greenpepperpressblog

Tag: workshop

Happy May Day

The day is almost over, but the month has just begun. A very full schedule ahead. My lilacs are fragrant, bursting open yesterday. I found my first four leaf clover of the season. I didn't get a ding-dong and flower basket (like we did as kids on May Day) but the mailman did ring the bell to deliver a big package of merchandise with the new HIM cd!!! Mini-tour has started, I get to see them soon after a very long dry spell. Bags and bins are packed and ready for my departure tomorrow morning – to Far Away Places – a workshop with my friend Lynne. Looking forward to riding in the van with my band, not literally of course. A road trip is the perfect way to become immersed with a new album. I will report in on the weekend after I get back. The first batch of pre-orders from The Gothic Collection will go out tomorrow too. Thank you so much for the enthusiastic response. My manufacturers pulled off a fast turn around. Life is good!

The first video….

*waves, and blows kisses*

p.s. Gabriele, I got your lovely envelope, and clipping on the collection. I ordered it…should be here anyday. Thanks for thinking of me. It was a super fun thing to get in the mail. <3

May 1, 2013
i love art: gathering supplies

I said I was going to continue my I Love Art series, so I'm back with another one. Gathering Supplies. Whether you browse around to look for new stuff, or you tour your work space and rediscover forgotten stuff, the gathering phase of a project is something I recognize as a vital part of my creative process. Let's say you determine on a plan for making something new – a collage, an assemblage, a journal….you have an aesthetic you hope to express, and you begin visualizing the many ways to approach the project, and the various tools and resources that will be useful. Very often we rush through this stage, when perhaps it might be enlightening to stretch it out, as we listen to the inner voice tell us all the clever directions that might be considered. Pre-planning and gathering, of both supplies and ideas, has merit. As the actual art-making begins, we may stray from the intended plan. It's all good.

So I'm taking advantage of the school Spring break, with no real commitments this week, to finally clean my studio. As I organize, purge, and pitch, I am accumulating a box of supplies into a journal kit for a new project I've just started. It's a journal with the theme "It's Elementary". Inspired by the darling stitched tags I got from Anthropologie a while back, I have wanted to fabricate a journal from kraft file folders, and use all my favorite red and turquoise stuff. As I sort and file all the piles of stuff around here I toss in everything I find that I might want to use in this journal.

While I'm in clean-and-organize mode I have started to get together all the materials and samples for the upcoming Far Away Places workshop this May. I have stacks of xeroxes and painted scraps that will go into my supply box. The gathering of images for these pieces, and the handouts for the workshop, was so much fun. I love looking through all my clip-art and other resource books to see familiar designs with fresh eyes, based on a particular project. I want to procrastinate the cleaning and do more fun stuff with the elements I'm finding but I am determined to get this studio in better shape. I will dangle a carrot for myself to allow some play time once I have a cleared off work surface. (That may not be until Friday!)

EDIT: I forgot to mention this – this falls under gathering too. Lynne and I have curated a Far Away Places Pinterest board. See HERE. My personal issues with Pinterest need not be aired here, and I acknowledge that it isn't going away anytime soon, so we've found a constructive way to utilize the platform. We've linked locations and books and other interesting resources to get us and our students motivated for our two workshops.

Another aspect of gathering – when you scoop up an item with no immediate purpose. Whether a found or reclaimed object, a new tool or material, or something that jives with your aesthetic, you just know when you see something cool that you will find a reason to use it. I put one of each of these in my "me first" journal, so now I can use these with abandon. I came across the envelopes at www.MuhsHome.com and when they arrived I was tickled. The boxes are as fabulous as the contents. Who knew you could get kraft in 'natural' or 'orange'? Had to have both. I also got their brass tabs – look for them under metal if you visit their site.

