Bringing Marbling to the Masses...

Or at least to South Pasadena!

I'm very excited to share the news that I have three pieces in the upcoming exhibition at SoPas Gallery in South Pasadena, where the South Pasadena Arts Council (SPARC) is having its inaugural juried members' exhibition. Twenty four pieces ~ from paintings and drawings to sculpture and ceramic work (and, of course, marbling!) ~ by 10 local artists (including me!) will be on display at the gallery from October 23 through November 30.

As many of you know, I am on a mission to increase awareness of the art of marbling. This centuries-old, beautiful art form (rarely known about by most) deserves to be celebrated by all ~ art lovers, museums, galleries, schools, casual and professional artists alike! Participating in juried exhibitions and shows is one of my favorite ways to show off the creative potential of marbling as a fine art.

There will be an opening reception for the exhibition on Saturday, October 27 during the South Pasadena Arts Crawl! I'll be at the SoPas Gallery from 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. and then I'll be heading across the street to Book'em Mysteries Bookstore to do a marbling demo from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Hope to see you at the opening reception or the marbling demonstration...or both!

SPARC Members' Exhibition Opening Reception Saturday, October 27 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. (I will be there from 5 p.m.-6 p.m.) SoPas Gallery ~ 1121 Mission Street

Marbling Demonstration Saturday, October 27 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Book'em Mysteries Bookstore ~ 1118 Mission Street

Fall Classes to be Announced Soon

So many of you have been very patient as I restructure my class offerings and map out my fall line up. Well, your wait is soon to be over! I'm really excited to share with you my new classes and schedule, which I will announce on Wednesday. I hope you will find something that will inspire you to try your hand at marbling (or dive right into the deep end). From intro classes to weekend immersion classes to open studio time, there is bound to be something to satisfy your marbling cravings. And I would love to have you join me in the studio!

Also mark your calendars for the South Pasadena Arts Crawl on Saturday, October 27 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. where I'll be doing another marbling demonstration. This is a great opportunity to check out my teaching style. More details coming soon.

And will someone PLEASE turn off the heat over here. Another week of 90s is upon us and it's getting REAL old.

Weekend Update: Great Arts Crawl and "Experience the Tank" Class Schedule!

Wow! Thank you, once again, South Pasadena Arts Crawl participants for a wonderful reception to my marbling demonstration at Book 'em Mysteries bookstore on Saturday (and thank you Book 'em for hosting me!). People really got into the spirit of the demo, asked great questions, and connected with the art form on so many levels. As always, I see these demos as one way to fulfill my goal to "bring marbling to the masses"...and yet I feel like I'm the one walking away with more than I came with. I am always humbled and inspired by how people open up and embrace marbling as well as my work (an extra special thank you to everyone who supported this artist with a purchase!).

The 30-second video below shows how engaged the Arts Crawl crowd was and their contagious eagerness to see art in action, which is what makes it such a delight to be a part of this evening:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kiFHDDDZV4&w=560&h=315]

I am also excited to announce that I'm offering a few "Experience the Tank" marbling classes in the upcoming weeks. For those who would like to discover the joys of marbling through the exploration of colors, learning traditional patterns, and experimenting with your own designs—without the hassle of prep, set up, and shopping for materials—this class is for you! Everything will be provided for you. Just show up and have fun! For more details about the class, click here (or the Marbling Classes tab above) or download a PDF flyer here.

The cost is $85 (no additional materials fee!) for the 3.5-hour class which runs from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the following days:

• Saturday, July 21
• Saturday, July 28
• Sunday, July 29
• Saturday, August 4

Classes will be held in my studio in South Pasadena (more information will be provided in the confirmation email) and are limited to six people so you will get lots of personal attention from me.

If you are interested in taking a class, you can email me at Cheers "at" BarbSkoog "dot" com to sign up.

You have to Admit...These are Adorable!

I was cleaning out my studio space a couple of weeks ago and came across a somewhat large inventory of very nice boxes I used to package my candles in. I got these boxes because I loved their sturdiness. They didn't collapse when you grabbed them by the sides and the bottom felt secure even with a heavy candle in it. And yet in spite of their functionality, I also liked how stylish they looked. They didn't just look like a box. They had a subtle pinstripe on the outside that added a nice texture and lent more of a refined, dare I say elegant, feel to them.

So I'm standing there, looking at all these boxes, and thinking to myself, "What a shame not to use them for something. These are nice boxes," when it dawned on me...HEY, LET'S TRY TO MARBLE THEM and see what happens.

Well, this is what happened: they marbled beautifully. It took me a couple of tries to figure out the best way to marble on them but once I did, I had a BLAST making them.

The boxes, which are marbled on the outside only, come in two sizes: 4x4x4 (the kind of box you can put a mug or pillar candle in) and 6x4x4 (the kind of box you can put two mugs or candles in). They are perfect for gift giving (no wrapping paper necessary!) or for holding something special (I have one on my dresser in which I put the notes my hubby leaves me every morning).

