Sunday, November 15, 2009

Art Retreat on Guemes Island

Last weekend, a group from Seattle and Vancouver, BC invited me to their art retreat on Guemes Island, north of Anacortes, Washington. It's always fun to create with like-minded friends, share ideas, art and a wonderful time together. Thank you Gwen for inviting me! Now I have a new group of art friends and created these journal pages at the retreat.

I wanted to experiment with clear gesso. It covers acrylic paint and water soluble Portfolio oil pastels really well. The clear gesso tooth allows you to add other layers of paint, writing, etc.

I used a stencil for the cityscape, added collage city scenes, covered it all with clear gesso and painted the clouds and moonlit sky on top.


Here's a group photo

all of us creating up a storm

The Red Farmhouse where we stayed
This is a wonderful place for an art retreat with plenty of room for six to nine people, a fully equiped kitchen and two long tables for work space. It's a close walk to the beach.

6 comments:

Robin Olsen said...

I want to go on a retreat in that red farmhouse! What fun pages you came up with. I like what you are doing with the clear gesso.

Jo Reimer said...

I love all the pages, Paula. and it sounds like you had such a good time. that red building is a hoot.

Gwen said...

Great post! Wonderful to see your journal pages again. It was a great time had by all!

lilylovekin said...

How lucky your where to get to spend time with friends and create such wonderful pages. It is always good to be around like minded souls.

Fran Meneley said...

Hi Paula - Nice to catch up on your blog, I've been so engrossed in a variety of family stuff I just haven't had time. But I'm back to bloglandia. Love your journal pages and the retreat sounds just wonderful and the red farmhouse a perfect retreat space. Ooo ahhh. Will you being going to Play this year? I'll be there and can't wait. Glad to see you fully in the creative flow. xo Fran

Christen said...

HI Paula,
I was searching for info about Guemes Island and fell into your blog. I love your layout! And your collage with the quote about joy. Stunning! I hope you will continue posting.

Greetings from Seattle on a grey day,
Christen