Mary is best known for her mixed media collages with organic deckled edges that incorporate painted tissue papers, sheet music and hand written scriptures. Her work is influence by her love of nature and nearly 40 years of being a church choir singer and cantor, which has imprinted the words of the Psalms on her heart and mind. The words of scripture and sacred music are so deeply rooted in her being that they naturally express themselves in her art. Working with themes of peace and joy expressed through scenes in nature, Martin begins each work of art by choosing a scripture that matches the theme of the collage. She incorporates the scripture into the artwork by writing it on the base layer of paper, and by mixing scripture blessed water into her paints. She layers sheet music with lyrics about peace or joy under painted tissue papers, creating tranquil landscapes, seascapes and floral images. Her intent is to create a space with the art where viewers can experience a moment of peace and joy within themselves.
Tom is an animal and nature artist. His enjoyment of God's creation has given him a passion for wildlife and preserving the environment. Tom has a degree in Studio Art and Design from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. He also studied at the Kansas City Art Institute. He served as a Graphic Aritst for the United States Air Force Reserve. He is a retired, award-winning artist for Hallmark Cards, Inc. Tom has exhibited his acrylic paintings in many national shows. His work had been represented with the Society of Animal Artists, National Oil and Acrylic Painter's Society, Artists for Conservation, American Academy of Equine Art, Paint America Society, Birds in Art, and Arts for the Parks. Tom was a featured artist on Missouri Outdoors, a PBS program sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation. He was featured in Horses in Art Magazine and American Artist magazine's special issue, Acrylic Highlights. Tom was featured in Art of the West Magazine's Celebrating the Horse section. He has created Star Wars art for George Lucas, and art for major book publishers.
Master Artist: Mary Martin
Gel Printing is a printmaking process that uses a gel plate to transfer paint or ink to paper instead of a printing press. Learn how to create stunningly beautiful botanical prints using a gel plate, pressed leaves and flowers, textural elements and fluid acrylic paints. The prints are suitable for making greeting cards, collage and mixed media art and more.
The class will cover the following:
•Introduction to the gel plate and printmaking materials
•Concepts of positive and negative shapes
•Layering of transparent and opaque paints for different effects
•Mark making using leaves, flowers and other textural elements
•Printmaking techniques
•Plenty of time to make lots of prints
•Creation of greeting cards using your prints
This is a fun and addictive process. Be ready to PLAY!!!
$65 Adult age 14+ • 4/6 • 10am-12pm
$65 Adult age 14+ • 4/6 • 1pm-3pm
It has always been a dream of ours to open an art studio. In fact, we didn’t even know we each had that dream separately until a few years ago.
We were talking over dinner one night, and we both realized that we each wanted to start an art studio in a small town with a loft just above it. Once we both realized we had a shared dream, we went to work slowly making this a reality.
For more than 20 years, Fort Scott had been one of those towns that we would visit for groceries for the family farm. It was a beautiful town inside and out. Just recently, we started watching the entire town undergo a transformation. Buildings were being bought up, and restoration projects were happening throughout town.
One weekend, we were in Fort Scott and walked past a building for sale that we had seen online. It was beautiful and the perfect size for a studio.
There was a number on the For Sale sign, so we called. Phil answered the phone (which he never does on a Saturday) and showed up 15 minutes later to show us around the building. A local expert in building restoration was even in the area, and he answered all of our questions that come with an old building like this.
We like to say that Phil changed the trajectory of our life in 15 minutes because the rest is history. We signed the papers within a few weeks and started moving in.
What is your favorite artistic medium?
Clay
Why do you love it so much?
It can be made to look like anything. It can be pottery, metal, wood. I can sculpt with it. It's so versatile!
Who is your favorite artist?
My mentor, John Kudlacek, is one of my favorites because he has been so influential to my style.
What is your favorite artistic medium?
Acrylics on canvas
Why do you love it so much?
I love taking scenes from nature and translating them onto the canvas. I love the way bright colors pop off the canvas with acrylics.
Who is your favorite artist?
Monet
What is your favorite artistic medium?
Photography & Teaching
Why do you love it so much?
In photography, I love that you can focus on details that catch a glint of beauty in the commonplace of everyday life. In teaching, I love the gift of sharing this joy and learning with others as we journey together.
Who is your favorite artist?
There are too many to pick! Anselm Kiefer, Romare Bearden, Makoto Fujimura, Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange & Gordon Parks
What is your favorite artistic medium?
Clay & graphite
Why do you love it so much?
Who is your favorite artist?
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