuesdays June 4-25
1:00 – 3:00 PM
Class Size: 8
Fee: $75

 

 



Polka dot “TIE”DYE T-SHIRT
Create a unique t-shirt with sharpies and rubbing alcohol
SESSION 1: Wednesday June 5   Ages: 7-10 10:00 – 11:30AM
SESSION 2: Wednesday June 19 Ages 10 and older 10:00 – 11:30 AM
SESSION 3: Wednesday July 3 Ages: 7-10 1:00 – 2:30PM
Class Size: 10
Fee: $16







MOSAIC ART
Learn how to create a 6” x 20” wall mosaic using Italian glass tiles and fine grout.
Ages: 10 and older
SESSION 1: Wednesdays June 5-19 1:00 – 3:00 PM
SESSION 2: Mondays July 1- 15 1:00PM-3:00PM
Class size: 8
Fee: $75

ADVANCED MOSAIC
This is for students who have taken the basic mosaic class and want to go to the next level in mosaic.
Participants in this class will create a more detailed picture using three 6 x 20” panels to create a triptych in Italian glass tiles
Ages: 10 and older

Thursdays July 11- 25
1:00 – 3:30PM
Class size: 4
Fee: $120

FAIRYTALE CASTLES
Up-cycle cardboard tubes into a castle any Lord or Lady would be proud to call home
DISCLAIMER: This is an art class involving paint. Artworks Studio takes no responsibility for paint on clothing. Please dress your child in ART clothes.
Ages: 7 and older
SESSION 1: Thursday June 6      10:00 – Noon
SESSION 2: Tuesday July 23 1:00 PM – 3:00PM
Class Size: 10
Fee: $35

MOSAIC BIRDBATH
Create a unique birdbath for the garden using mosaic tiles
SESSION 1: Thursdays June 6-13    1:00PM – 3:00PM
SESSION 2: Wednesdays July 24-31 1:00PM -3:00PM
Ages 7-10
Class Size: 8
Fee: $45

PHOTO WORDS
Students will learn to look at everyday objects with new eyes as we walk around downtown and look for letters of the alphabet to spell out their name. Using digital photos and Photoshop –images will be edited and put together into a unique wall piece.
STUDENTS MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN DIGITAL CAMERA 6 MEGA PIXELS OR HIGHER FOR THE FIRST CLASS!
Ages: 10 and older
Session 1: Fridays June 7-21 11:00AM – 12:30PM
Session 2: Mondays July 1-15 11:00AM – 12:30PM
Class size: 6
Fee: $90

FRIDAY AFTERNOON CRAFTS
Each Friday afternoon Artworks Studio offers a different make and take craft
Ages: 10 and older
Fridays June 7 – July 26
1:00 – 2:30PM
Class Size: 10
Fee: $22 per date
June 7- Button bracelets (two different styles)
June 14 – Painted Bird House (4 different styles)
June 21 – Punched tin dragon fly wall art
June 28 –Beaded Garden Art
July 12- Safety Pin bracelets 
July 19 - Sea Shell Garden
July 26 - Melted Bead Suncatcher

POLKA DOT SNAIL CANVAS
Create a paper collage snail out of printed paper circles on a 12” x 12” painted canvas.
Ages 6-10
SESSION 1: Wednesday June 12   10AM- Noon
SESSION 2: Monday July 22 10AM -Noon
Class size: 10
Fee: $25

CUPCAKE CELEBRATION SCULPTURES
A fun cupcake sculpture using clay, paper, paint, trinkets and glitter!
Ages 12 and older
SESSION1:  Thursdays June 13- 20 10:00 AM – Noon
SESSION 2: Tuesdays July 2-9 1:00PM – 3:00PM
Class Size: 8
Fee: $45

 

