BIRDS GONE WILD, MARCH 24TH, 2012, TAOS, NM

Here are the descriptions & photos for each workshop. Please email me at leighannalight@gmail.com for price, supply list & more info

BIRDS GONE WILD

Not quite sure what to do with the mounds of junk....oops...I mean, treasures that have been accumulating in your studio?  Have you been afraid to use that vintage tin, saving it for the “perfect” project? 
Well dig it all up & bring it to this class, where we will create the wackiest flock of birds you’ve ever seen!
Add to your cold connecting, assemblage & composition skills, but most of all, learn how to let go of perfection, let loose & have a blast!
You will leave with at least 3 totally unique, one of a kind birds. (the birds that you make in class can be any size, depending on the metal that you bring. Most of mine are around 8” x 5”).
 

THE ARCHIVISTS RELIC, APRIL 7-8, 2012, TAOS, NM

Here are the descriptions & photos for each workshop. Please email me at leighannalight@gmail.com for price, supply list & more info 

The Archivist’s Relic
In this 2 day workshop you will learn how to make this simple, sweet little chunky book (approximately 2x3 inches) using only watercolor paper, found metal & embellishments.
You will learn how to work with found metal-  distressing, punching, altering & adding embellishments without glue, & how to  create beautiful textures & surfaces using  gesso & ink.
Join us for a fun day of artmaking & use this book to record your special dreams, goals, & thoughts that are close to your heart.

HELLOOO DOLLY! MARCH 3-4, 2012, TAOS, NM

Here are the descriptions & photos for each workshop. Please email me at leighannalight@gmail.com for price, supply list & more info

HELLOOO DOLLY!
Please join us as we dive into the fine art of transforming the mundane into the extraordinary!
This workshop is certainly not for the neat & tidy, but if you want to step out of the "pretty" box & take a walk on the wild side, this class is for you!
We will have a blast altering found dolls to make them look like beings from another world. Rust, patina,  paint, wax, shellac, sanding, distressing, stabbing & cutting off limbs & heads, nothing is off limits!
I love to make these dolls, there is something extremely cathartic about removing the “pretties”,  bringing these dolls back to their original blank forms & reinventing them to make them my own.
I hope you will join us for this fun, 2 day workshop!
 

BEYOND THE VINTAGE METAL DECK, FEB. 4-5, TAOS, NM

Here are the descriptions & photos for each workshop. Please email me at leighannalight@gmail.com for price, supply list & more info

BEYOND THE VINTAGE METAL DECK- Taking the mystery out of working with metal

After many requests, I am happy to offer this 2 day version of the Vintage Metal Deck workshop.
If you have already taken the one day class, you will be
happily surprised by the new size of this deck as well as  new
techniques & information presented in this in depth workshop.
We will be creating a large deck of 10 metal cards, each 6 by 3 inches, & exploring a variety of ways to use &
distress metal, cloth, paper,  found objects, and you will learn a
boatload of brand new ideas & techniques!
You will receive in depth instruction on how to work with metal
including...
-applying texture to metal
-metal transfers
-a variety of ways to forge, distress & mark metal
-how to add ink & paint as a design element
-how to use a variety of patinas to change the look of the metal
-alternative ways to attach objects your work
without using glue
-brand new metal altering techniques
-how to correctly use tools & products, including the
dapping block & a few new surprises
-how to master object placement, composition & problem solving
-how to add texture & depth to your work
-composition & design concepts
-a variety of new surface design techniques
-how to create a cohesive, themed project

You will leave with a unique, beautifully embellished art deck that can be bound
by decorative wire or
transformed into a book or sculpture if you wish.

Almost stranded on the mountain on NY eve!

