Jazzfest, Denton, Texas

Jazzfest is the big festival in Denton, Texas. Each year it is held in Quakertown Park the last weekend of April and brings incredible musicians to the city. (Of course, Denton is filled with many incredible musicians and I am lucky to have many of them play at the studio). They have several stages including the UNT stage which features the ever so talented University of North Texas students and the famous One o'clock jazz band. This year A Creative Art STUDIO decided to have a booth at the Jazzfest. Great music, nice weather and lots of art prevailed. I was located just outside the Civic Center and I am hoping I will get the same spot next year. Check out my booth pictures.

Creativity with Glass

Tiffany stained glass is a type of stained glass assembly that uses an adhesive copper foil and tin and lead solder. This July the Tiffany stained glass class met twice a week for three weeks. The first class the students made a small hummingbird suncatcher and the second class began their larger project of their choice. When the projects are complete, I will post photos of their beautiful work. Here a peek at the class and their projects in progress.

Bead Class

Recently I taught a class on basic beading at the studio. I have always loved beads and their beautiful bright colors remind me of stained glass. One great advantage of working with beads is that you have something portable to take with you where ever you go. In the first class of basic beading the students learned some basic wirework and beading techniques and made some beautiful beaded necklaces and earrings. Pictured are some of the students modeling their creations. In the second class students learned to make a bracelet using a basic wirework technique and a bracelet using stretchy cord. The secret in using stretchy cord is to tie a good knot and use a dot of glue on the knotted cord. The last class in the series involves making a pendant using collage and stained glass techniques. First the students created a small collage using paint and images, then sandwiched their creation between two pieces of glass using lead free solder. The pendants are reversable with an image on both sides. Lots of fun to make and wear.....Robin

Beautiful Stained Glass

Recently I did a commission job for a couple that lives in a log cabin near the Oklahoma Border. This stained glass was to be installed in a home bar that would be backlit and the design was to have a Native American flair. The stained glass took about three weeks to complete and is now in it's new home. I loved working on this window and found such joy each day looking at the beautiful colors.

Time Flies When you are having fun!

Wow, I just looked at my last blog entry and I can't believe it has been so long since I have written. Since the last blog so much has gone on at the studio. On March 26 we had a wonderful art opening. We are now up to 40 local artists in the gallery and the new art show does look incredible. Drew Zaremba and Brian Ward opened the show with wonderful Jazz which was perfect for the spring show. As people viewed the art one of my favorite groups Baloney Moon set up in the back for an incredible evening set. They played outdoors, as you can see by the photo. I am hoping that we get to have more events that include the outdoors. Thanks to everyone who attended.......Robin

Tiffany Stained Glass Class projects

In the late fall I taught a Tiffany stained glass class on Monday evenings. The students first made a small suncatcher during which they learned the basic skills of cutting glass and soldering. Their second project in the class was a larger window which took the remainder of the class to complete. The small windows have a metal frame around the outside and are ready to hang when the class is complete. Two of the students even did original designs which is quite challenging when you first start out. Their projects turned out great and I wanted to share them with you.

Birth of a Stained Glass Window

When making a stained glass window you must first plan out your design and then draw a pattern or "cartoon" in order to have a guide as you cut the glass and construct the panel. Once the zinc frame has been cut you begin to cut the glass and solder the foiled pieces of glass into place. I decided to do a photo journal of this stained glass panel as it grew to completion. I didn't get a final photo and the window is already shining brightly in it's new home, but you can get a good idea from the final photos of the final product. There is something very satisfying about taking raw materials and creating a beautiful piece of art...... Robin

Getting Ready for the Holidays

I love the holidays. I guess I always have. I have always loved the smells of the special foods that are prepared, the bright colors of the decorations and lights and the change of the seasons from warm to cold. All this week I have been preparing for this busy week of activity. I have been working hard on custom orders of stained glass, and finally tonight I was able to begin to make some stained glass Christmas ornaments for the tree at the studio. I cut out a small forest of tree ornaments and hope to be able to get them made before Thursday's Holiday Lighting Festival in Denton. I've got my Wassail recipe in hand and am ready to make the spicy concoction. Polly Maynard and the Childbloom Ensemble will be performing in the studio from 6-7. The next day will be First Friday and Alex Riegelman will be in the studio. Two events in two days. This will be fun.

Leaded Stained Glass Class

Leaded Stained Glass construction uses the more traditional method of stain glass assembly in that the pieces of glass are joined with strips of lead came that have been soldered at the intersections. Traditionally leaded stained glass window designs are somewhat simpler in nature when compared to designs for Tiffany stained glass. When given the choice, I tend to prefer the Tiffany or copper-foil method but whenever I do make a leaded window, I enjoy the more physical nature of building. Recently the leaded stained glass class at the studio completed their projects. I have to say that they did a great job and the students in the class enjoyed getting to know each other while working in the studio. Check out their beautiful projects....Robin

First Friday Denton, August, 2010

We are busy getting the studio ready for First Friday Denton. Back by popular demand, Gregory Conlin will be at the studio doing sketch portraits from 5-9 pm. The portrait requires a 30 minute sitting and the cost will be $30. Be sure and come hear the music of Singer-Songwriter Simone Nicole. She will be performing her own music at the studio starting at 7 pm and we look forward to having her appear. Want to hear a preview of her music. Check out her website http://www.simonenicole.com/ Music, art and friendly folks, I am ready for Friday to roll around.......Robin

