SAW Registration Opens Monday

Swoon, swoon, like a loon.
A poet I am not
you'll have to trust me when I say
that Squam Art Workshops are hot!!!
Come join me at the Fall session
where like minded souls join
for relaxing decompression
and joyful creation of art,
Experienced in such a way
that will totally touch your heart.

Click here to register

Mixed Media Art for Gateway Pet Guardians, woof woof

I have switched from cats to dogs this week, all for the purpose of Gateway Pet Guardians, a wonderful local rescue run by my friend (and jeweler extraordinaire) Amie Simmons. They are having a fundraiser in February, you can check out their blog to find out more information about tickets where you can bid on this piece and others.

The dogs in my collage painting are real pups that Amie and gang rescued - she had a 'Meet and Greet' several months ago so that artists could actually meet some of her dogs and hopefully make a piece incorporating them. It was hard to get them to sit still (!) but I managed to snap these shots and then make my painting using my own photography, simplistic as it is, tee, hee.

It is such a small world, you know? It was years ago, when I first learned of Bernie Berlin and her rescue down in TN. I donated art for an auction and have since donated funds to help her rescue. She does such an amazing job (click here for her site - she has just rescued a huge batch of puppies and oh my oh my does she need help right now - donate if you can!). So anyhoo, I guess Amie read my blog, saw that post about Bernie's rescue and loved the idea of linking dogs and rescue and art......she was so impressed she decided to start a similar effort here in St. Louis. And now I help both of them because there is nothing I love more than critters.

And speaking of helping, I have also donated a piece to the Sheldon Concert Hall for their Haiti fundraiser, which is a concert and art auction. If you happen to be local, here's the scoop:

The St. Louis Musicians for Haiti concert • 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9, Sheldon Concert Hall. Performing are Christine Brewer and Peter Henderson, Brian Owens, Mayor Taylor, the Bottoms Up Blues Band, Peter Martin, Mardra Thomas and Reggie Thomas, and Kim Massie. Julius Hunter hosts. Tickets $15, on sale at MetroTix outlets, metrotix.com, by calling 314-534-1111, and at the Fox Theatre box office. Proceeds from the presentation benefit Doctors Without Borders.

Love love love that garbage

Check it out here.

Lesson Learned

Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does the better.
- Andre Gide

The other day I was working at the store with a friend of mine. She had come over so we could work on 8"x8" pieces that we were doing for a local charity thingie. I already had an idea in my head and thought it would be decently easy to complete my piece while also helping her put one together (since she had asked for my help).

So.

I worked and worked and worked on my piece. My friend left. I still worked on my piece. Overworked on my piece, you could say. I finished it all right. Ahem. Within an inch of its life. I kept looking at it, wondering what could be done. I told myself it was for a charity event and it was fine. But it didn't feel fine and I don't like to put out work that I don't like. But there was a deadline and I was in such a quandary with a million things on my calendar.

The substrate was wood panel, the kind that has the indentation in the back where you are supposed to hang it. I turned my piece over and wouldn't you know, I had been working it in the wrong orientation. I said a bad word out loud.

Then I calmly picked up a block of sandpaper and simply demolished it. I gouged it so the collage parts peeled off. I turned to one of my store partners and said "I only have ten more minutes before I have to go......I am going to finish this right now." He nodded.

I dumped collage papers on the table and started randomly grabbing whatever appealed to me. Now keep in mind I am a pretty fast worker, but I was in a frenzy. Literally. It was a good kind of thing, not stressful, almost like time stopped for a few minutes.

Sometimes I just need to get out of my own way.

Help for Haiti

Artist are people who feel deeply. They are also people who believe in action. I am so proud of my friends who have posted things on their blogs about donating to relief efforts in Haiti. There are tons of good organizations out there. Here is one way to find out more.



The hands down easiest way to help is to simply:

Text "HAITI" to "90999" to donate $10 to the Red Cross

Do it over and over.

Another way is to check out Shari Beaubien's auction HERE. How sweet and generous. And with matching funds, how can you resist??

Patience

Patience from Glowing Heads on Vimeo.

Of which I seem to have little.......

But this is undoubtedly one of the coolest things I have ever seen. I am awestruck and filled with respect for this amazing artist, Randi Parkhurst.

Rerun

I was on TV again yesterday. This is just a wee bit weird as I am simply not used to being 'out' this much. But I love those folks down at Great Day St. Louis (on Kmov), such a very nice group of people, they make a live TV spot feel like a walk in the park.

Here's the link if you want to watch my little segment. I forgot to record it on our home TV, so I didn't get to watch myself in HD(possibly a blessing in disguise?) and check out my eye makeup, tee, hee. After the last show, I thought my eyes looked a little bare, so I've been trying a more 'made up' look that will add some oomph without making it look like someone smacked me in the eye. Oy, this is hard! It has been years since I wore eyeliner.

I also think I need a wardrobe allowance if I am going to keep doing this, oh John, honey, I gotta buy new clothes, hahahaha. Seriously though, I've already worn my 2 low key outfits. What on earth would I wear next time!?!?

Upcoming St. Louis Classes

There are a couple classes coming up soon (yikes!!) that I must mention as time is getting away from me:
All of these are here in St. Louis - Chesterfield to be exact.

