Collage, Color & Books Oh My!

Jane Davies here at Random Arts, Sept. 7th, 8th & 9th.

This is her "Scribble Collage" which she

will be teaching on Saturday, Sept 8th

In this workshop we will create our own collage materials by making “paint playgrounds” and scribble drawings using acrylic, watercolor, crayons, pastel, ink, and other materials. If you are “not artistic” or “can’t draw”, try drawing and painting with the intention of tearing up the results for collage! It is definitely in the category of dance-like-nobody-is-watching, and a great way to engage your creative spirit. We will experiment with various approaches to collage using these paintings-drawings as our foundation, make a huge mess, and have a whole lot of fun in the process! 

Unlocking the Secrets of Color on Friday, Sept 7th

 Color is one of the most immediate and emotionally affecting elements in visual art, packed with symbolic and cultural associations, personal meaning, and expressive potential. Your choice of colors can make or break a collage, painting, or mixed media piece; even a small change in color can be the key to transforming an otherwise so-so piece into a stunning work of art. In this workshop we will explore color through hands on exercises, learning how to mix them, and how they interact and relate to one another, and how they work in composition. After taking this workshop you will be on your way to making confident color choices and developing your personal color style.

  Unbinding The Visual Journal  on Sunday, Sept. 9th 

Like many creative mixed-media enthusiasts, I LOVE the idea of visual journaling. But when it comes to actually using one of my handmade books, or even a store bought art journal, I get The Blank Page syndrome. After years of wrestling with my seeming inability to find a satisfying approach, I came up with a way to make a visual journal that solves the Blank Page Problem. You begin by creating random collages on unbound folios, and then assemble them into a book. Each page spread offers something that you can respond to. Collage, write, paint, sew, cut, tear, or draw. There are no mistakes and no blank pages! This workshop takes you through the process of unbinding your visual journaling, resulting in a beautiful handmade collage book. Students will learn basic book binding techniques as well as a new approach to visual journaling.

To see more about Jane Davies, her blog

and her videos and gallery please click here.

Gotta LUV this!

 

Melanie Statnick loves these Peerless Watercolors 

and she showed us just how much in our "random play day" here last Saturday. She simply pulled out her set

of these brilliantly saturated strips of paper,

added her wet brush and the magic began.

The Peerless Watercolor Sheet packs are available 

at Random Arts and it's FREE shipping to U.S

until June 2nd for all my blogging friends. 

The 15 sheet pack (approx 3"x6")is $16.95

40 sheet (approx3"x3") is $24.95

 

Just do a paypal to:

randomarts@charter.net 

and I will send it out to you.

 

Carol Lee followed suit with her "oh so fab" fish prints.

Melanie's Visual journal came to life with bright colors

As you can see, with the addition of stamps and texture her journal speaks to all!

Creative Art Journal Stencil

I created this stencil for my art journals and

have found more than one use for it over 

the last few months.

Take a look at it and see if you can come up with any other

ways to use it.

 I just love it!

These sell for $5.95 and I will ship it FREE 

to US inc. AK & HI

How's that for a deal of the day?!

Create it and they will come!

Our first annual re-sale of arts & crafts supplies was a big hit!

Vendors came from as far as Brasstown, NC & Tennessee, as well as all place in between, with their vehicles filled to the top, to set up and sell their new, used & old art supplies and materials as well as vintage items, antiques  and art.

 The crowds started showing up as soon as we

opened at 9:am and kept us all busy both

inside and out.

 

Outside the vendors kept busy as their products

flew off the tables and into the bargain hunters bags.

Inside the shop  customers scoured our assorted goods and vintage relics and found all sorts of interesting items.... that you can't find anywhere else.

A "deMeng" kind of weekend in Saluda

This past weekend was such a blast with Michael deMeng here teaching again. He is such a great teacher that this is his 8th year coming to Random Arts and every year it's just as good or not better than the last.

The first class that he taught was  "Zoo-illogicals" and of course, it had to do with animals so everyone in attendance "did their thing" on some sort of animal encased in a deep frame.

 This "swan" beginning is starting to take shape as

Flavia begins the process. I especially like the "rear end" 

view below

 

Jen did a "flockette" theme using those long Barbie Doll legs and transformed the head with a bird head... THIS is just the beginning! 

 This happy class of 10 

will be back for more next year, as usual.

Michael took the torch to the front yard on Saturday and Sunday

in the Patron Saint of Discarded Things, 2 day workshop.

Here he shows off his torching skills with Shellac.

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME WITHOUT A BURNING BUDDY!!!

Kate O'Connor from Asheville, NC is almost 

done with her piece. It always amazes me how

everyone starts with "random objects" and ends up 

with a great work of ART.

 Here we all are at the end of 

day 2 with Michael and a group

of 12 happy artists - and me.

I had such a great time redoing this front porch on this fine old house that is now called Random Arts.
From the colorful new chair cushions, to the hanging mobiles made from embroidery hoops to the flowering plant life and painted chairs.... it makes me happy and it makes me feel all fresh and new just like spring.

For years I kept collecting beautiful fabrics at the quilt shows that I would go to as a vendor
and I knew that some day, I would figure out  what to do with those fabrics. This week I set
out to make pillow covers for all the chairs on the front porch thinking that I needed to go to
the fabric store. Low and behold, just a few steps away in my own space I found all the fabrics
that one could ever ask for and the process began.

One after another I started  to cover all those pillows that have been looking so tired and dingey.
They needed some life brought back to them and this was the perfect way to do that.
Now the porch is transformed. It's light and airy as well as welcoming to all those that
walk up the step to Random Arts.
Ahhh, what a good feeling.