Artful Seeing

Squam Workshop #3

It was a perfect sunny Saturday morning for the last SAW activity of the weekend. We wore our hiking shoes and carried our cameras as Shari Altman guided us along the Five Fingers Point Trail (part of the trail system for Rattlesnake Mountain in Holderness, NH) for her workshop called "Artful Seeing". To keep us focused on looking at the natural world with different and questioning eyes she gave us creative challenges for color, composition, and light. She talked about her series of photos called "by the waters edge" which I was really intrigued by. I did take some photos during the morning with this idea in mind as she got me thinking about the interest to be seen in the many different ways and places that water meets the earth.  

"Squam Lake Waters Edge" K. Johnson

"Through the Pine" K. Johnson

"Flowing Water" K. Johnson

"Autumn Leaf" K. Johnson

More photos from the workshop can be seen here.

Art & Spirit Boxes

Squam Workshop #2

The second day at SAW was again at the cozy Sugar House cabin.

This is how we were greeted at the door.

I remember being drawn right in by Maya Donenfeld's description of the "Art & Spirit Boxes" workshop because using recycled and everyday materials is something I love to do. After a guided meditation to get us in a creative frame of mind we got started on our first project of making boxes to carry tools and supplies out of used wax paper/saran wrap type boxes. We disassembled the boxes, worked on both sides, painting, collaging and stamping before gluing them back together. Time flew by and I felt like I was just getting started and it was already time to leave for lunch. I'm envious of those who are able to finish their projects in the time allotted in a workshop. I always seem to be finishing later at home.

beginning stage of my Tool box

In the afternoon we worked on the "Spirit" box part of the class. This was an exercise of looking within and creating a shadow box of sorts that reflects some part of your life. Again, I'm finishing this one at home and will share when I do get around to finishing it.

You can see more pictures of the workshop and get a peek at some of the boxes created by classmates on Maya's Blog.

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.

Just picked today!

I guess I planted all mid to late season varieties this year because my tomatoes are just now getting ripe enough to pick. I love the yellow and orange varieties that I discovered a couple years ago and they are now a "must have" in my garden. Being lower in acid they have a little less bite. This years yellow variety is called Carolina Gold. 

I came across this simple recipe for a pesto dressing in a pile of saved recipe clippings. I wish I knew where I found it so I could give credit but I didn't make any notes and I just can't remember. It's delicious and goes perfectly with the seasons fresh tomatoes.

Pesto Dressing

2 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
1/3 cup Olive Oil
¼ cup lightly packed fresh Basil Leaves
1 clove Garlic, minced
¼ tsp each Salt and Sugar
¼ cup grated Parmesan Cheese 

In blender or food processor combine vinegar, basil, salt, sugar, cheese and oil. Process until smooth. Slice tomatoes and arrange on a serving dish. Drizzle tomatoes with dressing.

Collages - Making Progress

My table is even a bigger mess then it was back here as I can't pull myself away from  working on more of these collages. I brought in a folding table so I could have more room to spread out all the materials I'm using. There are still several in various stages of being done but... 

I did manage to pull together and finish 8 panels in the last month or so to complete two pieces that I entered in the Mystic Arts Center's 55th Regional Juried Show. I'm so happy to say that this one was accepted for the show!
 

'Second Chance' 17" x 33.25"  Kathy Johnson

This is a detail of one of the panels. You can see the other panel details here along with the second completed collage.

'Second Chance' detail of panel 4

I have not seen the show yet so I am looking forward to the the opening reception this Thursday the 11th. In addition to all the wonderful art on view for the The Regional Show is a solo exhibition by artist Jennifer Wheeler. One of her colorful works was the first place winner in last years Regional Show. Both shows continue through September 24th.

Sketchbook Challenge - July

July's theme - Element

Elements of Weather - With all the hot and humid weather lately I tried to capture the opposite with this black and white collage giving a sense of cold, snow and wind. The elements used to make the collage: the insides of security envelopes, mulberry paper and an unfolded paper bag handle.

Elements of Water and Air - A collage of the water and sky meeting in the distant horizon. I used painted tissue paper, more security envelopes and a little bit of stacked journaling introduced in a post by Judy Hurwitt one of the Sketchbook Challenge hosts.

Element of Air - Grasses leaning in a warm gentle breeze. A colored pencil and watercolor sketch.

A Fun Saturday Workshop

A couple weeks ago I took a Folding Book Sculpture workshop with my good friend and inspirational teacher Laura Gaffke at Above Elite Studio in Westerly, RI. It was a beautiful summer morning and we students were greeted with coffee and homemade cranberry scones! If you have taken one of Laura's classes here I'm sure you would agree that her studio is such a welcoming space with wonderful natural light and a great creative energy.

For our book sculptures we painted backgrounds for the pages, painted on old book pages to use later as collage elements, then painted some more, cut, collaged, stenciled and stamped. We were having so much fun that the day flew right by. As usual, since I work on the slow side I did not finish my book by the end of class but did keep my promise to complete it by the end of the week.

I've been enjoying working in my garden so much this year that what else would my book theme be but about gardening. I created pages with three generations of gardeners in mind as I was thinking about where my love and appreciation for plants and gardening came from. I mentioned my Mom's special summer Hollyhocks in my last post and although my grandmother was known for her collection of indoor African Violets what I remember most are the Bleeding Hearts in her yard every spring. I thought they had the prettiest and most unusual flower - I still find them amazing. My page is about the Cosmos. I love the bright colors of the flowers and delicate feathery leaves. I can't imagine my garden passing into the fall season without those hardy flowers. 

  

Something New in the Garden

My Mom always had hollyhocks growing along the fence in the summer but this is the first hollyhock I've planted in my own garden. I just love these pink flowers that bloom their way up the tall stalk. They remind me of the fluffy crepe paper flowers we used to make in grade school. Why did I wait so long to plant one? I don't know but I will definitely have to add a few more next year.