Betsy's Workshop with Fujimura
UPDATE 3:30pm THANK YOU ALL for helping me reach my goal! I had no idea I'd reach it at all, much less this quickly.
I am turning off donations but keeping the campaign live so I can post updates and contact each of you privately about the thank-you gifts and workshop update, which will be sent in September.
Thank you again. I am overwhelmed by your generosity and support.
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I just received an amazing opportunity to attend an artist workshop with the influential painter Makoto Fujimura this August. It’s incredibly exciting! And . . . expensive.
The workshop is being held at the Mt. Tabor Centre in Cape Cod and will focus on learning some of the Nihonga techniques Makoto Fujimura specializes in. If you’re not familiar with him, Fujimura is an incredible painter known for his modern adaptations of traditional Japanese painting materials and techniques. He uses gold, silver, crushed minerals, and other precious materials to create gorgeous paintings which inspired my own research into using copper and reacting it to create mineral patinas for my paintings. He’s also been influential in the world of faith and the arts, speaking and writing extensively on culture and Christianity. You can see his work here: https://www.makotofujimura.com/.
As an emerging artist supported entirely by selling my work, I simply don’t have the funds to attend. But this workshop is exactly what I need to grow as an artist, expand my network, and develop as a professional, not to mention giving me delight and refreshment to learn from an artist I’ve admired for years. Even after winning a small scholarship I still need $1500 by early August (including housing, meals, and material fees) plus at least $500 for airfare and other travel expenses. I had hoped to get some funding through a TN Arts Commission grant, but they are already out of funds for the fiscal year.
I’ve been hesitant to crowdfund, but friends, family, and acquaintances have encouraged me that many people are excited for a chance to support the arts in general and my work in particular. So if you enjoy my painting, value the importance of art in faith and society, or love Fujimura’s work and want to strengthen its influence in the Nashville area, contributing to this workshop will support all these things while being a huge encouragement and blessing to me.
All of my work is made possible by the friends, family, and clients who have supported me over the years by buying my work, sharing it by word of mouth, following me on social media, and even just by offering words of encouragement. Whether you’re able to support this new opportunity or not, know that I’m incredibly grateful for each and every one of you.
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If you’re able to donate, I’d love to send you a small thank-you and update after the workshop is over - just provide your address either in a note with your donation or by private message.
$10 donation - thank-you & update with images of my artwork from the workshop
$25 donation - update & set of MarschStudios blank postcards
$50 donation - update & set of MarschStudios blank notecards
$75 donation - update & Reaction Series journal (your choice of lined or unlined)
$100 donation - update & small print of your choice from any of my paintings (some exceptions may apply due to copyrights, client privacy, etc)
$500 donation - update & custom copper minuscule (the deluxe version with specialty framing and fine detail)
ANYONE who contributes is also welcome to apply their donation to a future order (good through January 2019). I will be posting new work for sale to my website soon, so if you contribute $100 now and later see a work that you want to purchase, I will gladly discount that piece by the amount of your donation.
If you’d like to support me by buying or commissioning artwork instead of donating, that’s great too! My shops are www.betsymarsch.com/shop and www.etsy.com/shop/marschstudios or you can contact me directly about custom orders.
Huge thanks to you all for your support and encouragement!
