Melani Tutt is a graduate of Brooks Institute of Photography in California with a Bachelor of Arts degree in large format film photography. She has worked commercially for over 30 years, most recently devoting her photographic efforts exclusively to helping nonprofit organizations in the Colorado Springs area, including Early Connections Learning Centers, Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club, Pikes Peak Community Foundation, the Tactile Gallery at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and many others.
Finding our natural surroundings a place of respite and reflection, Melani worked with Garden of the Gods Resort and Wellness Center to create fine art images for their rooms, casitas, and cottages reflecting that ethos. This project led to the publishing of her first photography book The Sacredness of Everything. Her next book on Cheyenne Cañon will be available in December of 2023.
Melani’s images are intimate portraits of the simple beauty which surrounds us daily. Turning tragedy into beauty, many of her recent pieces are taken in burn scar forests and printed on fine art photographic paper. She is a purist who works in black and white as well as color. Each print is archival matted, numbered and signed.
1. Clay – Chavant Le Beau Touche. Get the regular clay, not HM (high melt).
2. Clay warming devices, a metal bucket with a clamp on heat lamp or 100 W bulb works great.
3. Tie wire.
4. Aluminum foil.
5. Scissors.
6. Favorite sculpture tools.
7. Plank of wood (pine) approximately 8″ x 8″ x 2″.
Bring as many planks as you wish…the wood is used as the base for your sculpture.
8. Plumber’s pipe, 1/2″ threaded: Bring several different lengths…up to 10″…not PVC pipe.
Plumber’s pipe T joint.
Plumber’s pipe couplers.
Plumber’s pipe flange.
9. Screws and screwdriver to secure the flange to wood…this may be done before you arrive. (Place flange in the center of plank)
10. Wire cutters
11. Needle nose pliers
12. Rubber mallet.
13. Spatula
14. Measuring devices such as rulers, measuring tape, dividers, and calipers.
15. Because we concentrate on BIRDS IN FLIGHT, live models in the classroom are more distracting than useful. I will demonstrate the technique of constructing a cantilevered bird armature that can be used for many different bird species and will show you how to assemble shapes to capture the “gist” of the specific bird.
16. Bird field guides such as Peterson, Stokes, Golden, or Sibley. Sibley’s Guide to Birds (not Sibley’s Guide to Bird Life and Behavior) is best if bringing only one field guide. This popular book can usually be purchased at any bookstore.
17. Bring your laptop to the class if possible.
18. Bring your sketchbook.
1 Lake Circle Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906
broadmoorgalleries.com