Painting Bundle

Our abstract landscape workshop is led by artist Emily Jeffords. This workshop features her instructional overview in how to create an abstract, impressionistic piece of art for the home. We are sending along the carefully curated tools & materials that Emily has chosen just for this kit, tools & materials she uses in her own studio practice. Emily is an abstract impressionistic painter, often working in oil on canvas.  She lives in Greenville, South Carolina and works out of an 1890's white-washed studio called the White Whale.

"Painting brings me so much peace and gives me time to meditate on the beauty in the world and the grace I feel while living in it and my highest goal is to convey that same peace and grace to the viewer. I create art to satisfy a need deep in my soul to create, to use my hands to say, with color and form, something that my words cannot." Emily first fell in love with painting when she realized that she could create something tangible and physical - but also emotional and spiritual - on canvas. We are so excited to share her art philosophy with you. The work she is most know for, her abstracted landscape paintings, are specifically centered on the theme of finding peace and beauty in the midst of life's changing landscape.

The tools & materials included in this kit:

• One 11x14" canvas
• A selection of six favorite oil paints in pigments chosen by Emily (enough paint to make a dozen paintings or more)
• Three hogs-haired brushes in Emily's preferred sizes and shapes
• Linseed oil
• A canister of specially chosen 'environmentally friendly' mineral spirits (perfect for taking great care of your brushes as you work)

In this workshop, artist Ashley Mahlberg shares with us how to build abstract, organic art using ink + alcohol. When applied to the cradle board with air or heat, the ink dances across the surface creating beautiful movement. When colors are blended together, the result is playful yet sophisticated as the inks bump up against and spread into one another.  Fluid art is known for its vibrant and bold colors, Ashley shares how to apply these brightly hued inks and also how to tame their final look with shading, contrast and motion.

• A detailed, digital workshop by Ashley Mahlberg
• A live & recorded Maker Chat Q&A with our artist
• Tools and materials from artisan suppliers, curated for you, by Ashley

The tools & materials included in this kit:

• Marine blue & kelly green alcohol ink
• Gold alcohol ink as a rich accent color
• Two extra deep gesso cradle boards to create a diptych set
• A heat gun
• Isopropyl alcohol
• A round paintbrush
• A paint palette
• A pipette, stir stick, painter's tape & other supplies to get started in fluid art

SAFETY WARNING: Working with alcohol inks and other materials in this class can be dangerous if proper safety procedures are not followed. Materials are flammable and let off toxic fumes. Failure to follow safety procedures may result in serious injury or death. For your safety, you should use caution, care, and good judgment when following procedures in this class. Consider your own skill level and safety precautions associated with the various tools and materials shown. Research safety procedures and personal protection equipment before starting this class. The Crafter's Box and Ashley Mahlberg of Inkreel Studio cannot assume responsibility for any damage to property or injury as a result of misuse of the information provided.

Happy making!

Welcome to an introduction to watercolor and gouache with artist Sarah Simon. In this workshop, Sarah teaches color blending theory, color gradient ‘washes’ - and using a live bouquet for inspiration - a detailed study of building watercolor florals from the ground up. Once you’ve completed your bouquet, Sarah introduces Florence, her favorite flower girl and you’ll finish your piece by customizing your own illustrated muse. Sarah finds inspiration in the ever-blooming variety of textures and colors in her urban garden of the Pacific Northwest where she creates lush watercolor paintings in a unique, artistic style that has captured an international following. 

This workshop includes: