ART CHANGES YOU

WOW- what a fantastic week of teaching art. My high school level students at summer art camp at the Leesburg Center for the Arts were/are phenomenal.

The theme for this year's camp for all grade levels was Once Upon a Time meaning up-cycling. We used items originally designed and used for something else. I chose two main things; paper and vinyl. The paper was the type of recycled unbleached, non-toxic "green" insulation that you can find by the bale at Lowe's or Home Depot. If you add Elmer's glue or plaster (bigger learning curve) you can substitute if for very pricey paper clay.

The other paper item used was record sleeves. The students used them as a "tile" base for mounting their paper pulp face creations and also for a 2D project, designing an album cover of their fantasy band. The illustrations turned out really great but even cooler was when we reduced them down to CD jewel case size.

For a fun day and a lesson on how to use a torch we did acrylic pours on the actual records. Don't fear nor cry. Most of the records were donated by a used record store here in town and were not in good enough condition for resale. Nothing wasted - everything gained.

The below video is a compilation of the student's album covers and their "pop" self portrait pieces that went into grids. They are now hanging in the gallery. The master artist I chose to teach about throughout the week was Andy Warthol. He designed several record album covers. You would definitely recognize them. I also chose Warhol because he was not "just" an artist. He was an entrepreneur and businessman. When I was at University I double majored, Art & Business. Later I worked at some very large ad agencies, was an interior designer, had my own decorative pillow and clothing design business and was a working fine artist. If you want to earn a living doing art you need to take action on the marketing and bookkeeping/budgeting sides too. It is well worth embracing all sides. It enables you to do what you love.

This video is not yet on youtube. You are getting a sneak peak. On Wednesday I will get it loaded onto the LCFA's channel, ,Enjoy! Turn up your speakers.

And I have a lot of "stuff" to take catch up on so....

Chau 4 now.

POUR COLOR ALL OVER MY UNIVERSE

What is circular but not a mandala.... LOTS OF STUFF.

I took a little break from mandalas last week but I did stick to the circular form. I love curved shapes and circular patterns.

In preparation for teaching high school level summer art camp I have been doing acrylic pours on vinyl records. I am challenging the kids with new mediums and the learning curve with the paper pulp and glue may become a but frustrating. Therefore, I wanted to be sure to change things up and facilitate projects that are totally fun and different.The second (or third) day I am orchestrating an afternoon of acrylic pouring on vinyl records

Records are ancient "things" much loved for the music held in their grooves. As for using them for acrylic pours they are a little harder to manipulate than canvases. There is nothing to grab onto such as a stretcher/frame. The artist needs patience, balance and concentration or OOPS!

Featured here are a few of the pours that I did over the last week. It is so interesting to see how they morph even after you stop tilting and torching them. Different colors and patterns keep emerging from underneath the top plasticizing layer.

These pours remind me of colorful plants. YES! we are creating new UNIVERSES at SUMMER ART CAMP! COLOR MY WORLD!

Well that's it for now. I need to get to the center early to set up the art stations and welcome my new young artists. This is going to be a fun and educational experience for all. I will share some photos next Monday. Until then...

chau 4 now.

PAINT NIGHT WAS A GAS!

Mandala on Canvas Paint Nite was a gas! Such a brilliant group of women! We will definitely repeat with another design later this year or in early 2019.

Sorry - a short post but I am designing a new catalog for the Leesburg Center for the Arts and my desktop (laptop) is a fright. It needs tidying before I go to bed. I am a neat freak. I admit it. That's probably why I gravitate to mandalas. Oder out of chaos. They ease my busy mind.

Here are a few photos from Paint Nite, then night night for Patt.

Next week I am teaching High School Level Summer Art Camp which will be so fun. I am not planning any mandalas but will be sure to share the super cool projects that I have planned. We are UPCYCLING!

I hope to get a post up on Monday. We'll see........

Have a great week!

BLISSFULLY CREATING AGAIN

I don't know about you but holiday weeks really throw me off. I get confused as to what day it is. It happened again last week. I forgot when Monday was and totally missed posting for Mandala Monday. Well... it has been busy. I am preparing the fall catalog of events, courses and clubs at the Leesburg Center for the Arts. I blissfully created an awesome new after school series for teens called Creativity Works for Teens. It incorporates art, movement, percussion, storytelling and improv. It starts in September. And in August we begin a monthly chill-out lounge event on the 3rd Wednesday evenings that mixes open studio with open mic. I will post the flyer closer to the date.

MANDALA ON CANVAS PAINT NIGHT - DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS TUESDAY JULY 10, 2018

I am also preparing the High School Summer Art Camp. That begins the 23rd of this month. I am challenging the students with mew mediums We are going to be using paper pulp. I am making some samples now of one of our projects - a grid of character heads. I will post a little video below.

But for now let's talk about MANDALA ON CANVAS PAINT NITE because the deadline to sign up is tomorrow. I personally line out the canvases so if you want to come and Sip & Craft you better get moving. https://tinyurl.com/mandalajuly11 

OH AND FRIDAY JULY 6TH WAS FRIDA KAHLO'S BIRTHDAY - WE HAD AN BRILLIANT COFFEE & CONVOS IN THE GALLERY. HAVE AN ARTFUL TOPIC? WE NEED HOST FOR THE FALL. LET'S TALK.

That's it for now - much to do - have to run! :)
Have a great week!

y MIS AMIGOS DE ARGENTINOS...FELIZ EL DIA DE LA INDEPENDENCIA! I MISS YOU.