Traditional Pattern Spotlight: Nightingale's Nest

June 22, 2017 Barb Skoog

Because marbling has a long and rich history, from its origins in Japan to its evolution in Turkey/Persia/India to its travel along the silk road and into Europe, some of its traditional patterns go by many names. This is one of them.

Dating back to the 1600s (and a popular endpaper design in old books), this pattern is usually called French Curl or Snail, though I prefer the Turkish name, Nightingale’s Nest (how sweet is that?!).

What I love about this pattern, and most other traditional patterns, is that it can be made using many different tools (stylus, rake, bouquet comb) and in conjunction with many different patterns (starting with any of the five foundation patterns)…making for wildly beautiful variations.

And that's the beauty of marbling...you can spend days/weeks/months/years working on the same pattern and never run out of inspiration. There's always more to pursue, more to consider, more to explore.

Marbled Makings: Rosettes and Fancy Clipboards

June 19, 2017 Barb Skoog

I am swooning over these beautiful rosettes made with marbled papers by one of my Clouds on Water students, Danielle. I mean, COME ON!

She also made these beautiful clipboards.

I always love to see what students do with their marbled creations…not only does their talent amaze me, but they REALLY know how to show off their marbled work!

Welcome to the Magic

June 16, 2017 Barb Skoog

Welcome to the Magic: new marbling video

I just released a fun new promo video highlighting the magic of marbling and some of the ways it can be incorporated into an existing creative practice.

Or, to simply be enjoyed as a visual feast. :)

Traditional Pattern Spotlight: Nonpareil

June 15, 2017 Barb Skoog

Most people are familiar with this traditional marbled pattern called Nonpareil (which is French for “without equal”). It was quite the popular pattern used in endpapers in 19th-century books. In the technical world of marbling, a Nonpareil is made with a tool called a “comb” and the spacing of the teeth in the comb is 1/4” or less. I have a Nonpareil comb with teeth spaced at 1/8”…but I’ve seen some marblers’ with combs even closer than that! And some marblers even make their own Nonpareil comb where they will vary teeth spacing for their own personal signature mark!

Image courtesy of Einen Miura from the book, The Art of Marbled Paper — Image courtesy of Einen Miura from the book, *The Art of Marbled Paper*

And while the Nonpareil is one of the “basic” foundation patterns in marbling, there is nothing basic about it. The pattern will look very different not only by mixing up comb sizes, but by changing the way it is made: starting with Stones vs. Boulders vs. Bull’s Eye, using a Waved Gelgit vs. a regular Gelgit or a full Gelgit vs. a half Gelgit, or doing it in a shallow bath vs. a deep bath.

With so many options and possibilities, whatever your mood is, marbling will meet you there.

There is just one spot left in my all-day Beginning Marbling class on Saturday, June 24. If you'd like to learn how to make this, and other, elegant patterns, shoot me an email at Cheers "at" BarbSkoog "dot" com.

A Little Peek Into the Marbling Tank

June 7, 2017 Barb Skoog

I'm excited to be leading a guided session this month for Clouds on Water, my online marbling eCourse. While you can start the course at any time, during a guided session, I check in on our private Facebook group at least three times-a-week to provide feedback, answer questions, troubleshoot, and support students (past and current!) on their marbling journey. And during guided sessions, I sometimes shoot on-the-fly videos for those technical questions that are better addressed visually rather than in a written post.

Just another reason to sign up for Clouds on Water sooner rather than later!

You can still get the Advanced Marbling Techniques class FREE when you sign up for the Introduction to Paper Marbling class by June 10.

On the Set with SoulPancake

June 6, 2017 Barb Skoog

Early in May, I had the great pleasure of doing a live-stream marbling demonstration on Facebook for the production company, SoulPancake. You may recognize SoulPancake from their work on Oprah’s OWN and for their “Kid President” series. A positive, forward-thinking company, the goal was to bring a little bit of beauty and zen to folks in their busy workday. I busted out my backlit tank for some extra special “wow” for the session, which they called a "visual vacation" from the fast-paced grind of life.

If you missed it, head on over to my Facebook page to see the entire 60-minute replay or to SoulPancake's YouTube page for a 15-minute version.

