Workshops - here, there & online!

I feel incredibly honored to be part of so many wonderful teaching events this year. If you take a look over on the left hand side of my blog, you will see the total lineup.
Wowza!
I so look forward to seeing what this year brings forth.
I welcome the opportunity to share time with my repeat students and to also get to know new students. For me, these events are about so much more than the art (and that part is pretty flippin' good), but they are also about community. Finding the courage to put ourselves out there and then the miracle that occurs when we all realize we are more alike than different. That we have a tribe!
Such beautiful experiences, I cherish each and every one.

Batik Papers - taught during classes at Valley Ridge and Small Studio

In addition to the workshops listed, I also have plans to be in New York twice this year, once November 9-10 and a second time December 6-8. I can't say exactly what is going on yet, but the plans are blowing my mind - if you are near Manhattan, you might want to save those dates.

Total MixUp - taught at Art is You, Nashville, Petaluma

And......I am doing Online classes as part of Artful Gathering. I am very excited and the hubster and I have been experimenting with you new video camera. Who knew I would be such a ham!?!? Well, that was a rhetorical question because I guess anyone who knows me would have known, huh? If you would like to know the inside skinny on Artful Gathering, you can preregister HERE.

Wanna go to Italy? There is still time to register and a few spots remain. Click HERE to find out more about this trip of a lifetime. Having never been to Italy, I am giddy like a child.

Explore your Senses in Italy

Pinch me already. Life is very good.
Hope to see you soon.

I will be in The Pulse on Sunday. It is a tell all, as artists answer the question, “what is the one thing that you know now that you would have liked to have known when you first started to create art?”

 

I need to read it myself because I can't even remember what I said.

Should be a really good one! Click HERE to access. 

CHA all wrapped up

The thing about attending CHA is you are completely surrounded by people who are all just as nuts as you are. Seriously. And I mean this in the best way possible.


Whether they are knitters or paper crafters or painters, everyone at CHA is simply gaga for their medium. I love all that energy.









So.Much.Fun.
And aren't these displays fab??

Photo Review of 2012

As I was doing the Art review for 2012, it occurred to me that I take a lot of photos too. I always have this idea that I am going to incorporate them into my art. So far I have not done that, but trust me, I am thinking about it. So, without further ado, here are some of my photos from this past year:

Photos copyright Mary Beth Shaw 2012

I guess the whole abstract them is pretty obvious, huh?

Art Review of 2012

I notice a lot of artists doing reviews of their work from the year past and I found it so interesting I decided to do the same thing myself. These are little snippets only and in many cases don't even display the entire piece because of the Collage App I used. But it is interesting nonetheless.

Art from 2012 copyright Mary Beth Shaw

Several things jump out at me cause you know I've got make it a lesson for myself, type A personality that I am........good grief.......

• One is COLOR. During 2012 I really hung in similar color schemes. Again. Of course they have changed from years past, but I still tend to find comfort zones and I stay there.
• COMPOSITION, circles and grids, repeat often. 'nuff said.
• LINE. I loosened up every now and then, especially that piece in the bottom row, second from the left. But I obviously use line a lot in my pieces, whether implied, painted or collaged. It is there.
• VALUE. I am getting better. I think back years ago when I could rarely see value changes in my work and I know I have made progress. Yay!!
• I need to offer full disclosure here. 2012 was not the best year for me painting what I would consider "my own" work, meaning work that poured out from my heart. I was creating on deadline every single time I painted. You might think that would be frustrating but I love it. It pushes me in directions I might not otherwise take. Yes, it can distract me, but I gain so much from the process. And it is interesting to look back and see how all these diverse pieces (commercial, class samples, published pieces, etc) still all display a part of me; I can see it! And I am pleased about that.

And finally, the last thing I need to say is that I have done a lot of work that I simply can't show. It is going to be part of the new book so I am not at liberty to share it just yet.

I did want to also mention that (in case you haven't heard) we are starting a monthly club over at StencilGirl. I think it is going to be pretty special - it's *very* reasonably priced for one thing and there is no obligation meaning you can get out whenever you want. But the stencils are the ones I have dreamed about, our first offering for January is Vintage Tiles. They are fabulous! I mean seriously.
Also, with the club you will get access to a free VIDEO with me every single month. I will use the stencils in a project, show new techniques, etc. And yeah, there is more too.
CLICK HERE if you want to know all the scoop and sign up. You only have until the 10th to get signed up.