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!

Early Morning Studio Time

This morning I'm juggling several things, here is a shot of the studio table and it's pretty messy. I'm making folk art birds at the kitchen countertop, scratchboard drawings at the above table, franken-furniture pieces in the workshop, and mixing in some visiting with Bowen the dog (below) at his home with good friends.

He's the cutest little guy, but being a puppy I found I couldn't get anything done with him doing what puppies do. So he's still a part of my pack, but we are all happier.
Oh yeah, still funding the Cat Scratchin book on kickstarter. It's almost to the end...soon I get to start gathering and drawing the cats. Go here to see the project. If you have a rescued cat, you may want to jump in...like, uh, now....please.
I'll be in Austin next week starting a visit and teaching tour. Check out Casa De Linda in New Braunfels for a listing of classes, plus I'll be at Jerry's Artarama Austin Sunday the 17th doing a demo. Line up-sign up. Ok, that's all for now. Stay happy.

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.

East Coast Scratchboard Demos

 One of my favorite artworks from the Jerry's West Orange, NJ Demo.

 Working...

 Working....

 Working....playing....working...

 This little gal fell in love with Ampersand Art scratchbord. I really enjoyed watching her and her mother discover how much fun this medium is.

In June I got to travel to the East Coast to teach Scratchboard classes at three stores. AI Friedman in Port Chester, NY. Jerry's Artist Outlet in West Orange, NJ. And Jerry's in West Hartford, CT. I had a ball. Great stores, staff and participants. A lot of fun artwork was done by all. Here are just a few of the photos I took when I wasn't teaching and scratchin'. Check out all the Ampersand Art products here. It took a while to post this as I've been busy scratchin' out 75 dogs for the soon to come Dog Scratchin' book of rescued dogs and their stories. (drop the g folks...I just discovered there is a blog for Dog Scratching... that's not mine!) It's hotter than hot here, just like everywhere else. I'm learning to live with it. I don't want to join the inevitable migration to the north. Stay out of the sun everyone!

Scratchboard Workshop Schedule Almost Time To Get Scratchin'

Just wanted to post all of the upcoming Linda Sheets Scratchboard Workshops/Demos. These are sponsored by the great Ampersand Art company who produce the best scratchbord on earth. Really. I've tried it all!
On Friday June 8th I'll be at AI Friedman in Port Chester NY from 1-3:30pm
Saturday June 9th Will be Jerry's Artist Outlet in West Orange, NJ from 1-3pm
Sunday June 10th I'll be at Jerry's Artarama in West Hartford CT from 1-3pm
I will be there with supplies and all the knowledge I can carry in my head, to share with you.
Come on out and play! All ages and abilities are invited.
Here are some photos from my workshop at Flax Art Supply in San Francisco CA

                                        Did I mention that we have fun!

                                           This little dude is so proud!

I love watching how folks adapt to the boards. This is from one of my designs. She has made it her own!

                                     A very cool, elaborate doodle indeed!
Wanted to let you all know I've started a new blog/website for the Dog Scratchin' book. I'll be posting photos of all of the 60+ dogs I've drawn thus far. And it will be a good place to keep up with what's happenin' with the book.

Free Ampersand Scratchbord Demo At Jerry's Artarama Austin!

Yes dear folks, I am in beautiful Austin, Texas.  Home of Ampersand Scratchbord (and other delicious art bords, like gessobord, claybord etc...) Check out their website to see all of them.  I will be at the Jerry's Artarama Austin on N. I-35 this Saturday November 19th from 12noon-3pm teaching all who stop by about the wonders of scratchbord.  If you are out and about stop by for a bit and play.  If you've ever tried the paper version of scratchboard and been frustrated with how it tears and deteriorates, stop right in and try Ampersand's surface.  I have been in love with this product for 10 years.  Hmmmn, my longest relationship so far.  And it's a good one! Go to the Ampersand website to learn more...about the bord, not my relationship history y'all!

This is a little 5"x7" version of my owl design on the scratchbord, without color added.  Usually I add inks from the Claybord ink set that Ampersand sells, but I thought I'd go grey with this one.  I'm off to more visiting with friends, and some damn good tacos!  Enjoy your day, stay in the moment and make some art...

What A Mess Of Art!

