back from the village by the sea

where smiles somersault into gentle hugs, paint flies, and baby dancers wear headlights. Artfest, a magical place to make art, walk along the sandy shore, renew old friendships, and always, always, make new ones.

Once again, now that I'm home I wish I'd taken those many photos I didn't take, but it's difficult for me to be present in the moment and wear the photographer hat at the same time, so I can share these few and the rest will remain as sweet memories in my heart.

I taught the class Symbols Shaping Space on Thursday to a fresh and eager group of Artfesters, brimming with ideas and creating artwork that reflected their own unique selves. It was a many-stepped project, and I knew the chances of anyone actually completing the whole thing in class with slim, but everyone left with the painting part all or nearly completed and ready to begin the fun process arranging and stringing all of the elements together. 

To any of my Artfest students  - I would LOVE to post photos of your completed projects if you'll email me a jpg. One of my students, Jill Berry, also a fellow teacher at ArtUnraveled, Valley Ridge, and Raeven's Nest whom I was anxious to finally meet, did complete her gorgeous wallhanging, and has posted photos on her blog - I hope you'll go check it out here.

***************************************************************

In case you haven't noticed, I'm not great about keeping up with blog posting or anything internet for that matter. Truthfully, I'm not always easy to reach by phone either, but rest assured, I LOVE one-on-one and group interactions, and teaching and sharing what I know is truly a joy for me. Like many teaching artists, I just tend to be an introvert when I'm not teaching.

That said, Artfest marks the beginning of my 2009 teaching schedule and I want to let my readers know about some of these wonderful and fast approaching events. Coming right up, April 30-May 4 is Art and Soul Virginia, where I'll be teaching two classes - Picture A Window, and Poetry in Motion. Both projects are coated with wax to impart that soft, rich, look and feel specific to encaustic medium. Here is a new sample self portrait for the Picture a Window class  I finished up last night:

****************************************************************

May 22-24 I will be teaching a 3 day workshop at Carol Parks Studio in the Los Angeles area on my Mixed Media Cardboard Journal. Here are a few samples of cardboard pages with wax:

 

If you're interested in attending this workshop, go here to see more samples and for registration information .

*********************************************************

On June 13th and 14th I'll be back on the east coast teaching mixed media fabric workshops in the charming little town of Saluda in North Carolina lovingly run by Jane Powell of  Random Arts fame.


We'll be painting on fabric and piecing/ sewing story blocks one day and creating mixed media wallhanging on the other.





Go here for additional samples and registration information for these two classes.

**********************************************************

A week after I get back home from North Carolina, I'll be flying to Wisconsin to teach for my second year at Valley Ridge where Kathy and Bill have created an exquisite  little art paradise in the bucolic hills of Wisconsin. I'll be teaching a 2 day workshop on the mixed media cardboard journal  (see sample photos above) followed by a 3 day workshop called Pocket Book Softie where we will combine combine recycled felted wool sweaters and mixed media to create a unique and strange sweater creature complete with her own pocket journal. Follow the highlighted links for more photos and registration information.







************************************************************'

And then on July 11, I'm excited to be teaching a  class in Los Gatos,  CA with An Artful Journey called Paste it Down, Paint it Up! In this class I will share the techniques and intuitive processes to help you move more deeply into your unique artist voice. And the talented Judy Wise will be teaching a sure-to-be-fabulous painting on plaster class that same weekend. Follow the above links for further description and registration information.





*****************************************************************
And on a personal note, one of my favorite things to do in the world, is to sit down by the river's edge at dusk, camoflagued in my dark clothing, perching amongst the tall grass, trying to be invisible. Because when I'm invisible, the beavers appear in the water, swimming up and down stream, occasionally climbing out to pull down branches for their never-ending construction projects. This is what I did last evening, and it was sheer delight. I brought my paper and pen, and wrote lots of little poems as i sipped on my glass of red wine, my camera at the ready. I watched turned up noses swimming above bright eyes in the waning light while a concert of birds and frogs filled the cool shadowy air with my favorite songs, i especially loved a sweet black phoebe singing it's haunting melody only feet above me in a budding willow. I wish you could have been there with me...

Comments

[Jill Berry]

Oh you flatter me so! I just loved your class, and want to know, with all this traveling, when are you coming to Colorado???? Wish I could take off to Valley Ridge and take both classes there....
You can post on my blog now, they changed something with the new version but I kicked it right out.
Much love to you, and many thanks too.

[Rekoj]

Welcome back to your sitting spot - it is lovely indeed. And from the sound of things I guess you'll be away from it quite a bit with all the fun teaching experiences coming up this year. What a wonderful slew of classes! Wish I could have joined you at Artfest this year cuz it sounds like it was a gem of a time as well.
You may not post as often as others but when you do post it is always a pure delight =)

[bridgette]

katie, it's been so wonderful to see you take flight on your creative path these past years. I am so happy for you. And your art work has just been getting even more powerful.
xo

[Bill Steiner]

And we're looking forward to your teaching in Italy September 20 - 26!!

[Mary Beth Shaw]

Hey Katie, I am soooo glad to get a chance to know you a wee bit better at AF this year. You are *truly* a dear.
xoxoxo

[Jennifer White]

Amazing amazing... I cannot wait to meet you @ Valley Ridge and I wonder what it would take to get the talented Jill Berry to fly back out here for your classes too...just spend the weekend with her at the first workshop at Valley Ridge, she was so excited about ArtFest I could barely contain my jealousy.

I'm sure you are so happy to be back home, Misty was telling me that no sooner did you arrive that it was over in a heartbeat.

I wish I could attend all the classes across the U.S... but will see you in a few months back here in WI.

xoxox

[misty]

it was so great to see you and have our walk on the beach... someday i hope to walk along your river with you.... i miss you and love that i will get to see you again in just a few weeks.
xxooxo

[katiejane]

Lordy, Girl! You are all over the map! I wish I had oodles of free time; I'd come to every one of your classes. Love your new artwork and the photos you took. Hope you can carve out some time for yourself in between map jumping. Love what I see.

[amanda]

I was so fortunate to have been in your Symbols Shaping Space class. I used your teaching to monitor my own inner critic the remainder of Artfest, every time I found myself comparing my projects to others. Thank you for that. Your class was my absolute favorite. I felt so at home, so right. Although I'm not done yet, (I choose to chat and hang with others, soaking in the feeling of fitting someplace in this world rather than finish the piece) I'm planning on finishing this week and I'll be sure to send you photos.
Thank you so much, Katie.
Honored and inspired,
amanda

[rebecca]

katie, your art is so original and beautiful. just wanted you to know that :)
hope our paths cross someday.