Online Art Design and Craft Classes From the Best

I wrote in my last post that I had hit a major “snag” in my posting since discovering that one may not be “legally correct” by using photographs from another site, even if one is merely publicizing for them, and alerting other potential readers to it’s existence. The aforementioned post concerned an artist by the name of Marilyn Radzat.

I have spent the time in the interim trying to solve the dilemma; a post about arts and crafts cannot work without photographs. I have found the most amazing art that I have never seen since beginning this endeavor, and it has been somewhat of a distraction that I don’t know if I can legally include a photo of the amazing things that I find. I do, however, have several happy things to report in the interim as I continue to analyze how to handle this hurdle.

Number one: Not only is Marilyn Radzat the finest fantasy artist I have ever had the pleasure of discovering, she is also a real person. I don’t mean that in it’s most literal sense; Of course she’s a “real” person; she makes “real” art. I mean that she is accessible and nice. She actually took the time to personally email me with permission to use her photographs to promote her art classes. In case you aren’t familiar with the artist, she does not do this for money, but for the love of teaching. Her works are in fine galleries throughout a great deal of the planet, and in the homes of such notables as the Clintons, Ron Howard, and Anne Rice, to name a few.

Number Two: For the first time in her decades-long career as an accomplished fantasy artist specializing in figure form, she is offering on-line classes.

Number Three: The classes are very reasonably priced. A steal, as a matter of fact. The opportunity of a lifetime, in my humble opinion. She told me in her email that teaching was what she loves best; hence, the reasonably priced online classes, accessible to folks from all walks of life, not just the privileged. She could easily give personal classes to only those who could afford the exorbitant price she has a right to request.

Number Four: She often uses gourds and specializes in incorporating other “found” and natural materials in her works, such as stones, shells, flea market finds and “throwaways”… Although she does fantasy art in other mediums, it’s predominantly sculpting in one medium or another; her depiction of female faces is unparalleled. She has a lovely “artist’s statement“, which is:

See her website @ www.marilynradzat.com/ for breathtaking examples of her other “prettier” fantasy works. For a mere $20.00, yes, you heard me correctly, $20.00, you can take the online course of how to create these enchanting “pea-pod babies“…. Find information on all classes @ www.thatcreativeplace.com

Now, THIS is what I call “art”….

Now, loyal readers, this is very irritating. I am stuck in a sort of limbo here about copyright laws and such boring details as that. All I want to do is direct you to some extremely cool sites with fantastic art, and I feel that in order to do that, the post should include one photograph of the aforementioned art to get your attention so you’ll know I’m not making this up. But now I have become hobbled, bogged down, and simply afraid to include a photo in my posts, even if it’s only purpose is to link you back to the site from whence it came and promote the artist. Doesn’t seem right, does it?

Anyway, I guess you’ll just have to take my word for it until you go and see for yourself. I just discovered this artist by the name of Marilyn Radzak…. Absolutely mind-blowing stuff. So, if you’ve gotten this far, please visit the site: www.thatcreativeplace.com/ It’s hard to remember that this was made from a gourd….

In the meantime, I will try to clear up this fog and confusion concerning the placement of a photograph which is used simply to link back to the site from where it originated… Sounds like good business practice to me, but hey, what do I know about legalities?

Leslie

I promised my vast and faithful audience that I would continue to explore the wide, wild world of gourds and gourd art, and I always keep my word. I also have an ulterior motive; my sister’s birthday is coming up soon, and for the girl who has everything, what could be more appropriate than the gift of a gourd?

So I set about looking for some of those, you know, free, instructions on beginning gourd-crafting. It wasn’t that easy, everybody seemed to want actual money. After a great deal of hunting and pecking, I found that what I was looking for was right in front of my face. Or rather, on another of my posts. The free e-book that I mentioned from Welburn Gourd Farm in California, is excellent. Check it out at:

www.welburngourdfarm.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=31&dc=FGAL

Please note that the above photo is from Kentucky Crafts Network @ www.kentuckycraftsnetwork.com/

Then, I had the shocking realization that at some point, I would have to actually buy a gourd, or gourds, in order to pull this off. This led to some other really neat websites…. I believe that there is a gourd society for every state in the union, and an “American Gourd Society” as well. Hell, there might be a “Global Gourd Society”. I haven’t checked that yet.

The Florida Gourd Society site is great fun, they have festivals with design contests, workshops, and a “hat and mask parade”, among other things. They sponsor retreats, seminars, workshops and whatever else all those gourd people do. See for yourself:

flgourdsoc.org

As you have probably figured out by now, I live in Florida, so I researched for the closest place in which to acquire one or more of these elusive vegetables, and found “Fernsink Farms”, near Ocala. I emailed them, and received an immediate and personal response from Barbara, the gourd lady. She even offered to have her daughter meet me somewhere and deliver them to me! Her website is still under construction, like mine, but you will still find some interesting information here.

www.fernsinkgourds.com/

I promise to keep you “posted” on my progress.

Leslie