Stratalicious, Baby!

Squam Workshop #1

After arriving in New Hampshire for SAW the first day to sunshine and 80 degree weather the second day started out rainy and a bit gray. The mood soon brightened as I walked into the Sugar House and Mary Beth Shaw got us going in her workshop called "Stratalicious, Baby!" How could you not want to take a class with a fun name like that! 

Sugar House aka "Sugar Shack"

With great music playing in the background we watched as she demonstrated creating a “rock like” design on Clay Board. Mary Beth’s easy going style made it feel comfortable for us to jump right in and give it a try ourselves. Time to get messy adding texture and color! I was really looking forward to trying the Wood Icing that I read about in her book Flavor for Mixed Media.

The mornings start on my 2 panels.

In the afternoon we tried some encaustic techniques by adding more layers with beeswax, clear and with dry pigments mixed in. I liked seeing how you can work oil paint into crevices scratched in the wax surface.  

Can you believe these started out as the demo pieces for the class? 

by Mary Beth Shaw

It was so much fun working on this experimental piece. I’ll be able to look back at it and remember all that I learned and how much fun the eight of us had in class that day.

One of my "finished" panels

Back to Life, Back to Reality....

On Sunday I returned from 4 days in New Hampshire where I attended the Squam Art Workshops at the beautiful Rockywold-Deephaven Camps.

My first thoughts and a few pictures from this nearly indescribable experience:
- Traveled with the fears and nerves of an adventure to a new place with new people.
- Overwhelmed but arrived to a sea of smiling faces
- A warm welcome from my "Eldorado" cabin mates. 
- Relaxed, explored and settled into the weekend.
- Attended workshops with the most talented and giving teachers.
- Met fellow creative souls at every turn. 
- Enjoyed delicious meals I didn't have to shop for, cook or clean up after.
- Warmed by the evening cabin fire gatherings where I laughed so much my face hurt.
- Tears as I drove away not wanting it to end.
- Knowing I'm a little different than I was one week ago.

More about the 3 fantastic workshops I attended soon.

Sketchbook Challenge - August

I thought I had all last weekend to have this post ready but was interrupted by a visit from Tropical Storm Irene. There was quite a bit of damage throughout the state but I am one of the very lucky ones who's home did not loose power. The yard was covered with tree branches and debris, so we had a couple days worth of clean up to do. My only small inconvenience was not having a land line phone or Internet until late in the week. 
A big Thank You to all the workers who have arrived from other states to help restore power which I read is expected to be at one hundred percent by this Wednesday. 

August theme - Everyday Objects
This past month was an interesting study of things I see and use everyday - the many common objects that are designed for function. It's probably the first time I ever looked at my toothbrush, umbrella, and salt shaker with an appreciation for the unique beauty in each item.

Two of my everyday objects: the mug I drink my morning coffee from and the handbag I throw over my shoulder each day as I leave for work.