WHAT'S COMING?

Even as end of year thoughts and questions are being pondered in regard to what this next decade might bring, I find myself happily picking up previous unfinished pieces to work on.

This piece just wasn't working for some reason and then, as it languished, I somehow spilled alcohol inks on it. DRAT! So I merely set it aside to be dealt with later. Well, I guess later has come because I find myself longing to now complete this.

What does this mean for future work? Hmm. More to ponder, I suppose.

Meanwhile, back to playful creating!

AND ONE MORE...

Johnna did some fun tiles

The eight women showed up excited to begin the workshop in alcohol inks on Sunday. Five wonderful, fun-filled hours ensued, with beautiful pieces for each and every student.

After introductions (which kept getting stalled for some reason), we began with a brief demo and experimentation on a variety of papers. The energy was high and we ignored the heat as play was the most important thing!

I wish I could show all the fantastic work created here on this page, but you will just have to believe me when I say it was pretty phenomenal.

And as far as how a workshop should be conducted, well, I cannot speak so much to my own part, but on that beautiful, energy-filled day, the students stepped up to the mark on every level. They shared ideas and techniques as they tried new things; they laughed and shared stories; they shared the wonderful foods they had each brought; they shared about other classes they had or were going to take. These things and so much more made up for the perfect workshop for my money.

MORE OF WHAT IT TAKES

Katherine's play

With an upcoming couple of workshops in the works for the next week or so I find myself continuing in the vein of questioning what I think it takes for a successful experience for all.

Safety of the space for experimenting and being oneself I think I covered last time. What else? 

Some of the nitty-gritty: 
Since I supply the materials, there should always be an ample supply.
Include optional supplies for experimentation.
A handout sheet of where to purchase and what to continue the playing.
A handout sheet that basically explains process, as there is always too much to simply remember.

Beyond these (and probably a few other things I cannot remember right now) instructor and student both should be present and respectful of one and all.

I'm off to prep for tomorrow's alcohol inks workshop with all this and more in mind.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE?

The long view

On my morning walk today I paused at this inspiring view to just sit and ponder. One of the things that showed up was an article I had recently read on contributing to the good energy of a workshop environment as a student. While there were aspects with which I could agree, there were others with which I took exception.

With two workshops coming up this month, I thought long and hard as I sat about just what I think makes a good safe environment in which to play in the fields of art.

As an instructor, it is always my primary concern that each student should feel safe to create in his or her own way as long as it is done in a manner that is not harmful to self or others. Beyond that, the students should feel that both they and their creations are accepted and enjoyed.

In the student/teacher relationship there is always the accepted expectation of some critique. Nevertheless, I strive to keep this to a minimum, often waiting to be asked. Students are not to critique each other unless asked.

In a nutshell, beyond this, I strive to create an environment for my workshops in which there is a lot of daring experimentation, laughter, story-telling, good food, and new friendships gained. It is, after all, Mixed Media Playtime, and the joyful play I seek to see is implied, I think.

Always, I am grateful for the many opportunities of teaching.

SUMMERTIME BLUES? NO WAY!

Loving the blues

Summertime here in Laguna has been truly a blessing weather-wise this year so no feelings of malaise or blues for this gal. (Well, traffic is still what it always is in the summer, but....)

I have been working on putting the fall schedule of workshops together and the first one has already generated some signups. We will be focusing mostly on the use of alcohol inks. 

I provide a variety of papers to use, tiles, and all other materials needed to create some color-rich pieces.  And instruction, of course. All this for just $75.

Won't you come play?

When:  Sunday, September 22 from 11 am to 4 pm
Where: My studio space in beautiful Bluebird Canyon here in Laguna Beach.
Why?:  Well... some great folks always join in; it's a lot of fun; you'll get to play with all kinds of techniques; good food to share.......

Need I say more?

email me at cherril@cherrildoty.com

WORKSHOPS WORKSHOPS WORKSHOPS!!!

While doodling (or dawdling) around, my mind turned to to autumn season workshops in my home studio. All materials are provided for each of the workshops and new friendships are formed as we play in the creative field that opens up in these five-hour Sunday Studio Workshops. Won't you join us in the fun? 

Play in progress

FALL SCHEDULE OF WORKSHOPS

Sunday, September 22  Alcohol Inks  $75

Sunday, September 29  Fun Figures and Faces   $65

Sunday, October 20  Mixed Media techniques  $65

Sunday, November 17  Mixed Media techniques  $65

All workshops are in my Laguna Beach home studio from 11 am to 4 pm

SIGN UP NOW!!

cherril@cherrildoty.com

WHAT TO DO WHEN...

 For months now I have had a sign on my desk that reads "What can I get rid of today?" This has created a regular routine of finding things both small and large that really no longer seem to serve.

The other day I came upon a package of 5x7 mats that had come into my possession at some time in the past and not been used. Were they to be part of the clean out? Then I noticed the scraps and other set aside bits of alcohol ink play. Why not?

And so, while not exactly lemons and lemonade, the bits and scraps and the small mats have become small salable pieces for my summer Sawdust Art Festival booth. I have more of them and more scraps so I see lots of playtime ahead.

Come see me in Booth #205 just off the main aisle. 

MUSING ON THE CHASE

Everything is gestation and then bringing forth. To let each germ of feeling come to completion wholly in itself, in the dark, in the inexpressible, the unconscious beyond the reach of one's own intelligence, and await with deep humility and patience the birth hour of new clarity: that alone is living the artist's life--in understanding as in creating. Rainer Marie Rilke

Section of tile

Rilke's words seem to resonate on this day in the midst of readying for the upcoming summer Sawdust Art Festival. In the midst of packing already completed artworks, that "germ" still calls to me and I turn to the paints, to the inks, to the papers once again...has to be!

ANTICIPATION....

Framed tiles

I have to admit that I am getting really excited about teaching the alcohol ink workshop this Sunday. I have really had a lot of fun trying new ideas and techniques with this very versatile medium. The opportunity to share what has been learned through random experimentation is very titillating. 

I anticipate that everyone attending will be as excited as I am about the joyful play of all of this. 

I am grateful to be able to do something new, especially at this juncture, when the summer festival preparation is usually holding sway over all else. New possibilities abound and I, for one, love it!

Go for it!!

SIMPLE

Thank you, Nadine...Inspiration

Simplicity is not only about what you release but about what you gain. It is not about giving up something but about what that void offers us.

Today I am taking delight in the simple things around me. Friend Nadine provided the inspiration for this wise choice when she sent me this image--so simple and yet so much more.

Playing with a variety of alcohol ink techniques in advance of a May workshop I find that sometimes in the seeking of "more" I become bogged down in too much. After seeing Nadine's image I am committed to backing off, to keeping it simple.

We shall see what shows up.

PLAYTIME

Need more be said?

Keep it simple and just go out and play. Next playtime is Sunday, May 19th from 11 to 4. Won't you join in?

GRAY DAY PLAY

The day started out gray and just seemed to linger until nearly sunset. Wanting to add some color to the day I decided to play some more with my alcohol inks.

The gray stayed all day

 May 19th I will be teaching a class focusing only on using alcohol inks, the many techniques possible, including drawing back in in a variety of ways. I though to use this gray day to play around just a bit more with some of this.

Play in progress

I have not done much with alcohol inks in many years, but am having a lot of fun playing around and experimenting again. The workshop should be a lot of fun, I think...and colorful!