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Create your own fun little sheep while learning how to needlefelt with armatures. Beginners welcome.
$45. Includes all materials.
Gelli Printing
with Karen O’Brien
Saturday, April 14th
10:30 am – 1:30 pm
This is a fun exploratory class in printmaking using commercial and homemade gelatin printing plates. We will experiment with color, plant materials, stencils, masks and texturing materials to make complex papers that can be used as collage for mixed media projects or framed as art. I will also cover how to make your own stamps and stencils to use for printing.
$45. Includes all materials.
Recommended by Karen:
Bring along some soft leaves, so they do not dig into the plate surface and any of your favorite stencils and texture materials ex: bubble wrap, lace…
Paint like Van Gogh
with Kristen O’Neill
Saturday, April 21st
1 – 4 pm
All materials provided
Leave with an acrylic painting
Learn about post-impressionism and Van Gogh
Study a master’s work, a time-honored tradition to improving your art skills
Have a fun afternoon!
All skill levels are welcome
Each person copies a work of their choice (Not a follow-the-leader format)
$30. All materials included.
Recommended to bring a color photocopy of your favorite Van Gogh as a reference.
Paint like Picasso
with Kristen O’Neill
Saturday, April 28th
1 – 4 pm
All materials provided
Leave with an acrylic painting
Learn about Picasso and his immense influence on many periods of art
Study a master’s work, a time-honored tradition to improving your art skills
Have a fun afternoon!
All skill levels are welcome
Each person copies a work of their choice (Not a follow-the-leader format)
$30. All the materials are included.
Recommended to bring a color photocopy of your favorite Picasso painting as a reference.
Living a More Inspired & Heartfelt Life
with Janet L. Stanley, M.A.
Saturday, May 5th
1 – 4 pm
Are you the ‘You,” you long to be?
Are you following your heart’s deepest desires?
Are you nourishing your soul?
I invite you to join me to explore what gets in our way and how we can overcome those obstacles.
Please bring a journal, a blanket and pillow. If you have a drum and/or rattle, I invite you to bring it/them along.
Janet L. Stanley is a spiritual guide, mentor, teacher, and shamanic healer.
Learn or develop your skills in drawing from life.
We will sketch fresh flowers
We can use pencils, pens, or charcoal.
Work on creating good values, realistic lighting
Improve composition
All skill levels welcome
$30. All materials provided.
Paint like Alex Katz
with Kristen O’Neill
Saturday, May 19th
1 – 4 pm
Contemporary painter Alex Katz is a master at simplifying compositions. His artwork has been exhibited over 700 times and he is one of the most famous living painters. In this class we will:
Have fun learning tricks to simplify a painting to make it stronger
Learn to plan our colors ahead of time
Beginning students can copy one of his works, and more intermediate, advanced, or adventurous students can bring in a photo and we will paint it in Katz’s style.
Leave with an acrylic painting
$30. All materials provided.
Animal Drawing
with Bobbi Baldwin
Saturday, June 2nd
10:30 – 4
Paint your beloved pet or favorite animal, open to all mediums (except oil). Dogs, cats, horses, tigers, cows, wild animals. Whatever your favorite fur or feather animals are!
We will work on learning the anatomical structure of bodies and faces as well as how to best portray them.
We will also work on composition, color theory, techniques, and painting.
Beginners through advanced artists—all are welcome.
$85. Materials list to be sent to you. (Most materials available for use at the Museum if needed).
Art Journals
with Karen O’Brien
Saturday, June 16th
10:30 – 3:30
In this class we will learn how to begin our own art journal* with simple supplies. I will share plenty of ideas and approaches to begin filling your journals. We will create a journal spread.
All you need to bring to class is:
Blank journal that can handle water media: 90-140 lb paper
OR
Old book : thin spine, no larger than 9″ x 12″, no shiny, slick or glossy pages
*What is an Art Journal? It’s a place to record your thoughts, memories, and emotions through images, art and words.
Why do it? It is an easy way to use your creativity every day. It can be done with simple tools. It is portable, requiring very little space to do it. It can be used to document life, travels, plan you art, express your feelings, test out new art products and techniques. It can be personal – only for you, or you can share it with others.
$45.
Advanced Figure Drawing
with Bobbi Baldwin
Friday, June 22nd &
Saturday, June 23rd
10:30 – 4
Bobbi returns by popular demand!
An in-depth study of how color theory applies to the human form. This class is designed for anyone who wants to learn more about how to draw the human form. It will also apply color theory to the way you draw the figure – including how shadow and light can make your work far better. You will leave with a stronger knowledge of how to apply light and shadow, keep them separated, and how to draw anyone in any position.
