Feet Firmly on the Ground

Home again, home again.

I spent days (um weeks, months) preparing for the three classes that I was teaching in Colorado.
Two of the classes I taught at Deb Prewitt's shop "Blue Twig Studio" were ones that I had taught before so that made it a little easier.

One of the best parts of my trip was getting to spend some real, honest to goodness quality time with my friend Liz Kettle.

She (and her husband) graciously invited me to stay at their home in Monument, where I stayed the last two years on my treks there. I think that I've been there enough now that they step right over me, put the broom (or dish cloth as the case may be) in my hand. Even the cats (and Duke) treat me like "one of the gang" while I'm there. Which is fine with me!

I love feeling at home, at ease with people.
I love becoming a part of their lives.

I arrived in Denver on Saturday, June 2.
Liz picked me up at the airport after the plane circled from DIA to Montana for an extra hour or so.
There was a huge storm right at the airport with wind gusts up to 60 mph.
It was just beautiful from my view point with the wispy clouds.
You Harry Potter fans will understand when I say it looked like a bunch of dementors flying in to the airport. Liz assured me it wasn't that at all - just rain that wasn't hitting the ground.
My story was much more interesting and scary though...imagine being stuck in the airplane with all those people...
dementors surrounding us...

Well. You get the idea.
My imagination gets away from me on occasion, doesn't it?

Back to the real story.
I loved that this plane had the tracking screen in front of my seat.
I could draw the landscape view from the plane and look on the screen to see which state we were flying over at that particular time.
And it was fun (though a little discerning) to watch the little plane (on the screen) go from DIA to Montana, not once but twice while waiting for the airport to open back up.

Sunday we went to Deb's shop "Blue Twig Studio" (and her home) in Colorado Springs.
What an awesome teaching space!
Surrounded by all kinds of art goodies (oh no!).

We did the "Whimsical Mark Making" class first, with a studio full of brave, brave women.
By the time the day was over, these ladies were drawing and painting all kinds of cool art journal images/pages.

They even drew each other.

I had met most of the women at "Textile Evolution", the mixed media fiber retreat that Liz created.
It was more like hanging out with good friends that I hadn't seen in a while.
Lots of laughing and teasing each other...a lot of smiling, support and edification (and don't we all need more of that?).
I like the Word Origin & History section of the dictionary that describes the word "edification" as "building up of the soul".
Isn't that what a group of supportive women do for each other?

Building up of your soul.


Really think about that for a minute.
Is that what you do for your family and friends?
Or do you tear them down, rip them to shreds with your words and/or your actions?

I wasn't planning on writing the last paragraph but it came out anyway so I'll leave it.
Writing tends to be that way, eh?
The words that want to be uttered find a way out.
As writers, we have to let them.

I'll pick up here on the next post.
And I'll leave you with a couple of photos of Deb's home studio.

I have been remiss in posting on this blog and the Sketchbook Challenge blog this month!
Over at the SBC blog, Jane has offered up this wonderful theme ("Everyday Objects"), that should have had me jumping up and down for joy (since I draw everyday objects so often) but I (like so many of us here) have been so busy preparing for, teaching workshops and recuperating from the prep and teaching of said workshops that I am pooped.
I have been ignoring so many things that I should not be ignoring...
this blog.
The SBC blog.
Making new artwork for the upcoming First Friday art crawl in Greenville SC.
Oh, so many things to do.
But I'll show you a peek of what I did do.
I taught two wonderful workshops at "Textile Evolution" in Colorado Springs last week.
Tex Evo is the brain child of Liz Kettle- teacher, writer and artist extraordinaire.

I taught a two day book making class that everyone loved!
The folks that didn't take the class, saw the books that the ladies made while in the class...and now they all want to take the class!
They made some awesome books! I love how they plow right through their doubts and work so hard in those two days to create a treasure.

The "Whimsical Mark Making" class is what I really wanted to talk about.
Most of the 9 ladies in this class said that they "couldn't draw" at the beginning of class.
I asked them.
They didn't want to believe me when I told them that they could draw.
But they also plowed right through - laughing at the silly things I asked them to do.
I was a strict teacher and didn't allow them to draw with a pencil!

Straight to paper with a pen...

