AN APPRECIATION

some art from 5/7 workshop

 Lots going on as spring sets in and summer approaches way too fast. 

Even while creating new pieces for the summer festival season I took time to check the calendar and have set dates for workshops through the end of the year. These workshops so feed my own soul that they just have to happen 💓

It does not escape me that I am super fortunate to have regular students who are wonderful and super gracious with new students. There are so many instances in life when the "regulars" are perhaps act a bit proprietary when newbies show up. The welcoming attitude of our regulars is a blessing indeed.

ALL WORK AND NO PLAY...

I kinda like it when "work" is all play. Somehow crows always do that for me. This time it was adding color to the crow prints. Once started, I was totally mesmerized. WAAAAY too much fun!

So the fun attribute satisfied, I moved on to (well, of course!) more fun.

I'll keep you posted.

IDEAS ABOUND

Faith's entry

The art jounaling fun continues. In fact, I am currently working on two round robin journals and two of my own. It is a wonderful way to try out techniques and/or to just play around.

The two-page spread above done by Faith Fickett is from a previous round robin journal. Isn't it fun?

WHY???

Awake at three a.m. I really tried hard to return to sleep, but it just wasn't happening, so here I am at 4-something...

Heeeeey macarena!

Busy brain so I guess I will just put it to work solving things and getting things done around here. There is always plenty to do.

Guess I will start with the pile of laundry and then wait for enough light to head out on a morning walk.

Eager to work on a new art journal I started recently. There are some fun techniques I can hardly wait to try.

So....here I go...HEEEEY MACARENA!

100...IT'S ALL ABOUT GOALS...AND GOING FOR THEM

It has been almost a year now since setting the goal to do two blog postings each week. I was surprised to see the number "100 pop up the other day when I had posted. Sounded like a lot.

If I am calculating correctly, that would mean that after this post I will be a mere three away from the goal with a full two weeks left in the year.  Hmmm. Pretty sure I missed one in October while on road trip. So.... 

It seems like even though I blew it (failures are not bad, by the way) at least once, maybe I played overachiever a couple of times as well. In any case, I am not at all displeased with the result this far. It has been a great challenge and has pushed me (at times when I did not want to be pushed AT ALL.

I'm super pleased that I didn't add any adjectives like "good" or "interesting" or "scintillating" to that goal. That would have pulled in an unnecessary judgment call. Looks like the goal will be reached, with a small glitch or two, and I am happy with just that.

What shall the next goal be? Hmmmmmmmmm

OH, WHAT FUN IT IS...!

Robyn, her angel, and angel's dog-angel

Robyn's daughter, Kelsey, scheduled this fun Sawdust Art Class with me as a surprise. Nine of Robyn's friends and family shared a fun evening creating, eating, laughing, and simply enjoying.

They were a really diverse-seeming and enjoyable group. Gotta say I love teaching these classes anyway, but this was a really special group.

Next class of Whimsical Collage Angels is December 14th at the Sawdust Art Festival.

Anyone can join in the fun.




FUN! FUN! FUN! 

Some of the angels created

AUTUMN, YES...BUT NOT HALLOWEEN YET

BOO?

It was a small group this time, but we had a lot of fun. The mood seemed to be wanting to go toward Halloween imagery, but as you can see from this piece, I couldn't quite get there. 

Probably a factor was the issue of not having full use of my hand yet, but I could paint some, could tear napkins, could even use scissors and wield a paintbrush. So, while fine work wasn't happening, I definitely had a good time creating along with the workshop students. They did some great pieces, but I forgot to take pictures. Guess that's what happens sometimes.

Not sure where any of this fits with my series on what makes for a good workshop, but here it is.....

RANDOM OBSESSION?

I have been deep in creative play mode lately. Alcohol ink techniques and treatments and paper play to produce abstract pieces seem to be the primary modes chosen.

Re what I'm calling "Abstractions" for want of a better term have led me to play in my many boxes of scraps. Some of these are from junk mail or random handouts. Some are drawn or painted on tissue or other papers.  At any rate, while it is starting to feel a bit obsessive, as I do one each day, the near-random choices made are very freeing.

Creative play is soooooooo important and however it shows up, follow it.  I am.

APRIL: DISTRACTIONS AND ABSTRACTIONS

Abstract play

April days have arrived filled with the joys of springtime...and distractions. Clouds scudding across a cerulean sky. Birds of every size and shape ply these same skies--blue-black crows calling out to each other, bejeweled hummingbirds, plunking pelicans, laughing gulls, and more. Hills rich with the color of flowers from poppies to lupin to nasturtium to mustard and sourgrass. The cool spring air is rich with sight and sound and the sweet smell of spring. 

And so, amid the wonderful distractions of spring, I find myself playing with abstractions. Who knows where this might go?

HONORED GUESTS

I have often remembered my friend Olivia saying something about, when creating, ask Madame Mistake to sit down beside you. So, when I saw this lovely quote in a book the other day, I was reminded.

Today, we will be playing (and inviting Madame Mistake as an honored guest) in another Sunday Studio Workshop here in my studio.  It may be cold, but things will warm up fast with the energy, fun, laughter, stories, and more as nine women create and create and create.

I am going to try to remember, amidst the fun, to take some pictures of their creations to post later this week. Fingers crossed.

FLASH!

I like the thought

The weather folks keep talking about the possibility of flash floods, but, luckily, not any yet.
One of the things we do in Sunday Studio Workshops is create at least one piece that can be sent as mail art to a name drawn of another participant in the workshop. I get one too. It always brings me a smile of pure joy to get these in the mail. And my mail lady likes them too. This one came recently from enthusiastic student, Camillia. What a great reminder to us all!

BUSY AS A BEE

With the end of summer, I have been busy as a bee...clearing out my booth, storing work, supplies, and more, and at the same time revving up for the upcoming Winter Fantasy.

Oh, yeah...that bee!

The September workshop was a lot of fun. We played with a variety of backgrounds, which were then used for practicing image transfers, collage, and more.

Some fun student work from Camillia

More fun student work from Catherine

Sample student work from September workshop

There are also more workshops upcoming: Sunday, October 14 and Sunday, November 11 for sure. I have also been approached by a few book clubs that want to set up their own dates for workshops. Looks like the fun is spreading! You'll have to admit that this is a pretty good deal at $65 with all materials supplied, right?

Guess I had better get back to my busy bee self because it is sure a lot of fun!

See you soon!

WHO NEEDS SUN?

So who needs the sun to come out when there are such wonders as this little fella perching in the studio and a great group of new and old students showing up to play on a cloudy Sunday?
The food was delicious. The energy was high. There was no hesitation to experiment. New students outnumbered the returning and were encouraged by same (which I love!)
Everyone drew a name and will send a piece of their creative mail art to that person (What a treat to receive, always!)



On the way to completion we make quite a mess, but end up with lots of play, an abundance of experimentation, and bellies filled with yummy food...not to mention spirits filled with the many joys of the day.

Yes, we do make a mess!

WHAT SIGNALS SPRING?

In the Pink!

In California we certainly do not have the groundhog (not that he is really so reliable anyway) so what does signal Spring to us?
Is it the sparkle like diamonds on the ocean's blue-green waters? Is it the brisk breeze on a clear sunny day? Is it the call of baby crows in the trees? The chirping of myriad birds everywhere? Or is it the blossoming buds on ornamental fruit trees? The sound of laughter in the streets?
For me, probably all of the above are signals. What about you--what signals Spring to you?

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.

CHECKING BACK IN

Just one more spread of play

I said in an earlier post that I would check back in with how the four-week Mixed Media Journaling class was going.
This two-page spread is from week three and the play continues.
One of the things I have noticed is that though I generally work pretty quickly, I am even going at a more rapid pace in this workshop setting. Not really sure why, but there it is. Also, not yet sure of the end results and how I feel about them, but I really like the way it "feels" to move that quickly.
Jacki keeps referring to me as a graffiti artist. Maybe that's about the speed? Guess I need to find myself a bridge or some train car to do graffiti on--tee-hee.
One more week to go. Again, I will keep you all posted.

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.

OH, BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

There IS a song in my heart. Winter Solstice is here and it actually feels like winter. How long will it last? Not long, I hear. But for now, enjoy as it helps with the season. 
2017 is nearly gone and it has been quite a year on many fronts. Workshops are done for me for this year and I look forward to the possibilities for those to come in the new year. 
Creative possibilities, as always, abound. Look for more birds in new and different ways in 2018 along with a continuation of the Celebration of Women series. The latter is my quiet show of defiance and I have a lot of fun with it so why not, eh?
Meanwhile, Happy Holidays to all! Keep a song in your heart too !!!!

OH, WHAT A DAY!

Evening sky

It was yet another great Mixed Media Playtime workshop. A wonderful group of women. Good food. Champagne and carrot cake. Art questions and solutions. Great conversations. As usual, I was just too engrossed in what was happening to take any photos, but the sunset put the cap on it when we were finished.
A lovely, lovely day! I am soooo fortunate to do what I love.