What I am learning…

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Laura&Tina

“jazzy leaf” mixed media 6 x 6 inches *original available HERE

Hi ya!

Last night was spent in part drooling over picture books and the many unique artists renderings. Some of the books I knew and loved and many were new to me. I must say It had been a long time since I had looked at an Ezra Jack Keats book! He is most known for his book, “The Snowy Day“. I was reminded how much can be learned looking and pondering how an artist creates something. Picture books were often a tool I used in my classroom when I was teaching art full time to children and I still haven’t been able to give up my collection of beloved books. I love Ezra Jack Keats for his wonderful collages. Here is a little video on him I thought you may enjoy…

I wish to thank my friend and former student for bringing in the books to share. She is part of a new creative community I have started at my studio two tuesday evenings a month. It came about as I found people were craving a dedicated time for their artistry and I happened to have a fabulous space to share. The group is very informal, people bring what they want to work on and I serve as a guide when needed. I have been loving it! It is a small, intimate, safe place for sharing ideas, getting to know new people and allowing time to nurture our passions. Let me know if you are interested in joining us as we would love to have you! I would also love to hear what your favorite picture books are so please do share!

Sending creativity & love your way…Laura

p.s. Our group has been known to bring snacks and share a bottle of vino from time to time…just saying!

ReVision 1: Home

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Laura&Tina

Last weeks Vision

Learn more about this series HERE

ReVision

Dear Laura,

I was inspired by what you wrote about your garden for your Vision and headed out into my garden to see what I could find. I began thinking about the variety of plants we have added over the years. We planted a special one for each of our children. Each one blooms at different times and attracts different insects. It always feels like home when I see these thriving. Anyway, I sat and did several drawings of these plants this week and ended up using my sepia toned ink to draw what I saw. I complimented that with some assorted antique paper and paint. The four threads represent our four family members. Here are a few pictures of my work in process and the final result. It is in the mail today and on it’s way to you. Enjoy! Tina

Dear Tina,

I loved you sharing your recipe with me. I immediately thought of my mother and how at home she is in the kitchen. She is an avid baker and some of my fondest memories are of the most delicious scents coming from the kitchen and warming the house. As children my family & I would go blueberry picking on Pitcher Mountain. My mom would come home and lay all the blueberries out to clean and freeze for the winter months so we always had something to look forward to. These wild blueberries always tasted SO much better than any you can get in a grocery store. Her blueberry muffins are my favorite and inspired my ReVision. I collaged old recipes that I had bought at an estate sale along with some of my hand painted papers and drawing. This piece is a tribute to my mom who no matter where she is makes everyone feel at home. I thought I would share her muffin recipe with you. YUM!

Jazzy Jeannine’s Blueberry Muffins

1/2 cup margarine 2 Cups flour

1 1/4 c. sugar 1/2 cup evaporated milk

2 eggs ( I also use reg. milk)

2 tsps. baking powder 2 1/2 cups blueberries

1/2 tsp. salt

Cream margarine and sugar until smooth. Add eggs, and blend well. Sift dry ingredients, and add alternately with milk. Mash 1/2 cup blueberries, and stir in. Fold remaining blueberries. Fill muffin cups full. Sprinkle with sugar on top. Bake at 375 degrees or 25-30 min.

Enjoy!

love, Laura

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Enthralling Encaustics

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Laura&Tina

Artist, Robin Luciano Beaty: She is having an Open studio THIS weekend!

I have been in love with Robin Luciano Beaty’s work since I first saw it at the Three Graces Gallery in NH many years ago. I remember the day, I had just picked up the beautiful wedding band Brett had made for me from Kaya (It was the year I was getting married!!! Can you believe that was almost 5 years ago?!?!?) and popped into the gallery for a moment to to escape the torrential downpour in Portsmouth that day. I have always admired the gallery owners eye for unique artwork and handmade creations. Robin’s work was no different. Her paintings are wonderfully calming, layered, and rich with texture. She is an encaustic painter which is a media I have been wanting to explore more ever since I took a workshop many years ago with Tracy Spadafora and LOVED it! Thinking back, this was probably where I first began to fall in love with mixed media. I know I will explore encaustic painting more in the future but for now I can’t put down my paint! I will leave you with my latest painting called, “expansion”. I have been thinking a lot about growth and what I am learning today about friendship, love and art.

Happy day! love, laura

: Laura Gaffke “Expansion” acrylic 5 x 5 inches ©the artist

2 Replies

A little glimmer of goodness…

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Laura&Tina

YOU are "OFFICIALLY" invited! click to enlarge

A jolly hello to you my sweet friends!

I feel like I have oodles and oodles of goodness to share with you but have been preoccupied getting ready for my Holiday OPEN STUDIO THIS Friday night & Saturday. I don’t know how it crept up on me so quickly as there are still TONS of things to do but I thought I would take a breath and share some of the fun things I have been working on…

my working table as of lately (Laura)

These ornaments were a blast to make alhough they have taken me WAY longer than I could ever have imagined! They have a wooden base which I gessoed an added rich layers of paint. Some of them are layered with vintage book pages, sealed, then glazed and painted on top of so look closely. I hand stamped words on many of them using my vintage letter stamps. Here are a few of my favorites…

Laura's wish ornament

Laura's butterfly ornament

I decided to mount some of them on wood and did a series of fun backgrounds using some of the same mixed media techniques. They are all completely unique and special. Each one is sealed, ready to hang and would love a good home. They look really cute on the wall, placed on a bookshelf, little nook or could be given to someone special. As cheesy as it sounds I have put a little piece of my heart in each one.

Laura Gaffke, "Be True" 4" x 4" mixed media collage

Laura Gaffke, "Always joyful" 4" x 4" mixed media collage

Don't these look cute on these little easels?

I have also been staging a corner of my studio completely dedicated to L2T work which I am quite proud of and can’t wait to photograph and share. Millie and I were working away late last night and I finished the framing and packaging of some of our NEW, never before seen work and hung the first in the series of our TAOS project! You will be the first to see this labor of love so hope you can make it to the studio. More to come…YIPPEE!

Laura

p.s. Please feel free to share this on facebook and twitter by clicking the icons below. MANY THANKS! I would also like to know what you think so make my day and leave me a comment! grin…

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Groovy Artini Night FUN!

Posted on March 27, 2010 by Laura&Tina

I was greeted by this lovely sign announcing my class. It even had my name on it-so FUN!

I was greeted by this lovely sign announcing my class. It even had my name on it, I felt so honored!

Can you feel the creativity happening in this room? It was infectious!

painted background pages (click to enlarge)

example of how to use these papers (click to enlarge)

dragonfly mini painting (click to enlarge)

Dear Tina & friends~

I thought I would share some pictures of you from the Artini night I taught at the Mystic Arts Center on thursday. I taught a basic, expressive acrylic painting lesson, similar to the techniques I will teach in my upcoming Mixed Media class at MAC. There were about 25 lovelies, and I DO mean lovelies who attended! I had an absolute blast meeting new friends and seeing them explode with paint. Many of them had never painted or hadn’t picked up a paintbrush in years. It was magical to see what emerged as they freely expressed themselves with the paint while enjoying a perfectly chilled pomegranate martini. I had to pinch myself at how lucky I am to teach what I love! Thank you to everyone who participated and made the evening so special.

The next Artini takes place on Thursday, April 15th titled, “Better than a tax return.” We will learn about mail art, not to be confused with “male” art which seems to be the big joke~too funny! The martinis will be straight up and dirty and there will be wine available for those non-martini drinkers. Sign up early as the last class filled up quickly. I will look forward to seeing you!

Cheers! Laura