Sketched Out After Thanksgiving

Hey everyone,

Hope y'all had a great TG.  Only have a few minutes but wanted to show you a few sketches from last week:

cheers

M

Email Down for now...so try this in the meantime

For those who have been trying to get to me via assemblage@michaeldemeng...its been down...so in the meantime you can reach me at my alternate email account:
for now 
assemblage@michaeldemeng.com = bad
mdmuerto@gmail.com = Good

Sketched Out Monday Returns - even if it is Tuesday

Well, it's been a long time since the last Sketched Out Monday...but here...a day late but what the heck.  The above sketch, by the way was done in Oaxaca during Day of the Dead this year.  I actually had a few nice sketches of calaveras but I ended up giving a bunch away to curious children watching me sketch...you can't just give one kid a drawing...everyone gets one.  So this is the sole skeleton sketch of Oaxaca.

This one turned out a bit differently than I expected.

The lines ended up looking like hair.  Sort of a Bigfoot angel.

Here's a small, quick sketch.

A spermy angel in a shrine.

It was cold the day I did this one.  First day I had to wear a scarf for the season.  By the way it is currently 5 degrees Fahrenheit .

This sketch is actually a clue to how I work.  I  start with a skeletal-ish form and and build from that.  This one was one that never made it past the early stages.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone...save those turkey bones....you might be able to make something out of them.

Ghostly Glow

So I've been working on some smaller pieces lately, though, I've also been busy getting my Strange Angels series moving along as well.  I have a show of those coming up in February.  I find however that I need to work on smaller pieces in between the large one's to reduce the stress that I often experience after I've completed a piece that has taken a bit more time.  I find I need to work on something that is a bit more immediated...then I can head back and conquer the large scale stuff again.

So I started playing with old photos, and modifying them with paint and pen.  There is absolutely NO collage....not that there is anything wrong with that...I just wanted to be clear on the process.  It all starts with a vintage photo and I get at it with paint, white ink, and black India ink.  (I use ink so I can use a pen tip to get really detailed lines.)

Okay here's how a couple were done.  In this case I found a postcard of Frida.  I decided to modify it.  by the way, I'm finding that old photos and postcards tend to work better....though they cost more.  They work better because if you start doing washes on cheaper postcards the colors might totally fade away.  I did this on what was essentially a inkjet postcard and everything faded on the first wash except for the color red.   

I used a very high quality postcard of the image below.

In this case I actually cut the image down to make more than one piece.  I had a third (far right folks) but that piece didn't turn out.

And this is what became of those photos:

Here's one from a different photo where I left some of the frame:

And this next one was interesting because this photo started as a large group sitting.  There were a total of 6 people in the photo originally.  Now you can see some of there ghostly images lurking behind. 

For instance, If you look to the left of the image you can see the remnants of one of the picnickers:

And then if you look closely...look between the boy and the girl and you can see that once upon a time a girl sat between them.  

So that's what I've been doing...thought you might be interested in my ghostly photos.

p.s.

Thanks for everyone whose signed up for the OnLine Class so far.  There is still plenty of time so see everyone there.  Click here for more info

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR ONLINE ART LABORATORY

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Okay the day has finally arrived.  Registration for my very first online workshop.  I'm doing things a bit differently.  I'm not doing projects, but instead I'm taking on different themes or topics, so that by the end you will have a library of art methods at your fingertips.  

The first issue is focusing on color, in particular, the color washes that I use daily to create a multitude of interesting effects.  Mostly it involves the use of two or more colors and how to create specific results.

You will get about 90 minutes of video and then PDFs with color charts and instructions to create desired effect.  At the bottom of this page I have a list of Questions and Answers that I expect you may have.

So are you interested?  Click on one of the two payment buttons

Option One
Art Laboratory: Issue One

Option Two:  

You get the OnLine Class AND a Shades of Alchemy Color Fan.  I'm offering a deal on the Shades of Alchemy Fans (normally $15).  Get $5 off when you purchase in conjunction with OnLine Class.

OnLine Lab and Shades of Alchemy Color Fan 
$49.95  plus $2 shipping and handling for U.S. and Canada.  

Please email me for shipping costs to other countries.

