Webpage Update

Just finished updating my web page with new workshops, a paypal button and a newsletter signup form. Be sure to look at the changes. When you sign up for my newsletter, you will be entered in a chance to win a poster of one of my artworks. With each bi-monthly newsletter, a lucky subscriber will win. You will also receive $10 off the first 2 workshops you sign up for. Let's go CREATE!

Poster Giveaway!

It's time for another poster giveaway on my Face Book Fan Page,  Melissa Walker, artist. If I can reach 150 friends, I will be giving away two posters, one each to 2 lucky winners. There are 5 images you can choose from. To see what you might win, go to my fan page and be my friend!

I offered an altered book workshop last Saturday at Tyler D Studios in Burlington. It was a wonderful group of ladies and I enjoyed helping them get started with or in some cases continue with altered books. I showed them several techniques for backgrounds, how to use stamping and bubble wrap to add texture and interest as well as using a window to pull two pages together. Here are some pictures from the day.

 

S.T.A.R.T., Stop Thinking That Art is Tough!

I am a certified S.T.A.R.T. instructor for Jerry's Artarama in Raleigh, NC. S.T.A.R.T. stands for Stop Thinking Art is Really Tough. S.T.A.R.T. instructors want to show you that everyone can do art! We are here to make it as easy and convenient as possible for you to get into the art world. Get rid of your old preconceived notions and give art a chance. You will LOVE it! All my workshops are offered at Tyler D Studios in Burlington, NC unless otherwise noted. Visit the S.T.A.R.T. webpage for a full list of classes or find us on Facebook. Visit my web page to see my own artwork. Here are my first two classes:

• Using a Grid to Enlarge a Drawing
  The old masters often used the grid system to create drawings with accurate proportions. You too can draw like the old masters with this tried and true technique - Saturday, September 18, 2010, 9:30am - 11:30am. All supplies will be provided. Cost: $30
  
  
• Using Dynamic Shading Techniques to Bring Your Drawing To Life
  With your basic drawing in hand, learn to use different pencils and erasers to add rich value and create a sense of depth. Saturday, September 18, 2010, 1pm - 3pm. All supplies will be provided. Cost: $30

New Header and Web Page Design

I am trying out a new header for this blog that is from one of my newest paintings. It should go with my web page update as well. I have spent the last 3 days uploading new images and information to my web page, Melissa Walker, artist. Please check everything out and let me know what you think. I still can't get the contact form to work, but other  than that, I think everything is OK. School starts tomorrow for teachers. I am soooo not ready to go back!

New Design

Trying out this new design for my blog. It fits with my current web page much better. Still need to redesign the header to fit the wider space. Also working on updating my web page this weekend. Hope to get the updates loaded later this week. So much has been going on this summer, I feel like I will have time to relax once school starts.
I gave an altered book workshop yesterday at Tyler D Studios. It went very well. I will be offering many more workshops there during the coming year on a variety of topics through the S.T.A.R.T. program at Jerry's Artarama. The acronym stands for Stop Thinking Art is Really Tough. The classes will be 2 hours long, include all materials and cost $30. The classes are geared towards people just starting out in art, although there will also be information offered for those further along with their skills. I am so used to working with different levels of experience in a single class that this should not be a problem.
The opening of mine and Ed's show at Tyler D Studios was very well attended. We had friends come from as far away as Greenville and Wilmington, NC. One came from New Orleans, LA! It was wonderful seeing all our old friends and family. It is also nice to have that big event behind me so I can concentrate on other things. Well, back to my webpage.

Captain Jack Unveiled!

After months of work, Captain Jack, a Revolutionary War figure in Mecklenburg Co. was finally unveiled in Charlotte Wednesday evening. Cokie Roberts spoke briefly as did the artist Chas Fagan. A small version of the statue was auctioned off to raise money. Ed and the crew at Carolina Bronze were all delighted to see the statue out in the open. They have been working for months to get it finished. Ed and I attended the Gala ceremony on Wednesday and the public unveiling was on Thursday. After the ceremony we went for coffee and dessert at a local resturant. It was a beautiful night to be in downtown Charlotte. It reminded me of how much I miss living in a big city. If you get the chance, stop by and see the sculpture. It is, as are all of Chas's sculptures, beautiful. Go here to read more about the unveiling and about Capt. Jack's ride.

TOO BUSY!!!

