Wow! Check out my students work

Hello everyone! I was just reporting in about my Altered Vintage postcard class yesterday. The student work was so astounding that I couldn't wait to show you all. The first card above was done by Jolene. I just love the humour in this card. It kind of makes me want to get up and dance around the Leaning tower in a polka dot shirt too! All that is missing is the guy playing the accordion. Just look at the painting on the tower with that blue sky and clouds all around. Great work.

This is Karen's very romantic post card. Karen has done some very beautiful subtle painting on this piece. I love the blue green patina colors on the metallic border and also on the grass. This would make an awesome Valentine's day card. I love the way the woman's dress mimics the butterflies wings.

This is Maureen's Paris Postcard. Maureen has totally captured that Romantic Parisian mood. The work on the sky and clouds is just yummy. Gee I wish I was going to Paris!

This is Debbie's card. It says Pride and Prejudice all the way. Debbie's painting on the trees and foliage is incredible. And look at that water. You can just see the sun's glinting off of it.

This is Erica's card. It's very Nick Bantock. There's great texture on this piece that my small photographic skills didn't capture very well. But you can see it in the sky. And if I was that guy I'd get down off that rock! If he happens to fall in that position he may be injured for life! Not to mention he might get eaten by the fish!

Well what do you think? Aren't these great pieces?

Altering Vintage Postcards

Hello Everyone, Tomorrow I begin a new class: Altering Vintage Postcards! I am totally addicted to the new techniques we will be using in class tomorrow. Whats different about this class you ask? Well, Instead of using regular acrylic paints we will be experimenting with Acrylic Gouache. To do this we will be using Holbein Acyla 5 color mixing sets. This gouache is opaque like all gouache but also stays "open" longer so that you can spread the paint around and play with it a little more. Since there are only 5 colors in a set you not only get experience with gouache but also in color mixing. I have set up a little exercise for the students tomorrow so that they get experience using the paint and also do a little color mixing before we start on our postcards. I will also be introducing a technique that will be new for many of my students Its called scumbling. In scumbling you put a very thin layer of white gouache over your collage. This soften the outlines on the card so that you can alter the card to your satisfaction by over painting. Once the painting is done you can then add rubber stamping, Victorian scrap and vintage postcards to make the card really special. No kidding guys altering these postcards is a blast. You can then use the postcards to make cards to send to loved ones, book marks or even frame them and hang them up. My class tomorrow is full but if you are interested in taking this class I will be teaching it again on February 12th at Scrap it in Santa Cruz and at C. Andrews studio on Feb 13th. If you wish to sign up for the class you can email me at connie@isbjorn.com I have included more samples below. I hope you enjoy them.

Hey I can solder!

Hello Everyone! I had the most wonderful class yesterday given by Ingrid Pomeroy at C.Andrews studio. And I actually soldered! I had soldered once before, two years ago but I am pretty shaky about the whole soldering thing. But with Ingrid's excellent help I actually made it through an intermediate class I probably shouldn't have been in. For this class we made double sided clock glass hangings. They are about 3 1/2 inches around. Ingrid provided the beautiful Madonna and angel images that were the theme of this class. The clock glass is convex so you can place 3D type elements under glass. They remind me of those very ornamental items that the Victorian ladies made. So on my first side I decided that I wanted to reproduce that highly decorated Victorian look complete with silver and gold leaves, pearls and Rhinestones. You can see this side above.

This is my second side and this time I included a simpler collage with an angel image. I love the pastel blue-green paper that Ingrid provided with her supplies and couldn't resist it. After we collaged then it was time to solder. I have to admit I'm not great with hot irons and solder but I did manage to make an ornament that won't fall apart tomorrow.

I really love making these type of ornaments. They just feel like precious treasures to me. They are something that I can keep for years as an heirloom type item and also if I wanted to make another one it would make a very special gift for family or friends.

This was really a fun class. Ingrid brought most of the supplies. All we had to bring was a soldering iron. She even had treats for us! To top it off Susan Morgan from Elegant Cheesecakes ( www.elegantcheesecakes.com) brought by some strawberry Pistachio cake for us to share-sheer heaven!

