WORKSHOPS

COLLAGE WORK

Jane Milligan ArbeiterLeave a comment

The assignment for Week 5 of the online course was to make abstracts with tissue paper, either hand painted, or already colored.  I used both, since I had a stash of colored tissue already at hand. I love making abstract art, mostly non-representational, so this was an enjoyable project. These are the four that I posted.

CircusStripesDiscsStudyInRedWhoseBlues

COLLAGE COURSE

Jane Milligan ArbeiterLeave a comment

I’ve started an online collage course with Randel Plowman, an artist whose work I LOVE. Each week we get an assignment, so there will be no reason for me not to make art. For the next fifty-two weeks. Oh boy!

The project for the first week was to gather material, set a timer for five minutes, and make a collage. I couldn’t believe how difficult it was to only work for that short amount of time.

5minA

There is no shortage of scraps in boxes and bins, but arranging them quickly was an experience. It was something I really enjoyed and I think I will continue to do this as a warm-up.

5minB

Our second week’s project was to make monotone collages, so there are four different works, in red, blue, green and yellow. No time limit for this one, but maybe there should’ve been. I pondered over these way too much.

ColorReltnsps

ART and SOUL RECAP

Jane Milligan Arbeiter2 Comments

It has been a fabulous week in Portland, Oregon.  I arrived on Friday night and spent the weekend with my daughter, Caitlin, walking neighborhoods, shopping, eating, and even hiking at Horsetail Falls.

The Art and Soul Workshops started Monday morning at nine o’clock. I had signed up for a two-day session with Donna Watson called Boro/Wabi Sabi:The Japanese Spirit of Collage. (http://www.donnawatsonart.com)  The tables were set up to allow two of us per table and we all eagerly spread our supplies out. I shared the table with Sandy, who owns Loose Ends Paper and Art in Salem, OR with her husband.  After we chatted awhile, I realized I used to see her demonstrations on The Carol Duval Show on HGTV.

Donna Watson has a Zen-like approach to her art and her teaching method. She started us off both mornings with easy yoga stretches to get the blood flowing. Her muted, calm color choices make her work easily identifiable as hers.  We were encouraged to use our own color preferences and Donna guided us to share ourselves in our artwork.  Her philosophy is “art is always communicating, and we need to be conscious of the message.”  


On Wednesday I took the Stencils and Masks workshop with Jane Davies,  all about layering shapes and textures onto painted backgrounds. (http://www.janedaviesstudios.com)  Her approach to art-making is exuberant, loose, colorful.  We had a lot of fun experimenting with color and techniques.  With both artists we used the Gelli plate, which was new to me. We applied acrylic paint to the plate with a brayer and pulled prints, using masks and stencils to make shapes and adding layers of paint until we were satisfied with our piece.   I loved this class!

JaneDspeaking-1

Thursday with Jane Davies again – Balancing Opposites/the Yin And Yang of Composition. We didn’t use the Gelli plate this time, but studied the relationship of elements in collage and painting. The way color, texture, busy-ness,calm, line, shape, and contrast all affect our artwork.  Jane generously shares her talents online with a number of tutorials, so check it out.

YinYangexmpls

Overall, my first experience with the Art and Soul Retreat was a really good one.  I’m so glad that I treated myself!

http://www.artandsoulretreat.com               http://www.donnawatsonart.com                                                                                         http://www.janedaviesstudios.com

 

ART and SOUL

Jane Milligan Arbeiter1 Comment

I’m off to Portland, Oregon for the Art and Soul Retreat this week.  Yay!  It’s something I’ve wanted to do each year I see it advertised.  And with my daughter living in Portland now, I thought it was time to jump on it.  Over a four-day period, I’ll be taking different collage workshops, two days with artist Donna Watson and two days with artist Jane Davies. They are both favorites of mine, and I’m excited to get a chance to learn from them.

Here are their websites:                                                        http://www.donnawatsonart.com/                                                                                     http://janedaviesstudios.com/

Can’t wait to spend time with my daughter and to dive into creating!

ArtSoulSupplies