WEDNESDAY Valentine workshop added!

Thursday filled up immediately! and there are a couple spots left in the Wednesday class.
 Click on button below to sing up for GIRLS NIGHT OUT: Batik Valentine workshop on Wednesday, Feb 4th, 2015 at 6pm! all the information stays the same as the class described below.

as of Jan. 16th am- 1 SPOT LEFT!

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…