Balzer Designs
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LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

Learn live.  Connect with other students.  Ask questions.  All from the comfort of your own home!
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​"Thank you for the delightful presentation this morning. You are an EXCELLENT educator….very clear, very helpful and patient." - Ruth

"Such an amazing class!  Pace was perfect and I learned a lot and felt the creative joy!!!" - Diane

"Thank you for the wonderful class last night. You are such an enthusiastic and talented teacher. I look forward to many more classes with you." - Lynne


Read more testimonials at the bottom of this page!

Live Online Classes are Fun, Personal, & Informative.

I'm delighted to offer you a wide variety of live online classes conducted through Zoom. 

If you're wondering what to expect during a Zoom class, here's the break down:
  • It will be recorded. So you don't have to take notes.  Just relax and rewatch at your leisure.
  • You can have your camera on or off.  Totally up to you and your comfort level.
  • I teach the whole class period.  We work in a cycle.  I demo.  You do.  We discuss.  Repeat.
  • Sharing is optional.  If you want to share with others, you can.  If you don't want to, you don't have to.
  • Chat with others and make connections.  You can chat with other students (and me) via the typed chat box.
  • Ask questions in real time.  I have a welcome-interrupting policy.  If you're lost, need a little bit of help, or have a problem, you can simply yell out.  Help is on the way!
  • My Zoom classes are as close to an in-person class experience as you can get without actually being in-person!​​
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Upcoming classes are listed below.  I always announce new classes in my weekly newsletter first.  If you want to be in the know, sign up for the weekly mailing list and get an email from me every Friday!
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Upcoming Live Online Classes

Mixed Media Collage: Embellishing a Basic Design - July 22

$100.00

Sold out

This is a two-and-a-half hour live online class conducted through Zoom on Friday, July 22, 2022 starting at 7pm EST. We will be covering:


  • 4 "Basic Designs" that always work.
  • How to bring your personal style to those designs.
  • How to create variation and interest within the design structure.
  • How to work in layers.
  • How to work on multiple pieces at the same time.


Please have the following supplies available to yourself during class:


  • Collage Paper -- If you do not have papers, I have a limited number of scrap packs available for $35.
  • Square Substrates -- I'm using heavy paper cut to 6x6.
  • Scissors
  • Matte Medium or other collage glue
  • Favorite embellishments: tags, stamped images, ephemera, trinkets, etc.
  • Favorite mark making tools: pens, markers, pencils, stamps, stencils, etc.
  • Acrylic Paint in a few favorite colors plus black and white
  • Paintbrushes
  • Credit Card or Colour Shaper
  • Optional: Apron, Heat Gun, brayer, cosmetic wedge sponges


A link to download a recording of class will be sent to you afterwards. You can download and keep the recording forever. If you cannot attend class, you will still be sent the recording.


If you've never experienced Zoom before, here are links to helpful videos:


  • Using Zoom for the first time: https://youtu.be/9isp3qPeQ0E
  • Zoom on an iPad: https://youtu.be/2bLIVzPJTdQ
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Make a Concertina Art Book - April 1-2, 2023

$100.00

Sold out

This is a three-hour class conducted over two 1.5 hour sessions on Zoom on April 1, 2023 from 11am-12:30pm and April 2, 2023 from 11am-12:30pm EST.


Join me for a super fun afternoon of art making. Together, we will make TWO concertina art books (and work in them simultaneously). This is a no-sew book form that is extremely versatile. You can make it bigger or smaller depending on your needs. Begin with a blank sheet of paper (or a piece of art that didn't quite work out).


During class please have available:

  • Scissors and/or craft knife and cutting mat
  • Ruler
  • Bone Folder
  • Collage Papers
  • Pencil(s)
  • Favorite Acrylic Paints - limited palette of 3-4 colors plus black and white
  • Palette
  • Favorite Paintbrushes
  • Jar or container of water for washing brushes
  • Large piece of paper
  • Wet Adhesive, such as gel medium
  • Cereal Box or Heavy Watercolor Paper for book covers
  • Heavy Book or something to weigh down your book
  • Optional: Apron, rag or paper towel, baby wipes, artwork (on paper) to turn into a book, ribbon (for book closure), favorite stamps and ink, stencil and cosmetic wedge sponge, brayer, credit card or plastic hotel room key


Class will be recorded. You will receive a link to download the recording after the class is over. So don't worry if you can't make it to both days!

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Available Replays of Live Online Classes

Art Parts - A Formula for Making Art Quickly and Easily (REPLAY)

$150.00

THIS IS A REPLAY OF A LIVE ZOOM CLASS HELD IN 2021.


If you want to make art quickly, you need to have all the supplies on hand. I'm not talking about paint and brushes...although those are useful to have. I'm talking about pre-made "art parts."


