JO SONJA'S SEMINARS
2025
Drawing, Color & Design
Instructor: Jo Sonja Jansen MDA, VGM
Class Fee: $525.00
Class Fee Includes: All paints and mediums used during instruction.
We begin seminars in 2025 with two new extended versions of our design class. Drawing, Color & Design will be taught this year in 3 two day modules - each with a day off in between to get ahead, catch up or relax. A unique experience during which we explore some of the many different aspects of creativity and the actual development of a design and design choices. There will be a piece included as we all see the wonderful way that each of us choose to design it. Each artist is also welcome to bring a piece or two of your own choosing. There will be exercises and times of sharing and encouragement that, hopefully, will stimulate your creative “juices”. We are offering two classes this year - May 5 - 12 and June 2 - 9. The seminar is longer than we have had in the past but we've added this extra module of time for more shared creativity together.
Class Dates
May 05 - 12, 2025
June 02 - 09, 2025
Heritage Legacy
Hallingdal Chip Carved Plate
Instructor: Jo Sonja Jansen MDA, VGM
Class Fee:
Two options are available please let us know which you would like when you sign up as it takes time to have the plates carved.
$550.00
Class Fee - plain edge plate
$650.00 Class Fee - chip carved plate
Includes: All paints and mediums used during instruction.
By request from our classes last year. Jo Sonja has redesigned her Heritage Legacy Vesterheim Bowl submission to fit on a beautiful 18" chip carved plate.
Arregods (Heritage)
Og de to skall blive ett (And the two shall become one)
Legat (Legacy)
Og de ene skall blive mange (And the one shall become many)
The painting technique of the main flowers and leaves is used to compliment the carving. The design is painted in such a way as to keep the wedding couple as the center of interest with the more complex and detailed frame in a symbolic ring shape as a purely highly decorative and symbolic celebration of life. The chip carved border around the top edge is again a golden ring or wedding band.
I wanted to show the contribution of religious beliefs and other symbolism. The foundation of the frame is the twisting 3 dragons representing the trinity (remember the stave churches still included the dragons). The 3 flower forms grow from them and those flower forms are complete.
Flowers are symbolic of the endless succession of generations. This symbolism was very important to the total design concept.
The 2 dragons on each side are not yet completely intertwined. They signify the beginning of the family and the flower form is only partially developed. The 2 small dragons and “half-flower” forms at the top represent children to come. They are the continuation of life but are not yet a reality. The smaller flowers fulfill the legacy symbolism - “and the one shall become many” as the flowers descend from actual forms to small dots gradually disappearing to “infinity”.
Class Dates
July 14 - 18, 2025
September 8 - 12, 2025
October 13 - 17, 2025
Evening Soliloquy
Instructor: Jo Sonja Jansen MDA, VGM
Class Fee: $550.00
Class Fee
Includes: The unfinished piece shown here and all paints and mediums used during instruction.
Our personal thoughts and expressions will be explored and encouraged as we study floral paint techniques that express our love for flowers.
Geoff has designed a beautiful wood lasered frame for the edge of a bentwood box that we'll decorate with some stylized flowers that feature texture and strokes. We use the floral techniques that we have been using in the last two years in our floral studies classes and expand adding a few more for one of my favorite ways to paint flowers.
I have redrawn a few small things and changed a couple of shapes to be more lyrical, so I hope you'll have fun as we complete this painting.
Oh, the bird is the Crested Blue Pigeon - from New Guinea - which I hope you'll enjoy!
Class Dates
July 21 - 25, 2025
September 15 - 19, 2025
October 20 - 24, 2025