Art Books I am Loving Now

 When I am in-between Artful Gathering classes preparation time I do something I call cleansing my art palette. I never really plan in what direction my artistic cravings may take me. I embrace what ever strikes my fancy. So I've been bouncing back and forth with these three books that I thought I would recommend. I have been a Jane Davenport fan for several years. I have taken her online classes. I am so in love with her whimsical style. She and I  have one big thing in common and that is our love of color. I just discovered Tamara LaPorte from England who I learned about from Jane. She is amazing in the way she teaches how to use art to heal your inner soul. Seems I go to my art supplies to help me through life issues. Tamara is tops with this process. Finally my latest obsession tapped me on the shoulder when I was shopping at a popular bath and cosmetic store.  I was totally sucked in by the colorful display of the products and the fragrances. (Color addiction is real!) I began researching soap making and pretty much fell really hard down the YouTube rabbit hole! I've only tried the melt and pour soap making products. My first bars are seen in the header.  I am in the study phase of learning cold process soap making. Not being a person who enjoys measuring this may take me a while to try. Stay tuned for pictures! 

Artful Gathering Summer 2018 - Whimsical Grotto Reliquary

Last winter when Zinnia of Artful Gathering offered her first winter themed online art classes I was all in with a project that I had in mind that was developed after I had done a little tour of the Texas Prairie Painted Churches. The ornate metal work, the life like statuary, stained glass windows and the skilled craftsmanship of German artisans is undoubtedly stunningly beautiful. My winter class was well attended for the first launch of the new season of Artful Gathering.

 Through this success I felt my heart strings pulling on yet another reliquary project but wanting to go in the extreme opposite of  HDR. I live on the Gulf Coast of Texas and we do enjoy our beach especially Galveston Island which we visit several times a year. I love sea shells and beach decor especially Mermaids. So I set out to do a reliquary that I could morph into one that was whimsical and featuring a mermaid. I also tried to vary the types of materials so that my students who may have taken HDR would still gain new knowledge of some of my favorite mixed media materials when the take Whimsical Grotto Reliquary. I am looking forward to July when my class will launch. It is so exciting to see what others will do with my instructions and guidance. 

Artful Gathering Winter Class 2017 - Holy Divine Reliquary

A little art journal play!

Artful Gathering Presents Tie the Knot Summer 2017

Finally I can reveal my summer contribution to Artful Gathering 2017! Whew! It's so hard to keep a secret when you are so excited! This year's class is a complete turn around from my French Wedding Globe Class that I taught last summer. I love to mix things up and that is just what I've done for you in Tie the Knot, Gypsy Jingle Leather and Pearl Jewelry. In designing this class, I wanted to offer a course that required little or no tools using simple elements. I love contrast! It is clearly the heart and soul of the inspiration for my class. There are just two elements working here and they are leather cording and large hole, natural pearls. We are going to capture gorgeous, smooth, opalescent pearls with leather cording and tie these materials into a wardrobe of fashion jewelry. Our hands and a pair of scissors are all the tools you will need. The materials list is just as short; pearls and leather cording. Beginner or the experienced jewelry maker you will gain the skills to fashion trendy and classic jewelry. Gypsies I hope you will join me.

S1-135 Tie the Knot Gypsy Jingle Leather & Pearl Jewelry

Kim Williams

June 6 – July 17

Take a journey back in time to a magical sea island and ponder what the locals might have used to adorn themselves. Nature provided pearls from the sea and leather hides from the cultivation of food sources. This workshop will be an exploration of using two simple elements, leather and pearls, to create endless necklace, bracelet and earring designs. Kim Williams will guide you as you string pearls and hand tie leather cord into delicate and bold artistic works. This class is for all levels of jewelry makers.

The link to register to attend our 2017 event:
http://artfulgatheringshops.com/1773-2/

Staying Fresh

Coming from a theatre background, I learned a lot about a variety of artistic endeavors. Theatre people have to be a "jack-of-all-trades". Prop making, costume design and construction, set design and construction, makeup design and application are just a few of the artistic challenges that give theatre professionals a rounded, all inclusive training bananza. This has been fundamental in my post retirement career. I bounce around enjoying all kinds of art from jewelry making (my first love) to mixed media, flower arranging and about anything you can imagine. Somehow I always come back to jewelry and mixed media. Between focusing on these two genres here are just a few pictures of what I do to clean my artistic palette.

Costume Design

Paper Crafts

Creating Faces, Class and Book,  Jane Davenport, janedavenportcom

Christmas Decor for the Museum

My advice is step out of your comfort zone! Play with others by taking classes or just try something new and different. The growth that you will achieve will inspire fresh new ideas that you will apply to your first and forever art genre. Come on and make the leap! I dare you! 

Floral Designs for Events at the McFaddin-Ward House Museum

They let me play with flowers! 

One of the perks of being a volunteer at the house museum in my town, the Mcfadden-Ward House Museum, is the enjoyment of creating flower arrangements for our events. Lectures, banquets, Christmas decor they let me go wild! This is one of my favorite things about volunteering. I love giving tours as well! 

                                             

The Muse - Guest Artist - Relics and Artifacts - August 2016

Here is a sneak peek of my masterpiece I created for Relics and Artifacts guest artist, "The Muse".