Ocean/Sunset ATC Swap part 2

I was so thrilled when my swap package arrived!  My favorite color envelope, and filled with beautiful ATCs!  I wanted to get a great photo of each one because they are just so lovely.  Mother nature has been not so nice with us lately and the lighting was odd in some of the photos.  These photos are done without flash in the midday light.  Thanks once again to the wonderful Lenna Andrew for hosting this swap! You can find information about her swaps here. Happy arting!

Marion Bockelmann

Sarah Boblit

Leah Povloski

Cynthia Zdanzukas

Barbara Johnson (better pic below!)

Barbara Warrick-Fischer

Paula Boyd Farrington

Lisa Malle

            

6x6 with Julie FeiFan Balzer

Earlier this month I was lucky enough to get a spot in one of the two classes that Julie presented at the Ink Pad in NYC.  I love that fact that I live semi-close enough to take classes with the Ink Pad at Westbeth Community Center.  It's such a cool space, and I love seeing the familiar crew of artists who take these classes.  It's always very inspiring and it forces me to make time to create art!

Find out more about classes at the Ink Pad here
Here's the link to Julie's amazing blog
Most of the stencils/stamps used in the class are from Julie, you can find the stencils here and the stamps here 

Julia & Julie

Prepping the backgrounds-limited palette

Layer 1-some contrast/some not

love this color combo

finished product

up close

up close

Blast from the past part 2

Last year I took another awesome class with Michelle Ward at the Ink Pad in NYC.  If you ever get a chance to take a class with her, do it! She is funny, very regular, and just lives/loves the creative process. This class was the "cardboard" journal and just so cool to work on! Mine is still in progress but here are some photos of Michelle and her journal.

Find out more about classes at the Ink Pad here
You can find Michelle's stencils here and here
This is a link to Michelle's blog

Donna Downey class

In December I was lucky enough to get a seat in a sold out class Mixed Media Academy with Donna Downey at the Ink Pad in NYC. Donna is so charming and funny. It was a great chance to see some of her work up close and in person. I love the project, and I signed up for one of  Donna's online classes- Metamorphosis . Stay tuned...

The No Glue Book

Early on in some of the bookmaking classes I attended, I learned how to make a book with out glue or binding of any kind.  When I teach this technique to students and other teachers, everyone is amazed that the book stays together just by the tension of the folded paper.  It's truly amazing!  Below is a supply, some photos and a video tutorial I made for the "No-Glue Book."  Enjoy!

Supply list
(the book can be made any size-these are my dimensions from the video)

two pieces of board (can be chipboard, mat board, even cardboard) 4"x6"
a few sheets of decorative paper large enough to wrap around the board (I'm using some gelli prints on copy paper)
heavy cardstock (mine is 110lb weight) 3"x6"
ruler
pencil
scissor

Art shows

Along with creating art, I have made the time and put the effort into getting my artwork out there into some regional shows.  Most recently I had a Gelli print in a members exhibition at the Art League of Long Island.  I also sent in two pieces to a juried printmaking exhibit called Making an Impression at the Huntington Arts Council.  Both pieces were selected and the opening was this past Friday.  I included a self-portrait done in Solarplate, as well as a recent Gelli print.  During the opening, we were asked to speak about the process that we took to create the work and to reflect on printmaking as a process.  I spoke about my college printmaking professor, Rick Mills from C.W. Post.  He is an amazing teacher, artist and just such a cool guy. During my undergrad days I learned so much from him, and I had the opportunity to work with him again about 7 years ago.  He has since retired but I have so many amazing pieces of work, from the time I spent with him, hanging in my house and in my office.

               

Mini-Studio

After too many years of not making the time for myself to create my own artwork, I have come back with a vengeance!  Besides organizing my studio at home, I have carved out a small section of the storage closet next to my office to use as a workspace.   The closet (which was once an office) has a window and I have parked a mobile cart in front of it, so I can spend some of my lunch hours creating.  During one marathon printing session, I made about 20 double sided prints to be used for a bookmaking project.  This space is my therapy room (like at colleges when they bring in puppies or kittens for the students to decompress during finals).  When I am stressed out, I pop into the room and make some art!

Making Monday Madness

Here are a few more videos from past classes I have taught.  It's hard to say what has been my favorite class to teach, because even when I repeat a class, the participants always bring something new and vital to the process.

 You can find all of theses on a playlist on my YouTube channel.  You can click the YT link in the banner to navigate there as well!