A master printmaker, painter, teacher, and author, Dan Welden is the originator of a safe and green printmaking technique called the Solarplate Method, a simpler and less toxic alternative to traditional printmaking techniques such as etching, which uses strong acids. Welden will be working in the Kwan Fong Gallery from Jan. 30 to Feb. 28. The community is invited to join him and make some amazing art. The exhibition will remain through March 7.

Admission is free.

According to CLU Printmaking instructor, Kristi Colell;

“His Solarplate Etching /Relief printmaking methods are challenging, creative and inspirational. I wanted my students to experience working with the originator and master of this contemporary printmaking process…my goal here at CLU is to develop a strong printmaking program by inviting members of the world printmaking community to work with my students, thus  providing and enriching the creative printmaking environment for artistic expression through dialogue, instruction, and active learning with world renown masters.”

Welden has offered to create a special edition print  to be sold before the print is pulled. (These prints will cost the investor $250.00) This amazing opportunity will allow art collectors in our community to purchase the work of an international master printmaker, teacher, and author. A Welden print sells for $900.00 to $1,200.00. The proceeds  will be donated to  the University Art program.

To learn more about the artist, visit his website:

http://www.danwelden.com/Home2.html

A big congratulations to CLU art major Ashley Bowman for being selected as one of the finalists of the American Batik Design Competition.

The American Batik Design Competition is an open competition intended to draw from among American citizens diverse talents in fabric, graphic art and fashion design, to put on display new and original designs that allow the American spirit and values to shine through, while still recognizing uniqueness in the Batik motif. The phrase “American Batik” is a term attempting to illustrate and describe such creative designs and fashion ideas that remain influenced by typical Indonesian Batik motifs, and are bound to incorporate two criteria:

1. they have to be designed by American designers; and
2. they exhibit the American spirit and values, drawing from its history and folklore.

The theme of the competition is “The Spirit of America in the Heritage of Batik”. This theme is hoped to reflect the articulation of cultural fusion between United States and Indonesia through batik; to bring American values in the tradition of Indonesian Batik. This competition is aimed at strengthening people to people contacts between the United States and Indonesia, to bring closer the two countries’ cultural cooperation. It is also one of the Indonesian government’s efforts to internationalize batik to the world.

Judges will consist of Batik and textile experts as well as fashion designers and representatives of fashion industries from Indonesia and the U.S. Participants of this competition will be asked to create an ‘American batik’ digital design only. The transformation from digital designs into Batik Tulis (hand-made batik) will be later done by Indonesian batik artists in Indonesia.

You have made your family, friends, and colleagues very proud. You represent one of the many success stories an education in art at California Lutheran University will bring. All of us at CLU wish you the best of luck for the final.

Congratulations!

On campus this past weekend, Mitch Lyons offered a 4-day workshop to demonstrate his very own printmaking process, which he has been developing since 1968. His innovative approach…

”does not require a printing press. [Instead], a clay slab is used as the matrix and rich monotypes and collage pieces can be created with non-toxic Akua waterbased inks and modifiers. 
The approach is energetic and open to each individuals style.”-Kristi Colell

Having taught at West Chester University, Moore College of Art, Rowan University, Alfred University, and the University of Delaware, and led over 150 workshops, Lyons is an experienced instructor. He holds a BFA in Graphics from the University of the Arts, and an MFA in Ceramics from the Tyler School of Art. His work is in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Noyes Museum of Art.

Yet another way California Lutheran is imPRESSING its students.

Any students interested in printmaking are encouraged to check out Kristi Colell’s on-campus printshop classes. Ranging from beginner to advanced, they offering a wide array of printing processes.

The Kwan Fong Gallery had an exceptional opening/ student reception this past Saturday Evening, September 10th. With tasty treats and a wonderful meet-and-greet of a hand full of the displayed artists, the event brought a humbling balance of professional execution and student aimed insight into all of the appearing works. Special guest Alexey Steele was able to make personal connections with many of the art students at California Lutheran University, bringing words of inspiration and a great philosophy on how to be successful in any act of passionate work.

This romantic show was a powerful way to kick off the year!

Monday 10 am. October 6th Kwan Fong Gallery

We are gathering the Art Department tribe together in the Kwan Fong Gallery. Meet your fellow tribesmen and women and eat and drink with them. 

We will share important news about the department, invite your comments, enjoy each others company.

Last week, Barry Burns challenged designers in his Art 380  Computer Graphics class to take digital self-portraits and make themselves appear 70 years old. Winner of the challenge was sophomore Terry Tinley who used his compositing skills in Photoshop to create the most convincing conversion from among the 20 students who gave it their best.

Barry Burns’ Art 385 Computer Graphic Design students were divided into four small advertising agencies and challenged to place a portrait of one of their designers on the cover of a famous magazine. Students were challenged to make the magazine cover as authentic as possible. The winning agency included president Sophia Naranjo, Nathanael Minoch, Leslie Gerard, Jessica Hueftle and Stephen Zierhut. Stephen was selected to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone. Art Department chair Michael Pearce was special guest judge. Michael felt the winning agency really captured the style and look of a Rolling Stone cover.

Steve Aufhauser visited my 270 Painting class Thursday afternoon, to share his expertise on paint and brushes. Steve owns Continental Arts and Graphics store in Reseda CA. Having literally grown up in the store has made him into a true expert on art materials, with an inestimable wealth of knowledge to share with painters and artists of all stripes. I credit him with teaching me how to paint without toxic chemicals, using walnut alkyd medium as a vehicle instead of turpentine.

That huge brush is the real thing, by the way; it’s used for painting scenic backdrops in the theatre. 

Thanks for coming Steve.

Summer school sessions are two thirds of the way complete, so our students are working hard to finish their self portrait projects. Art classes at the summer school are particularly intensive, requiring lots of studio homework and class time.

Here’s a self portrait in process by Jennifer Derus, who’s an art major. She’s learning old masters techniques in our spacious painting studio. 

We returned to California Tuesday evening, thoroughly exhausted and wishing that the trip could go on for longer. We’ve had an incredibly packed journey, crossing the bottom of England from London to Land’s End and visiting some extraordinary places on the way, including London, Avebury, Bath, Glastonbury, Dartmoor, Bodmin Moor, Tintagel, Men an Tol, Penzance, St. Ives, Salisbury and Stonehenge.