Tuesday Nights

Look what can be done with an old plane

2012-02-12T13:57:00.001-08:00

Fire Arms...Trash

2012-02-04T23:28:00.000-08:00

Check this page out!

Junk Artist Extraordinaire

2012-01-26T15:19:00.000-08:00

My absolutely favorite artist, a fantastic teacher, and a big user of junk in art, Michael deMeng.

http://michaeldemeng.blogspot.com/

Posting for Marsha

2012-01-26T12:39:00.000-08:00

Hi Helen-

I have not been able to post to the Blog, but have really loved this…

I just Googled Marcel Duchamp and went through a fantastic webpage “Making Sense of Marcel Duchamp.” I found it so fascinating, it goes through his whole life and art in chronological order. I was especially excited getting to his last work. What a phenomenal life! Wow! http://understandingduchamp.com/

As I have been contemplating playing with recycled or discarded objects, have thought about how to some people trash looks like something to be discarded, and to me, well I see potential. To express differing points of view I have been considering using some peepholes to provide little “surprise bonus” to those who participate and look closely into the piece. I like the idea even better now that I have seen Duchamp’s last project, the gate with the two peepholes. Love it!

Juggling Women

2012-01-26T11:18:00.000-08:00

Thought you might enjoy this blog, about juggling art work and family, sound Familiar?

Trash for Treasure Exchange!

2012-01-19T08:44:00.000-08:00

On the first night bring any trash you think someone else might want and we will do a trash for treasure exchange!

Tuesday Nights, Playing with Trash!

2012-01-19T08:36:00.000-08:00

TUESDAY NIGHTS

Recycle, Reuse, Recover,

Reutilize, Recondition, Recontextualize.

I’m inviting you and 19 other artists to play with Trash. I’m inviting you to create something beautiful, provocative and just plan fun out of something unloved, rejected, thrown away. In the tradition of Marcel Ducamp, we are going to work with the Readymade. We will end our fun with a Spring Exhibition, what better a time then the time of renewal! As always, complete artistic freedom is not only allowed but encouraged.

“Tuesday Nights” is an Art Class/Workshop for local creative types, which is built around a project idea that ends in an exhibition. Mostly this is a way to advance your creative skills while socializing with others of your artistic ilk.

We don't care about how long you have been at it. Some of us have been plowing the creative fields for a while, others are just starting, all that matters is your willingness to jump in and take chances; after all it's only art. If you have never played with us before check it out or blog. http://tuesdaynights-thegameroom.blogspot.com/

WHERE: Heidi’s House

WHEN: Tuesday Nights, February 28^th, March 27^th, April 24^th, May 29^th and An Exhibition in June.

TIME: 6:00PM - 9:00PM

$80 for four sessions and an exhibition.

$75 for artists who have re-enrolled.

The total price is less then the price of most one-day workshops!

The number of students will be limited to 20.

Enrollment will work on a first come first served basis.

Online consultation is included in the price.

You will be encouraged to team up with others students in a playgroup to meet between classes. The group can also communicate through the class blog.

Once you are enrolled in the class I will add you as one of the authors of the blog, which will allow you to post as well as comment.

Below is the link to the blog.

http://tuesdaynights-thegameroom.blogspot.com

I want this to be a social and communal art event.

Goals for the class

1. The building of an artistic community through socialization with other artist. (There is something to be said about breathing the air of other creative souls.)

2. Building artistic community through exhibitions. (It’s not about selling; it is about developing artistic energy through sharing with a larger community. Think of it as A Happening.)

3. To learn to Critique your own and others work effectively.

4. To develop technical proficiency in a variety of media and/or methods,

by planning, designing and completing projects.

Any further questions email me at helenwilsonartist@mac.com

Helen Wilson

MFA, SFAI

Adjunct Art Department, Palomar College.

Oh, the Places You'll Go

2012-01-08T18:44:00.000-08:00

This is the spirit I want for our Group.

http://youtu.be/ahv_1IS7SiE

Save these Dates for Tuesday Nights

2012-01-06T14:10:00.000-08:00

While you're checking out the trash links to the right, save these dates.

Feb 28th
March 27th
April 24th
Last Class May 29th.
Exhibition, June 1st.

Heidi has kindly offered her home, that means a huge room and beverages possible.

Nov Exquisite Corpse Exhibition

2011-11-16T18:41:00.000-08:00

Some of the photos from the show...the Town Hall was great!

Esquisite Corpse Exhibition, the postcard.

2011-10-17T16:35:00.000-07:00

Equisite Corpse

2011-10-17T15:50:00.000-07:00

The Third Annual Exquisite Corpse Exhibition plus Day of the Dead Altars.

2011-10-13T18:03:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

The Third Annual Exquisite Corpse Exhibition plus Day of the Dead Altars.

What: Art Exhibition

When: Reception October 28th

Time: 5:00PM until 9:00 PM.

The show will be up through the weekend. 10:00AM 4:00PM.

Where: Ramona Town Hall, the East Wing.

