michelle ward: Roll With It ~ Lafayette, Colorado

Announcing: 3 Day Workshop in Lafayette, Colorado ~ Friday, April 13th - Sunday, April 15th

EDIT: As of 2/16 we made the executive decision to cancel this workshop. I thank you for your interest, and thank my friends who embarked on the mission to create an event for me in Colorado. If you are interested in being on a mailing list for notification of future plans in CO send me an email (see address at upper left).

Make an appointment with creativity and spend the weekend with me for my first workshop in Colorado!!

Immerse yourself in the painting process as we sample interesting painterly surfaces with layers of texture, pattern, and color. We will brush, brayer, scrape, stamp and stencil to create an informative dossier of over twenty techniques on a twenty-five foot roll of paper. You will assemble a journal from your painted roll and begin adding content. I like to teach 'process' but I disguise it as a 'project'.

Day one is focused on the painting techniques using gesso, acrylic, and some basic tricks with inexpensive tools. We will do rubbings, resists, and monoprinting, as well as lots of grungy brushing. It is fast-paced to stay one step ahead of the inner critic, because it’s not about making it handsome, it’s about doing and observing. I will demonstrate a process then you will try it and we will continue working through the end of your roll.

Day two and three is for focusing on the project, where the completed painted paper will be manipulated into a journal; every page has its own foundation, ready for your personal entries. The composition of each spread is only the first of many surprising discoveries. We will review several methods for adding images and words to the backgrounds and talk about why journals are valuable to an artist. Additional topics: positive/negative stneciling with shapes, exploring scale, transfers, and mono-printing. We will assess progress both individually and as a group, taking advantage of the opportunity to learn from one another and to share our a-ha findings.

Painting can be a quiet, zenful activity, or it can be swift and messy where amusing and clever discoveries are made. Letting yourself work and play with paint will teach you valuable lessons when you listen to the medium and let it do most of the work. This is one of my favorite classes, first taught in 2003. I've learned that even though I demonstrate the assignments, each artist's interpretation is individual and their final journals are completely fabulous and unique. Be ready to move fast and have fun. These explorations with acrylic will reveal many lessons you can apply to any of your mixed media interests, and will certainly jump-start or revive your enthusiasm for painting.

Location: Lafayette Public Library, Lafayette, Colorado, north of Denver. Scroll down for workshop samples, supply list, and location map.

Three day workshop: $300

Friday, April 13th 10:30 - 5:30, Saturday, April 14th 10:00 - 5:00, Sunday April 15th 10:30 - 3:30

Each student will have their own table! Unpack your supplies, set up your work station, and safely leave for three days. There will be a meal break each day - lunch plans pending.

To register, contact organizer Nancy Brill, nanbrill (at) aol (dot) com. Deposit required to hold class placement. Many thanks to Nancy and her friend Jeanne for making arrangements for my first workshop in Colorado. Additional thanks to Lisa for putting up with me, I mean putting me up ;)

EDIT: as of 2/16 this workshop has been cancelled.

SUPPLIES TO BRING:

bottle of white gesso (very important!)

5 to 8 bottles of inexpensive acrylic paint, (2 oz.) colors of your choice, plus black and at least one metallic (silver, gold, or copper)

5 to 10 brushes (disposable foam brushes are fine, I prefer the white chip brushes – see photo)

plastic spackle scraper or old credit card

box of Crayola crayons, count 16 is fine

marking tools: pens, pencils, or markers

colored pencils or paint pens that work with your palette

rubber brayer

scissors, exacto knife and cutting mat

bone folder

black sharpie

swatch of fine sandpaper

envelope of favorite paper scraps

adhesive of your choice

water container for your brushes and paper plate or palette for pouring paint

spray bottle for water, plus one or more cloth rags

roll of paper towels

plastic bag for garbage

Optional: circle template, rubber stamps (and ink), awl,

japanese screw punch (if you have one) or 1/4” hand punch (to speed up binding step)

mini-brads or eyelets, brass or metal charms

I WILL PROVIDE: your roll of paper, bag of tricks for making textures, tools to play with, packet of materials to use, and all the supplies to bind your journal

If you have any questions I am happy to answer! Contact me at GRNPEP@optonline.net