CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH...

I just can't say it enough...I have some of the BEST workshop students ever. I cannot remember ever having anyone come who was a bad student in any way.  I am one really lucky gal!! 

Students are welcoming and helpful to all who come for the first time, unlike some workshops where there seems to be a proprietary attitude that is soooo unwelcoming. I applaud them one and all.

That said, I am really looking forward to Sunday's long-awaited workshop and have had a lot of fun playing with ideas for what I can only call mixed media "accoutrements." While there will be some new students mixed in with the returning ones, I kinda think this will be a light-hearted fun thing for all and a great way to start.

Guess this means I will need to be better about updating this blog and fill my readers in next week.

'Til then....

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.

ABOUT TO HIT THE ROAD

Beckoning road

All the local artisans are about to pack it up and hit the road, closing shop for another festival season here in Laguna Beach. It's been swell, but all good things need to draw to a close.

If you have not made it to the Sawdust Art Festival yet, we are open through September 1, 10 to 10. Great music, great art, great food, great classes, great fun....so why not?

IT WAS A ROMP

 Watched Wine Country on Netflix last night. These zany women pulled off quite the romp and still it had many heartwarming moments as well.

All eight of my crazy collages they had commissioned were framed and hanging as the ladies visited an art gallery in the wine country. They made it! (I was never sure they would not be on the cutting room floor, knowing how the business goes.) This was a really fun project and I would definitely be up to do more.

...AND HAVE A GLASS OF WINE :)

Out on Netflix tonite!

I'm planning to sit down tonight with a glass of wine and watch this film, directed by Amy Poehler and starring a bunch of SNL gal pals.

When I was asked over a year ago to create a half dozen large-ish collage pieces for this film, I was feeling a bit challenged by it. But what a great challenge it turned out to be. I had a great time creating the pieces(and getting paid well didn't hurt either.) What fun! I would do this again in a heartbeat!

RAINY DAY JOYS

So many options for playtime!

The rains just keep coming. So why not use this time to play? I remember when I was a kid that on these days I would play with the many forms of creation that might show up. Here I am doing it again so many years later.

Art journal prep, playing with tag options, and so many other playtime possibilities. It's a lot of fun!

What do you do on a rainy day?

PLAYTIME DONE...FOR NOW!

As I said last time, a big oops for forgetting to outline and show the step by step on this one. But here is the verbal step by step: I first chose a magazine image of a dark skinned woman, tore it out roughly. Next, after lightly sanding the image, I applied a light coat of white gesso.

Then, though she had beautiful eyes and lips and perfect eyebrows, I took the liberty of choosing some new ones for her. The black collar pieces and green succulents backed by text pieces for hair...a few flowers and leaves and some rosy cheeks almost complete things.

The very last touch...a few words from the great Mary Oliver. TA-DA! Just a whole lot of fun in preparation for Sunday's workshop.

LAUGHING ALL THE WAY

,

Up early and ready to start the annual road trip with daughter Jenna, I saw this "funny" on Jacki Long's blog. So apt, I had to borrow it. (Thanks, Jacki!)
Jenna and I never know quite where we will go on these trips. We pick the first night, which can sometimes set the direction at least, and then off we go, choosing the next day's adventure each night.
This is year three and weather has pushed us all around, just making the decision for first night a couple of days ago. This year, La Verkin, Utah. (The first year we did this was to Surprise, Arizona, which seemed apt, but it's not always easy to be that on target with the first night choice :))
We are packed and ready for another fun trip.

I'll report back in November.
Let the adventure begin. Surprise us!

ANGELS IN MY CORNER

Many of us know that angels come in different forms when we are in times of need.
I am having such a joyfully fun time creating these fun collage angels. It all started with time on my hands. Then, just two magazines off of a rack. Scissors, a piece of deli paper, a variety of small tubes of paint, and a black outlining pen finished up the pieces needed for the project. Watercolor paper was of course needed for the base piece.
Then...let the fun begin!
Now there are 30 completed collage angels. Some of the originals are being framed. Others are prints and/or cards. All will be ready for the Sawdust Festival's Winter Fantasy.
I feel blessed to be able to have so much fun creating art...and angels :)

DEMO...DEMO...DEMO!!!

