Recovering a Sense of Identity: The Artist's Way Week Two

Week two of The Artist's Way. Lots of sharing, talking, discussing . . .



. . . and then some therapeutic art!

Thank you thank you thank you

I have so many sweet friends. And sometimes, my sweet friends bring me gifts. Sometimes it is a bag of stuff, like Sam of Lil' Gypsy frequently does (Bag 'o Crap she calls it), and other times it is a more formal gift. Since I moved into my new studio space, I've received several wonderful gifts and I just felt the urge to share them publicly (not to encourage gift giving, but that would be an okay result!).

The first "studio" gift I received was from Laura. She brought it over to the studio before I had moved anything in - it was pretty much a shell of a space, but Laura knew it needed a puffy, fluffy ceramic sheep, something I had admired many months ago at loose ends, a very cool local store. Meet Miss Sheeba!


A couple weeks ago our good friends Dave and Vicki stopped by on their way from Bend to Astoria and Vicki handed me a pretty little wrapped package. A hula girl! Oh my, a lovely companion to watch over my art-making.


I already wrote a blog post about Kathleen's gift of a dazzling woman vase/holder, but I love her so much (Kathleen and the ceramic woman!), I wanted to include it again in this thank you post.


My art friend Dawn delivered two dolls to my doorstep, something I also blogged about earlier, but wanted to include here.

Last weekend while teaching my Bountiful Blocks class at the studio, Destree (who lives next door to the studio), popped over to hand me a golden angel to hang on a wall in the studio. But before I found a place on the wall, I nestled her in the plant outside the front door. I'm not sure she wants to come inside.


And finally, one of the artists from my Super Deluxe Art Date, Gloria Sowell, let me pick one of her encaustic icons she had brought for our show 'n tell. I have hung the icon front and center in the main room of the studio so she can watch over all of the healing and growing that is done at Alley Art Studio.

Bountiful Blocks: A Opportunity to Play

Class will be held at Stampin' Cat Studio in Salem, Oregon. To register, call 503-390-2553. I have a feeling this one's gonna be popular!

Go With the Flow: Shades of Black (With a Dash of Red)

The third and final session of the Go With the Flow class was held at Alley Art Studio on Sunday. The class, A Mindful Meditation Experience through Chinese Brush Painting, was led by Elizabeth Hartshorn and Cindy Lommasson. I wrote in detail about the class earlier in the month, so click here if you want to read more. During the course of our three sessions, we learned some of the basic techniques of Chinese brush painting, including how to draw Zen circles, fish, flowers, dragonflies, and bamboo.

My favorite? The Zen Circles. Are you surprised?

If you're interested in registering for future sessions of this class, call Elizabeth at 503-588-2113.

Show 44: The beginning

A teaser of a post. Stay tuned for details of a four-woman art show, Four Frickin' Fabulous Females, of which I'll be one of the four females. The show will be held at Cafe Noir in downtown Salem, with the theme of Flora and Fauna (that is a lot of F's, we're aware). The show will be up for the month of February, 2010, and I'll be posting about the show as it develops. I will also invite any and all to our Artist's Reception. Primarily, each of us will be creating in whatever medium we want, but we do have a collaboration planned involving four 12 x 12 canvases. For now, here is what I've done:

I've got a ways to go. Fortunately, I still have time.

The Block Swap Continues: Around the Block #2

The block swap continues. It started at the beginning of September (Block Trifecta) when I arted up three blocks and sent them on to the next woman on the list, Sarah Fishburn. Last week I received three blocks from Carolyn Abramofsky. Here's what I received:

And here is what I did on my three chosen sides:

To the Post Office tomorrow to send the blocks on their way.

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