A final word about "gathering supplies" – while I wholeheartedly believe that moderate accumulation of materials is a vital part of the creative process, there is danger when we employ that as an excuse to shop and hoard. Use your stuff! Make cool things. Feel the need to discover something new? Dig through your own stash and invent a way of using what you have. I'm finding all kinds of good stuff in here today, and I'm realizing I'm ready to part with alot too. Shakin' it off…feels good.

March 26, 2013
i love art: gathering supplies

I said I was going to continue my I Love Art series, so I'm back with another one. Gathering Supplies. Whether you browse around to look for new stuff, or you tour your work space and rediscover forgotten stuff, the gathering phase of a project is something I recognize as a vital part of my creative process. Let's say you determine on a plan for making something new – a collage, an assemblage, a journal….you have an aesthetic you hope to express, and you begin visualizing the many ways to approach the project, and the various tools and resources that will be useful. Very often we rush through this stage, when perhaps it might be enlightening to stretch it out, as we listen to the inner voice tell us all the clever directions that might be considered. Pre-planning and gathering, of both supplies and ideas, has merit. As the actual art-making begins, we may stray from the intended plan. It's all good.

So I'm taking advantage of the school Spring break, with no real commitments this week, to finally clean my studio. As I organize, purge, and pitch, I am accumulating a box of supplies into a journal kit for a new project I've just started. It's a journal with the theme "It's Elementary". Inspired by the darling stitched tags I got from Anthropologie a while back, I have wanted to fabricate a journal from kraft file folders, and use all my favorite red and turquoise stuff. As I sort and file all the piles of stuff around here I toss in everything I find that I might want to use in this journal.

While I'm in clean-and-organize mode I have started to get together all the materials and samples for the upcoming Far Away Places workshop this May. I have stacks of xeroxes and painted scraps that will go into my supply box. The gathering of images for these pieces, and the handouts for the workshop, was so much fun. I love looking through all my clip-art and other resource books to see familiar designs with fresh eyes, based on a particular project. I want to procrastinate the cleaning and do more fun stuff with the elements I'm finding but I am determined to get this studio in better shape. I will dangle a carrot for myself to allow some play time once I have a cleared off work surface. (That may not be until Friday!)

EDIT: I forgot to mention this – this falls under gathering too. Lynne and I have curated a Far Away Places Pinterest board. See HERE. My personal issues with Pinterest need not be aired here, and I acknowledge that it isn't going away anytime soon, so we've found a constructive way to utilize the platform. We've linked locations and books and other interesting resources to get us and our students motivated for our two workshops.

Another aspect of gathering – when you scoop up an item with no immediate purpose. Whether a found or reclaimed object, a new tool or material, or something that jives with your aesthetic, you just know when you see something cool that you will find a reason to use it. I put one of each of these in my "me first" journal, so now I can use these with abandon. I came across the envelopes at www.MuhsHome.com and when they arrived I was tickled. The boxes are as fabulous as the contents. Who knew you could get kraft in 'natural' or 'orange'? Had to have both. I also got their brass tabs – look for them under metal if you visit their site.

A final word about "gathering supplies" – while I wholeheartedly believe that moderate accumulation of materials is a vital part of the creative process, there is danger when we employ that as an excuse to shop and hoard. Use your stuff! Make cool things. Feel the need to discover something new? Dig through your own stash and invent a way of using what you have. I'm finding all kinds of good stuff in here today, and I'm realizing I'm ready to part with alot too. Shakin' it off…feels good.

March 26, 2013
i love art: matchboxes

Continuing my declarations of art love for the month of February….the new Somerset Studio arrived yesterday so I thought I would talk about matchboxes, the subject of my Make It Your Own column. I started using matchboxes a few years back when I was interested in making mini shrines. I love that they are on standby, ready to assist me in projects, in a bin on my studio table. And when they are pre-painted it's even better. Recently I started embedding them into canvas surfaces. I had so much fun doing it – the possibilites are endless with what you can put in them, how to compose your piece, and I thought it would make a great class so I'm teaching RECESS at Art Is You, Stamford, CT in October. Get it? The boxes are recessed, plus taking a workshop is like getting to play at recess. I crack myself up! So here are some of the pieces that appear in the article.

