In May I wanted to honor a couple of special teachers the kids had told me about. I went to visit Ms. Mattson’s 2nd grade classroom at Lake Harriet with canvas, customized folders and coloring sheets. They filled their peace sign canvases with layers of color, some even made them “Pop”! Their gratitude was magical and full of grace and I was filled with love. Next Ms. May’s 1st graders took the city bus from Burroughs. They had been studying birds in class, so I made them special bird canvases to paint. A week later I received a very touching bound book, full of color and sweet kind words. (click image to enlarge note)

Sadly after 3rd grade there isn’t much art in the classroom. That’s where I hope the studio fulfills an important niche. If you want to honor a special teacher, consider sponsoring a painting field trip next year.

After all it IS all about Peace & Love,

Janie

Our new studio assistant Morgan has been a great asset to Simply Jane studio. He joined us a few months ago and has been helping the studio move towards it’s goal of providing a learning space for artists of all ages and abilities, including those with physical and mental disabilities. You can read more about Morgan and his experiences in this amazing story~  Morgan Shines on Everyone Employed. We are so happy to have him on board!

~ All of Simply Jane Staff

Lila painting her heart canvas

On March 27, 2012, Lila had open heart surgery to repair a hole in her heart and a clefted valve at Children’s Hospital. Lila’s surgery went well and she made a great recovery! So on the 1 year anniversary of her surgery Lila decided that she wanted to created a keepsake to celebrate her healing. “We wanted to celebrate by having a “Happy Healthy Heart Day” as a family on her one year anniversary. We had all kinds of activities lined up…Breakfast at Yum!, delivering blankets, bubbles and a heart drawing for future cardiovascular patients at Children’s Hospital, rides at the Mall of America, etc. But I wanted to do something special to celebrate Lila and who she is. I was brainstorming with my hairdresser, and she told me about Simply Jane Studio. Lila LOVES art and says she wants to be an art teacher when she grows up. So I looked the studio up, showed it to Lila, and she fell in love! “ said Lila’s Mom.

Lila came to the studio with her mother and brother to share in some art-making. Owner, Jane Elias had drawn a special heart drawing for Lila to put on any canvas or item she wanted. Lila chose a square canvas for her masterpiece and had the heart design traced on to paint. After her masterpiece had been thoroughly painted with layers of bright paint; Lila was awarded with a gift of one of our “Art Simply Heals” coloring books which aids in funding our non-profit Simply ArtAble and promotes healing through art. The coloring book had been customized with Lila’s name on the back cover and a message on the inside flap from Jane. “Lila received the signed coloring book from Jane…such a sweet and thoughtful gesture! It was the perfect end to a perfect day, and now we have some beautiful artwork that I will treasure forever. A great visual reminder to count our blessings every moment of every day.” Lila’s mom stated.

Lila with finished artwork

We are so happy that we could be part of Lila’s life and healing process and we look forward to seeing Lila and her family again soon and wish her health and happiness!

~ It’s all about Peace & Love ~

Beth Rapatz & all of the Simply Jane Staff

Activator, Maximizer, Strategic – hmmm…. Business? Well I just celebrated 5 years of growing a successful Open Artist Studio. (who would’ve thought?!) The odds were against me; The Great Recession, finding a landlord that would rent to me (starving artist) and lack of real capital or experience. So I cried a lot in the beginning, but I never lost faith, carried on and look how it has grown!

Now my next strategic move – I am looking to connect with a passionate individual(s) interested in investing in the future of this creative little business and to share in the rewards of maximizing its growth with profit sharing. All I ever really wanted was to be the creative director. Join me? If interested please email me.

~ Peace,

Jane

Jane was excited.  “Guess who’s heading up the first youth mural?”  There wasn’t much room left for guessing.  “You?” I answered, thinking back to the youth mural project she had organized and mentored nearly a decade ago in the Kingfield neighborhood.  “Ta-Coumba Aiken!”  A pause.  A little awkward staring.  Finally I said that I didn’t know what a Ta-Coumba was.

I had to do a little research to find out what a Ta-Coumba was, but it wasn’t hard.  MN Original had aired a story on him in 2011, an informative piece that featured Ta-Coumba’s home/studio/gallery, some of his commissioned public art pieces, and lots of great information on what drives him, what inspires him to create.  I started to understand that scoring a renowned artist like Ta-Coumba for our youth mural was a big deal, moreover, the kids who would be working under his guidance were gaining a very, very cool opportunity.

The first day of the mural project arrived.  One by one teens and tweeners started meandering into the studio sleepy-eyed, begrudgingly, feeling forced into something that maybe wasn’t their idea (it was the second week of summer vacation, after all.)  They gathered around a long table, colored pencils and paper in tow.  Ta-Coumba begins walking them through the first part of the mural process:  creating a design with client in mind.  He explains to them that Jane, their client, wants a mural on the back facade that represents peace, love, healing, art and compassion- all the things her studio and newly formed non-profit, Artescape, stand for.  Students ranging in age from twelve to seventeen begin sketching, some skilled, some shy, but all eager to try. 

