THINGS ARE REALLY A-POPPING....

Summer Sawdust is coming and booth spots have been chosen. Mine is definitely not going to be what it has been in the past so my January question re things being the "same old thing 

has been answered.

This is the 60th anniversary celebration for the "dust" and there are a lot of exciting things already on tap, not the least of which is new grounds layout. When you visit (and we all hope you will) you will see a vast array of changes and exciting revved up energy. I hope you are looking forward to it as much as we are. Oh! and by the way that heavily outlined spot on the map is where i will be, sharing a double-wide with Ashley Hemsley. 

Meanwhile, monthly Sunday Mixed Media Workshops continue. There is still room  in the ones on June 9 and  July 26

 

BLANK SLATES

 Sometimes a blank slate is daunting; sometimes just exactly what is needed. Which works better for you?

I have to admit that most of the time the blank space causes me to pause. But really all that is needed for me is to start. It might be just the simple straight line or something more inspiring. There is no one answer.

In my workshops a tool that is used to get everyone going is a short list of five things (i.e. pink, number, insect, word, square). Off they go, creating away. It works every time and has such wide variety of expression that it is amazing.

And on the subject of workshops.....they are my joy! The people who show up are always a delight.Those returning are welcoming to newcomers and there is always a sense not just of inclusion, but camaraderie. The five hours go quickly and often new friendships are forged. Gotta love it! A sense of community is created along with some art. 

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.

ROUND AND ROUND WE GO

 

Have you ever taken part in a Round Robin Journal? If not, I highly recommend it. 

Some years back a former student--Cindy-- invited me to join a group in which she was participating. What a treat! You start with creating a book using watercolor paper. You need half as many 8 x 11 sheets as there are participants. Fold each sheet in half, poke some holes in the fold, insert binding thread and off you go. 

Using a variety of mixed media techniques each person creates cover art before sending on to the next person on the list. Once a month you get a journal to create and experiment in and at the end of the time you have a journal to keep with a variety of art techniques to enjoy.

Sound like fun? Give it a try!

AH, SPRINGTIME...ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES

 

Having a lot of fun with these bleeding tissue papers. Different sizes and shapes and vast amounts of possible play. The fun playtime got me thinking of missed workshops, missed camaraderie of friends together creating....and so...a possibility was born and the first workshop of 2021 is scheduled and full with safety in mind throughout all the planning. It does the heart good for sure!!

In the meantime, I will continue keeping the post office in business by creating and sending cards. 

There are so many lovely days of springtime ahead...what are your endless possibilities??

WHAT SHALL IT BE?

With heavy air drizzling on the skylights, I find myself thinking of the final workshop of the month scheduled for tomorrow. What shall we do? What should the main project be? Of course, we will go over basic methods, but I'm looking for that something "special" as focus. With the students all being repeat ones, I don't hesitate to ask them what is preferred.

Some would like "oh, anything." Others would like to focus on collage figures. I had mentioned focus on faces, so that is definitely one possibility...and there are myriad ways to accomplish this.

So...What shall it be?

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.

ALL GOOD THINGS DO COME TO AN END

Scrabble tiles

The Sawdust Art Festival 2019 has come to an end.  After 66 days of "live" I have to admit I am not feeling too lively. I'm pooped. 

One of the fond remembrances from the many days are the Scrabble games that sometimes went on for days with fellow artist Suzanne Esko. 

The passing of the box created a small stir with some of the artists--one even thinking we were passing a pizza box and not even deigning to share :)

As I strive to put things away and re-create studio space for the ahead I look back fondly on the shared times, the laughter, the music, and so much more.

I am now creating a space that I can fill with "new." Wonder what that new will be.Stay tuned.

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?

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

CAN YOU TEACH A SUMMER WORKSHOP?

So very true!

When asked if in fact I could find the time during the busy festival season to teach one of the five-hour Sunday Studio Workshops I have to admit I hesitated. Could I?

Well, as a Wizard of Winot (inside info), I of course said, "Why not?"

