Girls Night Out: Batik Valentines Workshop

Girls Night Out: Batik Valentines Workshop

Thursday Feb.5^th, 6pm

Join me for a fun night of artful experimentation, no previous art experience necessary!  We’ll start off the evening with wine and appetizers while watching a demonstration on the batik process using beeswax, papers, inks and pastels.  Then dive in and create your own keepsake valentines.  Everything included: papers, tools, inks, pastels, cards, envelopes- and food and beverage! Read below to find out more and sign up. Space is limited, so grab a girlfriend and join me at the studio for a different kind of night out!

ABOUT the WORKSHOP:

Batik was traditionally an Indonesian method of hand printing textiles by using wax as a dye repellant on fabric. In a contemporary take on this, we will be applying the same principles on paper to create Valentines!

Don't be intimidated by the description- this class is geared towards those with little to no art background.  The process will be broken down, and you will be guided through the individual steps with a demonstration and individual coaching, if needed. We will be spritzing or brushing ink on papers, then drawing hearts or writing with wax using a tjanting tool or brush. Then finish up the design using either more ink or pastel, and iron out the wax.  You can layer and collage them together, or leave as is. We will be creating matching envelopes for at least 5 of your creations.

All materials included, including the list of materials below. You are welcome to bring your own material to make then more personalized, if you so wish, but it is totally optional.  Think of using copies of old love letters, pages of a book of love poetry, or your favorite quote!  Thinner papers work best.

Included materials and tools:

Various types of Decorative and rice papers

Pages of text

5 Backing cards and envelopes (although you will probably make more than 5!)

inks

spray bottles

brushes

pan pastels

chalk pastels

blending sponges

parchment paper

wax paper

scissors

heat resistant gloves

wax

tjanting tools (to apply wax)

irons and tacking irons

White wine, red wine, water, and appetizers will be available throughout the night. IF you have special requirements, feel free to BYO food or drink.

WHAT: Girls Night Out: Batik Valentines

WHEN: Thursday, Feb 5^th, 6pm-8: 15-8:30ish (we will leave the end time loose)

WHERE: Aurora Art Studios, #201

                 50 E. Galena, Aurora, IL 60505

COST: $50 includes all materials and refreshments.

Questions? Email Cheryl@cherylholz.com

Cancellation Policy- cancel more than a week prior to receive a full refund.

SOLD OUT! 

see above for Wednesday and Friday workshop

Christmas Gifts: Ornaments

I have been making these for a couple of years now.  I consider it an alchemy of sorts- don't ask me to explain the science behind it, but I add various mixtures of pigments, solvents, inks, spray paints, adhesives and air- and swirl it around in a toxic mixture until the precise moment when its done- then  empty out the remains.  Too much fun!!  I love the fluid mixing. The first few are always "klunkers" until I get the hang of it again (not having done it in a year), but once it comes back to me, its an annual process I look forward to..

Christmas Gifts: Ryan's Bimmer

So I have to say that I have never ever thought about making a piece of art about a car- they do not inspire me, except for the freedom they give me to get from point A to B. But my nephew feels very strongly about his BMW, and when he asked me to make a piece for him about it- I just couldn't picture it. But I wanted to thank him for his help with grandpa- and make him smile, so after letting it simmer in my subconscious for few months,  I came up with a way of working it into a piece for him. 

The three colors are the BMW series colors (I'm not sure thats accurate term), and I found a blueprint diagram of his car (that appealed to me) to include. I DID have fun using a torch on  those three colors as they approached the bottom of the piece.  More fun with fire! Made Ryan happy too. 

WIN WIN. 

Christmas Gifts: Clark's Blocks

Its become kind of a tradition for me to make these for new nieces and nephews- 

or grand nieces and nephews (or are they second nieces? I'm not sure.)  

I like to start educating about animals early on...

Anyhow- this is a fun way to celebrate a new baby!! And baby Clark is a beautiful happy addition to the family....

Christmas Gifts: Dad's Memorabilia Box

Not all of my family and friends are art fans, so at the holidays sometimes  I make things that are well outside of what I normally do.  It's always a good exercise to attempt a new material or imagery!  Here are some of my favorites from this past Christmas. (Sorry for delay in posting, but didn't want to give anything away).

After cleaning out Dad's house before he downsized, I found some old postcards mom wrote to him while they were dating, and pay stubs from the 50s and 60s.  I used my new favorite medium- encaustic- to collage them together on top of a wooden box. 

In Praise of Babies...

No, I'm not talking about the actual ones, although they’re nice too, as long as someone goes thru pregnancy and delivery (they’re called nieces and nephews) :)

I am referring to small pieces of art. Yes, I love doing very large pieces, but there is a certain freedom in trying out new techniques and processes on a tiny piece before you take them on a larger scale, which usually involves more logistical strategizing.