Ta-Coumba collects their drawings, takes them home, assembles a layout that incorporates each student’s design.  For the next couple days the students prepare the wall by pressure washing and priming it.  Then it’s ready for Ta-Coumb’s etching pole, a device that’s comparable to a paint brush on a stick.  He spends the following day outlining the wall with red swirls, twists, and contours.

The third day an amazing thing happens.  A few new faces appear.  We hear “This is Ethan, he’s going to help paint today.”  Kids start bringing other kids with them to paint.  My seventeen year old, somewhat free to come and go by the power of his car, shows a sort of commitment I’m unaccustomed to seeing.  He comes willingly to the mural every day; none of the prodding and pleading I’m expecting to have to do.  He brings friends.  His friends bring friends.  They drive, pick up the scaffolding Ta-Coumba’s ordered.  They paint together, meet new peers, make choices, follow Ta-Coumba’s advice.

This is ultimately what impresses me about the youth mural project.  I love the fact that students created individually yet together.  I love that Ta-Coumba didn’t try to control the design but rather focused on leading them through the process.

There are two more youth murals taking place in the Tangletown community this summer.  We would love to have your teen (or tweener) be a part of this fabulous opportunity!

By Simply Jennifer

Our fathers.  They’re dependable, intelligent, simple, round, flat, warm-hearted, hard-minded, hard-working.  We share with them, we share apart from them.    

We think about them in June.  

We remember them.  How they taught us the power of forgiveness.  How to take a fearless, moral inventory in order to heal and transform ourselves.  How to take responsibility for our actions, to never brag, to fight for the underdog.  How to love, be compassionate.  How to be a down right good citizen.

We imagine them.  See a quiet moment in the barn without kids.  Arms filling grain pails, lifting buckets, moving haunches in for the morning milking, listening to the Dow Jones.  Uninhibited.  A quiet muse.

We celebrate them.  Make a big deal out of their birthday.  Add ridiculous flare to their cakes.  Light candles.  Buy gifts with rainbows for them when we’re younger, throw surprise parties for them when we’re older.  Succeed at both because they love us.

We idolize them.  Try to wear their gloves, baseball mitts, boots.  Embellish stories, make them our heroes.

Some soften.  Some harden.  Some talk to us, some don’t. 

The point is at one time this person held you. 

And they smiled.

By Simply Jennifer

People often use the word “charming” to describe Simply Jane studio.  I agree; it is charming.  SJ’s charm is unique, you might even call it subtle, but I’ve found that if you pay attention, you’ll notice the source of SJ’s charm is traceable, that you can follow the cobblestones in the garden-themed studio all the way down to its very, very green roots.

When SJ moved into its new location nearly two years ago, Jane discovered the building, once a hitching station for horses, offered a natural light source.  As walls were being knocked through and drop-ceilings removed, she saw the roof’s original DNA still supported the framework for a large, spacious sun light- the perfect way to create ambiance and save energy.  Jane seized the moment.  After a little negotiating with the landlord, the sun roof was restored and incorporated into the building plans of SJ’s new studio space.    

Natural light is just one aspect of the studio’s organic charm.  The studio’s chairs, each carrying a different paint and style, are mostly the result of dumpster dives or salvaged throw outs.  The water buckets housing used paint brushes are recycled cottage cheese containers.  Paints used to create the brilliant masterpieces are stored in old yogurt cups. Paint smocks are recycled t-shirts and button-downs that go through the wash cycle for continued re-use.

And then there’s the SJ “green” product line.  Jane’s mother-in-law, Carol, is what I call a master finder of old wooden collectibles and small furniture pieces.  She could be at a thrift store, or maybe a yard sale, and someone’s “junk” will speak to her, tell her they’re just in need of a coat of primer and one of Jane’s simple, hand-drawn designs.  The discarded, cheapened piece will inadvertently end up in Jean B’s hands, who will prep and ready it for the shelf.  Then someone, maybe you or a friend or your nephew, will come in, paint it, give it new life, turn it into a heartfelt gift, turn it into a masterpiece…  It really is a wonderful thing.

We encourage everybody to be kind to Mother Earth.  We encourage you to be, like the studio, charming.  You can be charming by recycling your old clothes, or by shopping at stores that re-sell fashionable wears like B., a resale shop located a block away from the studio.  You can, believe it or not, be incredibly charming by picking up trash in your neighborhood.  On Sunday, April 22nd (Earth Day,) lots of neighborhoods will have organized group clean ups.  (I was able to find out more info about the one in my neighborhood by reading my community newspaper.)  We encourage you to participate in Earth Day and to be charming in ways you never thought possible.  If you’re a conditioned Earth Dayer (maybe even Earth Yearer,) we appreciate your efforts and trust you’ll do what you do best… lay the charm on nice and thick

Post by Simply Jennifer

Did you know that the origin of Easter  has pagan roots?

Historians believe the word “Easter” is derived from the Anglo Saxon “Eostre,” the ancient goddess of spring.  Because of spring’s common association of new life, it’s thought that Christians adopted parts of Eostre’s name and meaning to describe Christ’s resurrection.

Christians also adopted the pagan symbolism of the egg.  New life emerges from the egg.  Pagan cultures used eggs during their spring festivals to symbolize this idea of re-emergence, of starting anew.  As time passed and Christianity was formed, Christians carried over the egg’s symbolism into their faith.  Many believe the Christian symbol of the Easter egg stems from the idea that Jesus’ tomb is like the womb that holds the egg.  When he rises from the dead, he breaks forth from the tomb (or egg), generating new life for all creation.

Decorating Eggs

The practice of decorating eggs also pre-dates Christianity and the traditions we associate with Easter.  During pagan times, when the focus was on earth’s regeneration, eggs were dyed bright colors to represent the gift of sunlight.  The colored eggs were symbolic of spring’s transformation; the coming out of darkness and into light.

Jane's Mom & Dad in the 1950's Painting Easter Eggs

As centuries passed, egg decorating traditions evolved from culture to culture.  During medieval times, the egg, long associated with fertility, was dyed and exchanged by lovers and admirers, much like valentines.  People in the Ukraine used a brass tool called a Kistka to melt wax patterns onto eggs.  After the eggs were dipped in dye, the wax would be peeled away to reveal a design of religious meaning.  The Germans began the tradition of hollowing out Easter eggs.

They would decorate the emptied shells with lace, cloth, and ribbon before hanging them on trees or bushes.  In Greece people continue to dye their eggs a deep crimson color, just as their ancestors did centuries before to honor the blood of Christ.

As Americans, we feel free to sample egg decorating traditions passed down from heritages other than our own.  In its own way, the borrowing and blending makes us unique.  We might try batiking our eggs like the Ukrainians to make intricate patterns, or, like Jane, we might blow out the yolks to make beautiful, fragile Easter trees.  We boil them and place them in bright dyes.  We paint stripes, zigzags and polka dots.  We share, give eggs as gifts.  We celebrate our beliefs.  We celebrate spring and new beginnings.  We create together.  We make egg masterpieces.

How to Hollow out Eggs & Make an Egg Tree

Simply Jane Easter Egg Tree with Hollowed Out Eggs

Cut or find a branch from a tree in your yard or the woods and put in a bucket of water for a few days till your eggs are ready to hang. If you are lucky your branch may even sprout some leaves!

Take some raw eggs and poke a needle gently through the top and bottom of the egg. Break the yolk up a bit with your needle. Then blow gently but firmly on one of the holes of the egg over a bowl until all the insides are blown out. Now you have a nice empty egg ready to be decorated and hung on your Easter tree!

“Plant” your branch in a bucket filled with sand or rocks so it stands firmly upright. To hang your eggs – get a hot glue gun and some ribbon. Glue small loops of ribbon to one end of your eggs and then decorate them with markers or paint and hang on your tree!

Come on in and paint Easter eggs April 1-7, 2012 during open studio hours!  Call 612-354-3961 for reservations.

Paint a heart in the style of pop artist Jim Dine for your loved one this Valentines. This step by step process makes it easy and fun. Customize your heart with your own colors and style and make a one-of-a-kind gift that your loved one will always treasure!

Materials & Cost:
5″ X 7″ canvas panel ~ $1
(2 – 3) Synthetic Brushes (small-medium) ~ $1 each
(5-10) Craft Acrylic Paint ~ $1 per bottle
Carbon Paper ~ $2
Recycled plastic cup/lid ~ Free
Paint Smock (old t-shirt) ~ Free
Newspaper ~ Free
Start our with a 5″ X 7″ flat canvas panel, found at any local art supply store. These panels can be easily framed in any standard frame. Or if you want to step it up a notch you can purchase wrapped canvas and simply hang on the wall as is. If you are in the Twin Cities area you can give our local canvas builder Champion Canvas some love.

Once you have your supplies; setup a work area on a flat surface, cover with some newspapers to protect your table. You can download the simple heart design we used and trace onto your canvas by laying the print out on top of the carbon paper and using a pen or pencil to draw over the lines. Or just draw your own heart on there. We used a sharpie marker to outline it so that we could clearly see the shape when painting, but this is not necessary.

Wear a paint smock to protect your clothing as acrylic paint dries hard into cloth and will not come out easily. Put your paint into recycled yogurt cups or on lids as a cheap alternative to an artists palette. Pick two colors for your heart design, use bright contrasting colors that will stand out against each other. Fill in your shapes with a medium sized brush with smooth flat brush strokes.

Use a small detail brush to pick a few different colors that are similar to your background colors and fill in in small swirling brush strokes. Fill in your heart with 2-3 different colors or more if you wish. Do the same for the background, mixing colors to create more variety on your plastic lid. Make it colorful and bright with a lot of texture!

In the end you will have created your very own “Jim Dine” inspired piece of Valentine’s art! If you would like to create your own heart in an art studio instead of at home. Come into Simply Jane and get a lesson and use our professional paints and brushes.

Whether you found the costume or it found you, creating a Halloween look is fun.  To help spawn that ghoulish brainchild of yours, try these tried and true make-up tips: