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Make Studio’s first artist, Jerry (aka The Partyman), is looking forward to celebrating his 9th studio anniversary (in-between celebrating the new year and his birthday)! Big celebrations like this one put him on cloud nine; he’s excited to see everyone’s new artwork, to unveil his new cosplay attire, and to “maybe even invite the circus stars to the show.“

Jerry is planning to cosplay as Andre McClain, former Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey ringmaster — a circus star he first met back in 2004! Jerry’s  diligently working to complete the final pieces of his entirely handmade, original Star Trek chess set.

With a board made of wood and pieces made of clay, it’s a unique multi-media work for him and he’s eagerly anticipating debuting it at Cloud 9, saying:

“Boom! It’s ready to go!”

What’s next for Jerry? Finishing touches are needed on his other Star Trek sculptures, which are inspired by the original series episode Balance of Terror.

As an artist who often works on multiple pieces at once, Jerry is already looking to the future and imagining what he’ll do for Make Studio’s (and his) 10th anniversary in 2020. 

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!

On the first day of 2019, Tyrone rang in the new year with his birthday. He feels very lucky to have his birthday on New Year’s Day because every birthday doubly brings new beginnings:

 “I’m a New Year’s baby!”

To celebrate his birthday this year, Tyrone went to Golden Corral with his family. “You see the beautiful food and you can’t take your eyes off of it, but when you get seconds you know your stomach will be full.” A lover of books, he also spent his birthday reading about cleaning up and organization. He will be moving into his own apartment soon, and his sisters have told him he has to learn the responsibilities of “balancing my inner child with my adult self.”

Thinking about being on “cloud nine” makes Tyrone think about his goals for 2019 – making “better art” full of inspiration from cartoons or containing a social message, continuing to explore the internet and library for research, and developing his skills as an artist, overall, at Make Studio.

“When you’re living the dream, go with imagination.”

 

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!

Tony feels “on cloud nine” knowing that Make Studio is not far from his alma mater, St. Elizabeth School (SES), where he has always felt loved. He’s still in touch with his favorite staff there, including a very special person he calls his “courtesy mom”. He loves to discuss movies and TV shows with her (as he does with Make Studio staff) and looks forward to annual summer luncheons and annual Christmas cookie deliveries at SES.

Tony says he could “talk forever” about movies and TV shows. In a notebook he received from Studio Manager Stefan, he writes about movies and the stars he’s excited to do more research about. During Friday studio time, he does some of this research, finding and saving images of his faves, which often inspire artworks in which movie stars and characters are merged with people from his real life.

On special days – including “No Girls Club” weekends when his mom is out of town – Tony likes to visit Arundel Mills Mall to walk for exercise and  enjoy the food court.

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!

Alex is really in the “anniversary spirit” as he works on a piece inspired directly by the Disney Channel movie “Cloud 9”, which is centered on a pair of young snowboarders.

Alex’s favorite part of the film is the snow. It reminded him of sledding recently with his parents at William S. James Elementary School; thinking about starting at the top of the hill, he opined, “doesn’t sound too scary to me.”

Alex went down the hill  on his own, but asked his mom and dad to give him push at the top.

“Going down felt good!”

And after that, he went home to relax – which “also feels good.”

A mix of exhilaration and relaxation – talk about being on cloud nine!

 

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!

Gary recently went to see Mary Poppins Returns, with his sisters as a fun sibling outing, and he has thoughts…

Mary Poppins Returns – A Brief Review

Gary really enjoyed the movie, but “it was not as good as the original one.”

“This Mary Poppins movie was more like a sequel.”

“There was great, all new music and songs.” (Gary bought the soundtrack on iTunes so he could listen to it on his iPod at the studio and elsewhere.)

Gary’s favorite songs from the film are:

• “The Royal Dolton Musical”
• “Trip a Little Light Fantastic”
• “Can You Imagine That”
• “Nowhere To Go But Up”

Gary also enjoyed the cartoon style in the movie because “it was more like the traditional hand-drawn technique.”

