Linda Sagastume Art

Linda Sagastume Art

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Lean Into Winter

HOW I LEAN INTO THE WINTER SEASON

On a cold and cloudy day there is nothing more enjoyable than wandering through a bookstore.  Downtown we have Poor Richard’s and Hooked on Books.  Both have wonderful collections of used books and a few new ones also.  At Poor Richard’s you can grab a coffee or a snack, they also have greeting cards, original art on the walls, gifts, jewelry and a few art supplies.  It has the downtown vibe which is charming and Hooked on Books also has lots of wonderful titles to explore.  It is just around the corner on Bijou.  I am a downtown girl and love supporting the small businesses that line the streets.

My stack of books that I have read or am reading.  I always enjoy a classic here and there and at the start of 2026, David Copperfield was my choice.  A bit laborious after the “All the Colors of the Dark” page turner, but Dickens is a worthy writer and once I re-calibrated and upped my reading skills, I am able to follow his wordy rhythm.  You will see a lovely art book on Robert Kushner, one of my absolute favorite artists, who we will explore in my upcoming class Abstract Botanicals. “The Women” was superb and gave important insights into how nurses served during the Viet Nam war.  “Ragamuffin Gospel”, a book on faith,” Saint Maybe” I enjoyed while vacationing in FL, and “Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Pages” is the story of Mary’s sister, her debilitating illness and how she was a model for many of Mary’s paintings.  “The Correspondent” was a favorite and the story line is created by letters written to and from the main character, Sybil.  This book inspired me to write a letter to someone I admire, a letter to my uncle, and I also invited someone I met while in FL to be my pen pal.  When I returned home in early December from our trip to Tampa there was a letter in my mailbox from my newly discovered pen pal friend.  It was a wonderful connection!  What are you reading?  As the days are shorter during the winter months, reading is a wonderful way to get lost in an adventure, discover a new author, or re-visit one of your favorites.

Treat yourself to a bouquet of flowers.  On my kitchen island I always have some fresh flowers, and they are especially delightful during the winter months. If you look closely in the above photo, you will see a small birdhouse on the tree in the background.  This birdhouse was here when we moved in during May and it is a treat to see the little birds come in and out of the house during winter and summer.

Spending more time indoors means more time for making art.  On my art table is a book, a gift from my daughter in law,  where I created a two-page vision spread, a couple of new accordion style art journals I am working on, white roses being dried for Abstract Botanicals, a painted page in my Moleskine journal, new Posca pens, Washi tape, and a stenciled, tea stained piece of  muslin that I plan to work into one of my art journals.  Mixed media art offers endless opportunities for being creative.  Perhaps you want to slow stitch, try watercolors and acrylics in your work, or simply make marks.  The secret is to be intentional, make time for yourself and your art, get your hands moving and pick up that brush.  Many studies cite the benefit of making art.  It truly is self-care to use your creative intuition and be a maker of something you love and enjoy. Send me an email and let me know what is on your art table.  

Finish up a project that has been tucked away for a while.  This pillow cover I purchased at IKEA a while ago and pulled it out of the drawer and started coloring it again.  During football season and soccer season at my house which btw never ends, it was a great way to be productive while watching sports. 

G A T H E R   T O G E T H E R

During the mid part of January, I hosted a meet up with my students from the Belle Epoque class.  We shared a special bond during our six weeks together.  They were a creative, fun, and inspiring group of people who came together with intention and authenticity.  I enjoyed working with them and could not think of a better way to start 2026 than gathering together.   During our meet up we shared our completed Belle Epoque art journals, Wendy’s knitted vest, Peg’s quilted jacket, and had fun visiting.  Whether out and about or at your house, winter is a time to gather with friends.  Coming up I want to host a meet up at Glen Eyrie.  If you are receiving my newsletter and are interested, please send me an email.  Stay tuned for more information.

A friend of mine is a former publicist and now a writer of short stories.  In this lovely book Patricia contributed a story and included a piece about a special bird visit to my house a few years ago.  The stories are heartwarming and I celebrate the creative endeavors by many writers included in this gem of a book.  Since the deer, squirrels, and bears (come spring), are part of the everyday landscape where I live, bird feeders are out of the question.  My bird fix comes in the form of stories and watching the ones that live in my little bird house.  They are so resilient!  

It is almost time to turn the calendar page over to February and if you have lived in CO for any amount of time, you know that we still have several more months of winter.  One year we even had snow in June. It was unusual but one never knows what the Rocky Mountains will bring our way.  I hope you treat yourself to some hygge (Danish concept encompassing cozy contentment, well-being, and the enjoyment of simple pleasures in a warm comfortable atmosphere) moments during the upcoming winter months.

