Playing with my Palette Knife

At the Whatcom Art Guild meeting a couple of weeks ago, I entered a raffle and won a workshop in abstract, textural painting with Carrelyn Banner of Cosmic Light Studio.  As I love to experiment with color and texture, I was excited about learning something new.

Carrelyn did not disappoint.  A wonderful abstract artist, she is also an aficionado of Golden Artist mediums, and she introduced me to many of the types in their line.  She had me try everything from the super course pumice gel to the fine self leveling clear gel gloss, then asked me to play with it all, adding color, mixing mediums and monoprinting with textural plates.

It was so much fun to take the time to glop on different mediums with my palette knife and scrape them around to see what they can do.  My favorite was the glass bead gel, as it goes in a little coarse, but dries all sparkly!

Looking forward to passing on some of these techniques and checking out many more of Golden's mediums.

Exploring the "Selfie" - Elementary/Middle School Art

Kate Studio is happy to continue its children’s art enrichment courses with another term of new and exciting lessons!  This time around, “Selfies” is a series of classes aimed at creating self-portraits.  Students will learn the secret to doing realistic, proportional self portraits, then continue to explore their faces in the styles of cartoon artist Roy Lichtenstein,  Modigliani…and Lego!

Dates: Feb. 24, March 3, 10, 17 & 24^th

Time: 4:15-5:20

Cost: $55
Place: Kate Studio, 639 Hunters Pointe Drive, Bellingham
(house on corner of Clarke Rd, above Fairhaven Middle School)

Registration: Kath Piros at 360-526-2169

New Art for Homeschoolers and Artsy Adults

 Kid's Classes:

Artists with a twist

Join us in learning about some of the most unique artists of our time.  We’ll explore Picasso’s work and create an inspired cubist self-portrait, we’ll take a look at Calder as we learn about his mobiles and stabiles, and we'll check out Keith Haring’s daring street art. We'll also immerse ourselves in Georgia O’Keefe’s unique view of her environment. 

Students will work with a variety of media such paints, sculptural materials, chalk, and ink.

Date: Tuesday January 20, 27, Feb. 3, 10 & 17,  from 4:15-5:15

Cost: $55

Place: Kate Studio, 639 Hunters Pointe Drive, Bellingham

To Register: Kath Piros 360-526-2169

(classes are small, so please register early to reserve your space)

Adult Classes:

Glass Fusing Fun!

Join us in creating a shimmering fused glass pendant and a pair of earrings OR a beautiful 5" fused glass plate at Kate Studio. You'll learn the fundamentals of glass cutting and fusing, how to use a kiln and create either jewelry or a plate while enjoying time with friends. Students will create their glass piece(s) using different materials such as frit, stringers, dichroic and irridized glass. They will also learn how to load their work into the kiln, program it and begin the fusing process. The class includes use of all materials, including glass and tools necessary to create your masterpiece as well as kiln fusing time & handouts. 

***Date:  January 16, 2015

Time: 10-1pm **** daytime class!

Cost:  $35

Let’s zendoodle in an art journal

Have you zendoodled lately?

Using special doodle pens and pastel and intense watercolor pencils, we’ll make a zendoodle journal then use these colors to embellish the book.  Class includes use of all materials AND your very own art journal to take home.

Sunday, January 25,

Time: 7pm

Cost: $22 

Breaking out the Leather

We’re breaking out the leather again to make another type of leather bracelet and a key fob. Learn about leather, and how to prepare it to make your pieces. Stamp in an inspirational or motivational quote or even your name. We’ll also check out different punches and dyes to stain our works of art.  

The class includes use of all materials, including tools necessary to create your masterpiece.

Thursday, January 29th

Time: 7pm

Cost: $22

Multi-media Inspirational Painting

Paint, glitter & be inspired at Kate Studio as you take your favorite inspirational saying and paint it on a canvas.  Students will have all materials -- from paints, canvas, papers and other multi-media provided as they create a painting that will inspire them in the most creative way possible.  This workshop is fun for everyone, whether you've never touched a paintbrush, or have been painting all your life.

Date: Friday, Feb. 6, 2015

Time: 10am - 12:30pm (some people need more time, so allow yourself a little wiggle room.)

Cost: $35

Welcome Young artists!


Kate Studio is a unique art studio for adults and children from 5 years. Classes incorporate hands-on art appreciation lessons to teach students about the lives and the works of influential artists from the past and modern day, from all over the world.  Here is our first in a series of classes for elementary and middle school kids.  

