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Date: 1/26/2021
Subject: ASA Update January 26, 2021
From: Artists' Studio



Hello everyone,

 
This is the third of a series of articles from our ASA Board and members. These will be anything from a tour of their studio to a description of what they've been doing during 2020 and the shutdown up to now.
 
We hope these will give you some ideas and inspiration to keep your creative juices flowing.
 
The following is a letter from Stephanie Reitmajer our 2021-2022 ASA Vice President.

2020 The Year of the Great Pause

 

The year of the great pause. That’s my nickname for 2020. The year the world stopped and took a deep breath in fear. The year we decided it was okay to slow down. A year of mixed emotions. Yet, for me, also a year of creativity and artistic growth.

It is the year I achieved a long worked for goal of completing a certificate in nature illustration from the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum. I did miss the graduation ceremony and accompanying exhibit due to the lockdown; but told myself, “Oh well, it can’t be helped, you still earned it”. A year of personal transition, when we decided to sell our house in the Sonoran desert and build a new one. (Yes, you can sell and move out of a house in another state without being present) A lonely year of personal isolation. Oh how I missed my artistic friends, the classes and open studio sessions. A year in which I caught the dreaded COVID, yet managed to recover. And, the year I unexpectedly became a children’s book illustrator.
 
Like many, I herald from a European heritage. My mother is a proud Italian peasant. They are hearty, emotional, and long-lived. My mom is 94 years old and continues to live in her own home in the country. She doesn’t get out much, especially this year, but found she could amuse herself by looking out her kitchen window at a fun and lively ground squirrel. She named him Benny. She then made up stories about Benny, and sent him on exciting adventures. One day in May, on one of our telephone calls, she told me about Benny and the story she had written. She asked me to illustrate it for her. I wasn’t too thrilled about the idea as I had other artistic goals, like working towards the upcoming pastel society exhibit. Nevertheless, it is very difficult to turn down your 94 year old mother.
 
So, I decided 2020 being the year of the great pause I could take a detour from my artistic goals and illustrate a book. Why not? How long could it take? (Six months working about 30 hours a week) There would still be time to prepare for the exhibit, right? So, I set about learning how to illustrate a book. Oh, but I was so naive and ill prepared for the artistic road ahead. I stubbed my artistic toe, fell into ditches, went off the trail into artistic bushes where I had to cut my way out with a sharp paint brush. But, in the end I learned so much! The artistic growth is almost worth the effort. Almost. Now, it would be fabulous if I wanted to be a book illustrator. Because with all these new skills I could publish books. Instead, I fancy myself a pastel/oil/acrylic/colored pencil fine artist. And, here I was working in watercolor for the past six months. Yes, I may struggle with media indecision.
 
Yet even with my artistic indecision, I achieved a book. It is a beautiful thing. You can hold it in your hand and flip the pages admiring all your beautiful artwork. Children love it. A few of my friends have purchased them. All my children and grandchildren were gifted a copy. Did I mention my mother has now written three sequels to the original story? In November she asked me when I intended to get started on the next book. I replied, I’m taking a pause Mom. This is the year of the great pause and I need a break. It’s now 2021 and I’m expecting a call from her any day…
 
I’m offering a free PDF version of Benny’s Adventures to all ASA members. Please contact me if you would like a copy. You can purchase a softcover or e-book version at:  www.blurb.com  When in their store, just search for Benny’s Adventure. You can reach me for your free copy at StephanieReitmajerArt@gmail.com

For those of you who may be interested, here is a brief overview of the artistic steps to Benny’s Adventure:

First, I did an overall plan of the book. I sketched the illustrations for each page. I planned for 32 pages, which is the typical format for a children’s book. This is an example from the final page. On each of these sketches I planned where I would place the text. It served as a road map for the project.

Next, I did a detailed drawing of each page layout in graphite. My drawings were either actual page size or a measured up drawing such as 1.25 the actual page size. After the final drawing was completed I transferred it to hot press watercolor paper using my handmade transfer paper. I then would ink in the drawing. Sometimes I would apply watercolor and then ink. Here is an example drawing.

In this particular drawing I first sketched each of the separate elements. For example, I drew Kokko in front, and his brothers hiding in the tree first in their own separate drawings. I then traced them, and moved them around the page to search for the best composition. When I was satisfied I transferred the drawings.

This drawing went well. Some didn’t go so well and required redrawing. Or, repainting. One layout was redesigned and repainted three times. My daughters say I am a perfectionist. I am not. I just want it to look like I think it ought to.

Here is the completed drawing with watercolor applied. There were many more steps in the process to finish the book. I also learned how to layout a book using graphic software and import the artwork. Rosemary Wood-Hemm graciously photographed the images for me because they were too big to scan. Another lesson learned among many for future books.

Take care. Everyone use your hand sanitizer, wear your masks, etc. etc.

 

Stephanie Reitmajer


Hello ASA Instructors!

Do you plan to teach art classes this year at ASA? 

The ASA Board is hard at work preparing the studio space for online classes this year, with in-person/hybrid class options available (as COVID guidelines/restrictions allow this year).  

We would like to begin promoting our instructors and display their work in the gallery, along with a short write up of the classes they plan to teach.

Please email Christina at gallerycoordinator@asaart.net if you would like to be part of the instructor display. 

-Bring one small piece of art to display on the wall that will be a good example of what you will teach in your class. 

-Email a writeup of the classes which will be displayed with your art on the wall. 

-Email a photo of yourself we can use and/or photos of the classes/art process to use in social media/online promotion.

Thank you, looking forward to hearing from all of ASA's wonderful and talented artist instructors!

 

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Warmly,

Christina V. Moore, M.A.

Beachstone Gallery Coordinator

gallerycoordinator@asaart.net