Today young artists in class created various mandalas with paper, gel sticks, stickers, and pens. We met up in the wonderful Art School at the Flint Institute of Arts. A mandala is a radial design–we began with a dot, circle, or another simple geometric shape, and grew out of the center. What a creative bunch of imaginative artists! https://flintarts.org/learn/news
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Inspiring Zoom Art Class
Saturday was my 5th session in SMALL BOOKS, MINI-JOURNALS, AND ZINES, an online workshop with Eric Scott. We only have 1 more class on the 26th. I had a fabulous time trying out books made with file cards and dividers (3X5″). I also tried making a small book with organic shaped windows and one with lots of flaps. I do not know how I will fill my new books—-words or images or both? It is exciting to experiment and play!
Pages of file card dividers 
Front cover, watercolor paint and gel sticks 
Stitching ribbons and fabric strips on the cover 
The grid index cards have lots of possibilities! 
Cut windows on the front cover 
Cut out window on the back cover showing shiny plastic window 
Backed the window page with another piece of watercolor painted paper 
Front cover of fold out book 
Fold out on the inside back cover 
Book with many flappy things 
Watercolor on mixed media paper 
More flaps 
More flaps 
Back cover of the flappy book
Flint Institute of Arts Art School
Yesterday young artists created landscapes with collage–the scissors and glue were flying. I taught “Collage a Landscape” in the Art School–artists ages 4-8 made fantastic new landscapes during the day. We ranged from Mars to the beach to the ocean to gardens and everything in between! Some of the artists had reliable assistants too (THANKS MOMs!!). Classes run through August 14th–https://flintarts.org/learn/news
Golden table for the rabbits 
Garden of the unicorn cat 
Beach with shells and trash on the sand 
Back yard with wolf, owl, and bats 
Polar cap with Northern Lights in upper left 
Camping with campfire in lower right 
A lot is going on at this beachscape 
Boats and a dragon in the ocean 
Chipmunk (upper left) at the beach
Zooming Through Class…
This past Saturday was the first session in SMALL BOOKS, MINI-JOURNALS, AND ZINES, an online workshop with Eric Scott (https://ericscottart.com/online-workshops). We are playing with papers and dry/wet media–I love it! I am looking forward to the next 5 sessions. It is refreshing to take a break from “other stuff” in my life.
Bit of stitching on covers 
Index card pages with color pencils for rainbows 
Watercolor & stencils for pages and cover 
Pages are watercolor paper 
Watercolors on cover and pages (mixed media paper) 
I am experimenting with Lady Flaps on the pages 
Lady and cat from a book page 
I think these are 3 sisters (printout)
Miki Rodriguez
An interesting artist! http://www.mikirodriguez.com/portfolio.html
Professional Development Minigrant
I am so happy about my Minigrant for 2021—granted by the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs. In July I will travel to the National Quilt Museum to study quilts. I will also participate in a stitching workshop on making sacred journals. I can hardly wait! https://www.lansingarts.org/post/arts-council-of-greater-lansing-announces-28-789-in-grants
Brooklyn Art Library Sketchbook Project
I am happy to complete my sketchbook for the 2021 Sketchbook Project https://brooklynartlibrary.org/participate. I also participated last year and it is a wonderful process and adventure! You order a blank book from the Brooklyn Art Library and fill it up! The 2021 books are due in early August. My theme for this sketchbook was remembering my Mom with love, including a few images of my female relatives. I used collage, drawing, and rubber stamps on my pages. If you are not familiar with the Sketchbook Project, check it out today!
20th Anniversary of 9/11
In honor of the 20th anniversary (2001-2021) of the 9/11 attacks I am making memorial flags. Using felt or fabric, I am sewing a heart design inspired by artist, animator, and author, R.O. Blechman. I clipped his drawing from The New York Times in September, 2001, pinning it up in my workroom. Finding upon cleaning late last year I teared up. This drawing still captures the horrible loss, grief, and fear of 9/11.
I contacted Mr. Blechman and he gave his permission to use his drawing as inspiration for making banners. I was overjoyed and impressed when he wrote (and telephoned) to convey his support for my project.
I am hoping that others will wish to create flags too. Find below a link to a brief video–contact me with any questions. MANY THANKS to R.O. Blechman!
Fantastic Face Mask
I received an imaginative and creative face mask kit in the mail! Many thanks to super artist extraordinaire Ms. Kendel! It has been making me laugh with delight all week! Now I am prepared for anything in 2021…….
Tremendous!
MLK Holiday Art Contest
Today I went to the MSU Art Lab to view the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Art Contest, sponsored by Delta Dental. The exhibition is inspired by Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech: “Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.” The artworks vary in style and materials and there is a wonderful video playing in the room too. The visual statements provide much thought and reflection. The show ends on April 25th.
My piece is “Vision of Hope” 
Image from the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial in Washington, D.C. 
I was accompanied by a tall blonde…… 
I am proud to be part of this exhibition!
