Instructor: Kelly McGrath
Monday - Tuesday
June 1 - 2
10am - 4pm
2 sessions

In this class we will be working with armature based work, sheathed in three different materials: paper, plaster and fabric. Wire soldering and wire mesh forming will be our main methods for developing the armature structure. Paper and wire make forms that are light and airy; plaster adds a level of increased structural stability to a form, and fabric can add both. This Encaustic is introduced on the second day as a finishing surface adding color, texture and luminosity to the pieces. Participants will leave this workshop with a variety of samples.

Techniques covered:

• Basic brazing/ silver soldering for small metals.

• Appropriate tools for working with small metals.

• Working with wet and dry paper sheets over armature.

• Waxing fabrics and papers.

• Safe orientation to working with a torch

Kelly McGrath has been a practicing artist since 2007 and Art educator since 2009. She utilizes wax, paper, plaster, wood, clay and found materials in her process driven work. She explores themes that are influenced by biologic process like growth and decay, mutation and evolution. She has been invited to present and teach at R&F Handmade Paints, Women's Studio Workshop, Castle Hill Center for the Arts, Peter’s Valley and Snow Farm. She earned her BFA in Sculpture from SUNY New Paltz in 2007 and her Master’s in Art Education from Hunter College in 2019. She is currently employed at SUNY New Paltz as the Instructional Support Technician for the Sculpture Department.