Lessons in Art (coming soon) and Show Applications (due starting today)
Lessons in Art (coming soon) and Show Applications (due starting today)
A little something later, a little something NOW
For artists applying to art festivals - jump to “Show Applications” below for important dates, including TODAY’s 12/1/2023 deadline reminder for the Cherry Creek Art Festival.
I was originally trained and certified as a High School Art teacher. After graduation, however, I found myself happily employed elsewhere and never made the jump into teaching. While I used some of these skills in training sessions (in my past IT career), occasional art workshops, and volunteering at the local elementary school, I always felt uncomfortable in a teaching role.
I think part of that discomfort is rooted in never feeling like an expert. With art, each discipline has its own set of skills to acquire and materials to master. I always felt like there was more to know in every medium I tried. I am also a creative explorer. I enjoy the process of trial and error - making my art as much about the journey as the end product. As such, the traditional methods of material use are not as interesting to me. I want to see what they can do without prejudice.
For myself, I find it difficult and tedious to try and teach technique. I admire the teachers who excel at providing those types of lessons, and have learned from many myself. Personally, though, while I enjoy demonstrating my process, I have a hard time relaying my artistic choices as a set of procedural skills. However, with my recent efforts in mixed media and collage, I realized the traditional materials I typically used to teach art were the major disrupter in my ability to convey lessons in art-making - lessons that can span across mediums.
To this end, I’m excited to start a new chapter next year in what I previously thought was a closed book.
- Lessons in Art via Collage
Collage O (i.e. Collage Circle) is a new Substack community I’m offering starting January 2024.
I find the collage process to provide not only an accessible creative outlet but also a place to heal and grow. Over the past year, I sorted through a myriad of items acquired from various members of my extended family: photos, postcards, letters, books, fiber, and more. I found myself using my art training to bring new life to these items from which I didn’t know how to part while giving me new skills and energy for my studio practice.
~ from Collage O, an Introduction
What I have discovered I love about collage is its accessibility and impartiality. Nearly any material can be used and no skills are required. Everyone is welcome at the collage table. As such, I believe it is the perfect creative practice for me to use as a basis to teach art concepts and theory - anywhere from the purpose of art to compositional strategies. In doing so, I’ll bring not only my seven years of art and education training but also my twenty years of experience making and selling art.
My apologies for the sales pitch, but if you are interested, I hope you’ll choose to become a subscriber. I’m excited about exploring the possibilities of this approach to teaching about art!
(It’s FREE for occasional posts. Paid for all the posts.)
I’m sure some of the lessons I share on my collage page will spill over here to
but I wanted to let you know that I am continuing with both pages in 2024.Show Applications
And now - the real reason I’m posting on a Friday (I try to post weekly on Sundays).
For those of you who are artists looking to show your work at outdoor festivals - it’s APPLICATION TIME! And the first due date on my bucket list is TODAY (Dec. 1)!
While I have more to say and share about choosing and applying to shows - for today I just want to share the shows on my radar to make sure you get the ones you want on your radar too!
My Show Application Bucket List (with application deadlines added)
Art in the High Desert - Bend, OR (application deadline 2/15/2024)
Old Town Art Fair - Chicago, IL (1/15/2024)
Art in the Pearl - Portland, OR (2/15/2024)
Cherry Creek Art Festival - Denver, CO (TODAY - 12/1/2024)
Plaza Art Fair - Kanses City, MO (applications open in 2024)
Sun Valley Arts and Craft Festival - Ketcham, ID (3/21/2024)
Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival - Fort Worth, TX (jury closed for 2024)
Saint Louis Art Fair - Saint Louis, MO (applications open soon - due in March 2024)
Smithsonian Craft Show - Washington DC (applications open in 2024))
from : The Outdoor Art Festival Season
Additional Shows I’m considering
Edmonds Arts Fair - Edmonds, WA (1/26/2024)
King William Fair - San Antonio, TX (12/18/2024)
Corvallis Fall Festival - Corvallis, OR (TBA)
I’m wrapping this up quickly to make sure anyone interested in applying to the Denver show (and forgot about the deadline) has a chance to see this - AND, because I need to work on my own application (if I decide to apply - arghhh, I’m still deciding)!
Such is the life of an artist.
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy weekend. I know I overindulged last weekend, so I’m just going to be taking it easy myself.
Cheers,
Jennifer