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There’s been a lot of buzz in the studio lately about the new live action version of Disney’s Aladdin. That inspired movie talk among Wednesday artists Iragi, Seth, and Gary (who has previously created artwork related to the animated Aladdin).

Iragi: I give it a 10/10! I liked everything.

Gary: I saw this movie over the weekend and really liked it. I don’t think it is as good as the original cartoon movie but enjoyed it.

Seth: I first saw the original version when I was 8 years old. I loved the movie and was looking forward to seeing the live action one and it was different from the original. Jasmine was a lot nicer about Aladdin making up lies instead of telling the truth about being a prince. Whether Aladdin is a prince or not – Jasmine cares about him more in the live action movie.

Gary: The plot was almost the same as the original but had a different twist. There was a new song called ‘Speechless’ sung by Jasmine that’s so powerful it gave me goosebumps. I enjoyed it as much as the Beast’s song ‘Evermore’ in the live action Beauty and the Beast.

Seth: I give the movie a 10/10. It was excellent and Will Smith did a superb job as the genie. I really liked when the genie controlled Aladdin to show him how to dance. I missed Robin Williams as the genie, but if Robin Williams was alive, he would be proud of Will Smith.

Gary: I watched the movie with my family, and they enjoyed it as well. Will Smith as the Genie is my favorite character in the movie. He doesn’t think he’s Robin Williams, but Smith did a great job! He even paid tribute to Robin in his social media account.

Iragi: The genie is my favorite. I liked Will Smith’s version in this movie more than Robin Williams in 1992. My favorite part is when Aladdin got the lamp.

Seth: My other favorite characters are the sultan, Jasmine, Aladdin, the genie, and Jafar (even though he was mean), Iago, the magic carpet, Abu, the cave of wonders, and the lamp.

Iragi: I like how Aladdin fell in love with Jasmine. I like the genie, Jafar, Jasmine, Abu, Iago, Sultan, Aladdin, and even Raja, Jasmine’s tiger.

Iragi: My new artwork is inspired by the movie. It is Will Smith and Robin Williams as the two genies from both movies together. My favorite song ‘You Ain’t Got a Friend Like Me’ is written at the bottom in the Aladdin font.

Gary: My next movie plans include seeing Secret Life of Pets 2, Toy Story 4, the live action Lion King, and Frozen 2.

Due to a highly threatening weather forecast on the originally scheduled day of Powerpoints & Pizza Pies, we moved this year’s installment of PPT Nite (People Presenting Together) @ Make Studio to our reception for (Re)Shaping last month. We love partnering up with PPT Nite, because it offers our artists a great opportunity to hone their presentation skills and share their (sometimes surprising) personal interests!

Unfortunately several presenting artists and audience members (including Dasha, who previewed her presentation here) couldn’t make it on the new date, so — ICYMI — a sampling of the presenters have gamely shared their presentations with everyone. Enjoy!

Tyrone presents “Stan Lee”

Dasha presents “Corporate Bears”

Louis presents “Pizza and Concept Cars”

Make Studio will be hosting our first Portfolio Review Day this Saturday, 4/20! 

Aspiring artists with disabilities, ages 16 and up, who are looking for suggestions about their art and future creative work are invited to bring their art for a FREE review with Make Studio staff and artists. 

EVERYONE is invited to stick around, or show up at 1PM after the reviews, for a special prevention by autism and employment expert Zosia Zaks.

Gemma will be on of our artists who is present that day, so in advance of the event she’s provided a brief “review” (a walk-through) of her own body of artwork.

Queen Susan: The Gentle (in progress)

“Queen Susan is one of my favorite characters from Narnia. I am reflecting on her character and putting my own spin on it with color and design.”

Mother Nature

“I find nature to be very relaxing, so I wanted to make a piece about that. Mother Nature has on a crown because she is a queen. She is also holding flowers because I love flowers. She is standing in front of a mixture of sun and flowers.”

Jimi May

“I am a big fan of Jimi May and follow him on Instagram. I included his name on the artwork so everyone knows exactly who he is. I also designed the tattoos on him to give it my own spin.”

Happy

“This piece shows calm happiness. The colors are bright and happy, but the figure is more calm. She holds her hands together to honor herself.”

Okay, not exactly here. But in less than 48 hours it will be! 

We’ve had a great time sharing personal blog posts with you from the Make Studio artists over the past month.* If you missed a post, just head to the front page of faves saved and scroll down to quickly scan the most recent entries.

In light of all this anticipation that’s surely been built for our Cloud 9 Anniversary celebration, we know you’ll be joining us for a big slice of birthday cake and a hearty toast to all of our artists THIS SATURDAY!

