Scratchboard Demo At Jerry's Artarama Austin

Today I'll be at Jerry's Artarama in Austin, TX from noon to three with Ampersand Art scratchboards doing a little hands-on demo fun. If you've never used scratchboard, it's a quick, instantly gratifying art form. I taught a class in New Braunfels yesterday and had a great time with the folks there. There will be another class Tuesday from nine to noon at Casa De Linda on IH35 Business. You could squeeze in last minute.

 I've got to get through Austin traffic from South to North to get there. Today is the Austin Marathon so that should make for some interesting snarls.  Gotta love IH35 and Central Texas!

Flock Together Folk Art Birds

It's Official...I'll be in San Marcos, Texas at Eye of the Dog Art Center,  April 7th teaching a class called "Flock Together". We'll be assembling folk art birds from various pieces parts. It's going to be a great, day- long class including a delicious lunch.  Click here to go to the page and sign up.  I hope we have a full house or flock. If you've never been to this art center, it's amazing. A sweet little gem out in the country south of Austin.
I've been using up pieces of scrap wood and misc stuff from yard sales and such. These are so much fun to make. If you are in the area, please join me!

Scratchboard Demos And Kickstarter Project

Here's the February schedule of scratchboard drawing classes and demos: We'll be drawing dogs, monkeys, and flowers on Saturday Feb. 16th 9am-12 Casa De Linda New Braunfels, TX. / Sunday Feb. 13th 12-3pm Jerry's Artarama Austin, TX./ Tuesday Feb. 19th 9am-12 and 1-4pm Casa De Linda New Braunfels, TX. There is a small fee and pre-registration required at Casa De Linda. Jerry's Artarama is on N. IH 35 and is free but space is limited.
I'll also be giving a class at the Pavilion in Austin on the 22nd for residents and the 27th for Rockwall Middle School systems Teachers.  All in all a busy Feb for me. I continue to raise funds at the Cat Scratchin' book project on kickstarter. Funding ends on Feb 13th and I'll be on the road driving to Austin so won't be checking the $$ amount too often, or worrying about whether or not it will fund. Here's how kickstarter works, if I don't raise the amount I need I get none of the money and the project doesn't go forward. So if you are thinking about being a part of the book and have not picked a pledge level, please do so pretty soon. 24 days left to raise $7800.00.
I continue to learn about having a new puppy in my life. One week in we are making adjustments to each other.

Makin' New Animals

I'm busy, busy, busy. Cutting up old books full of animals, Oprah and Vanity Fair magazines, and any other pictures of animals I can find.  Getting ready for a 45 minute workshop that I'll be giving at the Texas Art Educators Conference in San Antonio next month. I'll be there teaching and selling Ampersand Art products.  I put if off long enough. It was much easier just coming up with the idea, now I have to put it together. This is one of my first finished pieces that I'll use to illustrate the process. Let's hope I can write a good lesson plan and present it in a understandable way. Just another "performance". This is either a Prairie Dog or some other rodent with a sweet little Doe head. Red tie and Red Fez!! I'll also be doing a scratchboard workshop called "Scratch Happy." That one is a piece of cake for me!
Meanwhile, I'm taking Dog Scratchin' books tonight to the For Pets' Sake meeting and to Petco on Saturday during adoptions event, to sell a few. So far I've raised about $100.00 each for the above group and the Fayetteville Animal Shelter.  I'll give them both a check at the end of the month. I hope I can bump them up by having more sales. If you are interested in one or two or more, you can contact me or just send a check (I'm old skool) to PO Box 8963 Fayetteville, Arkansas 72703.  Books are $25.00 each and I'm donating $2.00 of every sale to animal rescue groups.
Ok, that's it for now. The show at the Anne Kittrell Gallery on the campus of the University of Arkansas until the end of October. Open M-F 10am-6pm
Next dog event will be in Austin, TX Nov. 13th at Wally Workman Gallery from 6-8pm.

Scratchboard Demo Fun

Ok, please forgive me for the side-ways, out of focus view on this photo.  I finally got a smart phone, and I'm not smart enough to figure out how to use it!  If you tilt your head to the right you get the general idea.  This is a 5"x7" Ampersand Art scratchbord from last night's demo.  The artist, Linda Flores, invited me to come spend the evening teaching a group of cancer survivors some scratchbord techniques. I am a 'member' of that cancer survivor 'club' now, due to the whole thyroid cancer experience in June. We had such a great time.  There were about 10 of us, talking, drawing, scratching, enjoying.  I loved it!  I believe there might even be a few new converts to the scratchbord way.  They liked it so much they asked me to come back on the 19th to continue the class.  It is so satisfying for me to watch as folks discover what they can do with this bord. (that's the Ampersand spelling)  The way Linda F is approaching this design is a very traditional take on using scratchbord as illustration.  It looks very much like a woodcut, or etching. She used a template of a line drawing, transferred it using white chalk on the back.  The scratching beyond the line drawing is her imagination and talent.  I look forward to seeing this completed on the 19th.  She attended a class I taught at the Fayetteville Underground earlier this year, and used her artwork from that class to make inkjet prints of it on greeting cards. I promise I will take better photos next time. 
There is a dusting of snow on the ground outside,  I'm warm and toasty inside.  Thinking about some commission projects that need to be done before Christmas.  Oh my...I'd best jump on those today!

