November's Art Newsletter

“Anybody with artistic ambition is always trying to reconnect with the way they saw things as a child.” —Tim Burton

This is one of my favorite times of the year, when the holidays are upon us, the beautiful autumn colors, family events, delicious feasts, and art aplenty! If you like to learn new ways to make art, give your kids a chance to create in a class, or to just go meet other artists, then this is the best time to do it. I’ve an exciting new winter art class for kids during winter break – Wizards & Magical Creatures in Winter Wonderland, some fun adults and kids art workshops at Whatcom Community College, and at the Museum of Northwest Art. Plus, the Allied Arts 39th Annual Holiday Festival of the Arts is going to start November 16th – December 24th. I’ll have an art booth for Rachel’s Whimsical Art, with art prints, cards, sea fairy chandeliers, ornaments, kids wands & crowns, and original art in drawings, paintings, and mixed-media.

Join me at a big art show at the Bank of Pacific this Friday, November 2nd , 6:00pm – 10:00pm, as a part of the Bellingham downtown Art Walk and the Wine tour! You’ll get to enjoy art, appetizers, wine, and meet several great local artists: Elizabeth Ahlem Clark, JAX, Rachel Simpson, Anne Mullenniex, and music from DJ Jimmie C.

Also, you can find out more about all the fun art events and art classes on my Instagram/Facebook pages Rachel’s Whimsical Art.

Kids Art Class this Winter Break – Dec.17th – 20th

Wizards & Magical Creatures in Winter Wonderland! On December 17th - 20th, 11:00am – 2:00pm (with a lunch break at 12:30pm ), at Unique Technique Dance Studio: 3815 Bakerview Spur #1, Bellingham, WA.98226. Registration is $100 per student/contact Miss Rachel Simpson via email chaneecat@gmail.com with your name & students information. Register with enrollment via PayPal: https://paypal.me/RachelsWhimsicalArts

Includes 4 day class sessions, art supplies, instruction, & final day of Harry Potter Themed Party with Snacks & Beverages. Ages: 6-12 years. Minimum students: 5 Maximum students: 12. Find out more about Rachel's Whimsical Art & Artist/Teacher Rachel Simpson: https://rachelsimpsonart.weebly.com/

Art Projects & Fun!
• Glow-in-the-Dark Galaxies & Nebulas to Paint
• Expecto Patronum! Create your own Animal Guide with Colored Pencils & Pastels
• Paint Creatures onto Canvas – Dragons, Hippogriffs, Unicorns, Oh My!
• Draw Owls & Castles in Pastels/Charcoal
• Create Your Very Own Magical Wand!
• Art Games - Capture the Unicorn & Story Drawing!
• A Harry Potter Party! Games like The Sorting Hat & dress-up in costume. Drinks like Butter Beer, Pumpkin Juice, & Treats like Chocolate Frogs, Cookies, Tarts, & more!

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Art Classes at MoNA Nov. 10th & Dec. 1st !

Marine Life in Mixed-Media Painting Art – for kids and adults on November 10th, 1:00pm – 4:00pm. In this fun kids art class, we’ll focus on the marine life in and around Padilla Bay, learn to draw a few different kinds of animals such as Salmon, Flatfish, Herring, Dungeness Crab, or Otters, while we use recycled brown paper bags to draw/paint with a wide variety of materials, watercolors, tempera/acrylic paints, print bubbles with paints, and collage our beautiful marine life animals onto a larger piece of paper that will be designed for our backgrounds of the underwater scene. Dress for mess, and enjoy this fun kids activity!

Upcycled Books in Mixed-Media Art - kids (ages 8+) & adults on December 1st, 1:30pm – 3:30pm. This art class is all about learning how we can transform an old book that’s been discarded or gently-worn, into something new, and you’ll use your imagination to make an Art Book or Journal of your very own! You can choose the theme, such as your favorite hero, story, passion, or character. We’ll use layers of paints - watercolors & acrylics, choice of colors, use adhesives, gesso, washes, inks, stamps, colored pencils, markers, and many more choices of materials. This fun class will allow you to explore a whole new way of repurposing old worn books, and being creative. Dress for mess, and enjoy this fun art activity! (Note: Children under the age of 12, must be accompanied by an Adult)

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Art Class  Nov. 17th - Holiday Ornaments in Ceramics at WCC

November 17th 9:00am-12:30pm is the Holiday Ornaments in Clay - Break out your creativity and have fun making a set of 4-6 holiday ornaments in this ceramic workshop! Learn how to use molds to make shapes such as stars and hearts, or learn how to create your own shape out of clay, applying underglaze to add a dash of color and shine. Your ornaments will be stained and fired in the kiln, ready for pickup November 26--just in time for the winter holidays and decorations or handmade gifts. Please bring sketch paper, pencil, eraser, and a ruler to class. All other materials included. Ages 10 and up are welcome to register with an adult.

You can find out more about Community Art Ed classes (for Teen + Adult) via Whatcom Community College online or by phone: (360)383-3200
Register with WCC:
https://register.whatcomcommunityed.com/ShowSchedule.awp?&Mode=GROUP&Group=PERART&Title=Art&SubGroup=PER

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Allied Arts 39th Annual Holiday Festival of the Arts on Nov.16th-Dec.24th

Mark your calendar! This year’s Holiday Festival of the Arts will be even bigger and better than the last. There will be over 100+ artists booths, thousands of art work to choose from, and a wide range of fun family and kids activities to celebrate together. You guessed it! I’ll have an art booth set up for Rachel’s Whimsical Arts, at this festive event, where you can find my drawings, paintings, sculpture, cards, & prints. I’ll even be teaching a Free Kids Art Activity on Dec. 8th 12:00pm-3:00pm, Shrink-a-Dink-with-Bling! You can find out more info here: https://www.alliedarts.org/

After School Arts Enrichment Programs

As you may know, I teach art at a few different elementary schools in the Bellingham School District as an independent contractor, private art lessons, and as a Teaching Artist with Allied Arts of Whatcom County. This non-profit is one that brings the arts to many kids throughout the schools, and I’m so thankful I can be a part of it and this community.

Thank you for all your enthusiasm for The Arts and keeping it alive within our community!
 ~ Rachel Simpson
~ Artist, Art Teacher, (K-12)
~ http://rachelsimpsonart.weebly.com/