Bones & Stones at The Art Riot

Here is a fun workshop just in time for Halloween! Becky Nielsen of Gemini River Rocks will be at The Art Riot hosting a workshop where she will be teaching how to paint sugar skulls and skeletons on natural stones in her signature style! This Friday, September 28th from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Check out her work on her Etsy page at geminiriverrocks.etsy.com.
$10 per person, materials will be provided. Class size limited to 12 participants so please RSVP as soon as you can to make sure you get a spot! All skill levels welcome.

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/280389662067287/

The Art Riot
36 John Street
Kingston, NY 12401
(845) 331-2421

DIY Tutorial: Drawing on Stones

Memories of Summer

I was spent several days on Shelter Island in June and collected a bag full of smooth white stones from the seashore.  I thought they would make nice mini-canvases for some simple drawings or doodles.  Below are the steps for making the simplest of paperweights and a little record of the events of the summer.

Shelter Island

Clean your stone so that it is free of dirt or seaweed.  Draw your design in pencil.

  I will use pictures for reference, but this is just a simple starfish.

FW Inks are permanent and opaque.  You can use either a very fine brush or a pen for your drawing.  Keep a cup of water handy for rinsing out your brush or pen before the ink starts to clog.  Hold the stone in your non-drawing hand and turn it so the surface you’re working on faces you.  Steady your drawing hand by keeping part of your palm or wrist on the table or tucked against your side.  Clean off excess dried ink on your brush or pen with a tissue.

FW Ink dries quickly.  If you make a mistake you will have to sand it off!  When your drawing is finished and the ink is dry, use a kneaded rubber eraser to remove the graphite pencil lines that are left. 

Finished!

I found these stones useful for keeping my papers in place when the ceiling fan was on!

Jody Lee

www.astudiobythesea.etsy.com

Member Spotlight - Inner Sasa

This week we bring you Alison Ciarlante, aka Sasa from Inner Sasa from Amsterdam, NY and currently lives in Salt Point, NY.

What is your professional background?
I was a membership coordinator at Gold's Gym for 11 years and quit in 2009 to become a full time artist and to spread Peace Rocks.


What led you to your current craft?
I have been painting randomly for years and occasionally selling my art on ebay. Then on 4/1/09 I had a really bad day. So I picked up a rock and painted a peace sign on it and it made me feel good. I gave it to my husband to spread and when he came back, I decided to spread a million Peace Rocks all over the world. So I quit my job and became a full time artist.

How do you feed your creativity?
I like to read inspirational quotes for inspiration. Also, sometimes I get a really nice email from someone saying they found a Peace rock and it inspires me to keep on painting them.

How do you work deal with a creative block?
If I get a creative block, I will look at pictures online or in a magazine and then I get the urge to make sometime or paint something similar.

Describe your work area.
My work area is kind of messy. I have a huge desk with all my paints and paint brushes and that is where I paint. Then I have a desk with my mac computer and printer. Then behind me and on the side are huge shelves loaded with rocks and cards and paintings. Then on the floor in bags, I have rocks that will soon be painted.

Favorite time of day to work?
My favorite time of day to work is from 4pm - 10pm.

How did you end up on Etsy?
My twin sister introduced me to Etsy. She is an artist and loves buying things on etsy. I fell in love with the awesome company.

Other than your supplies & materials, what do you want with you on a stranded island?
I would want my pug dog, cat and tea with me on a stranded island.

Any guilty pleasures?
Dark chocolate, riding scooters and hanging out in coffee shops.

Words of wisdom for aspiring artists?
My words of wisdom: If you are consistant, people will know you are serious and will be drawn to your artwork. If you know what you want, it's only a matter of time until you get it.

Spreading Peace one Peace rock at a time. ~ http://www.sasa-peace-rocks.blogspot.com/ and on Facebook

Member Spotlight - Gemini River Rocks

A new feature you will see here on the team blog will be Member Spotlights where we introduce to everyone members of the team and we learn a little something about the artist behind the design. Up first is Becky from Gemini River Rocks

Tell us a little about yourself (name, where from, where you are now)
I’m Becky Nielsen. I have the distinction of coming from Wyoming – my great grandparents were settlers there before it was a state. I’ve moved all over the country and other places as well, but have been living in the Hudson Valley for the larger part of my life. My husband Al and I have five children and eight grandchildren between us.

What is your professional background?
For over 40 years I was a physical therapist. Before I retired I began painting, and that has become one of the big surprises and joys of these later years.


