Doo-Dad Mania

I love doo-dads, don't you? I've recently been working on several commissions and spent nearly an entire day looking for a teeny tiny hammer. Wouldn't you know I couldn't find one. Now that the piece is completed, I feel sure one will pop up.

Here's a peak at my 'stash'. Really just a portion of it. All these little parts are very appealing to me for some reason. Go figure, huh?

Re-discovering Italy

Over the weekend I finally got a chance to unpack my art supplies from Italy. Yeah, seems crazy doesn't it, but consider that a glimpse into my over-active life, I mean Italy was 2 trips ago, haha.
So anyway, I had a big ole bag of 'stuff' on the floor of my studio. I truly had no idea what was in there and my feeble mind, being what it is, well........it was like Christmas.


This first shot is the tiny bag I took with me for journaling. Prior to the trip I made a batch of handpainted paper, my favorite kind for journals, that being Fabriano Hot Press. I painted and stenciled very randomly on both sides (using Matisse Background colors, but any colored gesso or matte paint would work). I tore my pages and made teeny weeny journals for each section of my trip - four total. I also carried a pencil, pen, a few stencils, sponge, glue stick, scissors, tapes rubbing block (kid's crayon) and Peerless watercolors plus a tiny contained or white gesso. That was it. I finished the art in the journals, but still have some writing to do and hopefully I can complete them this weekend.


Look at this!!! What a treat to find the packages of pigment I purchased in Florence at Zecchi. I loved my visit to this famous art store and was delighted to find a gentleman (and yes, he was truly a gentleman) who spoke beautiful English. He helped me select the items on my wish list, that being pigments and a hand made crystal Muller. There were so many stunning pigments, it was nearly impossible to make a selection, I could have gone broke in that store. Seriously. But I chose carefully and ended up with pigments that instantly transport me back to the magic called Italy. And that Muller! Simply gorgeous, it feels so wonderful in my hand, cool and smooth, I imagine all the artistic history of Florence vibrating through this Muller.
In a completely spontaneous gesture, I bought a set of Honey Watercolors. Why? I have no idea, must of been a "when in Italy" moment because I rarely use watercolor and don't even have the knowledge to handle this set appropriately.  I might have to take some lessons with my friend Carol Carter. Taped there to the side of the watercolor box is my Silver point. Oooh la la.
Remains to be seen what sort of madness I will conjure up with these supplies. I feel sure they possess special powers of some sort, you know what I mean?
A girl's gotta dream.

Stencil giveaway

Last week I had a chance to play.
Yep, I really did.

30" x 24" Mixed Media, Mary Beth Shaw

And it was so darn awesome I realized just how much I had missed playing. Fingers and hands and feet and hair (oops) with patches of paint. Because that is what I do, I am a bit of a pig. I was playing with pattern, which is one of my very very favorite things ever. I used Michelle Ward's stencils, all different sizes of her Marrakech stencil to be specific. This global inspired painting was the result of my play.

I used the stencils both as a painting tool and a cutting guide for collage parts. I used other smaller stencils to create pattern on top of the Marrakech bits. Layer after layer after layer.

So, over at the brand spankin' new StencilTalk Blog, we are having a giveaway. This is your last day to enter. It is pretty fab if I do say so myself, we are giving away a Gelli and a package of 10(!!!!) stencils. Scurry on over, you need to enter before midnight. Cause I know how you all love stencils.

Doodle Mania

I have always been a doodler. It goes way way back with me, remember those brown bag book covers we used to make for our schoolbooks - did anybody else do that? I used to absolutely cover them edge to edge with my doodles. This is perhaps why I can't remember anything from history class, ahem.

Anyhoo, I digress.....CLICK HERE to see my Floral Doodles over at the Sketchbook Challenge. 

Arts In Context : Woman

Once upon a time there was a girl who made art.....
this was filmed in 2003 or 2004, I can't even remember, but I know we hadn't lived in St. Louis very long. The Producer, Dutch Rall, came out to my house by himself with his HD camera and that was all new stuff back then.
I always wondered what happened because I never heard anything further......

Watch Woman on PBS. See more from KLRU.
My feature doesn't show up until at least half way through, but watch the whole thing cause it is awesome. 

Put a Pod on it

Winners have been chosen.  Congrats to Lura, who won the ginormous Chris Cozen package. And to Jane Prater, who won the Jane LaFazio pods. I need mailing addresses from both of you.