Artists with a twist

Join us in learning about some of the most unique artists of our time.  We’ll explore Picasso’s work and create an inspired cubist self-portrait, we’ll take a look at Calder as we learn about his mobiles and stabiles, and we'll check out Keith Haring’s daring street art. We'll also immerse ourselves in Georgia O’Keefe’s unique view of her environment. 

Students will work with a variety of media such paints, sculptural materials, chalk, and ink.

Date: Tuesday January 20, 27, Feb. 3, 10 & 17,  from 2:00-3:00

Cost: $55

Place: Kate Studio, 639 Hunters Pointe Drive, Bellingham

To Register: Kath Piros 360-526-2169

(classes are small, so please register early to reserve your space)

My Favorite Things! A Compilation from Kath at Kate Studio

As you know, Oprah still releases a list of her favorite things.  They're all well and good, but I thought I'd throw my own hat into the ring with MY own 10 favorite things.  Best of all, most of them are under $50!    So here it is….my list!!!!!!!!

1.  Give the Gift of Art!
Glass Fusing Workshop Gift Certificates:  We all like to get our "crafty on" and what a better way to do it than by purchasing a gift certificate to fuse glass at Kate Studio!  Treat your friend, your coworker, your spouse or even yourself to a night of fun, designing and fusing either a glass plate or a pair of earrings and pendant at one of Kate Studio's fused glass classes in 2015.  Only $35.
Registration & dates: kpartworx@gmail.com

Art Retreat Gift Certificates: Kate Studio is hosting it's first-ever ART RETREAT! Join us for a weekend of glass fusing, painting, beading, beachcombing and multi-media crafting in beautiful Bellingham, WA. Continental breakfast & lunch included in this fun-filled 2-day art-fest June 20-21, 2015. Early Bird Registration:  $225.  Call 360-526-2169 or email Kath at kpartworx@gmail.com for registration.





















2. Fedora Topper. Near the top of my list, everyone should own one of these Panama or Fedora hats.  They are chic, protect you from the cold and rain, and they are a defini

te statement piece.  ($15, Forever 21) Forever 21's cute fedora

3. Coloring outside the lines. Derwent intense watercolor pencils bring out the kid in you and make your art SHINE!  They are intense like a marker with a little water, and soft and pastel without. Check the Derwent Pencils Here...inktense pencils

4. Get Sporty.  For the sporty person in your life, check out "Sporty Jewels," which carries one-of-a-kind silver and gold earrings, pendants, rings etc. for almost every sport you can think of.  As I personally have the kayaking pendant and a pair of gorgeous earrings, I can vouch that each piece is handcrafted and of the highest quality.  From the marathon runner to the rower, jewelry designer Denise Relke has created something for everyone.  www.sportyjewels.com

5. Style & Gift Guide. If you have kids and love design, fashion, style, food and travel, you will love the debut of the Boombaloo Coffee table book.  It's a new magazine conceived by up-and-coming style maven Natalie Grant, and it's coming out this month with modern, innovative and inspiring products and articles.  I've ordered mine!  http://www.boombaloomagazine.com/

6. Just Doodle! Every artist needs an assortment of these high quality pigment pens.  I'd use them to enhance my zendoodling, do a little cartooning and add detail to my watercolors.

7. Kick Some Butt. I can't seem to get my mind off these adorable booties, that have a low heels for walking but high style to go with your skinny jeans or tights. asos.com

8. Paint Your Feelings. No. Really. I am totally in love with art journals, for your drawing and writing inspiration.  Michaels and Amazon also carries blank ones which make good starters.  http://www.amazon.com/Strathmore-Visual-Journal-Spiral-12-Inch/dp/B003YIZ0HI/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1416426745&sr=8-6&keywords=art+journal

9. Artsy Nails. One of the newest trends now is Jamberry nails.  Personally, I love the way they press on, and stay for a long time, regardless of how many times I clean paint and clay off my hands! (my consultant - Amanda Evans) http://mandaanne.jamberrynails.net/

10. A Whole Lotta Puffery. Before I moved from California to Bellingham, I never understood the power of the puffer.  Now, I feel the need! I'm REALLY cold now when I go outside, and I notice the native B'hammers are "in the know," having a selection of long and short down-filled puffers jackets.  They'll keep you warm and fashionable as you run around town.  Best bet? www.landsend.com

Hope you've enjoyed my list of the things I adore.  Happy Holidays to all my crafty friends!