Making with Artist, Steve Aimone.

Katherine and Steve Aimone

Steven Aimone--Artist, Author, and Educator, introduced and guided me into the world of expressive artwork.  I attended a 5 day course he led in Asheville, NC.   Here are some links related to Steve that you'll enjoy!

http://www.aimoneartservices.com/index.html

 A link to the Aimone website for information

on the Aimones, classes, etc:

 Design, by Steven Aimone

Design!  An EXCELLENT and beautiful book by Steve 

Expressive Drawing by Steven Aimone

LOVE LOVE LOVE this book by Steve!

Here is an excellent video on the art making process by Steve himself. 

I found it tremedously affirming and helpful.

And finally, YOU can learn and work along with Steve and others (including myself) for FREE on the AARP website.  Check this out....

Expressive artowork by Martha Merry

 

AARP: Expressive Drawing and Creativity (Public Group)

Feel free to e-mail me at mailingmartha@yahoo.com if you want to try your hand at this in my home studio!

My daughter Genevieve (11) and her very first expressive piece with my coaching.

Expressive Painting & Drawing. - The Spiritual Language of Art.

My daugher Gen (11) and her energy in person, poses with my energy in art.
4-15-2011

In December of 2010, my BFF Geraldine, sent me a link to a video that was featured on the AARP website with the note, "we have to do this!"  The video sat in my mailbox a few days before I opened it.  As I watched I felt like I wanted to cry.  I knew that I COULD do what the video was showing me and that I HAD to do it.  My husband overheard my OMG's and oooohs and ahhhhs and said, "reserve a spot for yourself in the class."  Really?!?!  Yes.  So I did.  And I went, and it has been a life-altering experience....and Geraldine didn't go with me. 

This is the video that hooked me.

I attended the March 31--April 3, 2011 class in FABULOUS Asheville, NC with 10 other wonderful and new lifelong creative friends from all over the country and even a couple from Canada.  Class started on a Thursday evening where we all got to know one another and had a overview of what Expressive Painting and Drawing is all about, it's history in the art world, etc.  I e-mailed friends that evening saying that I already felt like I got my money's-worth out of the class and we hadn't even touched any art materials yet! 

Instructor and Author, Steve Aimone

The instructor, Steve Aimone is a coach, a leader, a guide...and kind of a therapist as well.  He knows the right questions to ask to make you inquire within yourself about the art making experience and process.  One of my favorite sayings about a good coach is that he/she is someone that helps you get somewhere that you wouldn't have gone on your own.  Steve definitely fit this definition in respect to my experience.

Here are some photos of my classmates and I, our work, and our fun....Enjoy!

Me and my Energy

Pink Dog Studio, Our Workstations-- BEFORE
Asheville, NC

Circle, Square, Triangle--Exercise #1 by Martha Merry
Can you tell which one is "automatic"?

Betsey's Energy

Betsey Lives in Vermont

G. Rex of San Antonio, TX in action

Marilyn of L.A., CA in action

Repetition of a motif -- letter "G"
by Martha Merry

Nan Davis of Asheville, NC in action
Flux exercise

Nancy Perry of South Carolina, in action.

Paige Gilchrist of Asheville, NC
Ordering lunch amidst beauty.

A beautiful expression by Paige Gilchrist of Asheville, NC

Betsey of Vermont,

studying a work by Nancy Perry, SC

Murai of San Fran, CA
artwork by Martha Merry behind

A beautiful expression by G. Rex of San Antonio, TX

Marilyn of L.A. on her work

Finding the Grid Exercise by Martha Merry

Betsey of Vermont and her grid

Beginnings of
Organic and Geometric Exercise
by Martha Merry

Flux Exercise
by Martha Merry

This reminds me of Duran Duran
by Martha Merry

A beautiful expression by Murai of San Francisco, CA

Early Girl Breakfast Casserole.

Early Girl Breakfast Casserole

I'm still finding inspiration from my recent art trip to Asheville, NC where I studied Expressive Drawing and Painting with artist Steven Aimone.  The class was life changing and I fell in love with Asheville.  I'll be posting pictures about that experience soon!

I had lots of fabulous food while in Asheville and ate several times at the wonderful Early Girl Eatery http://earlygirleatery.com/.  This recipe is my imagined recreation of a delicious breakfast scramble I ate there on the last day of my visit.  I transformed it from a stove top scramble to an oven baked strata or casserole.  I didn't measure any of the ingredients so I've listed approximations for those of you who need structure to feel safe. 

Prep Work

-Peel and quarter 2 large sweet potatoes.  Boil them with cinnamon stick, cloves, and salt.  Dice when cool.

-Brown some ground breakfast sausage.  I used a maple flavored breakfast sausage from the meat counter at Sprouts grocery store.  I removed the meat from the casings before browning.

Early Girl Breakfast Casserole

Early Girl Breakfast Casserole

2-1/2 c. diced sweet potato

2 c. cooked ground breakfast sausuage

8 eggs

1-2 c. milk

6 slices wheat sandwhich bread crusts removed, lightly buttered one side, diced

seasoned salt to taste

fresh chopped chives for garnish

Preheat oven to 375.  Spray a 9 x 9 in. baking pan with non-stick spray.  Beat eggs, milk, and seasoned salt together in large bowl until well combined.  Add sweet potato, sausage, and bread.  Stir gently.  Make sure bread gets good and soaky. Pour into greaed pan and bake 35-45 min. until golden brown and set in middle.  If it starts to get too brown, lay a piece of foil loosely over the top. 

Variations:  This would have been wonderful with some browned bacon added and/or some cheese. You can really add what you want in terms of ingredients and seasonings.  The sagey tatste of the sausage with the cinnamon-y clove taste of the sweet potatoes is divine.

You could make this whole thing the night before and store it in the fridge to bake the next morning.  Enjoy!

Mmmm, fresh chives from my garden tops it off.