So You Want to Paint Water Colors: Meet the Instructor - Barbara Moss Buscher

If you want to learn about Watercolor Painting we offer an adult class on Monday evening and a kids class on Saturdays. Watercolors are not always the tin pans that we grew up with when we were kids in school. In Barbara's classes you will learn the basics and if anyone attended her classes in the past you will learn more about technique and creating textures. In these classes you will get to express yourself through your work and learning. In addition you will all have a lot of fun.

Barbara was born and raised in Philadelphia. Upon graduating from Hussian School of Art in 1973 she worked in advertising, graphic arts and illustration, but always continued to paint. During this time she also taught art at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in the play therapy department.

In 1984 she relocated to North Wales with her husband and daughter. Looking for art related outlets she became involved with the Art Goes to School program, which brings art appreciation to school age children.

In 1987, Barbara became a member of the newly forming North Penn Arts Alliance, taking an active part in its activities. In 1991 she was elected Vice President of both the membership and the Board of Directors, and in 1992 became President of Membership a position she held until 2004, when she gave it up to become President of the Board until 2006. Barbara still holds a seat on the Board of Directors. In 1995 she became Chairperson of the Show Committee and created an Annual Members’ Exhibit held every spring as well as an Anniversary Exhibit held each fall. She has taught a variety of classes for the NPAA and eventually became the class coordinator. Besides teaching for the NPAA, Barbara has also taught at the Greater Norristown Art League and Hedwig House in Lansdale, and has always taught both adults and children privately.

Barbara has been winning awards for her work since childhood and has also been invited to judge many exhibits for both adults and children.

While most of her works are on paper or canvas, Barbara also paints murals and dabbles in 3-dimensional works of art.

Education:

Philadelphia High School for Girls, Philadelphia, PA - Art Major

Adult Classes/ Saturday Children's’ Classes Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA

Hussian School of Art, Philadelphia, PA - Graduated 1973

Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA - Printmaking

Artist Statement:

By using color, texture, and line, I create a space for the viewer to enter and travel through. I invite my viewers to share in my emotions and experiences, while encouraging them to bring their own feelings to my work.

Having spent a great deal of time in the Pocono Mountains, I often use nature as a theme for my work adapting it to suit my mood.

While Painting has always been my passion I have found a new found love of printmaking and mixed media and combine several disciplines, media and techniques into one piece.

I find that teaching and working with other people, both adults and children, to help them to enjoy and appreciate art also enriches me as an artist.

Watercolor Classes

These classes are geared to both the novice and more advanced artist.

By using a limited pallet comprised of primary colors, students will learn how to mix colors, create tonal values and work in various color harmonies. Composition will be discussed and a variety of subject matter will be used. Classroom projects will be a series of exercises to help student to learn about the medium.  Depending on experience of each student, a completed piece may or may not be achieved by end of session.

More advanced or returning students will have more advanced lessons including how to create textures in your painting.

Bring pencil and paper to each class.

For more information about the watercolor classes or any of the classes we have to offer please visit

http://www.northpennarts.org/images/spring2014.pdf

To register for any of our classes please visit http://www.northpenncep.org

Meet the Instructor - Caroline Niesley

Caroline Niesley was born in Washington, DC and has been drawing since her mother first put a pencil in her hand.  Caroline received her BFA from Moore College of Art in 1980.  She learned traditional methods and is versatile using any dry or wet medium.  Philadelphia Magazine printed an editorial cartoon by Caroline while she was working there on a credited internship.  Her humorous homage to Hogarth was accepted in the prestigious Society of Illustrators Student Show back in 1980.  Caroline had a life long love of cartoons both printed and animated.  So she was delighted when asked if she could offer a cartooning class. 

She continues to study commercial and fine art, attending the Illustration Master Class at Amherst and figure drawing with Juliette Aristides in summer of 2013.  She attends demos and sits in when permitted to learn from highly skilled instructors.  Her favorite medium is the humble pencil but she has worked in just about every medium.  In her student years she often used pen and ink and watercolor wash.  She experimented with prisma color pencils as studies for oil paintings.  She enjoys painting with alkyd oils.  She has exhibited at Society of Illustrators, Moore College of Art, Villanova University, and Montgomery Co. Community College.  Caroline worked as a freelance illustrator.  Philadelphia Magazine, PA Stage Company and TV Guide published her work.  She had the privilege of creating works of sacred art.  On October 28, 2007  “NTRA. SRA. DEL SAGRADO CORAZON” her oil painting on banner was carried in procession by parishioners of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Hilltown, Pa at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in the Archdiocesan Hispanic Heritage Mass.   Her oil painting of The Risen Christ hangs in St. Stanislaus Chapel in Lansdale, Pa.  She also painted a 5’x10’ scenic backdrop for their crèche in 2013.  She enjoys writing, has published non-fiction and is working on an experimental graphic novel. 

