Award Winning Instructor at Art & Soul!

Meet Judy Porter! She's our newest instructor, a Diamond Award Industry Choice Winner... and she's teaching at Art & Soul Virginia Beach this Fall, as well as our Kansas City and Portland venues next Spring.

Judy lives out in the sticks with cows, several barn cats, a big farm dog name Barkley and a little art mascot PomPoo named Doodles. Oh and a wonderful hubby of 32 years. He won't like being mentioned after the dogs.

For 28 years she has worked professionally as a caricature artist. Eight years ago she took her portrait, caricature work into 3D  polymer clay doing commissioned work — ball jointed dolls.  Her work has been published in several trade magazines, one book, plus she was commissioned for a 50 doll exclusive for a doll convention.

She continues to do event caricatures for several entertainment agencies along with her  doll sculpting. Judy says.. "My love for all things art began in my earliest memories and continues to be happiest moments. Nothing gives me more joy than to bring someone happiness through art."

Her doll Annie, (pictured above) just won the prestigious Diamond Award Industry Choice Winner. The doll is a 17 inch ball jointed doll sculpted by the artist in polymer clay then cast in resin.  Awards are presented by Dolls Magazine judged by professionals in the doll industry.  Each joint is sculpted to create a doll with 16 points of articulation.  Congratulations Judy.  We are so proud of what you have accomplished.

You have an incredible opportunity to take a class from this very talented artist.  Join Judy at any one of our three events.  Her classes include a kit that has EVERYTHING you need.  What could be better??!!  The only thing you'll need to bring is your imagination!

Woodland Whimsies

Judy Porter

Virginia Beach, VA workshop

Portland, OR workshops

Kansas City, MO workshop

Sculpt your own fairy, elf or troll in polymer clay. Learn to sculpt the head, hands and feet , attach it to a wire armature to make your little creature pose in several ways. The body is needle sculpted adding torn fabric, steampunk or other embellishments. You'll use glass eyes to give your little creature it's life like sparkle. There will be lots of goodies provided to make your little forest fantasy creature unique.

These are great little creatures to find in your inside greenery, shadow boxes or just hanging around in your kitchen window. Sit one in a doll chair, hang one from a curtain or build a little forest scene shadow box. Smiles are guaranteed!

For more information and to register for Art & Soul visit our website. We hope to see you there in-person!

Woot! Woot! Next Stop... Virginia!

Yeah, yeah... I know. Most trains go Toot! Toot! But this year at Art & Soul, we're aboard the Orient Express... a clever and creative locomotive, heading right for your favorite mixed media workshops! Our theme for this year, Orient Express is a great analogy for our events... with so many exotic workshops to offer, over a week's worth of time... you'll be on the fast train to uplifting your creative spirit like you took an artistic vacation. Woot! Woot!

And the next stop on this amazing journey is our Virginia Beach Event. Filled with such a variety of classes in all types of categories, you won't want to miss this Art & Soul in October. Here's just a sampling of what we have to offer this year (and a special offer at the end of this article)! Check it out...

Julie Haymaker Thompson's whimsical approach to jewelry makes this Full Metal Jacket workshop fun and easy. Using cold-connection techniques and tons of layering, these beautiful baubles will adorn you by the end of class!

Okay, seriously? This looks like something you can find in a high end interior decorator's store. But Tory Brokenshire can teach you how to Light Up Your Life all on your own, from wire form to finished lamp! How cool is that?

We've altered everything else at Art & Soul, so why not your jeans? Sandy Lupton helps you do the Hippy Hippy Shake as you alter and embellish your favorite comfy blues. The results are pretty adorable.

Do you Zentangle? Well if you have, you know... but if you haven't and you try it, you'll never ever stop! But how could you with such gorgeous results as these. Join Suzanne McNeill as she kicks it up a notch with color, not to mention some style and pizazz!

Are you a queen? Yes you are! So you totally need to make this stunning French Beaded Crown with A Gilded Life's girls Shea Fragoso and Debbie Murray. And you don't even have to bring a thing to their class! Now that's being treated like royalty.

Cathy Taylor takes you where very few have gone before... inside your electronic devices! Why? Well, it's for the purpose of repurposing circuit boards to create whimsical collages. Don't worry, your brain won't Short Circuit in this workshop, as Cathy is the most patient of teachers.

Get whisked away to a magical forest in Judy Porter's Woodland Whimsies workshop, as you learn to sculpt your own fairy, elf or troll in polymer clay. A fun and unique class that will surely appeal to your fantasy fetishes.

And there's really so much more that we have to offer this year. When I was reviewing all our workshops for this post, it was so hard to choose which ones to showcase. We've got amazingly talented instructors, with stunning projects and techniques to teach you.

Virginia Beach Art & Soul

September 29 - October 5, 2014

Virginia Beach Resort Hotel

Virginia Beach, VA

So check out our classes today. And, if you register before May 31st, you'll get 10% off all workshops. Simply use the code SPRING VA for your special discount! For more information on workshops, you can browse our website by workshop instructors, individual classes, or even by project photos. So grab a cup of your favorite beverage and have a look around.