What are "art parts?" Watch this video all about it!


They are substrates and bits and pieces that are ready to go into your art without any work. It's the kind of stuff you make when you have a bit of free time, without any end result in mind


In the first class I will share tons of techniques for creating art parts quickly and easily. I will also show you how to make the kind of art parts that YOU like to work with. Not everyone is the same. Art-making isn't a one-size-fits-all process.


In the second class I will show you several different methods for making beautiful finished art with your parts. You will walk away from class having finished a lot of art, even if you tend to be a slow maker.


Please have available to you during class #1:

  • Paper that you like to use -- copy paper, book pages, deli paper, notebook paper -- whatever you like.
  • Colorants that you like to use -- watercolor, markers, colored pencils, pens, etc.
  • Embellishments that you like to use -- buttons, fabric scraps, thread, etc.
  • Substrates that you like to use -- art journal, canvas, board, etc.
  • Acrylic Paint -- 5-10 colors
  • favorite paintbrushes
  • credit card or old hotel room key
  • Jar of Water (for brushes)
  • A wet adhesive
  • Scrap paper & pencil
  • 3 pieces of art you've made and liked (it's okay if it's photos in your phone -- only you need to look at the photos).
  • Optional: apron, something to protect your table, paint palette, brayer, stencils, cosmetic wedge sponges, stamps, stamping ink, sewing needle and thread, heat gun, gelatin plate


Please have available to you during class #2:

  • your art parts
  • favorite art supplies
  • a range of adhesives -- wet adhesive, glue stick, tape runner, etc.


This process will allow you to make art you love in a fraction of the time. Join me!


THIS IS A REPLAY OF A LIVE ZOOM CLASS HELD IN 2021.


THIS IS A REPLAY OF A LIVE ZOOM CLASS HELD IN 2021.


THIS IS A REPLAY OF A LIVE ZOOM CLASS HELD IN 2021.


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Screenprinting at Home Replay Download

$100.00

"Thanks for an awesome class Julie! You're an excellent teacher. I came away with a much better understanding of the process and some good ideas for the future."


"Thanks for demystifying screen printing -- so much simpler than I thought, and no fancy anything required! I can't wait to start playing!"


Would you like to be able to screenprint at home? In this class, I will show you how I create custom screenprints at home with some very basic equipment. One of the many benefits of screenprinting is that it's an easy way to reproduce an image multiple times. In just four hours, I will show you how to set up your own home screenprinting studio (that tucks away into in a box or drawer).


This is a RECORDING of a previous live online class. After making this purchase, you will receive a link to download a copy of the live recording. It's FOUR HOURS of video.


Read my blog post about class HERE.

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Composition Class: Symmetry & Asymmetry (REPLAY)

$100.00

You are purchasing a REPLAY of this live online class.


This is part of a series of live online classes all about compositions that work. During this four-hour mixed media painting class we will take a deep dive into ASYMMETRICAL and SYMMETRICAL design. You might be surprised by which type of design you prefer to work with -- and what those terms actually mean. Through a series of exercises, you will create several abstract mixed media paintings incorporating collage.


I got some lovely comments after class from students on Facebook:


"You know after Bootcamp I thought Balzer Designs could not surprise me but catching up with symmetry & asymmetry class I have to say/ Julie you are really getting better and better your craft.

Be proud.

In a art world where people just teach you to copy what they do. Finally someone teaching people paths to do their thing."- Jana


"Julie. I just want to say a big “thank you” for the composition class yesterday. It really gave me some great theory and has caused me already to look at my work differently. You explain things well and have a wonderful style of teaching. Thanks much!!!!"​​​​​​​ -Robin


Please have available to you during class:


  • paper for sketching
  • pencil or pen
  • substrates you like working on -- ex: watercolor paper, drawing paper, canvas, art journal, etc.
  • collage paper
  • collage adhesive of your choice
  • black and white paper
  • glue stick
  • acrylic paint (6-10 colors including black and white)
  • paintbrushes
  • jar or container of water for brushes
  • palette paper or paper plate
  • scissors
  • a piece of ribbon or string
  • optional: apron, heat gun, paper towel, baby wipes, favorite mark making tools, craft knife & cutting mat, ruler
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Chine-Collé Live: Replay

$100.00

This is a recording from a three-hour live online workshop conducted over Zoom.


Chine-collé roughly translates from French as “chine”= tissue, and “collé” = glue or paste. The word chine is used because the thin paper that printmakers traditionally used for this process, was imported to Europe from China, India and Japan.


If you'd like to learn how to do chine-collé without a press, this is the class for you. We will be covering:

  • The chine-collé process -- from conception to final print.
  • How to cut your paper to match your stamp.
  • What adhesives work best.
  • What papers work best.
  • What stamps/blocks work best.
  • What the differences are between collaging first and collaging while printing.
  • How to fix mistakes.
  • Layering.
  • Using multiple blocks.