Summer Re-cap 2025

What a summer it has been!

May started off with the annual Colorado College Summer Music Festival.  My students once again had the honor of drawing the illustrations for ” Green Eggs and Ham”, the story chosen for this year’s family concert.  The student illustrations, created by a variety of ages, were superb.  This year a duo of actors sang and acted out the book.  It turned out to be a nice addition.  At first, I was disappointed in the fact that illustrations were shown before the concert but in the end, it was a win!  Thanks to the many families who support the arts and registered their students for my class and attended the concert.  Here is a look at the illustrations.

“I will not eat them on a boat, with a goat, in the rain, on a train.  Not in a tree, not in a car, you let me be!  I do not like them in a box, with a fox, in a house, with a mouse, I do not like them here or there.  I do not like them anywhere.”

 

My grandson is 3, loves music, and this story.  I am so happy to share this concert with my family.  Also, a huge shout out to CC for hosting this event, especially Ann Van Horn and all she does to make it run smoothly.

The next part of my summer was busy with VBS at my church where I was a leader and also had my other two grands attend.  We sold our beloved family home, closed a chapter of 25 years of beautiful memories, and downsized into a new home in Peregrine.

Two more classes at Bemis, The Secret Garden for little creatives and also The Natural World; two of my favorite classes to teach in the summer.  It is a joy to see the beauty these little ones bring into the world and hear their delight when a project is finished.

Last day tea party complete with macarons from France, and my mother’s china.

Collaborative painting by the class.

The Natural World…Zentangle Zebras and Neon Bugs

 

Green Box Arts Festival to see the installation and have breakfast at The Pantry…

My niece got married in MN so the family headed up for the wedding and also enjoyed a few days at Cross Lake…nothing like lake life.

Not much time for art making this summer but I managed to paint a cleanup page from left over paint from The Secret Garden and whipped up a page of loose flowers.  I cut up this art and made a postcard for my Inspired Postcards class.  The Mary Chenoweth exhibit gave me the opportunity to attend a print workshop and lecture about Mary which I enjoyed so much since she has been someone I admired for years.

Note to self…not every creation needs to be a masterpiece.  Just getting some paint on a page with all the happenings going on was a win for me.  Keeping it real…

The exhibit will be up through October at the Fine Arts Center, and I hope you have an opportunity to see it.  Influenced by Picasso and Matisse, Mary loved abstract as well as representational art.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope your summer was filled with happy moments and a bit of creativity also. 

Coming up in October is my Belle Epoque Class, more details to follow in another post.  

 

Postcards…inspired, made, and seen…

The Mary Chenoweth exhibit is up and ready to be seen at the Fine Arts Center.  Over the last month I have attended a lecture about Mary, and a print making study workshop inspired by Mary’s contributions to Colorado College and the world of art.

Join me as we make postcards inspired by Mary Chenoweth and her dedication to sending postcards to her many friends while traveling the world.  I can’t wait to share bits and pieces of Mary’s life with you that I have recently learned so you have insight into the woman who carved the iconic doors into Bemis School of Art.  Also, I have some new ideas for postcard making that we will use during my upcoming workshop.  Small art can be fun, easy, and accessible.  Whether you send the postcard, or keep it in your stash, the process is what matters.  Reflecting upon your collected ephemera, working with color combinations, and using different media for mark making are the integral parts of creating postcard art.  Take a look at students from my last “Inspired Postcards Workshop” and some of their creations.

Here is the link for my workshop, register soon, only a few spots left!

                                                          https://artschool.csfineartscenter.org/events/a95-inspired-postcards/

In this workshop all collage materials can be used.  Items you have stashed in a drawer from your travels, black and white photocopies of letters from a dear family member, vintage items, even bits of fabric are fair game for making postcards. Hope to see you August 30 for this workshop!  We will also go into the Fine Arts Center together to view the Mary Chenoweth art exhibit.

The actual printer used by Mary Chenoweth to create her art and inspire her students is still in the Colorado College print making classroom and here it is for you to see.  Keep your eyes open for new print making classes that will be offered at Bemis by CC Instructor Kate Leonard.  It will be an exciting new program open to the community.

Art Journal – AQUA Re-Cap

This Art Journal class was inspired by the color Aqua and morphed into a creative holistic experience.  What do I mean exactly?  As students engaged with mixed media, and let their creative muse lead the way, their pages represented a unique story and artistic expression.  Far beyond the color Aqua, each student found their own path by trusting their creative intuition.  Our first prompt was By the Sea, and we used embossed tissue as a collage element.

Collage, stencils, acrylic paint, washi tape and shells were used for embellishments.  Take a look at the student’s interpretation of this prompt.

