Michael DeMeng online class starts 1/11/11

A few years ago I was in an art-book group. We would pick a book, read a chapter, create something & then share our pieces. We had a lot of fun with Michael DeMeng's Secrets of Rusty Things, a fabulous book by the way - great projects but also an entertaining read.

 

Secrets of Rusty Things: Transforming Found Objects into Art

Last week I sold a piece that I'd made for that group on the same day I heard about DeMeng's Art Lab, a series of online workshops. 

If I Were A King funky flower vase - Sold

The first  topic, Color Washes, begins January 11th.  I'm a big fan of this artist's palette. Many of his pieces have a wonderful recently-excavated feel... but with an otherworldy twist, like relics from Atlantis. I also need a creative kick in the pants now & then. So this sounded like the perfect place to spend my new found wealth.

 

Registration is still open. Find details at MichaelDeMeng.blogspot.com. While you are there, be sure to have a look around. It is one of my favorite blogs featuring lots of cool art  - plus great posts on some of my favorite topics like alchemy, Golems, Faust and many other goodies.

Want to save a few bucks on the Color Washes workshop? Become a member of CreativeSouls on ning and then register through their link: http://creativesouls.ning.com/forum/topics/michael-demeng-online-class .  Creative Souls members who use that link pay $35.95 instead of $39.95 for the class.  If you are already a member, just follow the link. 

Not yet a member of Creative Souls? Come out & play with us! Just visit CreativeSouls.ning.com & sign up. It is a cool meeting place for all sorts of imaginative folks. There is all kinds of  entertaining stuff going on over there - from copyright free vintage images to digital  art  discussions, marketing advice to contests & everything in between.

Founded by the wonderful artist Izabella, Creative Souls is "A diverse gathering of creative souls, a place to help promote each other. Discover new & interesting people. ~ALL creative people welcome~". So c'mon. What'cha waiting for? Pop on by & see what is going on.

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Change of topic: If you are in this part of the blog-o-sphere tomorrow stop by for Part 2 of the interview with bead artist Meredith Dada. If you missed Part 1 click here.

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Have you entered the new random drawing? On 12/30 one lucky winner takes home a 100 pc art supplies set. Click here for details & photo of prize

TOOT TOOT TOOT!!

Yep, tootin' my own horn (again). Just so darn thrilled I have to share! Hopped over to ZNE in the wee hours to see what was new & found my latest experiment on the front page. I finally joined the book club there. We are reading Michael De Meng's book Secrets Of Rusty Things. Group members discuss chapters & create their own projects based upon each chapter. This funky flower vase is my interpretation of project# 1 ("Ameratsu - letting daylight out")To find out more about this piece and other ZNE book club projects click here .

ZNE is a gather place for "mixed media & indie artists". It's an amazing community of supportive creative people. There are so many different things going on: ATC swaps, photo challenges, book club, collaborative poetry (finished poems are here ), technique/art supply sharing, a convention , and much more.

Although it sounds corny, ZNE is more to me than a great place to hang out. It was the support of the talented artists I met there that lifted me out of a 5 year art-rut: In 2003 I stopped creating. Last February I joined the group & I started making Art Trading Cards to swap. I started small but now I've got more works in progress around me than I can count! I'm painting & drawing again and trying my hand at something new - jewelry. Through my involvement with ZNE, I've had a piece published in the art book Never Forgotten and participated in my 1st group show in 5 years. I found the confidence to open an Etsy shop & start blogging ( big deals for me as I am not computer savvy or comfortable putting myself "out there").

And I have made some great friends!

If you've read this far, thanks for your patience. I guess, I just want to say THANK YOU! to ZNE founder Chelise Stroud Hery & all of the wonderful people I have met at ZNE. Their patience & encouragement has turned my creative energies right around! Now I just have to find to time to do it all :)