These, of course, will be available for purchase at the South Pasadena Arts Crawl on Saturday. AND I'll marble a few boxes during my marbling demonstration too so come check it out!

South Pasadena Arts Crawl Saturday, July 14 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Marbling Demonstration Book ‘em Mysteries Bookstore 1118 Mission Street, South Pasadena

Note Cards Available at the Arts Crawl

Yesterday, I showed off some of the matted goodies I'll have available at the Arts Crawl this Saturday. Today, I'm featuring a few of the note cards that will be there.

There are five things I really like about my note cards (and why I'm proud to offer them):

1) They are one-of-a-kind! Each card features an original piece of marbled paper. No two are alike. Nor have I made any prints from the marbled paper so what you get is like nothing else out there...and never will be! It doesn't get more original than that.

2) The envelopes have matching marbled paper on them! I take a small piece from the marbled paper that is featured on the card and affix it to the front of the envelope. It's an additional touch that makes the note card feel extra special. The envelope swatch is like a teaser...giving the receiver a little hint as to the beautiful gift of art that awaits them inside. (Plus, I like to think it brightens the day of the folks working at the post office!)

3) They are ready-to-frame! Each note card acts like a mat, is signed by me (either on the front or the back), and fits into any standard 5 x 7 frame. It's like getting two things for the price of one: a note card and a frameable piece of art!

4) The quality of the paper! When you feel the note cards in your hands, you know you're holding something high in quality. The environmentally friendly cards are made from recycled card stock and are printed with a soybean-based ink. The end result is a richly textured matted frame that perfectly complements the marbled paper.

5) Affordable art! Note cards are only $5 each. How often can you say you got a one-of-a-kind, high-quality, ready-to-frame, signed piece of art for that price?!

But don't take my word for it! Come check out the note cards yourself (and watch me do a marbling demo too!) at the Arts Crawl on Saturday where a wide variety of colors, patterns, and styles will be available for purchase.

South Pasadena Arts Crawl Saturday, July 14 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Marbling Demonstration Book ‘em Mysteries Bookstore 1118 Mission Street, South Pasadena

Preparing for the Arts Crawl this Saturday!

The South Pasadena Arts Crawl is this Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. I'll once again be doing a marbling demonstration at Book ‘em Mysteries bookstore, who graciously hosted me last time. If you've never seen how marbling is done, this is an excellent opportunity to watch the magic happen! AND...you get to check out a really awesome bookstore. How many communities can boast that they have an INDEPENDENT bookstore staffed by REAL people EXCITED to help you pick out the perfect book?!!

I always have a wonderful time at demos because it is such a delight to see people's responses and reactions to the art form...all the "oooooohhhs" and "aaaaaahhhhs" when I pull a sheet off the bath or the way they take in a piece of marbled paper they hold in their hands. I love it--and the feeling I get at demos is people love it too!

In addition to the demo, I'll be selling some of my work (which I will preview on the blog here throughout the week) and I'll have a schedule of my "Experience the Tank" class available.

One of the things I've been working on for this Arts Crawl in particular is putting some of my pieces in ready-to-frame mats. That means, all that needs to be done is add a frame and hang! With all the photos in this post, I've done just that...I've added a little frame around the matted pieces to give you an idea of what they will look like finished.

I can't tell you how much I'm really diggin' these matted pieces. At first, I was only going to do up a few of them to give people an idea of what can be done with individual marbled sheets of paper (how they can decide what part (and how much!) of the marbled paper to mat and frame). But once I got a couple done, I became enthralled by the nearly finished pieces and couldn't stop! They certainly take on a life of their own, changing the look and feel of the marbled design when you go from a full sheet of paper to focusing on just a section of it.

I hope you get a chance to check out these new matted pieces (as well as my cards, papers, and more) and take in the marbling demo. Even if you've been to my demo before, I'll be marbling on wood in addition to paper so there will be something new to see! And don't forget to visit other businesses and galleries participating in the Arts Crawl. There are a lot of really cool event happenings that I would hit up myself if I weren't demoing...so enjoy them for me! For more information about Arts Crawl activities, click here.

South Pasadena Arts Crawl Saturday, July 14 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Marbling Demonstration Book ‘em Mysteries Bookstore 1118 Mission Street, South Pasadena

South Pasadena Arts Crawl: July 14 [UPDATED]

[UPDATE: The South Pas Arts Crawl date has changed to Saturday, July 14]

I'm thrilled to announce I will be participating in the South Pasadena Arts Crawl on Saturday, July 14 from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. And I'm even more thrilled that I'll once again be doing a marbling demonstration at Book 'em Mysteries, who graciously hosted me last time! I just love the energy owner's Mary and Barry continue to foster at their marvelous bookstore and I look forward to spending the evening fulfilling my goal of "bringing marbling to the masses." In addition to doing a demo, I will have papers, framed artwork, cards, and more for sale.

