My Fall class at the AAC

My fall Tuesday night class at the Arlington Arts Center will start on October 25 (enrollment will probably open in early September), and here's what the theme of the class will be: ART BOOKS Book artists have a history of altering books, in addition to creating new book art. In this class, we will take inspiration from existing books and use them as canvases to create entirely new works of art. Although we will spend some time making books, the emphasis of the class will be on filling these books with our own mixed media art. Participants will be encouraged to see these works as opportunities for personal exploration and expression, trying new techniques (or using favorites).

Windows and Doors

There's visible progress now, with the windows and doors in (and a roof back on)!

Summer teen art camp

I am in the middle of a week-long summer art camp for young teens (11- to 14-year-olds) at the Arlington Arts Center. My class is big. Huge! 15 kids, which makes it hard for me to get around to everyone as often as I'd like, and yet they are doing some wonderful things. They've made handmade stamps from foam and printed mottos, sayings, or just words. They've made a square stamp and tried making a repeat motif. These were used to make covers for hardbound books. And then they've made grid collages ... still to come is rubber stamp carving and scratch foam relief printing.

The old brick of the carriage house is so lovely that I hate to cover it up.

It's always darkest before the dawn

Somehow I hadn't quite envisioned how the renovation would go. I imagined tidy re-pointing of brick, followed rapidly by new framing. Instead, I've been witnessing thorough stabilization of the structure before consolidation of the brickwork, and dismantling of some old surface walls, made of cement brick. It's a process and, I am hoping, it's always darkest before the dawn.

Eagerly awaiting

I am eager awaiting the renovation of our carriage house. I've done research and found it on a map from 1880, but neighbors suggest that it could be from the late 18th century. This could explain the deteriorated condition of the mortar in the brickwork, and the need for a total renovation. Home renovations can be a trial to live through, but this one isn't. I watch the slow progress from our kitchen windows, and can already envision new doors and windows going in next month. The end result will be a downstairs space (TV room, etc.) and upstairs (a dream come true) studio space with room for small classes. When teaching my (sigh, large) art classes in Arlington and in D.C., I sometimes dream of what it will be like to sit with a few students and give them plenty of time and attention.