Kelly Kilmer Artist and Instructor

Monday, September 09, 2019

2019 Workshops

Here is my current list of workshops for 2019. Please check back as I will update this list often.

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.

I don't travel light (see photos here.)

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 (28 different online workshops as of December 2017.) You can find out more info on the right side of my main blog.

Information on my latest online workshop, An Artist's Study can be found here.

Thank YOU for your interest!

*Please note that I can also send gift certificates for workshops via email. Why not give the gift of creativity?

September

12-15th Fort Collins, CO Five NEW Workshops over 4 days!

17th Two NEW workshops Guadalupe's Fun Rubber Stamps Santa Fe, NM

22nd Pnina Gold's Studio in San Diego The Art Spirit: Juicy Living A Creative Smorgasbord Session FOUR

28th DeAnn Singh's Studio in Los Angeles The Art Spirit: Juicy Living A Creative Smorgasbord Session THREE

October

11-13th Maria Moesch's home studio Fremont, CA four NEW workshops!

I hope to see you there!

Monday, September 02, 2019

Just Announced: October 11-13th Maria's Home Studio in Fremont, CA

Payments for the Fremont, CA workshop must be made in advance. Due to the fact that the teacher is traveling from Los Angeles and must prep for the workshops in advance, there are no cancellations allowed. No refunds.

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
    acrylic mediums
    collage ephemera and much, much more.

I do not travel light to my classes at all.

Friday, October 11th

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Fragments of Memory

“If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.” - Émile Zola

How do you gain confidence in your work? How do you keep your work fresh and unique? How do you learn how problem solve in your art making? How do you find and create a visual vocabulary? How do you create pages that are meaningful and important to you?

We'll dive into these deep questions while creating luscious, one of a kind and heartfelt pages rich in color, texture and imagery. No need to bring a journal as we'll begin the workshop by making one one of my favorite hardcover journals bound and created from scratch. Learn to live out loud through unique visual expression on your journal pages.

Supply list: an apron, baby wipes, scissors, a small selection of favorite collage ephemera (think about reading this when choosing your images and papers), metal ruler, bone folder, a full roll of paper towels OR old rags, a container for your paint water, your favorite paint 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.)

followed by:

Friday, October 11th

3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Follow the Magic: Using Text in Your Work

It's no secret that I love using text in my artwork. Putting your own pen to the page changes not only our work but us. I've taught many different workshops over the years on adding text and I'm always looking for new, fresh, fun ideas.

In this all new workshop, learn some of my favorite tips, as well as new tricks and techniques for using your own penmanship in your work.

Please note that this is NOT a calligraphy class.

This is a workshop for people:

who are hesitant to write on their pages (you won't "mess it up" and if you think you do, I'll give you ideas on how to make it look like you did it on purpose)

who are eager to learn how to explore the art of generating handwritten text on their pages

who are eager to play and experiment with new ideas in creating lettering and playing with size, color and layout

who are looking for fun new ideas

who are wondering what to write or are looking for new ideas to journaling

who want to make honest, from the heart, unique pages bursting with layers of paper, paint and pen work

If any of this hits a nerve or sets your heart aflutter, then this is the workshop for you! I had eight years of Catholic school and nuns telling me that my writing was atrocious. I've never taken a calligraphy class in my life. I love to play, experiment and explore in my journal and it shows when you look at my work. I'll share everything that I know with you to make you fall in love with putting your own hand to paper.

Supply list: Your Journal (or favorite paper/substrate), an apron, baby wipes, scissors, a small selection of favorite collage ephemera (think about reading this when choosing your images and papers), metal ruler, bone folder, a full roll of paper towels OR old rags, a container for your paint water, your favorite paint 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.)

Saturday, October 12th

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Pieces of our Lives: Revelatory Postcards

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller

I'm always looking for ideas that combine art and life, that change how I see and experience the world around me, that, in fact, change me.

In this very special workshop, learn how to take every day experiences and make magic from them in the form of paper, color and texture. You don't have to travel far to experience a life changing journey. Adventure awaits you in your studio, at a cafe, or on your lunch break all you need is a glue stick, a few favorite paint markers and the desire to play.

Pieces of our Lives are pocket sized art that inspires you, a way of creating and making that changes you. That's what making these postcards have done to my life. I'm eager to share the journey with you.

