Yesterday I put some finishing touches to "Runneth Over" and brought it to the
Wallkill River School for display. This is the second assemblage I've put into WRS's gallery. Shawn (the director) told me kids are quite fascinated with them. Assemblages are such a unique art form that many people just can't relate or don't 'get them'. My friend Canace, an assemblage artist extra-ordinaire, has a posting on her blog for an assemblage give away. Please click on her name and see her work (and put your hat in the ring for the prize!).
I am most curious so I'd like to ask....do you - can you - relate to assemblage art? Why or why not?

Abstract Painting Class

Yesterday I gave an abstract painting class at the Wallkill River School. The participants were great and, even though I was exhausted at the end of the day, I had a wonderful time. Sue and Linda made some great mixed media pieces. Meanwhile, Jennifer and Jessica, the two teenagers? They just flew into combining different elements and techniques with a freedom that was awesome to watch. Next time I must remember to bring my camera so I can post photos of the class and the art that is created by the participants! All I can show & tell is the piece above that I made during the class.

I haven't painted in - like - forever! Last night I went to WRS and joined in on the Thurs evening pastel studio class. It felt really good to be with a bunch of other people doing what we like to do. Have I ever told you how much I love, just love, the texture you can get with pastels? Soooo luscious.

Yesterday at the Wallkill River School I gave a class on abstract painting that turned into being more of a Mixed Media abstract art class. We had a ton of fun and the 6 hrs (whew!) flew by. The participants were amazing. They were adventurous and dug right into creating texture and images with found objects, rubbing alcohol, plastic, molding paste, etc. I brought my camera but - of course - forgot to take photos. The piece above is what I created. We're going to do the class again in November and they want to mess around with the 'fabric paper' that I make. I heard a few "oooohs" when I described this mixed media 'paper' that is made from sheer fabric and can be either machine or hand stitched. I'll try to remember to take photos during that session!

Not Just For Jello

Last night while watching Precious (yes, I like intense movies and stories) I stiched this. The base is gelatin printed fabric - if you click on the photo it will get HUGE and you can see more detailing. At the end of this month the Wallkill River School will have its annual Starving Artists Sale (side note: starving - I'm not) and I've been asked to participate. I'm going to offer small textile pieces attached to painted canvases at good (great) prices since these seem to popular whenever they've been presented at the school. Also, today I plan to mess around with gelatin printing on paper and see what ends up happening....and then if I add a few pastels and oil paintings to the sale, I just might end of offering a real mixed bag of art. Can you say multi media?

Communities

Chapter 1
Awhile back when I was still selling on Ebay I was contacted by Michelle who wanted to know if I was interested in displaying and selling my work at her Handmade Gallery. This shop was connected to the Wallkill River School in a local town. Michelle is a young woman whose blog title makes me laugh, knowing her as I do. She is a talented, sensitive soul with a heart of gold and the energy of a child. Anyway, after becoming involved with the Handmade Gallery I met Janet. Janet is a mixed media and jewelry artist. I remember this gorgeous beaded necklace she created that took her months to finish and was so filled with sparkle and wonder that just about everyone who came in the shop ooh'd and ah'd over it.

Chapter 2
Ebay decided to change up a lot of their fees and policies, making it a hostile selling world for small-time, individual artists. Because of this an Ebay seller decided to setup her own artist internet auction site (unfortunately this site was not successful). I became somewhat involved with this auction site and 'met' a lady by the name of Billie there. Billie is a wonderful person who does incredible assemblages, collages and other mixed media work. Billie and I realized we were both from the Hudson Valley, in fact we were - basically - neighbors.

Chapter 3
I encouraged Billie to contact Michelle at the Handmade Gallery since I felt it was necessary that the shop have Billie's work. Now, due to my busy life and lack of time for socializing Billie and I were never actually able to meet but Billie did go to Michelle's shop and while there met Janet (remember Janet from Chapter 1?). Serendipity was at work here....Janet and Billie became fast friends and more than a year later they are creative buddies who have become very close. I like to say I 'match-made' the friendship of these two ladies.

Chapter 4
Fast forward to Dec 2008. The Handmade Gallery has closed its doors but, as a result of the shop's association with the Wallkill River School, I have become involved with the WRS and have started to mess around with pastel painting. Just before the holidays last year the WRS hosted an art & craft fair. As I was unloading my car to setup I saw Janet arrive with another woman. Often my psychic radar works well, and I knew immediately that it was Billie. We had a grand time finally meeting each other, gabbing up a storm and marveling at how connections can lead us down interesting paths.

Chapter 5
Michelle and I still stay connected and see each other as we're able. Janet, Billie and I plan to keep in better touch and hope to spend some creative time together. I have a strong bond with the WRS and - at times - help plan some small events. Aren't communities marvelous?

The cloth above was created by dyeing, discharging, soy waxing, over painting and print painting. Perhaps later today I'll get a chance to drop in some stitiching.

Spring

The museum suggested (if I was so inclined) to create some work for their shop with a subliminal spring time feeling. So...I thought...why not some abstracty eggs?..eggs being a great rebirth image. I painted these this morning and might try some machine stitching this afternoon.

On another note, last weekend the Wallkill River School had a 'starving artists' sale and 5 of my pieces sold (!!!!). As many of you know proceeds from much of my artwork sales goes to help fund the art scholarships my husband and I have created that enables many area youngsters to participate in art programming at this school. To all of you who purchased work I thank you and send out a huge hug.

