Sunday, September 14, 2014

Today is a new day.


It's a warm day and I am thankful.  I know winter is coming but it requires mental preparation and I'm just not there yet.  I have been working in the studio, sometimes cleaning and organizing and sometimes creating something new or revisiting something old.  Since it's been so long since my last post, I thought this one could be a reintroduction to the Studio, along with a reminder of what's to come.
Pin weaving in the Studio
 

Pin weaving was one of my favourite classes.  Students created beautiful pieces using a variety of fabrics and then created clay beads to embellish their pieces.


Chickpea Paste resist

 

This next class was born of necessity.  I had promised that we would do a flour paste resist but as I worked out the details I realized that the mess created by a traditional approach would not work, so I began to experiment with other options.  The resulting Chickpea Paste Resist class was a great success and in 2014, Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine published an article I had written on the technique.  You can find it here.

Creative space of guest artist Sharon Chalmers
 Often the Studio would feature guest artists like the lovely Sharon Chalmers (just imagine her, there, in that chair). Having her in the Studio was always a treat!  We were also visited by Donna Funnell and Patricia Beader.

 

Sonja's sweet piece

 
Some days we created pieces in the style of other artists.  Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson inspired the piece above.  These sessions were always a great opportunity to learn more about a number of talented and artistic women.


The Studio is still being worked on, but I do have classes coming up.  I am still teaching for the Milton Centre for the Arts, and the Art Mixer, a weekly art session that can be purchased one week at a time, starts on October 16, 2014.  This fun adult class includes all materials and is perfect for all skill levels.  It runs from 7-9:30 pm on Thursday nights.  For more information on this class or any of my offerings for children, check out the MCA website here.

I have also just started teaching a few classes for Idea Exchange, Cambridge Libraries and Galleries.  I will be teaching a Wednesday evening adult class starting October 1, 2014.  This fun six week session is a non-traditional approach to fibre and printmaking.  Classes run from 7-9:30 pm and you can find out more about them here in the fall/winter brochure.

That's all for the moment.  I hope you are all creating art and enjoying the last bits of summer and the first scents of fall.