So Tom & I decided to drive up to the Taos ski valley to see the torchlight parade & fireworks last night. The ski area is only about 1/2 hour drive from our house, &  the show was early, at 6 PM. The torchlight parade was wonderful & the fireworks show was very cool, lighting up all of the trees on the mountain... It was very crowded, so we decided to leave right after the show. As we started down the mountain, we noticed the car was overheating & pretty soon the needle was all the way to hot. We had to pull over (no easy task on a winding mountain road) but we did & realized that the radiator had no antifreeze in it. Tom walked through knee deep snow to the creek in the dark to fill up a water jug, then had to cross the busy road to get back to the car (all dressed in black, of course!). Okay, so even a 1/2 hour on a mountain when it's 10 degrees outside is pretty scary, & it gets cold incredibly fast! There were about 300 cars that passed us & not one stopped to offer help, no one even slowed down- I was shocked. We finally got the car cooled down & got home, safe & sound... but here's the kicker- I bought Tom a car survival kit for Christmas, complete with hand warmers, extra warm, dry clothes, food, water, etc....  guess where it was? In our living room! So the moral of the story is this... A. Check the fluids in your car, even if you're just going a short distance. B. don't count on anyone offering help & C. If you have a car survival kit- DON'T LEAVE IT IN THE FREAKIN' LIVING ROOM!!!!

WORKSHOPS IN TAOS, NM

Yay, I've finally updated my workshop schedule for 2012! I'm so excited to be teaching at Create, Are Unraveled & Art IS You again this year, these are truly the best art retreats on the planet, run by extraordinary women! Oh, & how could I possibly forget Portugal- I'm teaching in Portugal too!
So, now that I have the space & time, I'm also planning 3 workshops to be held at my home, right here in beautiful Taos, NM.

The first will be The vintage metal deck 2 day class, Feb. 4-5, 2012.  Workshops will be held on Saturday & Sunday, starting at 9:30 AM-4:30 PM. For those coming from out of town, you can join us for an optional day trip on Monday to Ojo Caliente. If you haven't been, check it out, it's my favorite place in all of New Mexico! No charge for this trip, just the cost of admission, which is around $15.00 for the day.

The second workshop will be a brand new class called Hello Dolly! On March 3-4, 2012.

And the third will be on April 7th, Birds Gone Wild- same time, same place, same optional Ojo trip at the end of each class. Photos & descriptions coming soon, if you are interested, please send me an email for pricing info & supply list. leighannalight@gmail.com.

Workshops will need to be paid in full 2 weeks prior to the class, & this money can not be refunded if you need to cancel.
I can't possibly gush enough about Taos! We just moved here in August & it is truly one of the most beautiful place that I have ever been to. The light, the mountains, the people, the pueblo... and to top it all off, Bluefish is here! What more could a girl ask for?

Long year- new work

Been gone forever, I know, & I have a ton of photos to post, but the Santa Fe Recycled Show is coming up next weekend & I wanted to post some new work....

Dinner last night

This is where we had dinner last night- (btw, great food if you're in Taos) I keep saying to Tom "I can't believe that we really live here" -it's so beautiful all of the time! Sorry for all of the cloud pics, but I am completely mesmerized by them these days!

Off to CREATE- Chicago!

40 kits ready to go & almost packed for Create in Chicago. I Haven't made anything for too long & I'm itching to get back into the studio, but we're almost unpacked & settled in. Here are some random pics from the last few weeks- enjoy.

ART IS YOU WEST COAST RETREAT IN PETALUMA

If you have been wanting to sign up for classes at Art Is You West Coast retreat in Petaluma, wait no more! Today only, July 4th, the registration fee will be waived completely!!! I am so excited to be teaching there- Sallianne & Ellen are the best!
You'll need this "secret" code to get the deal... it is july4.

Here are a few pics of what I will be teaching, I hope that you can join us for this fabulous event!

Still into making birds...

Two Guns, NM

Dontcha just love these little blunders- Hail Satin! (especially my satin sheets)!

BIRDS

I forgot to take pics of the deck, but the birds- oh my! What creative, talented souls in this class. Wish I could remember who did what, but these are all of the in focus pictures that I took

Venice Beach

No words necessary!