LSacha's Whimsical Boy and Bunny from Whimsical Playshop Class photo copyright SZing 2014-2015
We humans love to learn new things and expand our repertoire of skills and talents. We also love to achieve the goals we set. In February, you can do both.
Wednesday nights, Feb. 4 through April 22, 2015 from 6:30 -8:30 Eastern Time
Bring your dreams, your goals, those things you have on your bucket list to complete but just have not gotten to...
This is a facilitated mastermind group. You don't have to be physically present. We can do a Video Skype or use Facebook Chat group for those who are not anywhere near Deltona FL and want to participate.
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Whimsical Sally (c)SZing, 2014-2015
Student Kim Possible creates "His and Her" Whimsical Superhero portraits in Whimsical Art Playshop class (c)2014 SZing
On Saturday, February 7, 2015 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. A Whimsical Art Playshop to explore the style of Whimsy--learn how to draw and paint whimsical people, animals, houses and backgrounds for art journals, as a focal point of mixed media artworks, for greeting cards, or just for yourself to completely let loose and try something new without any pressure. $150 for new Whimsical students (with me) or $125 if you are one of my returning students ready to learn more Whimsical methods and techniques. All materials and supplies provided.
We do not sit still in time and space. We are always progressing toward something—this is a paraphrase of one of my favorite quotes from the movie “Phenomenon” with John Travolta. We cannot not make progress. It may SEEM that we are going nowhere fast, but the fact of the matter, the Truth, is that we are in fact, always progressing.
I am thrilled that I am progressing toward the completion of the art studio renovation! Worked almost the entire weekend and came a long way—only a few things left to do before I’ll be able to actually use the space again for myself and for my classes! #artclasses #artjournaling #fusedglassclass #bohemianartcafe #studiorenovation
Somethings NEW on the Bohemian Art Buffet. See that tab in the header that says Video Art Lessons?
Click on that link. You'll find our very first YouTube video art lesson.
I've been teaching art for more than 10 years now. So, it was time. I'm learning fast about the video editing process so our next video will be a little cleaner than the first one. Still, we hope you enjoy learning new techniques.
I won't just be focusing on art journaling. Every once in a while I may throw in some other tidbit or tip or other medium or craft.
Plans are to get one video on YouTube (and here) every single week. If I'm having a really good week, there may be more than one video. Please enjoy, share our YouTube and Blog site with your friends and subscribe so you won't miss any of the new shows. Hey, if you like it, please let me know and give me the thumbs up on YouTube.
I just returned from a 3 day retreat--also known as The Painting Experience held in Orlando, FL. Perhaps I have mentioned it in the past. This is not your ordinary painting retreat. We learned no specific technique for painting. We did not have any pre-determined subject matter. We were not producing for quantity, nor especially for quality.
So...one might ask...what was the point then?
FREEDOM TO CREATE!
(c) SZing 2004, My first "Painting Experience" retreat painting
entitled The Creation
As in life itself, each person's experience is absolutely unique, so I cannot and will not say that the insights or thoughts I had, nor the outcomes or "aha" moments will be the same for another person. I cannot say whether the experience is mundane or spiritual, whether it is fun or frustrating, whether it is freeing or captivating for others. I can only know for myself the highly personal and powerful experiences I have had with The Painting Experience.
I first "met" Stewart Cubley when I stumbled upon his book.
I had been drawing and craving some form of creative outlet besides creative writing and embroidery for a long while. I bought some inexpensive paper, some paints and brushes. I worked through the book for an entire year on the same painting. I used the book as guidance when I would get stuck in my own head, my own fear...and the "unknowns."
The Painting Experience was developed by Stewart Cubley and Michelle Cassou many years ago. They wrote Life, Paint and Passion. Just look at this luscious, juicy cover...someones process art some time in the past....
Book cover copyrighted by authors/publishers
Just look at the sub-title: Reclaiming the Magic of Spontaneous Expression! Wow! As a creative person, (and aren't we all? Even if we have divorced ourselves from that creative spark within?), I absolutely get excited at the idea of spontaneous expression. What this implies is freedom to create. It implies no boundaries. It implies no planning or strict forms. It implies....well, there are many ideas this implies but I invite you to explore for yourself what this might imply.
In 2004, I first attended a week-long retreat of The Painting Experience in North Carolina. It was astounding to me when in the first meeting, Stewart said, "When you finish each painting, you're going to sign, number and date it." WHAT???? I had taken a year to do just a single painting. What could he be talking about? As it turns out, throughout the week I completed multiple paintings.
(c) SZing 2004, "Day of the Dead" from my first
Painting Experience retreat
Then I retook a 3 day retreat in Maryland in 2008. I only worked on one painting and didn't even complete it as the details and involvement I had with the painting became quite intense and excited me to work on the details. It was cathartic for me.
