from my sketchbook ~ to a frame

Yours Truly holding one of my framed sketchbook pages 

I paint in a sketchbook. I rarely paint watercolors as frameable paintings anymore, I'm more interested in illustrating my daily life on the pages of a 9x12 inch sketchbook.

So when the San Diego Watercolor Society invited me, as a Past President (1999-2001), to exhibit one of my paintings in their 50th Anniversary Exhibition, August 7- 28th, I said yes. But I didn't have any so called 'paintings.' So, I had one of my sketchbook pages framed, and I'm liking it!

It will be interesting to see how it looks in the exhibition!

in progress ~ photo Jane LaFazio

from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

I'll be teaching Sketching and Watercolor: Autumn at Art is You, in Minneapolis on Thursday, Sept 17th.

Fun artist date with friends!

Me and my scarf

My friend hosted a 'scarf party!' About 14 of us got together in her backyard, and with the help of Mayu Silk Art, created gorgeous scarves! here's how it looked:

marbleizing the paint with a 'rake'

You can see on this one, I'm not marbleizing horizontally on the scarf

good enough to stop, but no! 

This is the most magic photo! look at how the 'rake' is changing the pattern of the paint!

nearly done

the final touches

tadah! Pictured is Oliver, he's the guy who helped me, step by step in this creation.

Jane's scarf

Once the scarf dries, it is lighter. And look at this amazing detail!

me and my scarf! 

Jane's scarf

The name of the company is Mayu Silk Art and they came out to my friend's backyard and set everything up and brought all the supplies. You can find out everything on their website.

Upcoming Workshop in San Diego ~ at the J&J Ranch in Descanso ~ on September 12

J& J Ranch, Descanso, California

Sketching and Watercolor: Journal Style

One Day workshop with Jane LaFazio (me)
Saturday, September 12
10-4pmDescanso, CA (40 minutes east of San Diego)
REGISTER NOW

The J & J Ranch in Descanso is a 45-minute drive from downtown San Diego. Below Cuyamaca peak these forty acres border the Cleveland National Forest and are filled with oaks, manzanita and sage. It is a peaceful place to expand your creative horizons.

It's a true get-away! You'll really feel like you've attended a retreat in the countryside.

Bring walking shoes, layered clothing and a sack lunch.

Join me for a day of sketching and painting from nature, using pencil, pen and watercolor. Basic drawing and quick, intuitive watercolor will be taught and will form the start of a small journal. I can teach you to draw (even if you haven’t drawn since 3rd grade).

from my sketchbook at the J&J Ranch 2014 ~ Jane LaFazio 

from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio.

from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

2014 workshop at the J&J Ranch

From my sketchbook ~ how I paint a landscape in watercolor

from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

My husband and I went on a picnic at nearby Lake Poway. That's him below, hauling out food and drinks in our new red wagon. I was carrying my sketchbook!

My sweet husband, Don

I thought you'd be interested on how I approach painting a landscape in watercolor.

My view ~ Lake Poway, California

 in progress ~ from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

 in progress ~ from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

 in progress ~ from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

 in progress ~ from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

 in progress ~ from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

 in progress ~ from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

from my sketchbook ~ by Jane LaFazio

Summer Dance and Pink Bud ~ gelli plate monoprints

detail "Summer Dance" by Jane LaFazio 

  "Summer Dance" by Jane LaFazio (10 x 10 inches)

I've been on a roll, creating and finishing some Gelli plate monoprints on paper, mounted on board. Both of these are 10 x 10 inches.

detail "Pink Bud" by Jane LaFazio 

detail "Pink Bud" by Jane LaFazio 

 "Pink Bud" by Jane LaFazio (measures 10 x 10 inches.

(I'll be teaching this workshop (Abstract collage using the Gelli Plate) at Art is You in Minneapolis on Friday, September 18, and at Art is You in Stamford, Connecticut on Friday, October 9.

Student work from my last one day workshop:  Abstract Collage using the Gelli Plate

Friday, September 18: Abstract collage using the Gelli Plate
Description:
If you’re new to mono-printing on gelli plates, or just love it, like I do, you’ll enjoy this class! You’ll learn many mono-printing techniques and use them on different sheer papers. By lunch time, you’ll have a stack of gorgeous colored papers! After lunch, you’ll compose and assemble a finished layered piece (or two) of original artwork, using your own beautiful papers with some additional mark making and maybe even a stitch or two. You’ll learn about composition and focal point combined with lots of pattern.

