A Time for Renewal and Inspiration

For May, it's unseasonably cold here in our corner of the Northwest. Rain clouds hung over the Columbia River Gorge all weekend. This is one of my favorite places in the world. I always enjoy driving through the Gorge and being outside whether hiking a trail or visiting Menucha. This eastern view shows Beacon Rock in the distance with a rainbow backdrop.

Snow covered hills on the Washington side of the river

A labyrinth walk to turn inward and revive the soul

Wildflowers in bloom... larkspur and columbine
An art retreat to get my creative juices flowing again
Thank goodness for art friends who encourage, inspire, laugh, restore a sense of purpose and the creative muse.

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

Art Retreat, Kitchen Spirit Doll & Journal Stencils

Each Spring our Portland Art Collective members attend a retreat at Menucha in the Columbia River Gorge. It's a time to create, enhance friendships and enjoy nature. Below is a photo looking west just before sunset.
The sunset on this hot day colored the sky.

I finished a kitchen spirit doll for Mme Corbel Elisabeth, our five star chef at her Keraret Bed & Breakfast in Plouguiel, Brittany. She loves dolls and I promised to make her one.

Then, Cynthia and I got our our spray paint and stenciled in the calm morning. I took my journal that I made (see here) in January and sprayed away. I like how the red paint integrates the cover.

Here is another page with the red paint stenciled on to it. The red paint on the dark yellow on the left really shines.

This page, I sprayed with yellow paint.

Here's a page from my black and white journal.

If you are interested in stenciling, Mary Ann Moss is offering her online Stencilry class this month. I highly recommend it. It's full of resources, interesting videos and lesson plans.

Sunrise, Sunset

The Portland Art Collective held their spring retreat at Menucha last weekend. The Columbia River Gorge is one of my favorite places. Walking the new labyrinth in the rose garden offered time for contemplation and meditation. Mostly, we hung out, made art and got our creativity flowing with shared inspiration and mini-demos. We reconnected with one another in a gorgeous setting. I feel blessed with this wonderful group of art friends.

We played and worked from sunrise to sunset.

We made paste papers
felted coasters on a new product called art felt paper- available in Silverton, OR at the Purl District
and drew Rorschach bugs on Braille magazine paper

What fun!