Wow, so much going on I have had NO time to post. Most important thing first. I have a show opening this Friday in Raleigh at the MJH Gallery in the lobby of the Arts Council on Blount St. This image is from work I did last summer when I was at TICA in Chicago. The title is "Chicago Blues". It is one of 8 paintings on display. The opening is from 6-9pm and is part of the First Friday event in downtown Raleigh. Follow the link to get more info. If you are in the Raleigh area, I hope you can make it. If you can't make this show, no worries, I have a BIG one coming up in August at the Tyler D Gallery in Burlington. Ed and I will both have work there. He is planning to show a lot of new sculpture as well as a large installation. I will have new paintings as well. Then 3 more shows in Nov, Dec, and Jan. Whew! Lots of painting to do this spring and summer.

School has kept me very busy. We had our spring statewide NAHS retreat 2 weeks ago. (More about that on another post.) I have had an awesome student teacher for the last 10 weeks. Don't know how I would have gotten everything done without her. AP portfolios and grades are due this week and we have an Art Fair this Friday at school. Lots of artwork and prints for sale along with a raffle. The RHS Senior art show came down this week. My students always have outstanding artwork on display at the Randolph Arts Guild in Asheboro. The Youth Art Month Show was at the end of March and the NC NAHS Traveling Art Exhibit will come down this week as well. All of that art is on our NAHS webpage.

I'm off to my opening on Friday and then down to Blackbeard Sailing Club in New Bern on Sat. to try and sell my Dad's sailboat. If you are interested in a 23' boat, older,, but in excellent condition, let me know! The price is very reasonable. Then back to Burlington on Sunday for Mother's Day.

This is all just a part of what's been going on in my life the past 2 months. Hope to get more details up soon. Next week things finally start to wind down (sort of). Should be able to get back into the blogging thing. Lately, I can't even find time for Facebook!

Spring is in the Air

Been busy working in the yard today. Cleaning out flower beds, raking leaves, getting ready to put down fresh pine needles. It's so beautiful outside I don't want to quit but my muscles are telling me its time.

Ed and I went to an art opening at Tyler D Studios in Burlington last weekend. John Wendelbo, one of Ed's employees, had a showing of his computer generated paintings and welded sculptures. We got there a little early, but the crowd picked up later. Very nice work. I am including a few pictures.

Ed and I will also be having a show of my paintings and his sculpture at Tyler D Studios this August. Don't know the exact dates yet, but I'm getting excited. The space is large and open. Hope to have a good crowd.

New Journal Pages

I have been working hard to finish a visual journal that I started last summer in Chicago. I still have a few pages to get started but have made significant progress. Hope to get it finished soon. Working in the journal has been a good way for me to try out new techniques and color schemes. Much of what I learn ends up in my paintings. Mostly though, I just enjoy working with interesting images and trying to find words and colors to make everything work together. I also enjoy teaching workshops on visual journals and altered books. I am looking forward to doing more of that this summer. Here are a couple of images. If you would like to see more, they are posted here: New Journal Pages
Enjoy!

Artful Afternoon in Alamance County

Ed and I had a wonderful lunch at the annual "Artful Afternoon", sponsored by the Alamance Arts Council. Ed was the speaker for the luncheon and talked about Carolina Bronze, his fine art bronze casting foundry. I was his humble technical assistant. Along with his talk, he showed a power point presentation with many visual images to illustrate his points. The luncheon was held at the Alamance Country Club and was beautifully decorated with red and white tables, featuring red tulips as a centerpiece. The sold out crowd was much bigger than we had anticipated, but very receptive to his speech. The bronze casting process is very intricate and the foundry has some new high tech equipment that offers artists many advantages over older techniques. Many in the audience had questions afterwards. To learn more about the foundry and the casting process go to his website, Carolina Bronze Sculpture .

Here are some more pages. A few still need some journaling to finish them up. I have been trying out some new color combinations as well as some new techniques. I love snow days!

New Journal Pages

I started an altered book this past summer, just before my trip to Chicago. I am working differently in this book from the way I usually work. I started by doing random page backgrounds and then adding collage elements to each page. As I find images, words, and other collage pieces that go with the page, I start to add them in. I then finish the page with stamping, drawn lines, and adding detail to the image. I have been working on it on and off since this summer, but am finally making some headway on getting things finished. It has helped to have the day off from school because of snow. I have gotten a lot done today. It's nice to get back in the studio!

Winter Images

Took a walk today in the snow. These are just a few of the images I got. Need to edit some more.

Sage and Stuart's Wedding

Hope you enjoy!