Artist Series 2009 kick off!

Keeping warm and creative, this round of Artist Series classes includes two Metalsmithing classes, Decorative Painting and Fine Art Acrylic Painting!

In Studio 2, the jewelry studio, Metalsmithing students are learning about the fine skills to create beautiful objects with different techniques, such as soldering, annealing, shaping and creating bezels! Students have really enjoying learning how to set stones as they create fabulous silver rings! Our next session starts Monday March 16th. thru April 20th (10am – 1pm).

Can’t make it in to the morning class? We also offer a Tuesday evening Metalsmithing course with Clint Fulkerson. Clint’s next session starts March 17th thru April 21st (6-9pm)

Upstairs in the Painting Studio, Libby is inspiring her students with bright colors, fun designs and creative techniques in Decorative Painting! Students have begun their exploration by applying their new skills to creating gorgeous painted floor cloths. As this series continues, a few students would like to move their decorative painting talents to chairs, stools and other small pieces of furniture! For Session II, Libby will be taking a small break from Decorative Painting, and instead, share her Book Binding knowledge on Thursdays, starting March 9th thru April 23rd (10am-1pm)

Also, going on for Winter Session I in 2009 for Artist Series, we have Fine Art Acrylic Painting with Liz Prescott. This session we are really excited because it is the first opportunity we have to present the new open line of acrylic paints, acrylic paints that have many qualities of oil paint, and the students are loving them!

The next round of Artist Series start up Monday March 16th! We are offering Monday AM Metals with Christina Taylor, Tuesday PM Metals with Clint Fulkerson. Sewing for Adults returns with Diane Brakeley. Ashley Wernher-Collins explores Needlefelting with us and Liz Prescott shares more of her love of painting with Fine Art Acrylic Painting. Unlock secrets of Stained Glass with Gayle Rapos OR learn Dye Painting with Suzanne Drown-Trout. Ann Liller joins us for Precious Metal Clay (PMC). Libby Barrett puts on her Book Binding hat and introducing a new class to our Artist Series workshop, Alternative Techniques in Acrylic painting with Matt Owens!

Late Fall Artist Series starting soon!

It's time to start planning your holiday shopping....maybe it will include some handmade gifts? There is nothing like giving a gift from your heart-made by your hands for someone special in your life. So why not consider trying out one of our Artist Series Classes to start making a few gifts...maybe even a little something for yourself! All of the Artist Series run for 6 weeks and will take us through mid December. The cost is $175 per session and the choices are extremely broad and inviting. Please feel free to sign up after being enticed by this blog to sign up today at http://www.artnightout.com/artistseries.htm. We look forward to sharing a few special hours with you soon!

Wireworking with Ann Liller
Nov 2 - Dec 7
Sundays 10am to 1pm
If you have a desire to add wire working to your beaded jewelry… this is the class for you! This intensive explores all types of creative ways that you can work with wire! What type of pliers? What gauge? Dead soft wire or hard? Learn important tips of wireworking … all while you create wondrous wire worked creations!

Decorative Painting with Libby Barrett
Nov 3 - Dec 8
Mondays 10am to 1pm

This class is guaranteed to ignite your artistic desires. Whether your taste is whimsical, modern, or classic you’ll enjoy creating vibrant art to customize your home. Learn the fundamentals of preparing surfaces for paint and creating a durable finish as you create art for your floors, table and walls! Great for beginners or seasoned painters!

Metalsmithing with Christina Taylor
Nov 3 - Dec 8
Mondays 10am to 1pm

Here’s your chance to learn metalsmithing in a fun, relaxed atmosphere! Learn how to handle the equipment necessary to create fantastic soldered jewelry. Master the torch, drill, rolling mills, hammers, mandrels, and other tools to create gorgeous rings, bangles and earrings. Great for beginners or returning students.

Stained Glass with Gayle Raposa
Nov 4 - Dec 9
Tuesdays 10am to 1pm

This class is a great way to get started in stained glass. You’ll learn the complete copper foil method from start to finish. Create ornaments, panels, and votives. Work from standard patterns or create your own design and then cut, foil, and solder gorgeous glass accents for your home.

Metalsmithing with Clint Fulkerson
Nov 4 - Dec 9
Tuesdays 6 to 9pm

Here’s your chance to learn metalsmithing in a fun, relaxed atmoshpere! Learn how to handle the equipment necessary to create fantastic soldered jewelry. Master the torch, drill, rolling mills, hammers, mandrels, and other tools to create gorgeous rings, bangles and earrings. Great for beginners or returning students.

Dye Painting with Sue Drown-Trout
Nov 5 - Dec 18
Thursdays 10am to 1pm

Add a beautiful painterly quality to your dyed creations! Using soy wax and paintable dyes, enjoy the art of painting on fabric to create beautiful designs. Turn a simple piece of cloth into a masterpiece! Perfect for someone curious about dye painting or for the seasoned artist to try out new methods.

Sewn Beading with Suzanne Kiertianis
Nov 6 - Dec 11
Fridays 10am to 1pm

Curious about what to do with those tiny beads? This class will explore the various techniques of sewn beading. You'll learn the basic techniques such as: peyote, herringbone, spirals and cabaret. Develop your own style with these fun stitches! Create unique bracelets, necklaces and even pendants that will catch everyone's attention.

Artascope Teacher Highlight- Cline Fulkerson

Clint Fulkerson is our newest Artascope teacher. We are so grateful to have an innovative, talented metalsmith and artist working in our jewerly studio along side our other talented staff. Clint just kicked off his first Artist Fall Metalsmith Series on Wednesday nights starting last Wednesday the 17th. We expect great things from his students and will be sure to showcase their jewelry when finished.

