Art and Jewelry Sale at 8Teen Art Center on August 1, 2009

Please see message below from Retreat Coordinator Jennie Bottoms:

On August 1, 2009 from 3-6 pm, the San Diego Women's Caucus for Art will be having a Art and Jewelry Sale held at 8teen Art and Cultural Center 3925 Ohio St. North Park. This is an opportunity for our members to sell their artwork and jewelry. If you love art and jewelry - then this is the place to be.

We will also be drawing the winner of the Valana Mineral make-up raffle at 5 pm.

Please come to redecorate your home with new beautiful, inspiring art by local women artists, and don't forget all women need at least one new one of a kind hand made necklace, bracelets and earring set for the upcoming fall fashion season. You will find jewelry to finish up your holiday shopping. We hope to see you there.

Refreshments will be served and we will also have a chocolate fountain!

Contact Jen Bottoms for more information at bottomsjennie@yahoo.com

Please pass this on to everyone you know.

Encaustic Workshop with WCA member Jaime Lyerly at Escondido Municipal Gallery on July 25, 2009

Making encaustic medium, July 2009

So the last three days, I have been making encaustic medium in preparation for my upcoming "Basic Encaustic Workshop by Jaime Lyerly" which is at the Escondido Municipal Gallery in Escondido, California. The workshop is on Saturday, July 25, 2009 from 12 pm - 3 pm. The price is $75 ($65 for members of EAP). This price includes all supplies, which is a steal! I paid twice that amount for my basic encaustic workshop. See this post for more examples of my more traditional encaustic paintings.

Here is my description of what you will learn and do:
Encaustic painting is an ancient technique of molten beeswax, damar resin, and pigment applied to a surface and fused using heat. Learn the basic techniques of encaustic painting in this workshop. We will cover history, materials, substrates, tools and safety. We will explore layering, collage, incising and transfers. Plenty of time for hands-on experimentation. Bring your own collage elements and get ready to try this "hot" way of painting.

If you are anywhere near Escondido, please come to my workshop! The space is limited to 10 people and you must preregister by Saturday, July 18. Check out the Escondido Municipal Gallery Workshop page for more details and to register. I have plenty of knowledge to share and love to introduce people to the magic of encaustic painting.

Why don't you come join me and bring some friends? Let's spend that Saturday flinging hot wax around and making art!

Happy Art-making! ~Jaime Lyerly

WCA member Lisa Bebi at Booksigning today

pimp my spleen: join me for "launch"...

Join WCA member Lisa Bebi today at 2 pm at the Orange County Town and Country Barnes and Noble for a BOOKSIGNING for this new publication "Art Quilting Studio." See the link above for more information.

Hope you can come support this great artist.

~Jaime Lyerly

Try Twitter - for Artists

For those of you who haven't figured it out yet, I think I love Twitter.

Sometimes it makes me angry (like when it suspended my account for suspicious activity yesterday - all fixed now); sometimes sucks away all my time; and sometimes I wonder why I am still on it. But most of the time I find it to be a effective tool to promoting my art, blog, workshops and other art related activities. You can too!

Check out this article Try Twitter by Art Biz Coach Alyson Stanfield. While you are there you can subscribe to her weekly Art Biz Coach newsletters which come every Monday.

I know you are saying to yourself "but I already have a Facebook account, why do I need Twitter?" Facebook is wonderful, but it can be overwhelming with pictures, applications, "friends" from high school and many more things. Twitter strips it down to the bare bones. Read a "tweet" (post) or make a tweet yourself.

Sure, you can get fancy and post pictures on Twitter. But in general, it is a simple way to make connections with people who have similar interests and may be interested in your art. I have found some of the best artists and connections through Twitter - and then found them on Facebook!

Try Twitter. It is a tool for your art. Use it.

When you get on Twitter, come follow me! @jaimelyerly I will help you make sense of it all!