And, while “all the acting was good”, his favorite characters were the cartoons.

“I’m a cartoon guy.”

 

Listening to music and making artwork (often inspired by the animation he loves the most) keep Gary floating on cloud nine.

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!

 

Make Studio’s anniversary shows are Louis’ favorite event of the year — he’s always excited to “see new and old friends”, enjoy the food, and see new art displayed in the gallery, especially his own.

Landscapes are a favorite painting subject for Louis, particularly ones that boost his mood. Making this type of art, knowing he’ll soon party with friends, really puts him on cloud nine!

He went online to find the perfect image for his current in-progress painting of a sunset, and really liked the the oranges and yellows in the one he chose, “It was beautiful.”

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!

Making art puts Charles, aka Chuck, on cloud nine! He is very excited to share with his many admirers that he has not just one but THREE art pieces he’s recently been working on.

Most recent is a piece reflecting his spirituality. In it, he uses color to show the dichotomy of “good vs. evil where good is represented by a rainbow of color while evil is represented by black, gold, and red.” He muddled the colors together a bit to show how good and evil are not fully separate, even as each haves its own side.

Chuck’s second recent piece is “inspired by Looney Tunes.” He used to watch shows like Road Runner and Bugs Bunny, so this piece brings him back to his childhood. 

Lastly, Chuck has been working on a self-expressive painting on canvas. One day, when he was “at home and feeling sort of dark”, Chuck was inspired to paint a layer of dark colors on the canvas. As he worked on the piece, he felt his mood become lighter, and so added on layers of white and gold, and then has been adding “more pinks and sunshine.” This work may go on to be “part of a series.”

Chuck’s “friends, family, artwork, and that someone special in my life” keep him on cloud nine.

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!

 

Bess’ recent bliss comes from returning to an old favorite activity– creating anime-inspired art. Specifically… magical girls!

She’s been busy creating self-portraits as a “magical girl” with all kinds of “strange components,” like halos and wings. She’s “grateful” no one is saying she will “never get anime art published because ‘it’s not art – you’ll never make money off of it!’” (She’s heard that a time, or two. Bess would like to point out that people who said this were wrong.)

Her current work-in-progress is an “anime-cyborg girl who you wouldn’t want to mess with during the zombie apocalypse.” At home, she is working on a written fan fiction that features this character.

Despite the larger commercial success of “magical girls” in Japan, Bess brings her enthusiasm for her material to us in the U.S., and adds her own spin. Her magical girls are not just magical, they are also “creepy, horrifying girls!”

Outside of Make Studio lately, Bess is on cloud nine when going to the movies and visiting the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore with her boyfriend.

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!

 

Wondering what puts Jimmy “on cloud nine”? He made us four lists of four, which can mostly be found under the sea. 

Four favorite TV shows:

1. Shamu TV
2. SeaRescue
3. Phineas and Ferb
4. Toy Story

Four favorite movies:

1. Jaws I
2. Jaws II
3. Jaws III
4. Jaws IV: The Revenge

Four notable sharks:

1. Mako shark
2. White shark
3. Hammerhead shark
4. Tiger shark* 

*The tiger shark is Jimmy’s favorite shark.

Four favorite animals:

1. False killer whales*
2. Beluga whales
3. Pilot whales
4. Killer whales

* Jimmy says that the difference between false killer whales and real killer whales is that, while they both eat fish, the killer whale is a type of black and white orca and the false killer whale is only black. After a little research, we also found out that the false killer whale is actually a type of dolphin.

Jimmy also told us one fun fact! There is one false killer whale, at SeaWorld Florida, named Shadow.

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!

 

 

I have a special Christmas Eve Mass.

I think I saw Santa Claus at Seattle.

We hope get some snow.

 

I watch the Hallmark Channel, Disney.

My Mother and sister in law gave me the idea.

I think that I watch Netflix movies.

Our Pope and Priest at Church.

My favorite part is baking cookies.