Using a page from a wallpaper sample book, cutting it into a heart shape and attaching it to a painted page, Heart Matters was our next prompt.   Pages were painted by using a gift card to create texture and the experience of using something other than a brush.  Stenciling with acrylic paint enhanced design interest and the perfect place for journaling about things we love was beneath the heart.

Student pages were full of color and expression.

Look closely at the above page, do you see the word Mother in the roots of the tree of life surrounding the heart?  This student shared a beautiful story about her mother as the inspiration for this page.  It literally brought tears to my eyes when she explained how this page came together.  Many aspects of making art are about story, our story, and we give it life by bringing it into our art.

Home sweet home was the next prompt, and the idea was to design your home by the ocean.  By providing a prompt it helps eliminate the blank white page syndrome and helps students get started. Our process was adhering printed papers to a layer of color created by bleeding tissue, a touch of burlap for texture, and acrylic paint to complete the design.  Below are examples of how the students interpreted “home sweet home”.

Bleeding tissue creates an unusual background, very serendipitous as the water activates the tissue leaving puddles of color.  It is an unplanned application and helps us move beyond perfectionism.  The color pools and floats in ways that we cannot control and after it dries it is the springboard for creating the pages.

Photo image transfer techniques were used in the above student pages.  First, we laid out a grid using an old gift card to make lines with white gesso.  Black and white photographs were transferred onto the page, a vellum overlay with a printed photograph was attached with washi tape, and the grid was completed with acrylic paint.  This page tells the story of a special family trip to the ocean with personal photographs, a favorite poem in the artists handwriting, and hand painted seagulls perched upon pilings in the sea.

Above is a work in progress and you can see the ideas starting to form.

Our final prompt was Wabi Sabi, a Japanese aesthetic that embraces imperfection, incompleteness and transience.  By incorporating remnants from the mixed media techniques used in class, students created their pages interpreting Wabi Sabi.

Above are my demonstration pages and you can see bits of burlap, faint stencil applications, and pieces of collage.  The process of stepping out of the perfectionist mind set really helps the creative flow happen.  When the Wabi Sabi technique is used, the pages come together organically.

Finally, we painted tissue with acrylic paints to create unique collage papers and they provided inspiration for the covers of the journals.  We used 140lb. cold press watercolor paper bound with the pamphlet stitch for the journals.  Linen thread works great for binding, and I encourage students to make additional journals.  It makes it easier to create if some of your tools are in place and ready to go for the art journal journey.  

Art journal covers coming together with stencils and painted tissue.  Take a look at the mermaid’s colorful locks created with strips of painted tissue.

The above painted tissue was created with iridescent paints and a foam paint brush for the tree foliage.  Then it was adhered to the journal cover.  I love when students take initiative to explore and express a personal idea.  Now, meet the artists at work in the Bemis studios, painting, collaging, laughing, sharing stories, and celebrating their unique creative intuition.

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Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog.  I hope it inspires you to work in your art journal and explore various mixed media techniques.  As winter approaches it is the perfect time to hibernate and get creative.  Make a cup of tea, light a candle, gather your favorite art supplies and spend some time flexing your creative muscle by creating pages in your art journal.  Enjoy the process!

Hands and heart, the perfect combination for creating, self-care and happiness.

 

 

Summer highlights

Summer days are coming to an end, school buses are on the roads again, the tomatoes are ripe for the picking, and the afternoon rain showers are just what we need.  Here’s a look at the happenings in my life this past summer and the amazing art experiences I had.  In May I taught the Carnival of the Animals art class.  This is a class where students prepare illustrations for the iconic Colorado College Summer Music Festival.  This performance provided an opportunity for families to attend the performance for free, listen to the world renown orchestra, see a llama at the outdoor petting zoo, and view the illustrations made by my students.  This is a favorite class for young creatives because the characters in the book are so whimsical.  An added attraction to the concert this year was the dancers who interpreted the characters also.  It really was the best of the best!  Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of the performance.  

The CC Summer Music Festival happens every year with a family concert in June.  This free event for our community is very special and a way to introduce your children to orchestra music with a fun twist.  The petting zoo was a new addition to our event this year and the children loved it!  I look forward to the 2025 opportunity and if you have a talented artist who likes to draw, age 7-12, reach out.  I would welcome them into my class.

The Secret Garden is always sold out and we have a grand time creating art inspired by the iconic children’s book in an art journal.  The graffiti garden, Mary Lennox, blossoms coming to life, and looking through the keyhole are some of the prompts I use for exploring mixed media techniques.  The last day is always a tea party hosted in the Bemis Art Studios, complete with my mother’s China, and macaroons.

