Take an Artist Retreat Weekend in Sussex County, NJ

TraillWorks has two fantastic workshops coming up for the month of March. Both are one day workshops taught by teaching artists. These are great opportunities to explore a new medium or hone your skills / approach. And, we're partnering with the local Wooden Duck Bed & Breakfast, to offer you a discounted stay should you sign up for either workshop and want to make a weekend artist retreat out of it. If you reserve a room at the inn, you'll have an opportunity to save 10% on your workshop enrollment at TraillWorks!

Floral Watercolor by Marilyn Rose

The first workshop on Sunday, March 3rd, is Fabulous Flower Watercolors with Marilyn Rose, of West Caldwell, NJ. She is know for her fast and free approach and can be found in plein air events on the East Coast. I met Marilyn when she participated in our Paint Newton event last summer and have exhibited her works at TraillWorks since. She will definitely help you crawl out of your watercolor shell and find a renewed or new love for the medium. 

Woodblock Prints in Progress by Amanda Gordon Miller

The second workshop on Saturday, March 23rd, is Woodblock Printing with Amanda Gordon Miller, of Baltimore Maryland. Amanda and I attended Syracuse University together; she was a very talented painter. We didn't keep in touch, but about two years ago, I found her on Facebook and she has been exhibiting at the gallery since. Her work moved in the direction of printmaking when she had children, as a result of looking for a process she felt she could handle at home. She now is a resident artist in the Howard County Center for the Arts and teaches art and design at two community colleges in Maryland. 

Learn more about both workshops and the Wooden Duck Bed & Breakfast offer at traillworks.com.

Figure Drawing at TraillWorks Ending

It's been a good year and TraillWorks has enjoyed offering artists of Sussex County figure drawing opportunities. After much thought, an attempt to build our audience in January and the impending changes at TraillWorks, we've decided to end figure drawing open studios. 

Thank you to all of the models and artists who have created a great environment in which to draw and develop a community at TraillWorks. 

There are plenty of opportunities over the next couple of months to take advantage of what TraillWorks offers, from lessons, workshops, and exhibits. Stay in touch on our web site or Facebook page for events and news about future plans.

Changing Directions

 

It is with mixed emotions that I share with you the news of TraillWorks' future. Over the past year, many changes have occurred in my personal life, from getting pregnant to the possibility of relocating our family. After much deliberation, we put our home in Newton for sale two weeks ago, and are now under contract. My husband commutes quite a distance to his job and we've decided to relocate to Maplewood, NJ, to enable a better quality of life for our family. With this decision means my transition from running the retail studio space in Newton, to working in a home studio for awhile once my baby is born in May. 

The past seven years that I have been in business in Newton have been rich with experiences. I have met the most amazing people from very loyal customers, supportive business owners in the community, as well as many talented and special artists, many of whom are now friends. Opening up a retail space and gallery was never my intention or dream, but happened out of the necessity for studio space. What transpired has been truly remarkable. I am very proud of the space and services that I have developed and offer to the community, and will be sad to leave it and all of you. However, I'm very excited about the prospect of spending time with my new baby, more time with Joel and my husband, and getting back to the roots of my business - making my own art!

While this is the end of my involvement in Newton with my studio and gallery, I am embarking on the next step in my artistic career. Who knows where this will lead me, but I know good things are in store. And I do hope to keep in touch with many of you.

During the next few months, I will be informing you of my plans. In the meantime, our current exhibit is ending and what will probably be the final exhibit at TraillWorks, EVOLUTION, will be opening. Lessons are continuing through early April, as well as some workshops. There might be some changes to the schedule as I learn more about the closing date on our home and our moving plans. In the meantime, I have listed the studio and gallery for sale on Craigslist. If you or someone you know is interested in taking over the studio and gallery, I would love to talk to them. I'm looking for a business-minded person with a background in art education and art making. Any serious inquiries can be made via email to jennie@traillworks.com.