Student Work

Michelle, Childhood Self Portrait
20x16 | collage on panel

Recently I made a presentation to the advanced art students at Lake Brantley High School in Longwood, Florida. I spoke to them about my collage process, as well as marketing yourself and how you can apply that to getting into art schools and colleges.

We talked about taking one of your best works of art and making a self promotional postcard, printing online with vistaprint.com. I explained to the students that following up is essential in marketing yourself and your artwork. Admissions officers would take notice of a follow-up note card or postcard with original artwork. We talked about ways to make yourself stand out from the rest.

I also stressed the importance of reliability to the students, meeting deadlines, following through, delivering work that is gallery ready, and delivering it on time. This also translates to college applications, be neat, be on time and be thorough!

Michelle worked very hard on this class project where she had to do her own piece of art in the style of an artist she admired. I was very flattered to know that she chose my style, and me as her artist of admiration! Michelle is a friend of the family, she has babysat for my kids and our relationship made it all the more special. I talked her through the process and gave her a wood panel and a scrap bag of papers so she could hit the ground running. I think she did a great job working from a preschool photo of herself in black and white!

This weekend I varnished and framed her artwork for her in my studio (with the space heater on full blast! it's cold her in Florida) She should be proud of this piece and the grade she received on it, A!

Way to go Michelle, I hope you will consider exploring the Paper Painting process more in the future, this is a wonderful first piece. I think she deserves a copy of the DVD for her efforts!

Mosaic Mania

Patricia Rockwood, Blue Nymph
Patricia Rockwood is someone I met at the Katharine Butler Gallery in Sarasota. She contacted me saying she admired my work, when I visited HER website I have to tell you that I am in awe of her work!

The KB gallery recently hosted a Gallery Artists Invitational where gallery artists such as myself, would invite other artists they know to participate in a one month invitational at the Katharine Butler Gallery.

I invited Patricia, and Chris Falk the director was really taken with her work. Patricia's mosaic work is amazing, you really must visit her website to see her installations!

I received great news over the weekend, one of Patricia's pieces from the show had sold! What an ego booster for an artist, to sell her work, to be worthy of a sale. You see Patricia? I knew it all along. Congrats!

Studio To Be Featured in Magazine

Cloth Paper Scissors STUDIOS
I am pleased to announce that my backyard art studio will be featured in Cloth Paper Scissors special STUDIOS edition in the Spring! I have a two-page spread with photos of my exterior, interior, and my favorite paper storage solution. I'm really excited about being featured in this fantastic publication!

STUDIOS can be purchased at book stores nationally. Or you can find them online click here. The Spring issue is not available yet, but keep your eyes open, it should be soon.

I am so lucky to be able to work with all the wonderful people at CPS!

Workshop in Asheville

New News!
We are still working out the details, but stay tuned for information about a Paper Paintings collage workshop in May at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Asheville, NC! This hotel is amazing and the gallery is exquisite! My collages have been selling very well there in the last few months, so the corporate director of art galleries has asked me to come up to Asheville for a show, reception, and to present a workshop.

Starbucks Bags Anyone?

Starbucks has Changed Their Bags!
This is terrible, I thought it was just for the holidays that they introduced this very garish green on BOTH sides of the bag. (It's like turquoise, but not quite...) But it seems this bag is here to stay! I am not sure what is on their BIG sized bag, but I think it's the same :(

Does anyone have any of the old bags with the beautiful brown and grassy green sides? Does anyone know if they are gone forever and ever? Does anyone know anyone who works for Starbucks???? These bags were a staple in my collage supplies, if you linger with any of my collages, you will find tidbits of these bags.

I'm having withdrawal, can anyone help??

DVD Inspired Work

Elizabeth Parsons
Elizabeth sent me these wonderful tea cups that she did after viewing the DVD. I think her "shine" is just perfect and it really gives me a sense of porcelain, it really reads "coffee cup" to me. I also LOVE her very subtle shadow on the green ground, just a little bit of darker green pieces with an undefined edge, perfect!

Here's what she had to say about the DVD:

 I first saw your work in Cloth Paper Scissors magazine and loved your technique/process and wanted to know more, so I purchased your DVD. I had great fun making this piece- it reminded me of putting together a puzzle. The DVD was clear and helpful- gave me the details I needed to continue from the article.

Thanks for sharing your process/technique!

www.allthingspaper.com

http://allthingspaper.blogspot.com/

Completed Rooster

Finished!

Un Petit Coq | 24x20 | collage on panel
Here is the completed rooster, I am quite pleased with it. After my husband took a professional photo of the art, (always document your artwork) I packaged it up and sent it to Gerri who will frame it and make it look fantastic in her gallery.

You can see from the photos here that my process includes a rough sketch on wood panel sealed with clear GAC-100 from Golden, an loose underpainting with Golden Fluid Acrylics, and collage on top with Liquitex Gloss Gel Medium for the glue.

Paper Paintings work best with one large point of focus and simple backgrounds. I like the large point of focus because collage can be a very busy medium, and a large subject helps to simplify things.