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Upstate Artist Collective
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May 2026 Meeting Summary
Updates Greer Cultural Arts Center Exhibit We are excited that we were asked to exhibit again this year at the Greer Cultural Center in July and August. Working with that team is an honor. I suggested a title of Interwoven 2026 but it's up to Robin and the team. We will begin marketing as soon as we get exact dates for the show, drop off and pick up dates, and a marketing theme. We hope to have a section dedicated to 12"x12" pieces so get your creative hats. Send a photo of t
Johnnie McKenzie
May 153 min read


April 2026 Meeting Summary
Thanks to Linda Neely for taking some professional-level pictures. I added LN below the ones she took. I will be visiting Better World Studios this Wednesday and will update you all on the details we work out with Joya (Joya Jimenez DiStefano). You all had fabulous questions and raised excellent issues to explore. I think working with BWS will be a fun and rewarding experience for all of us. We spent a little time talking about how to present our work. Cindy provided some ins
Johnnie McKenzie
Apr 124 min read


How to wrap a quilt around a canvas
This is one of the best tutorials I have found. Tutorial: How to Mount a Quilt on Canvas — Kelly Spell Quilts
Johnnie McKenzie
Apr 21 min read


March 2026 Meeting Summary
Lots of creativity shared in our meeting this month. From Natalie, a wonderful quilt depicting a possible scene from a kite fighting game. She brought the kite runner role to life. Natalie used a stock photo, edited in graphic software, and printed onto fabric. She finished with detailed quilting and touchups to bring the piece to vibrant life. With Lily (doll) in the foreground, Natalie got ideas on how to use an embroidery piece from our "share" table. Can't wait to see wh
Johnnie McKenzie
Mar 252 min read


February 2026 Meeting Summary
Our February meeting was the first at the Greer Cultural Arts Center and we loved the warm welcome from Robin and Sara. We were delighted to welcome new artist who found our group through the social media postings of the art center. We look forward to the new artists sharing their knowledge and talent. We are submitting a number of proposals for exhibits this year and got some great ideas during the meeting that will make our exhibits successful. Two members shared their “rew
Johnnie McKenzie
Feb 132 min read


Using Text-asemic, Gregg shorthand, scribbles, non-English alphabets,etc.
Although I didn't love the course from Claire Benn, this one looks promising. Here's a video about the course. I love including shorthand and scribbling into collages and am practicing, practicing, practicing. https://www.facebook.com/reel/2101774393971811
Johnnie McKenzie
Feb 21 min read


Cutting Through the Clutter
I just finished an 11-day class with Catherine Raines, a North Carolina-based collage artist and teacher. And man, is my workspace a MESS! The class was great. I learned a great deal about the art and process of assembling a collage, balancing color/value, pattern, size/proportion, etc. It was an 11-day marathon of painting, printing, cutting, glueing, arranging and re-arranging. I created five pages of mini collages and really pushed myself to step outside my normal boundari
Susan Rink
Jan 171 min read


January 2026 Meeting
Wow! There was so much art shared and so much laughter and inspiration. If anyone has photos or info you would like to add, please let me know and I'll update this summary. We'll announce our February meeting location soon. Below are pictures (and you know my photographic skills LOL) from the Cat Rains Collage Breakthrough classes. Although the photos are not in any particular order, the lessons progressed through creating a grid of 2" squares and filling them with 2 papers,
Johnnie McKenzie
Jan 172 min read
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