Oil Painting Classes, recent and future

Last weekend 5 students got together in Carol Lambert's still life oil painting class, with wonderful results. Each student set up a still life to paint, completed a preliminary drawing, a color study, and a monochrome underpainting. (That's the first day!) Then each student began to apply color, gradually refining the work until the last stage: putting in the highlights and details that really bring the image to life. In the photo above, Dana is working on her monochrome underpainting.

Here is Evelyn beginning to apply color over her monochrome layer.

Marlee, one of our Upstairs Studio artists, is also getting into the first color layer.

Judi is well on her way to completing the painting. This is her first oil painting ever!

Nathan is applying the finishing touches.

Students learned about still life design, how to handle oil paints, basic color theory and practice, good studio habits for safety and efficiency, and how to take the best possible care of materials and brushes.

Everyone did so well, and it is always fun to see how each person arranges the still life objects in an expressive and original way.

A number of Carol's students are getting together to organize a class group, and Carol can put you in touch with them. They are collecting names of people who would like to attend one or more classes at Upstairs Studio, starting in the autumn. These classes are both fun and instructive, and go best when there is a group of at least 5 students: more energy in the room, more ideas to share.

If you are interested getting on the list to take a class, please contact Carol at: info@carollambertarts.com

First Friday Guest List

It will be a busy and fun evening at Upstairs Studio May 6, 5-9.

Our feature fine artist is Marta Krynytzy, she is making a second appearance as a guest artist at the Studios. Her new show is titled "Windows".  She will be using windows to display her ink and watercolor sketches. You will be able to see fresh views of Alaskan landscapes through her eyes. Her sketches and prints are affordable and charming.

The Fireweed Flutes will be performing from 6:30-8:30. They are a local quartet of flutist with an impressive range of music. We are excited and honored to have them participate in our First Friday.

We will also be showing the Rogers Park Elementary 3rd Grade Class Mask project. The students are all from Mrs. Lederhos's third grade class. Their task was to create a mask of themselves and design them to express their habits of mind strengths. They also made a hand, students were asked to choose an object that would express a goal they were reaching for.

 Upstairs Studio artists will also be displaying their Art and Artisan works. Come on up to our ever changing creative space.

Featuring Marlee Mitchell!

Upstairs Studio Artist Marlee Mitchell is the Featured Artist for Picture This - Spring Open House. She was chosen for her brilliant  paintings of large flowers. You can see her work there for the rest of  the month of April.

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Last Saturday was the Picture This Spring Open House, it appears to be a popular and well attended event in Eagle River.  As the last of the snow melts  the locals happily celebrate Spring. Marlee's paintings boldly reflect this cheerful mood on the feature wall. For this annual event Picture This has a run of prints made from a chosen painting, it is given out to those who come to the Saturday Open House. Marlee's beautiful poppy print will be warming a few hundred lucky homes.

She would like to say "thanks to all that came out that day". It was especially nice to see familiar faces from Upstairs Studio First Fridays. It is worth the short drive to Eagle River to see her show, shop a bit at Picture This, get a coffee at Jitters,  and stop by nearby Artworks too. Then make plans to see more of Marlee's work at Upstairs Studio on First Fridays. So nice to see one of our Artists gaining some well deserved recognition, Yeah Marlee!

New Summer Life Drawing Schedule

As we head into the busy summer months and everyone spends more and more time enjoying the Alaska long days of summer (no comment on the snow today)-the Life Drawing schedule will change to monthly. Also the day will change to Tuesday evening, time is still 6-8pm.
 You can update your calendars for these dates:

April 19
May 10
June 14
July 12
August 9

Drop ins welcome, $15 model fee. Contact Amanda Brinkley with questions at 903.0015

The Pet Project Artist Challenge

Photos of some of the artwork brought in by artists who answered our monthly artist challenge:
Most of these pieces will go to the Anchorage SPCA to be auctioned off at their benefit dinner, April 17, at Guido's restaurant.

Thanks to everyone who participated, these are wonderful!

Introducing Dallas Wildeve and Wendy Gingell

This First Friday, which is April 1st coincidentally we will be featuring our New Artists. Both Artists are fairly new to Anchorage and have jumped right in to the Art Scene here. Dallas relocated from Talkeetna and Wendy is from Washington State. Dallas uses predominately salvaged materials in her art making. Currently she is making Thread Sketches on Tyvek wrap and PVC collaged bracelets and unique paper earrings.  More about her in the next few days!

Wendy Gingell visited Upstairs Studio last fall, knowing she was moving north and was taken with the place. She stayed in contact with us and was lucky enough to get a studio space upon moving to Anchorage.

Maybe that's the other way around and we were lucky to have a space on her arrival? You be the judge when you see her unique functional Ceramics. Much more about her on her and her Art on her web site Gingell Ceramics. 

This Friday, April 1 from 5-9pm you can meet Wendy, Dallas and many of the other resident Artists at the Studio. (Bring your check book or cash as there is some great art for sale.)

Come on up and help us welcome Wendy to Upstairs Studio and to Alaska.

First Friday photos

Here are a few images from our March 4 First Friday event. It's lucky the photos were taken early in the evening, because later on it was almost too crowded to take pictures!

Our guest artist, John Hagge, with his display of Alaskan landscapes.

A visitor looks through Marlee Mitchell's cards, in front of her colorful paintings.

And here is a sold piece by Zaynab Falconer.
This is just a small sample of the work available at Upstairs Studio.

Thanks to Erin Osinkosky for these photos!