Article in Connection Newspaper

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Portrait of an Artist

Once a law student, Vicki Blum is now at the head of the art class. Whether in her Clifton home or a classroom in Herndon or Lorton, Vicki Blum is making the world a brighter place. Using a contrasting palette of warm and cool oil paints, she finds a dab here and a swish there can make a world of difference. A painting teacher for only a short time, Blum divides her time between two of Fairfax County’s newest haven for artists: ArtSpace in Herndon and the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton."What a bonanza for this area," she said of her classrooms and the gallery space they provide for herself and her students. "It’s all really fantastic."The whole Northern Virginia area has an abundance of artistic talent, Blum said, from the artist groups in Great Falls where she got her start, to the Torpedo Factory where she took some early classes. Even in her Clifton backyard, Blum has helped the talent in her own community, helping to coordinate last year’s art show and in the planning of the town’s barn dances each fall for the past several years.BLUM started painting about 12 years ago, when she finished college classes and decided to re-engage in a favorite hobby. "I’ve loved to paint and draw since I was a kid, and I took a few classes in college, but after graduating law school, I realized I wasn’t happy," Blum said. She decided to do something just for her, and shortly thereafter she enrolled in a class at the Art League in Alexandria, better known as the Torpedo Factory. That was the end of her unhappiness. "I started taking one class and never looked back," she said.Soon, Blum was taking masters level courses, traveling for shows and classes and learning how to work through creative dry spells and difficult pieces."We had to do things over and over again and wipe it away and try it again," Blum said. "I became a much faster painter, I got comfortable using bolder strokes."She hopes her students are enjoying her classes as much as she is enjoying teaching them."When I decided to start, it was because folks asked me what they should do to fix their projects," she said. "It was so much fun. I loved looking at a project and saying, ‘OK, this is what you need to do,’ and seeing how the painting came together. I enjoyed the ability to show how not difficult it can be."THE CLASSES IN HERNDON, on Thursday evenings, are for beginning and intermediate painters and center on a particular topic. Blum brings in various objects for her students to paint and helps them when they ask for her advice. In Lorton, the classes are structured a little differently. Students, for the most part, bring in projects they’ve already been working on, and Blum gives advice and offers suggestions to help bring the pieces to completion. She’s especially fascinated with the environment at the Workhouse in Lorton. Some day, when Blum has free time between teaching classes and her full-time job as a mortgage banking lobbyist — she admits it’s been a "complex" job as of late — Blum would like to take a dance class at the Workhouse or branch out to paint landscapes."Every time I drive by the creek in Clifton, I’d like to jump out of my car, set up an easel and paint it," she said. "There’s one area in particular, where the creek bends with fallen trees, but I know people love to paint the General Store."She’d also like to do more portraits, where the strokes aren’t as daring and the real challenge is making the final product resemble the subject."Portraits are very intense and you have to take a concentrated approach," she said. "With a still life, there’s paint flying around. When you do a portrait, you can really enjoy the concept of putting colors down."IN THE MEANTIME, Blum will continue teaching at both facilities and enjoy living in Clifton with her husband, Dave, a lifelong Clifton resident, and their son, David, 7, a student at St. Leo the Great Catholic School in Fairfax.Blum muses that becoming a painter full time is a nice idea, but one of her former classmates and teachers, Kurt Schwarz, is convinced she could make the switch from part-time painter to full-time artist."She’s a very hard worker, very dedicated," said Schwarz, whom Blum met at the Torpedo Factory more than a decade ago. "She’s very talented with her color and her brush work. She’s developed a technique of teaching where she starts a painting in a bit of an earth tone background and makes it work. It’s a very individual style and I’m very proud of her."Schwarz said Blum could very well make a full-time living as an artist if she wanted to, a vote of confidence not many artists will ever hear.While Blum’s students would no doubt support her if she chose to paint full time, they would undoubtedly miss her optimism and sunny disposition."She is the definition of vitality," said Tricia Ratliff, a student in Blum’s Herndon class. "I really think for her, the world is a happy place."Ratliff likes the personal attention she gets from Blum’s classes and the help she’s received on her own projects."I haven’t been able to find a class like this anywhere," she said. "If you’re working on a project for a gallery exhibit, she coaches you to make the outcome more successful."Blum has become a fixture in the Northern Virginia art scene; she is the Maryland and Virginia ambassador to the Portrait Society of America and is currently working on their annual conference in Reston later this spring. She’s already hoping to be invited back to teach at both the ArtSpace in Herndon and the Workhouse in Lorton for the spring sessions."Teaching isn’t something I set out to do, but I really enjoy it," she said.

