Interview with a Workshop Student: Manon Boisvert

January 22, 2015

This is the first in a new series of Interviews.

Every artist was once an amateur. — Ralph Waldo Emerson.

We’ve decided to share the inspiring voices and views of the very talented group of people who attend our Workshops.

Some students are novices, attending a Workshop for the first time, exploring an interest in the creative side of life.

Many more, however, are in various stages of professional development, and take Workshops to expand their range of proficiency, try a brand new medium, or return to a technique once learned but not recently practiced.

Interestingly, our inaugural student interview is with someone who falls into both categories – once a slightly nervous student, Manon Boisvert has now attended a wide range of Workshops, fearlessly experimenting in media and techniques ranging from painting and digital printing, to fiber arts.

The result has been rewarding both personally and professionally – Manon has been showing and selling her artwork in galleries in Quebec, and has developed a unique line of custom-printed silkwork cards.

Manon has recently had her work accepted to the prestigious National Collage Society 30th Annual Juried Show, and is a finalist in the 2015 American Watercolor Society (AWS) juried exhibition of artists from around the world. She has also garnered many awards for her work,

We’re pleased to share some of her story with you.

Books v e books

Books v. e-books

How long have you been taking Art Workshops and what got you started?

My first workshop was in 2002 with Arleta Pech in Vancouver. I realised that I could learn much more when I was with others watching an instructor demonstrate a technique or discussing an art topic.
 

What is your favorite part of attending a Workshop?

What I enjoy most about Workshops is the opportunity to explore new ideas with artists whose training is unique and different from my own. In their company, I find inspiration and it rejuvenates my artistic vision.

What would you tell prospective students are the three best reasons for taking a Workshop? Taking a workshop is a brainstorming journey; each one is a valuable reference for every painting you begin. Each time, I am encouraged to awaken my sense of adventure and to jump-start my courage.

What are you currently working on in your own art? I am learning about sewing machines (of which I knew very little), dry felting, digital printing, joomchi. I am experimenting with stitch marks and textures to complement my collage and painting creative process. 

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Where is your art currently being exhibited?

I am a member of local, national and international associations. I exhibit my work in group shows and every two or three years I try to organize a solo. I have a “cave” studio where everyone is welcome. On my website, www.manonboisvert.com, you can find the calendar of events.

 

Is your work represented in galleries, and if so, what hints would you give to artists looking for gallery representation?

When I have worked with galleries, I always enjoy bringing my husband with me! He does a better job talking up my talent.

 

Do you sell your work in any online gallery?

Most of the places where I exhibit have an online presence.

 

What is your favorite art quote?

Cezanne said, “Painting is meditation with a brush.”

 

Describe your studio.

My studio is in my hide-away. It feels cave-like, but with good lighting. Being organised is very important to me so I keep my space very clean, orderly and attractive. I also have several work stations where I can print, paint or read.

 

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Name five of your “can’t do without” tools/products.

I can’t do without the Internet; it is a lifeline to the universe of information; my Epson printer; a large, deep sink with running water; a library full of art books of all kinds; an ergonomic chair to sit at the computer, so that I don’t get neck or shoulder pain, and colour-balanced lighting.

 

An Interview with Kim English, Oil Painter

January 16, 2015

Kim English, one of the most popular instructors at the Hudson River Valley Art Workshops, will return August 2 to 8, 2015, to teach a lively ‘Capturing the Moment in Oil’ Workshop, featuring the clothed figure in the landscape.

Kim is an award-winning painter, so we were interested in his views both on creating art, and instructing students.

Hall of Paintings

How long have you been teaching and what got you started teaching?
I’ve been at this for over 30 years. When I was in Art School, the founder of the school, Phil Steele, asked me to help student teach. That started things for me back then.

What is your favorite part about teaching?
My favorite part of teaching is helping someone not to be afraid.

What would you tell your prospective students are three best reasons for taking a workshop?
It takes a lot of courage to take a workshop. If you can, you’ll not only meet some interesting people, but you’ll see how other people solve problems in ways that maybe you haven’t thought of yet.

