A Treasure from Jessica

Flea Markets and Garage Sales
Much thanks to Jessica, who taught BOTH of my kids kindergarten. She has the time to scour garage sales and flea markets, something I just cannot do. Check out this GREAT book!

Jessica took my Altamonte Springs workshop a month or so ago. I told the students about my "Music" series I am working on for the solo exhibition in September at the Maitland Art Center. She immediately started digging through her mixed media stash of treasures to see if she had some music themed things for me. So Sweet! Jessica brought me this book she purchased at a garage sale a couple of weeks ago and it's wonderful!

Also, Jessica has brought me amazing stamps, books about dogs and a mouse who makes music. What more could a collage artist ask for? I am so very thankful for all the people in my life who send me things to use in collage. Where would I be without all the people who are so giving?

Thanks Jessica!

Ellen Lindner's Fab Fiber Art

Cosmo Duet 2
© Ellen Lindner

Last summer I had the opportunity to have lunch with Ellen Lindner, a quilter who lives in Melbourne, FL about an hour and a half from me in Orlando. We shared information about teaching, marketing, and showing our art. Ellen has experienced much success with her quilting classes, teaching near and afar! These "quilts" are really works of fiber art, they are amazing and wonderful. Please check out her website.

Ellen and I decided to do a commissioned trade. She was really interested in my work because we basically do the same thing! She uses fiber and I use paper. In fact, Ellen's even got some fiber art that is glued and not sewn.

I made a cupcake for Ellen and she made "Cosmo Duet 2" for me. I can't tell you how much I LOVE this art! Both pieces are 12x12, Ellen did a blog entry about our trade and she said she's going to redecorate her kitchen around the colors in the cupcake collage! WOW. I told her my husband would probably not go for a hot pink kitchen.

Check out Ellen's blog, you might even want to subscribe, I did!

Jacksonville Workshop

Society of Mixed Media Artists
SoMMA of Jacksonville has invited me to teach on May 1&2 for their spring workshop! I'm thrilled to have been invited by SoMMA and their lovely president Francesca Tabor-Miolla.

The workshop will be two days, at The Arts Center in downtown Jacksonville. There is plenty of on-street free parking on the weekends. The space is like an old warehouse with much charm, and has an elevator to assist with bringing supplies in.

Click here for the registration form

Altamonte Workshop Again

Students hard at work, having fun!
We enjoyed the warmer weather by opening the overhead door and letting in some fresh air and sun. This would be the perfect season for a workshop on painting your own collage papers, taking them outside to dry. We might just have to find out who's interested in that!

Altamonte Workshop Again

Saturday Fun!
We had a great time in Altamonte this weekend doing the collage portion of the "Paper Two Ways" workshop that I offer with Judith Segall, paper maker.

The award for farthest traveler goes to Elaine Weeks who drove all the way up from West Palm to make collages with us! She was totally prepared with all her hand painted papers!

Bobby Baugh emailed me to thank me for the class and shared this awesome tool for patterning your hand painted paper. The Rolling pin is wrapped with a sheet of craft foam from the kids' department at Michaels. Cut it to the width and circumference of the rolling pin. Cut shapes with an exacto knife (super easy, almost like drawing). Glue in place using Elmer's, and wrap it tight with freezer or wax paper while it dries. Use it with fluid or full bodied acrylics over or under a wash of a complimentary color to pattern your own papers! Bobby's Apple collage is above, she worked on this in class and completed it at home, I love the quadrant background!

What a great tip, between this and stamps, you can really get some amazing results with patterning

NAVIO Artisans Collective Show

New Bedford, MA
NAVIO Artisans Collective invited me to show in their gallery as featured artist for the month of April. The show opens April 3, Saturday night, 6-9pm. I'll be there wearing my art as a paper skirt, so if you live nearby, please come out and say hello!

It just so happens that NAVIO was started by a group of artists including Charlie Barmonde, a potter who is in the Katharine Butler Gallery in Sarasota with me. Charlie invited me to show with them in April. It's a small world, because I am originally from Massachusetts.

