REGISTER ON-LINE OR CALL Spot5  AT:

(502) 594-1483

Online Shopping @ Cliftons

Easels, Kilns, Gift Certificates and art kits are now available for purchase online. These items can be shipped to your address, a gift recipient’s address or picked up in our store at 2005 Frankfort Ave. www.cliftonartsupply.com

Bearno’s By the Bridge: Landscapes Show

While visiting the North Carolina shore this past summer I fell into a very nice rhythm of  planning and letting go. Okay - it’s easy to be Zen while on vacation but wouldn’t it be nice to thread that through the other 51 weeks? And into one’s art?

 

Actually I do believe that the two main components that take a good piece of art and make it excellent are 1) a collaboration between control and impulse and  2) an artist who allows that to happen.  When part of a piece is planned and executed with thought and care, and part is done on the spot- intuitively, all blueprints aside,  the outcome can be  grace in visual form.

 

Viewers respond positively if  they sense room to breathe in a piece -when they feel the freedom, life, passion and personal expression.

 

SO back from the beach I became frustrated when my  creative  work was challenged due to a  new schedule.  I took a big step back and asked myself some key questions: what is the road block and what am I willing to change to get around it? Primarily it was a time issue - I had several one hour slots when I could work but rarely

anything more than that.  I continued to paint small pieces, which was good practice but wasn’t satisfying.

 

I needed something faster. Layered. Bigger. I love working with spray paint - the speckling of colors, the technique with stencils but it makes  me physically sick ( I’m not great at keeping  safety equipment on). Also there is the not so environmentally friendly part of spray.

 

I challenged watercolor to be my spray paint. Not being very familiar with it - it’s different procedure, chemistry, supplies - it took a little self talk. With each piece I have learned. This material and this process knocked off some rusty crud that was making my work stagnant. Working this way is thrilling and fun and new. At times it feels like… vacation.

 

Dream, sketch, plan. Use control to organize your workplace and schedule the time, choose the subject matter and the materials. Then once the piece is mapped out - let go,  be flexible. Allow an odd color choice or a wild brush mark  or an unusual stopping place and call it finished. With your intuition in the driver's seat surprising side trips can occur.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s a Flash Sale?

It’s when we pick an item and put it on super savings for

12-36 hours. We announce it on Facebook, in the store and Twitter only.

Haunted HeadQuarters III is a Success

Laurie Blayney

 

Printmaking is a class not every studio can offer! We have a great instructor, a fabulous large press, a darkroom and screen print press - all of the ingredients for the best class ever!

 

ART TIP

Bent brushes are not ruined forever. You can mold them back into shape by putting liquid soap on them. (pink soap - an artists brush soap - is recommended) Let dry for a few days - just mark them with a piece of tape so that you remember to rinse before painting.

 

Also for brushes that have dried, permanent paint - there are a few cleaners on the market that will resurrect  - my favorite is Incredible Brush Cleaner

by Chroma it works on both Acrylic and Oil. Winsor Newton has their own: Brush Cleaner and Restorer that. is non-toxic and biodegradable.

Several wild and ghoulish entries came in this year. Heads were split, spliced, exploded, carved out, painted with fluorescent paints and then embellished . Local Art Clubs got involved. New Albany High School, Presentation Academy, Summit Academy and Spot 5 had several entries. The winning head, chosen by Spot5 judges, was Pin Head. Congratulations to Alex Hall from Presentation and thanks to all of the entrants for making it a fantastic show. 

Clifton Art Supply and Spot5 Art Studio Gift Cards are good for supplies and classes!

 

Call for Entries: Spot5 Student Show Entry Deadline is January 31st.  Current & past students exhibiting work created while here. Up to three pieces per student.

  Kids Day Camps for In-Service Days

Spot5 Art Studio is now offering day camps for Elementary, Middle and High School students when school is not in session for various reasons. Upcoming: All day camps November 7th and 8th.  Holiday week-long camps:  Dec. 19th-23rd & Dec. 26th -30th.

                                Internships for ages 14 and up.

Distinct interpretations of

“landscape” by several

local artists are featured

through December 1.

Included in the show are the

painting NC Woods by

Laurie Blayney and this

digital photograph by Leslie Doyle.

Both artists are Spot5 instructors.

Pin Head by Alex Hall