And, thus, was born the first summer workshop to be held this coming Sunday, July 21st. 

There are still spots left so why not join in the fun? We cover myriad techniques, laugh a lot, enjoy each other's company, nosh on good food to share, and so much more.

 click here to email me if you want to join us. You, too, could say, "Why not?"

BRINGING FORTH

Another storm coming?

Rainer Marie Rilke said, "Everything is gestation and then bringing forth."What a wonderful description of the process of creativity.

The recent storms that gestated off shore and then came forth and getting ready for summer festivals like the Sawdust Art Festival have this and process in common. 

Am I pushing the analogy? Perhaps a bit, but it feels a bit "stormish" at this time of year as we prep for the several shows that take over the Laguna summer scene for so many of us. The momentum builds from the day in May when we choose our summer spot to build on right through until Preview Night in June.

As with a building storm's energy, there is a gathering of momentum and power right up to that six o'clock hour on June 25th when the gates are opened and the flood of guests surge onto the grounds. It's a lot! And we love it! 

I have new work and some from past seasons this year to display and sell in this my twentieth summer. I will take leave next year so this season has more "weight" than even usual for me as I seek to share my vision with others. Hope to see all of you there at some point between that opening moment and close of show just before Labor Day.

CREATIVITY STEW

Sawdust booth coming along

One might think from the title of this post that I am in a stew about the whole summer festival thing. Let me assure you that is not what this is about at all.

Instead, this stems from these Henry David Thoreau words: If one advances confidently in the direction of their dreams, and endeavors to lead a life which they have imagined, they will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.

So many of us have a plethora of creative ideas, but what is that has some getting results while others do not? I asked myself the questions--Why some and not others? What is the recipe for creativity? 

Aha! A recipe for creativity...perhaps that is what is needed. A simple add and stir and bake kind of thing. Why not? Here goes.....

CREATIVITY STEW

Take 1 dream, any size--stir until a clear vision is formed

5 tsp current reality (start with this amount and add to taste)

1 action (this action may or may not work; be prepared to take another one)

Add a dash of adjustments

Add a splash of learning

1 tsp evaluations

2 dashes adjustments

Stir the above until momentum is achieved for greatest effectiveness

Bake at level of desire until energy is formed and rises

Best served hot

Serves one or many

So, there you have it! This is pretty much the recipe I have been using for at least the past twenty years of doing the Sawdust Art Festival. I will be taking a leave at the end of the summer season this year to leave a space for the next thing to show up. I am pretty sure it will!

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!!

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.

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.

STEP BY STEP BY...OOPS!!

The Sunday Studio Workshop for this coming weekend has a 'faces' focus so I had thought I might do this blog as a step by step of one of the warmup techniques. 

Alas!, as so often happens with creative juices, they just started flowing and didn't stop until, aghast, I realized I was two-thirds of the way through. So I offer this step only.

I will next adhere these pieces (I kinda like them going off the page), add other embellishment and post a completed version in the next blog.

There are always oops moments in creativity it seems.

HOW THE HECK DID IT GET TO BE OCTOBER?

So many angels!

Whatever happened to September? It was that head down and focused approach, I guess, as i was preparing for Sawdust Winter Fantasy and the upcoming workshops and road trip. Somehow, I just missed a lot of the month. 

That said, October has arrived and it is one of my very favorite times here along the coast. I intend to enjoy it. Mornings and evenings cool off and the sounds of birdsong float on the air even as the tree leaves float to the ground. There is a change of pace to enjoy sunsets and the beautiful autumn evening light in the canyons. 

Slowing down a bit now that I have a few things ready to go, I am looking forward to upcoming workshops. (October has room; November is sold out :)) I also eagerly await the upcoming Winter Fantasy and all its magic.

There is time for my grandsons now and I LOVE that. And then there is the annual road trip with daughter Jenna.

All is good as i seize the moments. I've got lots of angels on my side to help out, it seems.

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!

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!