I've been a busy elf what with dyeing scarves and stitching. Today is the annual Art & Fine Craft sale at the Wallkill River School. Below the photo is an explanation of the reason I've pushed myself beyond my usual limits to get things ready. I know the economy is a mess and that many people don't have money for the necessities of life (like good food) let alone the luxury of art but I do hope today turns out successful.

All Sale Proceeds Will Benefit
The Aumick Art Scholarship Fund

The fund’s goal is to promote creativity, self-esteem and self-awareness in children and teenagers, regardless of their current involvement or education in the arts. We believe that all young people are innately creative and artistic pursuits can serve as solid foundations and help to positively impact their present and future lives.

In the summer of 2008, with much help from the Wallkill River School, our scholarship fund enabled 10 children and teens to participate in workshops at the school – free of charge. Oil painting, drawing, fashion design and Japanese animation were among the workshops that the participants attended.

It is our goal to grant at least 30 youngsters scholarships in the summer of 2009.

Thank you,

Steve and Denise Aumick

Exploration

It seems that water + color can = the piece above. Wednesday night I did my first ever watercolor in art class. It seems once one session of classes is over at the Wallkill River School I immediately sign up for another series of workshops. Pushing your own personal envelopes is a good thing.

Try it you might like it!

My first ever (unfinished) work with pastels. I didn't know you layer pastels on top of one another so the underneath layers peek through and that you can rub them and get wonderful pastel dust all over your work space and clothes! I didn't know I could work with them much the same way I do with paint on fabric - building colors until there is an intensity that draws you to keep looking and looking. I didn't know I would enjoy them as much as I do. I am fortunate enough to have Shawn Dell Joyce as an instructor for a beginning pastel course. She is an amazingly accomplished artist and artistic business woman. Her hands series is incredible. http://www.shawndelljoyce.com/wst_page5.php
I want to stay home today and try to capture that gorgeous purple blue of cobalt bottles with pastels. Thank you, Shawn.

Reach

As some of you know my stepdaughter died in a tragic car accident last Nov 1. To read a bit more about Carla here is an article written by a family friend that appeared in a local newspaper: http://elephantsandothermatters.blogspot.com/2007/11/art-matters-carla-aumick-c.html

My husband and I are moving forward with plans to fund art outreach programs for teenagers in our community in Carla's name. We are working with Shawn Dell Joyce, the visionary director of the Wallkill River School http://www.wallkillriverschool.com/Page_1.html to coordinate and implement the programs. We are developing ideas that will incorporate ways to give back to the community (perhaps sessions where teens make art, hold an auction and donate the proceeds to a cause of their choosing?), provide workshops for teens who otherwise might not be able to attend workshops and programs for children that may benefit from art therapy.

Carla was an extremely generous girl - we know she is smiling. It feels so right and so perfect we know her hand is guiding us.

Postcards 101

Time flies - both when you're having fun and when you're not. Awhile back I agreed to conduct 3 classes in creating art quilt postcards for The Wallkill River School, our local arts center. http://http://www.wallkillriverschool.com/Page_1.html

Apparently this is going to be advertised as a class for teenagers and adults so the mix of attendees might prove interesting. This class begins in 2 short weeks and I have quite a bit of prep to get ready - I would like to appear at least semi-prepared and qualified to lead!

I need a bunch of simple, even-a-beginner-would-be-motivated-to-try-it, sample of 4x6 art quilts. I think I'm going to do a few showing a range of different type of techniques that - hopefully - will prove inspirational to people in the class. The strip pieced piece above is my first sample and was quite simple to do although I suspect the free motion quilting might prove challenging to a new art quilter. But inspiration is about stretching too, isn't it?....encouraging us to reach for something outside our comfort zone....right?

The Wallkill River School art gallery wants to become a non-profit agency but this is an expensive endeavor in regards to setting up and filing all the necessary legal documents. Yesterday Shawn Dell Joyce http://www.shawndelljoyce.com/ who runs the school and Michelle Filer (who is the bestest shop gallery mgr ever and quite a talented artist herself) contacted me to talk about an auction fundraiser they are having for the school next week. I offered to donate 2 art pieces - one for a silent auction and one for a live auction.

The piece above might - or might not (we have to see how these things go) - grow into the silent auction piece...I see lots of beading and sequins on this one....

The work in progress below might be submitted for the live auction. Many more blocks need to be completed - in a week - and then quilted - in a week - but I'm going to try. This wallhanging will end up being about 21x31"....pretty large for me! It is comprised of all my own hand dyed and discharged fabrics.

Brue Chapin

I love edgy, outsider type art. I lusted after this piece the minute I saw it at the Wallkill River School Gallery a couple of weeks ago. http://www.wallkillriverschool.com/ It's title is 'The Philosopher' and was created by Bruce Chapin http://brucechapin.com/ Oh, it spoke to me alright - me, who lives inside my head a bit too much. I kept thinking about it and my desire to own it grew. Well, I dragged the husband to see the piece (because I need a comrade in art buying arms, so to speak) and he encouraged me to purchase it. So I did and it holds a prominent position on our fireplace. Don't you just love him?

Intertwined Hearts

There is a smallish art & workshop gallery near me http://wallkillriverschool.com/Page_1.html that carries my work in the handmade gallery portion of their storefront. They have asked me if I'm interested in conducting a workshop. Of course I am but on what? Since I want to try to keep the word quilt out of it (you know, so people don't think this is a course in how to do Log Cabin blocks) I wonder if I should develop something that combines collage elements. Maybe how to use water soluable stabilizer to make 'fabric' and then how to embellish it? Such as the piece above.....

This piece is offered in my Etsy store.