ANTICIPATED Questions

1. How much does it cost?  A: $39.95 for the class or $49.95 if you purchase the class with a Shades of Alchemy Color Fan.
2. When does it begin? A: January 11, 2011
3. How long does it run?  A: The class will be available for 2 months before I change the codes, but students will be able to access information after that date when I send out the new codes.
4. Will there be video?  A: Yes.  I have about ninety minutes of protected video that only students will be able to access.
5. How many videos?  A:  Roughly about 90 minutes of video is included in the instruction.
6. Will there be PDFs?  A: Yes.  You will be able to download these to your computer and access them anytime you desire.
7. Will it be live?  A: No.  I will not be doing live video, but I will be setting up a Yahoo Group where I will be available to discuss your questions and issues once a week.
8. Can you tell me more about the Yahoo Group?  A: Students can access this anytime and discuss issues with other students.  Once a week I will be available and answer all questions.
9. Is the class segmented or do I get everything at once?  A: I have designed the class so you will have access to all the information at once and can play with it as you like, at your own speed.
10. What kind of site is being used to host this class?  A: I'm using a protected TypePad account.
11. How will I access the TypePad account?  A: When class begins I will send out passwords and usernames to all the students.  
12. What else will be on the blog?  A: Along with the PDFs and Videos I will be posting the major questions as they come up, and the solutions.  I will also do weekly video addressing some of these questions.
13. Is this for Beginners or Advanced students?  A: It's for everyone.  I've made it so it is information that can be used by all levels.
14. Will it be entertaining?  A: Geez, I hope so.  I will try and make it very un-dry and fun.
15. How will  you accept payment.  A: PayPal
16. What will happen after I sign up?  A: I will send you a link to a Pre-Class TypePad site.  This site is where you can get info as we lead up to the 1/11/11 date.  
17. How do I sign up?  A: Click the little PayPal button and you're off and running.

deMeng's OnLine Art Laboratory. coming soon

SnowBirds Take Flight and Unite

You know......Winter is coming.

And it's supposed to be a doozie of one.

So why not head south in January?  Where?  Well, what about Arizona?

I'm doing a 3 day workshop down in the Tucson area at Expressive Arts Studios located at the Amado Territory Ranch.  This place is cool...

Studios...galleries

Restaraunts and an Inn

and from January 19-21 I'll be there! 

I'm offering a 3 day intensive workshop called Trashy Novels for all levels...beginners to advanced.  You'll learn lots of assemblage plus my various antiquing effects using paints and some other surprises.

Here's the class description:

"A book is simply the container of an idea-like a bottle; what is inside the book is what matters" - Angela Carter  

Well, not always..

In this 3 day class we will challenge the above quote by using the entire book form as a piece of art, both interior and exterior. Using hardback books that have been modified to form boxes, students will create mixed media shrines. This class will incorporate a variety of techniques including collage, drawing, painting and, most importantly, assemblage.  Anything and everything will be used to create this found object digest, (saw blades, gears, you name it).  So, time to curl up with a good book, but be careful, some found objects can be pointy.

Interested?  well just click here for more info

see you there

Oaxaca: Dia de los Muertos 2010 - The Walking Dead...and Shrek too!

As you all know by know I have just returned from my 7th trip to Oaxaca during Day of the Dead.  Once again a fabulous, moving experience.  I thought I show you some stills from the trip. Here are some shots of the children and a few adults in their deadly duds.   Enjoy.

This guy is too cool for ghoul

All dressed up and nowhere to go

The Devil made him do it!

Dapper and Dead

The Good, The Dead, and The Ugly

Frida 

A Santa Devil

and yes, Shrek was even there

  

Oaxaca: the FaceBook Videologue- Part Three

that's all folks

Oaxaca: the FaceBook Videologue- Part Two

Oaxaca: the FaceBook Videologue- Part One

So Oaxaca was great.  While I was there I did a little video journaling.  Many of you may have watched via FaceBook, but if you didn't.  Here's what happened...Part One...


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More to come.....

2011 Schedule is Here....sort of

Well, my class schedule is getting finalized for 2011.  There are a few things that are going to be added and a few things that have been changed.  


ONLINE CLASSES:

I should mention that my Online Class will be ready sign ups soon.  I'll be posting how to register in a few days.  Stay tuned.


In Missoula:

December
Orna-deMentia
December is not 2011 but it is coming up...so those of you needing to come up with a nontraditional gift or ornament for your tree, might like this one in Missoula.

Zootown Arts Community Center 235 N. 1st St. W. - Missoula, MT, Saturday, December 4,  10am - 5pm 

click here to enroll or email me mdmuerto@gmail.com

2011 Calendar

A few events need dates to be finalized...stay tuned for Pasadena, Napa, SF Bay area, and Santa Barbara.    This is what I have so far:

January

• Heading South to Arizona: Expressive Arts - Tuscon AZ, Jan 19-21

February

• Big Easy deMeng, New Orleans, Feb 16-20

April

• Upstart Crow, Vancouver BC, Apr 1-3
• ArtFest, Port Townsend WA, April 6-10

May

• Random Arts, Saluda NC, May 21-22'

June

• Idyllwild Arts, Idyllwild CA, June 30- July 3

August

• Art Unraveled, Scottsdale, Aug 2-9

September

• Artists Nook, Fort Collins CO, Sept 9-11
• Art is You, Sacramento CA, Sept

Oct

• Lemoncholy Studio Workshop, Jersey Shore, Oct 1-2
• Art is You, Danbury CT, Oct 6-11

see you somewhere...

then in 2012...

The End of the World workshop...location....

not telling you yet...

bwa ha ha ha!