What about color?

 It all started with crayons..... those juicy tubes of color that we hoped would never break when we used them to "color in the lines".

 

It's an interesting subject that plagues us all every day when we attempt to work/play  on whatever project we are working on, right? We think we know how to blend, how to combine colors and how to add color to our work, but when it comes to a final decision, it's really all guess work. 

I am fortunate enough to have had quite a bit of background training in  color throughout my life, starting at a young age, but many of us have not had that training. We add a little of paint here  and a little of paint there and hope for the best. Is it all a guessing name? No, it isn't, girlfriends, it's a science... .well almost a science although one would never think that "ART" is a science.
Certain colors are mixed with others to achieve certain effects and
other colors are painted over color to achieve another effect and the guessing continues until we have . . . MUD.


Finally, after all this struggling, we have an artist coming here to teach who addresses this problem.... head on - Jane Davies. 

Jane Davies Book on Mixed Media Arts

Jane is an artist/instructor who lives in Vermont and teaches at art retreats all over the country including Create, Art is You and Art and Soul.

She will be here Sept 7th, 8th and 9th at Random Arts and on the 
Friday, the 7th she is teaching "Unlocking the Secrets of Color".

 Unlocking the Secrets of Color

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.

This one day workshop is only $110.  for a full day of instruction from this amazing artist. This fee includes instruction, morning coffee and danish and afternoon snacks. 

20% Discount on all supplies purchased from Random Arts for this workshop.

Once you get the color figured out, you can move on to. . . 

 Scribble Collage Sat. 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!

 •••••

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 register contact Random Arts in Saluda, NC
we are only 85 miles from Charlotte, NC
in the Blue Ridge Mountains.