Printmaking

We spent a day learning about printmaking from Lorraine Mitchell, who learned all about it at UAB in art school.

With pencils and some fun,sharp carving tools, we created designs in blocks of wood, spread ink with fun rollers and printed everything that didn't move, including the dog!


Thanks for another fun way to stretch our creativity!

IN FULL SWING

We are in full swing with the CREATIVE CALL.

Here are some fun shots by the pool, as we dive into the creative talents
God has placed within each of us. There is such encouragement among friends, who
support you, encourage you and teach you.

We invite you to join us or any group and see what you can do!

Inspiration for artists in Birmingham

I just visited a fun site

Click here to see a creative use of talents by a grandmother who has a passion for
photography.

visit the site by clicking here


Her link will also be added below!

Hope you find inspiration!

Allison

Creative Call To the Botanical Gardens

This week we began a new Fall Semester with our artist friends from the
Church of the Highlands.

We visited the Botanical Gardens to see the new show by Amy Crews.
Amy spoke with our group a few semesters ago with great inspiration (see archives)
We can't wait to start again, as we study Creative Call and discover what God has in store for us in new techniques, shows and inspiration.

Melanie Morris is leading the pack...

We hope these glimpses of Amy's work will inspire you!

Allison

A NEW SEASON BEGINS

We began our first meeting for the fall semester today and have a great group.

Forstall Art Center sent Ernie Elridge to kick off the meeting with coupons and announcements on some great classes.

Our own Melanie Morris will be teaching on Oct. 11, from 9-3
Acrylic painting Workshop

go online to see their schedule
FORSTALL ART CENTER

We will study the CREATIVE CALL and paint on alternating weeks so there are
no excuses! By the time the group ends, together we will create more than 5 pieces together...enough to pick one to enter the ENERGEN show!

Come visit!

CREATIVE CALL ON SUMMER BREAK

I have been missing my artist friends....

We have not met since May....
just about the time things wind down for the summer we are all reflecting on the heat, families, outdoor time...

looking for new subject matter....

I have spent quite a bit more time in my studio as my children are with their father for five weeks this summer....

I recently interviewed an incredible artist from Dothan who sells her paintings nationwide for tens of thousands of dollars.

Her inspiring story will be in an upcoming issue of Southern Beauty...so I don't want to spoil the story...but I will say, I was moved by her dedication
and share with artists...

she does not wait for inspiration....or seek motivation...

she enters her studio at about 7-8 pm....
she begins working....painting....planning...
and she paints throughout the night...with no phones..no distractions...
until sunlight...

and then she sleeps til noon...

I didn't ask her WHEN she began this schedule as I feel certain it might have been AFTER her son was grown...but the fact is...

her painting is SERIOUS....
her time there is SCHEDULED....
and her family respects that time...

I was amazed too that she TAKES PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT HER PEAK CREATIVE TIME was at NIGHT..

how many of us creative people begin with an idea at 11 PM (my peak time...at least it USED to be before a 3 year old...:) )
or are awakened with a story or idea at 3 AM (what IS IT with that hour anyway?)

and we apologize..or go back to bed...with a song that dies there on our pillow...
because it seems too UNUSUAL!

I challenge you artists...to EMBRACE THE ARTIST...
slip to the studio...get a pen light....

don't let the genius get away....

SAVOR your UNIQUE gifts that come to you in the dark....
and pick a night with a full moon...
drag an easel outside and GO WITH IT....

Then next fall when we RE convene...

We will have made another revelation...
not only are WE ARTISTS...but we can come to appreciate WHEN IT IS THAT WE ARE AT
PEAK performance...

gotta go...I feel a painting brewing up inside!

Blessings and I miss you TONS!

Allison

ENERGEN SHOW

This week we gathered our group and met at the ENERGEN show in Downtown Birmingham to support our fellow artistic role model..who is becoming "quite the famous character of the bunch" with an entry in the SHOW!

Hats off to Justine Rynearson (read last weeks blog for info on her "tips for fast painting")

Her painting is shown above along with a "mugshot of the group"
less Melanie..who had a flood in her basement! We missed you Melanie!