Creativity Workshop

I had so much fun this past weekend teaching my Creativity Workshop in Arden DE. My two sisters and my niece came from upstate NY to take the workshop. I was thrilled to have them here and they got to see what I do and experience it first hand. I also appreciate their honest feedback. I refer to the workshop as a journey inward. Like in the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy, the Tin man, the Lion and the Scarecrow, have to go on the journey to discover that they actually already possess what they are seeking. Together we demystify creativity and I provide the necessary experiences to assist in the uncovering of the participants creativity and their desire to make time and space for it in their lives. It's like going back to kindergarten without the rules. I forgot to take pictures again; it's not really something you can capture in pictures anyway. The group really enjoyed the collaborative painting and the freedom to play and explore together, encouraging each other along the way.

Here are some of our painted papers

Here is my collage, I'm planning to sew on it. It needs something.

It's really fun to play without worrying about the results. I was totally focused on process and tried to stress that throughout the workshop by saying "don't think, just paint". Some interesting things usually happen when you approach work this way. Things come out because you're not standing in the way. I have to remember to make more time to do this in the studio.

Snow and Ice

How Beautiful.

I mean seriously, why do I even bother to paint? Speaking of which I haven't been to my studio in 7 days. I've been home with my kids because of snow days and holidays, not that I'm complaining. This guy looks happy about it.

This guy does not.

I'm dreaming of tropical islands and sewing up watery sculptures for my June show in the Elizabeth Denison Hatch Gallery at the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts in Wilmington, DE.

The show in the Hatch Gallery this month are 2 friends of mine, Marilyn Mitchell and Renee Benson. The show titled Natural Rythms showcases Marilyn's fabric creations and Renee's paintings.

In the Beckler Family Member's Gallery, Andrew Wapinski's show Wasteland continues until April 18, 2010. His artist talk was postponed until the March opening on first Friday, March 5, 2010.

Andrew V. Wapinski

Andrew Wapinski's solo show opens this Friday night at the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts in Wilmington, DE. I sat down with Andrew this week to discuss a few topics, artist to artist. First I asked Andrew how and why he chose to become an artist? He told me it sort of happened, that he didn't seek it out. He has artists in his family on his mother's side and his uncle was an art teacher. He went to college for Art Education but after his first painting class he just wanted to be in the studio more. His junior year he changed majors to Fine Arts and then continued on that path. His last comment on the subject was he doesn't know what he'd be doing if he wasn't painting; this was clearly demonstrated after his show was hung and he was seen roaming the halls day after day.

The body of work on display at the DCCA is paintings on acrylic primed panels, layered with gold leaf and colored resin. I asked him how he came about to work in these materials. He explained how it was an evolution that began with his study of traditional painting materials while obtaining his Master's degree. He explained that the gold symbolizes progression, power, wealth and spirituality. He is interested in portraying the struggle between man's need for progression and nature. There are also references to the history of painting in particular, Byzantine and Renaissance painting. He elaborated that the gold leaf is a traditional painting material that he enjoys because of the grid that is inherent in it's application but also it's malleable qualities. He uses additive and subtractive techniques to arrive at the distinct surface textures that are ultimately illuminated by layers of resin. He uses resin like the old masters glazing techniques building up layers of color to obtain visual richness and physical heft. He told me that his unique combination of traditional painting materials and contemporary industrial materials also speaks about the progression of man.

Some of Andrew's influences are Byzantine and Renaissance painters, early Renaissance painter Masaccio, Vermeer for the way he painted light, on the contemporary side Matthew Ritchie and Roxy Paine.

Andrew's show titled Wasteland is on display in the
Beckler Family Members' Gallery through April 18, 2010. See more of his work here.