Frightful Halloween Post

Well, I'm peeping my head back in again.  It has been a LONG summer with LOTS of changes.  Terrible deadlines at work almost this entire year, ArtFest in April, mission trip to Puerto Rico in June, trip to WV in July, taking into our home my husband's 85-year-old father of minimal abilities when I got back home, pneumonia and a broken hip, rehab, medicare, dealing with the VA.....but I digress....oh, yeah...what I did this summer....trips to a few beaches in GA and FL and just recently a trip to Port Townsend, WA again to attend JournalFest.  I actually have a photo of one of my projects to post later and a few new supplies like Stabilo Woody 10-mm lead pencils and clear gesso and acrylic ground.

Just felt like posting something.  I did three different portrait classes at JournalFest this year with Orly Averin, Roxanne Padgett and Karen O'Brien.  They were all fantastic and I learned a lot.  I'm still jet lagged from the trip but I'll be back soon to do some show and tell.

Silly Stuff

Sometimes we all need a break from the very serious lives we lead.  That is why I signed up for Carla Sonheim's Art of Silly 3 on-line class starting on January 5.  It is a really cool way to loosen up and have some fun while doing a little sketching and a lot of laughing.  You should join me and the Squeen as we have some silly fun for the next 30 days.  Trust me.  With all I have going on at work this month, a little levity is warranted!

http://carlasonheim.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/silly-iii-registration-is-open/

New Challenge

OK.  As anyone who follows this blog knows (all 2 of you...), I don't post very often.  I have a very busy life and seldom get to do "just for me" things.  And, as my DH knows, I'm not very fast so even when I get an opportunity, I seldom get much of any consequence accomplished if I don't have much time.

SOOOO......I am going to try to participate in the Sketchbook Challenge (notice the new badge posted in the right sidebar).  It should help me to do SOMEthing at least once per month (even though I think it is an everyday challenge...I do what I can).  Several very talented artists are going to be hosting the challenge and I am excited to see what they have to show us as the year progresses.  Hopefully it will result in me doing more art/sketching/journaling this year and maybe even some more posts to this blog.  I haven't given up on this blog.  I just haven't found a way to work it in more regular.

Apparently, just like my opportunities to do any kind of art.

I do have some things I can post from my latest trip to Seattle for JournalFest that was held the last weekend in October.  Maybe I can get something up on that soon.

Out and About Again

I'm trying to do better on my posting frequency. And I'm trying to do more sketches/drawing so hopefully I will improve. Here's one I did at lunch yesterday.

It was SO nice out. I'm enjoying spring here for a change. We usually don't have much of a spring--just straight from winter to summer!

Artfest 2010

I went to Artfest in Port Townsend, WA again this year.  I had a great time as always.

I had some really good classes and got to see some of my "arty" friends that I only get to see when I go out west.  (Amy, Lorraine, Renee, Taylor and Lisa) 

Artfest is the creative event hosted by Tracy and Teesha Moore (Tracy, me and Teesha)(http://www.teeshaslandofodd.com/artfest/classes.html) near Seattle.  I have had a great time everytime I attend one of their events and I ALWAYS learn something--even if it is not what I had intended to learn to begin with.  It is such a creative atmosphere and it is so freeing to experience that environment.

My first class was with Jill Berry--Artfest Journal.  It was pretty cool.

It was an accordian spine style book that was designed to allow you to work on the pages outside of the book before it is constructed.  Then you fold your papers in half and put the book together.  We got lots of helpful journaling tips as well.  We even went "out in the field" and did wax rubbings of things we saw around us.  I got some from the restaurant where I ate lunch that day (the Asian Noodle?--it's on Taylor and it is delicious...always try to go there at least once when I visit).  I got the door handle to the restaurant and also some paneling on the walls.  The others came from memorial plaques around the Parade Grounds flag pole at Fort Worden.

My second class was with Misty Mawn--drawing faces.  It was the one I was really looking forward to and was by far the most difficult for me.  Here are my creations:

I still am making my eyes too large but considering this is the first "face" drawing class I've ever taken (and I've never really tried to draw portraits before) I don't think it is too terribly bad.  I have hope that lots of practice will help!  :-)

My last class was with LK Ludwig--Open Doors Journal.  This journal design has two sets of signatures sewn into both the left and the right sides of the back base.  The pages open from the middle to both sides.  We did some backgrounds on some of the papers we put into the journal. I loved making it.  It was a wonderful class and LK is FULL of tips and tricks!

I used canvas board for my covers since we weren't going to have to sew through the covers.  It is an awesome sew-n-glue binding.

Yes, well I've already broken my rule from earlier--quick posts, not marathons!  :-0~  Oh well.  It is a big subject and I'm not a big one for suspense.  Hope you enjoyed!