729 Main Street, Ramona, CA 92065

Come dressed as your favorite dead person (famous or not!)

For the third year artist Helen Wilson invited a group of fellow artists to play the game "Exquisite Corpse." This is a game by which a collection of images is assembled by the group to form bodies. The game was invented by the Surrealists; and earned its name from one of the initial writings, "Le cadavre / exquis / boira / le vin / nouveau" (The exquisite corpse will drink the young wine). It is the perfect game for creating Art for a Halloween Exhibition.

This group plays the game with a bit of a twist. The body is broken into proportionally correct sheets of paper, i.e. the head is around 1/8 of the body. First they word associated body parts to warm up. For example, what does an arm make you think of? Then they all draw, one body part at a time. The results are then put on the floor where each of the artists chose a body, one part at a time.

This is where they really change the game; everyone goes home with his or her body and they agreed to reassemble for the exhibition. Once home, their body was the inspiration for a piece of art. Everyone is working with a 2’ x 4’ format, but materials are open ended. The only obligation was to their art and to keep the sense of play - after all it is a game. No one has seen all the finished work.

In the mean time in October the group started a new project, constructing Day of the Dead Altars. More than 500 years ago, when the Spanish Conquistadors landed in what is now Mexico, they encountered natives practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death. It was a ritual the indigenous people had been practicing for at least 3,000 years, a ritual known today as Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. In the United States and in Mexico, families build altars in their homes, dedicating them to the relatives who have passed. They surround these altars with flowers, food and pictures of the deceased. They light candles and place them next to the altar. In some homes the altar is not only dedicated to friends and family members who have died, but to others as well. These festivities show that syncretism is particularly important in cultural expressions like theology, mythology, and the representational arts, all of which are present in the contemporary diversity of Día de los Muertos. The group will be building artistic altars to people or causes that are important to them.

Moving Tuesday

2011-09-26T18:54:00.001-07:00

I cant make Tuesday night, would next Tuesday work?

Tuesdays Starts again.

2011-09-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

Here we go again...with a twist.

3^rd Annual Exquisite Corpse Workshop and Exhibition.

On August 30^th I’m inviting you and 15 other artists to play the game "Exquisite Corpse." If you have never played before check it out on the blog.

We “Tuesday Nights” will be revisiting the Exquisite Corpse and plus making Día De Los Muertos Altars, ending with a Halloween Costume Party and Exhibition! As always, complete artistic freedom is not only allowed but encouraged.

WHERE: Highland Valley Studios.

Highland Valley Studios, Inc.

18528 Highland Valley Road

Ramona, CA 92065

www.highlandvalleystudios.com

WHEN: Tuesday Nights, August 30^th, Sept 13^th, Sept 27^th, October 11^th and Exhibition October 29th

TIME: Starts at 5:00

Four meetings total

Two Lecture Project Introduction meetings:

4 hours, 5-9 P.M.

1-hour, lesson/ lecture

3-hours to work

Two Play dates:

3 hours, 5-8P.M.

Three hours of working on projects as a group with my guidance and artists driven critiques.

The classes are built around project ideas. We will hold an exhibition based on these projects. While each project will be given with a media in mind, as in all my classes, you are free to extend yourself.

Goals for the class

1. The building of an artistic community through socialization with other artist. (There is something to be said about breathing the air of other creative souls.)

2. Building artistic community through exhibitions. (It’s not about selling; it is about developing artistic energy through sharing with a larger community. Think of it as A Happening.)

2. To learn to Critique your own and others work effectively.

3.To develop technical proficiency in a variety of media and/or methods, by planning, designing and completing projects.

Online consultation is included in the price.

You will be encouraged to team up with others students in a playgroup to meet between classes.

The group can also communicate through the class blog.

Once you are enrolled in the class I will add you as one of the authors of the blog, which will allow you to post as well as comment.

Below is the link to the blog.

I want this to be a social and communal art event.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

August 30^th

The Exquisite Corpse.

The creative spirit and chance.

Where do ideas come shared?

Sept 13th

Play date

How to use your fellow artist.

Asking the right questions in a critique to get the help you need.

September 27^th

Día De Los Muertos Altars

Using Art to honor and remember.

Media and Meaning

October 11^th

Play date

Invites to Opening.

General rules for setting up an interesting and professional exhibition.

October 29h

Exhibition: Opening Saturday 5-9.

Hoping to run through Nov 2^nd, 12 -5

Exhibition set up Friday October 28^th 2:00 to 6:00

tease more- time to see show tomorrow!

2011-06-18T20:51:00.000-07:00

Tease

2011-06-18T20:44:00.000-07:00

Ramona Sentinal Article

2011-06-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

Click on the title to read the Ramona Sentinal Article about the exhibition. Thanks Sentinal.

My Artist Statement

2011-06-08T21:27:00.000-07:00

I am proud to be self-taught.

My work is not seeking truth

which to me is like

being lost in a labyrinth of someone else's design.

I always strive to be honest with myself and my work.

My art is attached to my spirituality,

and when I find

I am being honest with myself

it gives me wings to fly above the labyrinth.

