Art and Soul-Day 5

I've been up a little while and finished my Watercolor Pencil piece.   

      Almost finished 

  Finished!!!   Doesn't take much highlighting to give a whole different look.

I am excited to get back to Wonky Grids.  Should be fun to see it work out!   

The most difficult part of doing abstract anything is WHEN ARE YOU DONE WITH IT!     We spent some time on that today.   I have several UNFINISHED PIECES AND a few that are either done or very close.

 Almost done.

   Not close!

 All had something added or deleted and close to being done.   Will let them sit for awhile and finish them at home.

The evening class was by Brenda Mattson and was entitled Creating The Perfect Steampunk.   LOVED IT!!!!!

 First Piece and absolutely loved the necklace.

 Second piece.  A great thing to learn how to make.   Can't believe I am going home with 3 new necklaces.   Today's two and the Geode Piece from early in the week.

Tomorrow I take an old porcelain doll and make an art doll.   Come back.  

Art and Soul - Day 4

Day 4 of Art and Soul kicks off in a couple of hours.    I really had a great day yesterday.    I really love the finished necklace.   If you missed it, here is a 

Picture!

  

Today is Wonky Grids:   An Exploration of Abstract Composition.    In the details it says".  The Wonky Grid is a great format for exploring issues of composition:  Contrast, scale, focal area, visual weight, movement, etc.  It is also a really fun means of personal expression."

Today and tomorrow I am going for broke on classes.   Tonight I take an evening class on Watercolor Pencil Journaling.   I love watercolor pencils but unfortunately don't use them too much.   Maybe that will change.  

Last night, Raven and I had dinner.  It was a good time to share art pursuits and the general state of our lives and the world.   Amazing how many issues you can discuss over dinner with a glass or two of wine.   Raven and I met a couple of years ago in a collage class.   She is very talented.  

One of the things I love about Art and Soul is the enthusiasm that just bubbles over!!!!!!   Not only from instructors but from the attendees.   

Jane Davies teaches the class.   I've seen several of her videos and they are very good.   Her classes always sell out.   That means about 25 people were in the class.     The title of the class was wonky grids so everything is based on a grid background.   You either start with a painted surface or a collage surface and add to it.   You add paint to the collage surface or collage to the painted surface

        First we had to make our own collage papers.

  

Then we had to do the background on either. 6 or 8 and I chose 6.

 Only 5 in this picture, but trust me - I did 6.   It is probably buried under the other.

Then we had to do two more in neutrals and one with a little drama,  

 

The last two were at the bottom of the picture.   NONE andI repeat NONE of these are even close to being done.   That will happen tomorrow (I hope).

Day class down and off to get ready for the evening class.  Helen Garcia  taught a 3 hour class entitled Watercolor Pencil Journaling.   Such Fun!!!

 

 These two are the instructor's creations.

Here's mine!!!

 A little highlighting with black ink pen and it will be done.   Started an owl too but it's not done yet.

Very fun class.   Very good instructor.   I love watercolor pencils and this taught me a lot more about them.

Tomorrow is to finish up the Wonky Grid class and then in the evening I am taking a steampunk jewelry class in the evening.   That should be much fun too.

Now I am POOPED and plan on getting a good night class.   See you tomorrow.  

Art and Soul - Day 3

My Key West clock is adjusting.   Was able to stay up last night and catch up on two on-demand tv shows I had missed.   Still up early, but one gets so much more done when you are up early.

Well, I think in a few minutes I will start turning over the gingham backing to make the finished edge on my wall hanging.  See day 2.     These things come to me during the night and I will pin it on and when I have a few minutes I will work on it.   Might even be done before I get home.

On to Day 3 and I'm taking a class called OVER THE MOON.   Don't you love that title.  I did.  Here's the description:  "Create a geode-like moonscape named pendant necklace that's out of this world!"   Then it goes on to "Each student will learn basis torch enameling (map gas), metal-working skills, cold-connecting and soldering techniques. ".    Sounds like fun and also a little scary.   Oh well, one is never too old to learn new things.   I love these classes.   