February 21, 2013
i love art: matchboxes

Continuing my declarations of art love for the month of February….the new Somerset Studio arrived yesterday so I thought I would talk about matchboxes, the subject of my Make It Your Own column. I started using matchboxes a few years back when I was interested in making mini shrines. I love that they are on standby, ready to assist me in projects, in a bin on my studio table. And when they are pre-painted it's even better. Recently I started embedding them into canvas surfaces. I had so much fun doing it – the possibilites are endless with what you can put in them, how to compose your piece, and I thought it would make a great class so I'm teaching RECESS at Art Is You, Stamford, CT in October. Get it? The boxes are recessed, plus taking a workshop is like getting to play at recess. I crack myself up! So here are some of the pieces that appear in the article.

February 21, 2013
i love art: teaching

I'm behind! I've had intermittent internet the last few days but I think I'm back in good shape…will have a few posts today. First up, teaching. I'm not a good public speaker and get really nervous if I have to be in front of a group. I even dashed off the stage one time during a piano recital – so I probably would never had made it as a rock star (but wouldn't it have been fun??!!) I started teaching in 2002 in my home studio, at local stores, and then at New Jersey events, so I could build up some experience before proposing to teach at Artfest (which I finally got to in 2004). I've been teaching ever since and I love it. I remember being nervous before my first big gig – 32 students in a huge ballroom. I remember being nervous to teach my first workshop and a fellow artist reminded me that the students were willing participants and they wanted me to succeed as much as they wanted to succeed themselves. It was exactly what I needed to hear, realizing we all come to the table with both a desire for growth, but also a bit of performance anxiety. If we just recognize that, then we can all shake off the nerves, and have fun learning together.

There is something really special about being in a workshop with eager students. We all learn from each other because we are plugged in and doing it. Seeing how each artist interprets the material is so inspiring. The best feedback I've gotten from a post-class review is that the artist left with the enthusiasm to go home and make more stuff. That's music to my ears. As a teacher I consider myself an ambassador for creativity. I'm not particularly interested in that your take-away is technique A, B, or C, I want you to leave with the confidence that you can do anything, and the desire to do it as much as you can.

I'm really lucky to have been able to teach at some really cool events, and to have met so many new friends these last ten years. It's been such an honor to stand at the front, and enourage others in this way.

I'm thrilled to be collaborating with my friend Lynne Perrella for two workshops this May, and to be returning as an instructor at CREATE in New Jersey in July, and then teach for the first time at Art Is You in Connecticut in October. You can see my workshop links at left sidebar, or click HERE.

February 20, 2013
i love art: teaching

I'm behind! I've had intermittent internet the last few days but I think I'm back in good shape…will have a few posts today. First up, teaching. I'm not a good public speaker and get really nervous if I have to be in front of a group. I even dashed off the stage one time during a piano recital – so I probably would never had made it as a rock star (but wouldn't it have been fun??!!) I started teaching in 2002 in my home studio, at local stores, and then at New Jersey events, so I could build up some experience before proposing to teach at Artfest (which I finally got to in 2004). I've been teaching ever since and I love it. I remember being nervous before my first big gig – 32 students in a huge ballroom. I remember being nervous to teach my first workshop and a fellow artist reminded me that the students were willing participants and they wanted me to succeed as much as they wanted to succeed themselves. It was exactly what I needed to hear, realizing we all come to the table with both a desire for growth, but also a bit of performance anxiety. If we just recognize that, then we can all shake off the nerves, and have fun learning together.