I try to be a free thinker in my life and in my art.

It's Show Time!

2011-06-04T12:58:00.000-07:00

We are ready to exhibit again and this time we have two shows in one!
Icons and Reliquaries plus Couch Paintings and Coffee Table Books.

The Opening Reception is Friday June 17th 5PM to 9PM.
Come ready to party!

Project Two: Reliquaries

2011-04-24T19:32:00.000-07:00

Traditionally, a reliquary is a type of religious artifact used in many religions all over the world. But really the relic itself is the artifact, a reliquary is the container for an object of significance.

So what's a relic? Again traditionally There are three classes of relics: the first, is a literal -part- of the figure of significance, –hair, limb, bones.

Second, items that were directly involved with your figures story, think of it as accessories.

The third is anything touched by your chosen figure. All then made precious by encasement

So first you need to choice someone or something. Perhaps you already have with your Icon? Think of the Icon as an image of something or someone and the Reliquary as a physical piece of something and/or someone in a fancy case, a sculpture.

Now remember we are here to get our creative juices flowing, so if you feeling religious go for it and if your feeling sacrilegious go for it as well. Or maybe your feeling like remembering someone or something long gone, sounds great. But maybe you just want to have fun, we always welcome the humor. I personally I'm thinking about a lost childhood toy...if only I had a relic of him.

Four Fused Glass Panels for Glass Book

2011-04-21T10:18:00.000-07:00

Another new image

2011-04-16T09:05:00.001-07:00

New Work

2011-04-04T18:06:00.001-07:00

Icons and Reliquaries

2011-03-29T14:13:00.000-07:00

Click on this to view images...

Icons and Bees

2011-03-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

I am really having fun playing with the icons! I now see halos where I never saw them before…poster ads for cell phones even.

The bees are evolving…stay tuned.

Cheers!

Marsha

untitled work by Ralph

2011-02-27T17:19:00.000-08:00

Buddhism is based on Three Levels of reality.....The Eggs represent the new birth of an ever changing reality. The colors purple, red and blue represent the higher purpose of spirituality.

a case of curiosities

2011-02-24T15:34:00.000-08:00

OOOOOOhhh!!! Check this out!

icon

2011-02-24T15:20:00.000-08:00

Recommend you view this anatomical eve. She's a great icon.

Some number thoughts...

2011-02-22T14:32:00.000-08:00

Some Number Symbolism

One. Divinity, unity, isolation and the male principle (phallus).

Two. Duality, opposition, sexuality, balance and the female principle (as in the state of pregnancy)

Three. Completion of cycles (such as beginning, middle and end; past, present and future; and fertile sexual union), a meaning which appears in religious connotations (like Greek mythology’s Maiden, Mother and Crone, the three Norns of Norse myth, or Christianity’s Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

Four. This numeral represents stability, as seen in the tetrahedron (pyramid with triangular base) with four vertices being the first three-dimensional shape, the four elements of air, earth, fire and water, four seasons of the year, four cardinal directions and four horsemen of the Apocalypse. Interestingly, in Oriental cultures the word for four sounds like the word for death, and it is common for multi-story buildings to skip the number four when the stories are numbered. This perception is so pervasive that it even affects product labeling; trying to purchase a 4000-series Nokia phone provides an illustrative example.

Five. As mentioned in the earlier discussion about the connection between our five digits and mathematics, five is a visceral number for humans. Not surprisingly, then, the number five appears in global religious imagery, such as the Five Wounds of Christ, the Five Pillars of Islam, or the five faces of Shiva in Hinduism.

Six. By a wonderful conjunction of mathematical coincidences, 6 is both the sum (1 + 2 + 3) and the product (1 × 2 × 3) of the first three numbers. It is therefore considered “perfect.” In mathematics, a perfect number is one that equals the sum of its divisors (excluding itself), and 6 is the first perfect number in this sense because its divisors are 1, 2, and 3. The next perfect number is 28. No odd perfect numbers are known, but it has not been proved that none exists. The perfection of 6 shows up in the six days of Creation in Genesis, with God.

Seven Lucky number seven. The sum of the spiritual 3 and the material 4 is 7. In medieval education, students pursued the trivium (grammar, rhetoric, and logic) and the quadrivium (music, arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy), a total of seven subjects, collectively known as the liberal arts. Pythagorean interest in the mathematical patterns in music gives 7 a privileged role, for there are seven distinct notes in the musical scale—corresponding roughly to the white notes on a piano. Counting from 1, the eighth note up the scale is the exceedingly harmonious octave, which is how the name arose. - The number of heavens in Islamic tradition

- The number of Earths in Islamic tradition

- The numbers seven, seventy, seventy thousand, etc. are also used in Islamic traditions to denote an infinite or high number. In Arabic seventy, seventy thousand, etc. is used to mean infinite. This is because 1 is the smallest, 2 is just after 1, 5 and 10 are exact, 4 and 6 are just before and after 5, 9 is just before 10. This leaves 3, 7, and 8. 8 is closer to the end although it is larger. 8 is also an even number so divisible by 2. Between 3 and 7, 3 is smaller so 7 is chosen to represent infinite.