$150. Materials list will be sent to you.
How to Paint Waves
with Kristen O’Neill
Saturday, June 30th
1 – 4 pm
Learn how to paint convincing waves
Where it the light in the wave?
What colors make a convincing wave?
Learn about transparent vs opaque colors
Learn about the difference between Mineral Inorganic colors and Modern Organic colors – finally find out what all those crazy paint names are about!
Great color theory class that will apply to other subjects too!
San Diego, March 11-12, 2018.
I have been a student at Jana’s studio and I can honestly say that
it is a great place to get away, relax and make art.
There is still time to enroll.
Just click on this Way Art Yonder link and scroll down to my class.
There is a handy link to register.
I hope you can join me.
Let’s Play!
You are in for a full weekend of creative ways to “unearth” and finish your own unique characters.
I will be sharing a variety of approaches to create backgrounds that make it easy to find your characters and tell their stories.
I will also cover ways to make great expressive faces – even if the thought of drawing a face makes you nervous!
By Karen O'Brien, 62 contributed posts
View all Karen O'Brien's posts. About the author: I am an artmaker, pathfinder, teacher and storyteller. I use whatever materials inspire me to begin my journey. My style is a blend of Folk and Fantasy Art. It is a fusion of what I see everyday, dream and imagine. My paintings evolve over many layers, using paint, marks and intuition to find the soulful, imaginary characters I call my "urban folk." See her artist listing at SOAR!
Karen is a self taught mixed media artist and teacher who began her creative journey as teddy bear and doll artist. She added collage and paint over 10 years ago and is still inspired with the infinite possibilities of combining her favorite materials. Her approach to her art and teaching is: "no mistakes, just dive in and see what happens." Karen art has been published in Somerset Studio, Art Journaling, Art Doll Quarterly. She is a featured artist in Incite: The Best of Mixed Media, Incite: Color Passions and a guest artist in Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals by Carla Sonheim. Karen strives to provide her students with a fun, inspiring classroom environment where they feel free to take creative risks and enjoy the results. View Karen's teaching listing at SOAR
I always start my new year with 2 brand new sketchbooks. A travel sketchbook that I take with me everywhere and a studio book. I wanted to share the books I use because it seems most artists pass over that part. I have tried many, believe me! I like the Global Arts Handbooks for my travel book because they can handle light watercolor and the pages are more matte than the Moleskine books. They also come with the handy back pocket to stash paper in.
I prefer a spiral book for the studio, as it lays flat. I can open it up to sketches and ideas for my paintings and try color combinations out in it easily. I like the Stillman and Birn because the paper is sturdy – 100lb. The Gamma series had ivory paper – the Alpha has bright white, depending on your preference.
My first order of studio business each January is to decorate the covers. Every year, every book is a different expression and document to my continued growth as an artist. I love looking back at my progress and getting excited about old ideas that I can make new again. When I first started this process, I had a lot of blank pages left in the books, but felt it was important to start with a clean slate each year. Now I pretty much fill them up, as they have become a part of my artistic process. I am a big believer in documenting my journey with each piece of art that I make. Most of my ideas for larger paintings come, in some part, from these books and my art journals.
My new favorite art journal to work in is the simple kids books with a stapled spine. You can purchase them for pennies at libraries and used book stores. They lay flat because of the staple binding, are easy to slip into a bag to go to the coffee shop and do not require page removal because they are soft covers. I buy clear vinyl by the yard at Jo Ann’s to make a simple protective cover. I just cut it out, make flaps, tape the edges and slide the book cover in – same way we made covers for our school books (back in the “old” days) If my pages become loose or un-stapled, I just poke holes in the center and bind it with waxed linen.
The pages wrinkle a bit, but once you add collage to each side and put your book under something heavy over night, they flatten nicely.
I hope this gives you some ideas for making a creative start in the new year!
Another way to start out the new year would be to join me for :
Unearthing Imaginary Characters
A whole weekend of exploring different ways to “find” your own imaginary characters!
By Karen O'Brien, 62 contributed posts
View all Karen O'Brien's posts. About the author: I am an artmaker, pathfinder, teacher and storyteller. I use whatever materials inspire me to begin my journey. My style is a blend of Folk and Fantasy Art. It is a fusion of what I see everyday, dream and imagine. My paintings evolve over many layers, using paint, marks and intuition to find the soulful, imaginary characters I call my "urban folk." See her artist listing at SOAR!
