ART OF THE 12TH CENTURY — At left, Connie Cunningham, left, participated in Saturday’s Suminagashi Japanese Marbling Workshop at the Historic Fort Steuben Visitor Center. The workshop, offered by the Steubenville Art Association, was led by Cunningham’s daughter, Sara Cunningham. Participants created their artwork in the style of suminagashi, at right, meaning “floating ink,” which appears marbled with smoke-like designs. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — Once in a while, even the most talented of artists can learn a new method for creating art.

However, the particular practice which attendees used during Saturday morning’s workshop, was anything but new.

The Steubenville Art Association held a Suminagashi Japanese Marbling Workshop at the Historic Fort Steuben Visitor Center.

The workshop was led by Sara Cunningham, an SAA member who is an art educator at West Virginia Northern Community College and in the Bridgeport Exempted Village School District.

The term suminagashi means “floating ink.” The art form first originated in Japan during the 1100s.

Artists began creating swirled or marbled patterns by dropping black and indigo inks onto water. They then blew across the surface in order to produce smoke-like designs.

Later, the Japanese royal court adapted a variation of the method. They applied sumi-ink to paper, after which they immersed the paper in water to allow the ink to float and form patterns.

Cunningham explained she first saw this technique done at a show she attended in Fairmont, W.Va.

Since then, she has introduced the Japanese art form as a beginning to monoprint making in her classrooms.

Cunningham said she wanted artists in the SAA to have the opportunity to experience this different type of art technique as well.

Saturday’s workshop was well attended, with guests saying they enjoyed being able to learn something “new.”

Following the workshop, SAA members held their monthly meeting, with President Judy Schmidt reminding the group to take time to view the artwork created by this year’s scholarship winners.

The high school students’ works will hang in the Visitor Center until the end of May.

It was announced the SAA will present an art show in June for the annual Dean Martin Hometown Festival.

Artists can present any work which represents Dean Martin, including an illustration or portrait of one of Martin’s songs.

Cunningham will be selling her Martin drawings that she created on vinyl records. These records sell almost as soon as they are seen, as they are in great demand by fans, Schmidt said.

“Jim VanFossen has drawn a remarkable portrait of Dean which will be sold as a print, during the festival,” Schmidt continued, adding several of the SAA’s other artists will have original Martin art for sale.

During the meeting, it was announced the next workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 21 at the Center of Music and Art in Wintersville.

Savannah Scroll Guz will demonstrate how to make jewelry with paper and then show how to paint designs on the pieces.

The community is welcome to attend. Workshops are open to all area residents, with the upcoming session to cost $25.

The SAA will be doing a project with Beatty Park this summer, Schmidt told members.

Artists will use acrylic paints and clear coat to create simple nature objects, including flowers, trees, leaves, insects and animals.

The nature icons will be placed on small wooden pieces that will be hidden throughout the park as part of an upcoming scavenger hunt.

Local residents can bring their families and visit the park to search for the hidden art pieces, Schmidt said.

“Finders keepers,” Schmidt remarked. “Just let a member of the art association know what you have found, so we can be as excited as you are.”

Additional parks interested in holding this type of event can be added to the SAA’s calender, she mentioned.

Members learned another art show and sale will be taking place at the Center of Music and Art, with a date to be announced.

The event will feature portraits of musicians from the ’70s through the ’90s that are done in the style of Cubism or Picasso.

All of the merchandise will be for sale at a reasonable price, Schmidt stated.

The event is open to the public.

Guests will be able to see all of the musical talents who made the show, officials said.

During the meeting, those in attendance learned SAA artists will be selling their original artwork during the Nutcracker holiday event at the Visitor Center.

Commission from the sale will go toward helping the fort.

“This would be a good time to purchase something for someone who seems to have everything,” Schmidt commented. “It’s an ideal gift because that person will not have an original painting like the ones you will find at our sales.”

She stated new members are welcome to join the SAA at the cost of $25 per year.

Members do not have to be “a fabulous artist” to enjoy the group’s workshops and activities.

“We make sure we offer art projects of all intensities,” Schmidt concluded.

“Whether you are a beginner, minimally talented or a true artist, our association has something for everybody, and we always have a really nice time together,” she said.