Empowering Artists

Helen Dannelly Jeffrey Hirst Lisa Pressman Paula Roland Susan Stover

Catalyst Art Lab

Empowering artists through innovative teaching and an engaging membership community

A new artists’ membership community and teaching site successfully launched this fall in the midst of the global pandemic. Catalyst Art Lab (CAL) and school was co-founded by five artist educators from across the country who met through the encaustic community: Helen Dannelly and Jef Hirst (Chicago), Lisa Pressman (New Jersey), Paula Roland (Santa Fe), and Susan Stover (California). An umbrella organization, Catalyst Art Lab is comprised of two entities: 1) a robust, engaging membership community and 2) a school that ofers beginning, intermediate, and advanced courses in painting, printmaking, fiber, sculpture, color theory, and design. The mission of CAL is to bring together adventurous beginners, mid-career, and seasoned visual artists to cultivate growth in a meaningful and supportive community so that artists can be less isolated in the studio, develop new ways of approaching work, and achieve their creative goals.

Chicago artist, Helen Dannelly, teaching color theory online from her studio.

At the beginning of the pandemic, when exhibition venues were closing, classes were being cancelled, and artists were becoming increasingly isolated, we recognized the need for a deeper community and additional creative support.

Given our expertise in diferent media, we conceived of an online teaching site where we could continue to ofer classes. We also decided to create our own membership community, where artists could engage with one another on a regular basis, share artwork, triumphs and challenges, and support one another in their creative pursuits.

As a member of the Catalyst Art Lab community, you can connect with other artists, attend weekly open forums on defined topics, participate in weekly critiques by one of the cofounders, have interactive dialogue with arts professionals, participate in group exhibitions, access resources, materials, tips, and more.

For emerging through established artists, Catalyst Art Lab has content for all stages of your creative and professional development. In this inspiring community of like-minded creatives, you can start your week by logging on to the site to watch “Monday Mash-Up” where Paula Roland might provide a tip for storing paint sticks, or Sue Stover will suggest a weekly smallworks challenge, or Jef Hirst will demo how to make a value scale to help you assess value ranges in your work.

Sue Stover fabric demo

Later that week, you could attend an Open Forum discussion with other artists to discuss juried exhibitions, or mounting, framing and displaying your work, or developing your own style and more.

Members benefit by either listening to or participating in weekly critiques to receive feedback and suggestions about composition or color or materials in your work. You would first share what you think is working in the piece, where you are stuck, what you would like feedback on, and ask any questions you have.

And every month, you can tune in and listen to and participate in a live Zoom interview with Q&A with artists and arts professionals like Joanne Mattera, Chicago Gallerist Dan Addington, and Irish artist Joanna Kidney. You could hear Elaine Grogan Luttrull, CPA, and author of Arts and Finances, discuss financial wellness for artists.

And there is a monthly-panel discussion by the five cofounders on relevant topics such as “The Art of Pricing Your Work” or “How Do I Know I’m Ready to Show My Work?” Plus there is an annual exhibition exclusively for the Catalyst Art Lab membership community at Chicago’s Bridgeport Art Center.

In the school of the Catalyst Art Lab, which is separate from the membership community, you can find a wide range of courses throughout the year covering encaustic painting and monoprinting, sculpture, mixed media, oil and cold wax, drawing, fiber, printmaking, and art fundamentals like color theory and design. These classes are open to the public whether you are a member of the Catalyst Art Lab community or not, although members get first priority to register for classes. A member’s discount will soon be ofered as well.

Sample courses include "Zen, Big Brush and Expressive Markmaking" and "Dipped and Saturated (Wax + Paper),” both taught by Paula Roland; “Discovery and Release; Mixed-Media Printmaking Without a Press” and the very popular "Experimental Drawing" with Jef Hirst; “Demystifying Color” and “Implementing Color,” comprehensive color classes taught by Helen Dannelly, and an intensive class working with the language of abstraction co-taught by Lisa Pressman and Susan Stover. There are many more classes in painting, printmaking, experimental drawing, fiber, and 3D encaustic ofered on a rotating basis throughout the year. Most classes during the pandemic are successfully taught online through Zoom while a few are ofered as pre-recorded.

Course listings as well as one-on-one mentoring sessions can be viewed at catalystartlab.com.

Lisa Pressman teaching painting with oil and cold wax prior to lockdown.

Paula Roland pulling an encaustic monoprint on her Roland HOTbox.

To learn more about classes open to the public at the Catalyst Art Lab school and about the Catalyst Art Lab membership community, which will be open again for registration soon, visit catalystartlab.com.

All five co-founders are proud of what they have created during this time of COVID and invite you to register for classes and join the invigorating Catalyst Art Lab membership community soon!

For further information, please call Helen Dannelly at (415) 515-4254

Or email Helen@CatalystArtLab.com

Helen Dannelly with Clusters, encaustic and paper.

About Helen Dannelly Helen Dannelly draws on over 30 years of professional experience in helping you realize your artistic goals. Helen’s teaching is informed by a unique combination of training that she utilizes in guiding you conceptually and technically. She studied painting at San Francisco State University and sculpture at the University of Minnesota, MN.

Moving easily between drawing, painting, and sculpture, Helen has developed unconventional ways of mixing mediums that create emotionally evocative pieces. Helen’s work focuses on metamorphosis both personally, in natural phenomena, and of the materials. Her organic sculptures are inspired by the natural world, a nod to sea life, and plants. Complex surfaces and engaging forms invite viewers to explore the impact of climate change — a metamorphosis of decline.

