Random Arts: Going with the Flow

I finally had the time to finish my wall hanging from the June workshop at Random Arts with Katie Kendrick. I posted earlier about my lack of experience in drawing faces, and that is probably obvious here. Katie's instructions were helpful, but do you ever have one of those days when you just want to go with what you've got?

When Katie demoed mixing flesh tones, her results were lovely. There was one problem: I hadn't brought the colors she used with me. Now, artists are most helpful people, and Katie would have shared her paints as would the people on either side of me. I was just having one of those days when I just didn't want to be bothered, so I used the colors I had. Besides, I really wanted my face to have a more earthy tone. And she does.
You may wonder why the bird and heart appear suspended. That was intentional on my part although I don't think that I could have made them look attached if I had tried. I enjoyed using my Inkssentials™ White Opaque Pen for the lettering around the heart and to highlight the outline of the bird.

I intended to cut the threads between my words but decided that I liked the way they tied the thoughts together. The picture below also shows the subtle stamping I added to the background with my Adirondack® Pigment Ink Pads.

I don't think that wall hangings are destined to become my newest passion, but this was definitely fun. I know that I will put the knowledge to use in further projects. This was another great day in Saluda!

The Answer Is Never

Look what I made!


After two days of workshops at Random Arts with Katie Kendrick, my husband asked how many times I'd drawn faces in the past. If you don't count adding a smiley face to a stick figure, the answer to that would be never! Needless to say, this was a weekend that pushed me completely out of my comfort zone.

When I first saw Katie's whimsical dolls in the Winter 2006 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors, I was intrigued. The dolls just smacked of personality, a factor that I would learn came straight from the heart of their maker. And now, Katie was coming to Random Arts to teach.
The first workshop was listed as a mixed media wall hanging. I've done some quilting in the past, so a "no experience necessary" project to reflect on the my "quirky side" sounded like fun. (More on this later after I finish my quilt.)

The second workshop was described as "freestyle intuitive doll making" without fussy cutting or fussy seaming. I couldn't wait to find out how to use simple pattern pieces to design a doll body and completely ignored the mention of learning to "paint an original face on my creation." After all, Katie was going to provide a face for us to use if we wanted to. Although I'd packed paints and other supplies, I never thought about this again until after class began.

Katie is a self-taught artist unspoiled by the rules of a formal education. As she described her journey into art and her path to creativity, we were inspired to see where our hearts would lead our paint brushes. (The group included several professionally trained artists with others who like me had never attempted more than stick figure art.) We drew faces with our non-dominant hand, laughed, and followed her instructions for transferring our work to muslin. After learning how to create flesh tones, the work began in earnest. Katie was there to encourage and guide, seeking to provide input and assistance. Here are pictures of Katie, one of her dolls, and the face that she painted while we watched.



You would never have believed that this was a group of novices. Each doll had a distinctive personality; many were intricately pieced. Although I had brought along a box crammed full of fabric, after framing my doll's face with Turquoise Phthalo, I knew that the beaded trim and appliquéd heart were all that needed to be added to this beautiful fabric from my mother's quilting stash. Whether or not my doll appeals to anyone else, I now have a sentimental treasure. Beyond that, I enjoyed a challenging weekend. If only I lived closer to Saluda!

Random Arts: Sensory Overload

When I mentioned my visit to Random Arts earlier this spring, I was generally met with a quizzical expression. It's difficult to explain why it is truly "worth it" to spend the time and gas for a trip to Saluda, North Carolina. Granted, this spring our vacation to nearby Asheville brought us to the area, but last week end I made the journey just to take classes. My spring pictures highlighted the outside of the shop and the quaintness of the area. This trip, we'll look inside.



When you walk into the Random Arts, this is the view to your right. I think the title of this post says it all: sensory overload. In addition to the stamps you find displayed throughout the store, there are treasures tucked into every nook and cranny. Don't miss the collage bags in the lower right hand corner of this photo - color coordinated offerings: ribbons, buttons, and tidbits for the multi media artist, stamper, or scrapbooker looking for that perfect embellishment. The fabric hanging below the bags is simply luscious. In the bottom left, you'll find magical solutions to transform mesh or metals and samples to stimulate experimentation. It will be difficult to move on, but there is more to be seen.