Just one more great class at C.Andrews Studio.

To contact Ingrid you can email her at ipomeroy@peoplepc.com.

ABC Club swap #6

Hello Everyone, Yes I am still among the living but have been busy working on my new classes, new ideas and my altered book club swap. This time the swap took a little more consideration and thought because of the subject. I received Karen's book for our 6th swap. You can see the cover above. The book is called Adventures in Art and Karen is asking for her fellow artist's advice and help. Karen believes that her art in her words is just "nice". Her art is sweet, detailed and predictable. She wants to be "Bold, Brave, Fearless and maybe a little dangerous. Personally I don't see her art this way but I can certainly understand the need to stretch her wings a little. I can understand the hunger and was determined to really try and help with a suggestion or two. But what to tell her? Karen wants a little edge to her art and was looking for it by experimenting with texture in her collage. As I studied the art that Karen created in my book it looked like she achieved everything she wanted by using texture and collage. The work is exquisite. It dawned on me that Karen doesn't need any advice when playing with texture and color. She's a fine artist that knows exactly what to do. In my book, her art had added texture but was still a "sweet, beautiful "collage-still in the style that she is looking to change. So my advice to her is to take it by subject first. What is the flip side to the beautiful woman in the meadow? While considering how to give this advice my inner Art Geek bloomed into a nice little weed. In this case a truly bad poem wrote itself in my head one day. I really tried to silence it but it wouldn't go away. All I could do is to add it to poor Karen's book with some art to illustrate it. Below you can see the art and I will reprint the text/advice below each picture. Ok here goes:

"So you want to be bold and dangerous too?

"If this is truly your wish here's my advice for you."

"A mermaid my be beautiful but she's dangerous too,

A ghost may be frightening but was a person like you."

"Add some spatter, some drips and a large skull,

They say Memento Mori, a warning to all."

" Life's not always pretty, rosy or sweet,

It's Ok to show it, who cares what we think?

Life has a duality pretty pictures can't hide,

And as an artist remember that beauty comes from inside." This last collage is a Karen door. Since I don't have Karen's OK to show her face on my blog the picture above shows the door open representing the beauty inside her.

We all want to create beauty with our art. But that's just not life. If we are to be artists and " hold the mirror up to nature" as Shakespeare says then we must address both the dark and light within us all. My thought, respectfully, is that if Karen wants to be truly bold then she should address the darker side once in awhile. I am in hopes that when she does this everything she was hoping to change in her art will fall right into place.

And for the record: No-I am not a poet and I definately know it.

Connie-over and out.

My Schedule for January

Welcome everyone! I know that I have already posted the studio schedule however I will be teaching my classes at two other venues for the month of January as well. I am basically teaching two different classes this month. Beginning in about a week and a half I will be reoffering my Dream Guardians class in two locations. You can see an example above and also below. At the end of the month I will be offering a new class: Altered Vintage Postcards with Acrylic Gouache. Here are the details:

Saturday January 15th Class: Dream Guardians Location: Scrap-it in Santa Cruz Description: Sometimes we need a guardian so that our dreams do not get forgotten amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In this class we will be creating our own guardian using Antique doll heads and wire. We will learn to make the wire dress form doll and then adorn it with antique lace, fabric, and trims. We will then add charms and found objects that symbolize our deepest dreams and wishes. Items to bring: any personal charms, found objects, lace and fabric that you would like on your doll. I will have some with me but you will need to augment and personalize this. Time: 11:00 to 4:00pm Lunch break at about 1:30 Fee: $65.00 Class Limit 4 To sign up for this class please call Scrap It at: at 831 475-2380 Sunday January 16th

Location: C.Andrews Studio- Princeton by the Sea Class: Dream Guardians ****Being offered again to those that could not take the first class**** Description: Sometimes we need a guardian so that our dreams do not get forgotten amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In this class we will be creating our own guardian using Antique doll heads and wire. We will learn to make the wire dress form doll and then adorn it with antique lace, fabric, and trims. We will then add charms and found objects that symbolize our deepest dreams and wishes. Items to bring: any personal charms, found objects, lace and fabric that you would like on your doll. I will have some with me but you will need to augment and personalize this. Time: 10:00 to 3:30pm Lunch break at about 1:30 Fee: $65.00 Class Limit 4 To sign up for this class please email Connie at connie@isbjorn.com

