artistic artifacts

We are planning special week long excursions and classes in Italy for summer 2019. We will offer special, all inclusive, authentic medieval experiences with specialty instruction utilizing basic and advanced techniques, local products, and interesting finds! Scroll below for a sample itinerary!

Planned excursion dates for this year: June 30 with classes starting July 1 through July 7.

Book a few extra days before or after to explore additional attractions such as Rome, Florence, Sardinia, Sicily, Puglia or European points beyond Italy.

For more information, contact Artistic Artifacts at 4750 Eisenhower Ave Alexandria, VA 22304 Tel: 703-823-0202 or Italian Cultural Tours, LLC at CONTACT US

Judys sample journal

Modeled after our popular “How Do I ...?” Meets the Art Journal Page” classes, you can spend the week under the guidance and instruction of Artistic Artifacts owner Judy Gula.  We will utilize a wide selection of products to create original and layered journal pages and bind them into a custom art journal! The mornings we will learn a new skill, hone an old one and create our journals.  The afternoons will find us exploring the unusual, authentic, medieval Italian countryside including spas, lakes, catacombs, beaches-all while sampling the best authentic, locally grown and prepared Italian foods and wines.  

Day 1 & 2- We will paint and print on Strathmore Mixed Media Papers and found papers. (Those simple words hardly describe the wild, freeing day creating the backgrounds for our journal pages!) 

Day 3 & 4 will find us continuing to add color to our pages with pens and inks, plus collaging with our painted pages and ephemera. Enjoy the camaraderie of discovering, creating and producing together in this mini Creative Retreat Experience. We definitely will include the fun 'try it and play' aspects of our popular classes. We will learn to incorporate ephemera from our afternoon excursions.

Day 5 we will assemble pages to include ephemera collected from our daily adventures. We’ll sew our covers, present our work and share our experiences!  

We will discuss and execute journal pages, learning how to create Judy’s signature backgrounds — experiment with putting your own spin on the many techniques you will learn! Each student will receive a Strathmore tablet of 9" x 12" mixed media paper (15 sheets). Workstations will be set up with the following products for your use: Artistic Artifacts Fluid Textile Paints, stencils, rubber stamps, Silks Acrylic Glazes and Twinkling H2Os; Stamper’s Big Brush Pens and Gelatos by Faber-Castell; range of wooden printing blocks; Spray Inks, and Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plates. Participants will learn to fold and bind their pages into a custom art journal using sturdy Roc-lon Multi-Purpose Cloth (provided) to create their cover. (If desired, you can keep your pages flat and separate.) 

 While all necessary supplies are provided, personalize your pages by bringing the following materials from your stash: photos, favorite art paper or patterned cardstock, special ephemera (postage stamps, tickets, envelopes, handwritten letters, etc.), favorite pens, pencils and markers, washi tape, glue stick, scissors, plus a pen and paper for taking notes. We recommend limiting yourself to packing one 1-gallon plastic bag.

About the Instructor: Judy Gula, owner of Artistic Artifacts, is the author of Colorful Batik Panel Quilts: 28 Quilting and Embellishing Inspirations from Around the World. Judy believes that to make art, you must live art. She finds inspiration in new and vintage materials, her interactions with other artists, and in surprising and unexpected experiences. Her goal is to share her love of art and in empowering people to create their own artwork, she finds her bliss. 

For More Information About the Tour Details, Options and Availability, CONTACT US Click here for Sample excursion sites and tour features.

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jUDY’S sAMPLE SCRAPBOOK

Take a look below at Judy’s Scrapbook of her recent trip to Cinque Terre. Notice the various textures, materials and techniques employed. One of the planned trips will include a week of instruction, utilizing objects and creativity unleashed by our afternoon excursions!