Art and Life

I make art about my life. That life includes what I experience going on in the world around me. I get things in my head and to be able to process (or even attempt to process) the events, I turn to my journal.

Above is a very small sampling of what some might deem to be my "political" journal pages over the years. 

In the early years, I didn't always date my pages so I have had to guess the order in which they were created. They begin in the early 2000's to the past week (the last three pages you see at the bottom.)

Art making to me is about connection. Connecting with myself as well as the world around me.

“That chain of relationships made me think of how connections are made--you read a book, you meet a person, you have a single experience, and your life is changed in some way. No act, therefore, however small, should be dismissed or ignored.” - Howard Zinn, You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train: A Personal History of Our Times

These pages speak my truth then and now. They put into the world often times the things that I have trouble expressing in conversation.

My art has helped me to think and process what's going on around me as well as inside of me.

Call them what you want, they're mine.These pages are an integral part of my every being. They make me who I am. They help me to think and help me decide how to act. They help me to connect to myself and to the world around me. They're a part of my way of problem solving. They lead me to the next step. Not always pretty or perfect but always honest...

Catching Up...

It's been crazy busy the last few months. I'm home now until Art Unraveled in August. What have I been doing?

I taught at Maria's home studio in Fremont and had a grand time. Can't wait to go back in October!

I was home for about five minutes before we headed out to The Academy to see one of my favorite films of all time, Stanley Kubrick's 2001 in 70mm. Christopher Nolan introduced it and Douglas Trumbull appeared sitting behind us for the second half of the film. 

https://youtu.be/PRtE9F3wpqI

My sister arrived on Wednesday and we got into a ton of trouble. Her birthday was that day and she flew from Boston to see and meet Mike Shinoda at Amoeba Records in Hollyweird. This involved sleeping on the sidewalk (I sat in a chair and worked in my journal, read or talked to people while

waiting), standing in line for more than 24 hours and meeting a ton of new friends. She had the time of her life and will probably be talking about it for the rest of her life! (There are a bunch of live videos over on my facebook page.)

Our first stop was for slices of birthday cake at Hansen's Cakes on Fairfax. Hands down, the best cake shop in Los Angeles.

Then we stopped at our favorite breakfast nook, Lulu's Cafe. If you go, tell our favorite server, Luca that we said hi! We went twice this trip. Their omelettes are my favorite.

  

Over the weekend, we visited Mr Rogers' Neighborhood by seeing Won't You Be My Neighbor? (I enjoyed it but not at insane Arclight prices!) We went from Mr Rogers to Jim Henson Imagination Unlimited at the Skirball Center. My favorite parts were seeing the actual puppets and the sketches. I'll be honest in saying that I'm greedy and wish that there were more concept sketches but I'll take what I can get...

It was a quick trip as Erin left Saturday morning. Before I dropped her off at LAX, we drove the streets of Los Angeles in search of cake and found rainbows!

Later that night, David and I went to The Egyptian to spend some time with the Damfinos and see Buster Keaton's The Cameraman in 35mm with live musical accompaniment on the big screen. The last time we saw it on the big screen was at LACMA in 1995. We love seeing Keaton on the big screen as much as possible.

We got up early Sunday morning for a tour with author and film historian John Bengston of the Buster Keaton Studios. The Damfinos had this plaque installed the day before and the City of Los Angeles proclaimed June 16, 2018 to be Buster Keaton Day in L.A. John's written several books and has an amazing website about silent film history locations in Los Angeles. 

So, what's next? I'm looking at piles of laundry, unanswered emails and more on the ever growing To Do List. Tackling things day by day and looking forward to...

Teaching Lust for Life: Art and Transformation this Saturday in Mar Vista (Los Angeles.) More information can be found here.

Also am deeply engrossed in making plans for one year from now!!!! My first time in France!

Hope that June is treating you well so far...

Home...

I'm home from my weekend teaching in Northern California. It was a really good weekend where I got to spent time with a great group of artists. After a couple of months of non-stop traveling, I'll be home for a few weeks.  Thank you again to Maria for being a wonderful hostess and thank you to everyone who came to the workshops, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be doing what I love. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

My next local workshop is a week from Saturday (June 23rd) in Los Angeles. You can find more information here.

My little sister (okay, my only sister) is flying to Los Angeles tomorrow for a couple of days. We're going to do all sorts of crazy things while she's in town. If anyone needs us, we'll be camping on the streets of Hollywood tomorrow night for her birthday. She's super excited. I haven't camped out for a band in a very long time so this should be interesting! I'll be working in my journal as we wait.

Six Years...

My heart still hurts when I think of this day...

Good Morning from Fremont, California

Woke up to this... 

Just Announced: Saturday, June 23rd Los Angeles Lust for Life: Art and Transformation

Saturday, June 23rd: Lust for Life: Art and Transformation

I am very happy to announce that I will be returning to teach on a monthly basis at DeAnn Singh's Studio, Designing Letters in Mar Vista (Los Angeles) classes are open to the public for this workshop. Details will be sent upon registration.

Workshops are from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. 

My workshops aim to teach a variety of NEW ideas involving collage, creative processing, self expression, composition, design, layering, painting and much, much more.

My workshops are always process-based learning while creating a unique product. I am well known for not traveling light and bring a large variety of supplies including (but not limited to) collage material, rubber stamps, stencils, pens, markers, tape and more. Please note there is a small supply list.

Beginners to advanced are welcome in ALL of the classes.

Interested in signing up? Questions? Please email Kelly for more info! EGorey99@sbcglobal.net

You may send someone else in your place if you are unable to attend the workshop, or you will receive a kit for the class. You can either pay via paypal (see button below) or send a check or money order. Once you've signed up for the workshop, you will be sent the address and directions to the workshop location. If you have ANY questions you can email me. I will also give you my cell phone number so you contact me.

The class fee includes a vast array of mediums and materials to complete the necessary project. It is well known that I do not travel light to any of my classes. I will be bringing such things are: 

• all materials necessary to complete the project (handmade paper, decorative paper, board, glue, etc...)
• bookbinding supplies (thread, awl, needles)
• rubber stamps 
• ink pads 
• decorative tape
• stencils
• pens and markers
• gel medium
• collage ephemera and much, much more.

I do not travel light to my classes at all!

Please note that this class is for ALL levels: Beginner to advanced are welcome. There is something for everyone in this unique workshop.

 

Lust for Life: Art and Transformation

This workshop is about transformation. How do we push ourselves out of our comfort zone to become better artists? How do we learn to see, glean ideas and create pages that are uniquely our own?

You will learn new layering, composition, design, how to push past creative block, lettering, color theory and more. I will reach deep into my current art toolbox of tips, tricks and techniques. There's no holding back in this workshop.

Supply list: your journal, an apron, scissors, a small selection of favorite collage ephemera (think about reading this when choosing your images and papers), cork back metal ruler, a full roll of paper towels OR old rags, permanent black ink pad (only if you have one), a container for your paint water,  1 to 2" brush to glue and paint (I like chip or bristle brushes) as well as a few, smaller, detailed brushes,  a few of your favorite glue sticks (please trust me when I say that large glue sticks will last you longer. I always have two or three 40 gram glue sticks in my journal bag and that's more than enough for a long weekend. You WILL go through the smaller glue sticks in MINUTES), roll of waxed paper OR an old catalog or magazine to glue on (if you don't want to use all of your waxed paper for this.)

 

I hope to see you there!