fairy furniture this saturday!

We'll be making fairy furniture in the studio again

on Saturday from 1-3. So far only girls have been interested, but I'd love to have some boys sign up some time.

Just think: we could make thrones for the Elf King!

Stools for Leprechauns! Ladders for Dwarves!

Fairies are not all about just flowers and pixie dust, you know.

They can be very fierce creatures.

Like this one:

(image borrowed from here)

and let's not forget him, perhaps the most famous fairy of them all:

(Sorry, Tinkerbell - The Tooth came first!)

And on that note, here's a schedule of summer classes:

(click on the image to enlarge)

she sells seashells...

Pleuroploca trapezium,

"Horse Conch" shell

Bic ball point pen on paper, 7" x 7"

Originals available in my etsy shop now.

homework

I've been giving my students homework sketchbook assignments, and I thought it would be a good idea to do the assignments myself. Last week we worked on shading and cross-hatching, and I introduced them to the wonders of the Bic ballpoint pen. So far we've only worked in pencil, and I wanted them to expand their horizons.



The assignment was to sketch a still life, but for some reason I'm kind of fixated on chairs...I've been doing one or two a day and I don't think I'll be running out of subjects any time soon.

catching up

Before I forget, here are some highlights from the last couple of shows I've been in...

This is our "fairy" tent at the Alberta Art Hop...it was very swanky in a rustic sort of way. We even had a cushy old wool rug to cover up the asphalt and make everyone feel comfy. Every little kid (and dog) who wandered in wanted to lie down on it and take a nap.

Gretchen made sure she got a hug from this one before he plopped down on the rug in the shade.

The street was crowded, and even though the sales were sluggish, the people watching was excellent.

And despite the fact that we didn't make the big bucks we were hoping for, it turned out to be a very enjoyable day.

Here's a group shot of my fellow artists from the Art Over Macleay Park show last weekend:

(photo courtesy of Kris Zorko)

Once we started in on the margaritas I almost forgot I even had a camera!

left to right: Holly Hestand, me, Elisabeth Cook Sullivan, Lonnie Nosivad, Missy Lambert, Judee Moonbeam, Kris Zorko, and Judy Green

One of Liz Sullivan's political sculptures...does that face look vaguely familiar?

Here's another one...can you name all the seven evil dwarves?

Okay, last one...how many people do you know who have a seven foot giraffe in their dining room?


Everyone I know is doing their part to Keep Portland Weird.

art over macleay park

I'm in yet another show this weekend...but this one is really sweet. It's located in a cozy little Victorian cottage perched high in the trees above Macleay Park in NW Portland.
Come on by and check out the art by some very distinctive NW artists:

Elisabeth Cook Sullivan - ceramic birdhouses, animal art and unique prayer flags
Roberta Palmer - realistic concrete leaves and garden art
Judee Moonbeam - colorful wearable art and accessories
Holly Hestand - contemporary jewelry
Missy Lambert - stained glass mosaics
Judy Lane Green - woven baskets
Kris Zorko - paper arts and journals
Nosivad Fine Art- fine sculpture for home and garden
(and me) Jane Russell- fairy couture

We'll be serving up wine and nibbles...come and stroll the garden and take in the fine art and forest views...

Click here for more details. Or click here for a map!

open space!

On Monday, I finally moved on to the next phase

of the endless studio remodel...

Matt and Dave helped me take out the divider in the center of the room, and voila... we have open space!

And by Monday night, I had students drawing self portraits!

Art on Alberta

Hey! Come see me, along with my good friend Gretchen Boylan, at the 11th Annual Alberta Art Hop...click here for all the details.

The weather promises to be fabulous, the street will be closed to traffic between 11 am and 6 pm, and there will be lots of entertainment on multiple stages and hundreds of artists and craftspeople there.


I've been busy making so many of these one of a kind, teeny tiny fairy shoes and dresses, I think my eyesight is beginning to go!

And Gretchen will have magical jewelry and assemblages like this:

So come and see us, we're be on NE Alberta Street between 19th and 20th Avenue, on the south side of the street, booth number 08!

Tumbo the Garden Fairy is featured in an etsy treasury!

Tumbo the garden fairy is a native of Peru, sent to keep watch over tender tropical plants in the garden. The peaceful strains of his pan pipes can be heard in the early morning hours, as he gently awakens the other garden denizens to help him greet each new day.

A one of a kind, signed and dated sculpture, Tumbo is sculpted of polymer clay over a wire armature. Sitting atop a stump of pacific madrone, he wears a knit sweater and leggings, and a real acorn cap atop his snowy-white head of hair. His green wings are of hand-painted feathers, and he plays tiny bamboo pan pipes.

Check him out here!

fairy furniture class this weekend

The fairies and I will be teaching another furniture building workshop...

come and build a tiny chair or a bed

(or whatever else the fairies inspire you to!)

This three hour class is open to kids and adults ages 7- 100,

and all materials are included.

Set your imagination free and watch it fly!

Saturday, April 10th

12-3 pm

$25

(ages 7 - 100)

class size is limited to 6

to reserve a space,

email Jane and the fairies here: campcactusmail@yahoo.com

or call: 503.347.2319

or you can sign up now by clicking this link to our secure server via PayPal:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Camp Cactus Studio is located on NE Brazee at 45th Avenue

in Portland's Hollywood district

click here for a map

upcoming spring classes

~ Anyone can draw : the basics ~

Have you always wanted to learn to draw, but just don't know where to start? This is the course for you! We'll teach you the basic principals of drawing, through creative exercises designed to stimulate your imagination with hands-on explorations of materials, techniques and principals of design.

What are you waiting for? Get drawing!

Thursday evenings: April 1 -May 6

7:00 - 9:00 pm

$125

(adults)

class size is limited to 10

materials list will be sent at sign up

* * * * * * * * * * *

~ Fairy Furniture! ~

The fairies and I will be teaching a furniture building workshop...

come and build a tiny chair or a bed

(or whatever else the fairies inspire you to!)

This three hour class is open to kids ages 7- 100,

and all materials are included.

Set your imagination free and watch it fly!

Saturday, April 10th

12-3 pm

$25

(ages 7 - 100)

class size is limited to 10

all materials provided

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

photo by Gordon Wiltsie, borrowed from these guys

~ Design Your Own Prayer Flags ~

In this three-hour class, we'll be learning a bit about the Tibetan custom of hanging colorful flags containing mantras and prayers to promote peace and other positive messages, which are carried on the wind and spread throughout the world.

We'll design and assemble our own interpretations of these flags

using stamps, paints, stencils and inks.

All materials are included, but feel free to bring personal stamps or paints to share with the class.

Bring also your good wishes and prayers and join us in promoting peace while enjoying meditative music,

sharing tea and creative energy.

Saturday, May 1st

1:00 - 4:00 pm

$35

(adults)

class size limited to 8

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

To reserve a space, or for more information, contact Jane:

campcactusmail@yahoo.com

503.347.2319