INSANITY...in Extra Large!!!

I marbled BIG SHEETS today in the semi-monster tank I built this past weekend for said sheets.

How big? The paper is 25" x 40" which means my tank is roughly 30" x 45". That is over 2.5-feet wide by almost 4-feet tall! As most of you know, I marble primarily in two tank sizes: 20" x 25"  and 11" x 14".  So yeah, this is BIG, this is DIFFERENT, and this is FUN!! Insanely fun.

I've marbled large before but only on fabric. And it was more long and narrow than longish and wide-ish. Somehow this paper experience didn't feel the same as the fabric experience. It's hard to explain why...you're just going to have to trust me on this one.

The biggest challenge in working LARGE comes when you're marbling alone. It means you're trying to lay down this huge piece of paper in the bath in one, smooth, continuous motion without trapping air bubbles or getting kinks and hesitation marks on the paper. Not an easy task on regular sheets of paper, let alone something this size! An extra set of hands would help. But it was just me today, so I wrestled the paper into submission the best I could.

I did manage to get most pieces out of the bath without those pesky paper-laying problems though. However, my friend, Steve, is coming over tomorrow and it will be nice to have an extra set of hands to lay down paper (and some fabric!). We'll have both this tank and the 20x25 tank set up to play in. It's going to be double the trouble, double the fun in the studio tomorrow!

It Feels Lonely in the Studio

I walked into my studio this morning, excited to take advantage of the cool temp and high humidity (70%!!), only to feel a little bit of lonely. After having M and B in my "Experience the Tank" marbling class on Saturday filling the studio with their enthusiasm, creative energy, and sense of adventure--not to mention their marbled papers--there was a definite sense of empty space.

As with every class I teach, my own marbling practice is affected by students. They think they are the only ones learning but it is I, too, that gain something in these sessions. This time, it was M's love for the simple gel-git that infected me. I often see the gel-git as something I HAVE to do to get to the next step. But watching M sink into the zen-like motion of moving the stylus back and forth and then up and down the tank, I saw the beauty in the simple pattern again. By the end of class, M was using the stylus to freehand designs that were simply beautiful. I wish I would have taken a photo of her last piece (which was on canvas) so you could experience her touch.

B was getting into the bull's eyes and then adding a Christopher Weimann-esq touch by going over them with very small rakes (of the nonpareil kind), sometimes wiggling and jiggling, sometimes straight...but ALWAYS executing each stroke at 90-degrees to the previous one, like a good student! I also wished I had taken a photo of her last marbled paper as it was a stunner.

So while in the studio today, I took my time with my gel-gits and played a lot with my 1/8" and 1/4" rakes. There was one piece in particular I really liked--a flame pattern made with a 1/4" chevron and a 1" comb (pictured below). It's tiny palms/flames swaying across the paper are just lovely. As I stood back and looked at it drying on the line, I couldn't help but smile, knowing this beautiful piece would never had been created had it not been for M and B in my studio this weekend. What a gift!

When the Bath doesn't Cooperate

Oh, it happens even to the best of marblers (I'm not saying I'm the best marbler...just that I can take solace in the fact that this happens to the really good ones too). Sometimes your bath just gets cranky. Mine was extremely temperamental this week. One second is was working just fine and producing nice patterns like this:

And then the very next sheet, the bath completely disintegrated into NOTHING like this:

I'm not kidding you. It became, for all intents and purposes, worthless. So what do you do when you're fighting with your bath? Stop resisting and just go with the flow.

I decided to take a stab at a particular technique I've been wanting to try out but didn't want to mess up a fresh, good bath on. I'm not sure what I make of these but there is something appealing about them.

Perhaps it's the space around the paint blob (blob being another technical term). Perhaps it's the interesting texture. Perhaps it's just the fact that they didn't turn out completely horrible (as I expected them to).

Whatever it is, I'm going to sit and stare at these for a while before I figure out my next step with them. I think they would make interesting overmarbles. Or maybe just interesting pieces to hang in my studio as is.

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

Just Going to Marble a Little Bit

That's what I told myself this morning when I stepped into the marbling studio. "Just a few quick sheets." I have so much to do to prepare for the Arts Crawl that I knew I didn't have time to hit the studio hard. But I did anyway. I was in a groove and couldn't stop. Next thing I knew, my drying line was all FILLED UP: eight boxes, ten dictionary pages, three canvas squares, five overmarbles, and a half dozen or so of little scraps (paper to use up the bath and paint). Whew!

Hopefully everything will be dry and flat and ready for me to post photos of on the blog tomorrow. There are some FUN things that came from this morning's session. That's what usually happens when you least expect it.

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

Vanity Never Looked so Good

The other night, Emmett and I had my friend Annika and her hubby over for "Happy Hour." It was more like a tapas dinner that went waaaaay into a lovely, candle-lit evening under the two Chinese Elm trees in our front yard. It was one of those perfect California nights--both in weather and in company--that re-enforces our reasons for living here. It was such a delightful time that had it not been their first visit to our house, I would have suggested we grab sleeping bags, sprawl out in the front yard, talk until we fell asleep, and then enjoy a cup of coffee together in the morning before heading out for breakfast. But that would have been too weird to ask of them on a first date. And probably on a second one. And a third. In fact, maybe I shouldn't be writing about it at all.