I am going to go up and spend the weekend with my sister in Boston, which is about an hour away from the gallery in New Bedford. I've sent them 10 new pieces of work, never shown before. Let's hope the show is a success!

My Fantastic Sister

My fantastic sister shipped me this Mother Goose book to use in my collage work. Aimée sent me this and one other really neat, very old, children's book. I have completely torn up "Best Loved Nursery Rhymes" from our childhood and I had to buy myself another copy on eBay! I love the nursery rhymes so much for the animals they feature, I love "How Now Brown Cow" and "Hey Diddle Diddle" was the most recent one I used for my night cows.

I am offering prints of my work on demand, as I have found a great printer who will print and ship for me! The prints are on heavy artists water color paper, backed with foam core. They are boxed flat and shipped directly to you.


Email me if you are interested in purchasing prints.
above: "Over The Moon" 20x24  collage on panel  ©St. Hilaire Nelson

New Hardcover Process Book

You Asked For It!
Since I created my first Lulu.com book, which was more or less a portfolio of work, people have asked me if I would consider writing an instructional book. I am happy to say that the book is now available.

This is a "print on demand" book in bookstore quality hardcover. Print on demand means that there is no upfront inventory, they print the book as they are ordered.

I have tried to include every step of my process in this book, I have covered painting your own collage papers, application, and final preparation. This book has professional photography as well as resources for supplies.

This book goes into a little more depth than the DVD, simply because it's all written out in an easy to read, professionally designed format.

Click here for purchase information.

Winner!

The Artist's Magazine
I have just been informed this week that my collage Out to Pasture (sold) has won first place in the category of mixed media/collage in The Artist's Magazine 2010 All Media Online Competition!
     You can see my work, as well as the winners in all other categories on their website.

This is quite an honor and I'm so happy to share it with you! This collage was actually the very first of my cow series. I had a lot of fun using highly textured hand-made paper to create the nose, which is my favorite thing about cows.

• I used text and pages from different printed materials for variety in most of my white areas (as a graphic designer I do love type)
• I try to use related printed materials for some hidden meaning, words and stories about cows from children's books and nursery rhymes
• I was sure that my simplified cows and horizon in the background did not compete with the main focal point. 
• I kept my values separated, the cow head is dark, the sky is light, the green area is medium, very simplified, but essential for cutting down on collage competition

Great Gift Idea

I have just received my clear boxes with silver ribbons and I'm happy to announce that I'll be offering a mixed set of five Le Coq du Village and five Coq of the Walk cards with envelopes, gift boxed for $15.

As you may know, Le Coq du Village is on the cover of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association for February, and Coq of the Walk is currently on display at the Maitland Art Center here in Orlando.

DVD Inspired Work

Rhonda Carpenter
Rhonda Carpenter sent me her first "Paper Painting" of a crow today. I had suggested she try adding some blue and purple in the feathers to add more variety than just black. Rhonda did a great job.

She asked me about tearing vs. cutting the paper for the tiny details like the eye. I told her that I never cut any of my papers, I always tear. However, you should do what works for you! I tear because I want each paper "brush stroke" to have natural edges.

Rhonda was also successful in staying within her value structure. Her sky is light, her ground is medium, and her bird is dark, this helps to separate each element of the composition.

Check out Rhonda's progression on this crow on her blog.

A Special Invitation

I have been asked by Renee Garrison of the Orlando Museum of Art to be the guest presenter at the Council of 101 Annual Spring Luncheon on April 22 in Winter Park. 


The women of the Council of 101 (the number of members determined the name) contribute thousands of hours each year to the Orlando Museum of Art and have given the OMA more than $300,000 each year since 2000! In April of 2006, the Council of 101 presented the OMA with a check for $355,000. They achieve this level of giving through their annual operations, which primarily include the Festival of Trees and the Antiques Show and Sale. In addition to cash donations, the Council purchases museum-quality prints created by contemporary American artists and gifts them to the OMA.


What an honor, I am happy to donate my time and talent to such a wonderful organization. For the luncheon I will be speaking and taking questions as I demonstrate my college technique while I work.


Please click the link above for more information about the Council of 101 at the Orlando Museum of Art.