Saturday January 22nd Class: Altered Vintage postcards with Acrylic Gouache Location: Art Max in Seaside Description: Foreign Vintage post cards with their evocative images make beautiful backgrounds for collage. Plus any old postmark, cancelled stamp or writing already on the postcard just adds to the visual interest. So that all these elements mix together harmoniously we will be softening the outlines with a process called Scumbling. To” scumble” is to add a thin layer of white acrylic gouache and then repaint so that all your added elements will match. The surface takes on the look of a painted fresco but still allows the background elements to be seen. To get used to the acrylic gouache the first hour of class will be a color mixing lesson in which every student will prepare an elementary color wheel to take home for future use. Items to bring: scissors, any background rubberstamps you might like to use, various small paintbrushes (Make sure to bring a couple of liners), and a number 4 short bristled filbert brush. If you do not have a filbert brush I will have some available to purchase for a small fee of $5.00 per brush. Time: 11:00 to 4:00 Fee: $ 55.00 + $5.00 if you buy a brush If you wish to sign up for this class please email me at connie@isbjorn.com Class Limit:6 Saturday January 29th

Location: C.Andrews Studio-Princeton by the Sea Class: Altered Vintage postcards with Acrylic Gouache Description: Foreign Vintage post cards with their evocative images make beautiful backgrounds for collage. Plus any old postmark, cancelled stamp or writing already on the postcard just adds to the visual interest. So that all these elements mix together harmoniously we will be softening the outlines with a process called Scumbling. To” scumble” is to add a thin layer of white acrylic gouache and then repaint so that all your added elements will match. The surface takes on the look of a painted fresco but still allows the background elements to be seen. To get used to the acrylic gouache the first hour of class will be a color mixing lesson in which every student will prepare an elementary color wheel to take home for future use. Items to bring: scissors, any background rubberstamps you might like to use, various small paintbrushes (Make sure to bring a couple of liners), and a number 4 short bristled filbert brush. If you do not have a filbert brush I will have some available to purchase for a small fee of $5.00 per brush. Time: 10:00 to 3:30 Fee: $ 55.00 + $5.00 if you buy a brush If you wish to sign up for this class please email me at connie@isbjorn.com Class Limit:6 See you in Class!

January classes

Happy New Year Everyone!

To me there's no better way to start the New Year than with some Art. And with that in mind I have posted the C.Andrews Studio class calendar . Everyone here is ready to create and we are starting the New Year with some great classes. If you click on the schedule above you should be able to see a larger version you can actually read. Here are the classes and details. Saturday, January 15 Class: Journal your Intentions ***NEW CLASS*** Instructor: Maria Ontiveros Class Description: Interested in learning about art journaling, book binding or striving to find a way to art journal more regularly? Curious about the difference between resolutions, intentions and "one little word"? If so, read on to learn more about my new art journaling class . . . We'll start by discussing three different ways to approach the concept of "New Year's Resolutions" and then we'll create an art journal for you to follow through with whichever approach you have chosen. This class is perfect for beginners, as well as experienced art journaling students. We'll cover two painting techniques (water colored spray inks for the inside pages and DeMeng color washes for the cover and a book binding technique (traditional copic). To help keep you on track, I'll host a monthly on-line share for those who took the class. Because we will be creating and binding a journal for this class, I have a lot of preparation to do. As a result, I need to get a firm number of class participants by Tuesday, January 11 and the class will be limited to eight students. So, if you're interested, please email me to sign up sooner rather than later. It's going to be great fun! Time: 9:30 to2:30pm Cost: $50 +$5 material fee. 10% discount for first-timers and for those who sign up in groups of two or more. To sign up for Maria class please email Maria at rinda1961@yahoo.com

