Michael Rooker at Shorty's Barber Shop in West Hollywoo

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (my favorite film, so far, of 2017) is out on blu-ray and dvd today. What better way to celebrate it than by getting the full Yondu look at your friendly neighborhood barber shop, Shorty's in West Hollywood! 

While neither David nor I decided to get the full (or even temporary) Yondu, we arrived nice and early to wait in line with our fellow Guardians fans. We were eager for the opportunity to meet actor Michael Rooker. While we waited, we could take photos, collect swag (an Inferno poster, a DVD/blu ray combo and Groot ear bud covers.) We also entered a contest to win a signed Yondu Poppins umbrella:

(I wanted these damn glasses. Marvel gave them out at the premiere to the press who acted like they didn't want them. Meanwhile, the fans were practically begging for them.)

 

Michael Rooker arrives! He spends some time with the fans who went full on Yondu. Check out their amazing full Yondu's:

 

Michael greets the fans and hands everyone a signed Inferno poster. He walked the entire line multiple times. I loved watching Rooker walk Fairfax Avenue:

After a brief break, Michael came out and signed one item for every fan who was waiting. It was really kind of him and it made all of us feel like we were floating on air like Mary Poppins Yondu!

As he signs our book, David is telling him the story of how we were waiting in the back of the convention center at San Diego Comic Con in July of this year (for Peter Capaldi) and we saw him from across the street. David recognized him immediately, "That's Rooker." I waited for him to cross the street. When he got close enough, I asked him to sign our autograph book. He smiled and said, "I'm not doing that today, baby, but if you want you can take a photo with me." Since then, I've jokingly referred to him as, "Baby." David told him this story here and we were all laughing about it. I love this photo!

(Thanks to my line buddy, Brianna, for taking the above two photos of him signing the book.)

Rooker, "Come here, baby, let's take a selfie."

It's not every day that you get to meet one of your favorite actors, especially one that takes the time to make each and every one feel appreciated and special. If anyone asks me, "Is he cool?" "Yes. He's cool."

(The Inferno video is my favorite thing ever and it will NEVER get old.)

We are Groot.

End of August

I'm home from a great weekend of teaching, hanging out with friends and visiting two wonderful museums. I'll share the museum experiences in a separate post this week. I drove home tired but inspired!

For those of you in Southern California, my last two workshops for August are this week:

23rd Beverlywood (Los Angeles) Odyssey Journal DAY class (please note that we changed the time) 

26th San Diego The Odyssey Journal

I'll have more updates for classes in Northern and Southern California as well as Arizona and New Mexico within the next few days... 

22 August 2016 Journal Pages

Waving good night from Los Gatos. I had a great time teaching at The Island's Creative Escape the last few days. What a great group of artists in a fabulous space. 

Before class began on Friday, I was able to visit The New Museum in Los Gatos to see  Abstracts From Life: Bay Area Figurative Past and Present. If you are in Northern California, it's well worth the trip! I'll be posting more along with some photos next week.

I'm off to catch some much needed Zzz's. I have a date with Edvard in the morning. 

21 August 2016 Journal Page

Next stop, Northern California...

The Stories We Tell August 2016 Journal

I started the above journal in late August 2016. I'll be sharing the pages over the next few weeks here on the blog. 

I'm trekking to The Island's Creative Escape in Los Gatos to teach this week. It's my first time there. I'm really looking forward to it. 

While I'm in Northern California, I'm hoping to visit The New Museum in Los Gatos to see  Abstracts From Life: Bay Area Figurative Past and Present

specifically for the Richard Diebenkorn painting (paintings?) on exhibit. I'm also making plans to see Edvard Munch's "Between the Clock and the Bed" at SFMoma on Sunday morning. I've been eager to see it since I heard about it last year.

David Park: A Painter's Life

I started reading the above book, David Park: A Painter's Life a couple of weeks ago and have had a hard time putting it down. At the same time, I don't want to rush through it because it is one of best artist's biographies that I have ever read. It definitely has earned a place on my already bursting book shelf. 

In David Park: A Painter's Life, you get a strong feeling of how Park was not only as an artist but also as a human being. He was well loved and appreciated by pretty much everyone who knew him (I'm on the chapter about his working "relationship" with Clyfford Still.) I'm about half way through the book and I can't stop thinking about both the book as well as Park's work. A Painter's Life is a book that I'd recommend to fans of Park's work (though they'd probably already have it) but also to those who know absolutely nothing about him (like I did until I picked the book up.) 

Next up, I'll be diving into Park's daughter's book, David Park, Painter: Nothing Held Back which is also supposed to be very good. 

My Summer of Matisse somehow morphed into My Summer of the Bay Area Figurative Artists. Funny how one segues into the other. Maybe it was because of this but it probably stemmed from seeing Matisse/Diebenkorn at SFMoma twice this year.

above art by David Park

John Seed's Review of both books

David Park SF Moma

David Park on Wikipedia

Bay Area Figurative Movement

My Saturday

Spending time pushing and pulling with a journal page. Pushing myself and wondering how far I can take it. Using different colors and my own marks made with marker, paint and tools. Digging deep within. Walking away and coming up for air when I need to.