I would say that around lunchtime these ladies were beginning to shock themselves...
I gave them a few tips, some guidelines, explained the paints, gels and pens at their disposal and turned them loose.
They were drawing a variety of things - some everyday objects, some totally from their imagination, some from source books that helped them along.

And the thing that I loved was how quiet they got as they began to believe that maybe they could draw...
then the excitement as these beautiful, whimsical images began to flow from their pens...

right from their pens!

I'll show a few photos of what they were doing.
These drawings are from women that believed their entire lives that
they could not draw.

Their entire lives (so far) spent not drawing.

Not even really trying because they had been told/believed/were not the creative one in the family/husband told them they needed to quit tracing or copying/and so on and so forth.

Now?
These women are drawing the most beautiful, whimsical, heartfelt images.
Straight to paper with a pen!

Take a local drawing class, check my schedule for one or watch for my online Mark Making class that will take place...um...in the future.

Until then?
Practice making marks.
Every single day.

Here's that peek -

Click on these photos to see the detail!

I do wish that we could have put together a small journal for these pages...
Wouldn't that be awesome to have a hand drawn journal?
Maybe I need to develop another class that includes this...we could squeeze in a small journal, couldn't we?

I'm listing a new local class soon - in Greenville SC.
Please sign up for my newsletter so you can get all the details of my classes - whether local, online or across the country.
I'll also advertise sales on original artwork, prints and handmade books.
I will occasionally offer my subscribers a special discount or deal on classes and artwork.

Keep on making marks!

Back Home

Hi everyone!

I'm back from Colorado Springs at Textile Evolution.

What an awesome retreat!!

I personally had so much fun and was so inspired & fulfilled by all the creative work done there.
The atmosphere was not only inviting but safe.
Safe to begin at where you are.
Safe to push where you want to go...

We had creative spirits there that ran the gamut - young women that had no idea of what they were getting in to all the way to grandmothers that we just finding out that they HAD a creative streak.

And they all LOVED it!

Yummy healthy food that was catered in.
A section of the room had piles of supplies to use in our art journals (all free!) with daily demos of different products and techniques (some brand spanking new ones- barely in the stores yet!).
Lots of heartfelt conversations, laughter, some tears (of pain, self discovery and growth) and most of all - lots of support and friendship.

Women need these relationships in their life - we need unconditional support and the love of each other.
We need a strong shoulder to lean on at times.
These types of relationships and support systems are built at this retreat.

It's a great place to learn a new technique or make a great project but it's an even better place to add to your self confidence and build your tribe.

Next years dates are already booked even though I can't remember them right now.
I do know that it will go back to the Sept. date next year. I'll post it as soon as I can find out.

I do have some photos but I'll have to find my camera first.
Now where did I put that new indigo shibori tee shirt at...?

First Friday Video

My husband was playing around with the new Flip Video at a "First Friday" art crawl event.
This was last Friday at Pendleton Street in Greenville SC.

The building is a newly refashioned space with several rooms.
The walls are just beautiful!
They look like fresco paintings.

I was invited, along with four other artists, to show work that evening.
There was food, adult beverages, wonderful art and lots of chatter!
We all had a great time and I met so many great people.

My husband took this short video of a portion of my table.
I am hoping to record more videos now since I am finding out it's not as difficult as I thought it was.

I'm leaving for Colorado Springs soon. I've sent ahead class supplies and lots of book samples.
I am so excited about teaching at the retreat again this year!

I am also hoping that I can schedule another book class next month at AGGG in Greenville SC.
The first class there went so well and I absolutely love the space for teaching small groups!
It was super inspiring to create in the gallery surrounded by such fabulous work.

Class Update

We had a great first day of class in Greenville! I truly love working in the gallery space.
All of the beautiful artwork surrounding us was such an inspiration. I can see scheduling another class there soon.
I'll try to remember to get photos on the next day of class! I had my camera with me but it stayed in my purse...
We were so busy that I forgot all about it (as seems to be my habit!).

I'm busy unpacking and repacking supplies, class kits and other necessary items (like, um...clothes?!).

I'm SO excited about teaching at Textile Evolution again this year!
I'm excited to be spending time with my peeps Liz Kettle, Judy Gula, Tama Brooks and Laura Cater Woods also!
Maybe someone there will be more diligent at posting photos than I was last year. I just get so busy that I forget! And I have never developed the "Facebook" habit...

