George’s Artistic Adventure Continues

You can read the rest of this series here.

Last time I checked in, I had just entered my first Art League exhibit. Before that, I blogged about taking my first art classes — Stained Glass and Basic Drawing. For my latest adventure, I’m taking Wood and Stone Sculpture with Nick Xhiku.

Why sculpture? I first became acquainted with the course when I stopped by George Tkabladze’s class to make this video. It looked like fun. Everyone was working on their own project, both first-timers and veterans. I wanted to take the class because it looked — am I allowed to admit this? — cool. I really like the idea of working on a piece of stone for weeks and, when I’m finished, having my handiwork around to share, like with my stained glass window.

So last week was my first class, and while I was a little worried I would be out of my depth, as usual, I was not the only beginner. Nick started us off with some sculpture books for inspiration and some clay. No guidelines or instructions other than to experiment.

1st-day-clay

I tried a lot of different things, mostly abstract, trying to find something I could be happy working on for eight weeks. I definitely enjoyed working with clay — I’m actually thinking of taking ceramics next.

What did I come up with? I’ll tell you more about it in my next post, but for now, here’s a preview:

— George

Some more photos from my first two classes:week2-stone3 week2-stone2 week2-stone week2-stone-close week2-1

Artist Opportunities: October 8, 2013

3 Spice Jars Jack Heimerman

See below for details on upcoming exhibits to enter and other announcements.  You can click the image above to view past opportunities posts. (This week’s banner: 3 Spice Jars by Art League instructor Jack Heimerman.)

Good luck!

1708 Gallery, Richmond
Deadline: October 31. 1708 Gallery, a 35-year-old non-profit space for new art in Richmond, VA, seeks exhibition proposals for its 2014-2015 season. National and international artists and curators are encouraged to submit proposals to exhibit work in all mediums (including, but not limited to: video and film, new media, installation, sculpture, performance, painting and social practice). While proposals may include work made in the last three years, 1708 Gallery strongly encourages proposals for new or developing projects and bodies of work. More about the call for proposals >

Philadelphia public art
Deadline: November 1. The Philadelphia City Planning Commission (PCPC) invites all professional artists living within driving distance of Philadelphia to apply for a public art commission.  Artists are asked to submit qualifications to design permanent artwork for historic Womrath Park, located in the Frankford section of Philadelphia. More about the request for proposals >

Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival
Deadline: December 7. The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival (May 2014) is produced by the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) and is a competitive, juried, outdoor event that showcases the best contemporary fine art and craft from around the country. The Festival is held in the streets of Reston Town Center, an upscale, elegant, shopping destination. More about the festival >

MICA residency in Brittany
Deadline: February 1, 2014. The Alfred and Trafford Klots International Program for Artists invites individual practicing artists (not students) and artist-couples who share home accommodations to apply for a seven-week residency to be held in the medieval village of Léhon in the late spring and summer of 2014. More about the residency >

Open call for photographic work
Deadline: ongoing. Lintroller is a website focused on emerging photographers and current, surfacing ideas in the practice of photography. More about Lintroller >