Also, you might help somebody else.


But I guess the main reason would be that art can be a very solitary profession, so there’s nothing like being with a group of painters all working out problems together.

What are you currently working on in your own art?
Currently, I’ve been working with lights. We have a lot of models at our studio up here in the mountains, so we have been experimenting with different lighting situations.

Where is your art currently being exhibited?
I show my work in galleries mostly, Tree’s Place in Orleans, MA and Anglin Smith in Charleston, as well as a couple of museums.

Paint Tubes
Is your work represented in galleries, and if so, what hints would you give to artists looking for gallery representation?
When I have to do business with a gallery, I try not to be too sensitive. They see your work in a very different way than you do.

Do you sell your work in any online gallery?
Most of my galleries have an online presence.

Pail of Fish
What is your favorite art quote?
One of my teachers, Jim Valone, once said that he didn’t like dumb paintings. Paintings that didn’t speak.

September Sidewalks

Describe your studio.
We live up in the Colorado mountains at about 8500 feet. We have a house about a mile from where we live. That’s our studio. There are two buildings on three acres. I work in one, my wife Nura, who is a sculptor, works in the other. There is a common room that we have our painting sessions in. We invite other artists up, have a model, food and drink, and generally have a good time. We usually even get some painting done.

Studio 1

Name five of your “can’t do without” tools/products.
I have learned to trust my hands. What’s in them is secondary.


An Interview with Barbara Nechis, Watercolor Artist

January 14, 2015

One of our most requested instructors, Barbara Nechis, will teach an intense three-day Workshop, Watercolor From Within: Techniques for Painting the Essence of Nature May 14 to 17, 2015 at the Hudson River Valley Art Workshops.

Barbara recently gave us some insights on her art, and teaching.  

How long have you been teaching and what got you started teaching?

I began teaching after the 3rd person who knew less than I did asked me if I would teach. That was in 1967, I believe.

What is your favorite part about teaching?

Changing minds and watching people rethink concepts that they thought were written in stone.

What would you tell your prospective students are three best reasons for taking a workshop? 1. They will learn a lot 2. Their work will improve 3. They will have a good time

What are you currently working on in your own art?

I’m pushing myself both in color and form to make changes so that my work always surprises both me and the viewer. I never want to paint “just another one like all the rest.”

PhotoWhere is your art currently being exhibited? Mostly in my studio/gallery and on my website.

Is your work represented in galleries, and if so, what hints would you give to artists looking for gallery representation? I have exhibited in many galleries but I have always had lots of studio visitors and my website barbaranechis.com is also getting a lot of attention. At present these are my best sources.

What is your favorite art quote?

Picasso said “God is really only another artist. He invented the giraffe, the elephant and the cat. He has no real style. He just goes on trying other things.”    


Describe your studio. 

It is a wonderful small building with beautiful views of our vineyard in Napa Valley, designed by Richard Jansen (former staff architect at MOMA, NYC). I designed all the interior storage.  

Name five of your “can’t do without” tools/products.

Quality large flat brushes with great edges, Arche 140lb CP paper (although some of my best work has been experimenting with other papers), a camera to record my travels, a large flat table to work on, and a lot of floor space to drop all my paintings in progress.

 

See more of Barbara’s work and Studio on her Pinterest page.  

 

An interview with Hollis Chatelain: Fiber Artist

January 9, 2015

Hollis Chatelain’s popular workshop, Dye-Paint Your Images & Bring Them to Life with Quilting, teaches innovative ways to combine painting and Fiber Arts techniques for a superb hybrid of textured and layered colors and images. This Workshop runs from April 19 to 25, 2015 at the Hudson River Valley Fiber Arts Workshops.

 

Hollis recently spent some time giving us some intriguing background information on her teaching and creative process.

 

Gold girl finished

How long have you been teaching and what got you started teaching? I have been teaching since the 80’s (in Switzerland). I started teaching patchwork in Africa in the 90’s because some of my friends were interested in learning how to make quilts and found that I really liked it.

What is your favorite part about teaching?

Meeting the students and seeing their creativity and confidence blossom.

