The reverend of rust, the master of the macabre, senor sinister, the duke of dinginess...
Michael deMeng is returning for a 3-day teaching stint at collage in June!
Michael is one of our favorite instructors! He's known the world over for his macabre style of assemblage art. As an author and nationally known assemblage artist Michael teaches at various venues/retreats throughout the year--across the US and in Mexico.
We're very excited to have him back at collage!
Check out his upcoming creepy
(yet yummy) classes listed below...
:::MICHAEL DeMENG CLASSES:::
COLD BLOODED JOURNALS
Friday June 10th---9am-5pm---@ Alberta St Store---$135
“Sssssssssssssss” –translation from snake language: “Howdy”.
This class is all about reptiles and snaky things, and the reason is that I recently came across a product that creates a nice scaly surface. Ssssso it dawned on me that this would be an interesting technique to use one a semi-sculptural surface, and to make it even more interesting I thought that it would be interesting to make that surface an object that could be used everyday. That surface? A sketchbook, for the cold-blooded. Of course you can fill the sketchbook with whatever you like but the exterior is going to be built up and scaled up to the point in which if you’re not noticed walking down the street with this…well…there probably isn’t anyone on the street. Ssssssounds sssssssswell doesssssssn’t it? Yesssssssssssss!
::: Supply List :::
---Hardback Journal or sketchbook.
---Kroma Crackle – this is very very very important. You NEED this. You can get it here: ---1/4lb (or more) Aves Apoxy Clay (non toxic epoxy putty)
---available at collage ---Variety of found objects that might be interesting. If you want a more creature inspired journal, then things like fake eyes, rubber snakes, bones, shells, claws or other weird taxidermy items might come in handy.
---Other items for extra decoration - like watch parts, gears, typewriter parts…. just about anything, really. Milagros, bolts, pieces of old metal, straps of leather…anything.
---Paint Brushes (a couple small detail brushes, and some cheap brushes (1/2 inch to 1 inch in size) ---Dap Kwik Seal Plus (white) or Molding Paste (also called modeling paste)
---E6000 adhesive ---Small bottle of Elmer's Glue (needs to be this particular brand)
---GOLDEN Acrylic Paints (either fluid or heavy body)--available at collage
Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold
Black (Mars or Carbon)
Titanium White
Pthalo Green (blue shade)
Dioxazine Purple
Quinacridone Crimson
::Optional Paints::
Anthraquinone Blue
Pthalo Blue (red or green shade)
Pretty Vial Things
Saturday June 11th 9am-5pm---@ Alberta St Store---$135
When I was a kid I loved the idea of magic potions. Remember how Alice drank from the bottle to become very very tall, and of course Dr. Jekyll turned into his hairy eye-browed buddy Mr. Hyde the same way…different recipe apparently. There must be some very interesting mojo in those little containers …some good…some not so good. In this class we are not going to be making the elixirs (that might be illegal in some states) but rather we are going to be designing the little bottles that house these strange liquids. We will be using various assemblage techniques to create some pretty vial things; part of the fun is deciding what they are going to hold and coming up with the appropriate housing. Whether it for turning into hairy monsters (which comes in handy), a potion for invisibility (also very handy), or a place to store the water from the fountain of youth (send me two right away), the containers will be as rich and strange as the contents. Down the hatch!
::: Supply List :::
---A couple of empty bottles. They can be made out of anything and can be any size or shape. Even simple bottles can be turned into something bizarre. Variety of found objects that might be interesting additions to the vial.
---Items like watch parts, gears, typewriter parts…. Just about anything, really. Milagros, bolts, pieces of old metal, straps of leather…anything.
---Mesh, scraps of burlap, or cloth can make for nice decorative coverings
---Collage elements ---1/4lb Aves Apoxy Clay (non toxic epoxy putty). Available at collage
---Masking tape –Tan colored
---Paint Brushes (a couple small detail brushes, and some cheap brushes (1/2 inch to 1 inch in size) ---String, twine and wire (a couple of different smaller gauges)
---Basic Tools…pliers, scissors
---Golden Matte Medium – fluid--available at collage
---GOLDEN Acrylic Paint-- fluid or heavy body will work---available at collage
Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold
Black (Mars or Carbon)
Titanium White
Pthalo Green (blue shade)
Dioxazine Purple
Van Dyke Brown
Paynes Gray
Quinacridone Crimson
Dr. X-Ray's Portrait
Sunday June 12th---9am-5pm---@ Alberta St Store---$135
Remember those ads in the back of comic books for X-ray glasses. I was always fascinated by these; I never owned a pair (mostly because my parents told me that it would be a waste of money and they wouldn’t work), but I really wanted to see what it would be like to have the powers of Superman. What I think was intriguing wasn’t the ability to see through something, but rather the ability to experience a variety of visual layers simultaneously. What an amazing experience that would be. So here’s a class for you if you have had similar thoughts or ambitions. In this class we will be exploring the art of layered imagery using transparencies as well as a combination of painting, collage, and assemblage. Using mostly paint and glue, I’ll show you some nifty little tricks involving those see through images that will create some ghostly effects. Students will create a strange layered world that combines the visible and the semi-invisible…. way better than those X-ray glasses.
P.S. I wanted to title this class “I Can See Clearly Now” with the Johnny Nash song playing in the background. “Boom ba, ba boom ba boom ba”. After all you’ll see all obstacles in your way, AND I have no doubt that “it will be a bright, bright sunshiny day”.
::: Supply List :::
GOLDEN Acrylic Paint-either fluid or heavy body will work---available at collage
Titanium White
Mars (or Carbon) Black
Quinacridone Gold
Quinacridone Crimson
Dioxazine Purple
Pthalo Blue
Pthalo Green (blue shade)
Optional Paints (bring’em if you got’em)
Van Dyke Brown
Nickel Azo Yellow
Anthraquinone Blue
---Brushes: Bristle Brush ½ to 1 inch-ish in size A good quality liner brush
---Mica Spittings-hese are clear transparent sheets of mica---available at collage
---Small tube of E6000 (Household Goop works too)
---Cutting tools-Scissors or an exacto knife
---Old photos – these will go behind your transparencies. I like to use/bring a plethora of images…more is better. You’ll never know what will come in handy.
---Transparencies-Find some images you would like to work with. I like make transparencies out of the photos I’m using…that way you create a ghosty 3d effect. You can print these on a inkjet printer or a laser printer (the laser will be less likely to run). You can also take your images to a copy shop and have them made.
---Ephemera and non-transparent collage items. Could be anything from paper to fabric, to mesh to whatever. A variety of small doodads….and when I say variety, I mean variety. Anything that has an interesting shape, pattern or color would be good.
---A small box, frame, cigar box, or block of wood. This will be the base of your piece. Your photos and transparencies need to fit on this. I would say nothing over 5” x 7”.
Register for classes in store or by phone with a credit card.
Alberta St Store 503.249.2190
Payment must occur at time of registration
Full refunds will be issued forcancellations that occur at least 72 hours prior to class start time.
Nice article, thanks for the information.
Posted by: sewa mobil | April 15, 2011 at 08:38 PM
Those are some very interesting and unique artwork. I wish my local college had a class like this. I would join in a heartbeat!
Posted by: iPod docking station with speakers | April 17, 2011 at 10:53 PM
thanks! We have a new blog now http://www.collagepdx.blogspot.com
Posted by: maria@collagepdx.com | June 13, 2011 at 04:15 PM
Welcome back and I just visited your new blog too.Nice read by the way.I love his artistic taste.
Posted by: HP Printer Ink | November 18, 2011 at 03:56 AM