"Midtown" White Chalk Pencil by The Pencil Factory in Nashville, TN

Last month I was teaching in Fort Collins, Colorado at AlwaysBCreating. On the way there, I stopped at Two Hands Paperie in Boulder. I haven't been doing that much shopping because of everything going on this year. 

I was very happy to find a new toy, "Chalkboard" or "Midtown" White Chalk Pencils made by The Pencil Factory in Nashville, TN. Please note that the link above they are SOLD OUT but, if you look to the links below or do a google search, there are others that are selling them. 

As you can see below (on dried, black acrylic paint as well as the journaling, "she hides her secrets), the white is a vibrant white on dark acrylic paint. I've rubbed it with my finger and it doesn't go anywhere. I have not erased it but I will try that soon (it will lift the paint to some degree so I will do it on a test page. Apologies.) You can paint over it if you don't like it. For $14 for eight pencils, it was a good deal and I LOVE the vibrancy of the white.

I've read different reviews that said it doesn't work on actual chalkboards, so there's your warning.

More on the white pencils here:

Well Appointed Desk

Amazon

Hester & Cook Design (I have nothing to do with them. I only found them via a Google search. I have never ordered from them before.)

CW Pencil Enterprise (Same as I wrote above. An entire set or individual pencils can be found here.) 

Have you tried these pencils before? What did you think?

A Look Back at My Finding Your Voice Journal

I've been sharing my Finding Your Voice Journal with you since April 19th. Above is the last visual page (I did save a few pages to write on as February 6th is the day that David ended up in the hospital and things quickly changed.) 

You can see more of the pages by clicking here and more here.

Some of my favorite shots:

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for sharing my journey.

November 4-6th Workshops at The Occasional Artist in Glendale, AZ

 

I am very happy to announce that I will be returning to The Occasional Artist in Glendale, Arizona November 4th through the 6th to teach several NEW workshops!

Interested in signing up? Please contact The Occasional Artist at 623-847-2215.  

623-847-2215

623-847-2215

Questions? Please email Kelly for more info! EGorey99@sbcglobal.net

The samples should be in the store the week of 9/27/2016!

I will be offering fresh, new workshops teaching a variety of NEW bookbinding, collage, creative processing, self expression, composition, design, layering 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. There is a small supply list below each class description.

 

 

Friday, November 4th

Serenity Bundles

In this extensive, (paint covered) hands-on workshop, you will create luscious, rich, and colorful painted pages. You will learn how to layer, scrub, and create soulful and unique to you pages that can be used for a variety of art projects. You will learn color, design, composition, collage and much, much more in this class. You will transform your painted papers into expressive, hand bound books. 

Be prepared to get messy so bring your apron, a desire to learn and explore and your sense of humor. I guarantee that a good time will be had by all as we explore paint and paper!

 
This class is actually MULTIPLE classes in one! You will be learning techniques that apply to a variety of art forms (think art journaling, collage, etc...) as you create layered, unique pages. You will have the opportunity to make one book or several! 

 

This class will generate a lot of ideas and you will walk out with several painted pages, at least one (or more) fully painted books and tons of ideas!   

Supply list: a full pack of regular BABY WIPES, 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 to 2" brush to glue and paint (I like chip or bristle 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.)

Saturday, November 5th and/or Sunday Nov 6th

Session 1 and Session 2 November 5th

Session Three November 6th

Authenticity: Finding Your Voice Through Art Journaling - THE SESSIONS

These sessions are a SERIES of separate, but related workshops that teach a variety of NEW ideas in collage, creative processing, self expression, composition, design, layering, painting and much, much more.

**You can take just one session, two sessions, all of the sessions. It's up to you. Each session stands on its own and nothing is repeated. Please note that in the Saturday AM class, we will create a journal from scratch first. If you take all of the classes, you will make the journal and have the option of continuing to work in it for the rest of the weekend and there is a chance that you will walk out with a completed journal. Even if you don't want out with a finished journal, you will have tons of ideas and inspiration to keep you going until you do finish it.**

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) acrylic paints and mediums, collage material, rubber stamps, stencils, pens, markers, tape and more.

Please note there is a small supply list below the class descriptions.

Beginners to advanced are welcome in ALL of my classes.

Authenticity: Finding Your Voice Through Art Journaling THE SESSIONS 

Art journaling is about discovery and self expression. Your journal is your safe place to explore, express and experiment. It's your place to get lost as you repeatedly find yourself between the layers of paper, paint and pen. 

In these unique series (or SESSIONS) of workshops, you will learn new ways to approach your pages using paper, paint and pen. Learn how to push yourself out of your creative comfort zone. You will create cohesive pages that are completely unique to you.

As noted above: You can take just one session, two sessions, all three sessions. It's up to you. Each session stands on its own and nothing is repeated.

Here are just some of the things that this class will cover:

-Making a Journal from scratch (Saturday AM class only if you are not taking this session, please bring a journal to class)

-Techniques to layer paint and paper.

-Ways of putting colors together (there is no such thing as mud!)

-Ideas for adding line, shape and text.

-Journaling to express and experiment. 

-Lettering tips and tricks.

-Self Expression

-Creative Courage

-How to push past creative block.

-Where to find and glean ideas that you can translate to journal pages.