The Natural World featured art inspired by nature.  Neon beetles, zentangle zebra, leaf rubbings, butterflies, and sea creatures are the subjects we explored with mixed media including chalk pastels, watercolors, and oil pastels. We ventured outside to discover any interesting bugs and this year the grasshoppers were a hit.  Captured in a bug box, taken home for an overnight, the grasshopper was brought back to class for a ceremony in letting it go free.  Next year I am going to add a bug hotel project to our class because catching bugs was so fun!

Such a hoot when one student wanted to make a mustache, I said OK, and then the whole class wanted to make one.  That’s the way my classes go, serendipitous and fun.

This year I was selected as one of the artists to paint a butterfly for The Rotary Club’s Wings of Change event.  The butterflies are auctioned off and land all over our city.  Funds raised are used to support art programs locally and other Rotary Club philanthropies.  It is always an honor to be part of Wings and here is a look at the butterfly I painted this year.  It is named “THE SECRET GARDEN”…inspired by the book (an absolute classic), my design depicts the beauty found in creating a garden, bringing it to life and the hope it brings to our lives.

The butterflies will be displayed on the lawn of The Pioneer Museum on September 6 for the grand reveal.  Join me that evening and take a stroll through the butterfly garden.

Summer walks through the valley also have filled my days as well as family time, working in the garden, the Cystic Fibrosis Climb at Rockies stadium to fund raise for the CF Foundation (my sweet Ella Leigh has CF), a quick trip to Taos, tennis, and an art workshop at Bemis.  Here are the papers I made in the workshop. It was so much fun taking a class and letting my creative muse have time to play.  “Paint, Print, Collage Express” with Barbara Dimond is a great way to spend a day making beautiful papers.  I can use them in my art journals, or as collage pieces for other works.

Barbara brings all of the supplies, so you just have to show up, pay a small fee, and get your art on.  I hope your summer has been enjoyable and you have had time to create.  The Fall schedule for Bemis is out, registration is open, and I am teaching two classes: one for kids, and one for adults.  Check my classes listing tab for more information.  Hope to see you soon!

 

 

Art Supply Haul

A stop to pick up art supplies is always a fun outing and one of my favorite shops is Meininger’s downtown.  Located on south Tejon, it is a bit hidden, but they have lots of supplies for a one-stop-shop.  Recently I purchased a few items and wanted to explain how I use them. 

Fabriano watercolor paper is something I treat myself to once in a while.  Made in Italy it is a wonderful paper for watercolor paint.  The texture is amazing and priced a bit more than big box brands, for watercolor it truly is the best.  When using acrylics with water, a mixed media paper or a Canson brand watercolor paper is what I prefer.  

For collage and art journal application, the UHU glue stick is amazing.  It sticks and holds quite nicely.  Remember to always let paint dry completely before adding collage with a glue stick.  In the dry climate of CO, over time, collage items will come loose when a glue stick is used so matte medium is preferred as an adhesive for projects with an archival need.  In my mini journals, a glue stick is always my go-to, and UHU fits the bill.

When I upcycle a vintage book and glue my own pages into the binding, I use PVA glue.  This type of journal is so unique.  After cutting the pages of the book away, what remains is the binding and the book cover.  With a stack of pages, text, painted papers, and all types of ephemera, I carefully place the pages in the binding with PVA glue.  Sometimes extra reinforcement is needed and then I use the brown gummed paper tape.  Any interest in a class where we create an art journal like this?  Here is a look at one I made.

You can see is this photo collage painted pages, painted tissue pages, seashells sewn onto brown paper, a postcard, and a topography map.  All kinds of unique pages that reflect my personal flair/style which I have curated, collected and bound for a unique art journal.  

Also, you see a couple of basic supplies like Titanium White paint, and white artist tape for making a border around my art.  Last but not least is Citrasolv. I am so happy Meininger’s stocks it now!  This solvent is used to create beautiful collage papers.  National Geographic magazines, early editions like the 80’s and before, work wonders with a splash of Citrasolv.  Summer is the perfect time to create these papers outside, as the orange solvent is pungent!

Remove all the pages with ads and toss.  Sprinkle the remaining pages with Citrasolv, close the magazine, and push down on the closed magazine.  The Citrasolv will start moving the ink around.  Let this percolate for a bit.  How long is a bit?  It depends on how much solvent has been poured on the page, outside temps. and the image.  Be patient, push down on the closed magazine again.  Some solvent might ooze out of the magazine, so it is a good idea to protect your work surface with newspaper.  Take a look at your pages and rip out the ones you like.  Let them dry in the sun on your lawn.  I prefer to let the Citrasolv do the work and I do not use a brush to move the ink around, but it is up to you.  A foam brush can be used to smudge and perhaps this is a look you prefer.  After using the foam brush, toss it in the trash or keep it only for working with Citrasolv.  It cannot be used with paint after using it with this solvent.  This solvent is harmless to skin but can be irritating so wearing a pair of gloves while working with it makes sense too.