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You’ll also have the opportunity to pick up our newest piece of Make Studio swag, commemorating the occasion! (See below.) Thank you to Jubilee Arts’ Youth in Business entrepreneurs for producing these colorful new totes for us.

*Unfortunately we have to end this Countdown series one day early, as inclement weather and other factors prevented getting a dispatch from everyone. (Stay tuned for future posts from additional studio and low residency artists, as well as art therapy clients, who wish to share more information about their art practices in the future.)

Many of us on the East Coast of the U.S. are having a snow/ice day (welcome or unwelcome) today. But program artist Clara has an antidote for that… thoughts of Africa… coming soon here on the blog!

Because of the inclement weather today, the studio is closed and we are unable to welcome Clara back on what would have been her first day in the studio since an extended vacation, including a visit with her grandmother AND a trip to Africa.

We’re going to wait for Clara to share her own words with you, including her rundown about her amazing trip. In the meantime, we wanted to share some works in-progress by Clara that showcase her delicate and energetic line work, some featuring her favorite African animal, the elephant, along with other favorite subjects: houses, flowers, people, and pets.

Make Studio artists are counting down each day until our ninth anniversary celebration by sharing something that puts them on cloud nine. To help us celebrate, join them here on the blog all month through February 22nd, and in-person on February 23rd at Cloud 9!

Nadine is another low residency Make Studio program artist. She has been consulting with our staff (especially Studio Manager, Stefan B.) off-and-on for just about a year now.

She hasn’t been able to make it to a gallery event… yet… but we recommend that you try to meet her when she does make an appearance! When you do, you may learn much more about her inventive approach to art-making, which she’s been cultivating for a long time prior to finding a platform, via Make Studio, to market her art.

Nadine is very expressive in her application of materials and techniques. She frequently creates work with acrylic paint, but also uses a wide variety of mixed media. Nadine likes to be both frugal and unconventional with her materials use, and she is able to make the materials she uses go a very long way towards her creative ends.

Nadine’s brother, who she has a close relationship with, facilitates her coming in to the studio all the way from Laurel, MD. According to Nadine, her brother has said regarding his willingness to bring her all the way to Baltimore: “It’s time, it’s her turn now,” to do what she loves.

Nadine has had to overcome some challenges in addition to arranging transportation in order to get to the studio regularly, but she is not deterred from chasing her dream. 

See these new paintings in-person at Cloud 9!

See these new paintings in-person at Cloud 9!

In addition to being exceptionally creative and resilient, Nadine is very courteous:

“My mom always said it doesn’t cost anything to be polite.”

…In addition to introducing everyone to Nadine, just a few days out now from the opening of Cloud 9  we wanted to share that we’re proudly one of BmoreArt’s Picks of the Week! Even more reason to come out and see Nadine’s new paintings as well as over 60 other new artworks in our gallery on Saturday afternoon!

Make Studio artists are counting down each day until our ninth anniversary celebration by sharing something that puts them on cloud nine. To help us celebrate, join them here on the blog all month through February 22nd, and in-person on February 23rd at Cloud 9!

It’s fairly obvious what puts Greg on cloud nine… painting!

Low residency program artist Greg, who periodically comes to the studio to consult on finishing approaches and to curate which of his many paintings he’d like to show and sell with Make Studio, spends virtually all of his free time making beautiful works inspired by modernism.

If you’ve been lucky enough to meet Greg, like us you know that he’s possibly the nicest person in the whole world (perhaps he’s the niceness version of “The Most Interesting Man in the World”, and he’s also pretty interesting, too)!

We wish we had the opportunity to spend more time with him in the studio, but Greg works hard all week in a full-time position at Harmony Bakery, just around the corner from the studio. You can say a quick “hello” to Greg there every day, and also see a rotating selection of his recent paintings on Harmony’s walls while purchasing a delicious and healthy meal or snack.

Greg on break at work. (h/t to Harmony for this image.)

Greg with a young fan at work. (h/t to Harmony for this image.)

Over the years, Greg had shown and sold his work in many venues, including at the Arc of Baltimore’s Art in the Round event in which his works always are auctioned off at a high price (generously helping to support the Arc’s programs).

We’re proud that Greg has chosen to consult and show his art with Make Studio for several years now, and look forward to continuing our fruitful collaboration!

Make Studio artists are counting down each day until our ninth anniversary celebration by sharing something that puts them on cloud nine. To help us celebrate, join them here on the blog all month through February 22nd, and in-person on February 23rd at Cloud 9!