Field Trip!

Artiscape is hosted by European Papers -- a paper crafting store in Columbus. I had precious little time between classes and spending time with friends to visit the shop, but decided I'd rather visit there than have lunch on my workshop day! (And I did have a banana in the car!)

The first floor is a bit more of a gallery with many lovely gifts. They also had an ATC exhibit (below, hanging across the back wall) and exhibits of work by Artiscape teachers.

Here are a few views. The upstairs is a large loft.

The had a number of papers -- not nearly so many as Hollander's in Ann Arbor, but more than most spots.

Lots of charms. TONS of charms. Pick a topic, any topic -- you'll find a charm for it there.

And there are tons of art supplies, inks (not really a lot of stamps that I saw), brushes, that sort of thing.

I bought some beautiful ribbon, some charms and embellishments, a little bit of paper, some beautiful bird's nests and lots of little bits and bobs! I didn't buy a dressmaker's dummy, but I loved how they were displayed!

If you are going to European Papers, you won't find it on the main street. Instead, you'll need to walk behind the building, where you'll see this welcoming site!

If you're in Columbus, I have a feeling you'd enjoy a visit!

Artiscape: Jacqueline Sullivan - Watermedia Sampler

Jacqueline Sullivan is a wonderful teacher -- I've taken a couple of different lasses with her before and she's always been very thorough. Her Artiscape class didn't disappoint.

Titled Watermedia Sampler, it was similar to Barbara Close's in terms of painting background pages and using a variety of techniques to affect the final product.

One of the differences, though, is that rather than using watercolor, she had us prepare a highly diluted acrylic, using water and tube-acrylics. They are mixed in small water bottles with sports caps on them.

Then the fun begins -- using a cookie sheet, you wet your paper, squirt color on the page.

Then you add another -- generally up to three. Let them bleed or run together.

We did eight pages -- seven of which used this technique. On each of those pages (using 300 watercolor paper as the substrate) we used a variety of "add-ons": kosher salt, sand, a mixture of the two, powders, charcoal and pastels scraped into a fine powder using a razor blade, alcohol, lace paper, Rit dye.

On the eighth sheet, we made a design in Tar Gel. Later we painted the area around this design and using a gold or copper foil (similar to Jones-Tones), we ironed over the tar gel, leaving the metallic. (The page below has Rit Dye and gold powder.)

After that we made a book with samples of each page.

Well, some of the folks made a book. I was stumped with the binding and I didn't finish mine in class, but here it is now!

I have to say I had a great deal of fun in this class, although I think they overfilled it considering the size of the room. (I thought that about Barbara Close's class as well. This conference needs larger workspaces for the type of work we were doing.)

That said, I will most definitely do this technique again and look forward to using the papers I made. There are lots of applications for the "final pieces" -- backgrounds for mixed media collage, tags, cards, and even as accent pieces.

Just work in an area where you can make a big mess and have lots of room to dry your stuff! (A hotel room wasn't quite the spot!)

Artiscape: Barbara Close - Paper Textures

My first half-day class was with the wonderful Barbara Close. Titled "Paper Textures," it focused on watercolor as the coloring source, with a variety of items used to texture the paper and add depth to the colors.

We started with four sheets of watercolor paper, folded in half, so we had 16 pages or eight spreads to work with.

We painted all the pages, and while wet did a number of techniques to give them some life.

Included were stamping techniques (linoleum block with or without design), powders, pastel (wet down) and more. This is a swath of pastel, then watered, on a watercolor background.

Sometimes she used odd bits as a stamp -- these marks were made with a corrugated Starbucks drink holder all folded into a square or circle.

And here she's working with the linoleum block.

This is what it looks like on the page.

When done, we put our books together in a cover and stitched them up. Barbara showed us how to judge and place the holes for the awl...

And the stitch the binding.

I learned a lot in this class. You'll note, I'm not showing you my grand book! Well, maybe later! I did some pages I adored. And a few that -- well, let's just call them gross violations of the color wheel! So, I think I'm not done playing with it yet!

But I will say I will do this again -- and use the papers for books or cards. And, this class went well with my afternoon class, which you'll hear about next!

(New at Chopsticks and String: Anne Frank in Words and Pictures.)

Artiscape: The Demos!

Shortly after my first class concluded, I attended the Artiscape reception, which included a preview of the marketplace (dangerous spot but considerably smaller than the last time I attended). Also on tap was a series of demos. I attended four.

The first was from calligrapher and painter Barbara Close, in whose class I was enrolled the following day.

This was fun, simple and effective. She took copies of a couple of quotes she had elegantly penned. Our task was to use paints and powders to add accents.

I used watercolors -- both "traditional" watercolors and this wonderful pan of metallic watercolors (which I bought at the marketplace.) I also used a bit of the gold powder. This is the final result.

I loved this because it was so darned simple. Of course, part of what makes it looks good is Barbara's lettering, and I won't be able to duplicate that! Still, you get the gist of it!

Patricia Baldwin Seggenbruch showed us some encaustic basics.

I've seen a number of bloggers (but most notably Kristine Campbell) do things with encaustic and it sounded rather complicated.

Certainly a 10 or 15 minute demo is going to cut some things short! But Patricia was an excellent teacher, able to cut a complicated and time consuming process to its essence and deliver some beautiful results.

I have to say that I'm probably not going to take up this amazing art myself -- but I have tremendous respect for it, and it wouldn't surprise me if a piece of someone else's ended up on my wall someday!

The third demo I was was from Jacqueline Sullivan. I was signed up for her class the following day as well and have taken classes from her before. She's an excellent instructor. The topic of this one was "foil painting."

THIS one I must try! Basically, Jacqueline covers a surface with foil (attached with gel medium -- again, more complicated than I'm saying, but enough to give you the idea). It's then textured with a variety of tools.

