Open Studio and New Class Schedule!

Now that my eCourse, Clouds on Water, has launched and is underway (I absolutely LOVE the people in the course...spirited, adventuresome, fearless...perfect qualities for marbling!), I'm able to turn my attention to my in-studio classes. And my blog subscribers get first notice!

I would love to adventure with you into the world of marbling. Hope to see you in the studio!

Open Studio

Open to former and current students only (or those with previous marbling experience), open studio provides the time and space to practice your marbling skills and explore the craft deeper at your own pace and with your own goals in mind. All materials are provided except for paper (bring your own or purchase a paper pack from me). No formal instruction is provided but I’ll be there to offer encouragement, make suggestions, and answer questions.

When: Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28
Cost: Four-hour block is $40 for use of the 11x14 tank and $55 for use of the 20x25 tank. Each additional hour is $10. Paper costs extra or bring your own.
More info: Open Studio
How to sign up: email me with the date, time, and tank size.

Beginning Marbling (5 hours)

Experience the joys of marbling in this class that allows you to explore colors, learn basic techniques and patterns, experiment with your own designs ~ and gives you the confidence to start marbling on your own at home! Everything is provided. Just show up and have fun!

When: Saturday, July 18, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (includes 1/2-hour byob lunch)
Cost: $189 includes everything
Maximum students: 5
More info: Beginning Marbling
How to sign up: email me

Marbling on Fabric (Potential Class!)

If there is enough interest, I will do a fabric marbling class. This would be one day of instruction with a second OPTIONAL day of continued learning. Open to beginning and experienced marblers alike! Students would marble in their own 20x25 tanks but I would bust out the extra-large tank (shared) for those who want to marble scarves or larger pieces of fabric. There is some fabric prep work students would have to do prior to class (or, for an additional fee, I would do it for you) including washing, alumming, and ironing (on some fabrics).

When: Saturday, August 1 and an optional Sunday, August 2 (only available to those who attend the first day)
Maximum students: 4
Cost: TBD

If interested, please email me. You do not have to commit to signing up for the class at this time. I will contact interested folks with more information and pricing if the class is a go.

May Day through Mother’s Day Special!

Two great days of celebration deserve two great offers for the Clouds on Water intro-to-marbling eCourse!

1) Register with a friend and get full access to the class for $159 each! That’s $100 off the regular price ($259) when two or more people sign up together.

Just go to the registration page, sign yourself up using the promo code MAYLOVE (don't forget to hit "apply"), and let us know the name of the person (or names!) you’re signing up with. Then have your friend(s) register and do the same!

2) Early Bird registration is extended as well ~ $179 when signing up on your own. That’s an $80 savings!

Clouds on Water is a great gift to give yourself (yes, you deserve it!) and someone special (gift certificates available!).

Or buddy up with someone and go on the marbling journey together! Clouds on Water is a six-week guided introduction-to-marbling-on-paper eCourse with six-months access to all videos and written content, lots of downloadable handouts, and a lifetime of endless possibilities and fun!

These specials end May 10!

Go to www.CloudsOnWater.com for more information and to register.

Purpose, not Perfection

In my Introduction to Paper Marbling eCourse, I emphasize purpose over perfection because, well, perfection is not possible in marbling. And when you let go of expectations, that’s when the good stuff happens.

So yeah, sometimes we miss the mark. Or the color is off. Or we’re still learning a new technique. When it comes to marbling, even those so called boo-boos are stunning. But they can also take on another life. And it’s found in something called the “overmarble.”

I teach the overmarble technique in my class because it opens up endless possibilities to add texture, movement, and depth to a piece…and it also can cover up the boo-boos that no one else sees but is driving us up the wall.

Yeah, I get it. I’ve been there.

So let’s strive for purpose together while at the same time have fun playing with our boo-boos. Early bird registration for Clouds on Water ends soon. Register by Thursday, April 30 and save $80.

Welcome to the Magic: Clouds on Water

In beautiful partnership with the talented and inspiring duo at Animyst, I am beyond excited to announce my latest offering: an online, introduction to marbling eCourse called Clouds on Water: A Journey into the World of Marbling!

So many of you have asked for this ~ learning to marble from the comfort of your own home, at your own pace, and in your own space. No travel, no schedule...just you, the tank, and the MAGIC of marbling.

What will I learn?

Clouds on Water is a robust online classroom with video, written content, and downloadable handouts where you will learn the Turkish form of marbling called Ebru. Translated, Ebru means “cloud.” And that is exactly what paint on the water bath looks like: clouds on water! You will be guided through every step of the marbling process to help you create a successful experience at home, from building your confidence with marbling techniques to learning how to deal with hiccups along the way. Topics include:

• Setting up your marbling space.
• Making special marbling tools.
• Preparing the water bath and mordant.
• Floating paint on water.
• Creating foundation patterns.
• Exploring traditional patterns and variations on those patterns.
• Troubleshooting tips.

And I will be with you for the first six weeks of the course, leading conversations and answering all of your questions via a private Facebook group. I'll also post additional Studio Session videos as needed by student discussions.