Just Announced: Workshops at Art & Soul Portland, OR February 11th-18th

I am very excited to announce that I will be returning to teach at Art and Soul in Portland, Oregon February 11th-18th, 2018. I will be teaching four NEW workshops:

• P267 Tell Your Story - Monday Eve

  P268 Book of Intentions - Tuesday - Feb 13 

  P269 Transformation:Peeling Back the Layers - Wednesday - Feb 14  

  P702 Untold Stories - Thursday - Feb 15

These fresh, new workshops 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 something completely unique to you.

Please note there is a small supply list.

Beginners to advanced are welcome in ALL of the classes.

Interested in signing up? Please visit Art and Soul Retreat for more information. Questions? Email Kelly for more info! EGorey99@sbcglobal.net

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!

P267 Tell Your Story - Monday Eve

Tell Your Story: Visual Journal Pages as Narrative

Where do we start when we put pen to paper? How do we translate what is in our heads to our visual art journal pages? How do we combine the visual with the written word?

 

Learn to combine paper, paint and pen to create visually expressive and unique journal pages. In this class, you will learn a plethora of layering techniques using not only your pens and markers but also paint, paper and more. Think that you know there is to putting your heart onto paper? Think again. I first developed this class to challenge myself and now I'm challenging you. Bring your journal and the supplies listed below (I will have plenty of art supplies to share as I don't travel light) and be prepared to spill out onto the page.

 

Supply list: a journal, an apron, scissors, a small selection of favorite collage ephemera (think about reading this when choosing your images and papers), bone folder, cork back metal ruler, a full roll of paper towels OR old rags, permanent black ink pad (if you have one), a container for your paint water,   1" 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 (large glue sticks will last you longer), 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.) 

P268 Book of Intentions - Tuesday - Feb 13

 

The Book of Intentions

 

With every page that I make, I try to set the tone to be one of possibility, creativity and connection. With each journal I make, I try to do something different and fresh. This class combines recycling with creativity as we begin the class by transforming found materials (paper, envelopes and more) into luscious journals.

You will then create entirely unique to you pages that set your intentions for the coming days. Think of it as a vision board meets planner all combined and rolled up into a very expressive (and impressive) art journal. Learn to combine the visual with the written to create soulful and inspirational pages.

Lao Tzu once said,"To see things in the seed, that is genius." What ideas will spark your interest in this all day, (painted) hands on workshop? Be prepared to have fun, get messy and leave inspired! 

Supply list: an apron, scissors, a small selection of favorite collage ephemera (think about reading this when choosing your images and papers), bone folder, cork back metal ruler, a full roll of paper towels OR old rags, permanent black ink pad (if you have one), a container for your paint water,   1" 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 (large glue sticks will last you longer), 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.)

P269 Transformation:Peeling Back the Layers - Wednesday - Feb 14  

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  (the above two pages are works in progress photos)

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

     
  

  Transformation: Peeling Back the Layers  

  
  

  What will be uncovered and revealed in this all day workshop?

  You will begin by transforming an old hardcover book (provided) into a uniquely layered journal full of texture and color. Jump right in with layers of paper, paint and more. You will start by creating pages that are rich and full of depth. You will then step back and peel away the layers transforming your previous pages into something entirely new and fresh. Learn to rework, revise and transform your pages with layers of color, texture, text and pattern.

  
  Create something that is truly one of a kind using your favorite every day supplies.
  Be prepared to get messy and to walk away with a new journal, several finished pages and a desire to keep working.

  
  

  Supply list: an apron, scissors, a small selection of favorite collage ephemera (think about reading this when choosing your images and papers), bone folder, cork back metal ruler, a full roll of paper towels OR old rags, permanent black ink pad (if you have one), a container for your paint water,   1" 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 (large glue sticks will last you longer), 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.)

  P702 Untold Stories - Thursday - Feb 15

  

   
  

  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Untold Stories 
  
  This journal is the ultimate in play. I'm always looking for new ways to revitalize favorite techniques. Think lush layers of paint, paper, tape, stencils, pen work and more all bound into little bundles of creativity.
  
  We'll start the class by creating rich layers of painted pages. We've only just begun as we step back, revisit our pages and start to think about how we can assemble them into books. Before the tearing and the binding begin, we'll go through and collage our pages (yes, I will show you how to collage them so that when you fold and assemble them you will have pages ready for you to work on.)
  
  After we've finished assembling the journals, you'll step back again and learn techniques for on the go or simple art journaling with minimal supplies.
  
  I've created many variations of this journal over the years and I think that this is my most favorite one yet. I'll be using what I've learned in the process over the next few weeks as I'll be on the go traveling to teach. I'll be sharing the pages on Instagram.
  
  
  

  Supply list: an apron, scissors, a small selection of favorite collage ephemera (think about reading this when choosing your images and papers), bone folder, 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 (large glue sticks will last you longer), 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!