My teaching experience includes teaching in the public school system (I am licensed in the state of Virginia to teach art Pre K- 12) privately, through the Studio School in Roanoke, VA. (at Towers Mall), The Art Box, Lynchburg, VA., and 310 Art Gallery at the Rivers Edge Art Complex in Asheville, NC.
Be sure to also check the Studio School and 310 Art Gallery websites for details and updates!
The Studio School, Towers Mall Roanoke, VA
310 Art Gallery, Asheville, NC
(Click Studio School and 310 Art Gallery above for a direct link to that site.)
Adult Classes at The Studio School, Roanoke, VA
Upper Level Towers Mall
FALL 2019 Classes
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Contemporary Shrines, Image Transfers and Mixed Media Magic
3 classes: Mondays, November 11, 18, 25 5:30 -8:00 PM
Most people immediately connect the word “shrine’ with something either religious or contemplative. For this class, a shrine is a self-contained expression of a single thought or theme. (Family, pet, or even a thought or idea.) That’s a pretty broad definition that leaves the door open for a variety of interpretations.
Choose an image of a favorite family member, pet or animal, subject or object and lift it to a place of honor using mixed media and collage. Participants will learn various ways to create image transfers, and design a textured Shrine base using a Wabi-Sabi technique with natural fibered papers and ephemera. Once transferred and designed you will be able to take these components and construct your personal shrine. Gina provides an ‘arch’ and a cradled base panel which measure 6” x 6”, decorative papers, paints, inks, brushes and adhesives, and more.
Bring your own good contrast laser (toner, not inkjet) copies of your choice of images no larger than 4” x 6”, some need to be 2” wide. Recommended highly: Personalize your work further using your personal items, your own stencils, etc
(stamps, small beads, mosaic pieces, and collage materials, or small objects you may choose to bring.) Email Gina for questions.
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Cold Wax Alchemy
2 days: Saturday December 7 and Sunday December 8, 2019
10 AM to 4 PM.
Cold wax oil painting mediums create luminous,
glowing surfaces, capable of fine detail and subtlety,
without the use of heat. We will look atactual examples of various working methods,and create original pieces and explore surfaces
and effects possible with the cold wax medium and oil.We'll use it as a surface treatment to createcompleted paintings, collages, and incorporate mixed media (including copiedphotos), by adding wax with various 'found' tools. All skill levels would benefit from this class, especially beginners.
Bring only your oil paint, and wood panels (or Arches oil paper).
Contact Gina when you sign up, and for more info.
Lunch breaks both days.
WINTER 2019 Classes
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Cold Wax Alchemy and Open Studio
5 Mondays: Mondays, January 27 through March 2 (no class Feb.17)
5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. pm.
Cold wax oil painting mediums create luminous, glowing surfaces, capable of fine detail and subtlety, without the use of heat. We will create original pieces and explore effects possible with the cold wax medium by using it as a surface treatment to createcompleted paintings, collages, and incorporate mixed media (including copiedphotos), by adding wax with various 'found' tools. All skill levels would benefitfrom this class, especially beginners.For previous cold wax participants, Gina will offer critiques, and be there to assist in developing you visual journey. *Bring oil paints, and Arches oil paper or recommended 8” x 8” birchboard panels, an old used giftcard, wax paper, Wet Ones, and a 12” palette knife or icing spreader. Gina will bring tools and several materials for you to try, plus furnish one jar of cold wax. (Needs 4 to make) Email Gina with questions,
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Wabi-Sabi Mixed Media Accordion and Bound Books
Two Days: Saturday & Sunday, January 11 and 12
10:00 am to 3:00 pm
This is a great way to create enchanting, mystical mixed media works and fold and bind them into small books or journals! The Wabi-Sabi aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete”. Learn a new way to approach mixed media collage on the first day, and create small books from those collages on the second day! We will also learn three ways to create image transfers. Each participant will have access book binding tools to use, a variety of patterned, and fibrous papers, and two large base sheets to collage onto. Permanent waterproof pens, various inks, acrylics, and stains will be shared with the class. Please bring scissors, paper towels, and Wet Ones. If you have these on hand: vintage papers, ephemera, handwritten paper, laser copies with small images (3” or less.). You can never have enough paper!
Beginners welcome. For additional information please contact Gina at lougael@gmail.com.
Workshops At 310 Art Gallery, Asheville, N.C.
Coming in 2020: Registration open at
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CONTEMPORARY SHRINES, IMAGE TRANSFERS AND MIXED MEDIA
June 6 and June 7, 2020
10 am -4pm
No experience necessary.
Most people immediately connect the word “shrine’ with something either religious or contemplative. For this class, a shrine is a self-contained expression of a single thought or theme. (Family, pet, or even a thought or idea {nature}.)
That’s a pretty broad definition that leaves the door open for a variety of interpretations.
Choose an image of a favorite family member, pet or animal, theme or object and lift them to a place of honor using mixed media and collage. Participants will create a ‘Personal or Contemporary Shrine’ by the end of class. We will first create a textured base using a Wabi-Sabi technique with natural fibered papers and ephemera, adding inks and mediums, and then focus on three types of image transfers of your chosen subject/theme and you will learn methods of placing the image-transferred subject on the panel(s) in a place of honor. Once transferred, you can create an interesting surface and visual frame. Bring your own good contrast laser (toner, not inkjet) copies of your choice of images no larger than 4” x 6’ for the project and some that are no more than 2” wide for practice. You may want to bring two copies of the same image.