Okay, break time over...
back to packing.
Um, I mean unpacking and repacking.

Whew...

What a crazy couple of weeks it's been...
I have talked about the Big League World Series that my husband and I volunteer at, right?

Yup, last year.
Well, what we call "the circus" was in town the last week.
It's a lot of fun but man oh man, what a lot of work too!
It was just as busy as ever and very, very hot.
And very humid.
Typical SC weather.
If you're interested, you can go to the web link above and read all about it.
It's a great opportunity to volunteer if you're interested.
We have ESPN coverage of the final game every year so that's fun.

I am also busy making the final preparations for a run of fall classes coming up.

I'm heading to my fiber group tomorrow to teach them the second day of making a cool little book.

Next week (August 8 & 11), I'll be teaching my "Bound by Heart, Made by Hand" class.
We make a beautiful book using all sorts of acrylic mediums, paints, cool papers, fabrics, inks and vintage goodies.
This two day class will be at Artists Guild Gallery of Greenville in downtown Greenville SC.
There are two (maybe three) spots left in this class.
Email me if you're interested.

The week after that, I'll be in Colorado Springs, Colorado with my buddy Liz Kettle at her retreat, Textile Evolution.
If you're love mixed media or mixed media fiber work, want to try your hand a mixed media or love hanging out with a bunch of wild and crazy mixed media fiber lovin' women - this is THE retreat for you!
There are several classes that I would love to take if I weren't teaching!
Check it out!

Elements of My Drawing

When I begin a new piece of artwork, I never really consider what I am going to put into it.
I don't think about where I will start or where I will finish...
I typically start from the "Hey, that would be a great idea!" point of view.
I tend to jump right in, worrying about running out of things (like room on the page) when it actually happens.
Like this piece of artwork.
It's called "The Dancing Elephant"

I love this silly, happy little elephant.
But when I drew her, she kicked her back foot up so high that it went right off that page!
Of course, since I (usually) never sketch things in pencil first I couldn't go back and re-configure the entire drawing.
Or convince her to drop that back foot a little.
But you really can't do anything with a happy elephant anyway- they're going to kick up their heels no matter what you try to make them do...
Instead of trashing the entire drawing, I decided to just draw her tail going off the page as well.
I figured that, in the grand scheme of things, no one would really notice that she was falling off the page.
Or dancing in to it.

That is - until I told all of you...

My point is this - one of the elements of my art is going with the flow.
Learning to work with what you're got in front of you...what you've already done.
I could have thrown this young girl away and look at all the smiles I would have trashed as well!
Instead, I stuck with it, added a few washes of acrylic paint and a ton of interesting tiny details and
introduced my Dancing Elephant to the world.

Maybe I should have called her "Tiny Dancer"...
.
These little details are things that we will be talking at my "Whimsical Mark Making" class I am teaching at Textile Evolution in Colorado Springs on August 20.
We'll also cover drawing on fabric as well as what tools to use when adding color to your drawings.
I'd love for you to join me!

Inspiration

I was reading a few blogs this week (I usually only read them once or twice a week) and got to Alisa Burke's.
Man - have you looked at her blog lately? She has got IT going on!
Launching a brand new shop with her mom, all those fantastic online classes, phenomenal artwork, a new book coming out soon AND a baby on the way!
She is one busy and talented lady.
One of the things that caught my eye on her blog was the photos of seahorses.
I love, love, love going to aquariums and watching the seahorses. They are so odd looking, so beautiful and quite whimsical also.
Alisa had drawn a few and painted them - look at her paintings here.
I loved the one that she didn't paint (or maybe she painted it but just didn't post it).
I just had to draw it!
I googled "images" and seahorse and found a similar photo for some more inspiration.
Here's my drawing -

I decided to go back and add a little water so the little guy wasn't just hanging in thin air...

I really needed to tie him to the background and I think that the water did just that.
Thanks Alisa for letting me post my rendition of your photo!

One of the classes that I'll be teaching at Textile Evolution (in about a month)is called "Whimsical Mark Making".
I'll cover some tips and tricks that I use to make my marks a little different than others, kinda like the seahorse above.

