Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Two Great Workshops in One Day!


Our LAC Art Center was a lively place on Tuesday, October 30.  We held two very different workshops in one day - both were filled to capacity and offered very different experiences.

The morning session was a mosaic workshop where students got to see what it was like to create small designs with glass. They selected pre-cut glass from plates located at each place, which were then glued to small backing.

 Everyone took home one or more finished pieces.
The class was conducted by mosaic artists Lynnette Kupferer
and Ann Quinn

This is one of a series of craft workshops sponsored by LAC.  These fun workshops include a delicious continental breakfast.  Our generous instructors donate their time to provide a fun experience.  Hope you can join us at the last craft workshop which will be a holiday ornament workshop on Tuesday, December 4!

 The second workshop was very different but so relevant as we all try to learn more about online opportunities for artists. As one person remarked ...this is so easy for the young people, but the rest of us are just trying to catch up!
This workshop was on the basics of creating your own website and was led by our webmaster Barbara Benik.
Again the class was totally full.  Barb has a wealth of knowledge about all digital and computer things and she is generous in sharing her information.  Students brought in their laptops or Ipads to work along with her detailed instruction.  There were many questions during the afternoon and everyone went home with good information on how to get started. Barb also provided an excellent hand-out for people to take home.  We hope to do more of these types of workshops next year!

Article and photos submitted by Kathy Berls

Monday, October 29, 2012

Member Spotlight: Belmar Frame and Art



Walking into Belmar Frame and Art, I was greeted by owner Judy Niewald in the midst of selecting mats and frames for two vivid photographs by one of her regular clients: purple star-studded skies behind a line of glowing fall trees, and the other, a vibrant orange sky, reflected in a foreground body of water with Colorado’s red rocks glorious in their natural beauty.  Many colorful mat samples and frame corners were scattered about, demonstrating the time and attention Judy takes in creating a custom framing solution for the customer’s artwork.

Showing me around the store, Judy explained that she has always had an interest in art and started out working at a molding distributor for 15 years, then a framing company for 12 years.  A natural progression was to buy her own framing store.  She bought Better Framer and changed the name to Belmar Frame and Art two years ago. And we are happy to welcome her as a new “organization” member of the Lakewood Arts Council.
 
In a strip mall at 7111 West Alameda, Belmar Frame and Art catches your attention with a window display that Judy likes to change out with the season.  She also works with a group of six to seven artists, exhibiting their work on the gallery walls as well as showing pottery, sculpture and jewelry from local artists.  Judy’s own artwork: oils, watercolor, mixed media also grace the walls, from Italian landscapes to semi-abstract florals. 

  Handpainted frames house whimsical miniatures and a papier-mache mask was beautifully displayed in a deep shadowbox. 

   











This is her specialty, she explains – working with the proper placement of items in a shadowbox.  Many times she is asked to frame customers’ cherished memorabilia.  Placing them in a shadowbox where each item is highlighted can be a challenge.  One of her most difficult framing projects was when a client brought in two bags of wrapping paper, ribbons and gift bags from various celebrations.  Judy’s solution was to cover mats with the different samples of paper, weaving the gift ribbons amongst the colorful papers.  It’s these kinds of creative solutions that set her custom framing projects apart from the competition.  The same client had also presented her with a myriad of souvenir items from trips to New York City, remembrances from Times Square and Central Park, menus from various restaurants, and programs and tickets from Broadway plays.  Seven different framing projects resulted from this request.

Glancing at the computer monitor displaying examples of her custom framing, I asked Judy about available technology for those looking to make mat and frame selections from a home computer.  “This is really more of a hands-on type decision,” she explains.  “Colors are not always true on computer monitors.  It’s necessary to bring in your artwork and select mat and frame choices directly.” 

In addition to running a business and fitting in creative time for her own artwork, Judy also does a lot of charitable work, hosting art classes that benefit ovarian cancer research.  Teacher Jean Murr, an ovarian cancer survivor, teaches a class for other cancer survivors.  With generous donations, each student receives paints, brushes, an easel – enough supplies to create her own artwork.  More information about this inspiring charity can be found on Belmar Frame and Art’s facebook page and blog, www.belmarframe.blogspot.com

Right now turn-around time is only about one to one and a half weeks, which is great news for those looking to frame items for holiday gifts.  Judy is even generously offering a 15% discount on framing to LAC members through April with mention of your membership.  She maintains her prices are comparable to other frame shops.  And with such personal service and her expertise, you’re definitely going to appreciate the care she takes with your treasured art.  Stop in the Lakewood store or check out her website at www.belmarframe.com

Sunday, October 14, 2012

New Work on Display in the LAC Co-Op Gallery


Three times a year, the members of the Lakewood Arts Council's Co-Op bring in new work to be displayed in the Co-Op section of the LAC Art Center.  Last weekend was the "change-out" day for this energetic group of 26 local artists.  Visitors will find almost everything including watercolors, oils, pastels, colored pencil, and mosaics.  Also on display is a collection of glass, pottery, jewelry, cards and special gift items.  The new collection of work comes just in time for the much anticipated Holiday Arts & Crafts Show, set to open on November 5.



















 
   "Siren Song" by Jane McFadden Dorsey"    A popular artist who can always be counted on to provide something fun and exciting is Jane McFadden Dorsey who works in acrylics and papier mache.
 
 
                                      
Two new artists have recently joined the Co-Op. Their work is included in the new collection.
Enchanting sculptures by Westminster artist Teryle Wilder
 Lovely colored pencil pieces by Lakewood artist Heidi Snyder.  Heidi is also Co-President of the local chapter of the Colored Pencil Society of America that meets at the LAC Art Center the second Saturday of each month.

To learn more about the LAC Co-Op Gallery, visit our website - click on the "Co-Op" link.

Submitted by Kathy Berls