Author Archives: doctorjohnr

Jackson Potts: Rock N’ Roll Portraits

Picture

IMAGO’s own Jackson Potts has his first gallery show!  If you are not going to the Imago retreat, definitely check out the show.  Check out a great article about the show.  Proceeds from the show and donations go to Jackson’s “Africa Through the Eyes of a Child” Project sponsored by Living Water International.  Donate here.  

Gallery Opening:  Saturday, August 20th 7pm-9pm

Catalina (2201 Washington Avenue Houston, TX 77007)
After Party:  Saturday August 20th 8pm-12pm (tickets $5)

@ Warehouse Live (813 St. Emanuel St. Houston, TX 77003)

featuring:

Sara Van Buskirk

Kuumba Freeque
Cody Jasper

Knifight

Benjamin Wesley

First Annual IMAGO Art Retreat August 20-21

Sign-up is now open!

When: Saturday 8/20 @ 10am to Sunday 8/21 @ noon.
Where: Hunt Retreat Center  (34711 Hunt Road, Brookshire, TX)
Speaker: Christy Tennant, Director of the International Arts Movement department on Global Community and Engagement

 

Topic: Criticism: A Knife that Wounds Can Also Sharpen
In this artists’ retreat, we will take an honest look at how nonconstructive criticism can wound and damage artists and cause blocks in the creative process. Then, having addressed these “arrows,” we will go on to explore how to give — and receive — criticism in a way that is healthy and helpful. To finish, we will consider what we can learn about our own creative processes by looking to God himself, the ultimate Creator, whose image we bear.
– Christy Tennant
Workshops:
+ “How to critique art” — by Christy Tennant
+ Art Journal & Artist Trading Card workshop — by Beth Brubaker
Cook: Jenny Higgins
Cost: $125
Contact: To sign up or request additional information,
please email John at john.robertson@imagohouston.com
Where: Hunt Retreat Center in Brookshire, Texas.
Deadline for sign up EXTENDED:  August 14th
RETREAT SCHEDULE:
SATURDAY
9:00 AM – Check-In
10:00 AM – Introduction of speaker
10:10 AM – Part I: The Knife That Cuts
12:00 PM – Lunch
1:30 PM  – Art journal and trading card workshop
3:30 PM – Part II: The Knife That Sharpens
5:30 PM – Dinner
7:00 PM –  Criticism workshop:
9:00 PM – Free time (board games, musical jam session, poetry reading… basically anything you want to do)SUNDAY
8:00 AM – Breakfast
9:00 AM – Worship time (with original worship songs by Christy Tennant)
9:30 AM – Part III: The Creator Whose Image We Bear
11:30 AM – Introduction of Imago “Quarterly Critiques” by Eric Hartley
12:00 PM – Clean up and Depart

Other information:
Sleeping arrangements:
– Girls get their own beds and a roommate (each bedroom has it’s own bathroom)
– Guy’s all bunk in the same room.
–  Just like a real summer camp!

What to bring:
– Sheets and pillows
– Favorite Dessert and Snacks
– Favorite Board games
– Musical instrument (if you play) or poetry, etc. to share.

– Favorite cheap art supplies for the art journal/trading card workshop
– Towels

ECHOS

Imago’s Holy Week 2011 Art Show @ Houston’s First Baptist Church

Imago is hosting the third annual Holy Week Art Show at Houston’s First Baptist Church.  This year’s theme is ECHOS.   Each piece is inspired by a sermon preached at the church in 2010, echoing the Word of God from the artist back to our congregation through the medium of the Arts.

16 amateur and professional artists will create work in multiple styles
and mediums.

Alicia Ashdown
Allison Fox
Beth Brubaker
Dana Helbling
Eric Hartley
Eric Ober
Fredna Manney
Jack Potts
Jeff Austin
John Robertson
Laurie Pearson
Linda Moore
Lori Latham
Mark Nasso
Omar Gonzalez
Wendy Smith

ECHOS will run from April 10th through Easter Sunday (April 24th), 2011.
Meet the artist reception is on April 13th from 6-8pm in the main foyer on the west side of the church.  For those interested in learning more about Imago, an informational meeting will be held on May 7th in the Garden room from 7-9pm.

