Hi guys! Thanks for all the inquiries about where I am and why I'm not on the Artfest teacher lineup. Sadly, after 6 years of attending, I will not be going this year. Boo hoo...but it's for a good reason: I'll be in Paris at the same time (more on that later). I was really disappointed that my schedule wouldn't permit my annual trek to Artfest, and already feel like I'm missing out. The classes for next year look great and there are so many that I'd love to take. I hope if you're thinking about it, you'll give it a try, it's such a unique artist experience. Teesha and crew do such an amazing job, I always leave thinking about what a huge task it is for them and how it must truly be a labor of love.
Speaking of all things Teesha and Artfest classes, I had a piece of artwork in the latest Art&Life zine. The original piece is above, here it is in the zine. 
It is always an honor to see one's artwork in print, and I encourage anyone that wants to participate in any zine or magazine or book etc. to submit. It's not as far from where you are as you might think. That's how I see it anyway. Can't hurt.
I love Art&Life, especially in it's new format. I love the color, I love the paper, and I especially love the method of binding- a good old stapled center.
Anyway, with my submittal, I explained that I took a class from Diane Culhane at artfest 2006 called "Between Speech and Silence". In that class, we started with "taking a line for a walk" as she called it. This is my playing at that exercise. We talked about abstract forms, size etc.
Next, we worked on gesso collages. Above is a snippet of mine. That's my Dad and his sister, my Aunt Bonnie. I just think they are too cute. (Sending you love and prayers Aunt Bonnie).
We were experimenting with line, shape, and form.
Here's a color contrast exercise. It's where I first fell in love with Golden Liquid Acrylics, and glazes too. We were intentionally doing two of the same, focusing on color and contrast between the two.
And at the end, we were sort of combining it all together, the doodling, gesso, shapes, colors, collage etc. It was all about PLAYING, never the finished product. I loved the class and highly recommend taking one from Diane if ever given the chance. It was especially fun to watch her create, as she did, right in front of us. She gave us a piece of masonite board at the end, and I loved the feel of the painting with acrylics on the wood, it was so smooth.
So this year, after taking Tiphoni's color mixing class that I posted about here, I combined the love of both of those things to make the piece at the very top. Artfest classes sinking in to my art play. Another reason why I'm sad to be missing it, and another reason I'd recommend going; you never know when some of your class play will inform your current creating.
And, don't forget, I'll be teaching Paper Portraits and Sew(fab)ric Journal classes at Artfiberfest this October. It's a much smaller, fiber arts version of Artfest, and I know that there is still availability in most classes.
I'll try to post again soon, much sooner than I have been. My plate has been very full lately, and I'm working hard at not being constantly overwhelmed. I appreciate you bearing with me. Will fill you in on all the goings on another time. Have a great weekend.
