Studying Gyotaku

My fellow artist Margaret Morley and I recently attended the Nature Printing Society's National Conference in Ft. Collins, Colorado.  We spent HOURS rubbing fish! 

One day was spent in a class based on the direct method.  Inks are applied directly to the fish and paper is placed on the fish.

The second day was spent on the basics of the indirect method.  After preparing the fish, fabric is carefully placed on the fish.  Tampos are used to apply inks--many tampos and many, many, many taps.

The highlight of the trip, the reason we went to Colorado, was two days of study with Japanese gyotaku master Mineo Ryuka Yamamoto of the International Fish Print Studio, Saitama, Japan .  I had planned to go to Japan, but the tsunami disrupted that plan.  So I was thrilled to find that Mineo Sensai would be in Colorado.

These were intense days with HOURS AND HOURS of tapping tampos on our fishes, but the resulting artwork was unbelievable!

Interested in a workshop?  Email Grace at grace.mckee@live.com.

Acrylics Class at The Art Studio at Arianna's, July 28, 2011

We had such a fun time this morning at The Art Studio at Arianna's!  Now that I have settled into my studio there, I am beginning to teach classes again.

These two young ladies, Julie and Julie, joined Margaret and me for an acrylics adventure.  You can tell from their faces that they are happy with their beginnings.

We are planning to get together again and invite others to join us. 

Here's the plan:

We are meeting at my studio at The Art Studio at Arianna's (across from MiraBay) on Monday evening, August 8, at 6 pm.  Bring a canvas, gel medium (your choice of matte or glossy), a palette, acrylic paints, brushes and a palette knife.  That wonderful Golden's Retarder will help to keep your paints wet.

Bring multiple photos of your favorite subject, whether person, place or thing.  Bring laser printer copies in black and white (grayscale) in various sizes to arrange on your canvas to help with your composition.  We will wet these and attach them with the gel medium.  Then, we will paint over them to create a multi-media piece of art.

It promises to be a great time with creative juices flowing.

To join Margaret, Meg, Julie, and Julie, give me a call at 813-766-5040 or email me at grace.mckee@live.com.  The cost is $35 for a two-hour class.  (And plan to stay longer as it seems we always get caught up and continue until we reach a good stopping place.)

NOTE:  Margaret and I are headed to the Nature Printing Society National Conference in Colorado on Sunday and will return the following Saturday so emails will probably not be read during that week.

Essence of Ybor Art Show - June 4, 2011

Planning My Display Beforehand in The Art Studio at Arianna's

Inside the Chapel at Ybor Square across from Spahetti Warehouse

Essence of Ybor Art Show in Ybor Square