Sharing what I've been Doing

For the past few weeks, since I returned from Maine I have been working on "MY HAPPY LIFE' Series.  I have had so much fun.  They are painted from memory without any photo reference so it has been an interesting challenge.  They may not look fully defined, but memories are that way, kind of fuzzy and not always fully defined.  If you have had similar experiences you can put yourself into the pictures.

 This is "Day at the Beach"

 "NOT Until your Room is Clean"

 "Family Reunion Photo"  This painting is 30" X 40"  ( Smile)

"Family Vacation"

PAINTINGS

After I arrived home it took me two full days to get my suitcases out of the entry hall, unpacked and do the laundry.  Now that job is done, but there are still things in the garage to be put away.  Now I also have a bunch more paintings to figure out where to put them.

 On the Saturday and Sunday between the two week of painting workshop we did not have a formal class, so I went to the Botanical Gardens.  There were the most beautiful peonies blooming so I took some photos and painted when I got back from the Gardens.  It was  a good thing I went on Saturday because on Sunday it was pouring rain, so I went to a museum in Rockland with lots of Andrew Wyeth paintings in it.
The hotel had no food service so every night we would go 7 miles into town and eat at a seafood and lobster dock.  So good!  Fresh off the boats that morning and into the pan.  These are the lobster boats docked for the night and ready to go out the next morning.  An interesting view to paint from.  Looking straight down onto the dock.

I have been Traveling

I went to Wilmington, NC to visit my sister, and then we took a trip to Charleston SC .  Two weeks of fun with my sisters then home again.

 This is the oldest house in Charleston SC, built in 1714, but still standing.

 North Carolina Coast at sunset.  So beautiful.  Then I went to Maine for a two week painting workshop.  That was a wonderful experience as well as beautiful scenery.  I just returned.

 This light house was at the end of the road where we were.  How New England is that?

Tiny little harbors with the lobster boats in for the day.  I ate lobster several times, yum and only $20.

I will post a few of the paintings I did in a few days.  My luggage is still sitting in the front hallway waiting to be unloaded.  Today is the day.  I had to get over jet-lag and just plain EXHAUSTION yesterday.  It is good to be back, with so many plans and ideas for the future.

I'm Back

I have been in Wilmington, North Carolina with my sisters for the past 2 weeks.  We had a great visit and saw so many places and things.

 We went to Charleston South Carolina for a few days and toured the city.  We stayed in an historical mansion turned into a B&B right across from the water with a view of Fort Sumnter.  We went on tours of  everything we could fit into our days.  So much history back there.

 This is not the view of Fort Sumnter, but the Carolina coastline where we went for a walk.  I will have to paint those wonderful sky  and ocean colors.

This house was built in 1771 it is still standing.  It went through the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.

I just got home last night so am still getting over the time change.  How do the people who travel back and forth all the time do it?

WAC WORKSHOP COMING

Don't miss this WAC Workshop

Youngmin Lee

May 17 & 18, 2015

9am-4pm

Jogakbo - Patchworked Bojagi

Location for both days is: 

New Moon Textiles, 1756 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 

(Click for directions on Google Maps)

Registration: $120  for members, $140 non-members

Send your check made out to WAC to Diane Ricks, 6548 Belhaven Court, Alta Loma, CA 91701 or email Diane Ricks for more info about the workshop and supplies.

You are invited to join this workshop and create a patchwork Bojagi.

Patchworked bojagi (jogakbo) were made exclusively by and for the common people using various colors of small remnants. Jogakbo are comparable to modern abstract paintings. The talent and aesthetic sense that created a work of art from discarded scraps of cloths were sufficient to make jogakbo excellent works of art. 

While making jogakbo, women wished for the recipients’ good luck and happiness. This is why bojagi were also called bok meaning both a wrapping cloth and good luck in Korean. Something made with much care was believed to bring good luck and happiness. Thus, it seems that making a great effort to patch together the scraps of cloth was regarded as a medium for asking for good luck. In addition, connecting small pieces of cloths was associated with long life.

Students Supply List:

Cutting Mat- 12”x18” or bigger

Rotary Cutter-28 mm blade works the best for most bojagi projects.

Omnigrid ruler- 3”x 18”, 6”x 12” or any length

Sewing kit with usual tools-pins, needles, seam ripper, fabric pencil, fabric scissors, small scissors

*Hera marker- white plastic tool that makes crease on the fabric

Can be purchased from Youngmin at the workshop

Iron and ironing board.

Kit fee: $30 Workshop Registration 

Note that the locations of these classes vary. Due to increasing costs the classes may vary in price. Unless otherwise stated members pay $60 a day and non-members pay $70 a day. There is an additional kit fee. REFUNDS can only be made for cancellations received before the first day of the month in which the class is held. TO REGISTER or for more information contact Diane Ricks. 

Biography

Youngmin Lee

Korean-born artist Youngmin Lee holds a master’s degree in fashion design and a bachelor’s degree in clothing and textiles. She has presented numerous workshops, classes and demonstrations on Korean arts and crafts around the Bay Area. Recently she had demonstrated her Bojagi and Maedub in Asian Art Museum in San Francisco as a part of Asia Alive Program. She also had participated Oakland Museum’s Lunar New Year celebration with her Bojagi and Maedub artworks. 

1. 

This is an oppurtunity to learn something you probably will never see another class in.  Also a great way to use scraps.

Let me know if you want a spot in the workshop, and send me a check for $120 if you are a member of WAC.  $140 if not.

Since I will be gone most of April I am getting the word out early.  Don't miss it! 

Last Class I'm going on Vacation

 Ice Dyeing was a BIG Success!  The Rayon scarves (above) took to it like crazy.  Everyone had a beautiful piece of fabric to show off yesterday.

 The variety of fabrics and colors that were achieved was beautiful.

 The fabric and the T-shirt Judy is wearing were both dyed at the same time.  She didn't think she had put any fuchsia into the mix, but there it was making a big contribution to the beauty of the colors.

 The scarves just kept coming as Dace laid out one after another that she had ice dyed and also microwave dyed.

The colors just kept coming.  What a fun process ice dyeing turned out to be.
At the moment I have 5 old t-shirts out in the backyard getting revitilized with ice dyeing.  I can hardly wait until tomorrow when they will be done.

This was the last regular class, but next week we are going on a field trip to downtown LA.  We will meet in the South Parking lot at 8:45 am and carpool.

If you have something you really want to do next fall please either put it in the comments here on the blog or send me an e-mail  bobby@charter.net   I have a few trips to go on this Summer,  but the Wednesday after Labor Day we will start classes again.  Let me know what you want to do.  I'll keep posting throughout the Summer so you can see what I'm doing.

WOW!

Ice Dyeing gave amazing results.

 IT was so easy and look at the explosion of color.  WOW !

I had never tried it before, but I will do it again.  In fact I left the dye in the closet so if you want to do more ice dyeing bring some ice.

 The results of the microwave dyeing were great.  It is worth trying some more also.
                All the equipment for that will be there next week as well.

We will be adding some stamps, stencils, and silk screens to the mix, so if you had something that didn't come out as well as you would like,  bring it and I will bring my collection of silk screens, stencils and stamps plus both paint and discharge paste, and bleach products to take out color.

This is our last class for this session.

April 1 we are planning our annual field trip to F.I.D.M. to see the display and then an excursion to downtown.  I will bring more information and we will plan carpools from various areas.

The field trip is always great fun so plan to come if you can and bring a friend.