Thanks to everyone for playing.

Have you all seen Portlandia? It's a funny show, the one where the phrase, "put a bird on it" originated. I think we, that being we here in the Mixed Media world, should start a new phrase, "put a pod on it."
And we need to use Chris Cozen's new line of stencils from Artistcellar.
What??? The StencilGirl is pimping stencils from another company!?!?

Uh, yeah....

Chris Cozen is my friend.

And Lisa Cousinea (of Artistcellar) is my friend. 

She runs a good operation. I am only a little mad cause she signed Chris before I did, ha, ha.

Anyhoo, Chris' new line of stencils is a set of 4-6x6 stencils all different shapes of pods. They are really cool. I like them a lot. In retrospect, I should probably have take my photograph before I got them too dirty, but what can I say?

Hand Painted Pod Paper

One of the first things I did was just play around with all four stencils at one time to see how they looked layered up. Making hand painted paper is one of my very favorite things, and this is what transpired, see above. I think there might be more of this in my future.

Pod Painting, 6" x 6" on Wood Panel, by Mary Beth Shaw

I had a prepped wood panel on my table, actually I had a ton of them hanging out, with backgrounds, but nothing else done. I grabbed one and stenciled my favorite of the four stencils onto the center. Uh, sweet!!! So easy and such a great result.
Guess what?
Artistcellar is giving away a set of Chris' stencils. Right here on this blog. And I will also give away Jane LaFazio's Pod Stencil that we make at StencilGirl Products. Cause I think the more Pods, the merrier! Don't you? And guess what? North Light (Chris' publisher) is giving away stuff too, not sure exactly what, but I think her DVD and book. Anyhoo, LOTS of prizes. I will select 2 winners. One person will win a ginormous package of Chris Cozen goodies. The other person will win a nature and Pod related stencil package from us here at StencilGirl.
Just leave me a snappy comment and I will draw names on May 20th.

Here is the entire Blog Hop schedule, so if you don't win here, you get another chance.
Sunday May 12 Artistcellar (http://artistcellar.com/blog))
Monday May 13 Seth Apter (http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/)

Tuesday May 14 MaryBeth Shaw  (http://mbshaw.blogspot.com/)

Wednesday May 15 Maryjo McGraw  (http://maryjomcgraw.blogspot.com/)

Thursday May 16 Jane LaFazio  (http://janeville.blogspot.com/)

Friday May 17 Pam Carriker  (http://pamcarriker.com/blog/)

Saturday May 18 Jeanette House  (http://www.jeanettehouse.co.uk/blog/)

Sunday May 19 Chris Cozen  (http://chriscozenartist.typepad.com/my-blog/

My Bowl of Blessings

Check out the Sketchbook Challenge today to read my post.

Mixed Media May

Today I am the featured artist over on Mixed Media May. You can find it HERE.
And you will also want to follow along all month as the interviews are interesting to read. Plus there are prizes, woo hoo!
So tell me, do you like the new set up here? Seems a lot more clean, eh? I hope it is also easier to read and navigate as my Workshops are under one simple Tab now.

When I'm Painting I'm like a Pig in...........

......well, you know what I mean.
Seriously though.
I had two idyllic days of painting this week which is more than I have seen in a long time. I was working on submissions for a juried show held by Art Saint Louis, a local organization to which I belong. I joined this group right after I moved to St. Louis nearly ten years ago. Connecting with like minded souls is incredibly important to me and I have met many of my friends, most of them really, through local art groups.
The show this time is called Under the Influence and the submissions are supposed to be referential to some influence, either an artist, a time in art history, a movement, that sort of thing.
It was hard to decide what to do as so many things tend to influence my work. I eventually decided on Richard Diebenkorn since he was an early inspiration to my abstract painting, back when we lived in California. I remember standing in front of his Ocean Park paintings at the Palace of Fine Arts. It is a miracle someone didn't have to pick me up off the floor as I swooned over his work.
And he has influenced the way I perceive divisions of space within my work.
Here are the paintings I did. As you can see, one of them has jumped into my new banner.

"At the Corner of Park 5.01", 40" x 30" Mary Beth Shaw, copyright 2013

"At the Corner of Park 5.03", 24" x 20", Mary Beth Shaw, 2013

Spring sheep & Book Winner!

