Well, I'm back and my aplogies for not keeping up with the flow of info!  I've been very busy with school projects and adult workshops as well as painting commissions for screens!  I'm so very proud and humbled to announce my artist/registery of MSAC!  I've been trying for over two years and it's finally occured, so now I'm hoping more schools will be interested in my residencies/workshops with matching grant dollars being available.  There's also a Rural matching funds grant available through Young Audiences of MD. I've just been interviewed  by a visual/audio pro Dana McCabe of Moonshell productions and you can check it out at artsandtimes.org    She did a great job!  I took a workshop class at Wor Wic Com Coll this winter on how to market your business on facebook.  I wish I could say it helped but it just was'nt enough time for me to ingest all of the info properly!  I'll keep on trying to work on it anyway, when given the time.  I'm going to post some new pics of recent work for you to enjoy.  Let me know what you think, I'm all ears ! Ciao for now, John     

Greetings and the BEST to you this new year of  2011!  In 2010 school workshops were very much a priority.   Before, during and after the extensive, eye opening teaching facilitator workshops, in which I received my certification through the amazing group of Young Audiences of Md. I have been very busy.  By the time I received my second certification, the 21st Century Learning Institutes summer training program in Anapolis,  I was well on my way having completed several workshops and residencies throughout Maryland.  The most recent in Baltimore, Md. at the Mt Royal Elementary School with the 4th grade class.  It was a resounding success with the children!  Much thanks to Principal Freeland for letting me share this 100 year old folk art with everyone involved, especially Mrs Mills, Mrs Bonkowski, and Mr Hermann, thank you soooo much for your support!  There are some pic's for review in addition to my last post for everyone to enjoy.  Our lesson plan for the 5 days was engaging every step of the way for the kids and the final designs were combined from the theme designs the children worked on mid week.  It is my goal to engage the children every step of the way, learning the history, techniques and tools, leaving for them a legacy of screens for the school to enjoy for years to come.  And most of all for the kids to have fun!  Thanks again, Ciao for now, John Iampieri/Visual Artisit/Screenpainter 

The Ludite in me has caused a bit of a resistance to navigating this blog site.  I sincerely apologize for not posting anything current these days.  I know it is in my best interest to share all of the wonderful visual arts moments that have been occuring with Bella Designs!  I am going to start with the help of my daughters to get this rolling again.  Ciao for now, John


Capri, Italy. Screenpainting Dec, 2010. 4'x5'



Door & windows  Ocean City, Md , 2010

Summer school workshop, 2010. B.I.S., Worcester County, MD. 4th and 5th graders.

In January of 2010 we completed this screen painting in Mrs Brown's class!

One of  the many students who learned the Art of dry brush dragging

Deco Style painting of Blue Heron.

Several one day workshops are occurring in May and June of this year along with two week long workshops.  From first grade through seventh grade.

1.  Main objectives:  The Art of Screen Painting. 
   
   
   
2. Lesson Objectives:  Learning the history, the tools, and learning the art of dry brush dragging.  Details coming soon!!!

Check my website!

    So my 14year old daughter suggests to me to just start typing!  O K!  My focus is to expose the near 100 year old folk art of painted screens to as many people as possible.  If your not familiar with the history of screen painting you can click onto www.belladesignsonline.com  and you will see the great story of how it started and how it's entrenched itself into a small but growing number of dedicated admirers and a small handfull of very tenacious screen painters.  Screenpainting has been engrossed in the small ethnic neighborhoods of east Baltimore, where it all started, since 1913 and has been graced with original talents of the Octacek family.  The first generation of artisans were a group of stylized individuals with one thing in common.  They were the pioneers of an unknown artform from an undisciplined art background.  So this enabled them to venture out on ther own making there rules up as they wished.  This blue-collar derived artform, out of necessity, blossomed to over three hundred thousand exterior pieces of art adorning the small neighborhoods of east Baltimore.  Now I could go on and on, but I think it's best if i just cut out now and suggest to google painted screens and you will find out much more about the history of this magical artform.
     What I'm hoping to deliver is a well informed expose' of my talents as a screenpainter.  The rollercoaster ride of magical painted privacy screens.  As soon as I can figure out how to use the tools in front of me, I will be focusing on the latest paintings, the next art  exhibit show, school workshop related adventures, and a How-To-Paint episode or two for those who would like to experiment.  Until then I wish all well! 

Ciao for now, John              

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.