- The number of the Deadly Sins: lust, avarice, envy, pride, sloth, gluttony and wrath - The seven terraces of Mount Purgatory. - The number of sacraments in the Roman Catholic faith - The number of palms in an Egyptian Sacred Cubit

- The number of heads of the beast, and of some other monsters, likes the hydra

- The minor symbol number of yang from the Taoist yin-yang - The number of times Cain will be avenged upon for the murder of his brother Abel - The number of ranks in Mithraism - The number of gateways traversed by Inanna during her dissent into the underworld.

Eight. Generally considered to be an auspicious number by numerologists. The square of any odd number, less one, is always a multiple of 8 (for example, 9 − 1 = 8, 25 − 1 = 8 × 3, 49 − 1 = 8 × 6), a fact that can be proved mathematically. In Babylonian myth there were seven spheres plus an eighth realm, the fixed stars, where the gods lived. As a result, 8 is often associated with paradise. Muslims believe that there are seven hells but eight paradises, signifying God’s mercy. In Buddhism 8 is a lucky number, possibly because of the eight petals of the lotus.

Nine. A sacred number; three multiplied by itself to give eternity, completion and fulfillment. In China, number 9 is the number of celestial power; the nine-storied pagoda is a symbol of heaven. Many folk saying around the number 9 like: A stitch in time saves nine; Cloud nine is the ultimate happiness. A cat has nine lives. A nine-pointed star is used by the Bahai as a symbol faith. The number nine has significance in the Bahá'í Revelation. Nine years after the announcement of the Báb in Shiraz, Bahá'u'lláh received the intimation of His mission in the dungeon in Teheran. Nine, as the highest single-digit number, symbolizes completeness. Since the Bahá'í Faith claims to be the fulfillment of the expectations of all prior religions, this symbol, as used for example in nine-sided Bahá'í temples, reflects that sense of fulfillment and completeness.

Ten. As the numbers of the fingers, ten is the foundation of most counting systems including the decimal system. Ten also figures strongly in the Bible; there are Ten Commandments and ten Egyptian plagues. Buddhism has also Ten Commandments - five for monks and 5 for laity. According to some theories, in the decimal system, ten is symbolic of the return to unity.

Eleven. The number 11 is thought of as a "master" number in numerology because it is a double digit of the same number. When this occurs - the vibrational frequency of the prime number doubles in power. Meaning, the attributes of the Number One are doubled. Therefore, the very basic and primary understanding of the Number One is that of new beginnings and purity.

Twelve. Although the number 10 has grown in popularity as a universal basis for measurement, the number 12 historically held that role, presumably because it is easy to divide into halves, thirds and quarters; that divisibility made it easier for uneducated folk to comprehend the passage of time (as seconds, minutes and hours are multiples of 12, and there are 12 months in a year), measurement (such as 12 inches making up a foot in U.S. measurement) and currency (like the English shilling, which was composed of 12 pennies; lesser denominations of currency were even divisions of 12, while greater denominations were multiples of the 12-penny shilling). The symbolic significance of 12 – representing completion of a cycle, in addition to measurement – can be seen in there being 12 labors of Hercules, 12 Tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles attending Jesus Christ and 12 Peers of Charlemagne.

Thirteen. In the West the number 13 is generally considered unlucky. This superstition may derive from the 13 people - Christ and his 12 disciples who were present at the fateful Last Supper. The Kabbalah list 13 spirits of evil. In ancient South America there were 13 Mayan heavens and the Aztec calendar was divided into 13-day periods. In other cultures the number 13 is considered sacred. In ancient Greece it represented Zeus, the 13th deity and is an important.

Color Symbolism without the religion

2011-02-22T14:10:00.000-08:00

How to paint an Icon

2011-02-21T14:40:00.000-08:00

Inspiration and Icons

2011-02-20T16:40:00.000-08:00

ICON (ī'kŏn'):

1. An image; a representation.

2. Representation or picture of a sacred or sanctified personage, traditionally used and venerated.

3. An important or enduring symbol or person.

4. A small, on-screen,

graphic element that represents.

The etymological idea underlying icon is of ‘similarity’. It comes via Latin īcōn from Greek eikṓn, which was derived from a prehistoric base meaning ‘be like’. From ‘likeness, similarity’, eikṓn progressed semantically via ‘image’ to ‘portrait, picture’.

Who or what inspires you?

Pull out that gold paint you thought you would never use,

but first really who is it?

Come with images...plenty of images.

Spend sometime looking up color and number meanings.

Plenty of sites to play around on the right...

Couch Paintings and Coffee table Books

2011-02-18T12:09:00.000-08:00

I was waiting until we had enough, looks like we may have enough.
We need to set a date for this show How's March shaping up for you all?

Welcome New Group!