FAUX STAINED GLASS
The look of stained glass using special colored glass tiles and gallery glass paint on an 11 x14 framed piece of glass
Ages 10 and older
SESSION 1: Thursday June 20   1:00 – 3:00PM
SESSION 2: Thursday July 11 10:00 –Noon
SESSION 3: Wednesday July 17 1:00PM-3:00PM
Class size: 8
Fee: $25

 

 

 

               STONE BIRDHOUSE
These rustic birdhouses are covered in stone pebbles with a copper roof on top.
Ages: 10 and older
SESSION 1:Wednesday June 26   10:00AM – NOON
SESSION 2: Tuesday July 30 1:00PM- 3:00PM
Class size: 10
Fee: $35

 

 

CARVED RUBBER STAMPS
Hand carved rubber stamps using E-Z Kutz carving blocks
Ages: 10 and older
SESSION 1: Wednesday June 26   1:00-3:00PM
SESSION 2: Monday July 29 10:00 AM- Noon
Class size: 10
Fee: $24

 

 

 

 

 

PAINTED PAPER MACHE FIGURINES
 choose from a horse, giraffe, Brontosaurus or Stegosaurus dinosaur and a variety of other animals to paint. Figures are approximately 5” tall.
Ages: 6-9
SESSION 1: Thursday June 27   10AM – 11:30AM
SESSION 2:  Thursday July 18 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Class size: 10
Fee: $18

ROCKET SHIPS AND FLYING SAUCERS
Using up-cycled materials and paint create a rocket ship and flying saucer to play with
Ages 6-9
SESSION 1: Thursday June 27    1:00PM-3:00PM
SESSION 2: Wednesday July 3 10:00AM-Noon
Class size: 8
Fee: $24

 

 

No-Sew T-SHIRT SCARF AND BRACELETUp-cycle old t-shirts into fun neck scarves and bracelets
Tuesday July 16 1-3:00PMAges 12 and olderClass size: 8
Fee: $14

 

 

 

BLEACH PEN T-SHIRT
Drawing on a dark colored t-shirt creates some very unique results
Thursday July 25 10:00AM – Noon
Ages 12 and older
Class Size: 10
Fee: $16

SPOON FISH WINDCHIMES
Up-cycle old spoons into a cute fish wind chime
CAUTION: this class requires using power tools.
Mondays July 22-29 1:00PM-3:00PM
Ages: 12 and older
Class Size: 6
Fee: $58

 

You don't ask -you don't get

I heard that years ago on a TV program. It has stuck with me ever since.
You don't ask - you don't get
True.
Because, as I am often reminding my children- even though I am the Mom and i do know everything I am not a mind reader.
So here I am- tossing this out to the Universe because what do I have to lose, eh?

I need a bigger studio.
I have outgrown my space.
I have had to turn down students because I don't have enough space for them - I have empty slots to fill I just don't have the physical space for them.
I could add more sessions and teach every night until 8PM- or I could add Saturday classes.
I could- but I am pretty sure I would burn out.
And I am torn too- I love my studio space I am currently in.

BUT-I want, need, must have a bigger space.

I have my eye on one.

 

 It would triple the size of my studio now. 

 

 

Good location, plenty of parking and an area for doing outside messy stuff in the summer, plenty of storage too.

 

The front third of the space would be gallery/retail space.

The middle space would be two classrooms -side by side- with double doors that open between them to the space could be used for larger group events.

The back space would hold a small theatre space- a black box- and then the rooms behind that would be storage for costumes/props etc... and the black box area would have doors that open into the classrooms so you have room backstage during shows.

 

What? Why a theatre? My other full time ( unpaid) job is president of our Arts Council and Community Theatre.

 Professional Volunteer. But I wouldn't do it if I wasn't passionate about it and believe in how important the arts and creativity aer to children. And we sold the building we own and need a new home and since I take care of pretty much all the building needs and costume rentals and such it makes sense to put us under one roof right?

 

What's holding me back?