Happy Art Making! Jaime Lyerly

San Diego Women's Art Caucus Member Show at 8Teen Art Center - July 5 - July 18

Our biggest fan - my son, Xen, relaxing with a soda and a book with
my "Forbidden Fruit Series" behind him at 8Teen

Our last minute blog post to San Diego Women's Caucus for Art Members worked! We have a show and we want you to come see it!

Thanks to all the San Diego WCA members who came today to drop off and hang your work. You made my job easy and the show looks great. See, I told you we could do it!

Here is a sneak preview of the Women's Caucus for Art Member Show held at 8Teen Art and Culture Center from July 5 - July 18, 2009. The photographs do not do these works justice, so you must stop by to see them in person.

Opening reception is from 3 - 6 pm on July 5, 2009. The show will be up until July 18, 2009 and there will be a closing reception on that date (times unknown).

Paintings by Ellen Benfatti and (bottom) Laura Jean Thompson

Paintings/Collage left to right by Jaime Lyerly, Midge Hyde, and Laura Jean Thompson

Paintings by Ellen Benfatti

Paintings left to right by Jen Bottoms and Midge Hyde

Encaustic collage/Paintings "Forbidden Fruit Series" by Jaime Lyerly
(click link to learn more about the "Forbidden Fruit Series")

Encaustic collage/Painting - detail "Forbidden Fruit Series" by Jaime Lyerly

I hope this has whet your appetite and you will come have a look!

Your Turn:
Like what you see and you are a women artist in San Diego? Why don't you join us! The San Diego Women's Caucus for Art accepts membership applications all year round. With my help, the WCA is getting connected on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Please check us out on any of these sites to see what we are up to. WCA members are active in their communities and want to share with you. You can even sign up at an event. There are member shows, opportunities to network and an annual retreat to Julian in November where you can learn art techniques and get away from it all.

This year's WCA retreat is going to be super fun! I am teaching a workshop on Encaustic Painting; and there are two other workshops by local artists. I believe that Cynthia Gott's Inner Archetype Workshop has been replaced by Ellen Benfatti who will be giving a Reiki workshop. Judith Burnett will be giving a workshop on Portrait Painting in Oil. Space is limited and the deadline is rapidly approaching (August 15, 2009 for full payment) - so if you want to get in on the fun, email to Retreat Coordinator Jen Bottoms today!

Hope you can make it to one of our events.

Happy Art Making! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Women's Caucus for Art Member Show this Weekend!

For the Women's Caucus for Art MEMBERS:

The Women's Caucus for Art is having a Member Show at 8Teen Art and Cultural Center this weekend. What? You didn't know? Well you are not alone.

Here is a message from Jen Bottoms, WCA Exhibition Coordinator:
Hi ladies,
I have to apologize for a lack of communication about the art show opening on July 5-18 at the 8teen Center. There is no theme for this show as not to limit any artist as to what can be entered. We have extended the drop off for entries. The drop off will be Friday the 3rd of July from 10-11 or contact me to make special arrangements. Cost is $25.00 for up to three entries.

We would like to have participants vote on the best work and the winner will receive $100.00 certificate to attend the Retreat in November. This is not a cash award and can only be used to attend the Retreat.

So come bring your work down to 8Teen on Friday, July 3rd at 10 am. Jen and I will be there with smiling faces to help hang the work and showcase your talent.

I have three of my newest encaustic works (including my "Forbidden Fruit Series") to ready to be hung, and I am very excited to see what you all have to show off.

Look forward to seeing you and your artwork soon!

For EVERYONE ELSE: We would love you to come check out this show. 8Teen Art Center is a lively venue for music, coffee and art viewing. The Women's Caucus for Art Members will put on a show that you won't forget (even if we have to scramble at the last minute to do it!).

I will post pictures from 8Teen by this weekend at the latest.

Until then, Happy Art-making! Jaime Lyerly
~ Jaime Lyerly