(The above pages are from my Dear Vincent Project created while I was in Europe and afterwards at home as I reflected on my travels.)

Supply list: an apron, baby wipes, scissors, a small selection of favorite collage ephemera (think about reading this when choosing your images and papers), metal ruler, bone folder, a full roll of paper towels OR old rags, a container for your paint water, your favorite paint 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.)

Sunday, October 13th

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Little Pieces: Explorations in Creative Play: A Process Workshop in Idea Generating

Corita Kent once said “Consider everything an experiment.” I've taken her words to heart and translated them into an idea generating exploration in creative play!

I've been eager to teach a process based workshop that explores the idea of creative play. This workshop will keep your hands moving, ideas generating and paint flowing.

Begin by making a series of different books (little pieces) constructed of the odds and ends of my favorite kinds of papers. We will then spend the workshop working back and forth between the different books, filling the pages with fresh ideas. Your hands won't stop moving as you explore new ideas in collage, painting, mark making and more. Our goal isn't to finish anything but to gather, generate and experiment.

These little pieces serve as larger inspiration for our journals, paintings and more. They are little treasures that help ignite, spark and feed our creativity.

This is unlike any workshop you've ever taken with me. Prepare to be nourished, inspired and eager to continue the process of making. You'll want your apron. We're gonna get messy.

Supply list: an apron, baby wipes, scissors, a small selection of favorite collage ephemera (think about reading this when choosing your images and papers), metal ruler, bone folder, a full roll of paper towels OR old rags, a container for your paint water, your favorite paint 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!

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Save the Date! October 11-13th Fremont, CA

“I am always doing what I cannot do yet in order to learn how to do it.”-Van Gogh

New Workshops, new stories, new inspiration... coming soon...

Save the Date!

October 11-13th

Maria's Home Studio in Fremont, CA

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Durfort, France Part Sept

Sunday morning we headed from Durfort to Blan in search of treasures!

France is famous for its brocantes and flea markets. Directions aren't given in terms of miles or kilometers. It's more, "You're going to go up, up, up and then down, down, down..." We found our way to Blan by following other cars who looked like they were looking for the market as well.

We separated and made plans to meet back. Quickly walking up and down the aisles looking for what sang to us...

I was head over heels in love with the postcards I found. The seller wasn't the nicest human, and (contrary to some of the stories I was told before our trip), the *only* French person our entire trip that was rude but I wanted these postcards and these postcards, I would have!

If you want postcards, the seller had many. He also had the albums below (which I didn't buy though I was quite tempted... his attitude dissuaded me!)

Our stop in Blan was quick as the brocante in Lautrec was waiting for us!

The brocante in Lautrec was PURE HEAVEN. I wish we had had more time, funds and storage space for most of it! I could have spent all weekend walking around looking at the treasures. Alas, half of our group was still not 100% well so we limited our time there. I would go back just for this market!

We found Angoulême winner Emil Ferris' My Favorite Thing is Monsters in the South of France! Photo op time! We love Emil and her work! She is a very good monster!

The pony tailed gentleman had one of my favorite things from the entire trip! A gorgeous wedding certificate from the 1700's. After I told our group about it, we went back so I could show them the other papers he had.

Lunch in the car and back to Durfort we trekked (going down, down, down the hill...)

Treasures at La Cascade.

Some studio time before supper.

Salad and bread. David was always happy to see a fresh baguette.

The postcards from Blan and Lautrec (the wedding certificate is the largest document.) The seller in Blan thought I was looking at the "pretty girls" on the front. Sorry, buddy, I wanted the gorgeous handwriting on the back! I have plans for these (and the others I bought...stay tuned!)

I didn't take many photos while teaching in Durfort as I was focused on teaching but am grateful for what I did manage to take. Most of our group was sick at this point but they were all determined to make the most of it. They knew their limits and did what they could, when they could.

A work in progress page from my journal that evolved into something else (I had plans for it but wasn't sure exactly what it would be...it ended up becoming postcards and part of another project...)

More soon...

Links of Interest
Durfort, France Part Une

Durfort, France Part Deux

Durfort, France Part Trois

Durfort, France Part Cinq

Durfort, France Part Six
La Cascade in Durfort