 

The picture above should give you an idea of why it's easy to spend an afternoon in this relatively small shop. I couldn't resist looking in every drawer and browsing through the related books. The displays will allure you to try something new.

 

Looking for inspiration? Above, the walls provide an endless bounty of ideas to touch and explore. Jane Powell and her staff are knowledgeable and more than willing to share their expertise. Below, the cash wrap is almost buried under product and samples. I've never resisted adding something to my purchase while checking out. This time, it was newly arrived bird charms.

 

If this sounds like a commercial for Random Arts, I can't help it. Friends share their favorite places with friends. I just wish I lived a little closer!

Speaking of Michael deMeng

It's a looooong way from my house to any of the big name art retreats or workshops, so when I saw that Michael deMeng would teach at Random Arts last spring, I decided that it would be worth the six hour drive (each way) to attend.
Michael is the author of the recent release, Secrets of Rusty Things: Transforming Found Objects into Art. His work focuses on the "transformation" of the common into works of art. While Michael's art tends to take a turn to the "dark" side, I was primarily interested in gaining information about the basics of three dimensional construction.
One of the classes that I took was assemblage (pronounced as you would collage.) We began with a plain cigar box and used Liquid Nails to attach the pieces and parts that would find new purpose in our work. (Yes, that is a plastic pig on the front of my creation!) The transformation came in how Michael mixed and applied the Golden acrylics. (This alone was worth the price of the workshop.)
While I was thrilled with my project and all that I had learned, I know that my box was a puzzle to some of my friends (and that's to put it mildly!) I think the important thing was that everyone who participated was able to work within the comfort of his or her own style. Believe it or not, there were some whose work had a clean, elegant look, there were a couple that had a folk art touch, and then there was mine. Whatever the style, I think that each of us left with a satisfying experience and affirmation from a great teacher.


Above: the outside and inside of my project
Below: a closer look at the inside of the box


By the way, I noticed that Michael will be at Random Arts again this spring. Check out his "Found Object Book Assemblage" and "Morpheus Box" here. You would not be disappointed in any class you took from him.

A Happy Detour to Random Arts

What comes to mind when you consider a vacation to Asheville, NC? Biltmore Estates? The Montford or Grove Park Historic District? The art deco structures in downtown? These are a few of the many reasons Asheville is a fabulous tourist destination, but when my husband mentioned a trip, my first thought was Random Arts. How could I resist the opportunity to return to Saluda! Just 30 miles southeast of Asheville and a straight shot down Interstate 26, I knew this was a must add destination to our trip.

Last year, I had the pleasure of attending two Michael deMeng workshops at Random Arts. (More on that in the next post.) Saluda is a quaint town that is worth a visit on its own merits. This trip, the cherry trees were in full bloom, and the main street stores, as always, invited strolling consideration.

My first glance inside Random Arts was, as in my prior experience, a sensory overload. First, I walked through to get an overview of what was in stock. Then, it was a leisurely review for initial shopping choices followed by systematic investigation of every nook and cranny. Every place I looked, there were new treasures as well as samples that had me drooling. This was the best shopping fix since I was in Saluda last spring!

The shopping is great, but the thing that really makes Random Arts special is the owner, Jane Powell. Featured in the September/October 2007 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors, Jane and her staff make any visit to Random Arts a heartwarming experience. They exude enthusiasm for their craft and treat each customer as a special guest.

I knew that Jane should be busy packing for the shop's upcoming road trip, but she made me feel like there was nothing that she would rather do than to chat (and pose for the picture below.) The shop has a great selection of stamps, beautiful handmade papers, and unique items that can be used for embellishment or the foundation for a project, but it is the people who make this a place I consider a must visit.

If you, like me, find that travel takes you nearby, you'll want to detour to Random Arts in Saluda. You won't regret it!