Art and Soul - It's a Wrap

What to say. Trite words pop into my tired, fried, overloaded brain: Amazing. Awesome. Stimulating. Inspiring. I’m not usually at a loss for words, but words aren’t coming too freely right now. So let me take you on a tour with photos of what I’ve been doing for the past week.

WEDNESDAY

I spent Wednesday with the vibrant and talented Leighanna Light making a Vintage Metal Treasure Deck. My deck is NOT done, every card needs paint and charms still need to be added to the edges. But here is a mini photo collage of my day (and my deck).

Oh, and by the way, Leighanna and this class was a starred attraction.

THURSDAY

Thursday was Ann Baldwin day and her class was Free Yourself Up With Abstract Collage. I didn't make it so far as to assemble an actual collage (I'm just not that speedy), but I did get to make a lot of fun papers.

FRIDAY

Friday was another starred attraction: Helga Strauss and her Art-Full DreamBoxes. Helga is the mistress of ArtChix studio, a fabulous on-line store and source of inspiration. Helga brought piles of her dreamy supplies and shared them generously! This is another one of those instances where my piece is not completed, it needs a little more in the way of doo-dads and definitely needs charms dangling from the bottom (and I didn't get this one completed because my grandson Emmett ended up in the emergency room from drinking a swig too many of children's Tylenol, so I wanted to be with him at Emmanuel Hosptial - after a cocktail of chocolate charcoal, he was fine).







SATURDAY

Kelly Rae Roberts. She was a starred attration as was her art and her process. She was a last minute replacement for DJ Pettit, and I'm sorry that DJ got sick, but lucky me to get to sit at the feet of Kelly Rae! My two pieces are "almost" done, they both need a little futzin' with the background, a more finished edge, oh, and one of my "ladies" needs a face!

I loved Kelly Rae so much (and have for a long time), that I bought three of her prints (and a magnet):

SUNDAY

I was pretty tired by Sunday and so I wasn't working at a very feverish pitch when I took Gridlocked from Lisa Kaus. I love her concept and I love Lisa's finished work, but I was a pokey pig on Sunday and didn't get very far on my piece. Lisa also cautioned against taking photos, so I have only one with her and one of my incomplete piece that I took at home. But, but, but, I am going to have great fun working on this piece at home where I have access to my papers and bits for embellishment, so watch out Gridlock!

MONDAY

I almost went home on Monday, but my class was with assemblage art superstar, Michael deMeng, so I just had to see the great man in person. My pieces never really took flight, but knowing I have a metal stash at home tucked in all sorts of nooks and crannies, prevented me from jumping in completely. And I did leave early . . . but I learned a LOT about connecting metal to metal, got a power tool demonstration,played with copper etchings, and Michael gave a couple of excellent painting demos, so it was all worth it . . . and I got my photo taken with him, too! (I sound like a schoolgirl - - - blushing).

And now my art supplies must be put away so I can get packed for Italy. We leave on Thursday, so this will most likely be my final post from the United States. Arrivederci!