I'd love for you to join me in Colorado Springs for this class or my two day class called "Bound by Heart, Made by Hand".
This is a book making class that also incorporates my love of using items from loved ones in my artwork.
I love making books.
I took a class from DJ Pettit a couple of years ago that changed the way I make books.
I was so inspired by the techniques that she used!
I have since then made the techniques my own (by many, many hours in my studio working) but she was my initial inspiration.
If you ever have the opportunity to take a class from DJ, I'd suggest that you jump at the chance.

Journal Work

I've been writing and drawing inside of one of my handmade books here lately.
I have written other posts about it (here, here and here). My "plan" is to use this as my everyday journal...just to draw in, write in, a place to hold all those things that elbow around in my head everyday.
And just like anything else, this requires a commitment or it does for me anyway.
Other things are habit for me - drawing, writing- but not in THIS book. I have been using a different book to write in and another one to draw in.
I have read in a few blogs how other people approach this issue. Some use totally separate books for each different practice. Others use the same book for all of it.
It really doesn't bother me if I mix it up. The only thing that I need to consider is the drawing part...if I draw something that I decide to make a thermofax screen from or use it in a different manner, I need to be able to scan or copy it. And that could prove to be difficult if it's in a book with other "things" on the pages around it...I'll just have to be aware of that and try to work around it.

Anyway - thought I'd share a couple of pages that I've been working on.

This is the first page in the journal (paper page that is...I have a couple of fabric based "pages" before that).

Now, who knows - I may choose to spread out some gesso on that page and re-do the entire thing.
That's one of the things that I love about journaling, about working in a book.
You can scrap it and start over...just like that.

This is a page that I had already done some stitching on. I had brushed some watered down acrylic paint on the background. Then later drew a couple of sketchy flowers...then added a thermofax flower screen over that. I still have more plans for this page.

This is a little painting (watercolor) that I did in preparation for my "Whimsical Drawing Class" at Textile Evolution next month.
I'll be showing everyone some tricks and short cuts that I use as well as sharing how I draw. It may not be the Correct Way but it's my way.
Run over to the retreat web site and sign up for that class! I would love to see you there.
Last year we had a blast...just a blast!
Judy Gula (from Artistic Artifacts) will be teaching there as well as vending (oh boy!). She and I are flying out a little early to spend a few days with Liz (we're supposed to be helping but I'm thinking we're going to be playing and laughing). Either way, it is sure to be fun.

And one last page with a whimsical tree on it. I actually left a space to journal on this one! I used Derwent Inkense Watercolor Pencils on it along with my trusty Pitt Pen.
Don't forget to check out the Sketchbook Challenge blog site for this month's theme. Lyric Kinard is the featured artist this month and she had chosen the theme if
"Element".
There are already a lot of great posts illustrating that.

And I am going to be teaching a book class in Greenville SC next month!
I am SO excited about this!
Artists Guild Gallery of Greenville has asked me to teach there. I'll be sending out a newsletter to all of the local people about this class.
I'll put details on the side bar but you can email me at carolbsloan@yahoo.com if you have any questions.
The quick rundown is this -

"Bound by Heart, Made by Hand"
Aug. 8 & 11, 2011 from 10:00am-3:00pm
$135 for both days, an optional $20 kit from instructor
At Artists Guild Gallery of Greenville (AGGG)

864-239-3882

200 N Main Street
Suite 104 Ivey Square
Greenville, SC. 29601 (inside the lobby at Atlanta Bread Company) 

You can see samples inside the gallery (beginning tomorrow) and may sign up there.
You may also email me to sign up.
If you are considering taking the class, better call or email quick as the size is very limited!
The space is smaller but I wanted to keep the class small so I can give everyone lots of attention.

Have a great day everyone!

Can't Resist This

This is a post of mine from the Sketchbook Challenge blog about this month's theme.
I can't resist drawing while I am traveling in the car...

No!

Not while I'm driving!
While I'm riding...
My sweet husband (almost) always drives, leaving me lots of time to draw or paint or whatever it is I'm doing at the time (maybe sleeping).
This past weekend, it was drawing a little bit.
When I am in the research phase of a new class or a new piece of work, I always spend time getting to know the individual elements of what is going to go into the new piece of artwork.
For example, if I were going to do a piece using architectural elements and birds, I would look at/research/draw/paint/think about/dream about architectural elements and birds.
Here is an example of what I drew this weekend.

