University Art - Newsletter

The Community Artist

University Art Newsletter Vol. 3 Issue 9, September 2004

ART ORGANIZATIONS SPOTLIGHT

There are several organizations in the Bay Area that showcase the visual arts, by way of exhibitions and workshops and incredible art collections. The Cantor Center for the Visual Arts in Palo Alto is just such a place. Featuring a renowned Rodin Sculpture Garden and a diverse collection of over 250,000 objects the center not only has plenty to see but plenty of rotating workshops and exhibits for its visitors and members alike.

For more info about membership or programs please call (650)723-3482 or e-mail at cacmemberships@lists.stanford.edu. You can also write: The Cantor Arts Center at Stanford, 328 Lomita Drive, Stanford Ca.94305

COMING SOON

Ancient Egyptian Art Workshops
9/12/04, 9/26/04 & 10/10/04
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
Park at Naglee Avenue, San Jose
Space is limited to twenty participants so to you reserve your spot call 408-947-3665 or e-mail info@egyptianmuseum.org

Carol Turner Exhibit
8/20/04 - 10/24/04
Triton Museum of Art
1505 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara

Los Gatos Artfest
10/1/04 - 10/2/04
In the Town of Los Gatos and Testarossa Vineyards a premier inaugural plein air event.
For details try online at www.losgatosartfest.org

ART SUMMIT VI
9/17/04
Triton Museum of Art
Round Table Discussions with leaders of various Arts Organizations.
For details call Cindy Blain at ( 408) 268-5959.
East Valley Artists are this months "host".

If you have exhibit info that you want to have posted please e-mail at snjbram@aol.com

TRIVIA AND STUFF JUST FOR FUN

Here is a fun piece of painter's trivia for all you acrylic painters out there. Liquitex Artist Grade Acrylic paint was used to paint the Goodyear Blimp "Spirit of Akron" which gives you an idea about the toughness of acrylic paint. Goodyear used 45 gallons of Prussian Blue, 3 gallons of Cadmium Yellow and plenty of gloss and gel mediums. When all was said and done the shiny new paint job added about 180 pounds to the total weight of the blimp. Imagine the size of the easel they had to use, just kidding!

ASK BRAMSCHANDOZ

Q: What is a batik?

A: Batik is an art-form that incorporates layers of dye and wax on top of a fabric to produce a vibrantly colorful marbled image. First a design is traced on a fabric (usually cotton, but silk is also used) with a pencil. The artist then works out a color scheme light to dark with the white of the fabric being the lightest and first color. Areas to remain white are waxed with a hot melted solution of batik wax (beeswax, paraffin, rosin mixture) and allowed to cool. The fabric is then crumpled, which cracks the wax, allowing the next color through where the cracks are. The fabric is dyed the next darkest color, waxed, crumpled, and so on until the final color (usually dark blue or black) is applied. After the fabric dries, it is sandwiched between layers of blank newsprint and then ironed with a hot iron. The iron re-melts the wax which is absorbed into the newsprint, leaving a lovely, colorful, marbled image on the fabric.

JEFF'S TIPS

Art products come in all sizes and shapes and many vendors sell like products under different names. For instance a wax oil crayon and an oil pastel are the same thing, just different manufacturer's names for the same product. Watercolorists art masking fluid, is also referred to as misket, frisket, and drawing gum. I am sure that you can think of others too. This is not to say there aren't differences in quality between companies, but that often several good products are often available to you under different brand names. So this months tip is simple: get to know the manufacturer's lingo it will save you some time and some frustration.

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