Ann Bell’s Blog www.annbell.net/blog

 About 4 years ago, when I was in a workshop with the renowned artist & author, Betsy Dillard Stroud, I participated in an exercise involving the 5 Universal Shapes. Betsy asked us to draw the 5 shapes & rank them in the order of our preference. Then she told us to use these 5 shapes to make a hand-carved block. If there were more instructions, I don’t remember them. I also do not remember the order of my preference at the time.
The block I carved has played a significant role in many of my paintings since that time. The exercise of ranking the shapes came from a book:

Signs of Life: The Five Universal Shapes and How to Use Them by Angeles Arrien.

I have tried unsuccessfully to find the book. Last week one of my students, a psychologist, was commenting on the symbols I’ve used in my work and I shared the story of how I happened to discover them. He suggested that I investigate…that they were more important than I realized.

Yesterday, when I was at The Jung Center to preview the show, I asked in the book store. I didn’t remember the author…and only part of the title, but Elyssa knew the book and immediately got it from its shelf. I purchased it and this morning I read it all the way through. NOW I understand why the block I carved has been so important in my subsequent work…AND in my life since that time. The amazing power of synchronicity has once again opened an important door for me.

This morning I did the exercise from the instructions in the book, before reading the  book. After reading the book, with the explanation of the symbols & how there meaning varies according to the ranking by any particular individual, I was able to understand better some of the feelings and transitions that have been occuring in my life.
There were about 20 people in that workshop with Betsy. I think that every one of them carved a block. All of them were different. I wonder whether anyone has realized what a powerful tool they were handed.

I’m sure you are familiar with the symbols…circle, square, triangle, spiral and equal-armed cross. Angeles Arrien calls the ranking process The Preferential Shapes Test.

If you are intrigued by the idea of this symbology in my paintings, you can see some of these paintings in my Mixed Media Gallery.

Ann Bell

Many art teachers have come to my mixed-media art workshops during the past year. I had not realized that someone could get a degree in art without becoming comfortable with the painting process. But a major in college usually requires 8 semesters.

Art is such a broad field that many people get an art degree with only one or two painting classes…or maybe even no painting classes. By the time you take art history, drawing, printmaking or sculpture or pottery…and get interested in one area & perhaps take several classes in that, you may only get one class in watercolor…or oil.

Acrylic painting is much more user friendly than oil. It’s much easier to handle in a school situation. It dries quickly and has no odor, making it easier & more convenient than oil. It is opaque, making it much easier for beginners and students than watercolor. But if you are trying to teach your students to paint in acrylic, and you are not comfortable painting in that medium yourself, you are likely to feel stressed.

My classes can give you the skills you crave…and the confidence.

The techniques I teach can be used in your classroom.

And you may be able to receive Continuing Professional Education hours for the time you spend in my studio learning these techniques. 

Several teachers who have studied with me found that they could receive CPE credit for the classes. They simply needed to get the classes approved by their supervisor.

Some school districts even pay for the classes.

If one (or more) of my workshops appeals to you, I suggest that  you check with your supervisor to see if you can receive CPE hours for the time you spend learning in my studio. Upon completion of your work with me, I’ll provide you with a letter stating the subject matter and hours, along with your name and my contact information.

If your school is willing to pay for your classes, I can invoice the appropriate person. Or I can provide you with a paid invoice so you can be reimbursed.

Fullfilling your professional development requirement can be fun and personally rewarding. You can nourish your own creativity, while learning techniques that you can take directly into your classroom.

It’s just a thought. I’ve constructed my schedule so that you can take several classes on consecutive days. This makes it feasible for you to travel and have several days of classes if you live outside of the Houston metropolitan area.

If you are an art teacher outside of Texas, and you would like to come to study with me in my studio, check with your supervisor. You might be able to count the class time toward your own continuing education requirements.

Even if you are experienced painting with acrylic & mixed-media, you will still enjoy the classes (and the experience of painting in my wondrous, light-filled studio) and you’ll probably learn some new techniques.