What would you tell your prospective students are three best reasons for taking a workshop? 1. To learn something new and maybe fall in love with what you learned. 2. To broaden your horizons and challenge yourself. 3. To increase your knowledge in the basics of art which will increase your confidence and encourage you to take risks.

What are you currently working on in your own art? I am working on a blue jean piece called “Swamp Women” which is partially abstract.

Where is your art currently being exhibited? A new show is just about to open at the Visions Art Museum in San Diego. The show is called “Expressions in Equality” and it is an invitational show. I have a piece in that show called “Girls Are Strong” and it is about the Equal Rights Amendment. The show runs from January 17th, 2015 – April 4th, 2015.

Do you sell your work in any online gallery? My personal website:www.hollisart.com

What is your favorite art quote? It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and never have it than have an opportunity and not be prepared.

Hollis cutting innocence

Describe your studio. I have a 2 room studio that is on two levels. There are glass pocket doors and three stairs separating the rooms. I paint in the upper studio and quilt in the lower studio. There are many plants in my studio because I love plants. It is a warm inviting place and I love it!

Studio with new floor

Name five of your “can’t do without” tools/products. My Bernina 1230, my 800+ colors of thread, my Procion dyes, my paintbrushes, my Prismacolor pencils.

An Interview with Natalya Aikens: Computer + Stitch = Art Quilt

January 9, 2015

Natalya Aikens’ innovative mixed media class will kick off our 2015 Fiber Arts season at the Hudson River Valley Fiber Arts Workshops. Her Computer + Stitch = Art Quilt Workshop is March 22 to 28, 2015.

Aikens Electric

How long have you been teaching and what got you started teaching? I have been officially teaching since 2009. I got started because a very insightful soul by the name of Pokey Bolton, the founder of Quilting Arts Magazine, thought I had something to teach and asked me do a workshop DVD. Previously I had written several articles for her magazine and had gotten a taste for how it feels to show others how to do something creative.

What is your favorite part about teaching? My favorite part of teaching is the interaction with the students. I love seeing the “aha!” lightbulb going off in their eyes when they have grasped a concept or seen a new way to make their art. I also love the fact that I learn something from my students each time. It’s maybe something new I figure out while trying to help them solve an issue, or they figure out something themselves and share it with me and I had never thought of approaching the issue that way. It’s always a win/win when teaching or learning.

What would you tell your prospective students are three best reasons for taking a workshop? The number one best reason of course is learning something new! Especially if it is out of your comfort zone.

The second reason is the interaction with the other students. You always learn from each other as well as from the instructor.  

And number three is the creative atmosphere of the workshop. When there is so much creative energy around you, you cannot help but feel inspired and energized for your own work.

 

Aikens TheCity det2

What are you currently working on in your own art? For the past year I have been concentrating on taming a new found material for me. I am working almost exclusively with recyclable plastics (i.e. plastic shopping bags, plastic packaging material). I love working with the colors available and most of all I am enjoying the challenge of making trash look like treasure!

I am also focusing on my home portraits. I love the challenge of working with materials provided to me by the owner of the home. People really get a kick from seeing their ephemera transformed into their home’s portrait and I am enjoying their reactions.

Where is your art currently being exhibited? My piece titled The City is touring with Quilt National 2013. There are a few exhibits planned for 2015, but I cannot share the details yet.

Aikens TheCity

Do you sell your work in any online gallery? I sell my small affordable and experimental artwork in my Etsy shop. My larger pieces are sold through the Artful Home online gallery.

Aikens IronSpine

What is your favorite art quote?

From Twyla Tharp’s Creative Habit: The routine is as much a part of the creative process as the lightning bolt of inspiration, maybe more. And this routine is available to everyone… Creativity is a habit, and the best creativity is a result of good work habits.

I try to behave as though this is my mantra….

Describe your studio. My studio is a converted one car garage in the basement of our home. When we added a garage onto a different side of our home, we closed up the original, put in windows and made it my studio. It’s cozy with plenty of light, inspiration of the walls and a large art book collection. I have fabric and supply storage off to the side of it.