New Classes in June! UPDATED WITH DATES

June 5, 2017 Barb Skoog

Once again, a number of people have contacted me recently about marbling classes and I'm happy to pull together a couple of options for classes in June...including a new option: Advanced Marbling! If you are looking for an adventure in color, experimenting with design, and exploring a new creative world, join me in the studio for a day of marbling fun!

Beginning Paper Marbling
(6 hours)

Date: Saturday, June 24
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (includes ½-hour BYO lunch/break)
Class fee: $195 (includes EVERYTHING!)
Location: my private studio in South Pasadena

Minimum of 5 students, maximum of 7

In this hands-on class, we work primarily in an 11"x14" size tank with access to a shared 20"x25" size tank. We will walk through the marbling set-up step-by-step from making the bath and mordant to mixing paints and preparing paper. We then will learn the five foundation patterns and venture into advanced patterns as time permits. By the end of class, you will have the knowledge and confidence to start marbling at home…not to mention many beautiful marbled papers as well!

The class fee includes all materials (paper, carrageenan bath, alum, distilled water, paints, use of tank and tools, and handouts) ~ just show up and have fun!

NEW!! Advanced Marbling
(6 hours)

Date Options: Sunday, June 25
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (includes ½-hour BYO lunch/break)
Class fee: $235 (includes all marbling supplies, paper, and other materials to marble on...option for students to bring additional materials or purchase from me)
Location: my private studio in South Pasadena

Minimum of 5 students, maximum of 6

For those who have taken my Beginning Marbling class (or who have marbling experience), this class is for you! Building upon foundation patterns, we’ll work exclusively in the large, 20"x25" tank and dive into more advanced traditional patterns (like Bouquet, Flame, and Spanish Marble), learn how to use dispersant (for Italian Vein and Fantasy), and marble on nontraditional materials (like corkboard and canvas) as well as 3D objects.

If you have any questions or to sign up, email to me at Cheers@BarbSkoog.com.

Hope to play at the tank with you soon!

Clouds on Water: Special Offer and Guided Session!

May 8, 2017 Barb Skoog

I want to welcome you to the magic: marbling magic.

More than 10 years ago, I stumbled upon the art form and fell in love...not just with the end result (which is gorgeous and a world onto its own) but also with the PROCESS of CREATING a marbled piece. It feels so magical: working in the tank, on a water bath, with colors that remain true to their character (no muddy messes!), accepting with grace the organic patterns and designs that naturally reveal themselves, standing in awe as the image is transferred onto paper or fabric or leaves or wood.

This is marbling: fluid beauty reflecting a unique moment in time.

Ever since falling for the art form, I've made it my mission to "bring marbling to the masses." And while I would love to have everyone in the world come spend time with me in my studio, I did the next best thing: I created an online marbling classroom so I could come to you!

There are three great reasons to sign up for Clouds on Water right now:

It's time to learn something new, don't you think?

This is a great time of the year to give marbling a try. The hectic new year is behind us, routines are back, we're in between major holidays, and the weather is quite agreeable most everywhere for ideal marbling conditions.

Free class!!!

Now through June 5, 2017, if you buy the Introduction to Paper Marbling eCourse, you get the Advanced Marbling Techniques eCourse FREE. That's a savings of $79! Simply use the code FREEFUN when registering! (You will not see the class added to your shopping cart but you will be sent access information in your confirmation email!)

Guided session with personal feedback!

I'm hosting a guided session in June! From June 6 through July 1, I'll be active on our private Facebook pages three times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays) answering your specific questions, giving feedback on posted work, and posting bonus videos!

To learn more about all three Clouds on Water classrooms and how the eCourse works, head over on the new website: www.CloudsOnWater.com!

Hope to virtually stand with you at the marbling tank and interact with you on the Facebook page!!

Unique Abstractions Group Show

April 10, 2017 Barb Skoog

I don't know a single artist who doesn't, at some point (and possibly at many points), think, "Does anyone really connect with my work or does it just resonate with me?" And when moments like that hit me, my initial reaction isn't to dismiss the thought. My initial reaction is, "And who better to resonate with your artwork than you, Barb?" I create because I need to. Because every bone and cell in my body is anxious and agitated and spinning madly unless I do.

