Inspiration

I'm off this weekend from in-person teaching but that doesn't mean I won't be working. I'm trying to finish up one of my most recent journals as well as finish writing my class descriptions for some upcoming workshops. I also have some new ideas that I'm eager to expand upon.

Mom and I will be trekking to Santa Fe and Fort Collins next month for my workshops. I always love that drive through Northern Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. Gorgeous country. The landscape changes so much within a span of a few hours. It never ceases to amaze me. I love stopping along the way and taking photographs of the scenery for inspiration. 

This page was inspired by flora (wisteria pods that grow in a friend's backyard.) I love the popping sound that they make and the soft fur on the pods. I scooped some up to draw with paint markers on my pages.  The colors of New Mexico also inspired me when it came time to paint the page. 

The Palette Journal Sunday, September 9th Mar Vista (Los Angeles)

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.

 

 

The Palette Journal

This is a workshop in letting go and giving yourself permission to do so. I've been on a quest to save wasted paint for quite some time now. How can we take our love of acrylics, color, collage and our palettes and transform them into something new?

What if you combined your passion for paint and paper and turn our palette into a working journal?

We'll create a user friendly, simple journal made from scratch. We'll then work quickly and start to prep our pages. Learn how to let go on the page as you transform this one of a kind creation into something unique and completely your own.

 

Yes, we ARE making a journal but we'll be working back and forth between to push you out of your comfort zone and to generate new ideas.

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,  your favorite brushes to paint with,  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!

13 August 2017 Journal Page

I try not to use photos of recognizable people too much in my journals. I prefer to have the images represent me in some way. I couldn't resist this photo of Debbie Harry wearing an, "I Killed Laura Palmer" t-shirt especially since Twin Peaks season 3 was on at that time.

This journal, while very playful in color and patterns, also has a lot of heartache. Every time I open it, I remember exactly what was going on at the time. I ended up abandoning the journal near the end.

All of that said, I love how playful and free I was with the mark making and drawing on the pages. It represents exactly what I needed it to represent at the time.

Early August 2017 Journal Pages, Limitations and Catching Up

It's with this journal that I started to go back to my roots. I tried not to use stencils on the pages. I wanted to try making my own marks, playing with pens and markers on my pages. (This is coming from a woman who doesn't take her stencil collecting lightly. Those who've taken my workshops can attest to that.) 

My hands kept reaching for the stencil bag, but like a lot of my projects, I tried to limit what I had access to. I've found that over the years that by taking away one of my toys (art supplies), I'm forced to think out of my box. With some journals, I limit access to certain images (flowers, for example) while others I limit colors or favorite tools. It's interesting to see what develops when you work like this. 

Have you done this? Does it work for you?

Catching Up

For those who have asked, David had a pet scan recently. We had an appointment with his oncologist yesterday and the results were clear! We celebrated afterwards with breakfast out, a trip to the bookstore (we came home empty handed but it's always fun to look) and flowers. His next visit will be at Christmas present (a four month follow-up.) Thank you to those who have asked and kept us close. XO.

I'm working on getting my class descriptions for my Fremont workshops in October (the 19-21st) out this week. If you're in Northern California and are interested, you're in for a big treat with these workshops... Back to work for me!

Cracking Myself Open August 2017

I haven't shared one of my finished journals I'm awhile. I'll be sharing this one from August 2017 over the next couple of weeks.

Revisiting Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit in audio form as I work in my journal this Sunday evening. Later, I'll go for a walk and watch more of my recent obsession, Dark Shadows (we're up to season seven and taking advantage of Amazon prime. Only nineteen seasons to go. ..) Hope that your Sunday is a peaceful one.

My Saturday

Looking. Thinking. Working. 

Reading Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Net

I've been up late the last two nights reading Yayoi Kusama's autobiography, Infinity Net. 

"All of my works are steps on my journey, a struggle for truth that I have waged with pen, canvas, and materials. Overhead is a distant, radiant star, and the more I stretch to reach it, the further it recedes. But by the power of my spirit and my single-hearted pursuit of the path, I have clawed my way through the labyrinthine confusion of the world of people in an unstinting effort to approach even one step closer to the realm of the soul."

-Yayoi Kusama

Kusama is an interesting figure in the art world. I have yet to see one of her works in person but will do so next month when her new exhibit opens in Los Angeles. 

I'm also going to a screening of a new documentary about her next week.

I do not know if her work appeals to me but her passion to be an artist is something that I understand and can relate to. The book is a fascinating read especially her stories about other artists and their impact on her life. I'm really glad that I was able to find an inexpensive hardcover copy for my library.

What do you think of Kusama? Have you read the book? Are you going to see the documentary? Read any interesting art bios lately?

Ordering My Favorite Glue Sticks... Coccoina 40 Gram

I'm placing an order for my favorite glue stick, Coccoina.  

This is my glue stick of choice that I've been using exclusively for about 15 years now. I've tried it in all formats (wet, in the tin, etc...) and the only one I use and love is what you see above, the 40 gram glue in a stick.

40 grams is the largest glue stick that they have available and the only size that I buy it in.

I will have a limited amount of these and once they're gone, it takes a few months to get more in. 

Glue sticks are $8 each plus shipping.