Aikens Studio2

Three Berninas keep me busy stitching: my workhorse of a home machine that’s close to 30 years old, an industrial one that I indulged in about 10 years ago, and a serger which is used mostly for my costume work. I have a large folding work table on wheels, and one of the walls is my design wall. Even though I seem to have plenty of space I am known to occasionally take over the dining room table when things get busy….

Name five of your “can’t do without” tools/products. 1. My grandmother’s thimble. 2. Matte medium. 3. My 30 year old Bernina. 4. My camera. 5. My Epson printer.

Aikens Studio1

Ruth Powers: Designing and Sewing for Picture Piecing

January 9, 2015

Ruth Powers Interview

Ruth Powers will be one of the first Fiber Arts Instructors to teach in the 2015 season at the Hudson River Valley Art Workshops. Her Workshop, Designing and Sewing for Picture Piecing, will be held April 12 to 18, 2015.

Ruth recently shared with us some insights on her work and teaching.

How long have you been teaching and what got you started teaching?

I’ve been teaching over 20 years; it started as a requirement of my job at a quilt shop, grew to promote my pattern company INNOVATIONS, and has evolved into a passion for sharing what I now love – creating one-of-a-kind pieced pictorial quilted wall hangings.

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“Splash” 40 x 40” 2014

What is your favorite part about teaching?

Favorite parts of teaching are traveling to new places, meeting new friends and sharing this adventure of creating unique works of art. It is so fun and rewarding for me to watch as students realize that they can indeed do this, to help them to make their vision materialize and give them the foundation to pursue a satisfying new direction in their work.

What would you tell your prospective students are three best reasons for taking a workshop?

It’s been said before, but one of the best reasons I can think of to take a workshop is to set aside your everyday life and embrace a week of exploring exciting new ideas with like minded individuals. To get away from the day to day demands and just pamper yourself, and where better to do that than at Hudson River Valley Art Workshops. The food alone will be worth the trip!

What are you currently working on in your own art?

With the holidays just past and a new year beginning I am just starting a new project. The sketch is completed, the fabrics are being selected and I am excited to be planning this new landscape. The anticipation is building and I can’t wait to start sewing! It will be finished in plenty of time to bring it to the workshop in April.

Where is your art currently being exhibited?

My work can be seen at most major quilt shows and I was fortunate enough to be awarded the Fairfield Master Award For Contemporary Artistry at the Houston IQF in 2012 for “Prairie Fire”.

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“Prairie Fire” 70.5 x 26” 2011 (Sold)

Is your work represented in galleries?

Currently “December Dawn” is touring with SAQA’s Seasonal Palette exhibit, their first exhibit to show in four different continents! You can see “December Dawn” on the Hudson River Valley Fiber Arts web site.

Do you sell your work in any online gallery?

My work is available for sale on my website www.ruthpowersartquilts.com, the SAQA website, www.saqa.com, locally at The Topeka Art Guild Gallery and at some of the venues as it travels and is being shown.

 

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“Konza Prairie Spring” 53.5 X 24” 2013 (Sold)

What is your favorite quote?

I have two favorites – both reflect my workshop psychology:

“If you obey all the rules, you’ll miss all the fun!” – Katherine Hepburn

“The magic is inside you. There ain’t no crystal ball.” — Dolly Parton

Describe your studio.

My studio is my dream space; a 24 x 26’ addition to our home built to house my pattern business and office area as well as the sewing and design space with fabric storage and design wall. Bookcases that hold the fabric stash divide the two areas.

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My cutting table is an old oak drafting table with deep drawers underneath for storing supplies and pattern originals. It is the perfect height for rotary cutting.

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We furnished the space with antique finds, mostly oak, and kept the walls white to allow the colors of the quilts to dominate. The 8 x 8’ gray design wall is opposite my sewing machine so I can monitor my progress. There is also a seating area with books and TV.

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Name five of your “can’t do without” tools/products.

Lots of fabric to choose from, both commercially printed and batiks as well as hand dyes.

Freezer Paper.

Rotary cutter.

Design Wall.

Sewing Machine.