Vita Art Center-Blog

I’ve been teaching a  Mixed Media Painting class for the last 5 years and I find an interesting thing happening lately…whether the student is a novice art maker or an experienced art maker of any sort, I think they come to get a dose of an attitude I share…it’s “try anything and everything.” Sometimes it’s hard to give yourself permission to go outside of what you know and what you’ve grown accustomed to as your own personal style. You may be inspired by other work you see and you may wonder how the artist did that. Maybe you’ve learned to draw but you haven’t yet picked up a paint brush…it’s scary! You’ve painted in Watercolor but you haven’t tried Acrylics or Oils. What is a Monotype? a Monoprint? Encaustics? The idea of getting to a place in your work that you’re feeling confident about but wanting to try new things, can be a little daunting at first, but just remember this wonderful quote from Jasper Johns “It’s simple, you just take something and do something to it, and then do something else to it. Keep doing this, and pretty soon you’ve got something.”  That’s what I call “process” and that’s how I work and how I like to teach my class. I have had painters and printmakers in my class who have wanted to learn Mixed Media techniques and I have had Mixed Media students who want to learn to paint. It’s all one and the same if you consider each artistic medium as another tool in your tool box. And with all those tools in your arsenal…well, just think of the possibilities that abound! As one of my Vita students recently told me ” I had such a fun day! I’ll take your workshops any time. I think you are really getting me over my art phobia! More than any other teacher, I think you get it, ART should be fun. Too make of us take it far too seriously.” Ginny

Amy Schneider - Mixed Media Painting

Class  Schedule:

Sat. June 6, 1-5 or Sun. June 28, 10 - 4 or Sat. July 25, 10-4.

The Art of Chocolate
with Michael Gillet
Dates: Saturday, May 30
Time: 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Spend an evening with pastry chef Michael Gillet, the current executive pastry chef of the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. Gillet has also lent his talent to other exclusive organizations including The Beverly Hills Hotel, Ritz Carlton, and Le Cirque in New York City. Gillet will discuss the history of chocolate along with the different usages. The group will then have the opportunity to taste the different chocolates discussed. Next, Gillet will give a demo while discussing the tempering of chocolate and the process of making different chocolates. The last hour will be spent making chocolate bonbons and lollipops.

Fees: $25.ºº

Somewhere along the way, we all were artists. Everyone picks up crayons or chalk as toddlers, but at some point, we just stop drawing. Radio cartoonist and children’s author Mo Willems says that’s a pity.Willems is obsessed with why adults don’t draw — and he wants to do something about it.

“One of the interesting things about cartooning and doodling and drawing,” Willems tells Michele Norris, “is that people stop when they decide they’re not good at it. Nobody stops playing basketball when they realize they’re not going to become a professional. The same thing should apply to cartooning.”

Willems says just sitting and drawing a character brings out empathy in people, and that’s something the world could use more of right now.

To Read or listen to the full article on NPR click here

ART PARTY

Saturday, March 28, 2009

6:30-9:30 pm

Vita Art Center, 432 N. Ventura Avenue Studio 30, Ventura

805-644-9214

Come learn some art-making basics, experiment with materials, new techniques and socialize with other adults!

Saturday, March 28 - Artist Shrines

Artists Mary Perez & Melissa Kirkegaard will guide participants as they hand paint a tin niche that will display an altered photo we will create. On hand will be plenty of photos of artists, writers, musicians, and saints to choose from to alter or bring your own 2X3 *emulsion photo to alter. *emulsion photos are developed professionally (kodak, target, costco all work). Photos printed from desktop printers will not work.

Click here to register

$25.00

Our Teen Art Program starts this Friday. We have a very exciting 12 week program with amazing instructors.

• John White will lead the group to create a mixed media quadriptyc using found objects.

• Hiroko Yoshimoto will teach Figure Drawing.

• The business of art with Sylvia White

• Head Drawing with Debi Nowak-Hawkes

• Color Theory with MB Hanrahan

• Painting techniques with Chris Kirkegaard

• The 12 week course will end with a gallery show featuring the students work.

Teen Art Program
AGES 13-18
Dates: Fridays, March 20 – May 29, 12 weeks
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Class Code: TAPSP09

The group meets once a week, for 12 weeks. The curriculum is designed to help high school students and Teens interested in the arts become more well-rounded artists and strengthen their portfolios.

In addition to art classes students will participate in projects that will contribute to increasing awareness of the importance of art in our community. A group exhibit will also be included in the program.

Fees: $270.
For more info visit:
http://www.vitaexplorations.com/index.php?name=teen_art

I have been inspired watching parents and their kids taking classes together, friends taking classes together as well as married couples. There is something about the calming therapeutic effects of art that create a great catalyst for bonding. Now that my daughter is 18, with a very busy schedule, she hardly has time for me. I’m happy we did spend so much quality time together and for the time we do have together. I’m thrilled that my son has agreed to spend Sunday with me taking a mosaic class with Lori Zimmerman. I’m looking forward to learning mosaic techniques but mostly I’m looking forward to the 4 hours with my son both of us working side by side. Yes, life is good!

Mosaics
Instructor: Lori Zimmermann
Dates: Sundays, 3/15-3/22, 2 sessions
Time: 3/15, 1-5 p.m. & 3/22, 1-3 p.m.
Class Code: AS1
Come join in the fun and learn the art of mosaic. Using broken pottery, tiles, and other found materials, create a one-of-a-kind mirror or frame. Fees: $60.ºº

We had a great turn out for Jill Sattler’s opening exhibit March 6. It was wonderful to see so many people out to celebrate Beatrice Wood’s life and the art of Ms. Sattler. The show will be up for one more week. Don’t miss the chance to see Sattler’s beautiful photos of Beatrice Wood and her amazing paintings on display.

Jill Sattler

BEATRICE WOOD AND OTHER TREASURES

March 6 - March 22, 2009

Bell Arts Tool Room Gallery in conjunction with the Vita Art Center present photodramatist and artist Jill Sattler in celebration of the internationally cherished Beatrice Woods birthday. Sattler had the privilege to photograph Beatrice Wood many times before she died in 1998. Her beautiful sepia tone photos capture the essence of Beatos spirit. On exhibit will be Jill Sattlers treasure trove of photographic images of Beatrice. Including her 100th birthday and her last portrait sitting at 105 years of age. Additional work will include a collection of Sattler’s assemblage images inclusive of a tribute piece to Madame Gana Walska (Originator of Montecitos Lotusland). Sattler will also exhibit her collection of jewelry which she refers to as Folk Baroque. Elle Magazine has featured a collection of Jills work and Cher accepted her academy award while wearing earrings made by the artist. Additionally featured will be Sattlers photographs of historical Santa Barbara sites of Val Verde, the Santa Barbara Mission and Courthouse.

The Vita Art Center is a place for artistic discovery. Featuring fine art classes taught by talented artists that share and teach their expertise. Whether you are a novice or professional the Vita Art Center has a class just right for you. Our Gallery space exhibits monthly shows with a new opening every first Friday.

Welcome to Vita Art Center Blog. Let’s start blogging!