Put a Bird On It!

© 2012 Valerie Henderson

Join us February 3, 2012 for free art demonstrations by Bravo’s instructors. Learn about the creative possibilities of Valerie Samuel Henderson‘s Monoprint Madness workshop. Louise Shadonix will dazzle us with the magic of Precious Metal Clay. Watch art making first-hand and register for adult & children’s art classes. Registration specials available this night.

Also in Bravo School of Art’s classroom studio, M Fischbeck Studio/Gallery will host the February “Make Your Mark” Project: Birds on a Wire. Create a quick and easy 3 x 5 painting in Bravo’s studio classroom. Your finished piece will hang as a group exhibition in Barracks 19 throughout February.

Friday Night Liberty •  5 – 9pm • February 3, 2012 • NTC at Liberty Station

Bravo School of Art • 2690 Historic Decatur Rd, Studio 206 • San Diego, CA 92106

December art classes

In the Blue © Reed Cardwell

Loosen Up to Abstract Painting workshop taught by Reed Cardwell on December 29

Art Quilt © Gillian Moss

Art Quilt workshop taught by Gillian Moss on December 27

I know the focus for most people these days is about the holidays: shopping OR avoiding malls, travel, family, parties, celebrations, wrapping up end of year paperwork and just trying to make it through the month.

Bravo is offering a couple of art workshops between Christmas and New Year’s. With plenty of time to register, there is room for you and your friends.

What do you think…

… of the new blog look? Thumb’s up? Or thumbs down?

It’s been a while since I’ve posted on here. New art classes for 2012 will all be up on our website shortly. There’s some great new classes, many returning favorites and a few that are on hiatus. Check out the calendar for daily offerings. Buttons for online registering are in production. If you see a course that you would like to attend, please send an email or call. You may print out a registration form, complete it and mail in with a check.

We have 5 new instructors. About 50 different workshops. Saturday mornings, one hour for ages 3 -6!

The Artist’s Way group is now forming. It returns for its 12 week engagement on January 17. Recover or discover your creative self. Join us for this powerful course of weekly readings, exercises and discussions that will propel you towards a more fulfilling life. Following Julia Cameron’s book, you’ll encounter a myriad of experiences that will tap your imagination and increase productivity. Allow artist and writer, Jill Hall, to take you on this journey.

Fall For The Arts

Bravo School of Art will be participating in Fall for the Arts on Saturday, October 1, to kick off National Arts and Humanities Month. It is a free, fun event on San Diego Bay and will feature performances, workshops, demonstrations, food and exhibits from throughout the region. Join us at the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier, 1000 N. Harbor Drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This premiere event is sponsored by the City of San Diego’s Commission for Arts and Culture and the Port of San Diego, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, the San Diego Foundation, Americans for the Arts and the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau. For further details, visit the Port of San Diego’s website.

New Classes and Workshops at Bravo School of Art

I just received the new list of classes and workshops beginning in September at Bravo and since I make the website I have my work cut out for me. It is a time consuming, detail oriented and somewhat frustrating task. I wanted to share a bit about the process in case you are perusing the site and it looks unfinished. During this transition time there are old outdated workshops and new ones that are not complete. What I like to do first is make sure there is a listing for all the classes. At least that way you know what is available. Then I make 2 payment buttons for each class, one for non-members and one for a member discount. In the meantime while each of these buttons is made and posted onto the sight you may see something like ” If you wish to register online and there is not a payment button, please call or email for other ways to register.” I figure that way until the online payment buttons are all completed you can still register the old fashioned way! Checks in the mail are really the preferred way to register. On the website page all about how to register there is a registration form that can be downloaded and printed out and mailed in with a check. Back in the days before everyone had websites that was how it was done.
I hope this explains the process I go through every 4 months when the list of classes and workshops as well as instructors changes, and why the website may look strange. And if you see any mistakes, you can put the blame on me as I have been known to make some. Just point them out and I will be grateful you found them.

In case you forgot why it’s important to create…

This is one of the best messages I’ve heard in a long time. Actors, writers, dancers, musicians, visual artists, singers, cooks, bakers, gardeners, folks raising children and the rest of you who think you are not creative enough or are reluctant to call yourself “ARTIST“, please watch this video.

Click here to view this transformational video written and directed by Jan Phillips, a visionary author and dynamic speaker who ignites original thinking and inspires evolutionary action. Celebrate your connection with the deepest part of yourself. Value and be courageous to share your unique creative gifts with the world.

Thank you.

So many to pick from. So little time

The next four days are jam-packed full of art classes at Bravo School of Art. How do you pick just one?? Can you attend them all?? I say yes, Yes, YES!!!!

•  SHOOT WITH A PRO… Walk around historic NTC Promenade with professional photographer, John Thurston as he guides you to put your camera and your skills through their paces? Have some fun shooting great photographs of the City Skyline, wildlife along the bay, and the architecture of Liberty Station. Your imagination is the limit and it’s time to exercise it! Specially scheduled: Saturday, July 16   9 – 11am. Register now!

•  WATERCOLOR BOTANICAL … Last chance this summer to learn from the best. Helen Shafer Garcia will focus on luminous watercolor techniques used when painting flowers and plants. Explore wet into wet, dropped in color and resist methods creating magnified, close-up botanical compositions. Learn about color combinations and the use of metallic, iridescent and interference watercolors. Saturday, July 16    10am – 4pm. Register now!

•  WIRE WRAPPED BRACELET…  Create a beautifully crafted bracelet (or anklet) using copper and your favorite beads. Learn the proper technique for making secure evenly wrapped eye-pins to connect your beads in style. A graceful wire clasp that’s easy to secure will complete your new bracelet. Sunday, July 17   9am – 12pm. Register now!

• WEAVE A BEAUTIFUL SCARF… Christie Dunning will teach you the simple yet satisfying process of weaving. Complete a hand woven scarf in this one-day introduction to weaving. Explore and experiment with up to 15 different patterns, using all kinds of yarn, from plain to very novel! Monday, July 18   10am – 4pm. Register now!

Weave a Beautiful Scarf

Art A-Go-Go

Art A-Go-Go student's Print

Art A-Go-Go‘s last session for this summer is today. I think the children who took the 3 separate 4-week series enjoyed themselves. I know I did as I sat on the sidelines, listening, watching and occasionally putting in my 2¢. Oh, and taking photos.

Each week the students learned a new technique (or in some cases: reviewed). Their projects ranged from relief printmaking to wire sculpture to self portraits painted on canvas to collage and much more. Imaginations set free to create… the students and Sharon Novak, their instructor.

I witness some growth and some great little gems of art.

My favorites are still in the camera… the self portraits.. Stay tuned for more.

CASA de MILAGROS workshop this weekend

Student's Casa de Milagros

CASA de MILAGROS
Instructor Helen Shafer Garcia.
Milagros can happen to everyone! Build your House of Miracles from the ground up with light paper mache techniques, paint and collage embellishments. Your structure will house a unique small pamphlet stitch book with collaged pages. Start with house construction and paper mache, building your own unique style of home. Add a window or two. While the paper mache dries, create a small pamphlet stitch book that reflects the milagro theme. This can be a memory or a hopeful event for the future! Paint and embellish the house with contrasting acrylic paint layers and collage. Milagros will be added to complete the casa. Viva la Vida! Please bring in several simple ideas drawn, ahead of time, in your journal. Materials list provided upon registration.

$81 Bravo member / $93 non-member
Materials fee  $15
Sunday, June 19    10am – 4pm

Register NOW!