First things first, we have a winner of Quinn's book - the lucky number 21 was chosen by my husband..........and, drumroll please.......congrats to 

KIM MAILHOT!!!

And now, on to my weekend. SO.MUCH.FUN.
I headed over to Paducah, Kentucky to visit my friend Kristin, who is opening a new mixed media store and workshop space called Ephemera Paducah. She had asked me to do some stencil & Gelli Plate demos on Saturday. Plus, I signed up for a felting class taught by the amazing Sara Renzulli. Now, keep in mind, I had not really felted before, a wee bit here and there, but certainly nothing sculptural.
We started with this.....uh, yeah, twisted armature wire. Seeing two pieces of wire at my seat should possibly have made me nervous. But Sara is such a patient and organized teacher, she guided us every step of the way.

And I ended up with this! To say I am thrilled is a vast understatement. I want to make felted animals full time. LOVE it.

Here is a link to Sara's etsy shop where you can find felting supplies including kits and also her original art. She is an excellent teacher and a nice person to boot. It was terrific fun.
I got to see a posse of her work over at her Dad's gallery on Saturday and he is also a gifted artist, not to mention a fine person. We talked about art and Italy and technique and Sara. All good of course.
Paducah is a pretty charmed spot, I think it's worth a visit. Just sayin'
And finally, I leave you with this cute picture of Sara and results from our class.

Baa, baaa, baa....

Raw Art Journaling

When I wrote my first book, one of the things that surprised me most was the complete focus on pictures rather than the words. It wasn't like my publisher and editor (Tonia Davenport, before she got married) neglected the words, I'm not saying that. I am just saying she reinforced the idea that artists like to look at the pictures (!) and often do not read.

Quinn McDonald's book, Raw Art Journaling, is one you want to read. 

I even read it and trust me, I am guilty of the 'look at the pictures' behavior.
There are so many gems of knowledge in this book along with extremely useful exercises. The concept of a 'Raw Journal" is easy enough....or is it? It is about creating imperfect art....ahem, that is rather hard to access, eh? About accepting the fact that we are all flawed, mmmm, another potentially tough concept. About being free to mess up. How often do we allow ourselves to do that!
In the able hands of Quinn, these topics are tackled with intelligence. She offers stories and exercises and examples, tips and more. It is important work. Because, as artists, this eventually, this leads us to "Making Meaning." And I love that idea. Love, love love it.

I recently spent an afternoon with Quinn's book and was particularly drawn to a section called Pouring Emotion Into Lines.  Quinn talks about ways to express emotion with your lines, via thickness, loops and repetition. She includes several easily accessible exercises for making 'Confetti' lines and 'Free Floating Bubbles."
I knew I wanted to play around with that section of the book.
Rather than starting with the white page, I had some hand painted paper on hand and decided to work right on top of that page. My friend Mary Nasser was at the studio and I am grateful to her for photographing my process.

The process itself was somewhat doodle-like, yet not. Quinn talks about not trying to make a design, but rather allowing the lines to flow. Er, I think she means disengage that ever present brain.....a task easier said than done.

I drew the lines and the bubbles and just kept moving along in the book, sort of piling up exercise on top of exercise. It was relaxing and playful. Fun! And working this way made me think about painting because it was so fluid. And I know that lovely paintings would result by applying these same ideas. 
In order to celebrate Quinn's book, I have an autographed copy to give away!!! Not my own (duh) because I won't part with it, but Quinn gave me another one.
Leave me a comment below and I will do a drawing a week from today.

Student Work from Art is You!

Total Mix Up, that was the name of my class. I don't mean that in a crazed way, rather in a way that gets us (all of us, me too!) out of our brains so that we can make art in such a way that moves us to the next level.

It is about color. 

And texture.

And composition.

Multi tasking.

Playing.

Releasing into the work.

These are pieces made by my students. 

They were geniuses, I swear. 

There will be a second session of this class at Art is You (Petaluma) this year.

Won't you join me? 

The class will be held in a lovely Benicia studio.

I feel sure we will be wildly inspired by the setting.

Thanks so much to my Nashville class.

You were a brilliant way to start my teaching year.

Just brilliant. I couldn't have dreamed you up if I tried.

I love you all; you make me look so good.

