We hope you are having a Great School Year! 

Now Scheduling Visiting and Resident Artist Programs and Special Events:

2008-2009 School Year Scheduling: If you are interested in scheduling Visiting Artist or Resident Artist Programs this school year, I have some days available from January-May. Please call or e-mail for available dates in your area: 616-761-2275 or tom@woodruffdesigns.com.

2005-2006 School Year Scheduling: For the past 11 years, I've chosen to work exclusively in Michigan schools. I am now scheduling Great Lakes Illustration Workshops and events throughout the Great Lakes Region, with Artist Residency programs available throughout the country. Fall and spring dates are filling up fast. If you are interested in scheduling specific dates for next year, please call soon.

School and Event Highlights: I would like to extend a heartfelt "Thank You" to all school and event coordinators and funding organizations for inviting me to share my Illustration Workshops with your students, staff and attendees. Given the current under- funding of Michigan's schools, and of the arts in general, I am grateful to have such a full and varied schedule  I'll have pictures from some of these events in time, but for now, a special thanks to the following schools and events scheduled this Fall:  

Goodwillie Environmental School-Ada; Vestaburg Elementary; Alto Elementary; Crestwood Elementary-Rockford; Symons Elementary-Milan; Milan Middle School;  Barefoot Gardens-Ada; Michigan Story Festival-CMU-Mt. Pleasant; Celebrate Literacy Conference-GVSU-Grand Rapids; Moccasin, Stark and Ottawa Elementary Schools-Buchanan; Central and McMillan Elementary Schools-Muskegon; Ellis Elementary-Belding; Trout Lodge YMCA of the Ozarks-Potosi, MO; North and South Elementary Schools-Watervliet; Hillcrest, Brookside, Riverview and Eastwood Elementary Schools-Big Rapids; Big Rapids Middle School and High School; Roguewood Elementary-Rockford; Lakeview and South Hamlin Elementary Schools-Ludington; and Hill El Academy-Farmington Hills.

New Projects:

100 Dragons and Counting: This September, in the midst of some projects that felt much like work, I painted a dragon, just for the fun of it. One became two, then ten & twenty...I pulled them from my memory and imagination, surprised at how many I had within me and the ease with which ideas flowed. I found myself watching my children and animals play, imagining them as dragons and drawing them as I saw them. Innocent shoppers and passers-by have, likewise, been mutated on note cards, receipts and restaurant napkins. To date, I have thirty dragons in color, fifty drawn and ready to paint, and another sixty ready to transfer. There seems no end to it...

I began sharing these paintings and their stories with students along the way, and realized by their response, what a wonderful connection I had here to imagination, art, history, science, creative writing and especially to childhood.  Now, I'm getting dragon-mail from dozens of students and teachers, with drawings, lengthy idea lists and dragon-rich thank you cards.  As this fun little sideline has taken on a life of its own, and continues to be a joy, I expect to be busy at it for some time to come. So in addition to my more serious GREAT LAKES ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOPS and WORLD HISTORY ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOPS, I now offer my flip side: 

HYSTERICAL FICTION ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOPS. Call or e-mail, if you dare...

Coming soon: 

Summer Art Classes in Leland: If you are in Leelanau County this summer, you’ll want to check out the many art classes and activities offered by the Leelanau Community Cultural Center, at the Old Art Building, in Leland. Once again, I have the pleasure of sharing my Drawing and Nature Journaling Workshops with classes for both children and adults. For information and registration, contact Judy Livingston at oldartbuilding@charterinternet.com. 

Summer Art Classes at Long Lake: This summer, Pamela, and I will be sharing art workshops for children and adults at our Long Lake studio and home. We are located roughly halfway between Lansing and Grand Rapids, north of Ionia off M66. Tentative classes and activities to be offered include: Drawing, Painting, Nature Journaling, Stained Glass, Glass Bead Making, Clay Bead Making, China Painting, Scrimshaw, and more. Guest Artist Workshops and Special Events are also in the planning.  The full menu will be posted here in January. Please call or e-mail for information and early registration.

Summer at the Lake: We have a house and apartment available for summer rental by the day or week, from June-August. With 370 acre, all-sport, Long Lake out the front door, and the 10,000 acre Flat River State Game Area out the back, this is a water and wilderness wonderland. Enjoy hiking, boating and fishing with optional art classes and activities available for the whole family. Call Pamela, for information and scheduling.

A New Order Form: Thanks to Pamela's perseverance, we will soon have an easy-to-use, on-line order form for books, prints and original art, complete with a shopping cart and secure credit card transactions. Slowly but surely, as time allows, we are both learning html and web design. Our website will have a whole new look in the new year! I know, it's about time...

Missouri Art Workshops: YMCA of the Ozarks-Trout Lodge, Potosi MO. We just returned from an awesome Art Exploration Weekend at this wonderful place and already can't wait to return. Located 1 1/2 hours south of St. Louis, the lodge has activities for every interest from art, and boating to high- ropes courses, rock climbing and horseback riding. We are planning Art Workshops in February and May. Check back for particulars. 

Woodruff Designs Gallery: See examples of our past works in stained glass, hot glass, wood, paint, murals and graphics.

Tom's Trove: Browse & purchase historical art and artifacts for your home collection and classroom. Let your children and students hold history in their hands and imagine themselves back in time.   

"Prehistoric Great Lakes" My most recent book, with author John Mitchell, has led to numerous Ancient Life Workshop topics and extended programs. Check it out here.

Free Kid’s Stuff: Check for New Pictures soon.

11-21-04