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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.

 

For Free Fall 2018, Make Studio is pleased to present Cordially Invited, a first-of-its-kind in Baltimore invitational exhibition and set of programming featuring artworks created in innovative U.S. and international studios that serve artists with disabilities.

Cordially Invited celebrates the exciting and thought-provoking art produced in progressive art studios as a way to better appreciate our neuro-diverse world. Opening Friday, October 5 is a central exhibition in Make Studio’s Showroom Gallery, with smaller  displays “popping up” in partnering neighborhood venues, and a digital exhibition of non-U.S. artists coming online, soon after and remaining up for at least a month.

Artist Tyrone Weedon provided this review of the show as it went up:

I like artists who do their own thing. I really enjoy all the various artists styles. It’s important not to judge someone’s talent because we are all artists. I saw pieces that reminded me of Make Studio work, but I also saw pieces that were new and fresh to me.

I really like Shawn Payne’s (from Art Enables) painting ‘Afro Girl Boots.’ I absolutely love his style of art, it has that 90’s vibe in it, and I love the traditional black, red, green, and yellow. Back in the days of the 90’s, black is beautiful is in the fashion industry, including cross colors clothing line. I like the dried black foam for her hair. I like a little bit of collage for the earrings and the details on the toes and heels. And finally, I like the acrylic background with famous African colors. I felt the 90’s theme in it and I can tell when I see it. It makes me miss the good ol’ days!

I enjoy places like Make Studio because you can be yourself and do your own thing with your art. No one is going to judge you. My best advice: Be You.

Tyrone’s own work can be seen in the core exhibition and in one of the Cordially Invited pop-ups (venue list available on our webpage soon).

Select works from other Make Studio artists will be on display, as well, complementing work by artists from the following studios:

Arundel Lodge, Inc.’s Open Eye Gallery (Anne Arundel County, MD)
Art Enables (Washington, DC)
Center For Creative Works (Wynnewood, PA)
Creative Citizen Studios (Pittsburgh, PA)
Creativity Explored (San Francisco, CA)
Friendship Heart Gallery (Lancaster, PA)
Gateway Arts (Brookline, MA)
Pure Vision Arts (New York, NY)
Starlight Studio and Art Gallery (Buffalo, NY)
Studio In-Sight of Cornerstone Montgomery (Rockville, MD)
Visionaries and Voices (Cincinnati, OH)

Please accept our invitation to check it out!

 

 

Artist Gary Schemes just returned from summer vacation with his family, and wanted to share highlights of his big adventure in “the most magical place on Earth”:

This was Gary’s seventh time visiting Disney World.  (He’s been to Disney Land twice.)  He got to meet many old and new Disney characters, gathering their autographs and posing for photos with them. He rode many rides, and ate some very delicious food.  

Despite having been to Disney world before, this trip was still full of firsts for Gary.  It was the first time he ate breakfast at Beast Castle (from Beauty and the Beast), his first time at Chef Mickey’s Contemporary Resort, his first time meeting Olaf, and then, of course, riding the Frozen ride.

It was an especially big deal for Gary to meet Olaf, one of his favorite Disney characters! Then, he got to meet Anna and Elsa, also from Frozen.  

“I poured my heart out to Olaf.” 

“I told Elsa I drew a picture of her and asked if they are still popular to which they said ‘We think so.’”

 

Gary also had a fun meeting with Snow White. “I told Snow White, you are my favorite princess and without you there would be no other princesses!” Later, Merida, from Brave, told Gary she liked his beard because it reminded her of her dad’s beard.

When meeting Tiana from Princess and the Frog, Gary asked how it was to be a frog, to which she replied “slimy.”

Gary met Winnie the Pooh and Tiger together. He asked Tiger if he liked honey (Tiger said “no.”) Gary asked him to try to honey, but Tiger could not open the honey jar with his big paws! When saying goodbye to Tiger, Gary gave him a big hug and they bounced together.

Gary made many new memories from his week full of magic, wonder, and all things Disney!