-How to find images and papers to suit your tastes.

and much, much more.

Please bring your journal to class (email me if you have any questions) as well as the small supply list below. 

I am known for not traveling light. That means I will be bringing my favorite art supplies to share with you: acrylics, gel medium, stencils, pens, markers, rubber stamps, ink pads and some collage material.

Supply list: a journal or paper to work on (if you take the Saturday AM session, you are going to be making a journal so you will not need to bring one unless you want to), a full pack of regular baby wipes, an apron, scissors, a selection of favorite collage ephemera (please think about reading this when choosing your images), bone folder, cork back metal ruler, roll of paper towels OR an old rag, permanent black ink pad (if you have one),  1" brush to glue and paint (I like chip or bristle brushes), a couple of your favorite smaller detail brushes, container to hold your paint water, 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!

31 January 2016 Journal Pages

Two of my favorite pages from the last year. They speak volumes to me. These were some of the last journal pages that I did before David got sick and ended up in the hospital a week later. My voice grew quiet during that time period when I couldn't do as much as I wanted to (both art and work wise.) I am hoping that it is starting to get louder again.

25 January 2016 Journal Pages

I posted a little video of my Serenity Bundles (from yesterday) that you can see here. Big thanks to Tristan for filming it.

I'm rearranging my bookshelves and finding new treasures buried deep on the shelves. I have been rereading my copy of Maria Lassnig's The Pen is the Sister of the Brush: Diaries from 1943-1997. 

It's a book of Lassnig's artwork and diary segments. For me, it's a book that is best sampled and not devoured in one sitting:

"You have to have seen or felt the world, i.e. you have to know something specific in order to comprehend it and make it. And not just stand around casually or in the fog."

"I stand, as it were, nude in front of the canvas, without intention, without plans, without a model, without photography, and let things take shape. But I have a starting point which arose from the realization that the only truly real things are my own sensations, which transpire within the house of my body; they're physiological, the sensation of pressure when sitting and reclining, of tension and spatial extension-such things are rather difficult to depict."

Little glimpses into the mind of an artist are always like finding buried treasure to me.

My Sunday

Surrounded by some of my favorite markers and pens, listening to The Jealous Curator and working in my Serenity Bundles. I need to mail out my samples to The Occasional Artist in Arizona on Monday and since my other bundles are in other shops (Guadalupe's Fun Rubber Stamps in Santa Fe, I am talking to you!), I am really enjoying the work on these. 

Trekking to New Mexico: Art Classes, O'Keeffe and Santa Fe

I'm heading to teach in Santa Fe at Guadalupe's Fun Rubber Stamps in early October. This is the first time that I've ever taught an entire weekend there. Usually I am on my way to somewhere and have squeezed in a weekday class. I am SO excited to be there for an entire weekend!

My Mom is coming with me and we are already planning our adventures. We will be going to Georgia O'Keeffe's home in Abiquiu on Thursday. 

I've been reading the above books, Georgia O'Keeffe and New Mexico A Sense of Place, Georgia O'Keeffe in New Mexico, Georgia O'Keeffe and Her Houses and Becoming O'Keeffe: The Early Years trying to get a sense of the area and the artist. I'm going back and forth between Becoming O'Keeffe and Roxana Robinson's Georgia O'Keeffe: A Life (said to be the best bio on O'Keeffe.)

If you've been and have any tips on the area as well as Santa Fe, I'd greatly appreciate it. I will be teaching all day Friday and Saturday and most of the day on Sunday but I will have time to explore on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday. I am really looking forward to my time there.

2016 Workshops

Here is my list of classes for 2016.

I'm ALWAYS looking for new teaching venues so if you know of any that may be interested, I'd love to hear. I have taught a wide range of ages from individuals to small groups to large gatherings. I have held classes at stores, museums, backyards, garages, studios, public and private schools as well as private homes. I also am available for teaching home schooling art classes.

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 the small supply list for each class.

If you're not near where I'll be teaching, but you're interested in taking a class, I do offer a variety of online classes (27 different online workshops as of March 2015.) You can find out more info on the right side of my main blog.

Thank YOU for your interest! 

October
7th Guadalupe's Fun Rubber Stamps Santa Fe, NM Two NEW classes (samples are in the store and online)
14-16th Maria Moesch's Studio Niles section of Fremont, CA Four NEW workshops
22nd Pnina Gold's Studio San Diego Tell Your Story: Visual Journal Pages as Narrative 
23rd Designing Letters Mar Vista Poetic Expressions of the Self

November 
4-6th Occasional Artist Glendale, AZ Four New Workshops!
19th Pnina Gold's Studio San Diego Inner Voice: A Conversation in Art Journaling
20th Designing Letters Mar Vista Brushstrokes: Playful, Paint Applications On Journal Pages
27th Art Lounge on 101 Encinitas TBA

December
4th Scrapbooking Forever Westlake Village TBA
10th Pnina Gold's Studio San Diego Brushstrokes: Playful, Paint Applications On Journal Pages
11th Designing Letters Mar Vista Remnants of Me
18th Art Lounge on 101 Encinitas TBA  

2017
April 3-9th Art and Soul Portland, OR teaching three NEW classes

MORE TBA in 2016!
  

I hope to see you there.