Karen is a self taught mixed media artist and teacher who began her creative journey as teddy bear and doll artist. She added collage and paint over 10 years ago and is still inspired with the infinite possibilities of combining her favorite materials. Her approach to her art and teaching is: "no mistakes, just dive in and see what happens." Karen art has been published in Somerset Studio, Art Journaling, Art Doll Quarterly. She is a featured artist in Incite: The Best of Mixed Media, Incite: Color Passions and a guest artist in Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals by Carla Sonheim. Karen strives to provide her students with a fun, inspiring classroom environment where they feel free to take creative risks and enjoy the results. View Karen's teaching listing at SOAR
I am teaching Urban Folk Primitives in Albuquerque, NM, September 30-Oct 1, 2017. There is still room to join me. I love this workshop because it is a true “mixed media” experience. We get to make a doll (no prior sewing skills required) and use my favorite technique for creating a face on fabric. I just love to make these primitive “stump” dolls. They require minimal stitching and can be made to look as aged or contemporary as you want. We will use our doll for inspiration for our prim painting on wood. We will use pencils, acrylic paint, fun fabric and vintage paper collage elements.
By Karen O'Brien, 62 contributed posts
View all Karen O'Brien's posts. About the author: I am an artmaker, pathfinder, teacher and storyteller. I use whatever materials inspire me to begin my journey. My style is a blend of Folk and Fantasy Art. It is a fusion of what I see everyday, dream and imagine. My paintings evolve over many layers, using paint, marks and intuition to find the soulful, imaginary characters I call my "urban folk." See her artist listing at SOAR!
Karen is a self taught mixed media artist and teacher who began her creative journey as teddy bear and doll artist. She added collage and paint over 10 years ago and is still inspired with the infinite possibilities of combining her favorite materials. Her approach to her art and teaching is: "no mistakes, just dive in and see what happens." Karen art has been published in Somerset Studio, Art Journaling, Art Doll Quarterly. She is a featured artist in Incite: The Best of Mixed Media, Incite: Color Passions and a guest artist in Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals by Carla Sonheim. Karen strives to provide her students with a fun, inspiring classroom environment where they feel free to take creative risks and enjoy the results. View Karen's teaching listing at SOAR
I am teaching Urban Folk Primitives in Albuquerque, NM, September 30-Oct 1, 2017. There is still room to join me. I love this workshop because it is a true “mixed media” experience. We get to make a doll (no prior sewing skills required) and use my favorite technique for creating a face on fabric. I just love to make these primitive “stump” dolls. They require minimal stitching and can be made to look as aged or contemporary as you want. We will use our doll for inspiration for our prim painting on wood. We will use pencils, acrylic paint, fun fabric and vintage paper collage elements.
By Southern Oregon Artists Resource, 1582 contributed posts
View all Southern Oregon Artists Resource's posts. About the author: SOAR: The Southern Oregon Artist's Resource is a directory of Southern Oregon artists, artisans and those who serve them and calendar of their art events, and Art Matters!, our blog posting Southern Oregon art events and matters of interest to artists, enthusiasts and patrons of the arts near and far. SOAR was created and is maintained by art advocate and web designer Hannah West in Jacksonville, Oregon to promote our diverse and talented arts community to our visitors and the rest of the world.
Artful Gathering begins on June 6th!
I would love for you to join me in my first Online class, through Artful Gathering.
Class begins on June 6th, but registration is open until June 22nd.
I will be available for live support during class.
All registered students will be entered to win an original painting at the close of class on July 17.
I hope you will consider joining me!
By Karen O'Brien, 62 contributed posts
View all Karen O'Brien's posts. About the author: I am an artmaker, pathfinder, teacher and storyteller. I use whatever materials inspire me to begin my journey. My style is a blend of Folk and Fantasy Art. It is a fusion of what I see everyday, dream and imagine. My paintings evolve over many layers, using paint, marks and intuition to find the soulful, imaginary characters I call my "urban folk." See her artist listing at SOAR!
Karen is a self taught mixed media artist and teacher who began her creative journey as teddy bear and doll artist. She added collage and paint over 10 years ago and is still inspired with the infinite possibilities of combining her favorite materials. Her approach to her art and teaching is: "no mistakes, just dive in and see what happens." Karen art has been published in Somerset Studio, Art Journaling, Art Doll Quarterly. She is a featured artist in Incite: The Best of Mixed Media, Incite: Color Passions and a guest artist in Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals by Carla Sonheim. Karen strives to provide her students with a fun, inspiring classroom environment where they feel free to take creative risks and enjoy the results. View Karen's teaching listing at SOAR
Fresh from my retreat at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, I am ready to get back to teaching. I have decided to do a series of classes on Mixed Media Acrylic Painting. The first two will be all about expressive fun painting, no drawing or drama! Eventually, I have hopes to get a basic acrylic painting series going, so let me know if there is interest. Her are a few teaser photos. You can get the scoop on the classes by clicking on Studio Workshops to the Right…..