I've used a source book to get ideas from, then added my own "Callie marks" (Callie is my nickname) (thanks to Melanie Testa for the previous phrase).
I'll be teaching some of these very techniques in August at the "Textile Evolution" retreat in Colorado Springs.
The retreat runs August 17 - 21, 2011 with the one day "Whimsical Mark Making" class on Saturday, August 20.
I'd love for you to join us! It's going to be a lot of fun and you are sure to learn a lot.
I am also offering a two day mixed media book making class called "Bound By Heart, Made By Hand".
This is going to be a fabulous class!

I'll leave you with a partially complete drawing that I did.
You can see how much difference the  little Callie Marks make with the entire drawing.
Sometimes all your drawings need is a few little finishing touches to make them spark!

Opposites

As you know, I'm participating as one of the 16 artists in the "Sketchbook Challenge" blog. This months theme is opposites. While I'm mending from a little dental surgery (yesterday's newest change was a black eye!) (it really coordinates with the purple and blue bruises across my cheek though), I've been able to sketch a little bit. I'm finding that my attention span while taking strong pain medications is fairly limited. So I'm just picking small tasks to tend to (or try to tend to).
Today, I choose a Jane LaFazio type sketch with watercolors. I tend to do more whimsical drawings with a few realistic ones thrown in here and there. But I really love the urban sketching style that Jane has. She has a cool looking class over at Joggles too. You should check it out.
I don't have online classes up and running yet but I plan on having a drawing/sketchbook class as one of my first workshops. I hope to have them going in a couple of months or so.
I am doing a "live" drawing workshop at Textile Evolution in Colorado Springs this year. It's called "Whimsical Mark Making". It's a one day workshop that is going to be a lot of  fun! No experience required.

Oh, I forgot to talk about the sketch that I did...the pain medications, I'm telling you...
The theme is opposites. I chose to do opposite color scheme on the painting.
I know, I know, it is a really easy one and I promise to do better.
Just gotta get past this rough spot.

Hope that you're all doing well, staying creative and drawing everyday!

A Stellar Day

I am a winner!

Deryn Mentock, of the awesome blog "Something Sublime", posted a giveaway there a few days ago.

I left a comment on her blog and my number was one of the winners.

How awesome is that?!

I can't wait to get the goody bag that she will be mailing out.

What a great day this has been!

I completed the paper work for the retreat classes that I am teaching in Colorado Springs (Textile Evolution) next year, completed another hand bound book and wrote up class notes for both.

My son (away at art school) called to just say "hello".

My handsome husband fixed a wonderful dinner for the both of us.

Top that off with winning the cool goodies from Deryn and my day has be Stellar.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

After getting ready for the retreat, the art festival and vacation,
I was very tired...

I had to take a break from drawing, painting and
making "completed" artwork.

Oh, I still did some doodling in my sketchbook
but nothing other than quick little reminders to myself
of things I might go back to later.

When I went to Colorado Springs for the "Textile Evolution" art retreat,
my friend Liz gave me a cool book mark.




It was for the "Guadalupe Festival" in Phoenix, AZ (from 2009).
It was the image on the front that had drawn her attention (and mine),
not so much the festival info itself.
I've had the book mark in my studio,
in a spot that I can see it every time that I work at the studio table.
She has been calling me...

So instead of doing housework, writing class proposals,
sending out artwork or any of the 18 other things that were on my "to do list",
I started painting.
I've asked my friend Sharon Tomlinson (check out her classes!)
to critique my work for me as I go.
Here's what I have so far.

I did have to adjust her eyelids.

I also moved her eyebrows down (they were just too high)

and lower her chin (also too high).

All in all I think that she is coming along.

Not an exact copy (which I wasn't trying to do) but coming along.

In the past, I have just made up faces to draw or paint (usually)

but I am enjoying having a reference image.

It can make things a lot easier.

This is a mixed media painting.

I've used acrylics, watersoluble wax pastels (Caran D'Ache Neocolor 2),

a tad of watercolor and graphite.

I'm painting on a 5" x 7" canvas panel that has a layer of molding paste

and a sheer fabric overlay.

I'll try to remember to scan it and post my progress as I go.

We're getting rain here in South Carolina.

And we're very thankful for it!

