Last week I gathered with hundreds of enthusiastic registrants of Pipe Dreams in the virtual classroom where we dove in to indulge in this short (week-long) online metalsmithing project class. We had a blast and the students created amazing work!
Awesome work, eh!?!
Would you rather join me in a brick and mortar classroom?
I'll be in Phoenix, Arizona teaching three plaster based classes at Art Unraveled. Though the classes are project specific, I'm going to be ambushing you in the most playful way with techniques you can apply to more variations than you can shake a stick at. There is still a bit of room in all three classes so if you are hankering to get plastered with me (in the most wholesome way, of course). I'd totally LOVE to have you join in on the fun!
On July 31st I'll be teaching Half-Wit where we'll be making plaster bowlface-hold-a-majigs. You know, in case if you ever get lonely in the studio and need another loon to keep you company.
The next class there will be a two-part plaster book making class (yes, a plaster book), Illusion of Heft on August 1-2 from 9-12 am each day. I am so in love with how these books feel. They are beefy and yet not heavy...but still super sturdy. Because they are made from (mostly) plaster, the surface is so luscious for painting, drawing, collaging, rubbing your hands across, whatevering. yum yum.
My last class of the event will be a wickedawesome Santos sculpting class starting the evening of August 2nd and finishing up on August 3rd. If you have ever wanted to experiment with sculpting but have been unsure of where to start or intimidated by the process, let me tell you that THIS class is the class that will break through all of that and hand you the manual of easy sculpting in the palm of you hand. You'll be a plastering whiz in no time! If you can't make it to Phoenix, I'll also be teaching the Santos class (a slightly extended version) in Layton, Utah on August 10-11th. My beautiful hostess, Lorraine, is opening her home studio to serve as a classroom for full on creative exploration and, let me tell you, that girl is a total creativity conduit!! Email me for the details of how to register for this workshop. I'd LOVE to spend some time with you this summer!
In Lee Family news, Pony #1 didn't pass her driver's permit test. Totally suprised us both. She'll take another stab at it when she gets home from girl's camp this week. She left today - a day early - for the 4th Year's overnight hike/campout before the rest of the group arrives tomorrow morning. That's when I'll take Pony #2 up where she'll learn how to make fires, dress wounds, tie knots, cook lumberjack food, and pull respectful pranks. The buttcrack of dawn will be here in a blink. To say she's excited is totally an understatement what with this being her first year and all. Her camp buddy and she are in the bedroom chatting away as we speak...despite the fact that I've told them a half a dozen times that it's time to go to sleep. Ahh, whatever. They can catch up on sleep this winter.
While the ponies are away, I'll be putting the final details (i.e. last minute cramming) on my prep for my Art Unraveled and Utah classes. I was telling theman that it would be so cool to be standing in this moment with all my prep done and money stashed away so that he and I could steal away to our favorite campground in the Redwoods at the coast while the girls are at camp. Just the thought of it makes me....sigh. I try to asuage my ache by reminding myself that it's still summer...the campground would be crowded and we like it all to ourselves anyway.
I console myself with tonight's batch of Black Currant Rhubarb Jam with pickin's from the garden. Best use of my black currants I've found to date. You should see the color...and the flavor is as close as I can get to the feeling of being flat on my back on the river bank staring up at the stars in the Redwoods in summer. I'll take a jar and a spoon to theman and hope he forgives my underdeveloped time management skills.
Love the look of this jam, sweet Stephanie. I can almost taste it...
Hugs and such from the Redwoods...
Ilene
Posted by: Ilene Harris | July 25, 2012 at 09:35 AM
How exciting to see my pictures on your blog. I can highly recommend the class to anybody considering it. It was/is fun, informative and totally enjoyable.
Posted by: Doris L | July 25, 2012 at 12:40 PM