August Newsletter The Sky's The Limit |
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In this issue... - The Sky's the Limit
- Upcoming Events
- Instructor Spotlight
- Upcoming Workshops
- Creativity Circles
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You may recognize this picture from the Purple Crayon website. In addition to capturing me in a moment of unadulterated play (which, fortunately, happens far more frequently since I opened the studio!), it also captures me stepping—or perhaps I should say flying—out of my comfort zone. I’d never been sky diving at the time, and, even though it happened in a simulated environment, it still felt awfully real—and scary—to me! Since then, I’ve gone sky diving out of an actual airplane, but the terror and excitement of the experiences were similar. While neither experience was significantly life altering, they both increased my confidence a little, as stepping out of one's comfort zone typically does. In this case, the results were positive, but even if I had failed, the experience would have changed me. Yeh, you’re thinking, I would have died! All joking aside, stepping out of your comfort zone is usually rewarding and something we need to do to grow. According to Brené Brown, author of several books, including The Gifts of Imperfection (Hazelden, 2010), one’s comfort zone is where our uncertainty, scarcity and vulnerability are minimized; where we feel we have some control. We avoid stepping out of it because it makes us feel vulnerable, which can lead to feelings of fear and shame, some of our most difficult emotions. Just observing someone challenge herself can make us feel uncomfortable! The key is finding a place of “productive discomfort,” as Daniel Pink, author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us (Riverhead, 2009) explains. If you’re too comfortable, you’re not productive. And if you’re too uncomfortable, you’re not productive. So, how do you become Goldilocks, living a life that’s “just right”? - Figure out where your comfort zone is; everyone’s is different. (Listen to your gut. You’ll know it when you feel it—literally!) Then, tiptoe outside of it.
- Acknowledge that stepping out of your comfort zone will produce fear and anxiety, and a certain level is OK.
- If necessary, give yourself time and space to mourn the loss of your old self.
- Regularly look for and practice ways to push past your fear.
- Repeat.
In terms of making art, I would encourage you to avoid getting in a rut. (Again, you’ll know it when you feel it!) If you’ve been doing the same thing for a while, try a new technique, or play with a different medium altogether. Even if you do what you do well—or especially if you do what you do well—the challenge will make you a better artist. If that sounds too intimidating, remember that just watching someone step out of her comfort zone can create "productive discomfort." Visit a gallery; watch an art video; read an art book. Tiptoe at your own pace, but at least tiptoe. The sky’s the limit—or not! Ready to dive into something new? We’ve got several fun workshops coming up this month at Purple Crayon, including Deana Murchison's Folded Book Art: Butterfly on 8/10 and Introduction to Fluid Art on 8/31 and Anne Magrath's Needle Felted Mermaid on 8/16-17. And don't forget that Purple Crayon is also a great place to rent affordable, clean, cheerful studio space. (Yes, even in Asheville!) Memberships start at just $30 a month, and there are never any contracts. I look forward to playing with you! —Pam Robbins, Owner |
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Girls' Night (or Day) Out Ongoing Looking for something a little different for your next Girls' Night (or Day) Out? Consider scheduling a private arts and crafts party at Purple Crayon! We've got lots of great workshops to choose from, and, if you don't see what you're looking for, we'll be happy to try to find an instructor! | | |
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Open House Saturday, 8/3, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Every month, Purple Crayon opens its doors to the public. You can check out what our members are up to and see if the studio is a good fit for you. Come see what all the excitement is about—and tour the new space! |
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| | Deana Murchison Deana is truly an "artist extraordinaire!" She enjoys dyeing fabric, painting on fabric, watercolor, fluid art, alcohol inks, pyrography, beading, jewelry making, book art, and just about anything that lets her express her creative self. And she's a great teacher to boot! She's taught many Purple Crayon workshops, and her students always give her rave reviews. This month, Deana is teaching Folded Book Art: Butterfly on 8/10 and Introduction to Fluid Art on 8/31. | | |
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| | Anne Magrath Anne is teaching Needle Felted Mermaid on 8/16-17. Anne has been needle felting for over 20 years and teaching for over 15 years. She was introduced to the medium through soft cloth doll making. In addition to teaching at Purple Crayon, she has taught at Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair (SAFF) for the last 6 years. She loves sharing the magic of needle felting with her students and finds it amazing that a needle and a few bits of wool can create such a variety of things! | | |