Play

Sawdust Art Festival time is, among other things, time for demonstrating how one does his or her art. Each artist takes the time to create for the public view. This is one of my favorite things, as it not only fills some of the slack time (after all, twelve hour days are not always busy...and then there's the heat of the past week!)but it allows me to simply play with what is at hand in a small space. 
Some small tubes of acrylic paint. Scraps of watercolor paper. A couple of brushes and pens. A napkin or two. And off I go. It is a pleasurable way to fill my time and my obligation. Double win...maybe even a triple! Voila!

IT'S TIME!!

Fun new technique

Tomorrow is the first of 66 days of Sawdust Art Festival fun and games. Meanwhile, I have not been able to stop with art play. This new technique, shown to me by one of my students (Is there anything better than learning from your long-time students, after all?) has been an enormous challenge and a lot of fun. I am curious to see where it leads. 
Like the festival season itself, this new technique holds a lot of wonderful possibility.
Come see us if you can and join in the excitement and the fun.

SPRINGING FORWARD IN JOY

Words to live by

Weary from days of heavy activity--projects for film and other art pieces, workshops, classes, and much more-- I came across this piece I had completed in an earlier workshop in January. At the time, it seemed a good thing to embrace for the new year.
It seems that I have carefully thought about what I say yes to, so how the heck did I get to such busy days recently? 
The joy of challenge? Perhaps.
I guess the big question is if I have felt compelled to say yes to these things. I don't think so. Definitely challenged, but not compelled in any way. In fact, the challenges really were a lot of fun to take on. Just more joys of living.
And here we are in the first day of spring...the busy time! Let the fun begin!

WHAT A DAY! WHAT A LIFE!

Just call me June

The day began sunny and a bit brisk so I headed out for a long walk along the coast. An hour into it, I was the one who was brisk...(ly) walking because the wind had picked up and the dark low clouds had moved onshore. Then, just two or three blocks short of my destination, the clouds let loose and I got soaked. It was oddly invigorating, though, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Now, just a few short hours later, it is again bright and sunny. You've gotta love California weather!
On this glorious weekend I find myself filled with the joys of the walk and finishing taxes and getting back to art play. Got some new brush pens and love the depth of colors, though struggling a bit with them. Still....as is said, "the play is the thing."
I am truly blessed to be able to live this life!

WEDNESDAY'S WORK...OR IS IT PLAY?

Wednesday

How can this possibly be called work?
I am having a ball with the playful graffiti look of these backgrounds and the crazy ladies that show up. Each one seems to have such a different history to tell, if only she could. But it is left to our imaginations and we sure have plenty of room there to roam, eh?

IF WISHES WERE HORSES...

Five days ten sketches

If wishes were horses, then I would be riding right on down to the Laguna Craft Guild bright and early tomorrow morning to set up for sales. But, alas, a bug has gotten me and I am down suddenly with cough, fever, and sneezy, runny nose. Nope, no fun at all!
Still, the bright light in all this is the continued joy I feel when playing with these fun sketches of women. They all just make me smile. And, when I look at them, I cannot help but here a story. I thought of including these stories with the sketches, but then thought perhaps other folks might see a different story. What do you think? Let me know. I am interested to hear what you think.
Meanwhile, I think i will go have another cup of tea and lie down again.

TRIFECTA

Can you hear their stories?

Not even sure one should be allowed to have so much fun!! These three damsels--and their stories--showed up as I played around yesterday with pens, pencils, watercolors, and collage pieces. 
I am convinced from watching young children and how they approach art that this whole "play" approach is the way to go.
And for now...I am having a ball!

FUN FIGURES WORKSHOP FUN!

It was a real hoot! Playtime reigned, with grownup wine at the end to celebrate our success at just letting go and showing up.

Cherril/Faith

Jackie/Cherril

Katherine

Camellia

What fun we had in this latest workshop. I wish you all could have been part of the giggles and explosive laughter that showed up along with the fun creative energy.

Nadine/Joelle

Look at the way these two keep your eye involved in these pieces.

MOVING ALONG

Bits and pieces

The cleaning and clearing has gone so well that, with trash cans and recycle bins all full to the brim, I thought to play with some ideas for the collage workshop I am teaching next Sunday.

First try

Not really happy with this first try, I moved on to the next possibility...

A little more sassy?

Not sure yet this is it, but will keep playing.  To see the finished product and to play with ideas yourself, why not come to the workshop, or as I call it the Playshop, on Sunday? It is from 11 to 4 and all materials are provided for $65.