September 20, 2015

Felted Acorn Fun.


Outside the studio door the acorns are falling and covering the walkway
 with their delightful little caps. I have such vivid memories of acorn caps 
from childhood, a wooden baret for dolls or finger tips. Now I happily
harvest these windfalls for felting fun. And you can join me!

Needle Felted Acorns
Wednesday, September 30th 6-8pm.
$25, all supplies included.
Make a bunch of these wooly wonders!
Email me at suki (at) birdseyeviewstudio (dot) com to regsiter!

August 28, 2015

Fall Classes.

Woo Hoo! The Fall class schedule is out!
I am REALLY excited about the line up.
A little something for everyone, even kidlets.

Here are a few highlights, to see the full list, 
click the "classes" button at the top of the page.

Hope to see you in a class very soon!


Contour Drawing: Flowers  September 16th 6-8:30pm


Patchwork Pattern Play  Saturday, September 19th 10-1pm
A great class for beginners to painting and drawing!


Parent & Child Class: Wet Felted River Rocks  Wednesday, September 23rd 4-5:30pm


Encaustic Mixed-Media Family Collages Saturday, October 10th 10-2pm


Mono-printed Long Stitch Books at Oregon College of Art and Craft
Saturday, October 17th 10-5pm


Contour Drawing: Mushrooms Wednesday, October 21st 6-8:30pm


Kids Make Art! Drawing Animals Tuesdays, October 6th-27th 4-5:30pm

To register for any classes here at Bird's Eye View Studio,
simply email me at suki (at) birdseyeviewstudio (dot) com!

July 29, 2015

Wedding Lace Rocks.

For our wedding, I decided I wanted to paint a lace rock for everyone who attended.
People thought I was down right nuts. They encouraged me to take on something easier.
But, I like a good challenge, and I've been told I like doing things the hard way...
so here's what they looked like in the end!


Over 120 stones, one for each of the people we love, and who came to cheer on our love.


Each one a little bit different from the next.


And yet also somewhat alike.


Here is what Lace Rocks mean to me:

The stone itself is weighty, like the commitment of marriage.
It isn't something to take lightly, 
and with its weight come solidity and groundedness.
These stones are circular, but not perfectly, 
like a good marriage there are a few lumps and bumps.
And the lace paintings are delicate, and must be made with care,
like the vows we made on that day and will keep for each other.
And in the end, the play of weight and delicacy,
light and dark, simpleness and complexity,
are just like we are, and how all of our lives are, a balance.

So happy to have made them, and so happy to be married to my favorite human,
who is both wonderfully simple and deeply complex.

July 27, 2015

Up, Down and All Around.


Hello Creative Friends.
It's been quite a month here on life's roller coaster.
Philip and I tied the knot on July 19th, best day EVER.
So wonderful to be encircled by our closest family and friends as we said our self written vows.
Philip turned over to me the next morning and said, "I miss our wedding ceremony."
I agreed whole heartedly. It was magic.

And then, just a week later, tragedy struck.
Our 17 year old cat became really really sick. He had been battling kidney disease,
and the struggle became too big. We made the gut wrenching decision to end his suffering.
This was by far the hardest decision either of us has ever made.
I had told Kinder (our cat) when he got diagnosed with kidney disease to tell me when it was time,
and he did, in a very quiet way. As a family of two humans who work from home, the loss of our little furry co-worker is giant. But we will slowly sew back up this hole in our hearts, together.

These two back to back events show me the ability of our heart to expand and contract, 
and then re-expand. As well as the depth of our capability to feel, love, and heal, which is immense.
All of this also reminds me of our tremendous ability to create, and that LIFE IS SHORT,
so we'd better sit down to the drawing board and get something down on paper.

So today I am getting these words down on paper, and when I finish I will work up a little drawing in my sketchbook, which has been set aside for weeks now during all these turns in the road.
I urge you all to do the same. Take a pause, get out the pencil or pen, and make your mark.

If you'd like some inspiration, or a new creative adventure, check out the classes tab up top.
August's class schedule has just been released, I'd love to see you in class soon.

Wishing for you all tremendous love.

(Kinder in his super-relaxed happy place.)


June 11, 2015

Gelli Plate Monoprinting with Acrylics.

Come learn about the newest printmaking craze!

Gelli Plate Monoprinting with Acrylics

This abstract form of printmaking is a creative wonderland of surprises. 
Learn to ink, texturize, and print from a Gelli Plate, 
the newest rage in the at home printmaking world. 

No drawing or painting skills required! 

This class is immensely fun, and you will make a prolific number of prints.

Saturday, June 20th, 10-1pm
at Bird's Eye View Studio 
To register, email suki@birdseyeviewstudio.com 
$35, All supplies are included.










May 7, 2015

Upcoming Linoleum Block Printmaking Class.

Coming up at the end of this month is Linoleum Block Printmaking class.
This class is a wonderful intro into relief printmaking,
and beginners are absolutely welcome! 

Here are a few photos of recent student work.













In class you will draw or trace your image, then learn the basics of carving
with a variety of cutting tools, and lastly learn to brayer out ink, and 
print a small edition of prints to take home and frame.
Curious? Come take the class!

Linoleum Block Printmaking
Saturday, May 30th, 2015 10am-1pm, 
here at Bird's Eye View Studio in NE Portland.
Email suki@birdseyeviewstudio.com to register.

April 24, 2015

Lace Mandala Rocks.


I've been back at it for a few weeks, painting lace rocks.
It's very meditative and calming to paint these guys, or maybe they're gals?
 I enjoy that all of them have the same elements, and yet come out very differently.
Kind of like us humans!

I start in the center painting a single circle, and then make even-ish petals from there.
Adding scallops, dots, lines tear drops, and little antenna shapes.
I keep circling around and around, and slowly I'm so focused on these lace mandalas
that the world melts away and it's just me and some lines.
My thoughts ease, the elves come out (you know, those super creative little characters
 that live inside you and are very happy to help you make some terrific art), 
and pretty soon I'm in an ecstatic state of mandala bliss.

Want to make some of your own? Collect some flat-ish round rocks,
buy some Daler-Rowney FW acrylic ink and a number 1 round brush, and GO TO TOWN!