This is the living room after hauling most of the stuff out of my studio at the Fayetteville Underground.  Dang, I've really got the whole 'body of work' thing a'going on here.  Now granted, some of this is going to Wally Workman Gallery in Austin, TX.  Some of it is going to Eye Of The Dog Art Center in San Marcos, TX for their annual after turkey day home show, and finally, some of it is my Ampersand Art scratchbord teaching materials for demos and workshops.  I'm heading out to Texas for art fun!  Can't wait to see all my friends! and I'm doing a bunch of scratchbord and stampbord workshops.  If you are in Austin, be sure and stop by Jerry's Artarama on I-35, Saturday November 19th from 12-3pm.  I'll be there doing a free demo.  Yippie eye oh!
The sad thing about this picture is that there is another room in the house that I use as a studio, it is full up too. Sad, because I really just want to sell it all to make room for making more. So, what I ask you is, instead of buying the newest phone, fad, or whatever, buy some art...from me, or any other artist.  The economy has hit us hard too.
 I really hope folks will support the Underground artists in our new adventure.  Check out our morph the org website to learn more. 
Meanwhile, I've got a heap o' packing to do...Yah hoo!
I guess all I really wanted to say is...I'm off for a bit, I'll miss all y'all in the Arkansas Ozarks.  But I'll be back for our last 1st Thursday at the Fayetteville Square location.  I hope y'all can come out and visit with us. Bring your dollars and do a little or a lot of art shopping.  And I really hope you will help us continue to bring amazing art to this sweet little burg!  Chow babies!

Happy, Happy Scratchboard Holiday!

I've been very busy scratching away on Ampersand scratchboard for the past few weeks. Not much time for the blog...but I'll try to be better in 2011. This is my current studio table! Had a great couple of weeks in Austin, TX doing demos at Jerry's Artarama and the Austin Palette Club. Also had a fun time out at Eye of the Dog Art Center selling art at their home show. Now I'm back home and working on a series of scratchboards. Can't post them yet, will put them up soon as I can. Suffice to say, I am working on some big, fun, future business.
Today is my Grandmother's 99th birthday. She is a wonder...still lives alone and gets around pretty well. Hope I got a big dose of her genes!

Little Wacked Out Bird Scratchboard

Scratched this out while doing an Ampersand Art www.ampersandart.com demo at Artisan Santa Fe last month. Wonder what I'll do while at the Austin Jerry's Artarama demo this Saturday (August 21st) from noon to 3pm. Wonder who will come and what they will scratch out? Come on out and play!

Chicken Man Scratchboard

This is one of my larger, earlier scratchboards. "Chicken Man" It was based on a funny little wooden sculpture that I think I got at a yard sale. I love this creature...and I love Ampersand Art http://www.ampersandart.com/ scratchboard. Here's the commercial: I'll be teaching a free demonstration of this product tomorrow (Sat. Feb 27th) from 12-3pm at Jerry's Artarama on North I-35 Austin, TX. Come, spend an hour or a moment. I've got free samples for everyone!

And speaking of love, I am going thru what I can only explain as a '7 yr itch' with scratchboard. I love it, and have loved it very deeply for about 7 yrs. But lately, I've not done much of/or with it. Blame it on the weather, my mother dying in November, or me approaching my 55th birthday in April, I can't say for sure. What ever it is....that 'white-hot' love has waned a bit. Like any relationship, we are going thru a period of change. I don't think I want to leave scratchboard behind, I just need something different to happen. So, I've been exploring collage and even oil painting. I'm not 'cheating' just trying to put a little 'spice' back into our relationship. What's it all about scratchboard? Stay tuned to see what happens next!

I AM DOG

...hear me bark!  This is a 5"x7" scratchboard from Ampersand Art. http://www.ampersandart.com/  I used some acrylic paint on the eyes and tongue.  I'll be teaching a free scratchboard demo at Jerrys's Artarama this Saturday (Dec. 19th) from 12-3pm.  Jerry's is located at 6010 N IH 35, Exit 238A Austin. This is an example of salvaging something that originally did not work for me.  I didn't like the initial line drawing and almost threw it out.  Now it is my current favorite piece.

This piece (and others)  is available for $100.00 from Wally Workman Gallery here in Austin http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/
Blue Genie Art Bazaar continues until Christmas eve.  http://www.bluegenieart.com/

Scratchboard Demo Jerry's Artarama

Some of the great folks who came by Jerry's Artarama yesterday for the free Ampersand Art Scratchboard demo. I had a wonderful time and saw some sweet art made with my favorite product!

Blue Chimp

I scratched this 'Blue Chimp' out yesterday after getting home from my Ampersand Art Scratchboard demo at Jerry's Artarama here in Austin. This is a 5"x5" clayboard black scratchboard. Haven't used this size before...and I had some influence from the folks in the class regarding laying color on and taking it back off. The blue is Liquitex acrylic ink that I brushed on and then used a paper towel to remove. Fun stuff. I'll post images from the demo here in a bit.