Here are some of my Citrasolv Nat Geo pages I made.

This process is very serendipitous and there is NO way to control what happens.  I hope you give it a try and let me know how your pages turn out!  

 

Wild at Art

Wild at Art is an online art class that I signed up for and enjoyed it so much.  As an instructor I also like to take time to explore what others are teaching and get inspired with new ideas.  The class I took is offered by Cottage in the Oaks, and Jeanne Oliver.  Both offer online art classes and incredible inspiration for living a creative life.  It would be worth your while to check them out.  

Here is a look at some of the projects I did.

Mark making tools…

Gathering twigs and elements from around my property I created these tools for making marks in my art.  Twigs of Russian sage, eucalyptus from a discarded bouquet, a sprig of pine, dried oat grass, and prongs from a yucca plant.  I always am delighted when I have all the supplies at hand when taking an art class.  I enjoyed roaming around my place and finding a few things to make these tools.  With some burlap and gold wire I tied the elements to the twigs.  They are so pretty to look at I have not used them for mark making.  I placed them in a vase and when the time is right, I will splash them into a bit of ink and swirl marks across a blank page in my art journal.

Leaf rubbings with tracing paper…

It took a few tries before I had some decent rubbings.  I used various types of charcoal and found that vine charcoal worked best.  Dried leaves I had used for another art project were the perfect candidates for making a rubbing on tracing paper.  The paper is light, and the impressions easily appeared as I rubbed the vine charcoal onto the paper with the leaf underneath on a hard surface.  With my very special ink pen from Florence, I wrote the names of the leaves on each one.  

Pocket Art Journal

I could easily make these little journals over and over!  For this one I used Bristol drawing paper so it will be easy to sketch in with pencils and dry media applications.  Usually, a painted page with collage is my go-to for art journaling but I decided to try something different.  My collection of found papers and leftover snippets from other projects were collaged onto the cover.  I used waxed linen thread and the trusty pamphlet stitch to put this together.  A bone folder is always useful to create a solid crease in the paper. The date stamp sets this piece in time, also the embellishments were inspired by Easter week.  I cut 6 pages of Bristol drawing paper in half, so the journal has a total of 12 pages for my creative musings.  It’s easy to add a light coat of white or clear gesso to these pages and then they will be more apt for mixed media.  And since there were two sets of pages, I made another journal at the same time.  This pocket size is great to tuck into my purse or take when traveling.  With a few art supplies I can make marks, sketch, collage with a glue stick, and keep my daily practice going.

I hope this post gives you some inspiration for trying new things in your creative life.  As you can see making simple leaf rubbings, or art tools from gathered objects is a different sort of creativity.  Nevertheless, working with my hands in new ways always nourishes my creative muse.  Thanks Duane and Jeanne for a great class…WILD AT ART! 

 

 

Embracing Winter

Setting my mind toward a new way when it comes to winter and encouraging you to make steps in the same direction with me.

As I write this post it is literally ONE DEGREE OUTSIDE.  Last week while talking about this with a friend, it was a balmy 30 degrees outside and seemed much more palatable.  In fact, she texted me to today and kiddingly said, I am finding it a bit hard to embrace winter today.  LOL…me too!

Stoking up the fireplace, baking quiche and cinnamon rolls in the oven (helps keep the kitchen toasty warm) and a pot of veggie soup started on the stove are some of my ways to enjoy the uniqueness of winter.  In fact, today I stayed in bed a little longer, brought my teacup to bed, and read my book.  It just felt so good to be curled up and cozy.  My daughter in law gave us hot water bottles with little sweaters on them.  You would be amazed at the warmth they produce.  Just before bed I fill them up with boiling water and place them in our bed, a bit old fashioned but helps keep things nice and warm while the air is cool…our favorite way to sleep.  

We enjoyed family time over the holidays and one of my favorite activities is doing art projects with my grandkids.  We painted glow in the dark rocks, and they enjoyed it immensely.  It was a great distraction for my granddaughter Ella while she takes her daily treatment for Cystic Fibrosis.

Taking a walk around my property just to get a bit of fresh air and avoid cabin fever I noticed some tracks in the snow.  It was interesting to think about the little animal which I think was a bunny, hopping around and keeping warm during the oh- so- bitter cold.