Money. They want too much money for a building that needs about $25,000 worth of work to it inside and out- things like updating the electrical entrance, replacing all the florescent tube lights because I guess replacement bulbs won't be available anymore. And ripping out yards of 1970's industrial orange carpet. ( I want to leave the floors cement and acid wash them- how cool is that?)

My Business Partner.

Me- sort of- because I LOVE my old space.

But I am pretty sure I could love a new space.

 

So what do you say Universe? 

I am asking!

 

 



Youth Art Month

Tomorrow is the 1st of March and anyone who teaches art to kids knows it's Youth Art Month. This year I have put together a display in my front window celebrating art and my students. I had one class finish the prompt-

Art is...

 

 

 

"One of the most wasteful decisions any school could make would be to discard arts education as a "frill." The investment in a fine arts curriculum is repaid many times over by the quality of life it fosters in the community and by the growth it encourages in our most valuable asset: our children."

William E. LaMonthe,

CEO, Kellogg Company





much arting, conversation and laughter ensued....

My sister from Chicago, my daughter Kelsey , my very dear friends Shari and Carol and I spent all of last weekend in the studio being creative. This is our third year to do this over President's Day Weekend. Each one of us brings something different to the table.

 

Kesley worked on a very large canvas with acrylic paints. We all decided she was working in the style of Monet and the proportions of O'Keefe (both favorite artists of mine) Kelsey's special talent is acrylic painting.

 

Shari worked on an assemblage and collages. Her specialty is gelatin printing. The past two years I have not been able to get the hang of it very well- THIS year I think I finally connected with the process and created some wonderful background papers for future projects.

 

Cecelia is a very talented water colorist and collage artist. She is also willing to try something new and experimented with printmaking for the first time by cutting her own stencils and carving a rubber stamp. Carol worked on her photo cards and then pulled out her ever present knitting- she is currently working on a beautiful cable knit sweater. I spent the weekend being a host, demonstrating some new products and techniques that I learned and learned some new techniques from the ladies. I discovered press and seal plastic wrap is amazing for covering a pallet of wet paint and keeping it wet for several days. Pretzel M&M's are addictive as is red licorice. Fingers make the best blending tools and sometimes what you envisioned in your head on what a piece was going to become just isn't what it really wants or needs to be.

 

I worked on a painting that I started last spring. In my mind it was like VanGogh's Starry Night but with 3D faces where the stars are- and a northern lights kind of feel. Hey- it was awesome in my head. Reality- not so much. Cecelia took one look at my painting and was very polite about it. I knew something was not quite right- so I asked her to be brutally honest- I would not be offended. Because that's why we get together- to get feedback and to learn from each other.

 

C:It looks like boils and pestilence

         whoa- that's honest-

"Okay- I'm going to scrap this canvas and throw it away"

C:No, try layering tissue paper over it and let it build up in places and see what happens

          UGH!

"Still think I should start over"

C: Try taking some of the faces off. Maybe there's too many of them.

        After several attempts and no luck- "I used WeldBond I don't think they are coming off"

C: Let it rest something will come to you.

 

Meanwhile she is working on this wonderful still life collage that I am very jealous of -

 

Did I mention this is my sister? Well, I was not about to allow that canvas to get the best of me. On the wall I have this poster that says

 

"When you think you have made a mistake think of it as an opportunity to make something beautiful"  In other words- a Happy Accident

 

Time to take my own advice. I already hated the piece. What did I have to lose? So I took a page from Kelsey's book and grabbed paint, spray ink some watercolor paint and a spray bottle and started pouring paint on the canvas from the top. Let's see what happens I thought- and if it really sucks I can always paint over it or just throw it away. Guess what? as I was playing with the canvas with no ideas on what I wanted it to look like these figures emerged. They looked like women holding children. The more I saw them the more I worked the canvas to draw them out. I titled it "Women Hold Up Half the Sky"  and I am in awe of what I created. Every time I look at it I see something new. I did that? Wow- I am humbled because I have never really had much confidence in my work.  It was a good weekend.