Please have available to you during class:

  • Stamps -- Hand Carved, Commercial, Silicone, Foam, Wood -- we can make any type of stamp work. That said, larger stamps are easier to work with.
  • Paper that you like to use for collage -- copy paper, book pages, deli paper, notebook paper, tissue paper, washi paper, vintage papers -- whatever you like.
  • Paper substrate that you like to use for printmaking -- cardstock, printmaking paper, washi paper, etc.
  • Block Printing Ink -- I highly recommend Speedball's Fabric & Paper Ink that easily cleans up with soap and water: https://amzn.to/3RNRIck
  • Soft Rubber Brayer: https://amzn.to/3fVRpiz
  • Painter's Tape
  • Paint Palette
  • paintbrush to use with glue
  • Jar of Water (for brush)
  • A wet adhesive -- My current preference is Yes Paste because of the long open time: https://amzn.to/3Ml4AWc Or a UHU Glue Stic: https://amzn.to/3MkNckx
  • Scrap paper
  • Scissors
  • Black Ink Pad
  • Tracing Paper
  • Pen or Pencil
  • Paper Towel or Rag
  • Baren: https://amzn.to/3MxR1Dj or a wooden spoon
  • Optional: apron, something to protect your table, craft knife and cutting mat, page protector, matte medium in a fine line bottle, reverse grip tweezers


The chine-collé process is a wonderful way to add color and pattern to your stamped and block printed images. Join me!

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Be sure to check out Design Boot Camp

Design Boot Camp's 2022 season is SOLD OUT!
But you can learn all about this amazing live online workshop and get ready to make better art in 2023.
I want to make better art
Please note that class fees are non-refundable.
If you want to be notified when new live online classes are added, please join my weekly mailing list.

THESE CLASSES ARE AWESOME & WORTH EVERY PENNY!

You don't have to take my word for it.

READ THE TESTIMONIALS

  • "I felt like I learned the secret language of artists, and that made me more confident and free."
  • "The wealth of information that Julie shared with us during the two hour sessions over the course of Bootcamp. She was so prepared and is such an excellent teacher - I knew that I was in good hands."
  • "This is the toughest class I have taken in my art journey-so far. And it is the best class because it kept me out of my comfort zone the entire five weeks. The format inspired me to take chances and create some different art with the help from the group. I love the longer timeline, letting ideas "sit" and having time to explore by doing homework was helpful. Will definitely take again or the next level."
  • "I feel like my journey as an artist has just begun, despite doing art for years. Julie is a master artist AND teacher, a true professional! I hope there will be a Design Boot Camp 2 next year!"
  • "I loved the assignments. Based on one of the articles l read by James Clear, l am a person always in motion not in action. I read articles, blogs, watch youtube videos always saying that l'm learning something. Your assignments made me actually put what you were teaching us into action."
  • "This class was worth every penny! I have LOTS of work to do, but I feel like I now have the tools to carry me forward to where I would like to be."
  • "Zoom was fabulous - having all of my supplies at my fingertips was perfect. Loved the ability to review my notes and digest the lesson given before the next one was presented. Interacting with the other students was a great part of the learning experience. I have said this before and I will say it again - you are an extraordinary teacher with incredible knowledge about art that you share in a clear, professional way. Only you could accomplish what you did in the class - you get right to the point and right to the heart of the task. Over the years you have added much joy to my artistic endeavors. Thank you!"
  • "The best class I’ve ever taken, in-person or on-line — thanks!"
"It was WONDERFUL!  You are an excellent teacher.  The class was packed with information and ideas.  You know how to break down & present the course content in manageable, lively bites, and your enthusiasm is contagious. Oh, and you’ve adapted to the ZOOM format beautifully." - Sue
"OMG, this class was fantastic! As always, so many techniques and tips, and so much inspiration....If she offers this again, sign up. A great way to spend a Friday night." - Ellen
"​Thank you Julie! I learned so much in class." - Maria
"Thank you for an amazing class tonight. I was feelings so intimidated by the CanvasWorkspace and you made it really easy. I love your calm and cool teaching style. You really put us all at ease and you made it fun. I’m so excited to really use my ScanNCut now. I'm excited by all the things I can do with it!" - Melinda
"Hi Julie - Just want to tell you I finished the recorded class this morning.  I LOVE the way you teach.  It's understandable and easy to follow.  I also love that you record it.  I am the slow one in any group and it's wonderful to be able to pause and replay when I didn't quite get something!  I will definitely take more ScanNCut and CanvasWorkspace classes when you post them.  Again, THANKS!" - Val
"Thank you so much for the workshop. You are a great teacher and cheerleader." - Sarah
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  • Home
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  • Blog
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    • by Date & Category
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