Sizzling Summer Art Show

Wow, is all I have to say today about our Sizzling Summer Art Show. Yes, it is Sizzling somewhat outside. After all, it is Texas, but I have to admit our Summer Art Show is also a Sizzler. We are busy hanging our beautiful show and preparing for Saturday. Our artists have brought in beautiful works and we have added several new artists to our gallery since the last show and I think you will enjoy getting to see their work. Click HERE for a short article about our opening on Saturday. Since the information was given to the paper we have added several other new Artists. Crystal Nelson's beautiful collage works, the paintings of Mariko Frost who was featured in the Texas National, 2009, Jennifer Leigh Jones, who in 2009 was Awarded as being one of The New Dallas Nine Artist’s in D Magazine, and new artist Joshua Rackley. I am so looking forward to hearing Vanessa Helvey play and sing and tap my feet to the "have to love em " Boxcar Bandits.......Robin

Mosaic Class

Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. Did you know that the earliest known examples of mosaics made of different materials were found at a temple building in Ubaid, Mesopotamia, and are dated to the second half of 3nd millennium BC. Amazing. Actually, Mosaic work is still very popular and there are some really beautiful and extensive mosaic glassworks in Vegas at some of the hotels. I have always enjoyed working with mosaic and actually made my first mosaic before I was 11. I wasn't using glass then but working with small tiles. In the mosaic class at the studio we are working with glass and started out making mosaic coasters which are not only functional but also pretty. Each person in the class did their own design. The coaster takes three weeks to totally complete because of drying time for the glue, drying time for the group and then application of the grout sealant but don't think we are just standing around waiting for things to dry. The second week the class began their large project. Once again you could make the project of your choice and the projects varied from table top, mirror, to art tile. Check out the pictures of the Mosaic Class.

It's time to Bead!

Beading has always been one of my favorite things to do. I enjoy making jewelry using a variety of beads but of course, being a stained glass artist, I tend to gravitate to glass beads. Although metal, stone and ceramic all make beautiful beads, there is something about the sparkling surface of glass that I love. Attraction to how glass beads look is not the only magnet that pulls to toward them, but there is also something special about the way they feel in your hand and against your body. I am posting a picture of a small beaded bag necklace that I have made. It is made of glass delica beads, a very consistently sized seed bead from Japan, glass crystals and small silver beads. It is really one of my favorite things I have made and having recently sold it, I thought I would share it with the world one last time. I will be teaching some beading classes at the studio and soon will add beads and findings so beaders may purchase supplies. The second photo captures some of my new favorite beads that will be offered at the studio. I can't wait to make something out of those fish beads.........Robin

Community

Earlier this month I participated in the Denton Community Market, an outdoor market that sets up on the second Saturday of each month on Carroll Boulevard in Denton, Texas. I arrived, set up my tent and then set our my wares to join the sale. I really had no idea what to expect or who might be there but as the morning progressed, I realized that this was a very special event in which I was participating. The market was full of arts, crafts, plants, food, and music but most importantly, the market was full of the sense of community. Webster says that a community is a unified body of individuals : a group of people with a common history or common social, economic, and political interests. The participants of the market were a community, a community working to make an event that would enrich our city. At this market I saw old friends that had spent most of their lives building the sense of community in others and a new generation who were following their vision and working for the good of all. Sometimes we need reminders that life is always full of potential for great things to happen. The Denton Community Market is one of them.…..Robin

Evening Stained Glass Class

I have shared the pictures of my morning stained glass class at the studio but I didn't want to slight the first evening Tiffany stained glass class. The students worked very hard starting with making a small suncatcher the first night, then moving quickly to a larger window for their second project. Listening to a variety of music while working, they cut, soldered and finished their way to a beautiful piece of art. Check out our photos.

Stained Glass Class at the Studio

Life at the studio has been very busy. We have been teaching classes, planning art openings and participating in First Fridays Denton. I wanted to share some pictures of the stained glass projects completed at the studio. In the first Tiffany Stained glass class taught at the studio, the students did a wonderful job. By the end of the first lesson they had learned to cut glass, solder and completed a small suncatcher. The second week of the six week course, the students began their first project. For this larger project they could do a design of their choice and I think their small windows are simply beautiful. I have to say that I had a wonderful group of fun people in my voyage class at my new studio space. Check out the pictures of their projects......Robin

First Friday Denton, April, 2010

Each First Friday of the Month, our studio stays open late for those who would like to stop by for evening art viewing. This past Friday we had a wonderful evening of art with the sounds of Glen Farris in the studio. We had quite the crowd beginning around 6:00 pm and Glen began playing around 7:00. Glen plays the guitar, sings and plays the harmonica, and as his sounds filled the studio, smiles filled the faces of those listening. His music transcended the various ages of art and music lovers that were gathered and he even took requests.

Join us May 7th for First Friday Denton. We have a wonderful duo lined up to perform at the studio....Robin

We are looking so forward to our art opening on Saturday. Today in the Denton Times a short article came out in the paper about the opening and our classes. On the internet site they did not post the pictures that were included in the Hard copy of the article so I will post them here. Life is good......Robin

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/entertainment/dentontime/stories/DRC_Art-spring_0325.1e152e9a9.html

New Classes Start Next Week

Sign up now for new Art Classes that start next Week at the studio. Join us for some fun while learning something new.....Robin

3/22 Mosaic Glass Class, Monday Evening Class

3/23 Leaded Stained Glass Class, Tuesday Morning Class

3/23 Collage Techniques, Tuesday Evening Class

3/24 Watercolor Batik, Wednesday Morning Class

3/27 Find your Medium, Saturday Morning Class.