But it's also incredibly satisfying to see one of your pieces in someone's home or to have a gallery invite you onto their walls.

I am so excited to have one of my CELLULAR STORIES pieces accepted into Las Laguna Art Gallery's group show, UNIQUE ABSTRACTIONS. Featuring local, national, and international artists, the show runs from May 4 to May 27, 2017 with the artist reception Thursday, May 4 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

This particular piece is one of my favorites and was the first where I incorporated my "paint slide" into my spray paint, hash mark, and marbling layers. It's a complex piece that offers up so much texture and depth. The piece is untitled because I want viewers to experience it uninfluenced. However, I will share with you that when I was working on it (and as I step back and take it in now as a finished piece) it became a representation of the emotional work surrounding my relationship with my parents and their relationship to one another.

"Complex," "textured," and "depth" are appropriate words for nearly everyone's relationship with their parents, right?

I'll be at the artist reception on May 4 and am so looking forward to seeing the collective group work hung in the gallery. I would love to see you there and experience the show together.

Las Laguna Art Gallery
Unique Abstractions Group Show
Artist Reception: May 4 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
577 S Coast Hwy - Laguna Beach, CA 92651

100 Days: I Commit to Momentum

April 3, 2017 Barb Skoog

The past four months have been quite a ride for me. I wrapped up my ELEVATE mentorship program, spent the month of January in Minnesota caring for my mom at the end of her life, pulled together my pop-up show CELLULAR STORIES, and have just finished a week of group and private lessons. Whew. It’s about time for a break, don’t you think?

Yeah, well…that’s not gonna happen, because I’m really excited about this next project I’ll be diving into: Navigating Curiosity: Experiments in Tools, Textures, and Typography

One of the big take-aways from my mentorship program was how much momentum played a critical role in my confidence as an artist, in improving my technical skills (practice makes perfect, right?!), and in letting go of fear and preciousness and embracing risk taking and detours along the way. So with my mentorship program behind me but still in my blood, I decided to focus my momentum on going deeper in my exploration of techniques I used in my CELLULAR STORIES series that, for lack of a better description, really turned me on. (This is the “Navigating Curiosity” part.)

So, over the next three+ months, I will be participating in the The 100-Day Project, a global art project that anyone can participate in (even you!). The premise is simple—choose an action you’d like to do for 100 days and share your experience. It could be something creative like photographing flowers, drawing stick people, or making a collage. Or something inspiring like writing letters, reading to a child, or going on a nature walk and learning a new bird call. It’s totally up to you. There are no hard and fast rules. In fact, make up your own set of rules if you want to and do your thing for the next 100 days.

One of the techniques I really enjoyed in some of my CELLULAR STORIES work was making rubbings/impressions and paint slides. I want to take that concept further by experimenting more with different tools and materials to make the rubbings with and on. (This is the “Experiments in Tools” part.) As part of that exercise, I will be focusing on how to best coax textures out and get them to tell a story. On the surface, a rubbing is easy to make. But how can I make it more interesting? How can I make it better express something? (This is the “Experiments in Textures” part.) And finally, toward the end of my mentorship program, I started to create my own personal alphabet and while I have a great start (an actual alphabet!), I want to refine it more. It’s not quite where I want it to be. (This is the “Experiments in Typography” part.)

My plan is that over the next 100 days, I will be posting my progress/sketchbook/artwork/experiences/experiments daily on Instagram (@barbskoog and #100DaysOfNavigatingCuriosity) and Facebook and weekly summaries here on the blog. I would love to have you join me on yet another adventure.

So are you ready?

Here I go…the fun begins tomorrow, April 4.

Ready, Set, Go!

March 22, 2017 Barb Skoog

So this is a new adventure for me! I just got this 5ft. x 7ft. stretched canvas and I am SO excited to have a go at it. Not only has it been a while since I've worked on canvas, but this is the LARGEST I've ever worked before!

It took me all of 30 seconds to dive into this new blank page and let me tell you...holy moly, is it FUN to work this big! Below are some WIP shots. I am nowhere near done. I'm still layering at this point, lose and free with the direction, not refining. Incorporating some of my Cellular Stories techniques and trying out new ones. Making observations and taking lots of notes. This is what I call "enjoying the ride."

