Learn to create a perfectly balance flying fae!

Boy!  I had to make many many faeries to finally figure out how to get them to balance.  But after the 6th try, I figured out a simple process to mastering this!

So then I thought....this is perfect for a class so others don't have to go through the trial and error, of what should be easy, but believe me...is not! :)  Click here for more info: http://aforartistic2.homestead.com/flying-faerie.html

So now I have them hanging all above my art table.  Sweet little things!

Pandora and the Seven Sins....new online class!

Meet Pandora!  And meet her Seven Sins!

This really fun, really big class has just been opened at That Creative Place, online school.

In this class you will learn how to sculpt and paint Pandora and each of her Seven Sins.  It is really fun to capture the expressions of Gluttony, Pride, Anger, Lust, Greed, Envy and Sloth.

You will also learn to use a gourd as Pandora's body and the container for the Sins. And how to use a lazy susan as a display turntable.

The Sins can sit on the rim of the turn table, or you can place them within her body.....and then reach in and choose your sin for the day!  In this one class, you will learn about apoxie sculpt, collage, painting and sculpting technique, application of fabric, crackle glaze, and embellishments. 

And of course, once the Sins have been removed, Hope remains.  Do you see her there?

Here are the pile of Sins...funny little creatures, sure to make you laugh!  Come join me for this really fun class and create for yourself, a masterpiece.  The class is structured to allow you to go at your own speed, to join the group or just to follow the detailed instructions and photos on your own.  For more information, go here: That Creative Place

New Online Class...Creating The Art of Balance!

I am offering a new online series at A for Artistic online site.  The first class in the series, beginning Feb 14th, will be on sculpting and painting a character head, face and hands.

 

The next part of the series, beginning March 13th will be creating a character that I call "The Art of Balance".  Take both classes and earn a discount!

 Click on these links to find out more on these classes and to sign up.  Let's Create! 
http://www.aforartistic.com/character-heads-hands.html  
http://www.aforartistic.com/art-of-balance.html

A lesson on creating a paper Christmas tree......

I was out shopping at my most favorite store, Anthropologie, and I saw a wonderful Christmas tree created out of cut papers.  I left inspired with the thought..."I can do that!"   And so I did....and it's easy!    Here are photos of how I did it so you can make one too!  Wishing a Merry Christmas to all who read my blog!

First find a base.   I went to the hardware store and picked up some furniture sliders.  But now that I think of it, you could just form a base with foil, then cover the foil with apoxie sculpt and stick your dowel into it.  Glue to secure.

The tree at Anthropologie was made with French papers and I happened to have an old French dictionary, so I used those pages...but you could use any paper.  Old magazines, wrapping paper, old letters....any paper.

At the hardware store I picked up some thin wooden sticks.  I guess you could use a pencil too.

Get some scissors that will cut with a patterned edge.  Any craft store will have these.

Anyone whose taken my online classes knows that I LOVE apoxie sculpt!   I used this to cover my base...both top and bottom and sides.  Mix the two parts together really well and remember to add water to your fingers so it doesn't get too sticky. If you don't have apoxie sculpt, you could add a bead in between each page as long as the hole was large enough to thread onto the stick.  Or....you could even make a bead of foil and secure it around the stick, between the papers with some instant glue.

I then dusted the apoxie covered base with some gold metallic powders.....and then I stamped in a pattern.  You can find rubber stamps in any craft store, or use something around your home.

Here are photos of the pages I used.  I took about 5 pages from my dictionary and then folded those in half, making ten pages, and then cut them into a square shape.  Keep in mind that larger squares will be on the bottom and they will get smaller as they go up the tree.

Make a hole in the middle of your stack of paper and thread those onto the stick that you have glued onto your base.  In between each piece of paper I made a small ball of apoxie and pressed that around the stick.  This gives space between each paper and branch of the tree.

Keep cutting your squares of paper, smaller as you go up the tree, and thread onto the dowel and then add your separating ball.  Twist the paper so they each are in a different angle.

Go up the dowel as far as you wish and then leave about an inch more of the wood before you cut the rest of the dowel off.  Make it as high as you wish it to be.

When I decided it was high enough, I  glued a star on top and pressed some apoxie sculpt to cover around the top of the stick and then I pressed micro beads into the apoxie.  You could use anything you wanted on top...even making a ball or star out of the apoxie sculpt.

I got out some glitter and matte medium ( you could use glue also).  I painted the matte medium on some edges of the paper and then sprinkled the glitter on to the glue.

I ran out of glitter but found some irridescent confetti in my supplies, so I painted on more matte medium and sprinkled that onto the edges of the tree and onto the top point. When the glue was all dry, I sprayed a sealer on to make sure the confetti stuck.

And there you have a really cool tree!   I love this Christmas tree!  Now I'm going to gather the grandgirls together and they can each make one for their mom.  Our Christmas project!

Happy Creating!
Marilyn :)

New Online class....Leaf Pod Baby!

I wanted to let you know of a simple and really fun ( and inexpensive ) class that I am offering through A is for Artistic.

Come join the fun....beginning on Dec 1st.   A short class .  Wouldn't they be darling as hanging ornaments from a holiday tree branch?

Creating photo collages....

I've been fooling around making collages with my photos for my online classes.
Have you played around at Picnik?
It's fun and easy. :)

New online classes!

I am excited to announce that I will be offering a new series of online classes, beginning in July at the "A is for Artistic site".

Each class is offered individually or ...at a savings...as a series. The classes begin with my technique of sculpting and painting a head and face. Each class of the series has about 4 to 6 lessons with full instruction and colored photos, showing each and every step, and in every class there is an online forum where we can talk...critic if you want....share tips...share photos and just get to know each other.

The next class will be on to sculpting and painting the hands and arms, then on to sculpting and painting the legs and feet. The next class will show you how I create a torso, how I attach the previously sculpted arms and legs and how to make a stand. The whole series then culminates with the class on Creating a Hardscape. When I moved to Hawaii I found, because of the heat and humidity, velvets and antique laces did not work so well.

From walking the beaches and discovering sea glass, and found objects, to incorporating abalone shards and mosaic class, I developed a costume that I call a Hardscape.
This is the way I created the piece that I have been posting about here on my blog...
"My Lady of Guadalupe".
So the last class will be on how to create her costume!

I'm excited about these classes and I do think taking classes online is a brilliant idea!
I know I have taken many classes from felting to jewelry making, and I very much enjoy being able to create my own studio, at my own time, and yet learn something new.

I hope I see you in class..... in cyberspace......creating, creating, creating! :)

Hardscaping......

I'm putting together a new class called "Creating a Hardscape".
Years ago, after moving to Hawaii where silk velvets and lace just don't do well, I began creating costumes with apoxie clay and embellishments and no fabric.
I call these "Hardscapes" and they are great fun to create.

I have a series of classes now offered at That Creative Place that begin with how I sculpt and paint a face, how I sculpt and paint hands and arms, legs and feet, how I create a torso and put together the arms and legs and build a stand. ( not up on site yet ) And now the culmination of those classes will be "Creating a Hardscape." Since I've been so lost in my Blessing wall pieces, it's been a while since I did a Hardscape and I am loving this process!

Here's a few photos of some parts of the class....the undergown, the hood and today will bring a glorious cape!

If there is any class you would like me to offer, please let me know.