The class schedule for most of June is now availale at
http://www.annbell.net/classes.htm 

I have been a professional working artist for more than 30 years. I have been teaching art to adults for about 15 years. I have demonstrated for many arts organizations in the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area, and Tomball, Livingston, & Baytown. You can learn more about me and see samples of my work at
http://www.annbell.net

My studio is located near downtown Houston, on the Metro at the McGowen station. You can stay at a downtown hotel and come by taxi or rail, without having to rent a car. The same rail goes to the major art museums.

Will I see you in my studio? You are welcome to call me if you have questions.

I’m looking forward to providing you with creative inspiration.

Ann Bell
281-330-3827

PS You can see an album of my paintings on my facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=53716&id=1039957322&l=064708e754

Friend me on facebook, or follow be on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/annbell

I’m going to Venice. I am so excited. I’ve fantasized about Venice for years.

I’ve collected cards, lace, music and any wonderful item I could find that was made in Venice…in the effort to provide touchstones that would make Venice real for me. Now Venice is within my reach.

My open studio Saturday, April 10, noon until 5 PM will be my first effort to share with visitors & art lovers my Venice Ephemera and collages. Instead of hoarding my collected bits & pieces of Venice, I have used these wonderful items to create unique cards and collages that I will show and sell on Saturday.

Cards that are beautiful enough to frame and sure to be saved & enjoyed by the lucky recipient are priced around $10.

This is a sample of one of my cards.

Collages are priced at $25-$40, for unframed 8″ x 10″ size. I will frame a few of them.

If you come on Saturday, you will also enjoy my larger mixed media paintings, some of which are inspried by Venice. Maybe you’ll find a very special painting to enjoy in your own home.

Regardless of whether you acquire a treasure, you’ll enjoy a wonderful afternoon enjoying art in the creative spaces where art is made.

Ann Bell

PS. Please take my phone # with you, so if you have any trouble finding my studio, you can call me for directions.

281-330-3827  Remember, I’ll have maps of all the spaces. Saturday, April 10, noon until 5 PM.

I’m excited about my newest mixed media painting.

I call it “Dreaming.” I captured this big idea in a small 8″ x 10″ canvas.

This is (more…)

I love painting with mixed media. It feels like there are no limits. Any effect is possible. “Love Soaring High,” one of my newest paintings, uses techniques I teach in my Visual Magic with Mixed Media class

Learn how to make your own textured painting. Attend either the Mixed Media Class or the 3D Texture class. (more…)

Each human being is creative. Young or old, rich or poor, educated or not! Each of us has hidden within us the capacity to be creative, whether (more…)

 
I’m tired of mass produced stuff.

I realize many esthetic and emotional benefits by surrounding myself with handmade items to bring joy, beauty & even functionality into my life.

When I use a handmade object, or view a painting,
I am reminded again of the wonder of human creativity.
You too  will get joy from handmade things, even if you aren’t an artist.

If you want to take the pledge, just click on the pledge banner.
A new window will open. After you take the pledge & close the window, this blog will still be here.

I listed new paintings in my etsy store.

I hope you have enjoyed the holidays. I certainly did.

And I have been busy planning new classes. Many of my students have asked me for a Composition class. I am working on it now. It will be on Saturday, January 23. I will be adding it, and other classes for January to my class schedule  during the next few days.

Last year in January I taught a Vision Board Class.
I have been working on my own Vision Board for 2010 & beyond.
(Most of my 2009 Vision Board is now reality!
They just seem to work that way.)

I haven’t decided whether to teach the class again.
If you want to take a Vision Board Class from me, please get in touch.

Ann Bell

Creativity improves your ability to solve problems. Creative thinking and creative play actually forms new neural pathways in your brain, between the right creative brain and the left logical brain. It makes your brain function better as a unified whole brain.

But creative play, (more…)