Join Little Rock Artist Laura Raborn for a workshop exploring mediums & practicing composition.
In the first half of the day, we will experiment with mark making tools for decorating and altering various types of paper to use as collage elements. Because we are playing with papers, and not focused an a “perfect” piece of art, the morning activities are very freeing and playful. We will test out inks, colored pencil, oil pastels, charcoal, ball point pens, markers, pencils, stains, stencils, stamps, tea bags, coffee grinds, olive oil, acrylic paints…all kinds of wet and dry media.
In the afternoon, we will take our altered papers, and arrange the pieces in a variety of abstract collages. Finally, we will discuss which arrangements work best and why, allowing each student to leave with finished pieces of art and an understanding of how to compose collage in a visually pleasing way.
Cost of this workshop is $95
About Laura
Laura Raborn’s paintings have been exhibited in Arkansas, the U.S. and the Bahamas and are in multiple collections such as the CARTI Collection, the Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the Bill and Hillary Clinton private collection. Her work has earned numerous awards and she has a thriving portrait commission business, one of which was presented to the former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Beebe. An interview about her most recent work can be found at https://www.arkansasartscene.com/home/interview-with-artist-laura-raborn.
Her Little Rock studio is open for appointments and her paintings can be viewed at www.laurarabornart.com or by visiting Cantrell Gallery in Little Rock, AR, Justus Fine Art in Hot Springs, AR and Princess Street Gallery on Harbour Island in the Bahamas.
Teaching Philosophy:
I believe all people are able to learn how to use art materials in a successful way. People who consider themselves to be “bad drawers” can often out perform a skilled or trained drawer when it comes to provocative, spontaneous line on a surface. In art making, there is something for everyone and being a teacher, particularly of a wide variety of methods and materials, allows me to help students find rewarding results and confidence.
The outcomes I expect when teaching are straightforward: for students to come away with new skills, for students to believe the workshop is worth their time, and to elevate each student’s view of their own value and ability as an artist.
Materials:
Must haves: 3 acrylic paints (white, black and one color of your choice), 2 sheets of 18x24” watercolor paper, at least 2 dry media drawing tools (see examples below), at least 2 wet media drawing tools (see “Optional” list below for examples), paper towels, 3 paint brushes in various sizes; glue such as ModPodge or acrylic gel medium. Please bring materials such as newspaper articles, music sheets, old documents, graph paper, old book pages, maps, notebook paper, receipts, magazine images, ribbon, tissue paper, black and white photocopies (class will not include time for perusing the newspaper, magazines etc).
Optional: Wet media such as inks, stains, spray paint, watercolors, acrylics, markers, black coffee, wet tea bag, calligraphy set; Dry media such as colored pencils, charcoal, wax crayon, conte crayon, oil sticks, pastel sticks, graphite pencils, ball point pen, ink pen; stencils and stamps, toothbrush, ink dropper, sandpaper, scissors, apron
