Urban Sketching and Watercolor Painting

I’ve been taking advantage of some of the nice weather we have had to do a bit of urban sketching.  This is a quick sketch I did using water soluble graphite pencil of a water fountain in Watertown NY.

Fountain on the Square sketchbook page by Marla L. Niederer

I then visited the fountain again to create a watercolor painting.

Fountain on the Square by Marla L. Niederer

I attended a wedding in St Albans Vermont this summer and did this quick sketch of the water fountain in the park. 

St Albans Ladies Sketchbook page by Marla L. Niederer

I took quite a few pictures and used both the sketch and the photos to create this watercolor painting.

St Albans Ladies by Marla L. Niederer

I will be teaching an online class this coming September on how to create your own cloth ball jointed Goddess on AforArtistic.

The Goddess by Marla L. Niederer

  Hope to see you in class!

Until next time…….

warm hugs,

Marla

Treasures from the Past

Puppet created by J. Emery Kelley

Some days the sun just smiles on you.  I received a phone call the other day from a friend inviting me to view an incredible private collection of puppets created in the 1940’s.  

Puppets by J.Emery Kelley

The puppets were created by J. Emery Kelley who had been a music teacher in Binghamton NY.  She not only created these incredible puppets but also put on shows for the area children. 

Puppets by J.Emery Kelley

It was such an amazing experience to walk into a home filled with J. Emery Kelley’s life work. 

Puppets by J.Emery Kelley

The pictures do not do justice to the fine detail in the costuming and the expressions on all of their faces. 

Puppet by J. Emery Kelley

Included in the collection were a series of watercolor pictures of the puppets.

Watercolor by M. Foster Kelley

I feel so fortunate to have had an opportunity to view this beautiful collection from the past.

Watercolor by M. Foster Kelley

until next time………

Warm hugs,

Marla

Goddess by Marla L. Niederer

P.S.  I am getting ready to teach The Goddess for the first time online this September on AforArtistic.  Hope to see you there!

Thunder: Second Portrait for 40 Portrait Challenge

I wanted to share with you my second portrait for the 40 portrait challenge. 

Thunder by Marla L. Niederer

This is a portrait of Thunder Awesome Niederer.  He is one of the kindest, intelligent, amusing, and most awesome human beings to walk upon the earth.  He also happens to be our beloved son.

Graphite sketch for Thunder by Marla L. Niederer

I started the portrait in water soluble graphite pencil and then did several layers of watercolors.

I have started working on portrait number three but am still in the initial phases. 

 

Initial watercolor layers for Thunder by Marla L. Niederer

My class Sleeping Mermaids is winding down but getting ready for my next online class The Goddess. Hope to see you in class!

 

Sleeping Mermaids by Marla L. Niederer

The Goddess by Marla L. Niederer

Until next time…….

warm hugs,

Marla

40 Portraits Challenge and Woodland Faery Journal class review.

Online classes are so much fun!  Not only do I enjoy teaching them but I also enjoy taking them.  What I love about them is that you can enjoy taking a class in the comfort of your home.  You can take them at your own pace and if something happens to disrupt your class time you can always go back to it at a later date when you have more creative time.

Since I just joined a 40 portrait challenge on Facebook, I decided that it was time to create another art journal.

Toni Burt, a mixed media artist, teaches several classes online and in one of them she teaches how to make a woodland faery journal. 

Woodland Faery Journal by Toni Burt

The journal she made is really pretty and uses some mixed media techniques that I don’t really use so I decided to give it a try.   The class videos are clear and informative.  She takes you through the entire process in real time without any fast forwarding.  The class is one of her shorter ones and priced quite reasonably.  The videos are broken up into roughly 20 minute to 35 minute videos.  This seems to be a good length of time for each session.  Not too long and not too short.  I found the videos quite easy to follow.   She uses water-soluble graphite pencils which I had never heard of before.  Of course I had to purchase a set and try them out.  I bought a set made by Faber Castle and now absolutely love them.

Keeper of the Earth Journal cover by Marla L. Niederer inspired by Woodland Faery Journal Class

I created the journal substrate pretty much as directed in the online class but then I decided to go in my own direction.  I did use the mixed media techniques she shared for the background but wanted to use my own artwork instead of copying her artwork.  I also did not have many of the supplies she used such as the water-soluble markers and inktense sticks.  Since I had my watercolors out and ready to use, I used them instead.  The design I chose was based on a figurative fiber art sculpture that I had created quite some time ago called “Keeper of the Earth.”  I did want to make some changes though but kept that theme.  I also used quite a bit of Toni’s color palate since it was warm and earthy.

