Marsha Clements – Artist

It’s not Black Friday yet, but if you want to get the jump on everybody and shop this weekend where you can pull up and park and there is no crowd to fight–show up at Sentosa, #102 at Sunset Center Saturday and Sunday for my Holiday Open House. It’s even better than buying local–you are buying locally but also locally made by the hands of a local artisan, Marsha Clements.

I’m celebrating more than the holidays! As of this week, I have completed my last teaching assignment. I have been an educator for many years, first teaching kindergarten, and first through third grades for over 21 years. I have spent almost as many working with teachers, schools, and districts as a professional development consultant. And for the last three years, I have taught drug resistance strategies to seventh graders in Amarillo Independent School District.

Starting this week, I am now focusing most of my time on my new career as a professional artist. I have opened Sentosa–a beautiful gallery at Sunset Center in Amarillo. I will be painting and promoting my art most of the time. I have an office in my gallery and I will work part time with Mission: Freedom’s Children. Mission: Freedom’s Children recognizes the exhaustive role that families play throughout the recovery process. From financial and emotional support to long-term care, family members step up to provide the necessary care, often with little thought for their own needs. Children often suffer in silence because of the hardships endured by their parents. Mission: Freedom’s Children seeks to alleviate the burdens of these children through education, counseling, and other forms of support. I will be the administrator for this nonprofit foundation on a part time basis.

I’m so excited to be starting a new chapter in my life. I hope all of you will help me celebrate this milestone this weekend at Sentosa–#102-in the east wing of Sunset Center, 3701 Plains Blvd. in Amarillo. This Holiday Celebration will be from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday afternoons November 20th and 21st.

We will have refreshments and a little sale at Sentosa. Any original work in the studio will be 20% off for anyone who mentions this email! You don’t have to bring in a coupon–just tell me you saw my note on Facebook or in an email! This does not include special orders–only completed paintings, jewelry, fiber art, and doll cases. Don’t miss the fun and friends.

Sentosa means tranquility in Malay– If you know me you know that my life is busy, wild, & wacky! But I am always trying to find a little peace and harmony. I do find that tranquility when I escape into my creative state of mind in SENTOSA at Sunset Center. Please come by and see the beautiful art I have–many great Christmas gift items! And nobody can gift wrap quite like me–and it’s free in Sentosa! Enjoy tranquility as you do your Christmas shopping in Sentosa!

I’m always having people ask me about teaching painting classes and I just hate to be tied down. But I’m going to let it happen. I know I’m a great teacher–Heck–I’ve been an educator for over 35 years! And I have taught art in the past. I want to have very small classes–any level from beginner to advanced. We will learn about painting techniques and the elements of art that make a good painting. I want to keep the class size at 4 or less because there is limited space in the studio. I will teach an evening class on Tuesday from 6:00-8:30 and on Wednesday afternoon from 2:30-5:00. These classes will start in September. If you are interested in being involved, give me a call (806 676-1733) or send an email (marsha@marshaclements.com) and I’ll send you a supply list, etc. You can paint in oil or acrylic, but I’ll tell you in advance that I prefer oils. I’m not a watercolor painter at all and I’m not trained in pastels, so we won’t be using those mediums.

This weekend is August Lites for 2010 and the artists at Sunset Center are gearing up for a big weekend. Lots of things are going on. At Sentosa–#102 in the East Wing of the Galleries at Sunset–I’ve been busy painting some small studies, some new windows and a pair of pink flamingos. The vintage windows have really been good sellers. They can be garden art or you can use them for shabby chic art in your house. I have a pair of sunflowers, a red poppy, a pink hibiscus, red and pink hollyhocks, and a rooster. They are fabulous!

This year our theme is “Birds” so I’ve got lots of roosters, a hen and chicks, a beautiful raku vase with a bird and I’m painting a window with a tree and birds in the tree! Several artists have painted and decorated flamingos–and there will be a special drawing for visitors that find all of the flamingos.

On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, artists will get together in the garden to paint plein aire for a couple of hours and then their paintings will be sold at auction following the paint out. I haven’t decided if I’m painting–I’m pretty much a “fair weather plein aire painter”. I love to paint outdoors when the weather is perfect–not too hot or too cold, not too windy, no bugs, shade is always nice–I’m fair skinned and don’t need to sunburn (don’t want any new wrinkles or skin cancer)–so who knows if I’ll be outside painting. But I will be in the gallery painting. I’ve also been making pottery–vases, bowls, trays, garden bells, wind chimes, and a beautiful fountain! I’m having the best time and it really is turning out beautiful. Can’t wait to open the kiln tomorrow! I’ll take some pictures and post them tomorrow. It’s going to be a great time–August 14, Saturday 10-5 and Sunday, August 15, 1-5. You don’t want to miss August Lites–it’s for the “Birds!”