Crocheting starts today at The Studio! When the weather turns cool I love to crochet. And today we will help others learn how and know that they will love having this fantastic hobby. There is so much versatility in it. The more you practice the better you get. Why not try your hand at it today?!
Here is a link to today’s class in case you would like to join us.
Posted in Crochet | Tagged Crochet, crocheted scarf | Leave a Comment »
Lake Frederick Painters
VIA Class
Friday was a super busy day. First we had Open Studio where I caught up with supply orders and class descriptions and a painter came in to start a new piece for a gift. Then it was to load up all the supplies and go to Lake Frederick where we had a super fun group painting at their Paint Party. Great work everyone!
And then back to The Studio in time to unload everything and set up for a late class with my Virginia International Academy students. They finished up a painting we started the week before. Fabulous!
It’s fun helping others discover how much they enjoy painting.
Posted in Art Class, Paint Party | Tagged Art Class, Lake Frederick, Paint Party, Virginia International Academy | Leave a Comment »
Our fascination with Vincent Van Gogh will never end. We love his work and are always interested to read new ideas and theories surrounding his life and work. Here’s the latest concerning clues to his suicide.
“Dutch chemical engineer Rene van Slooten came up with the hypothesis this year after watching a television documentary about the artist. A Dutch actor was talking about a painting of Van Gogh’s house in Arles and noted that the street had been broken up because Van Gogh was having gas lighting installed. “That’s when the alarm bells started going off for me,” Van Slooten recalls.” Click here and read the story in The Daily Beast.
Posted in Little Known Facts | Tagged Theory on Van Gogh's Death, Van Gogh, Vincent Van Gogh | 1 Comment »
Gretchen with Lincoln and Jed
Lucky on the stoop at The Studio
Hannah and Hershey
Seems that it was Dog Day at The Studio yesterday. I took my boys to work for the morning art class and of course, they were all over everyone. Gretchen made the mistake of sitting down on the floor so Lincoln tried to show her that he is really a lap dog.
Then Lucky came to bring his “sister” to kids class. Sometimes he likes to walk her to class and pick her up. I guess just to be sure she’s safe. With a face like that he does scare off a few folks but he really is just a big sugar lump!
And then finally for the evening adult class Hannah brought her sweet little Hershey to class. She enjoyed all the treats and loving she got from everyone there.
All in all a really good dog day at The Studio!
Posted in daily painter, Dogs | Tagged dog, Dogs | 1 Comment »
These ladies let their creative juices flow at the Abstract Paint Party last night. Great work everyone!
Posted in Art Class, Paint Party, The Studio/Classes | Tagged Abstract, The Studio | Leave a Comment »
Abstract painting comes in so many shapes, sizes, colors, and designs. Most people either love it or hate it.
And often people look at an abstract work and thinks “anyone can do that”. The fact is it is not nearly as easy as it looks.
Tonight there is an abstract class at The Studio that will give some tips on how to create a successful abstract work of art. Come join us.
Posted in Abstract, Art Class, The Studio/Classes | Tagged Abstract, abstract art, The Studio | Leave a Comment »
Crocheted Cat Bowls and Nap Pads
I have been trying to clean out some old odds and ends of yarn that I have in my stash and to do that I have been making “Cat Bowls” and Nap Pads to donate to our animal shelter. Several years ago I came across a program called “Comfort for Critters”.
Comfort for Critters is a 100% volunteer program that creates handmade blankets to comfort homeless pets living in animal shelters. While these animals await adoption, the blankets provide a comfortable bed year-round. When they are adopted, their blanket goes with them, providing something familiar as they adjust to their “forever family.”
Please take a look at their information by clicking the link above and if you knit or crochet help them out. It’s really easy to do and is a great way to use up some of the bits and pieces of yarn you have lying around.
Here’s how I make the “Cat Bowls”. (I want to point out that I am not a pattern writer. I just make this stuff up as I go along crocheting so I may not have written it down precisely. I tried. If you know how to crochet you can adjust this as needed to make it work.)
I make these hold two or three stands of yarn together and use and L Hook or N Hook. This pattern is the one I used holding 3 strands of yarn and an N Hook.
Chain 3. Slip stitch (sl st) in 1st chain to form a ring.
Round 1. Chain 2 and Double Crochet (dc) 10 stitches into ring. Sl st into top of first dc. (10 dc)
Round 2. Chain 2 and 2 dc into each of the 10 stitches . Sl st into top of first dc. (20 dc)
Round 3. Chain 2 and 1 dc in first st. Then * 2 dc in next 2 stitches and then 1 dc in next st. Repeat from *. Sl st into top of first dc. (30 dc)
Round 4. Chain 2 and 1 dc in first st. Then * 2 dc in next 2 stitches and then 1 dc in next 2 sts. Repeat from *. Sl st into top of first dc. (45 dc)
Round 5. Chain 2 and 1 dc in first st. Then * 2 dc in next stitch and then 1 dc in next 2 sts. Repeat from *. Sl st into top of first dc. (60 dc)
Round 6. Chain 2 and 1 dc in first st. Then * 2 dc in next stitch and then 1 dc in next 3 sts. Repeat from *. Sl st into top of first dc. (76 dc)
Round 7 – 10. Repeat Round 6 ass 1 more stitch in the pattern each time. (If you want a bigger bowl add more rounds here following the repeat pattern)
Round 11. Ch 2. Dc in each st around. Sl st into top of first dc.
Round 12. Ch 2. Dc in each st around using only the back loop. Sl st into top of first dc.
Round 13 – 14 Dc in each st around. Sl st into top of first dc.
Round 15 – 16. *Dc in first 10 sts. Then dc 2 together. Repeat from * around. Sl st into top of first dc.
Round 17. Sl st in each dc to make a finished edge.
This pattern can be made larger or smaller. And the sides can be made more shallow or deeper. Just play with adding or subtracting rounds in the pattern to suit your needs.
Good luck and have fun crocheting!
Posted in Crochet | Tagged Crochet, crochet pattern, crocheted cat bowl pattern, free crochet pattern | 2 Comments »
Chambers Bay Golf Course, Tacoma, WA
This is a painting of Chambers Bay Golf Course in Tacoma, WA. One of my students that is a golfer wanted to paint it and we did a “Paint Along” – where I paint the same painting and demonstrate techniques I use while she paints the same image. It’s a great learning tool to watch another painter at work. Everyone uses their brushes differently; they mix paint differently; and the apply it differently. There is not a right or wrong way – just different ways and you can learn something from all of them.
Posted in Art Class, Landscape | Tagged Chambers Bay Golf Course, golf | Leave a Comment »
The kids have been painting some Halloween themed pieces this past week. Good work everyone!
Posted in Art Class | Tagged Art Class, art lessons, Halloween, kids art | Leave a Comment »
The Lane of Poplars at Moret
Born on this day in 1839 Alfred Sisley spent most of his life in France even though he was a British citizen. He is known as the most consistent of the impressionist painters as he felt that the style suited his needs and his work concentrated mainly on landscapes. Learn more about Sisley here.
Flood at Port-Marly (1876)
Sisley’s “The Lane of Poplars at Moret” has been stolen three times from the Musee des Beaux-Arts in Nice – Once in 1978 when on loan in Marseille (recovered a few days later in the city’s sewers), once in 1998 (in which the museum’s curator was convicted of the theft and jailed for five years along with two accomplices) and in August 2007. On June 4, 2008, the French National Police recovered it and three other stolen paintings from inside a van in Marseilles, France. (From Wikipedia) You can see his complete works here.
Posted in Serendipity | Tagged Alfred Sisley, impressionism, impressionist | Leave a Comment »
The Studio 