Bountiful Blocks: A Trial Run

Saturday I taught the first round of Bountiful Blocks, the newest class in my arsenal of creative offerings. Only two people signed up, but since they were both friends, I decided I would go ahead with the class and use it as a trial run (and with only two, it meant I would be able to play along with them). Kathleen and Laura have both taken classes from me before (in fact, Kathleen has taken every since class I have ever offered!), so it was comfortable and fun.

Three hours later . . . two beautiful creations.

Since this was a new class, here is what Kathleen and Laura had to say about the class:

I love, love, love the new space! The colors, the feel, the friendliness, the variety of things to use, to see, to share. The entire experience feels like it was just what I needed and the timing could not be more perfect. I feel like I have honored my brother while at the same time been good to me and my dream of driving my race car. Laura

Loved all the choices of stuff - the helpful ideas and all the time we were given to explore and create! Wow! this was more fun than I imagined. Thanks so much for another fun playful, class. Kathleen

Super Deluxe Art Date!

Oh my! What a perfectly fabulous day I had yesterday. I got to spend the entire (and I mean entire) day with four lovely artists: Stephanie Brockway, Gloria Sowell, Louise Brewer, and Tory Brokenshire. A little background: Steph, Gloria, and Louise all live in Portland and Tory lives right here in Salem. I met Stephanie at a class I took at Oregon Collage of Art and Craft earlier in the year and we sort of took to each other. I had never met the other ladies, but I had purchased a piece of art from Mary Lou Zeek's Gallery that Tory created. I blogged about it back in February of this year, so if you're interested in the art that Tory made for the 100 Artist's show, click HERE. (Teaser: I will be in the 2010 show, oh, I am so excited!).

Stephanie thought it would be fun for the five of us to meet and get together because all of us will be attending an art retreat at Menucha the end of October, hosted by the Portland Art Collective, of which Stephanie and Tory are members (fingers crossed, dreaming of one day being invited to join . . . there, I've said it out loud).

Back to yesterday. We all met up at Mary Lou Zeek's very fine gallery.

Here we are. Tina, who works at the gallery, was kind enough to snap a photo. Left to right we are Stephanie, Louise, me, Tory, and Gloria.

We barely made it down the street 'cause we had to stop in at The Arbor and at Ma Valise. Here we are in the very French store, Ma Valise.

Then to an antique mall, right around the corner from Mary Lou's.

Lunch at Wild Pear, with an appetizer of sweet potato fries.

After fueling up on caffeine, we headed to my studio where we did some show and tell of our work.

Then Stephanie, who had cut out wooden birds for us, launched us into a little art project.

Chocolates, of course.

My little tweety in process.

Gloria dries her birdy.

And Destree, who lives next door, was kind enough to stop washing dishes long enough to come over and take a final photo. Awww . . . .


Plans are underway for another art date, the next one in Portland and will hopefully invovle making Santos (of the religious art variety) . . I quiver at the very thought.

Oh, and you've gotta meet my new studio buddy:

Play Time at Alley Art Studio

Last Thursday, I had a play date with my friend Destree and her two beautiful, articulate, and creative children, Olivia and Deven (first grade and kindergarten). The kids chose to play with Paperclay, a versatile, light weight, air-drying medium that once dry, is paintable. For our Thursday evening art date, we were rolling, cutting, etching, and scribing.





Oh, and getting a little silly, of course.

After Olivia finished with creating objects and adornments with the Paperclay, she asked to borrow my little digitial camera. She went to town snapping any and everything in view. Here's a sampling of her work.

Even cute little Deven snapped a few photos.

Next up? A play date to paint our creations.

Recovering a Sense of Safety: The Artist's Way Begins

My life changed the day I signed up for an Artist’s Way Creative Cluster with Gretchin at Scarlet Star Studios in Portland. I was so profoundly changed, that with Gretchin’s blessing, I began offering my own version of Creative Clusters in Salem. My first group was several years ago and last night a new Creative Cluster began, this one in my brand new Alley Art Studio. Ahhhh, home again. Four beautiful and eager women gathered in a circle to begin their own journeys of transformation. For the next 12 weeks, we will gather weekly to discuss the tenants of Julia Cameron’s Artist’s Way, talk about personal stuff, and get our hands a little messy with a variety of creative projects. We'll be laughing together, crying together, and creating together. And once a week I'll post a little blurb about our meeting. Last night we got to know each other, then did a collage project. Here's the new studio space ready for the special guests to arrive . . .

It didn't take long for everyone to get comfortable and settled in.

Let the cutting and gluing begin.

Block Trifecta: Around the Block #1

I'm ready to send off my blocks for the first round of the swap I'm participating in, Around the Block. My blocks are wrapped in tissue and tucked safely inside a padded envelope (and festively decorated for their journey) to make their way to Sarah Fishburn in Colorado. I will be receiving three blocks from Carolyn, who lives in Illinois, sometime next week. I can't wait to see what theme she has chosen. One of the things I love about swaps and round robins is the connection with artists from all across the US.

Oh, and I want to mention that I will be teaching the first round of my newest class, Bountiful Blocks next Saturday, September 12th. If you live in or near Salem, Oregon, think about registering. The cost is only $30 and all supplies are included. Speaking of supplies, I made my way to a woodshop in Salem yesterday to scavenge for pieces of wood worthy to do art on. BINGO! And Howard has agreed to do some cutting of the longer pieces . . .