Below the “ECHOS HOLY WEEK 2011” book will be on sale at HFBC for $40.
It displays the artists’ work for this show. Proceeds go to IMAGO Houston, which engages artists and the Arts for the Glory of God.

ECHOS HOLY WEEK 2011 book cover

ECHOS Schedule:
ECHOS show: 04/10-24 (M-F, 8am-5pm. Sun 8am-8pm) in the west foyer.
“Meet the Artist Night”
04/13 from 6-8pm

Imago informational meeting and coffeehouse: 05/07 in the Garden room (NE corner of church behind gym) from 7-9pm.

Address of church:
Houston’s First Baptist Church
7401 Katy Freeway, Houston 77024

Web address:  http://imagohouston.org

What is Imago?
A welcoming community for Christian artists and art lovers to explore the intersection of life, the Arts, and faith.

for more information about imago, email us at john.robertson@imaghouston.org

Creativity and Safety are Incompatible

And the people said AMEN.  Check out this article by Cole NeSmith from Relevant magazine. – John

Why creativity is a dangerous—and necessary—process.

We live in a culture consumed by safety. There are organizations completely dedicated to making sure we’re safe while working and traveling and eating and doing just about any other common practice. And, being good westerners, we’ve allowed our cultural obsession for safety to define our lives as Christians.

We’ve spent the last several hundred years sterilizing our relationship with Christ into a religion that is neat, defined, predictable … and might I say, systematic? We’ve worked hard to eliminate as much of the unknown as possible, and we wonder why we feel distant from a God who exists in the mysterious. We try to compensate with our heads by creating large educational institutions where we can further define and attempt to know God intellectually…(read more)

 

Salt and Light

I would like to take a moment to brag on Imago member Beth Brubaker.  She recently submitted some of her artwork along with  other artists (over 500 pieces of art submitted) and was one of the 60 selected to be shown in Gambol, an upcoming juried show by the Houston Art League (1953 Montrose Boulevard).  The show will run from November 19 – December 17 with an opening reception on November 19th from 6-9pm.  See more of her art work here.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:13-16
– John, Imago Director

 

 

Encounter 11 | Be Generative

Encounter 11 | Be Generative

March 3-5, 2011

Downtown New York City

 

Encounter 11 | Be Generative is the 20th anniversary conference of International Arts Movement. It is for thinkers, skeptics, artists, patrons, singers, dancers, musicians, clergy, business leaders, students, professionals, and other creative catalysts.

Encounter 11 | Be Generative will inspire each of us to engage our fragmented and dehumanized cultures and, by thinking creatively and generatively, bring forth a more whole and beautiful world.

Encounter 11 | Be Generative is a place for all to gather, to wrestle with the questions of our time, to be inspired by performances, lectures, exhibitions, panel discussions, and one another, to break down barriers and make connections, to discover new opportunities, to be challenged, to be affirmed, and to create the world that ought to be.

 

Imago Image Transfer Workshop

Taught by: Alicia Ashdown and John Robertson

Dry Gel Transfer

IMAGE TYPE: magazine image or toner-based

RECEIVING SURFACE: canvas board (this technique works on most surfaces)

MATERIALS: canvas board, soft gel, paintbrush, brayer, sandpaper, spray bottle

TIME: Up to 24 hours

TECHNIQUE:

  1. Using the paintbrush, apply gel to the background surface.
  2. Lay the paper image-surface down.
  3. Using your hands, smooth the image down on to the background.  If desired use a brayer.
  4. Let the image thoroughly dry, which could take as long as 24 hours.  Using the sandpaper, lightly rough up the back of the image.
  5. Using the spray bottle with water, moisten the back of the image.
  6. Using your finger, gently rub off a layer of paper.  Let the image dry.
  7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to rub off additional layers.
Clear Packing Tape 

IMAGE TYPE: toner-based (laser printer) or magazine

MATERIALS: toner image, clear packing tape, sandpaper, spray bottle of water

TECHNIQUE:

  1. Layer the packing tape to the size needed to cover the image.  Cut out the image.
  2. Using the sandpaper, lightly rough up the back of the image to break up the paper backing.
  3. Using the spray bottle with water, moisten the paper backing.
  4. Using your fingers, rub off the wet paper, leaving the ink on the packing tape.