2011-02-18T11:54:00.000-08:00

So here we go this is the group so far:

Kathi

Susie

Marsha

Cindy

Nancy

Heidi

Tracy

Candace

Antonia

Diane

Zoe

Karen

Lauren

Ralph

Annie (Parcel)

Bob
Jolinda
Pamela
Deb

Liz & John (Maybe)

If you are missing from this least and don't want to be email me!

Spring has sprung...want to play again?

2011-01-10T20:22:00.000-08:00

TUESDAY NIGHTS SPRING

ART CLASS and WORKSHOP

“Tuesday Nights” is an Art Class/Workshop for local creative types.

Meetings are built around project ideas.

The projects will end in exhibitions, but more importantly this is a way to advance your creative skills while socializing with others of your artistic ilk.

WHERE: Highland Valley Studios.

Highland Valley Studios, Inc.

18528 Highland Valley Road

Ramona, CA 92065

www.highlandvalleystudios.com

WHEN: The last Tuesday of the month, February 22^nd , March 29^th, April 26^th and May 31^st.

TIME: 5PM to 9PM

The Exhibition will be held in June.

Once a month for 4 hours

1-hour critique, Demo or lecture

3 hours to work

Every 2 class meetings will be built around one project.

We will hold an exhibition based on the projects.

While each project will be given with a media in mind, as in all my classes, you are free to extend yourself.

Online consultation is included in the price.

You will be encouraged to team up with others students in a playgroup to meet between classes.

The group can also communicate through the class blog.

Once you are enrolled in the class I will add you as one of the authors of the blog, which will allow you to post as well as comment.

Below is the link to the blog.

http://tuesdaynights-thegameroom.blogspot.com

I want this to be a social and communal art event.

Goals for the class:

1. The building of an artistic community through socialization with other artist. (There is something to be said about breathing the air of other creative souls.)

2. Building artistic community through exhibitions. (It’s not about selling; it is about developing artistic energy through sharing with a larger community. Think of it as A Happening.)

2. To learn to Critique your own and others work effectively.

3.To develop technical proficiency in a variety of media and/or methods, by planning, designing and completing projects.

(The total price is less then the price of most one-day workshops.)

The number of students will be limited.

Enrollment will work on a first come first served basis with priority given to students who sign up for all four.

The price is $25 a class, or $80 if you sign up for all 4 months.

helen wilson

helenwilsonartist@mac.com

Helen Wilson

MFA, SFAI

studio@helenwilsonartist.com

I'm thinking really hard, I want to keep us moving...

2011-01-10T11:07:00.000-08:00

Project 4: Coffee Table Books

2010-12-03T21:22:00.000-08:00

Working With A Series

Since we are working with Couch Paintings it only seemed natural to move towards the requisite coffee table and the book on it.

Wikipedia describes a “coffee table book as a hardcover book that is intended to sit on a coffee table or similar surface in an area where guests sit and are entertained, thus inspiring conversation or alleviating boredom. They tend to be oversized and of heavy construction, since there is no pressing need for portability. Subject matter is generally confined to non-fiction, and is usually visually oriented (perfect for us.) Since they are aimed at anyone who might pick the book up for a light read, the analysis inside is often more basic and with less jargon than other books on the subject. Because of this, the term "coffee table book" can be used pejoratively to indicate a superficial approach to the subject.”

How perfect, since Couch Painting is also an artistic dirty word.

One of the more difficult artistic myths that I have noticed is the idea of the unique original. It seems to me it causes many an artist to move on before they have fully mined a topic. It is within series work that much is discovered. But what is a series? It is a group of pieces that are somehow tied together by either subject or content. They do not need to be narrative but sometimes are. Yet not in the same since that literature is. Not in an illustrative since. Images speak a visual language. What visual aids to you use? What images, styles and colors make up your artistic vocabulary? How would you know if you haven’t work an idea enough to see? What do you personally keep coming back to?

So lets take this idea and literally bind it together! Make a series on interesting paper and bind them. Once bond you and others will begin to make connections, some intended and some not, orders will shift, as will meanings. Of everything that will be learned the largest lesson will be to hone your artistic voice.

The Rules:

It should be original art (how do you like that for a twist.)
It needs to be enough work to fill a book.
Again you must have fun with the idea.

Some couch images

2010-11-28T14:02:00.000-08:00

So we are not the first, look what I found!

2010-11-13T19:53:00.001-08:00

Aisles of Couch paintings at Home Goods in Poway.

2010-11-13T14:47:00.000-08:00

Remember this Tuesday 16th at HVStudios at 5PM.

Bring a canvas (new or used) and painitng supplies.

If you are still having trouble understanding what a couch painting is go by Home Goods in Poway they have several aisles of them.

See Project three below for more details.
Do check at the new links!

Exquisite Corpse Reception

2010-10-31T10:48:00.000-07:00

Next Project...Couch Paintings

2010-10-30T20:15:00.000-07:00

Real art doesn’t match the sofa...or does it?

COUCH PAINTINGS!

So what’s a Couch Painting you ask? Why yes, just as simple as it sounds, a painting that goes over the couch. Something has to fill that space, right? Historically it is a large rectangular painting in landscape position, most often just that a landscape. Often it’s a Twenty-dollar poster in a Two hundred dollar frame.