By Karen O'Brien, 62 contributed posts
View all Karen O'Brien's posts. About the author: I am an artmaker, pathfinder, teacher and storyteller. I use whatever materials inspire me to begin my journey. My style is a blend of Folk and Fantasy Art. It is a fusion of what I see everyday, dream and imagine. My paintings evolve over many layers, using paint, marks and intuition to find the soulful, imaginary characters I call my "urban folk." See her artist listing at SOAR!
Karen is a self taught mixed media artist and teacher who began her creative journey as teddy bear and doll artist. She added collage and paint over 10 years ago and is still inspired with the infinite possibilities of combining her favorite materials. Her approach to her art and teaching is: "no mistakes, just dive in and see what happens." Karen art has been published in Somerset Studio, Art Journaling, Art Doll Quarterly. She is a featured artist in Incite: The Best of Mixed Media, Incite: Color Passions and a guest artist in Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals by Carla Sonheim. Karen strives to provide her students with a fun, inspiring classroom environment where they feel free to take creative risks and enjoy the results. View Karen's teaching listing at SOAR
Fresh from my retreat at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, I am ready to get back to teaching. I have decided to do a series of classes on Mixed Media Acrylic Painting. The first two will be all about expressive fun painting, no drawing or drama! Eventually, I have hopes to get a basic acrylic painting series going, so let me know if there is interest. Her are a few teaser photos. You can get the scoop on the classes by clicking on Studio Workshops to the Right…..
By Southern Oregon Artists Resource, 1582 contributed posts
View all Southern Oregon Artists Resource's posts. About the author: SOAR: The Southern Oregon Artist's Resource is a directory of Southern Oregon artists, artisans and those who serve them and calendar of their art events, and Art Matters!, our blog posting Southern Oregon art events and matters of interest to artists, enthusiasts and patrons of the arts near and far. SOAR was created and is maintained by art advocate and web designer Hannah West in Jacksonville, Oregon to promote our diverse and talented arts community to our visitors and the rest of the world.
Stuff of Dreams, New Online Class with Karen O’Brien
In case you have not heard, I am teaching my first online course “Stuff of Dreams” in the Summer Session for Artful Gathering 2017. If you click on this link: Artful Gathering, it will take you to all the information on registration, the class description and a short video, which contains a slide show of my studio! Stuff of Dreams is jam packed with techniques including painting, faces, creating a pattern and doll making. I hope you will consider joining me!
Teaching on the Road
I will be teaching in New Mexico in the fall …
Urban Folk Primitives
New Tricks Studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico Sept.30-Oct 3, 2017
You can get the information on my blog.
Here is the link: Urban Folk Primitives
If you are not familiar with New Tricks, you can check out their Facebook page here
Other Happenings in the Studio
For those of you in the Pacific Northwest, I will be the featured artist for the month of May at Gallery One in Grants Pass Oregon. I have been doing a lot of mixed media fabric creations lately and my show includes paintings, art dolls and fabric collage pieces.
I will also have a piece in the Firehouse Gallery in Grants Pass. “Wandering,” on the right, won first place at the Josephine County Artist Association Spring Show.
I am also in the planning stages for some pop-up workshops at my studio. So stay tuned to my blog: karenobrien.blogspot.com and my Facebook Page for information.
Pictured at left is one of my “art quilts.” I would never have created this if I had not followed my primary rule:
By Karen O'Brien, 62 contributed posts
View all Karen O'Brien's posts. About the author: I am an artmaker, pathfinder, teacher and storyteller. I use whatever materials inspire me to begin my journey. My style is a blend of Folk and Fantasy Art. It is a fusion of what I see everyday, dream and imagine. My paintings evolve over many layers, using paint, marks and intuition to find the soulful, imaginary characters I call my "urban folk." See her artist listing at SOAR!
Karen is a self taught mixed media artist and teacher who began her creative journey as teddy bear and doll artist. She added collage and paint over 10 years ago and is still inspired with the infinite possibilities of combining her favorite materials. Her approach to her art and teaching is: "no mistakes, just dive in and see what happens." Karen art has been published in Somerset Studio, Art Journaling, Art Doll Quarterly. She is a featured artist in Incite: The Best of Mixed Media, Incite: Color Passions and a guest artist in Drawing and Painting Imaginary Animals by Carla Sonheim. Karen strives to provide her students with a fun, inspiring classroom environment where they feel free to take creative risks and enjoy the results. View Karen's teaching listing at SOAR
I am so excited to be part of the Artful Gathering 2017 Workshops. This will be my first official online class and it is PACKED full of info, explorations and techniques. Both painting and doll making!
