Art

Cultivate Simplicity, No. 4

Do you know the feeling of letting go of all inhibitions? Like you trust the process of LIFE and you are happy to just wake up and go? That’s how our marbles felt at the art class I taught at 2Towns Ciderhouse in Corvallis (thank you Hannah and Matt @2Towns). We let those wee scamps run wild and our art showed this freedom.

I taught the process of creating art on a large piece of watercolor paper using marbles rolled in intense watercolors, then set free by spraying the lines with water to let them ‘bloom’. When the art was dry, we each created a book by folding and making three cuts (then folding into the book form).

This process is probably my favorite activity of the entire summer. There’s something to it that feels wild and a little reckless; a little ‘outside of the box’. It’s exhilarating and definitely carefree–feelings I’d love to carry with me into the rest of my week/month/year.

Supplies Used:

Heavy watercolor paper (we used 9 x 16″ pieces, any size will do but it’s important to know the folded book will be roughly 1/4 the size of the original piece)

Glass marbles, Bone Folder, Scissors, Spray Bottle for water

Dr. PH Martin watercolors, calligraphy ink

PVA Glue, Cloth Tape, Packaging Tape, Fabric Strips

Iridescent Watercolor Powder, Craftsmart Premium Wax Finish Gold/Silver

Heat Gun to speed drying

Coming Opportunities:

Neurographic Art class at Albany Public Library on August 6 at 5:30pm.

Book a private art party!

Commission a pet portrait!

Cultivate Simplicity, No. 3

Our book making class on Saturday was so much fun (I’m not the only one saying that either). Three times I invited the participants to check in with themselves to find out if that was true for them and each time the answer was emphatically, “Yes!”

First we let marbles, rolled in ink/watercolor, saunter around on watercolor paper, which was a moment for all of us to practice letting go of expectations.

While those pieces of art dried, I taught how to fold a piece of watercolor paper into a palm-sized book and bind it with glue and cloth (or cloth binding tape, if preferred).

From here, artists continued to embellish their books with gold or silver wax paste, or moved back to their sauntering marble paper. With spray bottles filled with water, we attempted to ‘wake up’ the marble path of ink and watched as the color bloomed. At one point there was a little disagreement about the color brown. One artist said, “No, I don’t want to use brown–that’s an ugly color.” Later, another participant added brown to her page simply to give it some love. It ended up being just the right color!

There is still time to sign up for this class, which will be offered again on Wednesday, July 24 at 5:30! Tiny Art Books At 2Towns Cider House 33930 Southeast Eastgate Circle Corvallis, OR 97333

Cultivate Simplicity, No. 2

Last week I journeyed one more time (this summer) to Drift Creek Camp, in the Siuslaw National Forest near Lincoln City, Oregon. It is always a joy to be there; to be with my friends Brenda and Tony and the curated community created by all the camp staff. Being there, it’s easy to feel safe and loved because the whole place is infused with generations of care. . . for one another and for creation. Leaving is always very hard work.

I found myself overwhelmed by the gifts of everyone there–music, leading, humor, warmth, cooking. Of course artistry too. The young camper who created the small, colorful painting above, right said (as he painted), “Oh, this color is the opposite of what I was looking for, but exactly what I needed.” As he painted he told us about his goats and how funny they are. He wasn’t aware of the masterpiece taking shape in front of him.

What’s Next:

Join me in a simple book-making class at 2Towns Cider House on July 20 at 2pm; July 24 at 5:30pm.

Learn about Neurographic Art with me at the Albany Public Library on August 6 at 5:30pm.

Book a private art party!

Commission a pet portrait!

Upcoming Art Classes With Jaqui Eicher

Tiny Art Books At 2Towns Cider House 33930 Southeast Eastgate Circle Corvallis, OR 97333

Saturday July 20, 2pm and/or Wednesday July 24th, 5:30pm

What to Expect: You will have all the freedom and guidance you prefer as you create your one-of-a-kind masterpiece! Jaqui will lead you through the steps she has used in her practice. This process of creating your own book is thoughtful and empowering. Once you learn the basic process, you can take the idea to any level you want (big/small, plain/fancy) and use any supplies you choose.

Take Aways: You will leave with a unique book all your own and resources (including news about future classes). Hopefully you will find inspiration to continue your own art practice and gather inspiration from your peers.

* If have an aesthetic in mind and you would like to bring your own supplies — we will be using multi-media art paper, scissors, stick glue, PVA glue, handmade paper, bone folder, and cloth book tape.

Register on Eventbrite

Cultivate Simplicity, No. 1

More art in more places. More art at Drift Creek Camp, in the Siuslaw National Forest; more art using gifts from the forest collected on walks with my sweet dog, just minutes from my home. Last week high school age humans created Neurographic art and recycled cardboard bird mobiles and adult humans learned to make pine needle baskets that fit neatly in the palm of their hand. We all paid attention to things that matter, like kindness and empathy and words.