Textile Evolution/Colorado Springs

Going back to the retreat that I taught at in Colorado...
I forgot to add a link to the retreat center that we were playing at...I mean working at.
If you go the their website, you can find lots of photos to show you around the place - but I'll add a few of my own for you.
True to nature, I've loaded them backwards from what I really wanted to...and I'm too lazy - too busy- to go back and change them.

All the instructors stayed up at a separate building, so each morning we had a beautiful and inspiring walk (a short one) to the main building.
I really wanted to show the family of deers that ran (almost) right up to Liz and I the first morning - but they will be last in line.
This shot was what I saw behind the building that Judy Gula (from the filled to the brim with goodness store Artistic Artifacts in Virginia). She taught a dyeing class. Her students had the MOST fabulous fabrics to show each day. I do believe that she will be teaching next year...you should grab that class if you want to learn the fast and easy way (or down and dirty) on fabric/fiber dyeing.
Aren't those just great colors?

Here is our group joining back up for dinner one night (probably the first night since my pics are backwards!). The rooms were huge in this place - very well laid out and lots of room to play (work).
Liz set up an inspiration area - provided stamps, dye, inks, pens, fabric, paint, journals, glimmer spray, mistyfuse...you name - she provided it for everyone!

Here is the mountain that we saw each morning when we walked to the main building - maybe Mount St. Francis?

The building to the right of the photo is the classrooms that Laura Cater Woods and Judy Gula used.

Okay, here is the "Family Photo" from the first morning walk! This mom and two babies came running up to Liz and I.

I was on the telephone with my husband at the time. The scene from that movie where the dad and kids are lost in the woods came to mind - you know, the one where the deer has red glowing eyes and begins to beat the dad up...

Hmmm...well, it was a while back...

"My, what big ears you have"...

Here is a side shot of the building that we slept in - a fabulous rock building.

And look at the texture of the tree bark to the right of the photo!

I got a couple of close ups of that for later use.

Okay - that ends my update for today.

We are packing up for the West Greenville Arts Festival.

There is also the US Cycling Pro Championship in downtown Greenville this weekend.

If you attend that event, be sure to drive another couple of miles to the arts festival.

Booth #26!

Post Textile Evolution

Wow!
What a week I had in Colorado Springs!
I got home last Monday from an awesome teaching experience
at the mixed media fiber art retreat Textile Evolution.
I'm going to try and do another post or two on the retreat later
cause I am right in the middle of getting ready for the "West Greenville Arts Festival" in Greenville SC.
It's this weekend and it's my Very First Art Festival!
I sure hope that you all will come down and visit me...
I've got several pieces of mixed media fiber art and TONS of paintings!
So, I guess that we could call this my
"Coming Out Party"...
coming out of the painting closet, that is.

Back to Tex Evo...
I had two great classes - one was a two day class and the other was a one day class.
All my students completed their projects!
How great is that?
Every time I go to a class (or retreat) I always think that I would love to actually finish something...
I tried to plan the classes so that the participants would be able to finish in class.
It actually worked this time!

I must say that Liz Kettle has done an awesome job planning and running this retreat.
The price is all inclusive (if you stay on campus). It includes room, food and classes.
And the food was fabulous! She had several diet restricted participants
and was able to provide tasty and nutritious food for everyone.
We even had wine, chocolate and ice cream!

What more could you ask for?

I've been invited back next year as well, so I'm really so excited (and blessed) about that.
I made some new friends and got to visit (face to face) with old friends.
My flights went well, with no major delays or bumps.
I'm home - safe and nearly sound.
I'll try to add photos later or tomorrow.

But for now - back to packaging prints, signing paintings, sealing boxes and looking for my pens...
now where did that tape go...?

The Art Filled Life

I'm boxing up my kits and supplies for the Textile Evolution Retreat.
Sending them on their way to Colorado Springs to my friend Liz's house.
They will wait for me to get there on Sept.7, when we will be reunited for our classes.
We are all so excited about this trip!
This is my first time teaching at a (several day) retreat! I usually teach one day classes locally.
So, this is a good "first one"...trial run so to speak...
I would love to teach at different venues this coming year. Maybe even one of the "big" retreats.
I'm hoping to send some proposals out.
I'm getting to be a real brave girl, aren't I?

I've always wanted to share what I do with other people.
I love teaching the "mad scientist" way of creating.
And it's not just the Way that I create art -
it's the Why I create art.

