FEATURED IN: NEWSDAY!
Recently featured in Newsday Things to Do for my creative workshops
How fun to see my workshops at Village highlighted in Newsday’s Things to Do section! I’m in good company too, some wonderful local small businesses are featured.
Check out my recaps of the workshops I’ve taught at Village, and don’t forget to sign up for my upcoming workshops.
Art Process: Handmade Kelp Paint
This year I am moving back into the experimental process that I deeply love. Working with kelp is something I plan to do all year. The smell of kelp, clove oil (in my paint binder) was a soothing briny scent that brought me back to summertime as a child swimming in the bay.
I’m working with @lazypointfarms using @montaukseaweedco kelp meal to create non-toxic handmade watercolor paint. Since these paints are plant based I’m working through a series of tests to watch their colors shift and fade. Capturing scans of them immediately after they dry will preserve the original colors and soon I can offer fine art prints of the abstract patterns made with this crop.
PAINTING MADE WITH HANDMADE KELP PAINT
CHRISTIE JONES, WORK STATION MAKING KELP PAINT, LONG ISLAND
Behind the scenes to process:
Grind kelp meal with mortar & pestle
Sift through to get smaller particles (repeat)
Add handmade non-toxic watercolor binder
Mix with palette knife & muller
Make paintings!
KELP COLLECTION, CHRISTIE JONES 2025
I plan to volunteer later this year with Mastic Beach Conservancy as they harvest kelp. Being connected to the growing process, seeing the kelp harvested, and having the ability to lend my own two hands to be part of this monumental movement in New York kelp is something I look forward to. You can learn more about the aquafarms and opportunities to volunteer here.
Village Calligraphy Workshop Recap
Once again I had the pleasure of teaching at Village in Sayville. This time I was thrilled to share the knowledge of calligraphy with an intimate group on a Thursday evening. We had candles lit, chocolates near, and the sound of our dip pens moving across parchment. It was everything I dreamed of. Years ago I started my business teaching calligraphy through the north east. I traveled and hosted workshops all over. I taught in my own studios on Long Island, and lettered many items for weddings. The last time I taught was masks on in the pandemic, and this was such a wonderful way to get back into teaching an art form that is so near and dear to me.
I was so proud of everyone’s progress! Left handed or right handed, some experience or no experience - everyone left that evening with a better understanding of how to use the tools, and create lovely letters.
February Calligraphy Workshop at Village in Sayville, NY
I will be launching an online workshop so regardless of where you live or if you have taken a workshop in the past and want to brush up on your skills you can do so from the comfort of your home. Keep in mind, I do offer private lessons too. Reach out, I’d love to help!
Village Watercolor Workshop Recap
It takes a village! I’m thrilled to partner with Village in Sayville this wonderful general store that opened in 2024. When Ashley the owner asked me to teach here I instantly knew YES! Surrounded by beautifully curated gifts we hosted our first handmade watercolor workshop of 2025 here. I designed a custom watercolor sheet based on the store, and attendees were able to see the paint making process in person. After an intro everyone had full access to my handmade paints from earth & mineral pigments along with a variety of my designs to create their own paintings.
I can’t wait to teach more workshops like this in 2025. I have some scheduled, so make sure you’re checking the event page for upcoming options.
And don’t worry if you’re not local. I’m working on NEW online classes! Stay tuned.
FEATURED ON: WLIW-FM
Back in October 2024 when I was marketing for the Nature Conservancy grant I received (read more about it here) I was asked to be interviewed by Heart of the East End’s Gianna Volpe on WLIW-FM. Ria Rajan and I, both art grant recipients, drove out together to the radio show and enjoyed a segment where we shared about our art practices, and what our workshops would be like.
2024 NATURE CONSERVANCY RECAP
The four artists selected for the 2024 Nature Conservancy grant with Andy Warhol Visual Arts Foundation, from left to right top row: Ria Rajan, Christie Jones bottom row: Michelle Brody, Jasmine Gutbrod
Last autumn I had the absolute honor of being selected as one of the 2024 Nature Conservancy artists to receive a grant from the Andy Warhol Visual Arts Foundation. In October, I led a plein air workshop at the private Andy Warhol Preserve in Montauk, New York. It was a wonderful small group of adventurers. We drove into the preserve, hiked with our materials into this gorgeous opening overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It was something right out of a movie. The weather was perfect, warm with a cool ocean breeze. The sun shone down upon us as we savored the sights, smells, and sounds of this remote location.
This experience solidified my excitement of creating with others en plein air. I have always enjoyed the unpredictability of painting outdoors, but seeing the joy on everyone’s faces made me realize how special it truly is. Gathering to create, being in nature, appreciating the moment these are all important things especially as life twists and turns. Being among others who share these passions is a special thing. I am grateful that the grant provided access to this historic setting, along with the materials that I was able to provide and share with attendees. I hope this is the first of many workshop experiences like this.
FEATURED ON: Frankly
Graphic created by Ashley Alaia
I had the exciting opportunity to be featured on Frankly, one of my favorite substack’s that is part scrapbook, part diary by Ashley Alaia. She is interviewing creatives seasonally through short Q&A sessions called Quick Takes.
1. How do you stay motivated during creative lulls, and how do you balance your creative work with other aspects of life (work, school, or personal time)?
“Over the years, I’ve created a process-focused art practice. This allows me to always be creative in some way regardless of whether my motivation is there or not. Since I make my own paints, if I’m not feeling inspired to create a collection of original work, I still spend time in my studio making colors. Keeping the studio a warm and welcoming place has helped me stay in a creative mindset. Some of my ideas for work came from those quiet times grinding pigments, dreaming about what I want to make.
An hour in there is better than avoiding it altogether, so even with school, teaching, exhibiting my work, and my personal life—I can create these small pockets to breathe life into my studio time. Small moments lead to big breakthroughs.”