It was a very involved class but I am really happy with the results.   It was an all day class taught by Jean VanBrederode.     

 Jean showing us how to use the map gas.  

One picture of the top piece and the backing.   Middle picture is welding the bale for threading thr necklace thru it and the backing. 

   

The darkened piece has been soaking in a liquid to darken the copper.   The finished piece with silver glitter in th base.   The 3rd piece was before it was attached.   Fun doing this. But --- it goes very fast and is a bit scary. I 

      Don't you love my new image .  Signs, necklaces and my big - repeat big - Iris Apfel type glasses.   Got lots of compliments on them.   

Great day.   A woman I met two years ago is here and we're having dinner together later.   Her name is Raven and she is very talented.   we're taking a couple more classes together.   Tomorrow is "wonky grids" and it should be fun.  A little out of my comfort zone - but that is so much of the reason for attending classes like this.     See you tomorrow ..

Art and Soul - Day 2 - Create Batik Art Quilt

Well, it's cold here.  Ron is home in Key West and it is 80 degrees - only 38 in Portland.   Sure glad I am intending to stay in classes and not freeze to

Death.

I am going to make a quilt wall hanging today.  Or at least try to make a quilt wall hanging today.   I just found out that there are only 3 people in the class and that's a good thing for me, but not too good for the instructor.  I was working on how I wanted it layed out this morning.   I couldn't sleep because I was still on Key West time. Called Ron at 7 am, 4 am here.   

   I like the 2nd layout better.   Little areas surrounded by bigger area.   Unless I run into a problem, that is probably what I'll try.  Here are the two batik pieces I can choose from. Bought them a couple of years ago at another art and soul and didn't know what I was going to do with them, but we'll see today.   

 Probably like the brighter colored one the most but we will see how that works out.  

Judy Gula was the instructor and she had several others I could choose from,but I stayed with the bright colored one.   I have a strong feeling that a project either needs to be done or finishable when I take a class.   A project that needs a lot of work when you get home often winds up on a shelf and not done.   

                                 These are two examples the teacher did and they are quilt tops.   They are lovely!!!!

         Decided to go with bright colors.   Made a strip of various colors and used it on the side and on th bottom.   Used blocks of color on the left side and top.  

   The last picture shows my 'free form' quilting around edges.   I didn't finish the binding because I don't know if I want to use the gingham or get somethime else.   It is not a difficult task at this part so it certainly is finishable.   

There ended up being 5 people in the classs.   Bernina supplies brand new sewing machines for the classes to use.   Really nice machines.   We each had our own machine to use.  

Great class and lots of fun!!!   No more classes for me today.   Tomorrow is a jewelry class.   Come back and check it out.   

Art and soul retreat - Day 1

Sure does take a longtime to go from Key West to Portland Oregon.  Key West to Atlanta and then to Portland.   Delta has about the best connections but it sure is a longways

. 

In front of me on the plane from Key west to Atlanta was the cutest dog.   At first I thought is was a corgi or at last part corgi  but it was another bred.   The dog was about 1 1/2 years and has flown 70 times.......

 

Tonight is the opening and they have make and take where you can sample projects.   Always fun.  

Tomorrow I take a quilting class where we make a quilt out of a batik panel.   Don't know how much I'll do but it's should be fun.  

Come back tomorrow 

Following Art & Soul Retreat

Later this week I leave for the Portland Oregon Art and Soul Retreat.    I will be gone for a week while leaving my husband, 3 dogs and 1 cat in Key West.    I am taking 8 classes and will post each day about what classes I am taking.   If you don't want to miss them, sign up for follow by email and when the posts are posted, you will get the link to your email.   I'd love to hear your comments about the posts.

Looking forward to sharing this adventure with you.

Inspiration finds a Forever Home - Nautical!!!

Some pieces take a long time to come to fruition.   Inspiration was posted quite some time go.   I had found a cabinet in Coastal Living and duplicated it in 1/12 scale.   That cabinet has sat around for quite some time.   Now it is in it's forever home.

I have gotten where I love to use these candle lantern containers for miniature settings.   I really love this room and I hope you do too.  It's in 1/12 scale.