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We have some new art to show off! The Saturday morning students have been very busy. The photo to the left is an acrylic painting project- the title is "Red Floyd". The student wanted to make an abstract piece using straight lines only. The best part is his smile- that says it all!   
The image below I was unable to crop nicely- it is a color pencil project. The focus of this project was to create an abstract piece that was also limited in color range. Both students hit their marks!

 






 
 
Wow!
After four weeks of looking at studios all over the city we are in the best building around! The Hungerford building is a thriving artists community located across from the Rochester Public Market.  Its a huge old factory that once made extracts and candies! (I swear you can still smell sugar and vanilla in some hallways!)

This past weekend was wild! Everything is moved, cleaned, and we are ready to go! Classes begin the week of September 10th!

The new studio location is fantastic- a working elevator, a sink in the studio, and air conditioning- all things we have wanted for awhile! AND the building is filled with artists of all types, sculptors, jewelers, metal smiths, glass blowers, and painters galore! As we get to know our new neighbors we will have the chance to possibly tour their studios and see what makes them create!
Personally, I am looking forward to finally getting back to painting now that all the paints and canvases are unpacked!
See everyone soon!
MB 
 
 
Inspiration has struck- in the form of a new graphic novel! Episodes 1 and 2 are all story boarded out, and I am now gathering reference photos, and mythological backgrounds of all the new characters. It will be fun, zany, and of course, all about the art of the story!  The new story will be debuted in rough form at the Seneca Falls Library programs on June 23 and 30th! 
Teaser- what would happen if ancient Egyptian gods like Horus and Seth were alive in the modern day world? Well, come to the library and find out this summer!
 
 
Well, where do we start? It has been a busy school year! We are heading towards this year's 'finish line', and everyone has been super creative. In addition to the weekly classes StART HERE Studio is getting ready to "hit the road" again for our Summer Visiting artist programs. April 9-16 is national Library week and we hit the ground running with two programs in Horse Heads, NY.  The crowd enjoyed turning themselves into Super Heros in the daytime with children ages 8 and up. (We even had some come in their costumes!)  The evening program was Altered Books, and we had a nice turnout, and there are new altered books fanatics in Horseheads. That being said, don't miss out on the fun see the schedule below and join us this summer at a library near you.  If you live near any of these libraries, give them a call and ask to sign up for these FREE programs.

StART HERE Studio, MB Dolan Summer Tour 2012 Dates as of today are:
Brighton Library- Me, the Super Hero - June 25 at 10:30am
Lyell Avenue Library(Rochester)- Me , the Super Hero at 2pm
Seneca Falls Library- Let's Get Graphic (graphic novel that is), June 23 and 30th at 11am
Lockport Library- Funky Polymer clay jewelry- July 26 , time tbd. 
Leroy Library- Let's Get Graphic (graphic novel, that is), July 24, 4-5:30pm
 
 
Several people have been asking me:
"how can i become more creative?"
'how can i become a free-thinker, zanier, wilder in my art making?"

Well, here's the answer...take these bi-weekly coaching style classes. These classes are for serious students, students who are considering going to college for art, or taking their art skills and creativity to the next level.
Unlike the regular classes, there will be a lot of independent work, as well as collaborating with other students in this class, and even homework!

This class series will be tailor made for each students area of interest, be it cartooning, illustration, realistic painting, abstract art,   

If you just said "oh, goodie! homework in art!" this is the class for you!!!!
Class size is limited to four students, so call the studio before the spots are gone!


 
 
Wow! Where did June and July go? Classes start in less than 30 days!

I am super excited about getting back into the classroom with old and new students...and I have some projects lined up already for September and October.
After a two year hiatus StART HERE Studio will have a student art show, in the month of April. Students past and present are invited to bring a framed piece of art and display it in the studio's gallery space for the month. The show will be open to the public on First Friday, and Second Saturday as well as regular studio hours.  

I am also looking into a field trip in November to the Albright-Knox gallery in Buffalo, or a trip to Artisanworks in Rochester. 

And as the saying goes, when it rains, it POURS!  In addition to classes resuming, I have been commissioned to create THREE (yep, three) murals in a new restaurant in Rochester!  And for those of you that have done perspective in an art class here at the studio...all three murals are "CITY SCAPES" and use one, two and three point perspective!  Please pass the aspirin and the erasers!








 
 
The students are all working on their projects as we head into the holiday season. We have been making altered books, reduction process prints, acrylic paintings based on our fall trip to the Rochester Public Market, and sea shell collages. The adult students have been painting in acrylics and making their own personalized holiday greeting cards.

The "Holiday Gala" was held at the building this weekend, and hundreds of guests perused the studios, listened to music, saw a dance and poetry reading; and best of all purchased works in all mediums. The winner of the Asian Cut Paper art was Carol Bohan. She won an original work of art for $1! 

The new art by the students will be posted in the next blog, as the various projects come to completion these next two weeks.

IF YOU MENTION SEEING THE STUDIO WEBSITE AND BLOG when you call to enroll as a new student you can save $20 off your first month's membership fee!
 
 
We began this year with a still life set up in a "shadow box" to control the lighting and create dramatic lighting effects.  I will post some photos over the next week as students begin to complete their work. 

Several students have requested the return of our end of the year student art show...so watch for updates as i find a venue and available dates. 

It's been great seeing everyone after their summer off...and it seems like the only one who didn't grow at least four inches over the summer!  :P

 
 
 
Well, I finally did it!  Made a new and improved web site. Hopefully, you will stop by regularly and watch as the school year develops. We will resume classes the week of September 13, 2010. The first month of classes will be all about drawing, fine-tuning  last year's skills, or starting fresh for new students. My philosophy at the studio is that everyone should try their best, don't get stressed out, and remember that art truly is a process. The learning environment is open, casual and paced for each student individually. We welcome home school students, public school students who no longer can fit art into their schedule, students seeking art enrichment, adults who are "getting back into art", and beginner adults! 

So, you tell me, HOW DID YOU SPEND YOUR SUMMER VACATION?