Moving on...

Upon their arrival, I noticed right away the tattoo on Annika's foot in the photo above. However, throughout the evening, our conversation went wildly in every direction ("They can talk about ANYTHING," Emmett marveled the next day) and I totally forget to ask her about it. Then I checked in on her blog and read the tattoo story here, which then took me here, where you can read a wonderful write up about why she got it done.

It is simply a beautiful tattoo and a perfect design for her. I hope she doesn't mind me staring at her feet the next time we get together for lunch. (Oh, and aren't those shoes ADORABLE?!!)

Digging This

Emmett went record shopping the other day and brought home Florence + The Machine's latest album, Ceremonials. Granted, it was released at the end of 2011 so I'm a little late on this one but MAN-OH-MAN am I glad we finally have it in our possession AND have it ON VINYL. Great lyrics, great voice, great music, fun videos.

That Florence--she's a quirky one...and I hope she keeps it that way.

Shake it Out

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbN0nX61rIs&w=560&h=315]

What the Water Gave Me

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am6rArVPip8&w=560&h=315]

Spectrum (Say My Name)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC-_lVzdiFE&w=560&h=315]

Blowin' in the Wind

It's funny how my marbled pieces take on a life of their own with the lightest shift in the wind. July's header I actually created a few months ago thinking that it would be great for summer months because it had a water feel to it (the colors, the circles that looked like waves). But every time I went to change the header, it never felt like it was the "right" time to feature it. And then when I looked at it again the other day, I realized July is the perfect month for it. Why? Because it now looks and feels like fireworks in the sky to me!!

Here's the full piece the header came from:

Last month, I posted a piece of mine and asked folks to let me know that they "saw" in it. As each response came in, I felt like I was being given a gift; my little piece was no longer just a single sheet of paper with paint on it. Instead, it was a million sheets, each with their own unique story as told through the eye of the beholder.

Like I said, the wind blows...

My Excuse: Summer

I've been so busy this summer I haven't had a chance to update the blog. But that certainly doesn't mean I've been doing things that aren't worthy of mentioning. Just the opposite. Usually once-a-day I'm thinking to myself, "This is so cool I should blog about it." But then the end of the day comes and I'm too exhausted to even check my emails let alone write something for the blog.

I'll try to catch you up on some of my summer activities soon but for now, I'll just post a few pics from a ridiculously awesome hike Emmett and I took yesterday to Winston Peak and Winston Ridge. Parts of the Angeles National Forest that have been closed since the Station Fire three years ago are starting to re-open and we've been spending our weekends heading back into the area.

Yesterday's hike encompassed all my favorites: alpine and big-boulder landscape that comes at higher elevation (in this case, 7300'), a ridge trial, views of other peaks/ridges/canyons we've hiked in, a body-challenging summit push that makes you grateful to be alive and healthy, and the entire trail all to ourselves (we didn't run into a single person). Oh, and hiking with Emmett, of course, who is always Mr. Map and Trail Guide Master. All I have to do is show up and put one foot in front of the other.

The hike was only four miles but we took our time, stopping frequently to take in the 360-degree views of the San Gabriels and the Antelope Valley over and over again. Lunch--a HUGE vegan deli sandwich from Figueroa Produce--was FANTASTIC and just what we needed to make the final ascent to Winston Peak along a .5 mile, 760' elevation gain (20% grade!!!) non-trail trial.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer as well. I'll regale you with stories about other hikes, marbling successes, my trip to Minnesota, 41 for 41 updates, delicious recipes, and more over the next few weeks.

Cheers!

[slideshow]

Never Too Big

I spent the past 10 days in Minnesota where my time was devoted to visiting family and friends, throwing a surprise birthday party for my dad, and taking in a Twins game at the new stadium. But if I had been forced to spend those days with my niece and nephew on my lap the entire time, I would have gladly done so. I'm not a kid person in general--meaning I don't usually enjoy interacting with children for extended periods of time--but the little conversations and exchanges that were had upon my lap with these two were simply precious. I'm glad they don't think they are too old or too big or too cool to sit on their Auntie Barbie's lap...yet. And even when that day comes, I will let them know this: my lap will always and forever be open to them.

Hyde Park on Hudson

Hyde Park on Hudson is quite possibly the most horrible title for this movie (or any other movie) but I can't resist seeing Bill Murray as FDR. I'm going to have to wait six months though...official release date is December 7th. In the mean time, take a peek at the first trailer. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqQzNyxSShM&w=560&h=315]

June's New Header

Thank you to everyone who responded so wonderfully to my last post. You totally made my day and inspired some really great ideas for future marbling sessions. You guys ROCK.

This will be a short and sweet post for you: the piece above is where the new header for June came from. It's a traditional pattern called Cathedral and while it's not my favorite, my mom once went out of her way to let me know she really likes it. "I just think it's so pretty," she said as she stared at one of my cards with the pattern on it.

With that in mind, I made the above when she asked me to create some pieces for her recently remodeled front room. I'm not sure if we'll end up using it (I sent her a dozen or so papers in a wide variety of patterns, colors, and designs to choose from) but whenever I see it, I smile knowing she was on my mind when I made it.

Hope you all have something to smile about this week!