Couch Paintings have also been the concurred realm of Abstract Expressionist or Minimalist work of moderate color schemes that of course match the rest of the furniture in the room. The oft goal of a Couch Painting is to state, “yes I have taste,” while not risking too much. It is not often a conversation starter. So, Couch Paintings have long been tied to wall and furniture color as well as style. So lets take that rule to heart and tie them together.

The rules

It needs to be big enough to fill the space behind a sofa.
A couch or a chair must be part of the subject matter. Even if it is out of place, tiny or well hidden.
You must have fun.

Does a large canvas intimidate you? We are going to overcome the fear of going big, while we paint a new painting for your living room wall that will have you trading in that sofa for something that will match your new work of art.

Tuesday come with a canvas or an old couch painting to alter. Also you will need a thumbnail sketch of you composition. We will start with a slide show lecture and then a demo of how to get started painting large. It really is only enough time to get an under painting started, but start we will. Think about color scheme and painting style from the beginning. I have added several links. One article on the history of Couch Paintings from the New York Times and one on Color Schemes and Painting Styles. The finish date is the end of January.

New Project

This project may need a play date or two.

“Only when he no longer knows what he is doing does the painter do good things” Edgar Degas

Exquisite Corpse Reception

2010-10-30T18:39:00.001-07:00

Got them to post on my blog?? click here

Susie's coming down the home stretch...

2010-10-23T16:16:00.000-07:00

Here's 2 of my corpse in progress!

THE HALLOWEEN SHOW

2010-10-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

TUESDAY NIGHTS RECEPTION: THE EXQUISITE CORPSE AND HIS TOYS.

DATE: OCT 26^TH

TIME: 6:30 TO 9:00PM

WHERE: HIGHLAND VALLEY STUDIOS.

Highland Valley Studios, Inc.

18528 Highland Valley Road

Ramona, CA 92065

Come dressed as your favorite Artist!

This is a one night exhibition so don’t miss it!

Questions? mailto:studio@helenwilsonartist.com

We’re at it again, a group of Ramona Artists has gotten together to play Exquisite Corpse, and the results just seemed perfect for a Halloween Exhibition.

In August I (Helen Wilson) invited 20 artists to play the game "Exquisite Corpse." This is a method by which a collection of words or images (images in our case) is collectively assembled. The game was invented by the Surrealists and is similar to an old parlor game called Consequences in which players write in turn on a sheet of paper, fold it to conceal part of the writing, and then pass it to the next player for a further contribution. The technique got its name from one of the initial writings, "Le cadavre / exquis / boira / le vin / nouveau" (The exquisite corpse will drink the young wine). It seemed like the perfect game for fall and Halloween.

We played with a bit of a twist. The body was broken into proportionally correct sheets of paper, i.e. the head is around 1/8 of the body. First we word associated body parts to warm up. For example, what does an arm make you think of? Then we all drew, one section at a time. The results were then put on the floor where each of us chose our body, one part at a time.

This is where we really changed the game, everyone went home with their body and we agreed to reassemble for the exhibition. Once home, your body was the inspiration for a piece of art. Everyone is working with a 2’ x 4’ format, but matters are open ended. The only obligation was to your art and to keep the sense of play - after all it is a game. We have had one play date, but really no one has seen the finished work.

In the mean time in Sept we started a new game, reconstructing toys. So it looks like the Exquisite Corpses are going to be joined by remade toys. We picked a toy and built a sculpture using it.

The players are Susie Amundson, Carole Anderson, Liz Boggeln, Deb Briggs, Antonia Cosentino, Cindy Dodson, Nancy Ferguson, Lyn Feudner, Andrea Forgnone, John Gardner, Janene Hanson, Karen James, Ralph Jenson, Bob Norman, Tracy Potter, Kathi Rothe, Heidi Schlotfeldt, Annie Shields, Nancy Winslow and myself. We have Painters, Sculptress’, Quitters, a Mosaic artist, Glass Artists and Mixed Media Artists in this group - so the show is sure to be interesting.

These artists are all part of a class/group called Tuesday Nights. Lead by myself, it meets once a month (sometimes more when we want a play date.) Each meeting is built around one project idea. Some of the projects end in exhibitions but mostly it is a way to advance your creative skills while socializing with others of your artistic ilk.

The Groups Goals are: The building of an artistic community through socialization with other artists. (There is something to be said about breathing the air of other creative souls.) Building artistic community through exhibitions. (It’s not about selling; it is about developing artistic energy through sharing with a larger community. Think of it as A Happening.) To learn to critique your own and others work effectively. To develop technical proficiency in a variety of media and/or methods, by planning, designing and completing projects. And it’s just fun to play!

Could anybody use 2 decapitated babies??

2010-10-13T20:56:00.000-07:00

Really we are just your normal group of artist....

Heidi say's Aaagh...

2010-10-13T20:45:00.000-07:00

I think she should be saying Auh, this is getting cool!