Shipping is based on the amount of glue sticks you order (I'm going to keep it as affordable as I can.) If you want more (or less) than what I've listed below, drop me an email at EGorey99@sbcglobal.net 

If you're local and want to pick up glue sticks from me, drop me an email and I can send you an invoice for just the glue sticks or you can paypal me directly at EGorey99@sbcglobal.net

Shipping is U.S. customers only, outside of the U.S., please email me

Four 40 oz. Glue Sticks plus shipping:

$32 plus $8 U.S. shipping

Six 40 oz glue sticks plus shipping:

$48 plus $8 U.S. shipping

Ten 40 gram glue sticks plus shipping:

(order ten or more glue sticks and you'll get a price break plus free shipping.)

$75 includes U.S. shipping

UPDATE:
10 September
TEMPORARILY SOLD OUT
Please email me at Egorey99@sbcglobal.net as I am starting a list of those interested for when I re-order. Thanks!

For those in Maryland, you can buy the glue sticks in person at The Queen's Ink in Savage, MD. (Call first.)

For those in Florida, you can buy the glue sticks in person at Everything Scrapbooks and Stamps in Lake Worth, MD. (Call first.)

Tracey in Fort Collins, CO also carries it but I think she has it on back-order.

In Northern California, my friend Maria sells it (she's in the Fremont area and I can hook you up if you want to touch base with her. She has the glue sticks in hand.) 

As always, thank you.

Spending Time with Vincent

I finished my tiny (4 1/4 x 5 1/2") An Artist's Study on Van Gogh. This is the third artist study book that I've completed. I'm still in the middle of working on a second Van Gogh journal (this is true in the sense that I am literally, right smack in the middle of a larger journal devoted to studying his work and life.) Here's a little flip through video of the above journal pages. These two journals will eventually be brought together to create one larger journal (I have an idea in my head that I will share at a later date.)

A comment was left on one of my recent journal pages and it got me thinking. The only one that we should be comparing our work to is really ourselves. How do we learn the basic foundation and rules of our tools and materials? How do we improve on what we've learned? How do we push ourselves past what we know to grow? How do we expand on what came before? How do we grow as artists and human beings? 

By studying these other artists, I'm also pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I don't want to be these artists but I want my passion for creativity and art to come through in my work. I want my work to ooze the honesty and intensity that someone like Van Gogh's work does. People often ask what I'm after in my work and I think the best answer is probably honesty. I want to be as honest with myself on my pages as I can be. Raw honesty.

The pages above are more than twenty years of work. Each page is built upon what came before and what I learned, worked through and pushed past to get there. They are my mistakes, my growths, my opportunities, my raw heart spilled out onto paper.

My work might not ever hang in a museum or be seen by millions of people and that's okay. That's not why I'm drawn to create. I make the art for me and that's all I really want to do.

Additional Links of Interest 

An Artist's Study Online Workshop

Watch a video about my two finished journals (O'Keeffe and Kahlo) as well as my in process, larger Van Gogh book here.) 

More Van Gogh 

I have four copies of my self published An Artist's Study available here. Once they are gone, they will not be reprinted. Signed, numbered and with a print.  

September 15 and 16th Workshops at Guadalupe's Fun Rubber Stamps in Santa Fe New Mexico

Santa Fe is one of my most favorite places on the planet. I am  SUPER EXCITED to return to Guadalupe's Fun Rubber Stamps September 15th and 16th!

Just think: weekend + Santa Fe + art=INSPIRATION!

Interested in signing up? Please contact Guadalupe's Fun Rubber Stamps.The samples are going out in the mail tomorrow.

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

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.

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
• collage ephemera and much, much more.

 

I do not travel light to my classes at all.

FRIDAY

 

Conversations: A Visual Travelogue

We'll begin this workshop by creating a simple no-stitch journal (you get to choose the size!) After assembling your book, we'll dive head first into layers of paint, paper and pen. This little book will capture your heart and creative spirit.

You'll have the pages full in no time (there's a good chance that you may finish the collage and painting part in the workshop depending upon the size book you choose to make.)

What I love most about this book is how travel friendly it is. You'll be bringing it to the coffee shop, on road trips and beyond. It's a new friend that you won't want to leave your side.

Supply list: 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, a container for your paint water, your favorite brushes to paint with (I like a couple of small detail brushes and then a flat brush),  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:

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.

Please note if you take the morning workshop, you can continue to work in the journal that you make in the A.M. 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, a container for your paint water, your favorite brushes to paint with (I like a couple of small detail brushes and then a flat brush),  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

Fragments of the Self
We'll begin the workshop by constructing a simple (but fun) journal. The majority of the workshop will be spent learning some of my favorite techniques in composition, design, color theory and more. We'll take a playful, what if approach on our pages as we step outside of our comfort zone to create fresh journal pages.
Please note that the ideas we are exploring also translate to other art mediums and fields.

Supply list: 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, a container for your paint water, your favorite brushes to paint with (I like a couple of small detail brushes and then a flat brush),  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

 

 

Conversations in Paint, Paper and Pen 

 

Art Journaling has been a passion of mine for over twenty years now. 

 

"How do you keep your work fresh, open and honest?" 

 

"How do you generate new ideas?" 

 

These are questions that I'm often asked. We'll explore the answers in this workshop. We'll dive onto our pages utilizing my latest favorite techniques in paint, paper and pen. Learn how to open up visually while creating truly unique to you pages. I'll share with you not only how I find inspiration but how you can take the ideas and make them for what you need! 

 

Please note that the ideas we are exploring also translate to other art mediums and fields.

Please note if you take the morning workshop, you can continue to work in the journal that you make in the A.M. 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, a container for your paint water, your favorite brushes to paint with (I like a couple of small detail brushes and then a flat brush),  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! 

Santa Fe + Art + Weekend=Inspiration