So how about a little history on this talented artist: Clint Fulkerson is a Portland native who spent his childhood playing video games, making labyrinths for his hamsters, building model ships, teaching his brother how to draw in exchange for Kung Fu lessons, and pondering the true colors of dinosaurs.

During High School, he experimented using pen and ink, pastels, watercolor, acrylic paints, and ceramics. He took oil painting classes on Saturdays at Maine College of Art. In his Senior year, Clint was chosen to attend Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, where he tried cyanotype printing and steel forging. He went to Massachusetts College of Art intending to study illustration, but chose to study metalsmithing after seeing the tools and the incredible, small-scale objects students were making in the department. While at Mass Art, he also studied intaglio printing, black and white photography, glass casting, welding, website creation, and 3D computer modeling.

In Boston, he taught wax carving and lost-wax casting at Diablo Glass and Metal, and made jewelry from his studio there. He also worked at Haynes Flute Company casting flute parts in silver and gold, soldering, and managing inventory. In July of 2006, he and his wife Kate decided to move back to Portland, but first took a month long adventure in England, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. They had the opportunity to see a daunting amount of art, especially in London, Paris, and Amsterdam.

He currently has a studio in Portland. His drawings are in the Drawing Center's viewing program and is represented in Portland by Four Walls Gallery. You can learn more about Clint and view some of his 2 dimensional work at http://www.clintart.com/. To learn more about his Artist Series at Artascope Studios and check out our newest offerings, go to http://www.artnightout.com/artistseries.htm.

Fall Artist Series News

There's a little chill in the air. It's time to start thinking about taking some of your activities inside. So what are you planning to do for yourself this fall? What about learning a new craft or deepening your artistic skills?

Suzanne, our amazingly talented studio manager, has been working hard over the summer to wrangle up some very talented teachers and expanding our Artist Series listings. The Artist Series is a 6 week class to allow you to really indulged your inner artist, investigate materials and connect with fellow free spirits. Our Early Fall Artist Series will begin this Sunday, Sept 14th, with a brand new addition, PMC with Ann Liller. She has become quite a PMC star over the years. Her Art Night Out Classes and ArtEscape Weekends are always packed, so make sure to take advantage of learning about this amazing silver clay material with our PMC guru. Class from 10am-1pm.

We will have a busy Monday from 10am-1pm with two Series offerings. Libby Barrett will teach Decorative Painting while Christina Taylor will host her metalsmithing class. Tuesday mornings, Gayle Raposa is back with her popular Stained Glass Artist Series. Wednesdays are another busy day. Liz Prescott starts us off early with Acrylic Painting from 9:30am-12:30pm and our newest Metalsmith teacher, Clint Fulkerson, will make his debut with his Wednesday night jewelry class from 6-9pm. Look for a future blog on this exciting new teacher....

10am-1pm on Thursday, Sue Drown-Trout returns for Batik and Dying and Suzanne Kiertianis, the mastermind behind all this, will end the week with her Sewn Beading class. We request preregistration for all courses to ensure running the classes without a hitch. Please click on this link to find out more details about these fantastic offerings. http://www.artnightout.com/artistseries.htm

So now all you have to decide....which one should I start with! Feel free to give us a ring if you are having trouble deciding which one. Our talented staff of Stewards will be able to help direct you to the right choice...like there's a wrong one!

A New Venture for Artascope Studios

Artascope Studios has decided to create a new art blog as a way to stay connected with artists everywhere and let everyone know about all the wonderful things we have to offer.

Artascope Studios is located in South Portland Maine and home to the popular Art Night Out™. Artist Series and ArtEscape!™ programs. We offer art classes in everything from glass working, wireworking, beaded jewelry, PMC, photo transfer, printmaking, batiking, metalsmithing, collage, decorative painting, fine art painting and book arts to name a few!

We have a fabulous in-house art supply store and 5 unique studio classrooms. The Art Night Out™ program is a great way to learn new skills, get together with friends or make some new ones. We hold classes every Monday and Thursday Nights from 6-9pm and Saturdays from 2-6pm. Our Artist Series are 6 week long classes that meet once a week and offer an excellent resource for students looking to find a new talent or sharpen their skills. The ArtEscape!™ Weekends are three day intensives held year round where you can experience a huge amount of creativity in a small amount of time!

There are opportunities for the community to join as members, using the facilities and receiving some great perks for a small fee. The steward program has been an intregal part of Artascope since its beginings 3 years ago. Local artist donate a few hours of their time on a weekly basis to watch over the studio, give tours and help keep Artascope looking its best. The stewards also share their talents by teaching the extensive list of classes we have to offer here. Our lovely gallery is home to creations by all of our stewards and members with a montly highlighted artist to check out.

Check out some of our upcoming February classes. Check out www.artascope.com for more information!

Cheers!
Maggie

February 2008 classes!

Intro to PMC
23 Feb - Sat (2-6 PM) $125
Explore the fantastic world of PMC and what you can create! You will learn how to roll, stamp, shape and watch your designs come to life with PMC. You will be amazed with the results. Includes a brief introduction to the medium.

Silver Spoon Necklace
25 Feb - Mon (6-9 PM) $45
In this class you will take a silver spoon or fork and convert it to a stunning pendant! Learn about sawing, drilling and wireworking! Who knew there were so many possibilities for a spoon?

Tin Collage People
25 Feb - Mon (6-9 PM) $45
Using copied photos of loved ones, create these adorable tin folk! Bring your imagination to life as your loved ones serve as your inspiration! Great for holiday gifts!

Beachstone Pendant
28 Feb - Thu (6-9 PM) $45
Are you looking to increase your wireworking skills? This new class will add another method of wire wrapping to your repetoire. Learn how to use wire to accent beachstones in a way that is sure to delight everyone!