Arabic Lesson And Book Arts

Books Books, oh how I love books!

But before we get to the books portion, I wanted to share a story about how I accidentally ended up getting a free private Arabic lesson.

As you may or may not know one of the languages I'm studying is predominantly spoken in Pakistan and many, though not nearly as I had previously stereotyped, Pakistani people are Muslim.

So in attempt to find an Urdu speaker, I went to the Mosque looking for someone to ask. I didn't find an Urdu speaker but rather was invited to join a mother and a son taking a private Arabic lesson from the Imam (or Sheikh or 'Alim).

I could follow only a little from my basic Urdu but that's another story. 

While I was there I took a tour of the Mosque and was able to look through some of the books. I'm not sure if they were Qur'ans or not, since 90% of the Qur'ans I've seen in the past I have not been allowed to touch and I touched these.

Either way, they were beautifully illustrated. The calligraphy and design work was stunning...sooo beautiful! This beauty is a major reason I am learning Hindi and Urdu.

Ok, now back to books!

It's been a while since I've looked through a Koran. I used to love going to the University of Wyoming Rare Books Library and looking at all their beautiful books. Illuminated manuscripts, moralized bible, Gutenberg Bible, cuneiform scrolls, and rare Egyptian books. The list of my favorites goes on and on.

There is nothing better than a beautiful book. Which leads me to what I really wanted to share. My love for books, book arts and illustrated books. But in addition to other people's books I really enjoy the challenge of making my own.

I was accepted into and able to attended my first meeting with the Book Arts Club here in the Tri-Cities. It is a fun group of artists. They are encouraging and critical, which quite honestly is refreshing. I have found open critique a bit rare outside of the university. I am excited to continue creating books, stories, paper art and other works that fit this challenging genre.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the genera book arts I will write a blog post with the goal of explaining a bit more. I will also share some of my pieces inspired by Islamic culture and architecture.

Past Odd Random and Just Plain Bad Jobs

If you are looking for reasons you shouldn't be an art student of study humanities, this is not the post for you. Most of these jobs were either for fun or before I even graduated high school. I guess if anything the "bad ones" would be reasons to finish high school.

I recently took a personality test for a Bible study I'm in. It was the online free version of Myers-Briggs. If you don't know already, I'm an INFP/ENFP. 

Great Organization and Program

What this all means is that I'm crazy, love people, love excitement, and most everything in life is beautiful to me...I'm also fiercely independent and a free spirit.

There's an online ENFPs group I just joined and we are talking about our jobs. And since we all tend to be free spirits, its an interesting topic.

I thought that in addition to my resume post it would be fun to have an odd jobs post about all the odd (and even bad jobs) I've had as they all shape who I am.

Odd Random and just plain bad jobs
*In no particular order*

14. US-Brazil Connect - I taught English in Brazil for a month this pas summer.

13. Hotel Maid at a hotel where hourlys and weeklies were more common than vacationers and travelers - cleaned up a Crank lab and and hid under the pool during drug deals. I'm not sure that this one should be on line but I learned a lot about people and poverty. This was my first job and a real eye opener. They only get better from here.

Beautiful texture and color photo from Brazil.

12. Pool Girl - loved it

11. Alternative Bible and Book Store - I always got in trouble for reading the books.

10. Camp counselor - no running water or electricity and 40 miles of hiking a week. Church camp songs and fires. Home cooked food and sleeping im a teepee. Yes, please!

9. Day hab teacher at The Cooper Center for Creative Arts for adults with disabilities - 2 years

8. Residential Treatment facility Youth Worker in a deaf house - 1 year

7. AmeriCorps - I used the Education award for traveling.

6. Logo designer for The Wyoming Women's Business Center

5. Works of Wyoming Art Gallery - not really that random

4. Social Media trainer - trained artists on Facebook and blogging

3. Resident Assistant. Need I say more?

2. Corn on the Cob Butter Dipper/Carnie I  actually made bank with this one $17 an hour in high school. Not bad.

1. McDonald’s - 4 and a half years total and I really enjoyed it. Many of my coworkers were good friends

I hope you enjoyed...I'm sure I'll find or remember a number 15 and will be sure to add it.

Framing Tip: Work Backwards

I was talking to Brooke at You & I Framin and Gallery as I wad preparing to hang work for sale in her gallery. 

I explained how, for me, the framing is my biggest challenge. If you are like me, framing your work is sometimes overwhelming. You need to mat the work and pick colors or cut mats from scraps, decide whether it's worth paying for full sheets of mat board knowing that you will potentially save you and the buyer a few bucks but at the same time if you mess up then it becomes more expensive. 

There are entirely too many problems and questions when it comes to preparing your work for an exhibition.

Brooke suggested that artists on a budget work backwards. Since the frame is the most expensive aspect of the process, find them in your grandmother's attic, with bad art that can be tossed, on sale, and at yard sales. Once you have the frame you have the largest possible dimensions for your work. And the rest is easy. 

This trick sounded almost too good to be true but I used this tip for my work that went up at You&I and I htink it turned out quite nicely.

Felicia Follum Art+ Artwork in the Kennewick Art Walk at You&I Framing and Gallery

I expected working this way to be limiting but frames of all sizes can be found on sale it really wasn't that much of a restriction at all. I even had a few frames that fit the standard sized pieces of art already.

Great advice! Thank you You&I!

Beginners Watercolor Workshop (in January 2015)

Tuesday Evenings in January (4th, 13th, 20th, and 27th)
5:30pm – 8pm

About the Instructor 

At The Well - Felicia Follum

Resume blog post can be found here.

Felicia Follum is a watercolor artist and graphic designer. Her work often focuses on cultural diversity, social issues or the mixing of cultures. Her watercolor paintings can be recognized by their bright colors, and bold textures.

Felicia recently moved to the Tri-Cities from Laramie, Wyoming and is excited to become a part of the arts community here.

Though not a traditional art teacher Felicia has experience teaching art to a wide variety of students including at risk teens, adults with disabilities, and young children in the favelas of Brazil as well as women and children in a small village in Haiti. She absolutely loves sharing art with people in a variety of ways.

She is looking forward to meeting you in her next class.


Beginners Watercolor Workshop

This workshop will cover basic watercolor techniques, supplies, and color mixing. We will also discus how watercolor is different from non-water mediums and ways to use this to our advantage so we can resist the urge to fight against it.

Eden Watercolor - Felicia Follum

"I have a love for bright colors so of course we will discuss some strategies for achieving bright and vivid colors."

Optional homework will be given to offer the chance to reinforce what we practiced during the workshop and to encourage some review throughout the week.



Supplies - Paper, Paint, Brushes, Other