Art is You Nashville - Recap, Yee Haw

Once in awhile an art retreat comes along that is something special. Of course I am talking about Art is You. Such camaraderie of teachers and students and organizers; there is a wee bit of magic at play during these events. Sallianne and Ellen seem to conjure it up.

Phyllis Peterson and Victoria Fischer

My friend Julie and I attended the inaugural Art is You (in Nashville) last week. I was there as a teacher and vendor but also took one class from the delightful Leighanna Light. She and I had crossed teaching paths before. She had made a piece for my upcoming book and I liked her style quite a bit which prompted me to sign up for her class. Plus I simply wanted a chance to know her better.

12" x 6" on canvas, Mary Beth Shaw

It is so rare for me to actually make something that I like during a class (see above). Honestly, I think that says a lot about Leighanna's easy going nature. I felt so relaxed that I was able to make some art and it was really so much fun to boot. I want to hang out with her more.

On Saturday night, the retreat shuttled a crew of us downtown to the Saturday night Art Walk. Wow! Nashville rocks. And I'm not talking about music. They have such an active art scene, it blew me away. So many galleries with interesting work. I especially enjoyed the paper cuts shown above. Really amazing work. I love the shadows cast by this work. And I simply can't imagine the patience that is required to make this type of work.

And friends. I feel like everyone at the retreat either was or became my friend as we crossed paths throughout the weekend. It was that kind of gathering.

Cheryl McCloud and Sunny Carvalho

My students made truly wonderful work. I will post it within the next couple of days, so stay tuned.....

Painting muscles

I've been working out.
My painting muscles.
They have become flabby and weak over these past months. Typically I spend the winter months doing 'my own' work. In the past, this has meant that I painted whatever I wanted with no specific goal in mind. But as I have become more and more busy (and ok, a little bit successful, all good stuff!), I found that my winter didn't really allow that type of freedom.
I had a ton of deadlines.
My book manuscript was due.
StencilGirl grew (!) and required my attention.


Consequently, the muscle thing.
But I am back. Well, not quite, I should say I am almost back. I started this painting last Friday and finished it up yesterday. If felt good. Wish my second attempt also felt that good, but you know how these things go. It takes time and I will suffer with aches and pains. One step forward, two back for a day or two until I find my groove.
It reminds me why a regular painting regimen is so vital. And why I need to be careful to not lose myself so easily to the business requirements of life.
Ahem.....anyone else have an issue with this?

Revisiting Color Theory + a Give away

Quinn McDonald has written a lovely review of my book on her blog. She also took my section on Color Theory and turned it into a fun project which is a free video tutorial. Way to go, Quinn!! You can check it all out HERE and also enter the drawing for a free book.
But wait, there's more......Quinn's husband is a chef (that must be pretty sweet, huh?!?) and he also wrote a blog post which includes his video process making Katie Kendrick's soup. You can check out his post Here
So much fun.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Bloggin' and Hoppin'

It is Wednesday so that means the Blog Hop is back......

Celebrating Artful Gathering 2013 Online Art Retreat

Open for Registration

Blog Hop your way for chance to win!

From June to August 2013, ArtfulGathering.com will be presenting TWO exciting semesters of premiere online video workshops offered by fabulous artists who are known nationally and internationally. We are all very excited to share our knowledge, skill, and creativity with you, and we hope that you will join us for this AMAZING annual online event.

Blog Hop with us for a chance to win a $200 gift certificate towards an Artful Gathering 2013 online video workshop(s).

(Gift certificate applicable to workshops only and does not apply towards kits or dvds).

Each week I will announce the next featured blog for you to visit, and there you will find a new secret word or words that you will need to collect along your way. Once you have collected all the words from each blog you visit, they will work out to say a very artsy phrase. Here are the rules:

1. For your chance to win, you must collect all the secret code words and submit them upon the final destination blog in May. A random drawing will be conducted from those participants who have submitted the complete collection of secret words.
   
   
2. Only one winner will be randomly drawn from the list of participants who have collected all the secret words.
   

Remember to collect all the secret words. These words will work out to say a very artful phrase, and you'll need all the pieces to be eligible for the final prize drawing!

Please HOP over and visit the Amazing
Colleen Moody
Colleen Moody's BLOG
http://colleenmoody.blogspot.com/

(Pick Up the Next Secret Word)

More Blog Hop

It is Wednesday so that means the Blog Hop is back......