Bundling up with your heaviest jacket, hat, gloves, neck warmer and boots makes an outside adventure bearable.  Take notice of the elements of winter, like tracks in the snow, dried foliage, fallen pinecones (gather up a few to place in a basket), listen for a bird song… our feathered friends always find a way to sing a song in the winter, or snip some dried twigs to bring back into your studio and place in a vase for a quick sketch later.  These simple ways of looking for beauty in the barren landscape bring a fresh way of embracing winter.   Around my property today there is a layer of powdery snow, dried grasses, pine trees standing tall in the afternoon sun, and a few Thrush Jays looking for food at my feeder.  The garden is stark, as the dirt waits for the spring thaw, the shadows are long, and the day has been quiet.  I am liking this new way of embracing winter!

One of the very best practices in winter is lighting candles all day long.  When the sun is shining, setting, or in between I love having a lit candle for soft light and fragrance.

This past Saturday was Art Adventure Day at Bemis.  We offer free art classes for families and even though it was bitter cold over 500 people came through our studios.  It was a wonderful event, and my project was making mixed media snow globes. Families enjoyed seeing my old school musical snow globe featuring Mickey Mouse, made for the year 2000, and hearing the classic tune “As Time Goes By” play.

My daughter and grandson stopped by also.  Guess who was more interested in discovering the logs used for props in the drawing studio than making a snow globe!  He just turned two, but we are introducing him to the world of Bemis already.  Of course, my daughter had so much fun making a snow globe, she grew up taking classes at this iconic art school.  May it forever be a jewel in the crown of our lovely city.

On my easel…a winter scene that needs to be completed.  I had set it aside during the spring because I was not in the right frame of mind to complete the painting.  Now that winter is upon us, I am ready to add the finishing touches.  Using acrylic paints and inspired by a book I have written by Tim Deibler, the painting will come together. After studying with Tim when he taught plein air classes locally I have always admired his style.  He paints in oils and his work is featured in many places throughout Colorado.  Using acrylics for a winter landscape pushes me in a new direction because as you know my first love is bright, colorful florals.  We’ll see how this turns out.

photo by ROBYN LEE

Best of all while the garden sleeps and outdoor activities take a back seat, it is the perfect time for making and creating.  So, take out your mixed media projects, art journals, sketchbooks, and your favorite supplies and have fun making art.  Let your muse lead the way for discovering what is underneath…peel back the layers of perfection and make art just for YOU.  It will be a delight to your creative soul during these winter months.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secret Garden – Fall 2023

The Secret Garden

It is a timeless theme that continues to inspire.  Here’s a look at the mixed media processes we explored in my fall adult class at The Bemis School of Art.  Creating in an art journal made with 140 lb. watercolor paper, provides the perfect substrate for creating imagery inspired by this classic children’s book.  I never tire of this fascinating story of friendship and the impact of resurrecting a garden to bring physical and emotional healing.  If you have not read it, I highly recommend it, or at the very least check out the Hallmark video of the story.

My cover depicts the lady of the story who created the garden.  In silhouette, she represents the informal character whose name is never mentioned, but her garden vision impacts the entire story, therefore I wanted to have her be center stage.  For our first two- page spread we worked in a grid format.  Creating garden imagery with collage, dried flowers and assorted ephemera the first part of our journey begins to unfold.  Working in a grid provides small spaces for making art and some students chose to stay within the space or venture out and overlap.  Always up to the creative to see where a page prompt leads, and I am merely a guide.  Here’s a look at my demo and some of the pages created.

A vintage seed packet, an embossed bee, tissue paper butterfly, a silhouette with written words, dried flowers, a bit of leftover art with words attached, a painted zinnia, a small drawing of a Polish pottery pitcher, and a sunshine drawing..some of my favorite things depicted in the grid.

Student work using dried flowers, collage, and ephemera…a lot of loveliness!

Below, a student was inspired by depicting items from her very own garden.

For the graffiti garden pages, we cut up black and white copies of imagery into loose garden shapes and adhered them to a painted page.  Then added our own colorful elements with acrylic paint and paint pens.

Look at all the wonderful mark making used in the above student page!

Abstract demo painting, I did for this class in my art journal inspired by artist Debora Stewart.  

Student feedback was interesting regarding the abstract process, generally speaking most students thought it was harder than it looks.  That seems to be a common perception when working in the abstract.  For one it can be hard to determine success when painting an abstract.  My take away… if you are happy with what you created, then it is a success.

Pictured above are student paintings, first time ever painting in the abstract and what an achievement.   Very successful!  Personally, I enjoy painting loosely with an expressive technique vs. abstract. Quite honestly, I would not have been able to envision this type of painting without the help of Debora’s work.