Keeper of the Earth Journal cover by Marla L. Niederer inspired by Woodland Faery Journal Class

These are pictures of the journal cover before sewing in the watercolor paper signatures that I will be using.

 

Keeper of the Earth Journal cover by Marla L. Niederer inspired by Woodland Faery Journal Class

Bottom line, it was a really fun class to take and a good way to start off my 40 portrait challenge.  Out of five stars, I give the class Five Stars.  Here is a link to the class if you would like to check it out.

https://www.toniburt.com.au/current-classes/woodland-faery/

I wonder do fantasy portraits count as portraits?  If so consider my journal cover the first of my 40 portraits!

 

Sleeping Mermaids by Marla L. Niederer

I am still teaching the Sleeping Mermaid workshop on A for Artistic.  If you are interested in taking the class it remains open for the rest of the month.  You can find out more information about it and or sign up here

https://www.aforartistic.com/Sleeping-Mermaid-Workshop

Until next time…….

Warm hugs,

Marla

AFICC 2019 was so much fun!

Moulin Rouge Dancers by Marla L. Niederer

I taught my Moulin Rouge Dancers class at Artistic Figures in Cloth and Clay in Ohio this past spring.  The conference was just so much fun!

My favorite roomie Christine

I got to room with my favorite roomie Christine Shively-Benjamin.  I really enjoyed the time we had to spend together there.

Sue, I, and Virginia at the Hats and Heels banquet

I also got to visit with friends I had met before at AFICC before.

Moulin Rouge Dancers Class

Cynthia

Marilyn

Susan

Nancy Jo

Vicki

The doll artists that took my class were amazing.  It was such a pleasure to teach my Moulin Rouge Dancers class to them.

 

Sleeping Mermaids by Marla L. Niederer

I am still teaching my Sleeping Mermaid Class online.  Its not too late to sign up.

https://www.aforartistic.com/Sleeping-Mermaid-Workshop

Until next time…….

warm hugs,

Marla

Just one more Moulin Rouge Dancer

I just completed another Moulin Rouge Dancer and thought I would share some pictures of her. 

Moulin Rouge Dancer by Marla L. Niederer

I am flying to Columbus Ohio this week to teach a three day class on how to create my Moulin Rouge Dancers.  I can’t wait!

Moulin Rouge Dancers by Marla L. Niederer

And if that is not fun enough, afterwards I will be exhibiting some of my Moulin Rouge Dancers and my

La Fae Verte and Moulin Rouge Dancers by Marla L. Niederer

La Fae Verte at the Philadelphia Artist Doll and Teddy Bear Conference.

La Fae Verte and Moulin Rouge Dancers by Marla L. Niederer

Both conferences have a sales day open to the public.

Here is more info on AFICC

http://cyndysdolls.com/

Here is more info on the Philadelphia Artist Doll and Teddy Bear Conference

http://www.quinlanmuseum.com/convention.html

Sleeping Mermaids by Marla L. Niederer

And if you want to take an art doll class from the comfort of your home I am teaching an online class on how to create my Sleeping Mermaids on AforArtistic starting May 14^th.  You can find out more info here:

https://tinyurl.com/yxoqepj5

Until next time…………..

Warm hugs,

Marla

Hand Dying Silk Ribbon with Tea

Okay, so if you know me, you know I love tea and everything to do with tea. 

When I drink my morning tea I use a teapot and a pretty little teacup and saucer along with a creamer. 

When I am in a big rush and need to take my tea with me in the morning I put it in a pretty ceramic travel mug but it’s just not the same.

There are quite a few artists that use recycled teabags in their art.  I was planning on dying some silk ribbon to take with me to AFICC and the Quinlan conference this spring.  So I thought why not use tea?

I took out four canning jars and placed four teabags in each.  I then poured boiling water into each jar and placed the ribbons in the jars to sit for 24 hours.

I used Celestial Seasonings Chamomile tea, Bigelow Red Raspberry tea, Bigelow Jasmine Green tea, and Twinnings Lapsang Souchong tea.

I used only one type of tea in each jar to see what color they would make.  The hardest part of the process was waiting for the ribbon to soak and dry before seeing how they came out.

Of course I had to make some pretty cards to wrap the ribbon around!

This is the ribbon dyed with the Chamomile tea.

This is the ribbon dyed with the Red Raspberry tea.

This is the ribbon dyed with the Jasmine Green tea.

And this is the ribbon dyed with the Lapsang Souchong tea.

I wonder what colors avocados and red cabbage will make?

Until next time…….

Warm hugs,

Marla