Art Smart Studio-Too!

We have opened up Wednesday nights as non-obligatory evening for artists from ages 8 and up to come and learn and create. The lessons or guidance will depend upon the participants. If interested, please go to http://www.art-smart-studio.com/contact/ to register. You can sign up until the day of, and if there is still room, you are welcome to join us!

This for amateur or professional artists who want to bring their projects or start new ones in a safe, fun, and stimulating atmosphere amongst others that are serious about creating meaningful art. You are welcome to join us! http://www.art-smart-studio.com/contact/

Classes will be held on March 29th - April 2nd 2010 at the Art Smart studio in Bryans Road, MD 20616, from 9am-12pm and from 1pm-4pm, and are limited to 10 students, so first come first served! Ages 7-17, (4-6 year old students may come if assisted by a parent.) You may also come as a family! (Take off $5 per sibling only!)
Cash or *check by Friday the 26th of March with filled in forms will reserve your place. Please e-mail or contact us via the website to arrange a time for payment. www.art-smart-studio.com Costs are $30 per person per class, or $125 for the week. If there is room, we will take extra students after the week is begun.

Project 1:
We will be making a 3-D sculpture inspired by paintings of master artists from the past
*Using a conglomeration of both recycled and new materials, students will find solutions to bringing a painting to life as a 3D sculpture.
Project 2:
We will be learning about, experimenting with, and making textile sculptures.
*What is a textile sculpture? Students will not only know, but they will also come away with a cool one of their own to hang at home or give away.
Project 3:
Design and make your own original stuffed creature by hand
*Students will choose out of several self-made design ideas, and then set to awakening their new cuddly or not so cuddly stuffed creature.
Project 4:
Learn simple Silk screening techniques to create cool designs to put on bags, clothing or other accessories.
*Learn a cool way to bring life into your boring, or old bags, clothes, or other accessories
Project 5:
Make beautiful mobiles using wire and found river glass.
*This found glass mobile technique will be taught by local found object artist Kevin Grimes

On Friday night the 20th of November, Art Smart studio teamed up with The Black Box Theater in Indian Head hosting the first annual "Charles County's got Talent in the Arts Show".

This was a lovely 2 days at the Black Box Theater in Indian Head. Our Team facilitated about 6 registered acts and another dozen "Open mike" acts. What a wonderful time we had as people played instruments, sang, recited poetry, danced, and shared; it was awesome! For a backdrop, we had some really creative recycled art pieces being displayed as a teaser for the recycled art contest that took place on the afternoon of Saturday the 21st. It was great! Thanks again for our sponsors!

This was a wonderful event that is going to expand big time! If you're in the area, feel free to come and join us as we celebrate the arts as a community!

Aah, The County Fair. It is a the very essence of American Folk life. I immediately think of the story of Pollyanna, and how enticing the Fair can be for children of all ages.

Well, what is more fun than capturing a piece of Americana on a 4x8 board forever? Probably a lot of things, but none the less, that is exactly what we are going to do.

I just received some photo's from a friend, and I have made a photo collage out of a few that I thought depicted some of the very unique components of a County Fair. Animals, People, vegetable, and Rides!

I'm looking forward to having a good time going from concept to reality. If you're up for a challenge, and plan to be at the Fair over the next few days, we'd love to have you!

This was so much fun to work on. We had quite a few helpers along the way, but we didn't get to finish it. The plan was to complete it at Art in the Park, the very next weekend but, the threatening rain held that idea back.

So, we are going to try and finish this cool painting in the next couple of weeks before it gets to cold. It will then be prepared to live outside where it will be admired at the fair next year.

The regular days and times for classes, for students' ages 5-17, and for adults, are pictured on the table above. Please note changes.

The classes will run for 4 weeks at a time, and continue in 4 week cycles, excepting for local school vacations, if necessary. (That will be determined by consensus in the individual classes.) The adult classes will be on Mondays, from 8:30-10:30pm.

The Prices which includes materials,(for children) are $50 for the age's 5-17 classes when committing to 4 weeks in a row, and $15 per lesson dependent upon availablility; and $80 for adult classes for a commitment to 4 weeks in a row, and $25 per lesson. (Adult and children classes will begin with a minimum of 3 students, and max out at 10.)

Adult students are responsible for their own materials, a list will be distributed upon registration.

Don't forget to take $5.00 off for each committed family member!

Speaking of creative relationships, what is better for relating than having a party? So why not use our creative venue for your next special occasion, be it a birthday, Friends day out or some other great reason to celebrate being together! Check out the website for more info. http://www.art-smart-studio.com/offer/#pt
To request a Party date, please go here: http://www.art-smart-studio.com/contact/

I hope you will come back often since I will also be sharing my thoughts about art, art history, and instruction and some ways to encourage your child to be even more visual art savvy. I'll be giving you some cool little exercises to implement at home, or wherever you go, that will make you want get to work as well!

FYI, I am working on developing an art curriculum that will eventually be available online for a member site as well as packaged as books and or DVDs. At this stage of the game, I would love to know what you always wanted to see in an art curriculum, especially for those of you that home school, but also for those of you who feel that your children are not getting a sufficient dose of visual art at school. So please send your comments so you can be sure that your voice will be heard. No ideas are invaluable, so don't be shy. Even though the curriculum will be aimed at students between the ages of 6-16, it will also be very helpful for the creative adult that wants art broken down in a direct and dynamic way. Stay tuned for the fantastic........ art curriculum! (It doesn't have a name just yet)

What does a 17th century male artist know about wooing a young African American girl from the 20th century?

I keep asking myself the same question, but I don't have a proper answer just yet.

I was very young when my heart skipped a beat when looking at these paintings, at first at the Metropolitan in NYC, but over the years I've gotten to enjoy them across the pond in the Old world as well.

I think I enjoyed the fact that many of the paintings had a young woman highlighted.

In my mind, some reminded me of a candid photo of someone passing their time away, and other times it was an obvious portrait.

In both cases, it made me want to know what was happening before, after and during the captured moment. I am still intrigued with wonder about the people, in these paintings. They seemed so personal.

You've seen the photographs in the national world press contests, okay maybe those are a lot more dramatic, but they are usually photo's that pass through the people and allow the viewers right into their souls, leaving one to feel a bit like a forced peeping tom.

Many artists from various lands, time periods, and genres have this ability to speak to their audiences whether challenging, or stroking; it's that appeal, IMHO, that makes them famous, at least at some point and time in their lives.

Who knows perhaps there are many of these visual artists being cultivated right now, and one day some child in a far away place, from another era will be enthralled with their art as well.

What about you, do you like Vermeer? Well leave a comment and tell me why, or why not. Or perhaps you just want to tell me about another artist that you like, from any era of course. I'll look forward to hearing from you!

Enjoy the slide Show of the Vermeer paintings that I have seen live.

Thanks for reading