South Pasadena Arts Crawl Saturday, July 14 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Marbling Demonstration Book 'em Mysteries Bookstore 1118 Mission Street, South Pasadena

Demo Papers

[slideshow] These are a few of the marbled papers that came out of the marbling demo I did for the South Pasadena Arts Crawl a few weeks ago. I really like some of them (and some I can tell I was distracted when making them!).

It's funny how it can take a few days for me to really appreciate what I've created. I love marbling for its instantaneous results--lay down paint, do your design, lay down paper, pull up paper, viola!--but the downside is that because I can do upwards of 30 papers in a full-day session, the pieces whiz by and become a blur. It's not like I'm a machine cranking out work without a thought, however. After a piece comes off the tank, I do study it--how do the colors look, did the design turn out, what is the bath doing to the paint? But at this point, it's mostly technical appreciation...and then I'm on to the next piece making adjustments or trying something new based on what I just learned.

It's not until after I've torn down the studio, after all the papers have dried, after they have sat under heavy Davey Board for a few days, after they are brought in and laid out on my inside studio table that I really see them in a bigger artistic context. My eyes linger over each piece and I begin to appreciate them for the fine art that they are. I envision how they would be best displayed (which side is up!), if I would use the whole sheet or just parts of it, and how I would frame it (to mat or not to mat?). I look at the pieces over and over again and fall deeper in love with my work each time. Eventually, after five or six days, I force myself to sort them (by size and paper type) and put them away with the rest of my creative inventory in big, flat files designed specifically for large papers.

But then a week will go by and I'll find myself digging through my inventory, pulling pieces out that I am particularly fond of, and the love affair kicks in again. That's usually what inspires me to set up the marbling tank and begin the whole process all over again.

It's a nice cycle to be caught up in.

Thank you, South Pasadena!

It's Sunday, late afternoon, and I am sitting in front of a glowing fire in my fireplace, enjoying a nice glass of red wine, recovering from my most extraordinary experience at the South Pasadena Arts Crawl Saturday night.

What an evening. Chilly and wet…perfect for marbling, bad for an Arts Crawl. And yet, Book'em Mysteries Bookstore, who was hosting me, was PACKED. Emmett estimated more than 100 people came through the door, attracted by the "artist in the window" (that’s me, the blur in the gray top in the photo above)! I marbled for four hours straight, sharing the history, the technical aspects, and the pure joy of marbling the entire time. At one point, there were so many people inside the store, people went OUTSIDE and stood in the cold to watch me marble through the window. It was INSANE!!

I was so happy that people were fascinated by the art form...so many great questions were asked, so many “oohs and awes,” and I even got a “that’s tight” from a hipster, 20-something male totally blown away when I pulled a piece from the bath. My goal to “bring marbling to the masses” was far exceeded.

Thank you, South Pasadena residents, for coming out (especially considering the "bad" weather) to show your support for local artists and businesses. And for loving the art of marbling as much as I do!

Getting Ready for the Arts Crawl

[slideshow] I am SO excited for the South Pasadena Arts Crawl this Saturday. In addition to my marbling demonstration at Book'em Mysteries (from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.), I put together a little slideshow of a few things I'll have for sale including individual papers, note cards, framed artwork, and more!

Hope to see you there!

South Pasadena Arts Crawl Saturday, February 11 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Book'em Mysteries Bookstore (conveniently located next to Mission Wines!) 1118 Mission Street South Pasadena, CA 91030

South Pasadena Arts Crawl: I'll Be There doing a Marbling Demo!

I am VERY excited to announce that I'll be participating in the South Pasadena Arts Crawl on Saturday, February 11. I'll be doing a marbling demonstration from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Book ‘em Mysteries (1118 Mission Street). I'll also have cards, individual marbled papers, and framed artwork available for sale.

The South Pasadena Art Crawl is a FREE event offering something for everyone: gallery openings, artwork across all mediums, live music, and interactive art experiences. Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times, a black and white classic, will be played on the side of the Iron Works Museum, courtesy of Videothéque (our FAVORITE video store!). For more details, check out the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce.

All attractions at the Arts Crawl are within blocks of one another so you can easily park and walk to everything. Restaurants will be open and Food Trucks will be on the street. Shops and boutiques (South Pas has so many really cool stores) will offer special sales in what’s being billed as a “neighborhood night-on-the-town.”

Emmett and I attended the last Arts Crawl in October and had a wonderful, wonderful evening. I had no idea there were so many AMAZING artists and SPECTACULAR galleries in South Pas! I even splurged and bought a piece of artwork for myself (which I am still madly in love with!). It's because of the Arts Crawl that I put "become a part of the South Pasadena art community" on my 41 for 41 list.

I hope you'll come out and enjoy an evening filled with wonderful artists and musicians as well as take in the unique feel and charm of South Pasadena. It's why Emmett and I love living here!