Helen is attentive to the importance of art fundamentals weaving them into her classes. She recognizes that these components (color theory, elements of composition, and drawing/markmaking) are skills that need to be continually developed and refined in order for students to leverage them effectively in their work. This mastery results in students creating more sophisticated work and understanding why it is more successful.

Helen is also an R&F trained Advanced Encaustic Instructor, a Golden Artist Educator, and a Silver Brush Educator. She offers individual mentoring sessions.

You can view Helen’s work at helendannelly.com www.facebook.com/helen.dannelly www.instagram.com/helen.dannelly

Chasing Coral Fosshape, encaustic 32 x 40 x 14 in

About Jeffrey Hirst With an MFA in painting and printmaking from Louisiana State University, Jeff Hirst seamlessly moves between various mediums. Throughout his 35 years of work and teaching, Jeff explores the intersection of printmaking techniques, painting, and sculpture, the place where he believes magic happens.

Jeff pioneered the process of combining silkscreen and encaustic painting in 2005 and remains the only resource for learning this technique.

Chicago artist Jeffrey Hirst with his encaustic painting Aqua III at Brandt Roberts gallery in Columbus, OH.

Jeff is always thinking outside of the box, as many of his enthusiastic students agree, combining high- and low-tech solutions in executing his work. You will find his perspective opens up new ways of seeing your practice and approaching your work and is ideal for mixed-media artists. He is also recognized as an R&F Handmade Paint Core Instructor and a Silver Brush Educator. Jeff offers individual Directed Study (mentoring) sessions that help artists develop their unique voice.

You can view Jef’s work at jeffreyhirst.com www.facebook.com/jeffrey.hirst www.instagram.com/jeffreyhirstworkshops

Carbon Blueprint Encaustic on shaped panel 57 x 37 in

About Lisa Pressman Lisa Pressman is an American abstract painter whose work encompasses the transcendent conditions of passion and spontaneity. Her tactile surfaces speak of emotion in physical form and insist in a sense of imperfection and unquenchable humanness. Known as a master colorist, her paintings reveal a depth of intuition and mystery that suggest an existential consciousness.

A native of New Jersey, Lisa received her BA from Douglass College Rutgers University in ceramics and her MFA from Bard College in painting. She has been exhibiting in solo and group exhibitions since 1981, and her work is in numerous private and public collections.

Navigation 5 Encaustic on panel 10 x 8 in

She is represented by Susan Eley Fine Arts in New York, Addington Gallery in Chicago, and The Gallery of Fine Arts in Telluride.

Lisa is a highly-respected instructor who maintains a vigorous teaching schedule throughout the U.S. and internationally. She offers mentoring, portfolio review, and private workshops with her teaching focused on cultivating the visual voice of each student.

You can view Lisa’s work at www.lisapressman.net www.facebook.com/lisa.pressman.1 www.instagram.com/lisapressmanart

Cosmic Debris Encaustic, india ink on panel 40 x 60 in

About Paula Roland Paula Roland, who has over 40 years of teaching experience, is the pioneer of the Encaustic Monotype process and the go-to expert in encaustic on paper and panel. Through her art, teaching, and creation of the Roland HOTbox, Paula elevated the profile of encaustic printmaking.

An internationally-recognized teacher and lecturer, she taught painting and drawing at the college level for years and taught encaustic in Italy, France, and throughout the U.S. She was given The Vendéenne award for Innovation by the International Encaustic Artists Association.

Paintings, works on paper, and installations by Paula Roland have been widely exhibited, with nearly 100 quality group exhibitions. Her 24 solo exhibitions include shows in Houston, Dallas, New Orleans, Santa Fe, Scottsdale, France, and at the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum in Mississippi. Roland is featured in numerous books and articles on encaustic, printmaking, and installation art.

Roland received endowed commissions from the National Endowment for the Arts, and from the U.S. Department of State for their permanent collections in Kampala, Uganda, and Johannesburg, South Africa. She received fellowships to artist residencies at VCCA in Virginia, and VCCA in Auvillar, France; Anderson Ranch Arts Center; The Drawing Marathon at the New York Studio School; and two from the Santa Fe Art Institute, where she studied with renowned artists Lynda Benglis and Elizabeth Murray. She resides in Santa Fe, NM.

Paula has an MFA in painting and sculpture from the University of New Orleans and a BA in painting from Dominican College.

Paula Roland pulling a print off the Roland HOTbox.

You can view Paula’s work at paularoland.com www.facebook.com/PaulaRolandArt www.instagram.com/paularolandart

Susan Stover with her work, Sentry I, II, III, Encaustic, 72 x 24 in

About Susan Stover Susan Stover is a San Francisco Bay Area artist and draws on over 30 years of professional experience. Susan received an MFA from California College of Art in Oakland, CA and a BFA from Miami University in Oxford, OH. Both degrees focused in textiles and painting, and she seamlessly moves between various mediums. Her work exists in and between the realms of painting and sculpture.

Susan's paintings and sculptures explore themes of cultural identity and storytelling. Having studied different cultural-aesthetic traditions from around the world, she is attentive to the strong historical, social, and cultural references of certain mediums and techniques. Susan’s work simultaneously references and exploits these elements.

She brings this depth of art historical and cultural knowledge to her work and teaching. Combining art historical information and a rich understanding of the processes, techniques, and histories of the various mediums enhances her teaching and helps you to consider these elements as you conceptually frame your art practice.

You can view Susan’s work at susanstover.com www.facebook.com/susanstoverart www.instagram.com/susanstoverart

Random Mixed media, encaustic 5.5 x 4 x 4 in

Cassion Mixed media, encaustic 6 x 16 x 6 in