Thank you to the participants of my recent workshop at Crystal Bridges! What an fantastic weekend!
Workshops
WorkShop at Crystal BRidges
JUNE 22 & 23, 2024, 1 PM - 4 PM
Enclosed Nature with Melissa Cowper-Smith
Encaustic is an ancient material made from blending natural beeswax and damar tree resin. In this two-day workshop, all parts of the process will be covered, including mixing encaustic, set-up/clean-up, fusing, layering, scraping, burnishing (polishing), and using encaustic colors. We will focus on low-relief embedment. Adding natural materials such as dried flowers,
Thank you to everyone who attended workshops both at my place, Wildland Gardens, and at other venues. It’s been an absolute privileged to play some part in your creative journey. Please check back here for future workshops. Reach out if you’d like to be put on a mailing list for workshops or if you have any suggestions for workshops you’d like to attend!
TESTIMONIALS
‘It was a pleasure working with Melissa on a virtual art making workshop at Crystal Bridges. Her instruction was dynamic, engaging and thoughtfully prepared. Guests came away with great feedback about their art making experience and we look forward to working with her again on future programs.’ Danielle Hatch, Associate Museum Educator, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Public Programs, August 2020
“Melissa taught a paper-making workshop for K-12 art educators at ATU. She was extremely prepared and took the time to craft custom paper molds for each teacher ahead of time. The teachers enjoyed her workshop and said that they will teach the techniques they learned to their students. Melissa is professional, insightful, and patient with students of all experience levels. She also has a wealth of knowledge to share about using eco-friendly natural materials.” Jessica Mongeon, Director- Windgate Art Launch for Arkansas Educators, Assistant Professor of Art, Arkansas Tech University
“Melissa is a very talented and creative artist in how she develops her papermaking ideas and resources. She is very well organized and thoughtful in the way that she brings knowledge to workshop participants. She is very educated on the history of papermaking, has lots of insights to help participants be creative and has a multitude of resources on paper making materials and techniques.” Michael Warrick, Professor, Univeristy of Arkansas at Little Rock. Workshop at the UALR Windgate Center for Art and Design through artWORKS hosted artist, April 2019
Lectures, Workshops, and Private Lessons
On-site and virtual
Traditional and contemporary drawing and painting techniques, processes, and content
Papermaking
The Digital Studio. Including Photoshop, Illustrator, scanning, color correction, Epson and HP large format printers. Printing on alternative materials.
Collage and multimedia processes
Encaustic
Fibers: spinning (cotton and wool), weaving, natural dyes, knitting, crochet, fabric manipulation
The Artists Garden: permaculture, fiber plants, dye plants, herbalism, and flowers.
Content development
Identifying visual skills and aptitude
Email Melissa at m@cowpersmith.com for more information