Sunday January 16th Instructor: Connie Andrews Class: Dream Guardians ****Being offered again to those that could not take the first class**** Description: Sometimes we need a guardian so that our dreams do not get forgotten amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In this class we will be creating our own guardian using Antique doll heads and wire. We will learn to make the wire dress form doll and then adorn it with antique lace, fabric, and trims. We will then add charms and found objects that symbolize our deepest dreams and wishes. Items to bring: any personal charms, found objects, lace and fabric that you would like on your doll. I will have some with me but you will need to augment and personalize this. Time: 10:00 to 3:30pm Lunch break at about 1:30 Fee: $65.00 Class Limit 4 To sign up for this class please email Connie at connie@isbjorn.com

Sunday January 23rd Class: Soldered Vintage Clock Glass /Madonna/Angel Hangings Instructor: Ingrid Pomeroy Description: This month by request, I have rescheduled the soldered clock glass class, but with an angel statue and Madonna theme. Each piece will measure approximately three to four inches in size and will have clock glass on both sides. Students must have soldering experience and bring their own soldering iron. I will provide all other materials. Time: 12:00 to 4:00pm Cost: $65.00(includes savory and sweet treats) If you wish to sign up for this class please email Ingrid at ipomeroy@peoplepc.com

Wednesday January 26th Instructor: Cindy McCool Class: Thank You Cards/Valentine Day Cards Description: Just in time to acknowledge all those nifty gifts and kind gestures of the holidays we will be doing "Thank You cards". We will also make some Valentine cards for your special someone. Actually, these cards lend themselves to any message you want to include. The holidays remind me of how thankful I am for my health and my wonderful friends and family. What better way to show your appreciation and love than with a handmade card. Come relax and make cards with me at C.Andrews Studio. Items to bring: Your basic tool kit, or just detail scissors and glue, all else will be provided. Time: 6:00 to 9:00 pm Fee: $25.00 To sign up for this class please email Cindy at cindy@mccoolmgt.com.

Saturday January 29th Instructor: Connie Andrews ****New Class*** Class: Altered Vintage postcards with Acrylic Gouache Description: Foreign Vintage post cards with their evocative images make beautiful backgrounds for collage. Plus any old postmark, cancelled stamp or writing already on the postcard just adds to the visual interest. So that all these elements mix together harmoniously we will be softening the outlines with a process called Scumbling. To” scumble” is to add a thin layer of white acrylic gouache and then repaint so that all your added elements will match. The surface takes on the look of a painted fresco but still allows the background elements to be seen. To get used to the acrylic gouache the first hour of class will be a color mixing lesson in which every student will prepare an elementary color wheel to take home for future use. Items to bring: scissors, any background rubberstamps you might like to use, various small paintbrushes (Make sure to bring a couple of liners), and a number 4 short bristled filbert brush. If you do not have a filbert brush I will have some available to purchase for a small fee of $5.00 per brush. Time: 10:00am to 3:30pm Cost: $55.00 + $5.00 if you purchase a filbert brush Class size limit: 6 If you wish to sign up for this class please email Connie at connie@isbjorn.com Other Events in January At C.Andrews Studio Sunday January 9th Open studio Altered Book Club work day Description: You can work on anything on this day but the emphasis is on your altered book club swap. Come and work in the company of kindred spirits. 11:00 to 4:00 pm or whenever we decide to leave $10.00 Wednesday January 19th Altered Books Club Time: 6:00pm to 9:00pm Fee: $10.00 per person Also offered at the studio Private studio time – This is for artists and art groups looking to rent studio space to work or to get together during the week-the times and fees are to be arranged on an individual basis. If you are interested in private studio time please email me at connie@isbjorn.com. Open Studio- This is studio time open to everyone for only $10.00 per day. Open studios is available every Friday evening and on the weekends when no classes are being offered. Please note that to use the studio you must arrange this with me in advance. Just email me at connie@isbjorn.com and let me know you would like to use it. Open studio for the month of January will be on the following dates: January 2nd, January 7th, January 9th, January 14th, January 21st, January 28th and January 30th.

C.Andrews Studio is located at 103-1 Harvard Street, Princeton by the Sea. If you need directions please email me at connie@isbjorn.com

See you at the Studio!