Out and About in Anchorage

Last week I took an encaustic workshop at Sheary Clough Suiters encaustic studio. This was the first time she had a guest artist teaching. Janet Hickok (of Doriolas) was the guest instructor and the focus of the class was on landscape painting. I got wrapped up in my one painting and focused solely on it, having fully intended to do two paintings. It was good to slow down and learn some new approaches with encaustic painting.

Sunlit Scotland 11x14

They are offering another class next weekend which filled immediately-I delayed my response by a day and missed out on it. Sheary has promised more in the future. She also teaches her intro and ongoing encaustic painting workshops on a regular basis. They are very popular also-for more information visit Sheary's web site:

Back Door Designs

There is information about encaustics-if you want to know what this is I'm writing about and  also information about her Encaustic Studio and workshops.

If you haven't been to Doriolas-get there soon and check out the yummy breakfasts and lunches. Janet is also starting to offer some cooking classes, she's a multi-talented lady!

Janet currently is displaying/selling  her own amazing encaustic paintings, and on Nov 5 will be showcasing  "Fused"-our Alaska Chapter of International Encaustic Artists group show. Opening will be from 5-8, so plan on stopping there on your way to or from Upstairs Studio and downtown!

 

New Encaustic (waiting to be named) 24 x 24

will be on display this next First Friday (Nov 5) at Upstairs Studio

Happy Creating-Darla

Life Drawing and Shop!

Life Drawing

Every Wednesday is Life Drawing at Upstairs Studio from 6-8 pm. Model fee is $15. The regulars rave about how much they enjoy it. Drawing from life is a great way to hone your observation and drawing skills. Come draw in a most unique gallery setting with a casual but dedicated group of artists.

Shop! Upstairs Studio

We are busy planning our Saturday Shop! Events for November and December. Applications are starting to come in from some really awesome Alaska Crafters. Don't delay-get your application in early to assure the date or dates you want.  They will be Nov 13 and 20 and Dec 11 and 18.
This is a brand new Event  and we are excited to offer it. We plan to have a fun time selling with other Modern Crafters. You can download your application on the side bar on the right.

If you aren't a Crafter- plan to come up the stairs and shop for some of the most unique handmade gifts in Anchorage.  Buy Local! 

Holiday Owl is reminding you to get your applications sent in for Shop!

Change is in the Air

Being Artists we love changing things up constantly.  Just hard to agree on how to change things! So we started with a white wall in our Gallery. It certainly brightens and cheers up the room. It will be exciting to showoff our colorful Wall art on the nice warm white.  Don't worry-there will still be
color in the Gallery-more colors coming soon.


More white things! Paper mache/plaster skull masks are available to decorate in the tradition of Dia de los Muertos sugar skulls.  Some exciting skull art being created at the Studios, if you want to participate, contact us via email to arrange to get one. You will need to have yours complete and to the Gallery by Nov 4, to be displayed as part of our  November 5 First Friday with Government Hill 6th grade class "Dia de los Muertos".

 

Marlee is making Frida candles-they are very festive. All this and more will be displayed on the next First Friday November 5.

ps. We have Studios spaces available for the right Artists or Crafters.  Contact us at info (at) upstairstudioart.com for more info. We have  an energetic friendly artist community here at Upstairs Studio.

Creativity this week at the Studio

This was a busy and creative week at Upstairs Studio.  Monday is our "Art Coffee" or play day. We set up tables in the Gallery and work as a community. Sometimes we explore a new medium or technique-mixed media collage was a recent favorite and one we will revisit. Experimenting and sharing together is a great way to not only have fun but get fresh new inspiration and ideas that can be used in our usual mediums.
This week there were variety of activities on Monday.  We set out to make paper marigolds for next First Friday-we will be celebrating the Mexican observance of Dia de los Muertos along with the Government Hill 6th grade class. We also have paper plaster cast skulls to decorate for the event and a call for art related to Dia de los Muertos. Information is on our facebook page "The Upstairs Studio" about the call for art.
Kim brought in some frames she wanted to refinish, Erin is our resident expert and got her going sanding, distressing, painting and rubbing-wish I had before and after photos of her frames. They turned our great.  We think Erin is convinced it would be a good class to offer in the future.
Katie started working on her polymer clay flowers and we joined in helping her choose compositions of  shapes and colors to make her flowers. I had to buy one of the flowers that came out of it-a red poppy!

Getting going on projects in the Gallery

Polymer clay flower design

New flower ideas

Paper Marigolds

Erin working on a frame reclaim

The Puppets did not stop moving!

Our day of creating together ended with a Field Trip of the Winterberry Enrichment Program kids to see the working Studios and Gallery.  They were most impressed by the fused glass, polymer clay pasta machine and the Puppets.  The Puppets won them over completely,  Erin let them all play with her puppets and they finished by getting behind a draped table and pretending to put on a puppet show.  It was fun to see the imagination spark on as soon as each child got a puppet in their hands.

Nuno Felting Class

On Sunday Zaynab taught a nuno felted scarf class. The participants had a great time making their silk and wool scarves and each one had a finished scarf by midafternoon.  It was a great way to spend a creative Sunday afternoon, and have a completely unique scarf to show for it. We may have some new felters amongst us-there was a lot of excitement among those who took the class.

Zaynab helping design scarf

Ready to start felting

Erin laying out her scarf design

Detail of scarf

What happened last night?

Erin's puppet and collage drawings/

.

Weston with one of his great paintings, his first show at Upstairs Studio

Enjoying First Friday from the "man chair".

.

Sold encaustic painting, thanks for the purchase, even though a little hard to let go!

Kim's new ring design-very intriguing the beads are Italian Lampwork beads.