Caroline, is a member of the North Penn Art Alliance, lives in Lansdale and works as an instructor for North Penn School District’s Community Education Program teaching Cartooning and Portrait Drawing. 

Last year at the January NPAA Meeting, Caroline shared the spotlight with Dan Fione and Ed Kane for “You Ink With A Pen, I Ink With A Brush” demonstrating traditional comic art inking with a sable brush.  June 2013 Caroline did a portrait demo for members and guests at NPAA with Ed Kane in costume. 

Caroline has had the privilege of teaching for North Penn Art Alliance for North Penn Community Education since fall of 2011.  She taught Pencil Portraits and Cartooning summer sessions.  Her new Mini Comics class will be offered summer of 2014.  Caroline took the Illustration Master Class at Amherst College in June of 2013, to update, network and learn from successful cartoonists, illustrators, editorial, fantasy artists and movie concept artists.  “Illustrations, cartoons and fine art have merged in our times of global Internet and many people are going the way of the tablet while others still use traditional methods.  I was glad to see talks and demos by a film concept designer who works on the Stars Wars films who still uses traditional methods,” Caroline said.

In Beginning Cartooning for Kids, younger artists learn about drawing with basic shapes. This class is more about the fun of making faces and funny stories.  In Cartooning for Kids, Caroline demonstrates how cartoonists use traditional drawing skills to create fantasy characters who make us laugh at their antics and adventures.  Cartooning is a life long learning journey, which starts with a desire to draw stories.  Caroline hopes these classes will give students the confidence to pursue art on their own.  As one child wrote her, “I have learned much since I’ve started your class.  It has inspired me so much that I will never stop cartooning ever!”  Caroline keeps this letter over her desk at home.  Her students inspire her.

Caroline brings a lot of energy, excitement and fun to her classes. for more information in the various classes/workshops that Caroline will be teaching please go to www.northpennarts.org/images/Spring2014.pdf

To register for the classes, please go to http://www.northpenncep.org

Meet the Instructor - Mairin Egge

Did you ever want to make a floor mat or runner? Well you will get the chance with two new workshops taught by one of our newest members, Mairin Egge.  Mairin will instruct you about design, use of vocabulary and materials/tools to create Canvas rugs. Canvas rugs are practical, durable and customizable alternative to rugs. You can decorate your home in a more personal way with the ability to create for any style or any season.  We will be offering two work shops. One is to create a runner or small mat. The second is creating an area rug.

She will also teach two 4 week mosaic workshops  Mosaics are about using smaller pieces of materials such as tiles or stones, to create a larger image. Students will create their own mosaic, whether it is a functional or decorative piece and will be involved with the entire process which covers design, vocabulary and materials/tools. You will have the opportunity to be assisted individually with developing your project throughout the four week session.

Mairin will also be instructing one of our Media Mash up or Multi-Media classes for grades 4 - 7. Here Students will learn various art techniques to express creativity through the use of a variety of art mediums, which may include: paints, clay, printmaking and more. Seasonal projects may be included. Classes are geared to all levels.

Mairin states; I have gained much knowledge and confidence in teaching art (BS in Art Education from Miami University).  Working with a wide range of ages and abilities, from age two through adult, has broadened my perspective.  Also I have worked with an array of individuals including special needs, as well as gifted and talented individuals.  A majority of my experiences with children, kindergarten through twelfth grade, were at both upper-middle and lower class public institutions.  Having observed in a variety of public school locations and working in their communities has given me the opportunity to experience several diverse school settings and cultures.

I feel passionate about art.  Special individuals shaped my love for art and I in turn would like to impart that same love of art to others.

A large part of my identity, ever since my first art class, involves my love for art.  As it continues to grow, I take much pride in creating art and could not imagine doing anything else.  I want to teach art because I want to build that type of atmosphere and take pride in it.  Being able to provide students with opportunities and experiences they may never encounter again is very rewarding.
Art in the curriculum is an essential part of the learning and developmental process.  I aspire as an art teacher to provide an appreciation for, and the process of, art for any student who walks in my path.  I do not just want to impact those inside a school, but also in the broader community.

