MaryJo McGraw

Which means I am getting ready for classes in Spokane, Portland, Salem and Cincinnati. The yard is going crazy lots of things in bloom, perrenials mainly, I did not get much planted in the way of veggies this year with the very late start. I thought I would share a picture of one of my Salem classes at Stampin Cat using Outlines Flower stamps and Chalk Inks.

It is already the middle of the year can you believe it and summer classes in the Inland Northwest are coming fast and furious. If you are in the area in June I am doing a great class for those wishing to learn about collage in your own style!!! June 19th a single day workshop on collage on canvas but you can work on any surface you would like. Learn to paste up your favorite images into a cohesive piece of work or if you love landscape we can cover that as well. I will be showing you how to collage with or without wrinkles, add details with dry media and use acrylic to your best advantage. I will also be showing how to create a faux beeswax finish using gel mediums. It is a punchcard class so rack them up and get a Free Class by the Fall!!!!!

here we go Visual Journaling tonight here are a couple of shot of last nights Altered book group OK these are my pages I will try to upload some of the VJournals tonight after group.

Altered books in the Valley (SAS TOO)at 4:30. We will be finishing up covers and inserting new pages. Bring along your book and scissors. Come and join us just for fun! Bring along a hard cover book or two, we work on books but these ideas can be used for many projects including greeting cards.

OK to catch you all up on the schedule.. You all know that I do not travel like I use too and I am expecting to do less and less as the years go by so come and see me if I am in your area! If you have never taken class with me I love to share my ideas, practical applications and knowledge with all. My main goal is for everyone to have fun otherwise why do it ! None of the classes at either store are on the same subject matter so come and join us for them all!!!! At the end of July I will be heading over to the Portland area. Salem OR first.... July 24th at Stampin Cat Studio. Lisa has an awesome store! 3 super quick and easy summer classes. Join us for the whole day or just a bit..... Fluid Chalk Florals with Outlines stamps Blinging Summer Stained Glass Shrink Plastic I love going to see all the ladies at the CAT! It is a relaxing atmosphere and we have a lot of laughs and learn a bunch too!! See www.stampincat.com for details or call 503-390-2553 Then....A new place but an old fr...

ONE MORE TIME!!!! Encaustic techniques class this Saturday one spot left!!!! call 208-667-0813 for info or sign up. This one will be at Creative Element in CDA 210 w Sunset. Tonight Studio Play at 5:30 pm Diamond Glaze glazing techniques!

We start our new summer group this wed May 5th Cinco de Mayo! In Visual Journaling we will be exploring a wide range of methods to expand your creative endeavors. Our first night we will use a few simple exercises to get us all on track. Join us at 5:30 pm bring along a journal of any size or shape to work in and your favorite medium .... pencil, collage,pastel, pens..... anything! I will bring in my journals for you to check out and if you have any journals you want to share bring them along.

transfer techniques APRIL 24 th 10am-4pm $50 All Levels Welcome Call 509-327-6622 The space is limited only a couple of spaces left! Learn a variety of interesting techniques for transferring pictures from magazines and color copies into your artwork using a mix of common products. In this class you will learn to create skins from acrylic paints, transfer pictures on laminate and polymer clay, use polymer gels to easily transfer pictures and understand solvent transfers. Do bring a few toner based copies and favorites magazine pictures if you like. or just bring yourself and use MaryJo's stuff. Do bring a notebook and an apron

I have been working in my sketch journals lately in pastels (chalk)and enjoying it way too much. It certainly is messy (especially sitting in bed)but so much fun! The amount of instant color is incredible. This is a journal that we started trading at stamp club (some of you may recognize the shape) but I have since been using it as a conceptual workbook for some acrylic paintings.

ITS COMING something NEW for Spokane. Building on creating a fun place to hang out with other artists I hope if you are in the area you'll Join us (at SAS DT) from May through September on the first Wed of each month for our new Visual Journaling Group. Each month our classroom will be open to anyone and everyone that wants to expand their creativity with new media, techniques, exercises and ideas from a variety of local artists who use sketchbooks and visual journals as workbooks, diaries and more! STARTING May 5th at 5:30pm

Today is a rather grim beginning certainly not the sunny gorgeous day we had yesterday. I was really looking forward to opening the windows again today...so far I still have the heater on so maybe not. I looked at this painting I have been working on.....Its been on the wall 6 months I should be ready to varnish. I think I am almost done. Take a picture look at it again. Very Green, I know, thinking about a series of these. I will keep you posted So this week much to do. Better get to i. Next Sat March 27 Encaustics at Creative Element very limited class size only 2 spaces left. $50 give us a call for more info 208-667-0813

I have since add copic markers posterman and buffed to heck out of these and they will most likely look different the next time you see them.

was great I am still getting things done but it is distracting outside, 60 and sunny and so much needs to be done.So much that I never get done in the fall. I need to move rocks and rake up just about every square inch of the yard. It has not been a hard winter but a wet one so everything is mucky,grimy and muddy. I have not really touched the garage since my series of sales so that is another job for the sunny spring days. Meanwhile the bulbs are coming up so I am happy and the first little spring wildflowers are popping up which is a true bright spot in my weekend! As for classes and such this week Wed is Stamp club at 5:30 -7:30pm and I want you to all to bring a small canvas to work on. I am also doing another encaustic workshop at the CDA store Creative Element the last Sat of this month March 27th 11-4 $50 call for details 208-667-0813

Join me at the DT SAS for Studio Play our mixed media try it night. For $10 come and try Crackle Paste as a faux mosaic

The next 2 weekends at SAS (Spokane ArtSupply) will be Mixed Media Madness 2 weekends in a row with myself and my friend Linda Malcolm (of Lost Coast Designs)teaching workshops. Mine, this weekend,is a technique oriented workshop featuring fabric,paint and a variety of distressing methods like the ones I use on portrait pieces. Also working on paper and fabric surfaces. Linda's is a small scale collage as self portrait, really fun & very cool a perfect class to get your feet wet if you have ever wanted to try mixed media collage!

Bring your scissors we will be cutting big heads, doing a monchromatic collage and poetry words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMR5eWt9WZ4

This is the beginning of the stainglass project next an acetate layer. I am teaching this in the valley tomrrow at 4:30 $20 everything is provided.