Celebrating Artful Gathering 2013 Online Art Retreat

Open for Registration

Blog Hop your way for chance to win!

From June to August 2013, ArtfulGathering.com will be presenting TWO exciting semesters of premiere online video workshops offered by fabulous artists who are known nationally and internationally. We are all very excited to share our knowledge, skill, and creativity with you, and we hope that you will join us for this AMAZING annual online event.

Blog Hop with us for a chance to win a $200 gift certificate towards an Artful Gathering 2013 online video workshop(s).

(Gift certificate applicable to workshops only and does not apply towards kits or dvds).

Each week I will announce the next featured blog for you to visit, and there you will find a new secret word or words that you will need to collect along your way. Once you have collected all the words from each blog you visit, they will work out to say a very artsy phrase. Here are the rules:

1. For your chance to win, you must collect all the secret code words and submit them upon the final destination blog in May. A random drawing will be conducted from those participants who have submitted the complete collection of secret words.
   
   
2. Only one winner will be randomly drawn from the list of participants who have collected all the secret words.
   

Remember to collect all the secret words. These words will work out to say a very artful phrase, and you'll need all the pieces to be eligible for the final prize drawing!

Please HOP over and visit the Amazing
Pam Carriker
Pam Carriker's Blog 

(Pick Up the Next Secret Word)

In the Mix

A couple of years ago I was in a show at the Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles, MO.  The Foundry is  a really cool spot for all kinds of art, not just visual. Their gallery is beautiful beyond words, soaring ceilings and wide open space, the kind of place where you have a little 'pinch me' moment when you see your work hanging on the wall.
So anyway, I was juried into a show call 'In the Mix'. If you want a flashback to that show, you can read about it HERE.
And I won a prize (woo hoo) which granted me a 4 person show.
So the time has come and I am having my award show. 
I attended the opening two weeks ago. 

Such a thrill to see my name on the wall. I don't know what there is about that, the name thing, but it never gets old. Uh, yeah, I apparently am that vain.
I love how my show was presented, just stunning to see.
A friend showed me how to use the Panorama function on my phone which allowed this uber-cool photo.
If you are in the St. Louis area, this show will be up till March 22nd. There is another show there (all Paper!!!) that is really worth the trip as well.

Blog Hopping with Artful Gathering

Celebrating Artful Gathering 2013 Online Art Retreat

Open for Registration

Blog Hop your way for chance to win!

From June to August 2013, ArtfulGathering.com will be presenting TWO exciting semesters of premiere online video workshops offered by fabulous artists who are known nationally and internationally. We are all very excited to share our knowledge, skill, and creativity with you, and we hope that you will join us for this AMAZING annual online event.

Blog Hop with us for a chance to win a $200 gift certificate towards an Artful Gathering 2013 online video workshop(s).

(Gift certificate applicable to workshops only and does not apply towards kits or dvds).

Each week I will announce the next featured blog for you to visit, and there you will find a new secret word or words that you will need to collect along your way. Once you have collected all the words from each blog you visit, they will work out to say a very artsy phrase. Here are the rules:

1. For your chance to win, you must collect all the secret code words and submit them upon the final destination blog in May. A random drawing will be conducted from those participants who have submitted the complete collection of secret words.
   
   
2. Only one winner will be randomly drawn from the list of participants who have collected all the secret words.
   

Remember to collect all the secret words. These words will work out to say a very artful phrase, and you'll need all the pieces to be eligible for the final prize drawing!

Please HOP over and visit the Amazing
Nancy Malay

http://www.nancymalay.blogspot.com/

(Pick Up the Next Secret Word)

Yee Ha for Nashville

It is an honor to be involved in a new event like this year's Nashville Art is You!! To attend an event the first time is kinda extra special, ya know? It's like you are somebody 'in the know'. And after years have passed and the event has broken all sorts of popularity records, you can say, "I remember that very first year......"
So, psssst, I am giving you the hint, sign up already, wink, wink. It is really going to be that good.
As a teacher, I am especially jazzed about teaching a two day class. So much time to fully immerse ourselves in the process and create art that moves up a notch.

Plus, I am going to actually take a class, which is such a treat for me. This time with the delightful Leighanna Light.
And finally,  the Art is You peeps are quite a special family. I am grateful to be part of this family and would love for you to be a part also. Won't you join us? Yee ha for art families!!
Nashville Art is You -  April 4-7, 2013