Magical Metal Altars at Create

Thursday I taught Magical Metal Altars to a full class with 20 students. This is a new class, kind of a larger modified version of the popular Fiesta Ornaments. What fun this was! 

I gave the students a wide range of options to create their altar; from using a template with everything predesigned by me to simple templates with various door and window shapes and imagery that could be used for reference and inspiration, to completely open ended templates allowing for total creative expression of painted imagery and embossed metal work.

I was amazed by the number of incredibly beautiful pieces that were made in this class.

Fantastic work done by everyone!

I think Create is a perfect name for this retreat, there was a lot of incredible work being done in so many class rooms. How difficult it must have been for students to decide what class to take when there were so many great options.

I want to give an extra thank you to all my wonderful students who chose to spend the day in my class.

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Painting Fabric Class at the Create Retreat

The Create retreat got off to a wonderful start on Wednesday. My first class had 8 students, it's such a pleasure to have a class that small on occasion, teaching 25 (my usual number for festival) can be challenging, because I always like to give everyone individual attention along with the class demos.

These gals were focusing on making smooth gradations, looks like they are really getting the hang of it.

I think it is interesting how many students I have who tell me they have never painted before and then they do really great work. I like to think I have helped open new doors for them in their creative process and allowed them to recognize their potential is so much more than they realize.

This student brought photos of birds that she had taken at the Field museum in Chicago to paint.

My trusty assistant Nina came along to help and spend some time painting and drawing in class.

Karen Becker who painted the birds, just sent me this photo of her finished quilted painted birds, beautiful!


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Lots of creating, not a lot I can show

I have been working like crazy the last couple weeks prepping for a trip to Cleveland next monday for Quilting Arts TV.

I've been playing with lots of fun products and techniques, but you'll just have to watch for season 900 to find out what they'll be.

I still have one more segment to work out, but first I have to go teach a couple classes at Create today and tomorrow. I'll try and post pics soon but things are crazy busy, so it may be a few days.

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Wonderful work inspired by a few of my classes and techniques

After taking my Heavy Metal Play Day class in St Paul last June Janet Hartje made this wonderful book to hold a variety of papers showcasing mixed media techniques.

Check out Janets blog to read more about the book and see some of the other cool stuff she's been creating! 


This week Marilyn Fischer, from Kentucky, shared this wonderful little tea bags on muslin quilt she made with her 94 year old mother who lives in Massachusetts. 

Marilyn's mother painted the tea bags, from a photo of Marilyn in her favorite hat and Marilyn did the quilting and mounting. They regularly share ideas over the computer and phone. Marilyn says "I LOVE the tea bags! They have it all.....look old, texture and I have always loved tea dyed fabric."

Thanks so much for sharing your work Janet and Marilyn!!!!!

Now, for some more inspiration, head over to Diana Trouts blog for a free 7 part mini watercolor workshop.

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And the winner is....

Congratulations Andrea from Talking Horses Arts!

Please send me your email, so I can enroll you in Color Theory and have Interweave contact you for the DVD download.

Thank you everyone for the amazing feedback!
It was so hard knowing only one person could win when there were so many wonderful comments, I wanted you all to win!

I am overwhelmed by the number of people who are interested in Color Theory. As Jen said learning color theory would get her to "A.) break out of my color comfort zone, B.) understand why certain colors work well together and C.) understand value, hue, saturation, etc."

This is so true! Learning Color Theory will do that, as well as, help with mixing paint colors and fabric dyeing as Sally and Carol mentioned.

Because of your interest, I would like to make a special offer of 25% off enrollment in Color Theory now through the end of September.
Click here for more information.

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Medical and Art Update.

This coming week I begin six weeks of radiation and chemotherapy to treat my recent diagnosis of GBM Multiforme brain cancer. You can get the details here if you want to catch up on the last month.



My passion, "New Mythology" paintings will be exhibited along with the work of sculptor Sarah Wegner in a show called "Modern Mythologies' at the Howard County Center for the Arts in Ellicott City Maryland this coming November.

The opening reception is Friday November 11th from 6 to 8 p.m. The show will exhibit through Friday December 16th.



I so appreciate and love you all. More than you can know.

Final day of the Hot Summer Giveaway

Make sure you stop by Melanie Testa's blog today for a chance to win her wonderful book and a download of her DVD.

These are all the other ArtSpark bloggers participating in the giveaway, so stop by and leave a comment if you haven't already.

Carla Sonhiem

Diana Trout  

Gloria Hansen 

Tracie Lyn Huskamp 

Jane LaFazio 

Jill Berry 

Kelli Nina Perkins
Lyric Kinard

Be sure to stop by here Saturday to find out if you're the winner on my blog!

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