My friend Tomoko has just opened up her own art studio, Bosatsu Factory, in Upland and has assembled a group of artists to teach various adult and children’s classes that begin in September!  I am one such lucky artist and will be teaching art to three age groups of students.  I will teach painting and drawing mostly, but maybe throw in some 3D stuff too.  Can’t wait!  I’ve always wanted to start my own studio gallery kind of thing, like a community art center with gallery and shop and classes et al, (could it possibly be because I worked at the Huntington Beach Art Center since I was 18?) but it is so cool to see someone just like me (with no heaps of money) just totally start something from scratch and go for it.  There have been a lot of people jumping in eager to help because Art is always something a community needs more of.

The disaster that is moving:

Well I never thought I could get that place empty, and I had to enlist a LOT of help because a 1444 square foot house is not easy.  In 100 degree weather.  Without a fun, new place to bring things.  (For the time being, I’m staying at the BF’s)  But really, everything went swimmingly and it did seem like the stars had been aligning for little old me.  I just need to keep positive and figure out how to be grounded in an utterly ungrounded situation.  That is where kid’s classes come in.  Kids, with all their mini melodramas and the funny things that they say, and their undeniable creativity, seem to bring a lightness and a quirkiness to the situation, especially when you only have them on loan for a few hours, and get to return to a quiet place afterwards.

These are some glimpses of the “Exquisite Corpse” project with the Huntington Beach Art Center’s Art Camp kids, which turned out amazingly awesome and I just had to take pictures.  I sure can’t wait til the day I can actually make art again!  Only the universe knows that answer.

Today, me and the BF are going to hit the OC Fair to see our friend’s band play, Hell and Half of Georgia, and also mosey on over to the Children’s Art Exhibition section where many of my students will have work on display from my “Drawing for Little Tots” drawing class.  Can’t wait to see and take pictures!!

Well I am knee-deep in painting and writing and all things that have to do with graduating in less than four months with my MFA!  The actual show will be in April and I am busy painting as the due date is fast approaching.  But here is some of my in-progress work.  My goal of sorts is to work and work and work and then edit what makes it into the show later.  I will wait and see who plays good together.  I work better that way.

Oh, and I’m really excited for this Sunday, which is the First Sunday event in downtown Riverside where I’ll be at the Sweeney Art Gallery leading the Totes Yo! workshop where we will be stamping and screening cool little stamps and designs onto canvas tote bags.  I’m bringing some blank t-shirts just because I can’t resist.  If you’re in the area though, it’s free for all ages!  Doesn’t get any better than that.  One tote bag per person.

My good friend and fellow artist Christine is teaching some classes coming up at OTIS extension and if anyone lives in the LA area, check them out!  They are sure to unleash the artist residing inside you.  Ok I’ve been watching those Paranormal shows all day long since I am sick with a dizzy head cold, and I was relegated to the couch with my felt sewing and now I’m all about ghosts.  How does this tie into the art classes, you ask?  Creativity is a lot like the spirit world, and parts of our imagination might be trying to communicate to us, and it is up to you to learn how to open up and direct this more elusive, immaterial state of being we all call: IMAGINATION.  And art can do that!

I’m excited to announce my Drawing for Tots classes at the Huntington Beach Art Center are coming back after the holiday hiatus, starting three eight week sessions Wednesday, January 13th. Class sizes are limited to 15 and they are filling up quickly!  Go here to register, or call the HBAC at 714.374.1650.  See everyone next week!