Imaginary Animals with Carla Sonheim at Art & Soul

The beginning of the month, I took Carla Sonheim's 'Imaginary Creatures' workshop.

We used watercolors to make abstract designs and looked for imaginary creatures in the painting- like looking for images in clouds.

Once we found our creatures, we gave them substance and depth with more watercolor washes, gesso and charcoal.

What amazed me is the variety of individual interpretations and artistic styles workshop members created. It's inspiring to see how the creative mind works in so many different ways.

Carla's writing a book to be released July 2010 entitled "Drawing Lab for mixed Media Artists: 52 creative exercises to make drawing fun".

Portland Art Collective Retreat at Menucha

The Portland Art Collective held a wonderful, creative retreat in the Columbia Gorge at Menucha this weekend.

When women create together, a special energy radiates through the room to inspire everyone to push boundaries, learn something new and help one another achieve their goals.

To walk the labyrinth is a special treat- to turn inward, relax and reconnect to nature, spirit and soul.

The Columbia Gorge views are spectacular. To the east is the Vista House on Crown Point.

the Columbia River Gorge...

the Columbia River Gorge west view...

bright, autumn color vibrates through the maple vines & forest, falling leaves rustle

Prayer Box Bracelets for "Open Doors" Show

This week, I made prayer box bracelets for our Portland Art Collective "Open Doors" Show in December. All of the show details are located to the right in the sidebar. I plan to sell different types of necklaces. You can see an example of the kimono bead necklace Here, the bead crocheted wire necklaces Here and the fabric, bead and wire vintage-look necklaces Here. You're welcome to come to the show. It's a wonderful place to find handmade artwork for holiday gifts.

Mark your calendar now for December 4th and December 5th.

Spontaneous Haiku with Katie Kendrick

We made a wonderful, little book in Katie Kendrick's Art & Soul workshop called "Spontaneous Haiku". Haiku poetry always speaks to me and I enjoy writing it. The book is bound in kimono silk. I've used haiku to inspire other artwork that you can see Here.

spiders create webs, the garden prepares for fall, faded colors bloom

walks every day lead, into forest trees, sunlight rays shine bright

the moon glows at night, against dark blue sky & stars, heaven opens up

Nature Painted with Tracie Lyn & Marilyn Huskamp

My Art & Soul workshop "Nature Painted" with Tracie Lyn Huskamp and Marilyn Huskamp stretched my acrylic painting skills. Both teachers gave us individual attention, demonstrated lots of techniques with different products and created a fun environment to play and paint.

I'm entering this piece in Portland Audubon Society's 2009 Wild Arts Festival. You can pick-up a free 6"x 6"x 1½" canvas at Art Media along with an application form. Entries are due November 7th. Get more information Here. The artwork will be exhibited November 21st and 22nd at the Wild Arts Festival, Montgomery Park.

Tracie is good friends with Marilyn, her mother-in-law. They make a great teaching team. Check out their blogs here and here. I got to know them better through our Nature Gathered challenge this past year.

Tracie just published a book explaining all of her mixed media techniques- collecting botanical and other natural stuff, backgrounds and painting nature themes. I highly recommend it for lots of nature inspiration. You can find her book here.

Art & Soul Wing Keeper Necklace Workshop

The past week, I saw many friends and took some workshops at Art & Soul in Portland. Deryn Mentock's "Wing Keeper Necklace" class really got my creative juices flowing. Check out her blog Here for more examples of her work and her teaching schedule. I wanted to learn how she makes her fabric, wire wrapped beads, attachments to ribbons and other cold connections. Her design combinations of wire, chain, beads, antique jewels and fiber make beautiful necklaces and bracelets. Here's my necklace-

the fabric, wire wrapped beads-

the clasp and dream catcher beads-

I'll be adding posts for other workshops I attended during the next week.