Monkey Man

Vintage 'Monkey Man' scratchboard. After my computer crashed recently I've had to spend a lot of time going through files on my back up hard drive. I have found dozens of monkeys that I scratched out over the years. This is one of them. I think it was a 16x20 Ampersand Art scratchboard. This was sold a few years back... I'm doing a free scratchboard demo at Jerry's Artarama Austin this Saturday from 12-3pm. Fun for all!

Jerry's Artarama Scratchboard Demo

Today I did a free three hour scratchboard demonstration at Jerry's Artarama here in Austin, TX. Usually at least 12-15 people participate. Today was different. There were tons of folks in the store but they were seriously shopping because of a huge sale. So to the 7-8 folks who stopped by and scratched out a few sample boards...thanks so much! I always learn something new and enjoy each and every one of you. It is tons of fun for me to watch all of you in your exploration of this medium. I got so involved in it all, I forgot to take many photos to post here. So these are just a little sample. Funny thing, while folks were waiting in line to check out, we talked and I got quite a few of them to at least buy a 3 pk of the 5"x7" boards and a tool or two.

That's my job folks! I represent http://www.ampersandart.com/ who produces this product right here in Austin, TX. But here's the deal, I would use this scratchboard they make even if there was nothing in it for me...it's that good. So there you have it, my sales pitch. Try it out. And if you want to know more about it, take my all day class this Sept. 26th from 10-4 for a modest fee at http://www.eyeofthedogartcenter.com/ in beautiful San Marcos, TX. Hooray for Art!

Monkey on Acrylic

Oops..just realized that although I made this 'Daily Monkey' yesterday I forgot to post it. So here it is, a 5"x7" piece of clear acrylic (I have a million of these from revamping wooden frames from Jerry's Artarama...they are cheap and scratched so no good for putting artwork behind...I am trying to figure out a use for them since I hate to throw anything away!!) I drew on it with sharpie markers and then put it on some vintage bible pages I had on my work table. Sweet!

Check out Jerry's Artarama at http://www.jerry. And while you're at it check out my website at http://www.blue-eyedponystudio.com/

Monkey On Paper

This monkey drawing was inspired by a page from a vintage 1900 era Nature magazine from my collection of ephemera. Very odd magazine that had really poor quality prints of stuffed animals from Science Museums and other collections. So this drawing kind of has that quality as well. It's prismacolor ink pen on sketch pad. A pretty poor quality photo on my part too. Fitting though I think.

Scratchboard demonstration went really well at Jerry's Artarama. Had a lot of folks who came out and went away with at least one or two sample boards scratched and finished. At the end there was this great little 5 year old girl who did an amazing cat drawing. I wish I would have taken a photo of it, dang it. She was a lot of fun to watch. Her parents and her little brother (who worked on his own cat drawing) were very sweet too. I just love bringing folks into the world of Scratchboard!

Monkey King

This is my new favorite monkey of the Daily Monkey series. Paint isn't even dry yet. It's on a 4"x5" board. Black Gesso, vintage paper collage, acrylic paint and black ink. I did prep on several of these last night...so I may be putting up many different versions of this in the next few days. I'm also doing my prep for the free scratchboard demonstration at Jerry's Artarama here in Austin TX. It's from 12-3pm today. Lot's of fun, samples to scratch on. My third demo. Love it...love scratchboard from Ampersand Art. http://www.ampersandart.com/

Bubbles

Thought I'd post a Bubbles the Chimp drawing today for MJ. Still reeling from yesterday. 'Off the Wall' and 'Thriller' were two all time favorite albums of mine (when they were still making record albums, remember those??) Those were my disco days in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Just down the road a bit from MJ hometown of Gary. I was pursuing a music career of my own at the time and dancing around to either recording was a great way to get 'amped up' and in shape for my own performances. So I found a photo on the web and drew this from that. It's in my 8"x10" sketchbook, Prismacolor black ink (08) over a rough pencil sketch.

Tomorrow (Saturday 27th) I'm doing a free scratchboard demonstration at Jerry's Artarama store here in Austin, TX from 12-3. Come on out!

I Love This Monkey!

I just threw this 'daily monkey' together in a rush. I almost forgot about doing and putting a monkey up today. I'm trying to get back into my life after 6 days of house/dog sitting...takes a while for me to re-enter LindaLand. This is a 5"X5" edge gallery canvas from Jerry's Artarama, painted with black gesso. I used a bunch of vintage paper in the collage assemblage of it...no paints or scratching, just Nori glue (which is my current favorite) and paper scraps. I'm a lovin' this monkey head...will have to rush a few more together this week.

The neighboring buffalo are in the pasture, the peacocks are singing and all is good and right in my world. Hope all y'all are good too.