When is the course?

Registration is now open for the June 8 – July 17, 2015 session (six-week guided course). All of the content will be available to you for six months (December 2015).

What is the fee?

The regular fee is $259 but for those who sign up by April 30, you will get the early bird price of $179! That's an $80 savings! The price includes downloadable handouts and 6-months of access to all the written and video content.

Learn more about the class on the Clouds on Water information and registration page.

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

You may have noticed I was pretty quiet this summer. That's because I was busy working on my latest marbling adventure...creating and shooting a marbling eCourse! For all of you who want to learn how to marble but have been unable to find a marbling class or teacher in your area, now you can take a class online! There will be three segments ~ an intro to paper marbling, advanced techniques, and marbling on fabric. Stay tuned...more details to follow!

Alternative Marbling Class with Elin Noble

Wanted to share with you some photos from the class "Alternative Marbling: Building a Personal Methodology and Vocabulary" that I took with the fabulous fabric artist Elin Noble. We marbled mostly on methyl cellulose (a first for me!) and used a variety of dispersants to create some really funky and fun effects. It was a week-long intensive where we got to experiment and play in the tank...and I'm thrilled with the results! I still prefer to use carageenan as my bath for all of my fine-art marbling, especially on paper and wood. Carrageenan gives you those crisp, clean lines that make marbling so wonderfully beautiful (and stunning). The edges on a methyl cellulose (MC) bath are a little more fuzzy. But MC is perfectly fine for most fabric projects since the fabric's weave tends to be larger than paper, making crisp lines appear fuzzy anyway. The other advantage to MC is that once it is made, it lasts up to four months, compared to just the four- to seven-day lifespan of carageenan. So I will now have MC on hand for those spur-of-the-moment marbling itches!

Last of the Spring Classes Coming Up

If you want to experience the joys of marbling, the last classes of the season are upon us. Email me at Cheers "at" BarbSkoog "dot" com to sign up! And remember: everything for the class is provided for you and all materials are included in the cost. Just show up and have fun!

Experience the Tank (3 hours, $85) ~ Get a peek into the world of marbling in this hands-on class perfect for those short on time but curious about the art form and wanting to play in the small tank (11″ x 14″).

• Sunday, April 6 (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

Beginning Marbling (5 hours, $175) ~ Explore colors, learn basic techniques and patterns, experiment with your own designs ~ in this class we’ll marble in the large tank (20″ x 24″) and you’ll gain the confidence to start marbling on your own at home!

• Saturday, April 5 (10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)

Introduction to Marbling (2 full days, $360) ~ Immerse yourself in the world of marbling in this class where you will learn the nuts and bolts of the art form, dive into traditional pattern making, and have time for creative exploration on a variety of mediums including paper, wood, canvas, and more.

• Saturday/Sunday, April 26 and 27 (10 a.m. – 5 p.m. both days)

These are the only classes I've got scheduled so far this year (not sure if I'll be offering fall classes), so jump on board now…and then you can continue your practice with the Open Studio sessions I’ll hold throughout the summer!

Hope to see you in the studio!

The Marbling Fun Never Ends

Marbled cork coasters! Adding this to the list of materials we marble on in my Beginning Marbling and Introduction to Marbling classes this spring! So. Much. Fun!

Marbling Classes for Spring Announced

After taking a break from teaching the second half of last year to work on personal projects, I'm really excited to jump back into sharing the joys of marbling through learning and play. I'm offering three levels of classes this spring, each designed toward optimizing your time considerations and the depth of knowledge you want to acquire.

Everything for the class is provided for you ~ all materials are included in the cost. Just show up and have fun!

Experience the Tank (3 hours, $85) ~ Get a peek into the world of marbling in this hands-on class perfect for those short on time but curious about the art form and wanting to play in the small tank (11" x 14").

• Saturday, March 22 (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
• Sunday, April 6 (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.)

Beginning Marbling (5 hours, $175) ~ Explore colors, learn basic techniques and patterns, experiment with your own designs ~ in this class we'll marble in the large tank (20" x 24") and you'll gain the confidence to start marbling on your own at home!

• Saturday, March 23 (10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
• Saturday, April 5 (10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.)

Introduction to Marbling (2 full days, $360) ~ Immerse yourself in the world of marbling in this class where you will learn the nuts and bolts of the art form, dive into traditional pattern making, and have time for creative exploration on a variety of mediums including paper, wood, canvas, and more.

• Saturday/Sunday, April 26 and 27 (10 a.m. - 5 p.m. both days)

These are the only classes I'll offer until late summer/early fall, so jump on board now...and then you can continue your practice with the Open Studio sessions I'll hold throughout the summer!

If you have any questions or wish to sign up for classes, please contact me at Cheers "at" BarbSkoog "dot" com.

First Open Studio of 2014 ~ Spring Classes Announced Soon!

