Artist Trading Cards

I gave a workshop on artist trading cards last weekend.  These workshops are always fun since I get a chance to create some art as well.  For those who aren’t familiar, artist trading cards (ATCs) are cards that measure 2.5″x3.5″ and can be made from any material and any technique.  I use a lot of old photos in my cards and last weekend gave me a chance to revisit some of my family again.  I thought I would post a couple here. 

      

 

The next trading card workshop will be in the Fall and hosted by Island Blue again.  Check back in the summer and I will list the dates.

Class update

It has been a long time since my last class update but I will tell you what I am doing these days.  Monday mornings I am still at the Art Gallery teaching the sweet little 2 & 3 year old Baby Picassos.  Friday morning I am at Island Blue teaching an Absolute Beginner Art class.  The session is already underway but a new session will begin in April.  Please contact Island Blue for registration.  Also while you are there, check for my upcoming workshops.  March 9th Basic Printmaking and May 3rd Mosaic Mirrors and May 24th Fun with ATCs.  All of these workshops are a lot of fun.  I will post about each in the coming weeks. For those of you looking for toddler art classes, contact the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria or myself at lovemonkeydesign@yahoo.ca  for information!  A new Baby Picasso session is starting in April.

Life outside teaching

To see what I work on when I am not teaching, please go to www.lovemonkeydesign.wordpress.com for updates on my retail products or to purchase, visit my etsy shop.

 Thank you!

Fall Classes

My upcoming classes at Island Blue for the Fall of 2007 are as follows:

Beginner Art for Adults – Fridays September 28 – November 16 ~ 9:30 – 12 This class is designed for those who have no experience or very little with art. If you want to be creative, and you have no idea where to start – this class is for you! Students will dabble at drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking in a non-threatening and fun environment.

Mosaic Workshop – Saturday September 29 ~ 1 -5  Work on the design and composition of your project first and then learn all the technical aspects of mosaics like cutting and trimming tiles, grouting and indirect and direct methods of mosaic.

Artist Trading Card Workshop – Saturday September 15  ~ 12 -4  Have you heard of artist trading cards (ATC’s)? The only rules are that they be 2.5 x 3.5 inches and original pieces of art. Spend the afternoon working with all kinds of artist materials and techniques, be inspired by others and at the end of it all trade your cards.

T-shirt Fabric Printing Workshop – Saturday December 8 ~ 12- 4  Learn a new technique that creates the same great results as traditional screen printing but in half the time.  You will create t-shirts and other fantastic items by stenciling and painting onto the fabric.  This is a quick and easy way to print and get fantastic results every time .

Art Adventures for Kids (ages  8 to 11) - Saturdays September 22 – October 13 ~ 9-11  In this 4 week session, students will learn various techniques of drawing and cartooning.  Students will also be introduced to artist trading cards, stamp-making and printing using their own drawings.

Call 385-9786 to register.

Toddler Art Class

I am teaching a new program at Oaklands Community Centre.  It is a toddler art class for ages 2 – 4.  The times are 9:15 – 10:15 starting May 16th and running for 6 weeks.  Call 370-9101 to register or check www.oaklandscommunitycentre.com  The class will be a lot of fun! Parents participation is required!

Printmaking

I have been doing printmaking for many years and especially love lino block printing.  I have many stamps that I incorporate into various other projects, such as collage and artist trading cards.  Sometimes I make stationary from the stamps as well.  Here are a couple examples of stamps I have made.

 

The top two birds are made into artist trading cards which are 2.5X3.5 cards made any way you like.  The idea is then to trade with other artists.  There are many site on the internet devoted to trading card such as this one.  Island Blue also runs free workshops which I sometimes facilitate.

Painting

I am not committed to one type of painting or the use of only one material so I find, more & more, I am incorporating collage into my paintings.  Traditionally I use acrylic paints because I find a lot of freedom in them.  Here are a few of a series of small dress mixed media painting I did a couple years ago.  I like them so much I hope to go back to them and explore them further.

 

I am teaching an Art Explorations for the Absolute Beginner class for adult through Island Blue that will feature some painting, as well as illustration, sculpture and printmaking.  The class runs Thursdays April 12- May 31 9am – 11:30 am.

Illustration

I have always tended to go to the more “cartoon-y” type of drawing.  I think it is the child-like elements I am drawn to as well as the influence of Japanese characters.

Here are a few of my “little people”, a series of childrens’ work I am currently creating.

    

Kids Classes

Upcoming kids classes that I am teaching are as follows:

Art Adventures (ages 8-11) Saturdays 9am – 11am at Island Blue Print.

Baby Picasso (ages 2-3) Mondays 10am – 11:15 am at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.

Toddler Art (ages 2-4) Wednesdays 9:15am – 10:15 am at Oaklands Community Centre.

Here are a few examples of kids artwork from the past year.  They are generally age 5-6 years of age in these examples.

 

Mosaics

Here is a sample of some mosaics I have done in the past few years.  I teach mosaic classes often at Island Blue in Victoria BC.  You can check their website here for information on current and upcoming classes.  My next mosaic classes are Saturday March 31st 12 pm – 4 pm and April 21st 1 – 5.