Creating a pine needle basket is an intuitive process. Your hands feel when the bundle of hydrated needles want to start the upward shape of the side of the basket. There is no such thing as a machine-made basket; human hands make them. I noticed, while teaching adults the first simple stitch in basketry, that the word oblique (when offered by a student) to describe what I was demonstrating, felt wildly out of place–but it wasn’t wrong. At the end of the class, we talked about that word and how we all react to words and how we use them differently.

The high school age humans listened as I described the multitude of choices they could make as we progressed through the steps in creating Neurographic art, recognizing that in a world where it feels like they have control of so little, this could feel like a gift. My dear friend Brenda pointed out that using watercolor can also feel like letting go of control (also a gift).

I love this work, and I get tired. After this weekend of another pine needle basket making class at Black Sheep Gathering in Albany, I’m taking a little break from teaching art. I’ll be painting pet portraits instead* while I process all the learning I’ve done this week while I taught.

* I just realized I’m painting a cat named Tommy and a dog named Jerry. That’s fun.

New Direction Home

For more than ten years I’ve been looking for ‘home’. I tried so hard to make downtown Corvallis my home, but living across from an iconic and noisy bar, it turns out, is A LOT. Too much. My dog Pearl and I love our neighbors and have both made so many friends downtown, but something needed to change. We both feel much happier and settled when we are near moving water, some trees and away from pavement/traffic. We have finally found a place to be near water, trees and even closer to the park we walk every day with friends. We are both sleeping at night now (as it happens, sleep is one of the keys to a happy life).

Also for ten years I’ve been working on my art practice and profession. Formerly a middle school teacher in public schools, I’ve danced around teaching both young and old during this ten year span, interspersed with some other jobs that included animals. I’ve been working in places that nurtured different parts of my soul.

For some reason this move to a quieter place, paired with some artistic practices, connections with people and just the right timing, I now have found my footing; I’ve discovered the path to pursue: Teaching art to all ages. Using the practices that have kept me going for the past 10 years to teach others how to keep going. Kyle Morton wrote in one of my favorite songs, Time, Time: “Time, time, inexorable time/you were drawing a circle/I was drawing a line.” I’ve been made aware recently of how much circling back I have done in my life. The more I circle back, the more sure-footed I become. My hope is to continue this new direction toward the home within me, and while I’m here, help others do the same.

Here are some pictures from recent classes and a list of upcoming classes. I’ve met some amazing folks and I even ran into some people I’m fond of from the past.

Upcoming Classes:

June 17/18; June 24/25 — Art at Drift Creek Camp Summer Camp

June 28/30 — Pine Needle Basketry at Black Sheep Gathering in Albany

July 1/2; July 8/9 — Art at Drift Creek Camp Summer Camp

July 6 — Neurographic Art at Albany Mennonite Church for youth

July 20, 2pm — Book making at 2 Towns Ciderhouse (spaces available)

July 24th, 5:30 — Book making at 2 Town Ciderhouse (spaces available)

If you would like more information, please send me a message. Also, please inquire about private classes for your own group of friends. I’ll travel to you, if you like.

With Love,

Jaqui Eicher (and Pearl)

jaqui.eicher@gmail.com

Upcoming Art Classes

I would be tickled to see you at any of these classes! Please join me for art, fun, conversation, and shared space. No experience necessary.

May 22 AND May 29, 5:30-6:30 PM, 2 Towns Ciderhouse, 33930 SE Eastgate Cir, Corvallis, OR 97333

Neurographic Art: Part meditation, part processing, part prayer, part art, part poetry, this process is deeply soulful and empowering. You will amaze yourself with your finished piece!

Register on Eventbrite

May 23, 6-8 PM, CreativiTEE, 110 Commercial St NE Downtown Salem

Papermaking: Jaqui will lead you through the steps she has used in her own practice. This process of creating something new out of tired, old documents is deeply soulful and empowering. Jaqui has used her documents from 10 years ago, as well as her childhood poetry. Your paper will not be completely dry when you leave, but you’ll be given the tools to complete the work.

Register on Eventbrite

Neurographic Art: Using Art to Process Thoughts

 This class is available for private groups

“Fine Words” by Eicher, 2023

According to Neurographic Academy, “Neurographica is a unique art form that uses simple, lines and roundings to create images that can be used to access and release emotional blockages. Neurographica is based on psychology, neuroscience and art.”

Materials: Provided for use in class*

Facilitator/Teacher: Jaqui Pearl Eicher
Cost: $50/per person (class is limited to 15 people)

What to Expect: You will have all the freedom and guidance you prefer as you create your own one-of-a-kind masterpiece! Jaqui will lead you through the steps she herself uses daily to collect her thoughts on paper. Part meditation, part processing, part prayer, part art, part poetry, this process is deeply soulful and empowering. You will amaze yourself with your finished piece!

Take Aways: You will leave with a unique piece of art all your own and resources (including news about future classes). Jaqui’s book, Neurographica (a book of art and poetry) will be available for purchase. Hopefully you will find inspiration to create a grounding practice of your own. This world can be challenging and we need to gather energy and inspiration from each other.

jaqui.eicher@gmail.com

jaqui.eicher@instagram.com