Seeing it once was magic, twice was pure bliss… During my recent trip to Montreal, I was lucky enough to see “Chagall: Colour and Music” at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. It wasn’t my first time getting to see this fantastic artist’s work on display, that would be four years ago with a friend at …
By the time you’re done reading this, you’re not going to believe me… Prior to leaving New York City in 1990, I was in a French Canadian documentary entitled “New York Doré.” It was an honor, to say the least, to be selected to participate in this phenomenal project. The director, Suzanne Guy, had befriended me, and …
While at Art Camp last summer, I became friends with Marsha. Everyone LOVES Marsha, so it was easy to fall in love with her and her zest for life. She has been going to Camp De Benneville for many, many years, and is so well acquainted with the forest that she lead nature walks in …
Shoot for the moon and if you miss you will still be among the stars. —Les Brown Well, do you think it’s possible to do both? Because I am now being showcased in the “Over the Moon” Exhibit at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library AND among the stars of my fellow San Diego Book Artists that …
A lot can happen in a year… It’s amazing to think that this time last year one of my biggest desires was to start teaching more classes and workshops… and now I’m the co-founder of Art Lounge with my friend Cindy Blumkin. Located just down the street from me in Encinitas, Art Lounge has provided …
Instant gratification… Who doesn’t love a little from time to time? I know I do, but things take time. Especially making art. I am often shocked by how long it takes to make things! Then I remember that it’s in the making, the processing, the imagining that the pleasure occurs. Once I remember, I remind …
Looking for unique, one-of-a-kind holiday presents for friends, family or yourself? Join me at the Art Lounge Holiday Bazaar, Sunday, December 11, 2016 from 12-6pm. This special event will showcase artwork and other handcrafted creations from Art Lounge instructors. This event is fun for the whole family or perfect for a girl’s day, as there …
This past weekend, I had the good fortune of meeting and learning from Helen Hiebert in a 2-day workshop aptly titled, “Illuminating Workshop!” The workshop was filled with all my favorite artist friends from San Diego Book Arts. We learned how to make a flexible paper material lined with copper wire, which was then transformed …
Months ago, I contacted a fellow artist and inquired if he would be willing to give a small workshop on “Mark Making Tools.” He’s always making tools; mostly Book Arts tools, like hand carved bone folders made in bamboo or teflon, or a lovely paper tearing tool. But he also makes Bench Hooks, Hole Punching Cradles and Corner Cutters… …
The other night, I went to hear Peter Bolland at the Encinitas Branch of the San Diego Public Library. It was a free concert in a beautiful room, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, in what some say is the nicest library in the county. Peter is a wonderful songwriter. His words are inspiring, deep and bring emotions to …
Things take time. As an artist the most important thing, is practice. Actually, practice is probably the most important thing in ANY discipline. If you practice anything regularly it begins to somehow feel effortless. It starts to give energy rather than take it. I recently saw a documentary on Richard Pryor, who is probably one …
The San Diego Book Arts (SDBA) recently welcomed back Seth Apter for two two-day workshops in San Diego. I attended the first workshop, “Cover to Cover,” which was held September 16 & 17, 2015. This workshop was about using mixed-media techniques to create a one-of-a-kind, unconventional artist’s book. Using vintage book covers as the base, and making a series of double-sided “pages” filled edge …
UPDATE: WORKSHOP FILLED! Brontë, Dickens, Frost… and you! Have some old books collecting dust? Then join me for a hands-on introduction to art journaling and book altering with mixed media artist, illustrator and maker of beautiful things Roxanne Coble, aka By Bun. This class will provide you with fun and diverse techniques for transforming your …
Jean Michel Basquiat is one of my favorite painters. His work is loose, playful and inventive. On the other hand, it seems to me as though everything I do gets tight and serious really fast, and finds its way to being too “realistic,” which I find… boring! This is probably why I have developed this deep …
Keep it simple: Start with a large sheet of Bristol board. Basic primary color acrylic paints, no bushes choosing to mix and apply paint with your hands. Paint a ground. (background) Notice if anything is calling for your attention. Grab a section. (outline area) Look at the whole and remove what you don’t like. Paint …
Raw, open and expressive are the qualities that both describe the artist and his art. Intuitive painting, using the most basic essential tools which include red, blue, yellow, black and white acrylic paint, four brushes, four pastel sticks and a pencil, oh and Bristol board.
It’s what’s inside that matters not the materials. Jesse Reno teaches us to see in a new way…
Sign up for his next workshop. Better be quick He’s a rising star.
Every artist has a few other artists that not only inspire them, but guide and influence their work, whether in major or minor ways. At the top of my list is Jean-Michel Basquiat. My attraction to his work, aside from the beauty of his raw aesthetic, is the honesty and purity of his expression. As far …
Over the past several months, I’ve been learning about and experimenting with art journaling. My teacher Pnina Gold recently urged me to sign-up for a two-day workshop with Art Journaler extraordinaire Orly Avineri to expand my technique and perspective. Twelve of us, including Orly, attended the workshop, which took place this past weekend at the beautiful home …
Something is happening. Something is breaking open. Something is being born. Art journaling is the new therapy… and much like meeting with a licensed professional, it’s all a process. Sometimes scary, sometimes frustrating, but always worthwhile. What is art journaling? It’s an intuitive creative exercise that allows spontaneous self expression with no end in mind. …
I can remember when I heard my first episode of This American Life in 1997. The episode: Food Chain in a New York City Apartment. I specifically remember the story from it about a woman raising bugs in her New York City apartment. The story was told in a way that was both interesting and disturbing, the …
Getting more than I bargained for! That should have been the title for this amazing workshop. I’ll admit, I was hesitant about taking this class. I’m into paper, not fabric, and my sewing machine was a little dusty from lack of use. (I wasn’t even sure if it would work). I like constructing books but …
Fellow SDBA* member Gina Pisello gave a mini workshop on folding. This is the sample I made in her workshop. It’s called a Blizzard fold. It’s quite complicated and even with instructions I am not sure I’ll be able to duplicate it. But it was so fun. And dear, patient Gina is so adept at …
Today was a glorious day in San Diego. Perfect weather and a perfectly good time… spent with fellow artists (12 of us total) taking a 2-day workshop with Laura Wait. I am really looking forward to completing the book project tomorrow… lots of ideas, new methods and approaches, which will surely show up in my …
The following quote was offered to me by a fellow graphic designer/artist (Janice McDonald) to assist me in cultivating patience when being an “artist” is a struggle for me. “…it is reasonable to imagine that there are many artists living under cover, in a kind of witness protection program, in the realm of design. I’ve …
Anything is possible… don’t “qualify” yourself. Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993) was recommended by a printmaking friend, as an artist I should research, because of the breadth of style which he explored and mastered throughout his career. Not one to dismiss his muse, Diebenkorn allowed the process to change course radically, and often. He was a master …