My latest DVD ~ Wet Felting Essentials for Fiber Artists!

My Latest DVD (or digital download) is now available! Wet Felting Essentials for Fiber Artists.

Here I am on set at Quilting Arts filming studio in Cleveland, Ohio

me and the fabulous Vivika DeNegre,
editor of Quilting Arts Magazine, and some of my felted pieces.

Here's the description:

You'll love this if:

• You're intrigued by wool roving but don't know who you'd use it.
• You adore composing one-of-a-kind works of fiber art and want to dive into wet felting.
• You are looking for a felting technique that doesn't require many materials to get started.

Create innovative fiber art with wet felting techniques, embroidery and more!

Join artist Jane LaFazio, one of today's most sought-after teachers, to learn the ancient technique of wet felting. Jane guides viewers step-by-step through the process of creating one-of- a-kind fiber art using just sheep's wool, water, soap, and a fair amount of elbow grease. While making the felted fabric, she adds design and visual interest to the finished product by including contrasting graphic shapes and writing with pre-felted wool roving. Then she shows you how to take the piece further with hand needle felting and embroidery. Jane also shows how she cuts apart the felted wool and reassembles the pieces into award-winning fiber art, and gives you examples of other ways to use wet felting to create art. This introduction to wet felting is a perfect starting point for anyone interested in creating felted quilts and expanding their fiber art techniques.

Discover the tools and materials you need to create a unique piece of wool felt.
Watch and learn how to create a piece of felt with step-by-step demonstrations from Jane.
Explore composition considerations and design possibilities with helpful hints from Jane.
Be inspired as Jane shares more projects that use wool roving in interesting ways.

And, I quote Vivika (Quilting Arts magazine editor) "Download your copy of Wet Felting Essentials for Fiber Artists now, and have some good, clean, fiber fun."

Pink Polka ~ gelli plate monoprint

detail "Pink Polka" by Jane LaFazio  

detail "Pink Polka" by Jane LaFazio  

You know I love me my Gelli plate! Here's my latest, Pink Polka, measuring 10 x 10 inches. Paper on mounted on board.

  "Pink Polka" by Jane LaFazio (10 x 10 inches)

detail "Pink Polka" by Jane LaFazio  

I'll be teaching this workshop (Abstract collage using the Gelli Plate) at Art is You in Minneapolis on Friday, September 18. and at Art is You in Stamford, Connecticut on Friday, October 9.

Workshop description: If you’re new to mono-printing on gelli plates, or just love it, like I do, you’ll enjoy this class! You’ll learn many mono-printing techniques and use them on different sheer papers. By lunch time, you’ll have a stack of gorgeous colored papers! After lunch, you’ll compose and assemble a finished layered piece (or two) of original artwork, using your own beautiful papers with some additional mark making and maybe even a stitch or two. You’ll learn about composition and focal point combined with lots of pattern.

Cherry Sunday ~ a totally original art quilt

detail "Cherry Sunday" by Jane LaFazio 

detail "Cherry Sunday" by Jane LaFazio 

detail "Cherry Sunday" by Jane LaFazio 

detail "Cherry Sunday" by Jane LaFazio 

"Cherry Sunday" by Jane LaFazio (11x10 inches)

Published! Sequins and felt and beads, Oh My!

Quilting Arts magazine, page 62&63. August September 2015 issue.

Quilting Arts magazine, page 62&63. August September 2015 issue.

I've got a short article in the latest Quilting Arts magazine about creating with felt and bead and sequins. You can see me on Quilting Arts TV (Series 1600), demonstrating how to do this, too.

Triple your pleasure by joining me in an in-person one-day workshop entitled Felt Like Stitching, and I'll teach you to make your own milagro or stuffed, sequined and beaded thingey.

I'm teaching Felt Like Stitching  on October 10, at Art is You, in Stamford, CT. 

Corazon by Jane LaFazio

Heart Orange by Jane LaFazio

Nothing is worth more than THIS DAY by Jane LaFazio

Cherish by Jane LaFazio