Gina will provide the wooden base (6” x 6”), a house and arch shape, some natural fiber papers, acrylic paints, Walnut ink, brushes, Pan Pastels, texturing materials, glue, transfer materials, assorted stencils and stamps and more.
Optional, but highly recommended: Personalize your work using your own stencils, stamps, milagros, small beads, mosaic pieces, small nails or brads, and collage materials, or small personal objects you may choose to bring. Also bring scissors, paper towels and Wet Ones.
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Encaustic Pendants June 9, 2020 10-4 pm
No experience needed.
Fee includes all wax, solder, soldering irons and soldering setups, one chain included, and other items needed!
Participants will create up to four soldered pendants, with the largest being 1” wide and up to 3” long. We will use wax, metal and small inclusions. For a more personal pendant, you may wish to bring such items as dried flowers, small inspirational words, bits of collage/decorative papers, lace, beads, or small flat charms. If you would like, you can enhance small 1” x 1 ½” to 1” x 3” images from your color or B&W laser printer by placing them in with the wax. Learn fantastic skills and have fun in this exciting new class at 310 ART. (Extra materials will be available for purchase should you wish to create more.) Be sure to bring a drink and lunch!
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Soul Totem and Shield Making-Taking Encaustic to 3-D
July 11 and July 12, 2020 10-4 pm
Beginners welcome or even if you have prior experience with Encaustic you can enhance your skills. Gina will cover safety and basics of Encaustics as needed.
A totem is considered something such as and animal or plant that s the symbol for a family, tribe, etc. especially among the Native Americans. In America today, a totem can be a carved or painted form, person; it could be a realistic or abstract idea.
In this workshop we will dive right in exploring the sculptural possibilities of plaster cloth, wax and encaustic making a totem and shield which best represents your personal idea or creative desire. Rigid and absorbent when dry, plaster cloth makes a wonderful support for dimensional encaustic work. Once the form is created, we will apply Encaustic medium and fuse it to the sculptural composition using a variety of techniques. In the class, we will have a 12” disc and 12” rectangular shape to use as a base for the plaster cloth. As the structures near completion, you will learn how to add found or small personal objects into the sculptures to create your ‘totem’ and discuss ways to finish and display your totem. As we create, we will contemplate our forms and their meanings to us personally, or you can choose to go abstract. Gina will bring the two forms, plaster cloth, decorative papers, Encaustic Medium and pigments, oil sticks, oil pastels, and tools.
Bring your own fodder such as decorative papers, ephemera, small rusty nails, thin fabrics, found objects, thin wire, organic matter, buttons, etc. Bring paper towels, Wet Ones, and Scissors.
AT The Art Box, in Lynchburg
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Coming Soon: Contact Gina for more info! Encaustic Monotype 4 day Encaustic Emersion for ALL Levels (These new to the medium are welcome as Gina will cover the basics.)
Some of the other classes I teach are:
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Making Altered and Handmade Books
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Cold Wax Alchemy
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Soldered Silver or Encaustic Pendants
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Encaustic, Beginning and Advanced, and Encaustic Printmaking
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Art Critiques and Individual Study (Private Lessons for adults and children individually or groups.)
Reviews and Comments:
"Gina is one of the shing star instructors from which I have had the pleasure of gleaning a lot of information in a fairly short block of time. Her demeanor is exciting, cheerful, and filled with human kindness. She is among one of the most creative artists I know and always going in a new direction. I wish Gina all the success she deserves." Beverly White. Salem, VA
"Gina's classes are packed full of demo's, discussion, hands on technique,and plenty of supplies to use at your leisure.
With most all of the supplies included I didn't mind venturing into a new media without spending extra for supplies. The end result, I am hooked and have meet yet another amazing instructor. When's the next class?" Penny S., VA.
"Oh, what FUN! I learned so much in Gina's class on Cold Wax. She is very knowledgable and makes learning a pleasure. Can't wait to take another workshop with her." Barbara Norman Lashley
"I've travelled far to take classes, and I have to say Gina is a jewel of an instructor right here in the Roanoke Valley. I'm very excited to get this instruction right here at home!" G. C.
"I can not tell you how much I learned! Gina is very knowledgeable and answered all my questions and inspired me so much!" S.R.
"Thank you for helping me develop my vision in printmaking!" A.S.
"I walked away from your class with work I enjoyed creating, and will hang it in my home. I also love your teaching style." P.T.
"You have encouraged me to step outside the box by presenting options on how to move forward, thank you!" A.D.
"I could watch your demos all day! I have learned so much!" S.M.
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ON CALL CLASSES - (This is an open schedule; as soon as I have two-four people with interest, I will schedule a class. Call or email if you are interested.) Call or email for more info! I am here to help you reach your creative goals!
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If you desire group or private lessons, I can schedule a class at my home studio or your location.
Hourly/Daily rates will be quoted upon inquiry.
Please contact me by email in regards to private lessons, workshops and classes. I teach a variety of classes and workshops in my studio, at the Studio School in Roanoke, VA, 310 Art Gallery in Asheville, N.C. or location of your choice.