There is something really special about being in a workshop with eager students. We all learn from each other because we are plugged in and doing it. Seeing how each artist interprets the material is so inspiring. The best feedback I've gotten from a post-class review is that the artist left with the enthusiasm to go home and make more stuff. That's music to my ears. As a teacher I consider myself an ambassador for creativity. I'm not particularly interested in that your take-away is technique A, B, or C, I want you to leave with the confidence that you can do anything, and the desire to do it as much as you can.

I'm really lucky to have been able to teach at some really cool events, and to have met so many new friends these last ten years. It's been such an honor to stand at the front, and enourage others in this way.

I'm thrilled to be collaborating with my friend Lynne Perrella for two workshops this May, and to be returning as an instructor at CREATE in New Jersey in July, and then teach for the first time at Art Is You in Connecticut in October. You can see my workshop links at left sidebar, or click HERE.

February 20, 2013
day seven: cardboard

Dang! I forgot to move this post from draft to publish. So here is day seven of I Love Art. You're probably tired of seeing me post about cardboard but it's the thing I'm heavily into right now. I've had some fun reformatting the binding for the upcoming workshops, Debris Journal, and I've been trying out some new techniques on this wonderful surface too.

I can't stop making these journals, and filling them up with the stuff that floats around the perimeter of this place. Here's how it started: I always use cardboard on my work table or under my spray painted projects out on the grass. Typically the scraps gets slathered in run-off paint – either acrylic as I paint substrates, or spray paint when I'm f;ailing stencils around. I could never part with the pieces because they just looked so cool so I began vutting them down and binding them together as a book. Each page had interesting marks and provided a wonderful start for additional paint or collage.

Everytime a break down a box to go into the recycling bin I end up hijacking some of it for the studio stash. Can't beat easy access to art-making supplies. These are fun to make and so addictive! I feel like I'm ready to take my cardboard to a new level, especially after seeing some of the cool dimensional or sculptural art made with corrugated cardboard.

February 8, 2013
day seven: cardboard

Dang! I forgot to move this post from draft to publish. So here is day seven of I Love Art. You're probably tired of seeing me post about cardboard but it's the thing I'm heavily into right now. I've had some fun reformatting the binding for the upcoming workshops, Debris Journal, and I've been trying out some new techniques on this wonderful surface too.

I can't stop making these journals, and filling them up with the stuff that floats around the perimeter of this place. Here's how it started: I always use cardboard on my work table or under my spray painted projects out on the grass. Typically the scraps gets slathered in run-off paint – either acrylic as I paint substrates, or spray paint when I'm f;ailing stencils around. I could never part with the pieces because they just looked so cool so I began vutting them down and binding them together as a book. Each page had interesting marks and provided a wonderful start for additional paint or collage.

Everytime a break down a box to go into the recycling bin I end up hijacking some of it for the studio stash. Can't beat easy access to art-making supplies. These are fun to make and so addictive! I feel like I'm ready to take my cardboard to a new level, especially after seeing some of the cool dimensional or sculptural art made with corrugated cardboard.

February 8, 2013
art love

As soon as the calendar page turns to February I get all excited about red, of course, but I also reflect on the people and things I love. Valentine's Day isn't until mid-month but I feel my heart open….having survived the holidays and the lull that January can bring, this month gets me motivated about the things ahead in the coming year, and the promise of Spring. I look around this messy studio and want to break out with new work and maybe cross some things off my to-do list of making stuff I've been wanting to make. I feel so lucky to be surrounded by such cool supplies, I want to be using them all the time. With the new year I tend to do some clean-up on my computer and review the completed projects from the past year. I loved seeing the archives of all the work I've done. It is clear that I love art and I love being an artist. I decided to take this month and make a daily declaration about it. I will show both old and new work….to celebrate where I've been and where I'm going.

REMINDERS: Today the registration begins for Art Is You in Stamford, CT. Hope to see you there!

Just a few spots left in the Far Away Places workshop I am co-hosting with my friend Lynne Perrella – a three day event May 10-12, click HERE for info. It's going to be amazing!!

February 1, 2013