Non-toxic Painting – An Eco Oil Painting Guide

We will celebrate Earth Day with an all natural earth art class. I will demonstrate how you can make your own earth paints from natural clay. And then we will paint smooth river rock stones and/or drift wood with earth paints. We’ll make eco stationary with leaf, veggie & flower prints and Native American paint brushes with plant stalks. If there is time we’ll learn how to make earth pastels and natural egg tempera paint.

When: April 27th 5-7 pm

Where: Jackson Wellsprings, in the Goddess Temple – 2253 Highway 99 N  Ashland, OR

Directions: The Tree of life Garden is in the back of Wellsprings and there is parking along the back road.  Walk towards the tree of life garden   then look to your left you will see two domes, the first dome is the Goddess Temple and there is a bark path leading up to it.

How much: $25 per person includes all supplies (Earth Paints, stones, drift wood, leaves, veggies, paper, brushes, etc.)

What to bring (optional): We will be making Eco stationary with leaves and flowers and I will provide some basic paper but if you would like to bring nice or eco (hemp, hand-made, etc.) paper, please do. Also, if you have any large smooth rocks that you’d like to paint for your garden, please bring (I’ll provide small rocks).

Who:  everyone welcome

Taught by Leah Fanning Mebane

Call or email Leah for more info. 541-890-6533

My children’s book, “Simple Pleasures”, just got its first review on Veg Books (which reviews only natural, animal friendly or vegetarian promoting books). The book features 24 original watercolor paintings of children enjoying themselves in nature with no plastic or batteries necessary.

The book is now available for sale on my Earth Paints website $9.95 plus shipping.

Go green” in the art studio for St. Patty’s Day and for the Earth and learn how to make earth paints from natural pigments and colored clay. Create your own brushes from plant stalks and use your new artist tools to create unique and natural art projects including eco-stationary with leaf and vegetable prints, glue batik  designs with earth paints, and painting smooth river stones for your garden or home.

All materials included: includes Earth Paint Kit to take home (retail value $29.99)!

REGISTER ONLINE: www.roguegallery.org

$42 members/ $50 non-members

Need help paying for a class? Scholarships are available! Call for info.

Ignite the Mind, Stir the Soul, Open the Heart… Boldly Create

Rogue Gallery & Art Center 40 South Bartlett Street, Medford, OR 97530

(541)772-8118

“Simple Pleasures” is an earth-centered book about enjoying nature and how you can have fun without batteries and gadjets at any age.

The book is for sale for $9.95 plus $5 shipping for a signed paperback. Enjoy!

To purchase a book. click here or mail checks to: Leah Mebane  PO Box 94  Ashland, OR  97520

Paint your world with colors from the earth 

Earth Oil Paint Kit

Two new easy-to-use kits make wonderful holiday gifts!

These naturally colored clays—some millions of years old—are collected from the earth, dried, crushed, and sifted to create the pure pigments used in my kits. The resulting paint is very high quality, completely Earth friendly, and naturally non-toxic while producing a rich, luminous luster. All packaging is made of 100% post-consumer recycled and biodegradable materials.

Children’s Earth Paint Kit  

Organic and eco-friendly, it’s composed primarily of natural earth pigments and organic milk powder.

Mixing water with the six powdered colors produces creamy paint similar to tempera. Unlike typical children’s paints that are thin, transparent and full of fillers and preservatives, these are non-toxic, rich, and vibrant. Both children and adults will love expressing themselves on a range of materials including paper, canvas, stones or wood.

The kit includes six earth colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and brown), biodegradable mixing cups, complete directions, nature-based activity ideas, and more). $29.95

Earth Oil Paint Kit

These professional-quality oil paints can be used on canvas, wood, primed paper or any surface that regular oil paint is used on. Unlike traditional tube oil paints, these paints contain no preservatives, fillers, heavy metals or toxins. They also offer excellent UV resistance, longevity and are beautifully radiant on the canvas. They also mix with tube oil paints perfectly.

The kit contains six earth pigments (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, brown), refined walnut oil, and complete directions. Included are tips on eliminating toxins from the oil painting process and more). $39.95

Order kits at: www.naturalearthpaint.com

The website also includes earth paint recipes, nature based art activites, earth paint history, photos, videos and more….

To share her love of painting with natural pigments, she has designed two kits, one for children and another for adults. The kits will be for sale in local stores and on her website WWW.NaturalEarthPaint.COM this fall. While you are at her personal website, www.FanningArt.com,  you can look at photos and read about her art. In addition to earth paintings, Leah paints portraits and makes murals of things in nature, such as trees and lizards. Leah moved here after living all over the U.S. She has lived in Ashland for four years. After living all over the country, instead of finding Ashland boring, she says, “It is wonderful to live in Ashland.”

working on the last children's book paintings

I spent a wonderful weekend at the Chinook Artist Retreat in Klamath Falls two weeks ago. The grounds were pretty amazing with a huge, light-filled studio (windows all the way around), a separate living space with bedroom and access to a big living room, dining room and kitchen. And the best part, a beautiful bath house with hot tub, sauna and showers. It was also surrounded by gardens, a labyrinth, and magical woods with a bald eagle preserve. The prices were very affordable and seem pretty flexible since this is a brand new retreat. The owners, Robert and Sharon Chinook, were so sweet and generous and even gave us some homemade stew.

Django gives helpful advice

I have to give a shout out to my husband Drew who played in the woods with baby Django for two full days so that I could paint! I was able to almost finish my nature inspired children’s book (which is now done!) and 3 small abstracts on wood panels inspired by the surrounding Junipers.

"The composition is all wrong, mom!"

Go to: http://www.chinookretreats.com/home   for photos, info and pricing if you’re interested. You can stay for a month, a week or a few days.