OUT OF CONTEXT WITH GARY AND MARY ANN CARLSON
July 9-12, 2026, Port Orchard, WA
Back by popular demand for their third Bellissima Art Escape are Gary and Mary Ann Carlson. Believe me when I tell you that if you are an assemblage artist, you need to attend this workshop. They are masters at attaching materials of any kind.
Bird in Hand
You will learn:
Compositional methods and critique skills to unify your composition
The appropriate products and methods of attaching a wide variety of materials
Material techniques using Apoxie Sculpt, Sculpt Noveau Metal Coatings paint and patinas
Appropriate tools for specific materials, rivets, saw, cutof saws, grinders, etc.
Appropriate display hardware for asymmetric physical weight balance of artwork
Gary and Mary Ann made these two pieces while in between workshops. You will be able to see these in person.
From the chaos of an overabundance of materials, our artists swapped supplies, helped each other and created amazing pieces.
Itinerary
We will meet each day at 9:30 am, stopping for lunch provided by our host, Kathie Vezzani, and ending the day around 4:30 pm. Dinner will be provided one evening.
On the last day, we will work until we break for lunch, then we will finish any last minute details before cleaning up and sharing our work in a Show ‘N tell.
Eventide
The Scribe’s 9 Laments
This Art Escape includes
Four days instruction by Gary and Mary Ann Carlson
Four lunches, one dinner
Lots of materials
The cost of this workshop is $950. A deposit of $500 is due upon registration. The balance is due February 12, 2026.
Port Orchard is the site for the workshop. The location is 9 miles north of Gig Harbor, WA which is listed as one of the most desirable cities in the US to visit (or live). It is located south of Seattle, across the Narrows Bridge on Hwy 16.
The Bremerton-Kitsap Airporter stops in Gig Harbor and in Port Orchard.
There are manyAirBNBs and B&Bs in the area. A list of accommodations will be provided if requested.
Bespelling Time
We Will Provide
12” edge glued wood round
16”x 16” x 1/4” plywood
Primer paint, water-based
Metal Coatings brass and iron paint
Metal coatings patinas, tiffany green and tan
Clear acrylic Matt spray
Jig saw (metal and wood blades), small pull saw, coping saw
Drill and bits
Hammers
Safety goggles
Metal shears
Metal files
Wood rasps
Brad nailer
Escutcheon pins
Nail set
Center punch
Wood scraps
Wire and wire cutters
Metal cutoff saw
Clamps
Nails and screws
Bits of wood and tin that you may want to use
Acrylic paint
Liquitex Matte Gel Medium
Sponge brushes
Paint brushes
Wood glue
Plastic gloves
Sandpaper, emery paper, steel wool various textures
Rivet gun and aluminum rivets
Apoxie Sculpt
Elsie’s Moonlight Adventure
Student Supply List
Apron
Pencils, sharpies
Scissors,
E-6000 glue,
JB weld kwik glue
Bring ideas and found object materials that have similar elements such as color, shape, line for your wall sculpture.
These are just ideas. You do not need to collect all of this:
vintage wood typesetter’s letters or typewriter keys or metal letter stencils
wood blocks, letters
vintage clock insides, watch parts
various sized wood balls, pool balls, beads, ¼”- 1½”
croquet balls, mallets or sticks
small decorative brass horns
vintage embroidery hoops or circles, old tin lids
vintage wood hangers or any wood or metal arc
interesting sticks or wood shapes - objects
small hollow, plastic bird forms
small rusted metal sheet material that has some color left,
small metal lamp parts, metal leaves, brass or chrome metal bits
old rulers, wood metal or cloth
old paintbrushes,
small vintage tools
small antlers or horns
copper or aluminum tape
The Bellissima Art Studio
Minnesota artist Gary Carlson is a sculptor and retired art teacher. He has worked as an art educator, a graphic artist, a portrait photographer, and painter. Since retiring from teaching, his worked has been primarily creating found object assemblage sculptures.
Throughout his career, he has exhibited in galleries, art centers, art competitions and art fairs in and around the Minneapolis and St. Paul area, as well as the Midwest. Gary’s work is in the collection of the East Central Regional Arts Council and he has received numerous awards.
MaryAnn Carlson also is a former art educator. She has worked as a jeweler, a picture framer, a gallery director, an art administrator, a small business owner, a graphic artist, a digital photo editor, a painter and a sculptor. She has exhibited in galleries, art centers, art competitions in and around the Minneapolis and St. Paul area. Her work is in the collection of The East Central Regional Arts Council and she has received numerous awards for her unique sculptures. She is a master at hanging artwork!
