Advance Copy

I finally got my advance copy of Adventures in Mixed Media, and I am happy to report that it looks terrific. Nice color reproduction; the book design is awesome; I'm always impressed with the work of my photographers, John Polak and George Bouret. The official release date is April 26, but you can pre-order the book from Amazon if you like. I will bring copies to Art Unraveled in August, and Art and Soul in September to make them available as well. Here are a few sneak previews.

Making a simple pamphlet-stitch book:
Remember these paper bags?
I did a chapter that includes making these shrines from foam core. The gorgeous one on the right is Carol Owen's; she is the inspiration for this project.
This chapter on Fusion, Fabric, and Fiber opens with a photo of Sue Bleiweiss's fabulous tea pot:
A couple of my own fusion fabric pieces:
There is a chapter on Mixed Media Dolls. The doll in the upper right of the left page is by Ingrid Dijkers.
And here is some eye candy from the chapter on books and boxes: paper mosaic with paper gems and glue gems. All the sparkle and glitz you could stand.
Thanks for visiting! Don't forget to check out the Sketchbook Challenge blog.

The QUEEN'S Workshops

Yes, it's time to visit The Queen's Ink, in Savage, MD again!!! This time we're offering FIVE workshops in THREE days, November 4, 5, and 6. Yikes!!! We'll begin with Scribble Collage on Thursday, all day; then in the evening we'll do Collage in a Box, which is a handmade hinged box with a set of collage note cards. On Friday we'll make a panel book - a special type of accordion book, in which you can use your scribble painted papers, or anything else to decorate it or add content. On Saturday we're going to make little dream houses in foam core, using collage and found (or purchased) objects to bring the dreams to life! Saturday evening is a new workshop, the Jewel Box, which incorporates paper and glue-gem mosaic. I'll post a close-up of the mosaic here, to whet your appetite. Hope some of you can make it!!

Workshops at The Queen's Ink

I am so excited to be teaching at The Queen's Ink in Savage, MD, in June. We're offering three workshops: Collage in the Box Format, Unbinding the Visual Journal, and a new workshop, Collage Layering with Paint and Tissue.

Collage Layering with Paint & Tissue
Sunday, June 13th / 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Instructor: Guest Artist Jane Davies
Class fee: $70.00
In this workshop we will discover the possibilities of creating color, texture, and image spontaneously and intuitively using primarily tissue-weight papers, paint, gesso, and drawing tools. We start by creating a basic composition in tissue paper, and then build layers by brushing, rolling, sponging, stamping, and scraping paint between more tissue and collage papers. We'll also explore techniques of subtractive collage, tearing and scratching through the layers to reveal depth and complexity. We'll use drawing and collage imagery to finish the compositions, bringing them into focus and balance. This is an approach to collage that emphasizes process and open-ended exploration rather than a particular goal. Come join the fun, and discover a new sense of freedom in your artistic endeavors!

Box with Collage Cards Workshop

Here are a few pictures from the box and cards workshop I taught the other weekend at the Scrapbook Cupboard. Judy Shea was kind enough to take the photos and post them on her blog, so you can look there for more.

Workshops

Hi! I don't have any pictures to post today. I taught three workshops over the weekend, and my camera's batteries were dead. !!! Friday evening was "Paper and Mixed Media Dolls" at Ink About It in Westford, MA. As usual, we had a blast. Everyone made a unique and highly expressive doll - and you'll have to take my word for it unless anybody can send me a photo of their doll. You just can't go wrong with paper dolls. Saturday's workshop was "Unbinding the Visual Journal", again, a wonderful group; Sunday's workshop was at The Scrapbook Cupboard in E. Bridgewater, MA. Mostly new faces there, except for the Jane Junkies, Marissa and Elyce, who came to all three workshops! We made boxes and then filled them with collage note cards. Bev, the owner, served us lunch and was altogether helpful and accommodating. I'll be teaching there again in September, as well as at Colorful Creations in Hyannis on the Cape. I promise to post again soon with pictures. Thanks to everybody who made the workshops so much fun!

Workshop Photo

OK, here are the photos for the workshop at Scrapbook Cupboard (see post from Feb, 25).

WORKSHOP

I will be teaching a workshop on handmade boxes with collage cards at The Scrapbook Cupboard in East Bridgewater, MA next month. I've never taught there before, but I hear they have a great creative community. Two of the people that regularly give workshops there - Marissa O'Brien and Kim Parkinson - have been in my workshops at Ink About It, and highly recommended Scrapbook Cupboard. The workshop is on April 18, 10 - 4. (See workshops listed at right). The card pictured above is just the beginning. We'll focus on box construction, then make a set of collage note cards to go in the box. Sounds like a great gift idea to me! I'll have a more informative photo in a couple of weeks after photo shoots for my book.