So on that note, today I forced myself to work on 8 little tiny 2” x 4" pieces for our upcoming open studio (Sat. Nov 22^nd!).  These little babies are affordable gift-able versions of my larger work for all those people who say- "I love your work but can’t afford it." These are for them- but I had a helluva good time dancing and painting along the way!  Here are some previews.

the latest batch o' babies....

 

Aged English Lit- a page torn from an old book of English plays that I love for its font!  I worked over and under, scratching and staining along the way…

Green and gold hills- I sawed out a portion of a pour on clayboard, then drew into it with charcoal, added some gold leaf, and etched into it and stained it, adding touches of pan pastel along the way. 

Very excited about this process! Using one of my favorite subjects and materials- leaves!! Wax takes a perfect impression, then staining brings out every vein…. lovely! Not done yet, but a good start.

Magenta baby- cropped a work on paper that never got around to getting finished.  Used some solvent inks for some contrast here! Done? Not sure…

Studio Reorganization

So save a little painting and venting- my post flood alterations are done! i wish i could say the same about the claim with my insurance, but we wont go there now.  instead, i am writing this for the other studio junkies who are always looking or another way to fit more in while still being able to find where everything is.  a friend passed this on to me- 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/15/art-studio_n_5676343.html

its an article from the Huffington post of different artist studios.  Fun to see other studios!!  

and i'm a little embarrassed to admit that i am an organization freak,and my studio starts out like one of the super organized one- and a couple months later looks like a chaotic one that is completely a mess!

 but at least when you start with an an organization system, everything does have a home to go back to, when i allot the time to do that .  

anyhow- here are some things i've learned in setting up what  i think  may be my 8th studio if you go waaay back!  

so heres what i have found works best for me: 

STATIONS/ISLANDS:

This is more for those mixed media folk. i am envious of watercolor or oil painters, who have one medium and type of support, it would be easier to organize that space. but  alas, my art ADHD (i've just invented an new diagnosis) requires i have at least 4 different process available to me at any given in time.  it makes things infinity easier if most of what you need is with a step or 2.  My friend and studio neighbor Anne VonEhr.com came in and put on  her interior decorator hat, and helped me sot out  how to reconfigure my mess of a studio.  sometimes its good to get an objective view!! 

so now i have an encaustic area, that is U shaped and is all covered with cheap ceramic tiles from menards siliconed onto tables, or in the case on the right- a wooden door, supports by wire racks that hold supplies.i like having different levels of work space- one for standing one or sitting, and a place to stack the less frequently used stuff.  the spaces under each table are stock full of storage, except where my chair or feet pull in.  note the new fan- set into a piece of Plexiglas so i don't lose my window view of the river! I love to watch for those diving cormorants…

 

Right next to the encaustic area is another U shaped area for painting.  the encaustic table on the right can be cleared off to use for painting if need be-.  the shelves against the wall now hold all paint related supplies! hurray. the easel can move (soon to be on wheels), and and my painting cart and water are to my right, since i am right handed. lesser used materials are int the drawers behind the cart.  

WHEELS- FOR FLEXIBILITY! 

As many things as i can- i have on locking wheels.  that way readjusting your studio for a class, open studio, or different process doesn't not require bribing a crop of burly young men (altho that has its upsides, too :).  i have no sink in my room and have to access water down the hall. i got tired of carry 5 gallon buckets, so have a water cart now. My paint cart can be wheeled over to the collage or sculpture table, or to large piece that has to worked on horizontally. It leaves all my options open. 

          

SORTING AND STORING COLLECTIONS

lastly- my collections. ugh. thats a hard one. i have everything from snake skin to antique maps. Trying to put that in some semblance of order so you can find what you need later- or be able to peruse through it is challenging.   since the flooding- i am investing in clear plastic boxes. but first- I tore everything out (it was out anyhow) and instead of organizing it by where i found it ( Puerto Vallarta rocks, Arizona sand, etc) i still have that information with it- but assembled them in broader categories. for example- sea related things on one shelf- critters(crabs, fish seahorse) whelks(love that type of shell) algae/seaweed- you get the idea.  

 

then put them in appropriate containers.  

FLEXIBLE STORAGE UNITS

so the back of cabinets has turned into a collage area- at least for now. again- i like to have an upper level of workshop ace for easy to reach tools no matter who big the space, i inevitably end up with a little 12x12 square to work with. having the tools off the surface helps me.  here- i hung cheap ikea containers on flexible closet shelving form the home depot.  working great so far!!  and this area is till evolving, so i can add or raise and lower shelves, depending on my needs.  

well- wood shop and back room still to be dealt with - but feels much better now! FINALLY can go and play!!! hope you can too. I love to see studios- send or post me yours!  

Cheryl Holz

www.CherylHolz.com