Mairin brings a lot of energy and excitement to her classes for more information in the various classes/workshops that Mairin will be teaching please go to www.northpennarts.org/images/Spring2014.pdf

To register for the classes, please go to http://www.northpenncep.org

Meet the Instructor - Dan Fione

As we start the registration for our classes at the North Penn School Districts Continuing Education Program, we thought you might like to Meet The Instructor. Today we focus on our Drawing Class Instructor, Mr. Dan Fione. Dan has been a freelance Illustrator for over 35 years. after High School he attended York Academy of Arts and his major was Illustration. After active duty with the U.S. Army. his first job was with Philco Ford as their staff illustrator while he attended classes at the Philadelphia College of Art, once again majoring in Illustration. Since then Dan has held a staff illustration at Research for Better Schools, Lit Brothers Department Store, and IAI Advertising. Leaving the last staff illustrator position he began his own freelance illustration career, starting out by creating pen and ink illustrations for advertising and publishing clients.

During his career as a freelance illustrator he has created many color illustrations using a variety of medium; pen and ink with color washes, pastel, airbrush and gouache, and acrylic paint. These mediums were used in a variety of techniques covering a myriad of subject matters and clients. Such a paleo art (dinosaur art) for National Geographic Books, poster art for the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C., Limited edition art for the Hello Columbus Foundation; a 25 foot mural for the Gold Star Mothers of Philadelphia and military historical projects for the National Parks Services in New York and Georgia. Dan has created other color work as cover art and text illustration for publishers, industry and pharmaceutical companies. His drawings and paintings have been published through out the United States, Japan, Australia, India and Europe.

Dan has been teaching drawing classes since he was an assistant instructor at York Academy. Since then he has been teaching drawing and illustration courses at Hussian School of Art,  the Art Institute of Philadelphia, Antonelli Institute and Continuing Education classes at Souderton and North Penn school districts.

Dan will be instructing a total of three different classes. One is held for students 18 and up on Monday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  The other two are on Saturdays starting with grades 2-4 where you will learn the basics of drawing including line, form, contrast, and perspective. Media will include pencil, charcoal, pastel and more. Recommended at least one prior class in multi-media art. The second class is for grades 5 - 12 where you will review basic drawing concepts, then learn to develop and refine these skills using pencil, charcoal, pastel and more. Recommended at least one prior class in multi-media art.

For more information on the Drawing Classes or other art classes offered by the North Penn Arts Alliance, please visit us at www.northpennarts.org/images/spring2014.pdf

To register for the classes please visit www.northpenncep.org

We will be introducing our other instructors throughout the month of February.

Art & Power

Most of us suffered for some time with the recent power outages of the Ice Storm that hit our area. After I made sure the generator was running and the sump pump was doing what it should, I took a moment and thought about those of us that depend upon electricity to create our art. Besides the lights and heat, some of us use computers (not only for blogging) to enhance digital images that we have stored. Others use the computers to create their art. What do they do then?  Laptops and devices that work on battery power are fine until the cell runs down. That got me to wondering, how do they create their art? Those that are use to drawing with pencil, pen or painting with the brush or pastel would simply resort to these methods to rough out ideas or finish some work. Those using the camera would shoot their visions and print them once the power comes back on, unless you are still shooting film.  Whatever your medium is, whether it be modern or old school, deal with the emergency first then take the time to create. After all your art (although it may not run a generator and such) is very powerful!

By the way being one who is old school  I usually reach for the candle lanterns in an emergency, but recent events have led me to get the tools needed to keep the studio safe from harm and water damages. For those still waiting for the lights to come back on, be safe and stay warm. 

The Colors of Snow

Wow!Another storm dumping 6 to 8 inches in the North Penn Area. What is really neat about this is that you can actually see the colors in the snow. As I was outside clearing the path for the second time I observed as I was piling the shovel full onto the lawn, shades of blue were seen as it landed on the untouched frozen precipitation that was accumulating naturally. I was fascinated with the variety between light and darker shades depending upon the shadows. The colors are created due to the temperature and the atmospheric surroundings, but all the same it was amazing to see color other than white. For those of you who are photographers take your cameras and see what the lens will reveal. I'm certain you will be astonished with your results.
 I visited freebigpictures.com and went to the winter category, here are some of the selections.

So let it snow and enjoy the beauty before it all melts away.