For the above painting we used bleeding art tissue, which is activated with water for the first layer, and the results are unpredictable.  After the tissue dries and is removed beautiful puddles of color appear.  Next step was stamping with Quinacridone Magenta paint using the bottom of a lettuce head, yes that’s right! (magenta was the Pantone color of the year) The lettuce makes blossom shapes which are perfect for this two-page spread.  With black sharpie markers and white gel pens, floral images were created by paying special attention to the negative space.  Take a look at the process and some of the colorful pages students created.

Cyanotype Prints 

Thankfully it was a bright sunny day when we created our prints.  Students collected dried leaves, blossoms, and twigs.  The pieces were placed on cyanotype paper, laid out in the sun for a short amount of time, rinsed, dried, and attached to a painted page.  Here’s a look at the process.

For the art journal covers we used stencils to create a leaf pattern and also creativity was unleashed for students to design as they pleased.

I love this stencil!!  Everyone came up with different color combinations.

Words…yes words…let’s add words for another element of mark making and expression.

Beautiful and clever…diagonal cut papers with a painted flower on them and words on the border… scientific names for flowers in a student’s personal garden written on the cover.

As an instructor, when I see this type of imagination happen in a class, I am thrilled!  It brings me incredible joy to be part of a student’s creative journey and I am inspired by their art.

It was such a wonderful class experience working alongside these creative women.  As you can see by this post many mixed media techniques were used to create art inspired by The Secret Garden.  It was a beautiful journey using garden images for painting, printing, writing, drawing and experimenting with mixed media techniques.  The bottom line when embarking on such a journey is learning to trust your creative intuition and letting your muse lead the way.  Success in every way…these ladies rocked it! 

I hope this post encourages you to take an art class with me at The Bemis School of Art.  It is an adventure, good for your soul and FUN.

“Georgia On My Mind”

Painting My Butterfly for Flight 2023

Flight is a program designed to enhance beauty in the outdoor spaces and raise funds for school district art programs.  Orchestrated by The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs, artists are encouraged to submit a proposal for a butterfly design and after a review process, artists are chosen to paint a butterfly for the auction which will take place on 9/23/23.  To find out more about Flight and the live/online auction click here.

https://www.csflight.org/

“Georgia On My Mind” was inspired by the iconic Georgia O’Keeffe.  I love her art, the magnified blossoms she painted and desert visions.  In 2015 I painted a butterfly for the Year of O’Keeffe for the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center.  The butterfly was entitled “Georgia’s Wings”.  Fast forward to this year, and I was inspired to paint a butterfly once again.  “Georgia’s Wings” landed in the courtyard at Penrose Main Hospital, and I am expectant about where “Georgia On My Mind” might land.  For inspiration I chose a lesser-known painting by Ms. O’Keeffe, Apple Blossoms.  She painted this in 1930 and the colors and shapes caught my eye.  Also, the apple blossom theme for multiple reasons.  Last year I planted an apple tree in my backyard to honor my deceased father because apple pie was his favorite.   Growing apple trees in Colorado requires patience, and a lot of TLC!  As summer comes to an end I am still waiting for the blossoms and apples.  Painting this butterfly with apple blossoms was the perfect antidote to the wait.  

 

The design rendering submitted to CS Flight.

The aluminum alloy butterfly is quite large, very sturdy and comes in two pieces.  Finding a place to paint outside of my studio works better and I set up a place in my garage for the process.  Many layers of acrylic paint are applied to create the images.  The surface responds quite differently from canvas and requires controlled brush strokes with lots of paint.  GOLDEN paints are my choice for this project because their pigments are very rich and of highest quality.

Painting the apple blossom side.

Both sides finished and ready for the high-quality clear coat by Status Symbol Auto Body to protect this outdoor art piece from the inclement weather elements.

The butterfly reveal was a wonderful Labor Day event where all of the painted butterflies are on display at The Pioneer Museum downtown Colorado Springs.  Positioned on the front lawn of the museum with a string quartet playing music, family and friends browsing the display of butterflies, photographs being taken, encouraging remarks by patrons, a slight breeze in the air, many excited artists as folks meandered through the outdoor gallery; this event was an evening to remember.

Who knows where “Georgia On My Mind” will land or any of the other magnificent creations.  One thing is certain, the outdoor spaces will be enriched by their presence, conversations will ensue regarding these creations, and Colorado Springs will benefit from this added beauty.  When I think about Georgia O’Keeffe and her life, this is what comes to mind…”she blossomed in the cracked places”.  My butterfly reflects this grit, a determination to move forward during tough times, and to always find time for chasing beauty.

Thanks for stopping by and best wishes for the last days of summer!