What led you to your current craft?
My art began when I was skipping rocks with my grandson from the shore ofthe Hudson River. One stone reminded me of a bird, so Alex and I began to look for other rocks that had familiar shapes and we brought them home to paint. The sculptural quality of the water worn stone often dictated what the finished piece should be. My work became more intricate and the themes expanded. Gradually I found different ways to use the stones. Some became pins or pendants, some became framed art. Eventually as my confidence increased I started taking classes in traditional iconography and some of those techniques were translated to my painting on stone. And at this point I paint on a variety of surfaces – wood, paper, canvas, and glass, as well as rocks. I primarily use acrylics or egg tempera.

Describe your work area.
After I’d been painting for a couple of years at the dining room table we decided to remodel a portion of the upstairs in our house to become a studio. The ceilingwas raised, a window was added. Such luxury! I vowed never to bring things into the room that I didn’t absolutely need or want there. Hah! That lasted about 1 month. But it is still a great space and I feel fortunate to have it. It has various work surfaces for writing, my computer, painting, mounting and framing. There are lots of shelves of various depths and dimensions for books, materials,frames, supplies. And it has a small altar. The walls are filled with paintings,masks, drums, percussion instruments, photos, art that friends have given me.

Favorite time of day to work?
I’m a morning person. I’d love it if I could start painting first thing in the day. But even though I’m retired, I find I don’t have much time that is mine. Grandchildren take up a lot of my hours. Knowing how quickly they grow and move on, it’s a choice that I make gladly. But as a result I probably do most of my work later in the afternoon and early evening. When I cook, I often make things up that will last us for at least a couple of nights. That way, I have more time the next few days to paint. And cleaning is not high priority, either.


How do you work deal with a creative block?
Creative block can be experienced in different ways. I never have trouble thinking of things to do. When you start this late in life, the bigger problem is trying to figure out which project to work on first. There is so much to explore. But what I do encounter is some trepidation as I anticipate failure. There are projects I put off because I worry that I’ll screw them up. That fear is my version of creative block.

How do you feed your creativity?
I keep journals, always have a sketch pad handy, and jot down notes or drawings as I come across things that I want to consider. I feed my creativity through reading, music, art classes, observing nature, watching patterns and colors, trying to just be aware of my surroundings as much as I can. RecentlyI’ve begun meeting with a few local artists monthly to discuss our work, share our thoughts about what it is to be creative, what we want to do with our art. And I enjoy challenges such as February’s Thing a Day, an online event that asks you commit to creating something every day for the month. I’ve also found theme challenges to be fun and rewarding.

How did you end up on Etsy?
I joined Etsy a few years ago when a friend suggested it as a place to sell my work. Our local Etsy team has grown very quickly and is a fun and supportive group. I also sell through the Catskill Mountain Artisan’s Guild Shop inMargaretville and at some craft shows. My first solo show this past fall was a thrill.

Words of wisdom for aspiring artists?
I would suggest to anyone who is beginning to notice interest in creative expression to jump in without self criticism and judgement. It is far too easy to squelch those tender urges through self doubt. While critiquing work is necessary at some point if selling is a goal, it’s important to first develop some skill and style and that will grow best in a kind environment.

Keep up with Becky on her blog and Twitter.

Rock Painting Workshop

This past weekend I had the privilege of being invited to give a workshop on rock painting at the Rural Women's Conference in Binghamton, NY. This was the fourth year for the conference whose purpose is to provide an opportunity for rural women who often experience isolation due to "location, launguage, culture, or resources" to come together to network and develop strategies for change.

These workshops are usually geared towards health, social justice, domestic violence, families, and various resources. This year they decided to offer two creativity workshops as well, acknowledging that this is an area that is often neglected and yet so important to nourishing a healthy life.

Jill Austen was asked to do a session on storytelling, encouraging women to examine their own stories after hearing one that she would share. I was to provide a class in rock painting. As Jill and I were discussing how to arrange the room, we decided that the two workshops could blend together very well. I often find that the stones I paint tell stories, they allow people to share the things that are important in their lives, the things that make them laugh, or that give meaning to their days.

Rock painting is a great way to get people to engage in art. So many folks tell me about how they used to do it as a child. It's so unintimidating - you can start with just some color. Maybe the shape suggests a theme. And the focus on something small is utterly relaxing. The women who attended the workshop were exclaiming how wonderful it felt to just have a little time and space to play like that.

I love the idea that I am able to take something simple like this, that has added so much joy to my life, that has led me to a very different way of being in the world, and share it with a larger community. Creativity is contagious.