It's one of those things that I am compelled to do.
It's my way of life actually.
And I think that most artists, most creative people would agree
that it is the biggest part of who you are,
why you are and how you walk through life.

We live our life,
we express our life & our experiences through our art.

It is The Art Filled Life.

Creative Play, I mean Work

At the Textile Evolution Retreat, I am teaching two different classes.
One is the Scraps, Fragments and Artifacts class.
Check out this post (and this post) for info about that one.
The second class is only one day.
It's an exercise in creative play called "Play, Create, Explore".
It's going to be so much fun!
We'll be making an 8" x 8" piece of mixed media fiber art. I supply the kit
so all the participants have to do is show up!
Well, maybe bring one or two sewing machines in the mix.
We'll scrape some paint around, collage some images, ponder on some words to add to our rusty fiber/bird's nest paper background.
Oh, let's not forget the beads, the button ribbon,the sheet music and the flowers...
I think there is only a couple of spots left!
Sign up NOW!

The other thing I've been doing (among the 872 other things) is getting ready for the WGAF - which will be four days after I get back from Colorado Springs.
Yeah, I realize that everything is all jammed up together...
I'm going to have some cards ready to sell - note card type- some with prints of my paintings and some will be original tiny paintings.
Here is one that I painted.

You can't tell from the photo, but it has a narrow white border around it.

Sometimes it takes me a while to warm up to some of my work,

but I really liked this one right away.

I have been putting in 10-12 hour studio days getting ready.

I should say "work days" instead of "studio days" since I work all over the house...

Does anyone else do that?

Fiber Freaks, umm Junkies I mean

I have been so busy preparing for the (now in town) Big League World Series and the upcoming retreat I am teaching at (see side bar Textile Evolution), that I neglected to post on the last Fiber Junkies meeting.
I am still incredibly busy but really want to share what we did - so, I'm going to cheat and send you to Judy Simmons and Mary Stori s blog to read.
We had a blast screen printing and I have a whole new appreciation for those that do screen print. Especially those that burn your own screens. If I had a larger studio and easy access to water, I'd do it myself...but right now, I just don't have the room.

Now onto a little more exciting (and scary) news...
I submitted an application and images to be considered for the West Greenville Art Festival this fall (right after I get back from Colorado Springs!) and I was accepted! They limit the artist number to 40 so I am so really excited to be a part of this. I have never participated in an festival before so I am working like crazy to get enough work together in time.
I've got some new collage pieces in the works - they include my doodle sketches and vintage papers and stuff. A little watercolor paint, a little matt medium and
wa la!
I'm hoping that they are accepted well - they are all excited about being in the show!
I have to run and tend to my duties at the ball park.
Do run over and read all about the screen printing adventure we all had!

Part Two

I was going to do another post on the class at Jane's shop
last Friday, but she did a great post on her blog...
so I'm going to cheat (with her permission) and point you in that direction.
It was a one day class but this project will be GREAT as a two day class!
I can't wait to teach it at the "Textile Evolution" retreat in Colorado (at the Franciscan Retreat Center) this fall.
The folks that take the class there should be able to actually complete the project...
and we all know how frustrating it can be to
bring home yet another UFO.
So mark your calendars and send in your registration!

A Give Away!

Everybody loves a give away...
and especially when it comes from Spring Market!
My friend Liz Kettle from Textile Evolution was at Spring Market
and has put together an awesome little packet!
Check it out, here, leave a comment
and if you win - send me something since I sent you there!

While I have your attention,
let me throw in a shameless plug for my retreat class.
I was invited to teach at the Textile Evolution Retreat this fall in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
I am SO excited about this! Not only the opportunity but the venue!
Colorado in the fall...
But you know what is really great about this retreat?
It's great because it's small...
it's safe to stick your toes in to the pool of mixed media art...
it's accepting of everyone, any level...
I know that there are a lot of fiber artists or quilters out there
that really want to try their hands at a more artist approach to their work.
This is the Perfect Place to do that!
No pressure,a fun loving teacher with
plenty of opportunity for you to grow, to create and to take your passion of making art to a new level.

Does that sound like something you'd be interested in?

Sign up here - but don't delay as the class sizes are limited.
I am teaching two classes -
one is a two day class, "Scraps, Fragments and Artifacts".
The second is a one day class- SO much fun- "Play, Create, Explore".
I'd love for you to join me.