Let's welcome in 2014 together in the marbling studio! Students or anyone with prior marbling experience can join me for Open Studio on Saturday, February 15 and Sunday, February 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Open Studio is great for those who want to continue to practice marbling but who may not have the space to set up their own studio. Or maybe you want to test out a new tank size! I'll have the large tanks (20"x25") available as well as medium tanks (11"x14") and small tanks (5"x7"). While I don't teach during this time, I am in the studio to answer any questions. For more information about Open Studio, click here.

To sign up, send me an email (Cheers "at" BarbSkoog "dot" com) with the date(s), time frame, and tank size you want to work in.

I will also be posting a spring class schedule in early February, with classes beginning late March. I will be offering my three-hour Experience the Tank class, the five-hour Beginning Marbling class, and the two-day Introduction to Marbling class (which will only be offered once this year). I am also in the process of developing a one-day FABRIC marbling class, which will be offered in April! Sign up for my eNewsletter to be the first to know when the schedule will be announced.

Last Classes of the Year

I have decided that the series of marbling classes I just posted on the calendar page will be the last I offer this year. No, I'm not going to stop teaching altogether (and the open studio time will still be an option for former students). I love teaching. It has been rewarding, inspiring, and downright fun. However, I have way too many projects on my plate and would like to dedicate my time to getting them at least off the ground, if not running, by the end of the year.

So if you've been holding off on taking a class this year, hold off no longer!!

Experience the Tank Class: May 18 and June 8

Beginning Marbling Class: May 19, June 9, and June 29

Hope to see you in the studio!

Things I Love: Marbled Coasters!

Earlier this month, Tina took my Experience the Tank class. This is just one of the things she did with her marbled papers ~ she took glass coasters designed to put your personal photos into and instead used her marbled creations! They look fantastic!

My favorite is the one in the upper left-hand side ~ Sap Green with Quin Purple, Carbon Black, Indian Yellow Hue, and Cerulean Blue. Whenever I use purple, I always end up with Easter colors somehow and I hate the look. I love her color combo ~ you'll be seeing that in my future work!

Best Valentine's Day Gift EVER

Okay, okay...so I may be a little biased about this but I am so excited to announce a special event for Valentine's Day! I'm offering the Valentine's Day Marbling Experience session that is sure to be memorable! Avoided crowded restaurants, bad chocolate, and wilting flowers this Valentine’s Day and instead give the lasting gift of creativity to your special someone! This special Valentine’s Day Marbling Experience is designed specifically for the holiday of love.

Bring your loved one ~ a best friend, partner, spouse, family member ~ and have some fun playing in the marbling tank. You’ll learn some basic marbling moves and then we’ll be off drawing hearts and flowers, marbling on paper in all shades of red and on photo mats for framing, and more! Everything will be provided for you. Just show up and have fun! No previous art experience of any kind necessary!

The cost for this special event is $135 per couple or $70 for an individual which includes all paper and other materials we'll be marbling on, carrageenan bath, alum, distilled water, paints, and use of tanks and tools.

The Valentine's Day Marbling Experience is being offered on these days:

• Saturday, February 9 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Sunday, February 10 from 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Thursday, February 14 from 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

And hey, if you want to book a private session, just let me know and we'll schedule something!

If you have any questions or wish to register, send an email to: Cheers "at" BarbSkoog "dot" com.

And They're Off!

I love it when students embrace their creative sides and go for it in the marbling studio. This is exactly what happened at last weekend's Experience the Tank class. Tina and Joan grasped the concepts of marbling very quickly and the next thing I knew, they were off and running! Even I had a hard time keeping up with their enthusiasm and energy! It was wonderful. Tina is a self-described "paper nut" and has a blog called Crafted Living. She is going to be posting some of her projects in which she uses her marbled papers and I can't wait to see what kind of magic she creates with them! And Joan, who marbled a stunningly beautiful design on sheet music, already has plans to frame the piece and give it as a gift to special someone.

Thank you, Ladies, for sharing the joy of marbling with me!

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My Marbling Students are the Best!

I've blogged before about people who have taken my marbling classes who have either incorporated their marbled pieces from class into their own work (like elle's marbled mandala) or who fall in love with marbling and take it to a whole new level (like Steve's marbled bark). Well, it was such a joy to get yet another email from a student showing me what she did with her latest round of marbled papers. Mel has taken both my Experience the Tank and Beyond the Tank classes...and I must say, she is the best gel-gitter there is on the planet. They always come out perfect. And to watch her do one puts you in a trance ~ she's very calm and zen about it!

Mel uses her marbled papers to make her own note cards and below are two examples she sent me. The background is made from the marbled paper she is designing in the photo above (which, of course, is a gel-git)! And the leaves are cut from another marbled paper she made in that session.

How perfect are these? The background totally looks and feels like the wind and the leaves look like they are swirling about on the card. I half expect them to come flying off! (Click on photo for larger image.)

I cannot say enough about how enjoyable I find the people who take my marbling classes. Marbling clearly attracts a certain "element" ~ those who are adventuresome, who enjoy a little mystery and magic, who see the beauty in air bubbles and can laugh at spilled paint, and who, above all, feel compelled to create and learn and share...and have fun while doing so.

At least that's the type of people I've been fortunate to have in my studio this past year. I hope 2013 brings me the same!