Xylene Blender Marker Transfer

IMAGE TYPE: toner-based (laser printer) or magazine

RECEIVING SURFACE: paper
(also matte painted surfaces, metal, glass, Plexiglass, Sculpey/Fimo, and rocks will supposedly work)

MATERIALS: toner image, Chartpak AD Marker – Blender, drafting tape, bone folder

TIME: Less than 5 minutes

TECHNIQUE:

  1. Place image toner side down onto paper and secure one side with tape.
  2. Go over back of image with blender marker.
  3. Burnish back of image with blender marker.
  4. Check transfer (if needed, repeat steps 2 and 3)

Direct Gel Transfer

IMAGE TYPE: ink jet image

RECEIVING SURFACE: canvas board (paper, wood, Plexiglas or sanded metal will also work)

MATERIALS: canvas board, soft gel (gloss), paintbrush, brayer, scissors

TIME: Less than 5 minutes

TECHNIQUE:

  1. Using a paintbrush, apply a medium layer of gel medium onto the background surface.
  2. Immediately lay the image ink-side down onto the gel.
  3. Using the brayer, rub down the image for approximately 30 seconds.  Start with a light touch, and check to see how it is transferring.  Apply more pressure if needed.
  4. Hold the edge of the paper and peel back a corner to reveal the image transfer.  Burnish for an additional 30 seconds if necessary.

Transfer Ink Transfer

IMAGE TYPE: ink-jet image

RECEIVING SURFACE: paper (watercolor works best)

MATERIALS: ink-jet image, Transfer ink, drafting taper, brayer (hard

TIME: Less than 5 minutes

TECHNIQUE:

  1. Place image ink-side down onto watercolor paper and secure one side with tape.
  2. Spray Transfer ink onto back of image (do not soak).
  3. Roll over back of image with brayer.
  4. Check transfer (if needed repeat steps 2 and 3).

  • Start at taped side and roll outward
  • Use firm slow pressure
  • Roll only in one direction, not back and forth (can cause paper to wrinkle)

 

Resources 

Image Transfer Workshop by Darlene Olivia McElroy & Sandra Duran Wilson.   North Light Books. 2009.

Art Supply on Main
http://www.artsupplyonmain.com/
2711 Main St # 100
Houston, TX 77002-9229
(713) 652-4984
– Fine Art Supply Store

– Chartpak AD Blender Marker (Xylene blender marker)
 

Blockhead Paper Arts
http://www.blockheadstamps.com/

– Transfer Ink
–  Liquitex Gloss Gel Medium
–  everything else

Art Supply on Main 52nd Anniversary Sale!!!!

Just wanted to let everyone know about Art Supply on Main’s 52nd Anniversary Sale from October 6th – 20th.  40% off EVERYTHING + Birthday Cardd good for 40% off on the day of your birthday.

Art Supply On Main

2711 Main St.

Houston, Texas 77002

M – F 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

14th Annual Houston Museum District Day (FREE)

Enjoy a free day in the Houston Museum District on Saturday, September 25 from 10 AM to 5 PM. Board a free shuttle bus at any of the 17 participating museums offering free general admission.

Four Holy Gospels Project

Renowned artist Makoto Fujimura has collaborated with Crossway in the creation of a modern illuminated manuscript. The Four Holy Gospels Project will be available in January 2011 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. The leather-bound bible will feature five new large works and dozens of smaller “letters” paintings as drop caps. A preview PDF can be downloaded (in the first paragraph) from the Four Holy Gospels Project . You can read read the original press release below. Look forward to more news and previews on this project as January approaches. See Makoto Fujimura’s website for updates.

– John Robertson