I'M TEACHING ART CLASSES THIS WINTER

Hi everyone. I'm going to be teaching three art classes starting in January. One in Herndon at ArtSpace and two at the Lorton Art Center. Here are the descriptions. Please contact me if you have any questions at info@vickiblum.com:

At ArtSpace Herndon

Beginning/Intermediate Oil Painting
Thursdays 7pm-10pm
Starting January 22 – March 12, 2009
(no class February 19, 2009)

Learn classical methods of painting. Work will be done from your photos or a still life set-up. This class will focus on how to begin and finish a painting. Starting with toning the canvas and drawing your subject, students move quickly into painting thick alla prima layers of light and shadow colors. This will be followed with refinements to value and color in a series of thick and thin glazes. Come ready to paint your favorite person, place or still life. Recommended for beginning and intermediate painters who want to improve the realistic appearance of their work. $187

Location: ArtSpace Classroom 1 @ 750 Center Street, Herndon VA 20170

To Register: Contact Vicki Blum at 703-618 6070 or email her at mailto:VVidal@mortgagebankers.org. For this class you have to register with me.

Visit Vicki’s website, http://www.vickiblum.com/ and www.mosaya.com/vickiblum.

At Lorton Art Center:

Still Life Painting with Light and Life
Sunday from 1pm-4pm

Class Starts: Jan 18 (9 weeks)

Create color-rich still lifes in oil. This class will focus on how to create a still life painting. Students will learn the importance of creating interesting compositions, how to draw the subject matter with energy and block in light and shadow colors. Students will then refine the work in a series of glazed layers. Observation of hot and cool colors and light and shadow will be stressed to improve the three dimensionality of your work. Recommended for beginning and intermediate painters who want to improve the realistic appearance of their work.
For: Beginners/Intermediate (adults)
Code: MXM106W09 (W-9)
Tuition: $220
Supplies: Supplies list given after registration.
To Register, direct your browser to Lorton Art Foundation: https://tickets.workhousearts.org/public/loader.asp?target=hall.asp?event=454

From Camera to Canvas
Lorton Art Center

Class Starts: Jan 18 (9 weeks)
Beginning and intermediate students will learn the principles of representational oil painting techniques by creating works of art from their own photographs. Starting with picking the right photos and blocking in the drawing, students will then layer thick alla prima paint based on light and shadow patterns. This will be followed by refining the drawing, color, edges and values. Students are free to choose any subject matter for their paintings.
For: Beginners/Intermediate (adults)
Meets: Sun (10am-1pm)
Code: MXM105W09 (W-9)
Tuition: $220
Supplies: Supplies list given after registration.
To Register, direct your browser to Lorton Art Foundation: https://tickets.workhousearts.org/public/loader.asp?target=hall.asp?event=457

Teaching Still Life Class at Herndon ARTSpace

I am fortunate enough to be teaching another still life painting course, this time at the new and fabulous ARTSpace in old town Herndon. The class is designed for beginners and intermediate painters who want to add 3-dimensionality to their work. The class is designed to be instructional but low stress. Bring your oil paints, brushes and creativity and be ready to have some fun!!

I also thought it would be fun to show you some examples from the last class I taught. My demonstration is at the top. The students' works are underneath!!!! Fantastic job Karen and Suzanne!!! All the students really knocked out amazing work. I just wish I had taken photos throughout the course to show you just how great the students painted.

Below is more information about my course. Please contact me if you have any questions. I have also included some of the other offerings at the center in case those are more to your liking.

Still Life Oil Painting with Light & Life - Thursdays 7:00-10pm taught by Vicki Blum, $187 for 7 weeks beginning October 2nd

Location: ArtSpace Classroom 1 @ 750 Center Street, Herndon VA 20170
To register: Contact Vicki Blum at 703-618 6070 or email her at info@vickiblum.com
Visit Vicki’s website, http://www.vickiblum.com/ and www.mosaya.com/vickiblum.
Vicki may also be teaching portrait painting next session based on demand.

