Roxie’s drawing, “Clown”
This month’s featured artist is Roxie Tomek. Roxie has been coming to Blank Canvas’ day program since early 2009. Roxie’s preferred mediums are wax crayon and colored pencil, but will also paint and sculpt with clay. Roxie’s favorite things to draw are pictures of what she calls “nurses” and “Elvis.” Roxie recently participated in the studio’s exhibit at the STL Outsider Art Fair at the Koken Art Factory in Saint Louis where she showed work in several mediums.
IndiHop, a festival “celebrating independent neighborhoods and independent breweries” will be happening this Saturday June 1st from 12 to 5p.m. in the Grove and on Cherokee Street in Saint Louis. There will be street performers and over 50 beers to taste from some of Saint Louis’ independent breweries.
What does BCS have to do with all of this? We helped decorate! Look for the brightly colored light poles on both Manchester Avenue in the Grove and all along Cherokee Street! Along with our sister studio Fine Line Studios, we decorated over 100 light posts with streamers of fabric. Our staff and clients have been hard at work since last week cutting fabric and tying the fabric strips to strapping. The straps were then attached to the light posts.
Wanna buy some tickets? CLICK HERE
Andrew’s Photography Piece, “Big Mouth”
May’s BCS Featured Artist is Andrew Wattler. Andrew is one of our newer artists here at the studio, but has already established himself as an artist in his community. Andrew primarily paints with acrylic and watercolor, but recently has taken a liking to paper mache sculpture. Recently, Andrew completed a 10-foot-tall paper mache giraffe which was the highlight of our exhibit at the STL Outsider Art Fair. Andrew has grown as an artist during his short time with us. He’s learned several new techniques, which can be seen through his artwork. He is particularly fond of painting animals and landscapes.
The 2013 STL Outsider Art Fair was a huge success! This year the show featured 11 galleries and several individual artists from all over the country. The show was located at the Koken Art Factory’s Pingle Building, a large gallery space located in Saint Louis. There was a full bar, food truck, live music, and art of all mediums.
Our studio’s area featured art in all mediums, including a section of digital photography and featured works of BCS Artist Heidi S. and Ginny S. The centerpiece of the exhibit was a 10-foot-tall paper mache giraffe created by BCS Artist Andrew W. Andrew worked on the giraffe for about two months and was able to finish it just in time for the show.
To those who came out to support us, thank you so much! Your support of our program and its artists is what makes shows like this possible.
The second annual St. Louis Outsider Art Fair is just around the corner! It is April 26th & 17th at the Koken Art Factory in the Pingle Building. This year promises to be bigger and better, with more national galleries and individual artists in attendance. We will feature some exciting film shorts, music, local food trucks and a full bar.
Want to enter the exhibit? It’s really easy! Just go to the event website and enter either as an individual artist or as an art gallery. The cost is $25 for individual artists and $200 for galleries.
Our very first featured artist for 2013 is Ginny S. Ginny has been attending the day program at BCS since 2009. Her style and method are very unique. Ginny prefers to use long, light strokes similar to her long walking strokes. When she paints, she likes to walk around the room, coming back to her painting every so often to do a couple of strokes and then she walks some more, repeating this cycle until her painting is finished.
Ginny’s artwork is currently a part of Watercolor II: Paper and Pigment at the Foundry Art Centre in Saint Charles, Missouri. The show is open and will be in the front gallery until February 1st. The opening reception for the show is January 11th from 6-8p.m. and is free and open to the public. If you would like more information about the Foundry Art Centre, please contact them by calling (636) 255-0270 or by visiting their website.
The studio recently finished the production of their 2012 Christmas CD. It features performances from Recine D., Erika R., Brian C., Tuera W., Jeffery C., Shane C., and Barb K. The CD is $10 and can be purchased through the studio. For more information, please contact the studio at (636) 724-6616. The CD was produced by staff member Molly C. with cover art created by Jennifer S. For a complete track listing, see below:
This month’s featured artist is actually a pretty awesome group of people. They are the support staff of Blank Canvas Studios! The staff at BCS are truly a passionate group – both about art in general and about helping adults with intellectual disabilities. Several of them participated in our staff show: fineARTly. If you missed this show, be sure to check regularly for updates here and on our facebook page. If you have any questions, please contact the studio at (636) 724-6616. Here’s a little about each of the artists that showed work this past Friday:
Alejandro
Ashley
I grew up in my garden in the shade,in the depths of the ocean I slink and evade I hide behind colored and textured skin You can’t tell if I’m happy because I hide my grin.But even though you can’t see my smile,I’ll hug you with tentacles that go on for miles.
Britney
Britney has been working at BCS since February of 2012. She has been crocheting since she was eight years old and making jewelry for almost a year. Britney also likes to draw organic and flowing pieces.
Caitlin
Jennifer
Jennifer graduated from Lindenwood University in May with a B.A. of Interactive Media and Web Design (Read: Graphic Design for Web and Print). Jennifer has created a variety of work including items made for print, web, and mobile device. Jennifer specializes in custom graphics, particularly wedding invitations and greeting cards.
Kelly
Kelly is a 24-year old St. Louis native. She graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lindenwood University. Kelly works with mixed media drawings and paintings and also does polaroid photography. Kelly particularly enjoys creating anatomical and botanical drawings.
Kym
Kym went to SCCC from 2004 – 2007 focusing primarily on film photography and graphic design. She worked for a year at a local photography studio doing undergrad and senior photography. Currently, Kym is working towards owning her own photography business, doing portraits of weddings, families, and seniors. Kym has recently been doing a lot of watercolor featuring birds and people.
Molly
As a graduate from Hazelwood West High School, a student at STLCC-Meramec, and an employee at BCS for almost two years, Molly makes it a goal to immerse herself as much as she can. Without a brush in her hand or a melody in her mind, a day just feels incomplete. A motto that drives her life would be “Reperio Verstri Passionis,” or “Find Your Passion.” For without it, life is meaningless.
Ronnie
Ronnie is the resident Top Model and enjoys showcasing the various clothes found unwanted on staff development day. Ronnie has a beautiful creamy complexion and scored a 17 on the act! Ronnie’s work includes drawings that are detailed by dots using only pen.
Vanessa
Virginia
Virginia has been making jewelry for about three years. Virginia’s work features glass beads and wire work. Virginia particularly enjoys necklace design.
BCS artist Virginia S. was accepted into Watercolor II: Paper and Pigment at the Foundry Art Centre in Saint Charles Missouri. The show begins December 21st and goes through the 1st of February. The opening reception will on January 11th, from 6-8 p.m. and is free to the public.
Virginia is an artist that attends Blank Canvas Studios, an art-based day program in Saint Charles, Missouri. Since beginning at the day program in 2009, Virginia has set herself apart from her peers with her unique painting style. Virginia prefers to use long, light strokes reminiscent of her long walking strokes. When Virginia paints, she likes to walk around the room, coming back to her painting every so often to do a couple of strokes and then she walks some more, repeating this cycle until her painting is finished.
Heidi is November’s BCS Artist of the Month. Heidi has been featured in shows across St. Charles county and was in Sanford Smith Outsider Art Fair, the largest outsider art show in the country earlier this year. Heidi’s art features bright swirls of color and oftentimes unusual materials, such as ground up crayons mixed into the paint to give more texture.
Heidi was recently featured in a gallery show in the Blank Canvas Studios gallery. Her work is still hanging in the front gallery for viewing. To request a viewing, please call the studio at (636) 724-6616. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday.