New Journal Pages

I started these journal pages as a demo for a workshop I gave this past summer. I was showing students how to add a window to their books. Finished them off recently with a couple of different sayings.

Workshop This Saturday!

If you haven't signed up for my collage and paintings workshops this Saturday, Feb 26th, it is not too late. They will be offered at the beautiful Hickory Mountain Weavery between Ramseur and Siler City on Hwy 64. In the morning class we will be creating black, white and grey collages that act as value studies for larger paintings. I will be discussing the importance of value, the rule of thirds and other ideas for an interesting compostion. In the afternoon class we will take several of our studies from the morning, choose color schemes and paint some small color studies. If there is time, you can choose your favorite and paint on a larger scale. Many of these studies will be suitable for framing! Go to the "upcoming workshops" page on my blog to find registration information and a paypal button. All supplies are included. Hope to see you there!

Resolve to be More Creative!

The holidays are over, the New Year has come and gone and now we are left with those dreaded resolutions. How many of you resolved to lose weight or exercise more? Instead of the same old goals, how about making one that will be fun and different.  This year, plan on becoming a more creative person! There are many ways to accomplish this and best of all you will enjoy your efforts. Maybe you love to cook and want to try some new recipes. Perhaps you like to sing or play an instrument. Maybe you want to get that scrapbook you started finished or learn to paint. Whatever your joy in life is, vow that this year, you will make more time to do the things you love. The wonderful thing about this resolution is that unlike losing weight or exercising, there is no way to fail! The key is to start small. Pick something creative that you can easily do in 1-3 hours. You don’t have to do it every day, maybe just once a week or even once a month. If it is more that you did last year, you are on the right track to becoming more creative. This is a no-fail resolution.

For those of you who are more artistically inclined or are interested in becoming more artistic, I have the perfect opportunity for you. The START program through Jerry’s Artarama offers short, 2 hour classes in a variety of art processes for just $30. All materials are included so there is no need to spend lots of money on art supplies. I will be teaching classes in 2 different locations on 2 different Saturdays each month. Each month a different class is offered, so you are bound to find something that interests you. These classes will allow you to relax and focus on your creativity through the exploration of new artistic methods and mediums. Drawing skills are not required, just a willingness to try something new. Check out my classes to find your chance to become more creative!

My classes offer a small, supportive environment and although designed for beginners, I can easily adjust my teaching to challenge those students who are more advanced. These classes are also good for high school students working on their portfolio for scholarships, art schools and Advanced Placement Studio Art classes. I am in my 22^nd year of teaching art to all age groups. My experience and knowledge will help you create that masterpiece you have always been dreaming of. To make it even easier for you to experience this creative exploration, I am offering a $10 coupon good towards the first 2 classes you sign up for. That’s 4 hours of instruction by an experienced and highly qualified instructor for the low price of just $50, ALL MATERIALS INCLUDED!
 You can find out more about this program and see all the classes I will be offering as well as classes from other instructors at the S.T.A.R.T. website. Don’t see a class that you are interested in? Email me your suggestions and I will try to set something up.

If you or anyone else you know would like to receive information about these workshops, along with tips and techniques for successful art making, please sign up for my newsletter. It will be sent out bi- monthly so as not to clutter your inbox. You can opt out at any time. Just remember, with each newsletter, one lucky subscriber will receive a free, 18"x24" poster of one of my artworks! Congratulations go out to Jodi Ohl who was last month's winner. Visit my webpage to see my artwork. Let's go CREATE!

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!