Scratchboard Classes at The Fayetteville Underground

Tomorrow, Saturday Sept. 10th, from 12-3pm I will be teaching scratchboard classes to who ever happens by the classroom at the Fayetteville Underground.  I had folks sign up at 1st Thursday, but my system was flawed, and no one paid up, so I'm hoping that at least 10 folks that put their names in the book come out.  I can work with 20+ so if you are thinking about it...come on down and play!  The cost is $15.00 and that includes all of the matericals.  I've got Ampersand Art scratchboards, paints, inks and patterns.  Scratchboard is fun, instantly gratifying, and accessible to all ages and abilities.  Yes, some folks do fabulously detailed drawings right down to the last hair, which is great, others, such as me, draw out a 'Sleepy Bear' like the above. There is room enough for all of us on this scratchboard planet.  So please, even if it's after 12,  stop on by and see if the boards speak to you.  Thanks, and have a great weekend!

Scratchboard Still Life And Such

Just finished this fun mixed media piece.  Got 'er framed up and ready to go.  If you love it and want it, give me a holler and we'll do the paypal thing.  It's priced at $375.00.  Here are the details:  It is an Ampersand Art Scratchbord, embellished with inks and vintage paper collage.  The frame is an Illusions Floater frame, black matte. It's 11"x14"
"The Dog And Monkey Show" is up at the Fayetteville Underground in the Revolver Gallery until Saturday Oct. 1.  There will be a 'meet the artist' event on Saturday the 17th, and a closing event Saturday Oct. 1.  I'll post times when they are determined.  I'm also teaching two scratchbord classes at the Underground, both Saturdays the 10th and 24th from noon to 3pm.  They will cost $15.00 a class, all materials included.  Shoot me an email at lchsheets@blue-eyedponystudio.com or come into the Underground and register.

The Dog And Monkey Show Fayetteville Underground

"The Dog And Monkey Show" opens this week at the Fayetteville Underground. The Galleries will be open this week starting Weds thru Friday from 12noon to 7pm. And Saturday from 10am to 5pm.  The reception is 5- 8pm September 1st which is 1st Thursday y'all.  Big doin's, so I'm hoping folks can make it down.
 It's my first solo show there and it's in the Revolver Gallery (which is huge!)  I've got around 40 new pieces ready to go on the wall.  I'll be in there hanging the show tomorrow, and doing all the finishing touches.  I'm excited.  I'm happy. There is a lot of really amazing art on the walls in the other 3 galleries, so please, check it out.
I'm scheduled to do two scratchboard classes there at the Underground in the classroom, on Saturday Sept. 10th and 24th from noon to 3pm.  The cost is low,  $15.00 per person, per class.  Pre-registration is requested as class size is limited to 20 folks per class.  There will be a sign up sheet in the E Street Gallery, as well as in the Revolver thursday evening.  I'll have Ampersand Art Supply scratchbord samples, tools, inks, patterns to trace, and various paints there, everything you need to walk out with a finished or almost finished artwork.  Scratchboard is fun, instantly gratifying and all ages are invited to attend. Scratchboard is made with an archival sealed hardboard that then has a layer of white kaolin clay with black ink on top. You scratch thru the black, expose the white and if desired, you can add color using inks, paints etc.. There will be a limited amount of the scratchbord kits that I designed for Ampersand Art available for sale 1st Thursday. 

West Coast Scratchboard Info At Flax Art

http://flaxart.com/2011/07/scratchboard-easy-to-do-art/

Very cool site of a West Coast (San Fran Bay Area) Art Supply.   I'll be teaching a Ampersand Art Scratchbord class there within the next 6-8 Months!  I love my life!  I love scratching!

Scratchboard in Johnson City Texas

Here are a few photos from the class/demo I taught in Johnson City Texas at davino and davinci. It was a great day. All were wonderful and fun. You should check out the classes they offer there. And while you are at it check out the gallery down the road. We used some of my design patterns to trace on the Ampersand Art scratchboard. It was pretty sweet to watch folks as they played with my designs and made them their own! I've got a great life.

King of All Dogs

This is an older, sold scratchboard of mine. It is a Ampersand product, 16"x20" (http://www.ampersandart.com/) Tonight I had the pleasure of presenting information about the company and my favorite medium, scratchboard, to the Austin Fiber Artists. What a great group of folks. They had many of their projects there and I am thinking there may be some sort of fiber incorporated in future pieces of mine. Outstanding! I can't wait to see what they may come up with (and what I may come up with as a result of what I saw there). I will be teaching an all day class on scratchboard and collage at Eye of the Dog Art Center in San Marcos Texas http://www.eyeofthedogartcenter.com/ on Sunday, April 11th. It is very affordable, includes lunch, sample materials, and is in one of the most dynamic and fun art centers I've ever been to. The owners are both amazing artists and it is an unforgettable experience. Google it and sign up folks, if not for my class for another of the variety of classes offered. I'm also giving a free scratchboard demo at Jerry's Artarama here in Austin, Sat. Feb. 27th from 12-3pm. I love watching folks discover how much fun this is!