The Julie Class

I had such a great day on Saturday - in the city on a gorgeous day with nothing to do but learn stuff from Julie Fei-Fan Balzer. The class, "Something From Nothing," was a journal workshop. If you are not familiar with her work, Julie is a truly unique paper crafter. She mixes painting and ink techniques into all forms of her art - which include scrapbooking, art journaling and she even works with fabric. She's really amazing - I'm proud to say I stalk her blog on a daily basis! Here's the smiling, friendly Julie:

In addition to regular updates of her amazing work, this week she's hosting Art Journaling Week on her blog...looking really forward to that!
So, how about a class recap?

To start off the day, I got to meet Gallery Idol co-finalist Courtney Kelley, whose work I have admired for a long time in Paper Crafts, Scrapbook Trends & Cards. To meet her in person was really terrific. We got to share a table with Anna & Jane of the Ink Pad. (The class was hosted through the shop.)

Because the Ink Pad is small, the classes are held in the West Beth Community Center, which is a building that provides affordable living and studio space to artists. Here's the courtyard near the classroom - it's a very cool space:

The great thing about Julie is that you never feel intimidated by the techniques you are about to learn. Even if you've never picked up a paintbrush, she gets you to a point where you feel totally comfortable. After a quick discussion about pattern we were on our way transforming all kinds of paper into gorgeous patterned compositions.

Here's my set up. I was early so I got a nice sunny spot with plenty of room to spread out.

I am a horrible over-packer - no matter where I'm going. Luckily, I got a good parking spot so I didn't have to schlep my junk too far. The supplies I used the most were the paints, the paper and some of the stamps I brought with me. The possibilities with the techniques we learned are endless, though.

On my non-stick mat you can see the start of my 'custom' painted masking tape. What a great technique that is, can't wait to make yards and yards of this stuff. Here's a closer view - gesso drying while we headed out to lunch:

Here's a pic of my finished tape in action, holding together a pocket page made from a manila folder (center):

Ate my lunch on a park bench with Courtney. We were really close to the Magnolia Bakery so we popped in for a little dessert. (I got the peanut butter toffee bar - I was not disappointed.) Took these in the extremely crowded bakery, which is now a raging tourist attraction:

mmm...cakes

more cakes in the window:

I love the snapdragons. They always seem to have them in abundance in this bakery. So pretty.

I felt like I had stepped into a piece of Dear Lizzy paper when I saw this:

So back to work! Here's some of my work drying by the window:

and here's another view:

I painted mostly on stuff I ripped out of magazines and small pieces of patterned paper. Julie then showed us how to put the pieces together, make custom embellishments then use gel medium to fuse it all together to make the pages of the journal. I will never look at a piece of patterned paper, or any piece paper for that matter, the same way again. Yesterday, while putting away my supplies from the class, I started a new file in my scrap area for 'junk' paper with 'potential'.

Let me say here that I never paint. I have a giant stash of acrylic paint that I use on occassion to paint edges of things, but that's where it ends. Now, since taking this class, I want to paint everything, and not just with white and off white paint. Black paint is my new best friend, along with all the crazy colors I usually refrain from buying.

At the end, everyone put out their faves from the day and we got to see them close up. It was great to see everyone's interpretations & patterns. We were all amazed at what we learned.

Check out how this cutesy balloon paper (below, far left) was transformed by simple, imprecise black dots!

This is a magazine page painted blue, then with hand painted red & blue feathers - you can see the type at low left - amazing no? Makes me think of koi in a pond at night.

Feeling inspired, last night I altered this map with paint. It's the map from Yahoo I printed so that I'd be able to find the class on Saturday. 

I plan to use it in a layout I make about the day. Not sure how yet, but when I figure it out, I'll share.

So, does all this inspire you to get your 'paint' on? I would love to see what you come up with if it does, so please feel free to share a link!