Nude Paper Cuts, Half Off Art, and Guided Open Studio

Tomorrow from 4-6pm is the 2nd reception for "Clothing Optional" at CityArts Cooperative.  To entice you to visit, I am sharing a few more images of my nude paper cuts.

"Back with a Twist"  hand-cut paper, 8"x10", by Heather Clements

"Leg Twist" hand-cut paper, 8"x10", by Heather Clements

"Pondering Man" hand-cut paper, 8"x10", by Heather Clements

"Sitting Pretty" hand-cut paper, 8"x10", by Heather Clements. *SOLD

Of course, there are going to be MANY reasons to come to CityArts Cooperative tomorrow.  Tomorrow from 11-6 is the 7th Annual Half Off Art Show.  Over 40 artists are participating, selling their work for 50% off!  The gallery is currently PACKED with art: paintings, drawings, photographs, ceramics, jewelry, prints, paper-cuts, and more.  Get some early holiday shopping in, buy some for yourself, for someone's birthday, or buy just because you love the art!

AND there will be an auction of the art bra's at 5:00 with all the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society!

I have one more exciting announcement: I will be teaching a new class starting in October!

Artists can come and bring art that they are working on, in any medium, and receive advice on technique, concept, and direction.  This class is loosely modeled after my own Junior and Senior Thesis classes from art school.  I won't give assignments because the art for this class is your own.  I will be there to help you grow as an individual artist.

You may feel free to bring in art to work on, or simply bring your art to receive in-depth critiques.

As the class progresses, I would like to encourage other students to give feedback as well.

In the future, I plan on asking other local artists to guest-teach on occasion.

Super-cool, right?

Green Tip #8: Go Outside. In order to take any action towards helping any cause, your first have to care.  Before you can care, you familiarize yourself with the situation.  So I realize it is difficult for some people to care about the natural world when they spend the majority of their time cut off from it, indoors.  So go outside.  Go on a hike through the woods, go to the beach, go swimming in a creek, go canoeing down a river, camp outside amongst the trees, sit on the grass in your own backyard.  I guarantee if you spend enough time immersed in the natural environment, your appreciation and connection will grow.

Thank you for the visit!

-Heather

The Dream Studio... Complete!

It's FINISHED!!!!  MY DREAM STUDIO IS COMPLETE.  ((Okay, it's almost finished.  All it needs is a door latch and the corner of the table rounded so I don't impale myself one day.))  But it is complete enough for me to be more than satisfied, more than happy, just ECSTATIC.  Let us revel in the beauty and glory that is my dream studio:

On the right you will see one of the newest additions: a table with a storage shelf.

And here is the other new addition on the left, a large shelf for large vertical storage of large art and supplies.

Let me remind you how this space looked when we first moved in:

 And here is the exact same corner of the room now:

If you have been following the blog for a while, you'll know that we have been slowly working on making this into the dream studio for over a year now.  My amazing soon-to-be-unoffical-husband Mat, and his father Xelle have helped soooo much.  I also would not have been able to afford this awesome face-lift had it not been for all of you out there who have supported my endeavors via buying art, commissioning art, taking classes, and helping me promote.  So if any of that applies to you, THANK YOU!!!  I walked the fine financial balance of "how can I make this as cheap as possible while still keeping it good quality?"  And just over $1,100 later, I think I did a pretty good job, considering all of the following renovations:

• installed roof insulation
• put in ceiling
• installed track lighting
• flat file added
• floor raised and leveled
• painted ceiling

• added insulation and paneled walls
• added floor, ceiling, corner, door, and window trim
• painted walls, doors, and all trim
• bought art supply storage cabinet (just $60 at Goodwill!)
• vinyl flooring put down
• added outlet for air conditioning unit
• built shelves for verticle storage (canvases, paintings, etc.)
• built table/counter with shelf storage
• painted shelving and table/counter
• bought area rug (hand-made from factory scraps and super cheap)

Phew!  All of that took up a lot of weekends with Mat and Xelle, and at least 15 full days of me working on my own.

I can't believe how fortunate I am to be able to live off of my passion, and now in such a warm and beautiful environment.  Fortunate, but with lots of hard work and help.  I couldn't be happier.

So if you would like to visit the studio, see lots of art (I have more stored that you cannot see in the photos,) and maybe talk art, please let me know.  Hit that 'Contact Me' tab at the top of the blog.

Inspiration Source #7: "Planet Earth" and "Life."  Each series is by the Discovery Channel and the BBC.  Many of you who may read my green tips may think "Jeez, what's so great about other life on this planet that I should do anything to help preserve it?"  Well, watch "Planet Earth" and "Life" and I guarantee it will all make much more sense.  Every episode of these is phenomenally breath-taking and awe-inspiring.  I can't express the amazement you will experience at all of the completely unique and fascinating landscapes and creatures on our very own planet.  If I could only own two DVDs (or DVD sets) they would be these.  They still give me chills and I could watch them over and over.

When you do buy or rent these, definitely get the versions narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

Thank you for your visit!

-Heather