in pursuit of the elusive grease pencil

Over the past several months my work has taken a turn into interesting territory. I work in mixed media and collage. Sometimes I need to add some definition to a piece. Last winter I grabbed this wax pencil I had in my stash.

 I think I picked them up at the thrift store for .50
I am always picking up odds and ends at the thrift store and using them in my work.

anyway- I used the pencil in the piece and then blended it in with my fingers and it was amazing- it was just the grungy dirty edged look I was going for.

Sooooo........now here I am and I need some definition but soft edge blending but NOT black. Or yellow. or White.

I have spent countless hours searching for grease pencils in bright colors. HOURS! I know someone out there has to make them. I found all sorts of vintage ones on eBay. Found a website all in Japanese. And one form South Korea that was written in Korean then translated into English which made for amusing reading but I didn't want to place an order because I wasn't 100% sure.

Then this afternoon I found exactly what I was looking for

- GREASE PENCILS IN COLORS and they are located in the USA 

COLOR ME EXCITED!

 

I ordered some of each color and now I just have to wait until they get here.



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