What's on my Easel

Jazz Singer / 16x20 / collage on cradled panel / in progress

Jazz Singer

The Jazz Singer is a piece I created previously and sold. Every now and then I have someone ask me to recreate a piece because they love it so much and they ask so nicely. I explain that there will never be any two collages alike, but I am willing to give it a whirl a second time.

This week I have been working on The Jazz Singer for a student who took my collage workshop in Longwood, FL at the Craft Shack.

Process

I start with a pencil sketch on wood panel, I sort out my composition and a little bit of shading in this stage. After I have a good drawing to go by, I start painting in my composition with acrylic paints. The painting is going to help guide me in gluing my papers on top.

©St. Hilaire Nelson 2014

©St. Hilaire Nelson 2014

A good solid foundation of shading is important in the under-painting stage. Here I have established my lights, darks, highlights, shadows, and expanded on my sketch. When I begin to apply the paper I will push the colors and textures even further.

Hand-painted papers hang on the line in my studio

I paint all my own collage papers by hand, I use a variety of different techniques and paper resources to create my own palette. I often use found or discarded papers in addition to exquisite purchased papers. Nothing is off limits when it comes to collage!

©Douglas Nelson Photography

Workshops

I travel the country teaching workshops and may be near you in 2014. I have a full list of workshops along the right hand side of this blog with links out to the host venue. My next class will be held in my home state of Florida at the Mount Dora Center for the Arts

click: Mount Dora Center For The Arts Workshop Info

February 28 - March 2nd

Typical 3-day class schedule / click to enlarge

Historic Downtown Mount Dora

See you in Mount Dora or your neck of the woods!

Thank You
for being a part of my
Art Journey,
Elizabeth

InnSane: An Interview with Elizabeth St Hilaire Nelson

InnSane: An Interview with Elizabeth St Hilaire Nelson: Meticulously torn bits of hand-painted papers, delicately put together, form the exceptionally vibrant collages created by Artist Elizabe...

Thank Youfor being a part of myArt Journey,Elizabeth

Hudson River Valley Workshop

A beautiful historic Inn

This year I have the honor of being selected to teach at the Hudson River Valley Art Workshops in Greenville, NY. The class takes place at the 1889 Greenville Arms Bed and Breakfast in the Catskill Mountain region of Upstate NY. The Inn has been home to a program of creative art workshops since 1982. Kim LaPolla is the director who called me and asked me to teach, her husband Mark is the Chef de Cuisine, creator of the mouth-watering breakfast and dinner menus to satisfy your creative appetite! See the breakfast menu here.


class space at the Inn

The all-in-one environment provides you with exceptional value and maximum enjoyment. The special art workshops program encourages you to relax, focus on your creativity, and thrive in the company of your fellow students and the instructor. The workshop, meals and lodging are all at the Greenville Arms. Classes are limited to 18-20 students and the studio is available 24 hours a day.

See you in historic Greenville this May 29-June 1!

Learn more and register here

Thank You
for being a part of my
Art Journey,
Elizabeth

Elite Blogger

©Douglas Nelson Photography

I spent the weekend in Key West for my solo show opening at the Stone Soup Gallery. The folks at Growing Bolder asked me to write about it as an Elite Blogger. I've got some other stories there as well. 

Check out my Gallery Opening Story

http://paperpaintings.growingbolder.com/celebrating-individuality/

Thank YOU 

for being a part of my 

Art Journey,

Elizabeth

Art Is … YOU!

Photo courtesy of The Craft Shack Studio

Submerge Yourself in an Art Retreat

Ellen and Sallianne of Art is … You, a much loved art retreat making its debut on the West Coast after five very popular years on the East Coast, emailed me out of the blue one day and invited me to teach with them. Salianne actually reached out to me and asked me to come to California, when I asked her how she had heard of me, her answer was so amazing that I had to read it out loud to my husband.

"Well!! My dearest, Ellen has been following you for years, newsletters, website, blogs… you name it. When we began Art is…You in 2006 with 12 teachers and about 30 students she had two dreams. One was to have Michael deMeng join us and one was to have you join us… so we would be thrilled to have you join us and give her a very big thrill"

That's flattering, no?
How could I say anything but yes!

Why not? an art retreat sounds like a blast to me and my schedule was open. This is going to be an experience you won't want to miss, whether you take my class or someone else's or multiple classes. The opportunities are endless.

Photo courtesy of The Craft Shack Studio

Petaluma

Join us for FIVE fabulous days of workshops and special events in one of the most beautiful towns on the West Coast. Petaluma is located just north of San Francisco in the wonderful Sonoma County, California. The venue and accommodation is Sheraton Sonoma County.

Every one registered for a daily workshop as well as a multi-day workshop receives lunch as part of their fee. A full schedule of classes is now available, one-, two-, and three-day for you to choose from.

Registration is OPEN! 

Petaluma, CA September 24-28, 2014


The theme for 2014 is ART IS…Your BFF. Art Is…You will be in six locations: Olive Branch, MS; New South Wales, Victoria Queensland, Australia; Petaluma, CA; and Stamford, CT. 

I look forward to meeting you in CA in September and perhaps we can shoot for Australia in the future! Don't wait to register, this is going to be a super popular event!

Thank You
for being a part of
My Art Journey,
Elizabeth

Register online and learn more here!

http://www.denydesigns.com/collections/blingboxes/ar-elizabeth-st-hilaire-nelson


The 12 Days of Holiday sales will continue tomorrow with BlingBoxes available for $299! That is a $100 dollar discount with the code ""BLING299""! I think it makes a perfect holiday gift- and what a great promotional price!