Art and Soul Portland 2012 Student Work

This was my first time teaching at Art and Soul. I have vended at the retreat many time but this was my first time teaching.

It was a joy!   Such fun people, silliness, and great art.

One of my favorite parts of classes is when everyone pulls out there stash of supplies. So different and so visually impressive.  Oh I don’t think I will ever stop lusting after beautiful fabrics and textures. 

 

Then to see the process that comes out of the piles of inspirations.

Doll Transformed class

And then the final results……

Student work from Doll Transformed

Student work for Junk Crows

Thank you all my wonderful students it was a joy to have you in class and hope to see you again soon.   And thanks to Glenny, Marie, and all the people that do the hard work of making a conference like Art and Soul successful.   See you next year!

New Video / Next Stop ART and SOUL

 

I have been busy making lots of new art for the upcoming art retreat in Portland Or  ART and Soul

A sneak peak of some of the new work I will have available at Art and Soul’s Vendor fair.

 

 

 

 

 

I also in the last month learned how to us windows movie maker. It was a bit of a steep learning curve but happy with the way it turned out. Next time I am hiring a professional voice over person. That was the worst part for me.  Thanks you Ruth for your cool contribution and for holding my sweating hand through the process.

 

Contemporary Artist using Gut

I am amazed at the incredibly different ways artists are using gut as a medium.

 

This installation by Martha Ross Raisanen sets my heart on fire.

I love the old bottles and the textures.  The feeling that you are uncovering some ancient treasure cocooned in mystery.

 

Martha Ross Raisanen’s Collective Secrets

 

Jill Nordfors Clark  Using gut like a weaver or basket maker

Love this delicate yet strong cocoon shape by Pat Hickman

 

I also found pieces I could hardly believe were made of the same material I have used.

Peggy Vanbianchi

WHISTLING IN THE WIND
2000
Gut, colored pencil

 

Fabulous art boots made by Carol Durham

 

Wow what an amazing medium!!

Want to come and learn more about it:

Are you Guts Enough?

Sept 8^th and 9^th    10-2     $90 (some supplies included)

Clarissa Callesen’s Studio

1920 Main St, Ferndale, WA 98248

Are You Guts Enough?

New Exciting Class  

Sept 8^th and 9^th    10-2     $90 (some supplies included)

Clarissa Callesen’s Studio

1920 Main St, Ferndale, WA 98248

EMAIL TODAY IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESERVE A SPOT

clarissacallesen@gmail.com

 

I first learned to use the strange and unusual medium of sausage casings or gut from the fabulous Melissa Manley. Who is not only wickedly talented but sweet, charming and kind. In the class we worked primarily with the translucence of the dried gut by creating wire structures and then stretching the gut over them.   A year or so later I started playing with incorporating the gut into my Art dolls, using them to construct wings and skirts but also just as an added textural surface. 

 

 

In this two day class we will be exploring the diversity of gut as a versatile art medium.

• It is flexible yet strong.
• It can be translucent or opaque.
• It can be used as a primary sculptural material or as just a textural accent.
• It can be used for dolls, jewelry, book arts and assemblage.
• It can be dyed or painted.
• It can be used for construction or attachment in assemblage
• It can be a base for pen and ink or stamping when dry

 

 

This is primarily a technique-based class but if you would like to focus on a single project that is totally fine.  There is tons of room for exploration and variation, and I really encourage everyone to go where their muse is leading them.  I will be spending lots of one on one time consulting and helping you work with this unusual medium. We will be learning lots of fun easy techniques that produce quick, dramatic results. You’ll find that these newly learned skills can be applied to many different kinds of mixed media work.  

Supply list         (no kit fee)

· A small roll of copper wire in 24 or 20 gauge

· A small roll of black annealed steel wire in 24 gauge

· An assortment of found objects ( Objects with holes or openings are interesting, metal is a great, but bring a variety of things to play with)

· Basic wire working tools ( wire cutters, needle nose pliers, flat nose or chain nose pliers)

· A small assortment of beads

· A small bag of fabric scraps include some lighter colored fabric

Optional

· A doll or sculptural item if you want to work on a project as you learn techniques

· A soldering iron or wood burner  ( I will provide two for the class to share)

· Personal favorite paints or pens

Teacher will provide

• Sausage casings
• Steel 16 gauge wire
• Craft Acrylic paints
• Liquid Nails Adhesive
• Extra tools to share
• Stamps and ink

New Altered Doll Sara

 

On the work table

 

Sara  Finished:   Available $175  email for info

Hand spun wool for hair, antique electrical insulator as a hat,Vintage lace as a shawl, altered charm, old millinery flowers,lots of different recycled fabrics distressed and recreated into a unique dress for the pretty Sara.

 

 

 

Playing with Photoshop brushes and Sara

I will be teaching Dolls Transformed  at ART and SOUL in Portland  on Oct 1st.  The class will cover all the skills needed to transform a tacky commercial doll into a unique one of a kind work of art.

Fun, Silly Trip to Vegas

I had never been to Vegas.  I actually was not sure if I really wanted to experience Vegas.  Well this spring a pretty girl talked me into to going with her.

 

It was cheesy…. 

We stayed at the fabulous and funny Flamingo.

 

Marie Osmond’s dolls

 

It was Artsy…..

Large Viola Frey vessel in the Bellagio

 

Chihuly’s famous installation in the lobby of the Bellagio

 

 

 

Old cigarette machines turned into Art o mats

 

House of Blues  I LOVE FOLK ART! 

 

It was elegant…

 

 

 It was unexpected…

Some of the most beautiful specimens of sea life.   The jellyfish were so exquisitely beautiful they made me cry.

 

It was decadent…

 

 

  

It was fun…

 

I altered most of the above photos on my iphone with Instagram and Infinicam