UPDATE – “GEORGIA ON MY MIND” –  SOLD!!! SO HAPPY THIS WINGED TREASURE HAS A NEW HOME AND IS BRINGING BEAUTY TO THE OURDOOR SPACES.

 

Peter and the Wolf

Summer Music Festival at Colorado College

Presents Peter and the Wolf for the Children’s Concert

Since 1984 musicians from all over the world have joined together for a month of musical productions at Colorado College.  Outstanding young musicians attend orchestra rehearsals, private lessons, master classes, and present concerts.  The talented festival fellows perform both in orchestra and chamber programs.  Our community is very fortunate to have this caliber of an event!  Bemis students are invited to create the illustrations for the Children’s Orchestra Concert, and we are honored to contribute to this “jewel” of an event.  This year the selection was Peter and The Wolf.  A beautiful musical production about a boy and a wolf.

Above is as collaborative illustration where all the students contributed. The story opens with Peter walking into a meadow and a little bird chirping, all is well.

A duck enters the story, and the two feathered friends discuss swimming in the pond and flying in the air.

Peter notices a cat moving through the grass looking to capture the little bird, Peter calls “Look out!” just in time for the bird to escape.

Peter’s grandfather comes out of the house and he was angry because Peter had gone beyond the gate into the meadow.

Just then a big gray wolf came out of the woods…and snatched up the duck.

The cat perched on the tree and the little bird on another branch.  The wolf paced round and round looking up at them.  Peter stood behind the gate watching everything.  He knew he needed to help so he ran home and got a strong rope and climbed up into the tree.

Peter made the rope into a lasso and carefully letting it down caught the wolf by the tail and pulled it with all his might.

The forest rangers came out of the woods following the wolf’s trail.

Peter called down from the tree, “Will you please help us take the wolf to the Endangered Wolf Center?”

The bird, Peter, grandfather and the cat were all happy the wolf had been caught and would have a new home. 

And then a quack, quack was heard…yes, the duck had been hiding in the bushes all along.

A short and sweet re-cap of the story with amazing illustrations.  THE END.

Meet the artists…

Congratulations on a job well done!

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at The Peter and the Wolf re-cap.

Beauty Found in The Secret Garden

One highlight of my summer is teaching The Secret Garden art class to young creatives.  This year was exceptionally enjoyable. First, there were returning students who bring so much joy to the class, and secondly every student was focused on their art, listened and used their own unique expression to create their pages.  Here are photographs of special moments in our class.

Graffiti garden is our first lesson.  This represents how the garden appeared before Mary Lennox and her friends begin to tend the plants.  Using black and white copies of art journal pages for floral shapes, a brightly painted green background, and markers for highlights, this two page spread is used to introduce students to simple shapes and values. Our next lesson was Mary Lennox and her happy thoughts.  Mary lived and played on the moors in England.   Set at the turn of the century, her attire was a dress and boots.  Students designed Mary with their own whims, and the bright circles surrounding her on the two-page spread represent her happy thoughts.  As the garden comes to life, after much tender loving care, the blooms open up, color splashes in every corner, and the little band of friends are filled with glee as this unfolds.

Using a special art tissue, these colorful pages were created.  Water on the page, a piece of tissue, a bit more water and then time to dry.  Once the pages were dry, the students added acrylic paint to create blossoms in the garden.  Each artist had their own interpretation of blossoms and how they appeared.  To create interest, I encouraged the studenst to have 3 different sizes of shapes: large, medium and small.  This is a tried-and-true rule for making art interesting.  

 

 

On the graffiti page, there was also an opportunity for written words.  How about ‘love’? Yes indeed, a virtue to be valued.

The theme for the covers was “looking through the keyhole into the secret garden”.  For this class we painted together.  I demonstrated how to create the sky, garden path and wooden door.  Many of the students cited this as their favorite page.

In the Bemis School of Art by Sparky LeBold’s mural.  I took classes from Sparky years ago!

Many thanks to Brigita, a family member, who volunteers to make these beautiful floral headpieces for our class.

Let the tea party begin!  With my mother’s China, a cherished family heirloom since she passed away in 1983, macarons, cookies, candies, and of course tea, we celebrated our last day of class.  We talked about how high tea is served throughout the world, played a couple of games, and each student was absolutely lovely and patient as the goodies were passed around and tea served by yours truly.  Afterwards, it was out to the park for games.

J O Y   J O Y   J O Y

Beautiful gifts from my students…do you see the little paint palette created with seashells?  A very clever and intricate creation.  And an origami crane made with art tissue from the blossoming garden class, and a beautiful jewel.  I am a lucky girl!

Thanks for stopping by and sharing in the special moments of The Secret Garden art class at Bemis School of Art.