Open Studio with Figure Model - Wednesdays 7:30-10pm Draw, paint, or sculpt with a live figure/portrait model and other artists
$75 + model fee for 5 weeks beginning September 24th
Location: ArtSpace Classroom 1 @ 750 Center Street, Herndon VA 20170
To register: Contact Tricia Ratliff at triciasart@gmail.com

Open Studio - Fridays 7:30-10pm
BeginningOctober 10th 2008$60 for 5 weeks beginning October 3, 2008
Location: ArtSpace Classroom 1 @ 750 Center Street, Herndon VA 20170 To Register: Contact Tricia Ratliff at triciasart@gmail.com

Sculpture Class for ages 18 & up - Tuesdays 6:30pm - 9pm
taught by Guy Zollar
8, 2.5 hour sessions, October 7th - November 25th
$160 for Town Residents, $198 for Non-residents.
Location: ArtSpace Classroom 1 @ 750 Center Street, Herndon VA 20170
To Register: Contact the Herndon Community Center, this class is currently advertised in the Herndon Parks and Recreation Department Fall Booklet

Sold A Painting at Metamorphosis Show

I participated in the Metamorphosis show last weekend at the suggestion of my good friend and talented artist Trish Ratliff. The show was held at the Willow Restuarant in Ballston. I don't know if you know that restuarant, but they have excellent food. During the show, they offered various food samplings to patrons as they viewed local artists' works. I was fortunate enough to sell the above painting. Honestly it was one of my recent favorites that was hanging on my office wall....well until last weekend. I would like to thank my patrons for stopping by and for the recent purchase.

Another Work in Progress

Here is another work in progress. I'm a bit stymied because out of the 300 pictures of Lucy, I did not get one with a complete left hand (and I want that left hand in her lap). I'm going to substitute another hand (maybe my son's) in her place. Lots of work ahead of me, but since this photo I've been working on the chair and background. The painting's larger than the image shown here, but I like how I cropped this and may choose to cut down the final painting. I need inspiration or a huge jolt of focused energy!

65th Waterford Home Tour and Red Barn Exhibit and Art Mart

I have never been involved in this show, but Waterford is a pretty artsy place -- so I understand. Some very fine artists, like Trisha Adams, exhibit at this show. Website: http://www.waterfordfoundation.org/fair/index.html


Here's the scoop:


Red Barn Exhibit, October 3, 4, & 5, 2008
The Red Barn Exhibit is a juried show. Artists are allowed to enter two pieces for consideration for $15. They take 25% commission if works sell. Work can't be larger than 36" x 36"
Submission Deadline is September 1. Delivery date of accepted work is September 26 & 27, 2nd Floor, Red Barn (sorry no address given, but prospectus has directions). Pick up unsold work on October 5 from 5-6pm or October 6, 10 am -12 pm.


The Art Mart
Also part of the Waterford event is the Art Mart. This event is limited to works of $400 or less. No work can be larger than 36 x 36. Work in the Art Mart cannot be duplicated for the Red Barn Exhibit. You can enter as many pieces as you like!!! This show costs $15 for an unlimited number of entries (but the $15 fee is separate from the Red Barn Exhibit). Delivery dates are September 26 & 27. Just show up with your work--no jurying--super cool. Special rules for large volume entries. Pick up unsold work on October 5 from 5-6 pm or October 6, 10 am - 12 pm.


Student Art Exhibit
Finally at the Waterford event there is a Student Art Exhibit. The show is open to Loudoun County residents who are seniors in high school or who have just graduated. The Florence Kiley Fellowship is awarded at this event and the winner gets to exhibit his/her piece at the Red Barn Exhibit. It appears there is only one winner who get exhibited. The winner also gets $2,500--NICE. Delivery of Art: September 26 at the Tin Shop, 15481 Second St. 10 am - 2 pm. Pick up of non-winning entries is September 29, 30 and Oct 1, 10 am - 4pm


Call for full prospectus: (540)882-3018

Studio Space Available in Norther VA

If anyone is looking for studio space, I heard two locations are taking applications.



Columbia Pike Artist Studios in Arlington.

Great Studios and if I had the money I would love to be in this location. Some fine artists have their studios there. Call Nancy Fortwengler, npfpastels@yahoo.com



Artists' Warehouse, Alexandria

Located on Duke Street (I think) 2.5 miles from the Torpedo Factory. 200 sq to 1000 sq feet available with onsite parking!! Contact Liz Boynton (703) 579-4227 or boyntonliz@yahoo.com