Cellular Stories: A Visual Recap

March 17, 2017 Barb Skoog

The biggest thank you to all who ventured out to my corner of the world to take in, experience, and engage with CELLULAR STORIES. In the still moments right before the show started, as I was surrounded by my art, I suddenly felt vulnerable. Very vulnerable. Not only were people going to see my latest series, they were walking into something completely different from anything I had ever done before. And on top of it, it is a series coming from very deep emotions and soul work. I was completely exposed. But that all disappeared when my first guests arrived and I was able to witness and hear their response to CELLULAR STORIES. I was honored and humbled by how people connected to my work, got up close and personal with it, were inquisitive about process, and expressed how a piece made them feel or what it reminded them of or simply that they liked it. Honestly, that’s all any artist (visual, written word, musician, etc.) really wants…an audience who feels something, anything, good or bad, about their work. My guests did not disappoint and I am so grateful for the time they took and energy they gave to spend the afternoon with me.

Buoyed by the entire experience, from the mentorship program to conceptualizing the show to executing it, I am excited to be back in the studio to continue my work on CELLULAR STORIES. I look forward to sharing more with you!

In the meantime, enjoy a visual tour of the pop-up show, which unfolded throughout my entire home ~ from the front yard, through the house, and out to the studio in the backyard.

{ Click on any image to start the slideshow. }

Many thanks to my dear friend Ann Howley who took most of these photos.

Only Two Spots Left!

March 16, 2017 Barb Skoog

I'm so excited about my upcoming Beginning Marbling classes and the wonderful response to them. The Sunday, March 26 class is SOLD OUT and there are only two spots left in the Saturday, April 1 class.

If you are looking for an adventure in color, experimenting with design, and exploring a new creative world, grab one of the last two spots at the marbling tanks and join me in the studio for a day of paper-marbling fun! This will be the only beginning group class I'll teach in the first half of the year ~ I likely won't teach another one until late summer/early fall. (But my online eCourse, Clouds on Water, is available throughout the year!)

Beginning Marbling

Date: Saturday, April 1
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (includes BYO lunch/break)
Class fee: $195 (includes everything!)
Location: my private studio in South Pasadena (details will be emailed to you once you sign up)
Minimum of 4 students, maximum of 7

In this hands-on class, we work primarily in an 11x14-size tank with access to a shared 20x25-size tank. We will walk through the marbling set-up step-by-step from making the bath and mordant to mixing paints and preparing paper. We then will learn the five foundation patterns and venture into advanced patterns as time permits. By the end of class, you will have the knowledge and confidence to start marbling at home…not to mention many beautiful marbled papers as well!

The class fee includes EVERYTHING (paper, carrageenan bath, alum, distilled water, paints, use of tank and tools, and handouts) ~ just show up and have fun!

To sign up, email me!

Hope to show you the joys of marbling and play in the tank with you soon!

Reminder: Cellular Stories Open House/Studio

March 2, 2017 Barb Skoog

Preparations are in full swing for my pop-up exhibition/open studio this Saturday. My mom would be so excited for me. This show is dedicated to her and will be infused with her vibrant energy and boundaryless love. I look forward to welcoming you into it.

CELLULAR STORIES OPEN HOUSE/STUDIO
Saturday, March 4
Open House: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Artist Talk: 3 p.m.
Location: my South Pasadena home studio
(email me for address)

Cellular Stories: Evolution and Revolution

February 28, 2017 Barb Skoog

Another highlight of the ELEVATE mentorship program was watching my fellow artists creatively evolve over the course of the four months ~ becoming stronger and more confident in our work not only because we understood it better but also because we understood ourselves better. Our time together during the program was punctuated with mini revolutions of the personal, emotional, and spiritual kind. And the support we gave each other only fueled the awakenings within us.

So much gratitude to David (our fearless leader), Deanna, Beckie, Kathy, Karen, and Farah for inspiring me in my heart and in my hands.

As with any journey, who you travel with is more important than the destination.

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Beginning Paper Marbling(6 hours)

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