Kathi's Progress

2010-10-13T20:40:00.000-07:00

I've changed a few things but I keep plugging away. I don't want to get to detailed, I like the minimalist look!

John's Updated Corpse

2010-10-05T20:48:00.000-07:00

Look I have a profile picture!

2010-10-05T19:22:00.000-07:00

At least we hope.

The Defendors

2010-10-01T08:48:00.000-07:00

Looking for a few good men!

The dolls are coming!!!!!!!!

2010-09-30T20:48:00.000-07:00

Tuesday night was alot of fun, and the toys you guys brought!
My favorite line was,
"I want to make this doll into the toy I really wanted!"
I love the idea of working with board games.
And the Etch-a-sketch....cool.
Toys are such loaded items both personally and socially, this should be fun.
How about a play date so we keep the energy moving!
Perhaps next Tuesday?

And another...Kathi's corpse

2010-09-30T20:38:00.000-07:00

She's working it!

Poppyman rides again!

2010-09-30T20:15:00.000-07:00

Ann Marie's corpse is coming along also....
Too heavy to bring on Tuesday,
Ann Marie sent us a photo of her corpse.
Great!

John's Corpse in progress

2010-09-30T20:00:00.000-07:00

This is the progress of John's corpse.
Yes those are real wings, it was great to see in person.

First concept lynfeudner

2010-09-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

Here is what I found just looking around, I don't plan on bringing fish and water Tuesday Night so I thought I'd post pics. Fused glass wing, will probably have fused eyes. Snake arm...who knows?

In the beginning...there are parts, body parts

2010-09-26T19:54:00.000-07:00

Original

Stitched and Stuffed Muslin

I was originally going to use canvas but I realized
that canvas weight would be difficult to manipulate
when turning fabric and machine stitching. I decided
on muslin and then gesso'd pieces once stitched up.

The face will be sculpted, then painted.
All cloth pieces will be painted.
Each piece will be attached to each other.
Final display not resolved.

More to come...

2010-09-22T13:05:00.000-07:00

2nd try

corpse flower

2010-09-22T12:42:00.000-07:00

My plant is in bloom! It's in the "corpse flower" family, I don't have the botanical name handy. The petals are fleshy with soft hairs and 10 inches wide. It seemed so appropriate, had to post it.

sketch

2010-09-22T12:36:00.000-07:00

Playing with Toys, Project II

2010-09-21T11:43:00.000-07:00

We are going to play with toys! What did you play with and how did that make you who you are? Toys are the tools of childhood. Lets deconstruct that.

Pick a toy and build a sculpture around the recontextualisation of that toy. It may sound strange but it happens all the time. Put a doll on a bed and you have a safe place, take the same doll and throw it in the gutter and now you wonder were the child is, is she ok?

First find a toy, one you have saved, one of your kids or grandkids, or purchase an iconic toy; thrift stores are great for this. Lets take it apart and rebuild it better than before, now it’s not just a toy, it’s a sculpture, a work of art! Take some risks with this idea. What subjects would you really like to discuss through your toy? You will need a toy that is loaded with meaning (either personal or public) Pick carefully.

Recontextualisation: A process that extracts text, signs or meaning from its original context (decontextualisation) in order to introduce it into another context. Since the meaning of texts and signs depend on their context, recontextualisation implies a change of meaning.

Assemblage: The Additive process of making sculpture by grouping or piecing distinct elements.

Readymades: Found objects that are exhibited as works of art, frequently after being placed in a new context.

Deconstruct: Think about, pull apart and analyze.

Materials: Anything you want.

If you have a dremel bring it, glue, sculpey or paper machie clay or some of the two-part rubber putty. Scrap wood, extra toys or toy parts, old newspaper, acrylic paint, media’s and wire, really anything you can think of, bring some stuff to share, what you don’t have in your assemblage drawer someone else may have in theirs.

Remember this is the first night, leave yourself open to explore!

What hasn't come to you yet may come to your neighbor!

First night corpses

2010-09-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

First night corpses

2010-09-18T15:35:00.000-07:00

Finished 1st concept

2010-09-09T19:19:00.000-07:00

Check out this video!

2010-09-07T16:30:00.000-07:00

Remember that this is your project not mine. Make it work for you!

Work in Progress

2010-09-05T06:09:00.000-07:00

So what do you think??

Tuesday Nights: This is my concept. Ralph

2010-09-04T17:50:00.000-07:00

Tuesday Nights:

This is my concept. Ralph: "This is my concept. Ralph"
Mine wants to dance with yours. Any room on the dance card?

How to post.

2010-09-04T10:23:00.000-07:00

If you are showing as an author and member this should work.

First you need to sign in. Then the below tool bar should show above the blog.

Hit new post.

Next this page should show. Make sure and Title your post, write what you want and then attach picture by hitting the image of the picture in the tool bar right above the text box. Preview to see if you like what you posted. Exit preview page and then hit post.

Working concept

2010-09-03T16:10:00.000-07:00

This is my concept. Ralph

Documentation.

