Oakhurst Vision Academy Class

Last Saturday, I taught a Mixed Media class in Oakhurst for Vision Academy. It was held at the Boys and Girls Club, adjacent to the elementary school. There were a few challenges at the beginning--it was "over the river and through the woods" from the parking lot to the classroom, water was hard to find, and we had porta potties for the day. But the pluses far outweighed the negatives. Seven students and I had a great time--playing with new materials, chatting, having lunch together, and allaying some of their fears about trying new things. Each time I teach a class I remember how much I like teaching but I tend to forget that fact in the planning, preparing, agonizing of how to present things, and gathering materials to pack and take.

Today's first photo is of the tiny little mixed media piece--it's only 5" X 7" and will be framed to 8" X 10"--called "Venture Out" that was my demo for the day. The words are on a dark gray background and I just laid the matted and clear-wrapped piece on the scanner so the photo isn't the greatest.




 The words say: 

"Venture beyond the ordinary to a place you've only imagined."

The next photo is of an equally small painting that was a demo in another class. It reminds us that sometimes, we CAN have it all! Keep these sentiments in mind and go out and have the greatest of days!

Vision Academy Classes

Yikes! I am just finally realizing that the first Vision Academy Mixed Media class is next Saturday and I need to encourage people to sign up for it. Everyone's been so busy that the summer is creeping up on us sooner than we are all ready for it.

There are openings in all 3 classes and you need to call Jackie Byers at 683-7071 to sign up as soon as possible, especially for the June 20th class. Each class costs $45 and lasts from 10 AM till 4 PM.

I am going to attach the list of Vision Academy classes to this post and I've listed dates in "Upcoming Events/Activities" to the right side of this blog also. MY "vision' for the 3 summer/fall classes was to do a basic one (next Saturday, June 20th) during which we will explore the possibilities with mixed media work, much like the one I did up there last year. We will explore materials, techniques, and do a couple of small paintings. The second class (July 18th) is called "Artists' Books and Journals" and we will use mixed media techniques and materials to explore and make one or more small artist journals. The third class (Sept. 26th) will be an opportunity to extend either or both of the first 2 classes by "going further" with mixed media and for first timers to get started at that class. Brief descriptions of all 3 classes follow, as does the supply list.

Experiment with Mixed Media with Kathleen
Class #1/June 20, 2009

Come prepared to have fun and be surprised by what
you can do that you haven’t tried before!

In Kathleen Mattox’s class, participants will experiment, play, and create with many different materials, mediums, ideas, and processes. Using paints, collage papers, texture medium, mat and gel mediums, tapes, pens, watercolor crayons, rubber stamps and many other materials, students will be guided to apply the elements and principles of design to playful, personally meaningful creations.

A materials list will be sent upon registration, but you can start gathering scraps of collage papers, rice papers and other oriental papers and saving a good quality magazine to cut up and an old phone book or two (if available). Bring your mixed media supplies but don’t worry if you don’t have anything as most materials will be provided for your use.

Artist Journals and Books
Class #1/June 20, 2009

In this mixed media class, Kathleen will continue the exploration of mixed media by guiding class participants to create a variety of artist journals and books. She will show how to embellish and modify commercial journals and notebooks and how to create your own. The topic of ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) will also be addressed briefly and leftovers from the day will be turned into ATCs to trade at the end of the day!

In addition to the regular supplies in the materials list, you might want to bring a journal or notebook to modify and perhaps a childrens’ “board book” to gesso and turn into a keepsake artist’s journal. Supplies will be available to purchase at a minimal cost at the class—usually $1/item.

“Mix It Up With Mixed Media”
Class #3/September 26, 2009

We’re going to continue to “mix it up” with Mixed Media! We will explore some fun and different ways to jumpstart your creativity when you can’t get rolling, and create several small paintings to explore some new techniques together.

This class will allow students who may have taken one of the first 2 classes to continue to explore new techniques and share materials and ideas with fellow students in a fun-filled, more open-ended day of mixed media excitement.

SUPPLY LIST for Kathleen Mattox’s Mixed Media Class

c Watercolor palette and paints (your regular colors and set up)—IF you have these materials already. If not, I have materials to share. Do NOT buy if you do not have already!

c A tube or 2 of acrylic paint, if you have it already—black or white and your favorite colors

c 1 or 2 quarter sheets of watercolor paper or a small watercolor block or 2 that you already own (I use Arches 140# Cold press.)

c 2-3 brushes—a 1” flat and a small round or 2

c Water container and spray bottle

c Apron or smock or work shirt

c Paper towels and “baby wipes”

c A disposable foam brush (1 “)

c A roll of masking tape

c A pair of scissors to cut paper

c An old phone book or 2 (consumable)

c A magazine or 2 to cut up—good quality paper, like Oprah, Architectural Digest, Art News etc.

c Rubber gloves (thin, flexible, disposable) if you don’t want to peel the mat medium off your hands (I can’t work in them, but some people can

Any of the following that you have on hand:

c Collage papers, if you have a “stash” but I have plenty to share,if you have none. Handmade or handstamped papers, rice papers, origami papers, scrapbook papers, pieces of an old painting—all are suitable for collage use

c Rubber stamps (your favorite 1 or 2) and an ink pad

c Gel pens, assorted colors, especially gold

c Watercolor crayons

c Assorted texture items, such as mesh bag material etc.

c Paint chips from Lowe’s or Home Depot, especially the ones with a little “hole” cut out in them! (Collect them in stages, do not wipe them out all at once!)

Notes: Just bring your basic supplies and anything on the list that you already have. I will bring mat and gel mediums, rice papers etc. to share, my collage papers, embossing materials etc. to try, and a lot of different mixed media materials that you can use during the workshop. I do NOT want you to spend a lot of money buying things for the class. You can bring nothing but a couple of brushes, a quarter sheet of paper, a water container, a roll of masking tape and get by just fine. Be conservative in your expenditures. Bring what you have already and plan to share with a friend and use what I bring.

You MUST bring the following:

c A sense of humor and an open mind

c A willingness to experiment and try things you haven’t tried

c Good listening skills

c An understanding that this will be a day of learning and playing, NOT necessarily a day to produce a finished painting