And now I have just completed another 3 day retreat in Orlando, Florida. I completed one painting and began another. Others in the retreat completed many--and I think one woman must have done at least 25 paintings in her experience over the three days. I really wasn't paying that close attention except that every time I looked up she was changing her paper. Me? I was so engrossed in the "story" and experience and the dialogue I was having with my painting that I was totally engaged right up until the last 2 hours of the retreat when I finished the painting and began the second.
My painting as it appeared about half way
through the process 2013, Orlando FL. (c) SZing 2013
I suppose I must correct a statement I made above: "We learned no specific technique..." Well, we didn't necessarily learn, but rather, re-awakened or remembered how to listen to our inner voice--that inner critic even. I'm not talking about psychotic episodes here but that voice we all have that speaks to us almost non-stop about everything we see, hear, experience...This was more about opening a dialogue with that voice so that it could be heard, sometimes shushed (the critic) and allowed to guide. It is the doorway to mystery and living juicy.
I have discovered over the years that for me a painting does not feel finished until I have listened to my inner voice, acknowledged it's feedback and honored it's requests for specific items or colors to be used in the painting. I know the painting is complete when I get no more "marching orders" for what to include or do next, no new thought of a specific detail or color to add. When I can look at the painting and ask, "What else do you want?" and not get any further promptings...I know I am done. When I have tried to "act as if" I was done but really just didn't want to include something or was afraid I would mess up what I'd done, I have had the nagging feeling that the painting isn't complete or finished and usually I end up having to put the paper back up and add whatever I get a hit on to include. I'm learning not to hurry the process and to trust the silence and the voice which ultimately, is my Self.
(c) SZing, 2006, "Hanging the Moon"
I don't know what other participants experience. We don't really talk a lot about it--partly because it is so personal but also because one of the primary rules of the retreats is that it is a "comment-free" zone. No judgments!! There is no speaking while we are painting and we may look at other's work but must refrain from talking about it either in the positive or the negative or giving any thoughts or suggestions or any feedback whatsoever about the pieces. This is more difficult than you might think, because often I have seen work that I was very intrigued by, liked or was even in awe of. There have been other works that I have thought perhaps the person was hiding from themselves by covering over things they had painted, or finished up really quickly without really honoring the painting itself...but none of my personal thoughts or judgments were given voice and even sometimes had to be dealt with internally as it was none of my business what others were doing or experiencing. Sometimes I like to not look at others work so that I can continue to be authentic to my Self and not borrow ideas.
Curious? Check out this video about the process....
I truly do not feel qualified to explain the process for another person and would never want to misinform another as to what The Painting Experience is or does or what the benefits are. I would highly encourage anyone intrigued with the idea of spontaneous expression or intuitive creation using paint and paper as tools to take the risk and join a retreat.
It's been quite hot and humid. And raining like we're in a rain forest. I've never seen rain come down so thick. I only have a very small air conditioner and a fan in my studio. I get too hot and sweaty if I stay out there long. (I know, hot and sweaty seem to be a warm or hot glass artist's mantra.)
In fact, I've felt the driving need to avoid making more art so that I could get class proposals and marketing materials in place, update that pesky website, take pictures of my art and jewelry and get it on Etsy, Ebay, Bonanza, Facebook, and Tophatter--all of which takes an enormous amount of time, not to mention trying to blog every day (business day).
Man am I organized or what???
So, the progress on the studio has sort of ground to a halt. I was doing pretty good during July even though I could only spend a couple hours out there...I have a table set up up, my kilns are in place, the shelves are up and stuff is on them, the cabinets are mostly organized. And I've even made some enamel jewelry that I was preparing for an upcoming magazine article (in September).
Still have small glass to unpack and "file" in the cabinets.
Part of the concern is that...I have a lot of artwork. And I have a lot of art supplies. Since I work in many mediums, depending on what strikes my imagination, I have different areas set up to house different types of artwork supplies. I admit. I'm a little overwhelmed since my studio space is quite a bit smaller than what I had for the past year and it isn't "finished" in terms of walls, insulation and flooring--so I hesitate to get everything in place when I know I'll eventually be moving it to finish the space out.
Is that a clear counter I see down there?
And clean floor...mostly.
And shelves with lots of stuff and a table...
Did I mention how loud it gets when it rains? Or the enormous spiders? or the regular visits from frogs?? As if I don't have enough distractions as it is.
Ginormous spiders that hide in boxes.
Frogs that fall on my head when I open the door.
I have classes I'm scheduling starting in October which will be meeting in the studio, so "finished" or not, I have to finish organizing and setting it up so that it is usable art space. September is my month to get back in there and get it straightened up the rest of the way. It will start to be cooler, and I've got that goal of October in the back of my head.
"Mostly" unpacked. Still a ways to go. And MUST do something about that awful bare and glaring light bulb.
Soooo, that's the status update. May you have a happy weekend and not have any frogs or spiders fall on your head. See you next week. P.S. If you're bored or have money burning a hole in your pocket, stop and shop.
(c) SZing, 2012 all photos and text.. All rights reserved.