2010-08-29T19:48:00.000-07:00

Does anyone have a camera, I would love to Document the fun!
Mine has died...poor thing over worked.

Canvas'

2010-08-27T13:24:00.001-07:00

Does everyone have the canvas they need?
Remember 2 x 4 feet. Canvas, Paper, or wood panel.
I can help if you have nothing yet.

Somebody has started drawing!

2010-08-27T13:23:00.000-07:00

Kathie's drawings!

Kathe found this on you tube...

2010-08-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

Almost there!

2010-08-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

21 days and counting!

Ursus Wehrli tidies up art | Video on TED.com

2010-07-31T15:25:00.000-07:00

Ursus Wehrli tidies up art Video on TED.com

Materials for project one.

2010-07-24T14:40:00.000-07:00

So what do you need for class one? Whatever you are going to use for a canvas and your chosen media, a drawing instrument and a sense of play.

I will show examples on the first night. For supports think good paper, velum, canvas (unstretched or stretched.) Remember when I say any media I mean any media. I know we have a quilter, a glass and wire worker and a mosaic artists amongst us. Sculpture or assemblage might be fun. I will bring the printer too, just incase. Remember this is a month and a half project, you have time. Just think of getting a foothold on the first night.

“There are two thought paths amongst artist. Those who think the world needs to be ordered enable to be understood and those who think it is ordered and only needs to be revealed." -Me

PROJECT ONE: THE EXQUISITE CORPSE

2010-07-24T14:04:00.000-07:00

We will begin by playing the game Exquisite Corpse. This is a method by which collections of words, images or objects (images in our case) are communally assembled. The game was invented by the Surrealists and is similar to an old parlor game called Consequences in which players write in turn on a sheet of paper, fold it to conceal part of the writing, and then pass it to the next player for a further contribution. The results are known as the Exquisite Corpse. The technique got its name from one of the initial writings, "Le cadavre / exquis / boira / le vin / nouveau" (The exquisite corpse will drink the young wine). It seemed like the perfect game for an exhibition around fall and Halloween.

We are working with two things in this game, chance and the unconscious. Both of these concepts are going to be important in these classes. The Surrealist thought about chance in this way, if you put two dissimilar things together, two objects with distinct meanings, you end up with a third meaning. It was this meeting of chance elements that brought forward the true unconscious meaning. Also frequently cited in Surrealist texts was the idea that "poetry must be made by all and not by one." How fitting for us to begin with a game that will allow us to make art as a group.

We are going to play the game with a twist. The human body will be broken into six proportionately correct sheets of paper, i.e. the head is around 1/8 of the body. (Don’t worry I will bring these.) First we will word associate body parts to warm us up. For example, what does an arm make you think of? Then we all draw, (skill doesn’t matter, just get the idea down) one section at a time. The results will then be put on the floor where each of us will chose our bodies, in turn one part at a time.

This is where we really change the game; your selected Exquisite Corpse is the inspiration for a piece of art, not the piece itself. Feel free to follow your muse and use any media you want. How true you stay to your original body is up to you. Your only obligation is to your art and to keep a sense of play - after all it is only a game.

Here are the rules:

Your end piece must be 2’ x 4’

It must be finished by mid October.

You must have fun with it.

Welcome Candace!

2010-07-24T13:36:00.000-07:00

Wouldnt it be good if I could count...Candace makes twenty.
Yes there is a number 11. First on the waiting list moves in.

Welcome Heidi and Annie...

2010-07-23T12:27:00.000-07:00

Ok the class is closed and the waiting list has begun.
Just took a tour of Highland studios and the space is perfect.
Just incase some of you have not been out yet.

Welcome Andrea and Cindy...

2010-07-22T21:21:00.001-07:00

Two places left.

Three new players...

2010-07-22T12:56:00.000-07:00

Welcome John, Janene and Lyn. The class is a go we are at 16. Only four more spaces left.

More of my Philosophy...Art History

2010-07-19T18:54:00.000-07:00

Know the history behind what you are doing, it will follow you no matter, you might as well use it. For example if you are painting people in oil the whole history of oil portraits well influence the work. Both you and the observer will bring that to the work. For this reason I use art history in my teaching. If I think another artist or period of art has something to offer my student I make sure to open them up to it.

Welcome 6 more....

2010-07-19T18:49:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Tuesday Night's Bob, Susan K, Liz, Ralph, Kathi and Antonia.
That makes 12. This is a fun group.

The Fastest Artists in Town.

2010-07-13T15:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome Deb, Nancy W, Tracy, Nancy F, Carole and Karen. You six are fast.
I have added you to the authors, so you can post also.

My Philosophy.

2010-07-12T12:50:00.000-07:00

I teach through action and immersion. Just keep moving, contemplate later. In art, for me at least, there are times of rest and contemplation, and times of work. Art making is a time for work. It is the time to pull from the mental and make physical. Create a reality, a piece of art. For this the contemplative brain needs to move over, the art critic side isn’t even invited to the party. Learn to ask and answer your own questions on the move. The sooner I can get a student making art the better. Get something done and then we have something to talk about.