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| | Folded Book Art: Butterfly Saturday, 8/10, 1:00-3:00 PM Nothing warms up a room quite like a shelf of colorful books. Now you can use books to accessorize your home in a different way: turn them into folded book art! In this fun, two-hour workshop, Deana Murchison will show you how to take a hardcover book and, with just a few simple folds, turn it into a unique piece of art—in this case, a butterfly. | | |
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| | Needle Felted Mermaid Sat, 8/16, 10-3, and Sun, 8/17, 1-4 PM As summer winds to an end, Anne Magrath, will show you how to create your own needle felted mermaid so you can return to the sea (or, at least your memories) anytime you'd like! In this fun, two-day workshop, you'll learn the basics of needle felting a human face and torso; then you'll give your mermaid a tail, hair, and her own whimsical personality! | | |
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| | Introduction to Fluid Art Saturday, 8/31, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM Have you ever wanted to create an abstract painting but weren’t sure how to start? If so, fluid art—also called [acrylic] pour painting, flow art, liquid art., etc.—might be just what you’re looking for! In this interesting workshop, Deana Murchison will show you several different ways to do acrylic pours. Then, you'll create your own unique works of art! | | |
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| | Zentangle®: Basics & Beyond Friday, 9/6, 1:00 PM-3:30 PM Zentangle® is an easy-to-learn, relaxing way to turn structured patterns into tiny (3.5” x 3.5”) masterpieces that can be assembled into a larger mosaic. In this workshop, you will learn how to use “strings” to create boundaries within a paper tile, how to create several tangles, and, finally, how to shade your designs to increase their depth and richness. | | |
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| | Introduction to Alcohol Inks Saturday, 9/14, 1:00-4:00 PM Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of the newest and most exciting media to hit the art community: alcohol inks. Their popularity is well-deserved! With very little effort or experience, you can create incredible textures, brilliant colors, and intricate patterns on a wide variety of surfaces. Deanna Murchison will show you how! | | |
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| | Mosaic Coaster Saturday, 9/21, 1-4 PM If you like doing puzzles, you'll love doing mosaics! In this fun and easy workshop, Purple Crayon owner, Pam Robbins, will teach you what a mosaic is, the materials and tools you need to create one, what to consider when designing a piece, and how to do it. By the end of the class, you’ll have created a pretty—and practical—coaster to showcase your new craft! | | |
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| | Wet Felted Bowl Fri, 9/27, 1-4 PM & Sat, 9/28, 1-3 PM Wet felting, the process of applying water to layers of wool and repeatedly agitating them until the fibers weave together, has become very popular in the past few years. It’s fun, easy, and, in this workshop, useful! In just a few hours, you will create a beautiful bowl using only wool fibers, a plastic resist, soap, water, and good old fashioned “elbow grease.” | | |
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| | Eco Printing: Beyond Basics Saturday, 10/12, 12-5 PM Take your eco printing skills to the next level! In addition to employing basic eco-printing techniques, in this workshop, you'll learn to apply color from natural sources, including cochineal (fuschia), osage orange (yellow-orange), and logwood (blue-purple). While white backgrounds are wonderful, you’ll love the transformation color creates! | | |
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| | Fun with Landscapes Thursday, 10/17, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM Have you ever wanted to do something creative but didn’t know where to begin? Why not release your “inner artist”—which we all have!—by learning how to draw? In this fun and stress-free class, you’ll learn a new skill and create a beautiful landscape in the process. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a lovely piece of art to hang on your wall, and you’ll have developed a drawing style that is uniquely yours! Best of all? You’ll have had a great time doing it! | | |
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| | Fun with Faces Thursday, 10/24, 6:30-9:00 PM Have you ever wanted to do something creative but didn’t know where to begin? Why not release your “inner artist”—which we all have!—by learning how to draw? In this fun and stress-free class, you’ll learn a new skill and create a beautiful portrait in the process. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a lovely piece of art to hang on your wall, and you’ll have developed a drawing style that is uniquely yours! Best of all? You’ll have had a great time doing it! | | |
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Creativity Circles & Other Members-Only Events |
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Collaging: Mon, 1-3 PM Reading: 2nd Mon, 7-9 PM 19 in 2019: 2nd Tue, 9-11 AM Stitching: Tue, 1-3 PM Quilting: Thu, 1-3 PM Drawing & Painting: 1st & 3rd Sat, 10 AM-12 PM Mosaicking: 2nd & 4th Sat, 10AM-12PM | | |
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