Jan 17th - Not Yo’ Mama’s Paste Paper
Wood Icing @ Chesterfield, from 1-4
Its a wild painting bonanza where we paint papers galore for all your upcoming projects. You will learn my fun mono-printing technique and also how to 'save your whites' when making papers. No experience is necessary, this is a good time to play and a great way to build a stash of very unique papers.
$40, all supplies furnished
register at Wood Icing or call
(636) 536-0409

Jan 21st - Conversation HeARTs
Wood Icing @ Chesterfield, from 6-8
Heather & I will both lead this fun-filled evening (could there be adult beverages involved? seriously, byob) where you make a tiny framed Valentine for your sweetie. We will first help you create a wonderful heartfelt picture- either painting, collage or both-then you embellish with a personal message and finish the piece off in a cute little frame. What a special gift!
$25, all supplies furnished
register in person at Wood Icing or call
(636) 536-0409

March 6th - Mixed Media Collage
Chesterfield Arts from 10-4
Create a unique collage painting using your own family photos. Bring paper copies (real paper, not photo paper) of the images you want to use, bring a variety of sizes, B+W definitely preferred. I’ll bring the rest, the canvas, the brushes, the glue, the paints, and tons of background materials. If you have papers or fabrics you want to use in your piece, feel free to bring them along too.
$90, plus $10 supply fee, pack a lunch.
Call (636) 519-1955 to register or visit the Chesterfield Arts website.

And yep, I am finally offering Private Classes, one on one instruction. You pick the topic, I will spill it. I will walk you step by step through a collage painting; I'll help you paint fabulous papers; I'll guide you on creation of an abstract claybord. You're the boss here, just tell me what you want and I will structure the class to your needs. Email mbshaw@mbshaw.com for more detail, but the cost is $30 per hour/person. If you live out of town and I'm not teaching at a venue near you, there is a Drury Hotel literally a stone's throw from the Wood Icing store. So it is conceivable that you and a friend could come in and work with me. Just saying, in case you are up for a girl trip. Which sounds like a good time to me!

Sunny Monday

The sun is out. This seems nothing short of a miracle lately. We still have snow on the ground and it is darn cold here. As you can see, my cats have stolen my reading area. Not that I have much time to read these days. But I am working (albeit slowly) on a really good book, The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. Not since The Secret Life of Bees have I felt involved with the characters like I do with this book. It is really well done.

But alas, I am so friggin' tired I have trouble staying awake to read. Seems like I hit the bed and instantly fall asleep. Last night I was nodding off at 8:30 and just decided go to bed early. I am in some kind of hibernation mode, do you think I am a bear? Luckily I woke up with a little more energy this morning and got a rigorous workout in. I am hoping I have finally caught up with my sleep???

I am headed into the studio today to organize my project for Great Day St. Louis tomorrow cause I'm gonna be on TV again, this time with a 'Save the Day' project oriented toward weddings although it could be done for any type event. I'll put up a link after it airs.

So many things on my ever-growing TO DO list. One thing that continues to pop up - I want to do another video as it has been quite a long time, a demo of some technique. Could be Paste Paper painting or Claybord or basic collage technique or who knows what. Any requests? Let me know, k?

Ah, its Squam time

The website for Squam is live, so click on over there if you are thinking about going. Elizabeth has added a bunch of new events this year and there are so many wonderful options, oh my am I tempted on that 'By the Sea' retreat.

I will be teaching in the Fall Session. A brand new, never-taught-before class, The Nature of Klimt. I am really excited about it because, well, I LOVE Klimt for one thing. Plus I am really jazzed about all these new techniques using texture and clay and markers and blahblahblah on claybord. Somebody just slap me already.....

And I have a kinda Clif notes class on Color. I think it will be way helpful - sure wish somebody would have taught me all this stuff many moons ago, ha, ha.

And I have a FREE day, what a tremendous thrill. I am not sure what class I want to take, there are such glorious options. I am very tempted by the adorable contemplative Jen Lee. But I also kinda dig that Bloom True class by Flora Bowley. I haven't met her, but I already love her name - it sorta fits her work.

By the way, this picture was taken on Squam in 2009, the very last day. I bolted out of bed to see the sun rise. I was standing on our dock in my flannel pj's (with about 5 other women), all of us photographing the sunrise. Here is a link to my 'post Squam' wrap up blog where I see I also posted this same photo (and told this same story, I am getting old, huh?).

Truly, they put something in the water, I just know it.

The Word

Lots of folks are picking One Word for the year 2010. I am not sure if I can stick with just one. I was thinking more like one a month? But I am going to give it a try.
Many years I have chosen 'Balance' as my word; in fact, I have picked it over and over to the point it is embarrassing, I mean really.
Once I started thinking about it, lots of words came to mind but I wanted something a little different, not the same ole, same ole, you know?
Then I knew I had it. Popped into my head lickety split and that.was.it.
S-P-R-E-A-D
I was thinking along the lines of 'Spread your wings'. It's kinda like stretching (see Gilligan, above) but I think it feels more positive.
So, Spread it is!
For the moment anyway.