She then mixes fluid acrylic with GAC 200 and paints.

It sounds simple. But there's more to it than meets the eye! What I can say is that the end result is fabulous!

Finally, Kathleen Wentz (I can't find a website for her; I'll put in a link if I get one) showed us some fun techniques with stamping and inking.

I don't stamp very much and when I do, it's pretty much -- hit the pad, make the impression. So it was good to see how easy some of the techniques were.

And the colorful piece she worked on was fun!

Can you imagine how after seeing a bundle of creativity -- fast creativity -- I was excited for the next workshops? In the next post, we'll go to Barbara Close's "Paper Textures" class.

(New at Chopsticks and String: "Anne Frank in Words and Pictures.")

Artiscape: The Cubicle Book

Artiscape is a series of diverse workshops hosted each year by European Papers. From Thursday through Sunday, artists learn new techniques or perfect old favorites with a strong list of instructors. In between classes, one can stop at the vendor marketplace (much smaller this year), visit the European Papers store (the "mother ship") and get to know lots of like-minded creative types!

My first class was called "Cubicle Book" and it was taught by Amy Flowers at her off-site studio, Shrew'd Studios.

The shuttle dropped me off in front of what used to be a garage -- one step in and I knew it was going to be great!

Amy greeted us with "find a seat -- there's wine, pop, and cookies in the back!" Art and wine. Works for me. And she introduced us to Linda, who was her studio helper.

There were five of us in this class, so there was plenty of room to work. And, until it began, we took a long look at Amy's studio -- I loved this astounding white kimono on the wall --

And there were lots of nooks with cute stuff, all jammed in so there were always surprises!

Amy began the demo explaining how this book -- using six squares of a card stock with tiny holes punched in each corner would go together to make a box that was completely reversible.

First you lay out your cards and get your concept for the piece.

Then you go to town with Lumiere...

Lots of ink and stamps!

I had a green/aqua side (which would later get stamped tulips and borders).

The other side was deep blues and golds. Yes. The cat side.

Amy was most generous with her supplies, her time and her encouragement and we had a good deal of fun putting together our boxes.

Here's the end product! (I have since added some beads and trimmed my "strings." When you flip the cards, it stands up this way, but with the reverse side.)

(And no, you won't see the other side -- because the other thing I learned about this is that you may have all your cards lined up right for one side and it looks great -- but if you aren't more careful checking BOTH sides, you'll find half your tulips upside down!)

Incidentally, Amy pointed out one could use this box as an art therapy project -- your "face to the world" side on one side of the box and your "hidden" face on the other. I'd love to try it with kids.

Amadeus

Tell me to pick my favorite classical composer and more often not I'll say, "Mozart!" I love the life and color and energy in his work -- and his dramatic pieces are pretty powerful too! My mental picture reverts to the film "Amadeus," which so vibrantly showed a part of his life, with all the beauty and opulence that period brings to mind.

So, when Anno suggested we meet at an Ann Arbor restaurant called Amadeus as I began my journey to Artiscape, I was thrilled!

For those of you in Michigan and who may get to Ann Arbor now and then, take note! A visit to Amadeus is simply divine!

Located on Washington Avenue, the tiny pink storefront shows lacy curtains framing the two tables nestled into the front window corners.

And, when you walk in the door, this is what you see: A charming, beautifully decorated haven, perfect for a cozy, leisurely lunch!

Beautifully decorated -- but not overly thematic.

Yes, there is the portrait, and a wall with Mozart-themed art.

Yes, there are marvelous wood carvings of musicians.

But one also finds an upright piano with a collection of creches, patterned tablecloths, lovely vases with fresh flowers on each table.

We are greeted with our own little basket of tiny and delicious rolls. And of course, we pursue the menu!

Amadeus features many Eastern European dishes -- pierogi, potato pancakes, schnitzels and more. I had the "Amadeus Pancake," which was an herbed potato pancake with dill sauce and topped with smoked salmon, all sitting on a bed of greens.

For dessert we split a "Constanza," an orange-liquour sponge cake underneath a small mound of chocolate and then vanilla mousse.

Here's a side view!

And even the bathroom is wonderful!

Now, this post could easily be just a restaurant piece -- Amadeus certainly merits one. But it really is something more than that.

You see, as I was planning my trip to Artiscape, I knew I'd pass through Ann Arbor -- and so when I contacted Anno about meeting for lunch, and it worked out, I was thrilled. Very spur of the moment.

Five months ago, we'd never even met.

As a wonderful blogger whose words I followed, I got to "know" her right here in this Land of Blog. Last December, she and Jen of A2eatwrite and I had a holiday lunch in Ann Arbor. And it was wonderful.

So, as we sat savoring our most delectible lunch (Anne got the Dill Pickle Soup -- it rocked!), we spoke as though we'd known one another forever. We spoke of family and food, writing and blogging. Of the things with which we filled our hours. We could have continued far longer than my travel schedule allowed.

And, a bit later, as I hit the road for points south, I kept thinking how very wonderful it is to find a new friend. One who shares common interests, and one whose skills and talents I so deeply respect.

We should never be too old for new friends, but often, at a certain point in life, we have established our routines and our interests -- our clubs or our colleagues. We stick with the folks we know because we love them and sometimes we don't have the opportunity to discover what we might share with someone new.

Blogging has opened that door to me. Anno is one of the bloggers I've met in the two and almost half years I've done this, but there have been others and I trust there will be more in the future.

We are friends and finding new a new friend is a gift.

I am very blessed.

(Over the next few days, I'll be taking you to Columbus for a fun visit, some shopping, and several Artiscape workshops. But my next post is one dear to my heart -- honoring my mom! Please keep coming back for the next week or so to check up on some great art techniques and more!)