JJ Cardinal Bird Seed and Unique Gifts

Mindful Mark Making - Create your own Language
2025-01-07 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | JJ Cardinal, 12830 S Saginaw St, Ste A, Grand Blanc, MI, 48439, United States
Join us Saturday afternoon, January 11 from 1 to 4 pm tom Gretchen Giles will spend a mindful afternoon with you showing you how to use charcoal and paper to explore the meaning in marks and symbols that are unique to you. Your own secret language in use in your art works. We will explore some common symbols (hearts, butterflies… and common marks (dots and dashes from morse code), to adding your own meaning to geometric shapes then how to create your own alphabet and numbering system.
Each person will receive their own booklet, Lyra water soluble graphite stick and fountain pen to use in class and take home to continue the exploration. All materials and supplies are provided. You just need to bring a sense of adventure.
Cost is 35$ All materials and supplies are provided. You just need to bring a sense of adventure. Class size is limited to 10 people. Reservations are required on line or Call 810 695-8733.

Mark Making - Finding your own Visual Language
2025-01-11 13:00 - 16:00
We all have marks and symbols we are drawn to. Spend a mindful mediative afternoon with us to start on your journey. You will use pens, marker, paint and other tools to be creative. You will also create you own simple stamp from one of your favorite marks. Before you leave we can show you uses for the papers you create; cards, journals, collage, framed art….

The cost is $35. All supplies are provided. All you need to bring is a sense of adventure and wonder.
Class size is limited to 10 people. Reservations are required.

Gel Plate Printing - Mono & Collage Prints - Gretchen
2025-01-25 13:00 - 16:00
Join us January 25 from 1 to 4 pm to create unique gel plate mono prints We will cover the basic process of mono printing on a gel plate. You will be working with acrylics and rice paper to create translucent sheets that work well with collage work, journaling, cards, art work and assemblage. These sheets can be used if you join us for our collage butterfly class on February 22 . Another bonus is during class you will learn how to develop some simple mask and stencils from magazines, mailers or file folders. No experience is required only a sense of adventure. The process can be messy so wear your play clothes.
All supplies are provided. Cost is $35. Space is limited to 8 people. Reservations are required For more information call the store at 810 695-8733.
I look forward to seeing you for an afternoon of creativity.

Collage Butterfly
2025-02-22 13:00 - 16:00
Join us on February 22 from 1 to 4 pm to learn the ins and outs of torn paper collage. In class you will create a frameable collage butterfly created from unique and special paper that you will add your own marks to. If you have attended any our 3 previous classes; mark making, gel printing and hand lettering you will be able to use your own stash to develop the butterfly. Not to worry if you were unable to attend. We will provide all of the materials requires to for a special piece that is truly your own design. No experience is required just a willingness to create. This can be a messy process so wear your play clothes. Cost is $35 space is limited to 8 people. Reservations are required. Call the store for more information. 810 695-8733.

Gouache and Ink Painting - Modernist Vases of Flowers with Rick Goff
2025-03-08 13:00 - 16:00
On March 8th we are excited to have Rick Goff coming to JJ Cardinals to lead a class on gouache painting. Rick is an Ann Arbor artist that is known for his bright hues and modernist style. Rick will cover the basics of working with gouache paints on a waterproof Indian ink background. Gouache is an opaque water-soluble paint that has bright chalky hues. Rick creates his works of art on watercolor paper to which he first applies a black Indian ink background. The results give a stained glass window appearance. A reference drawing will be provided, but you are free to create whatever makes you happy.
Rick’s works can be seen at the Ann Arbor’s Sunday Artisan Market, Instagram #artworkbyrickgoff or his website – artbyrickgoff.wixsite.com
You will leave with a frameable piece of work. All materials will be provided to create a special piece that is truly your own design. No experience is required just a sense of adventure and a willingness to create. This can be a messy process so wear your play clothes. The class will run from 1 to 4 pm. Cost is $45 space is limited to 8 people. Reservations are required. Call the store for more information. 810 695-8733. Since the artist is coming from out of town, the class must be paid for in advance. No refunds will be available for cancelation after the end of business March 5th.

Little Houses w/Crow - Simple Works - Linda Chamberlain
2025-03-22 13:00
On March 22nd we are excited to welcome returning artist Linda Chamberlain of Simple Works. Linda will show us her unique technique to create a simplistic highly textured composition. Linda is from Bay City and is know for her dark highly textured Scandinavian styled art work. Linda will walk us through the steps of creating a layered back ground and adding collage pieces to create a dimensional small community of white homes with a stylized raven flying above.
Linda’s work is on display at JJ Cardinals and is often seen at FIA art fairs and in many Northern Michigan galleries. You can follow her on Instagram #simple_works_art or on Facebook SimpleWorksArt.
You will leave with a frameable piece of work. All materials will be provided to create a special piece that is truly your own design. No experience is required just a sense of adventure and a willingness to create. This can be a messy process so wear your play clothes. The class will run from 1 to 4 pm. Cost is $45 space is limited to 10 people. Reservations are required. Call the store to for more information. 810 695-8733. Since the artist is coming from out of town, the class must be paid for in advance. No refunds will be available for cancelation after the end of business March 19th.
