joyouslybecoming

Paint Mexico City (Part 1 of 3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm going through my 500+ photos taken while in Mexico City and I want to share some of the highlights with you all here. I'm dividing our adventure into four parts, this is part one…

We arrived at the Red Tree House, the B&B that would be our home for the next 8 days. I can't say enough about our positive experience there - owners Craig Hudson and Jorge Silva have created something really special in this little corner of the Condesa neighborhood.

Our organizer Kathie Vezzani (on the left) and her Spanish counterpart Ana Elena Martinez…on a scale of one to ten, I give them an eleven!

 

Artwork was everywhere in the Little Red Treehouse

 

I had several favorite pieces

 

Everywhere I turned I was inspired

 

Laura, Kathie, and I trying to get a selfie in front of this masterpiece

I made everyone a little doll, infused with prayers and good intentions

And then taught them how to design and make one of their own.

Everyone hard at work

Lunch break - yes, it's as mouthwateringly delicious as it looks

Finishing up those final stitches

Makers with their dolls

Group shot with the buddhas

 

We spent the evening in the home of photographer Nacho Urquiza (he has 100 books to his credit)

 

and his lovely wife Laura Cordera, a food stylist

who made everything look beautiful

An evening we will all remember with gratitude

The Frida Kahlo Museum 

 

 

this painting… it was amazing beyond words to see the original

And I found her unfinished pieces equally fascinating

where we can see the humble beginnings of a masterpiece.

 

More photos from the Frida Kahlo Museum coming in Part 2, stay tuned…

 

 

 

Create Costa Rica

Autumn has arrived and the rainy season is teasing us from around the corner here in the Pacific Northwest. The garden is a mixture of fruit and seeds to harvest, plants soon to be composted, and new babies - a variety of greens and brassicas, garlic, and onions. I will be planting our fava bean cover crop this weekend under a probably cloudy but hopefully rainfree sky. It's a busy season, everything needing attention all at once it seems, but truly a joy in more ways than I can count.

And then, just around the corner, when it's blustery and cold, I have THIS to look forward to - Create Costa Rica where I'll be co-teaching with art superstar Cat Bennett! Cat is the author of two books on creativity and artmaking and I highly recommend both.

 

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle

We'll each be teaching in our own unique style each day; Cat will be teaching observational and imaginative drawing and I'll be sharing ways to approach intuitive painting.

Photos courtesy of Paula Fava

Costa Rica has been on my bucket list for the past decade. I purchased this little gem some 10+ years ago and have been dreaming every since.

 Well my dream is about to become a reality, and if you've held a dream to go to Costa Rica, yours can come true as well. 

We'll be staying at the lovely Costa Rica Yoga Spa, located near Costa Rica's Gold Coast of Guanacaste. I look forward to starting off each day with yoga in the Yoga Rancho, a stunning 50' structure crafted from teak and pachote woods, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and biological reserve.

Meals are fresh and organic

grown on the premises using sustainable practices. 

When we're not eating or doing art, there are a myriad of opportunities to explore the flora and fauna more intimately. ..

Like zip-lining over the jungle canopy  - yes, yes, YES! Never mind I have a fear heights, I'm doing it! We'll enjoy hiking to nearby waterfalls, time on the ocean beach, dipping in the pool, or taking a wee rest in the hammock with views of the jungle canopy sound pretty tempting.

Kathie Vezzani is our trusted organizer and arranger of all trip related things. I just got back from a workshop in Oaxaca Mexico that she organized and let me say the woman thinks of everything, participants will be well cared for.

I would love to share this adventure with you -  go HERE for more information and registration.

 

 

 

 

 

sharing my latest paintings

 

 

 

 

 

Ready to take An Artful Journey?

Photo by DJ Pettitt

Three (3), yes THREE FULL DAYS of painting in a beautiful and tranquil setting, sharing the time and space with other amazing creative souls. 

If you've been hoping/wishing/wanting to attend an art workshop at An Artful Journey Reatreat one day, this coming opportunity will be your very last chance. February 27 - March 3rd will be the swan song of this amazing venue as beloved organizer Cindy Woods is moving on to pursue other interests. I'm sad for this ending, but happy for you, Cindy, as this is a move you're excited to make. I have no doubt wonderful opportunities await you on the other size of the horizon.

I have had the honor of teaching here at two previous events, this coming one will be my third, and I can honestly say this retreat is one of my VERY favorite events, set in the redwoods of the majestic and peaceful Santa Cruz Mountains, this all inclusive retreat is soulful, intimate, and beautiful in countless ways.

 

And the wonderful news for you?? There are spots available in my 3 day painting class!! Here is more information on what we'll be doing during our time together.

 

Cindy has lined up a steller group of instructors I'm thrilled and honored to join, with lots of built in time for socializing and making new art friends over meals and evening activities.

I hope you'll join, it's going to be amazing!!

Giving Thanks for Unknown Blessings...

The holidays... hmmmm. What I have to share seems to swim upstream from the mainstream but I know that I'm not alone in my experiences either. 

This time of year more than any other is a time of gentle coaxing, each year I hope will be easier than the last, and I do believe that each one is getting easier as I learn how to be gentle with myself, mining my thoughts often for the dark forces that whisper and would have me believe that I am shackled to the misery and helpless suffering of depression and despondance when it descends on me. Meanwhile, the world celebrates some of the biggest parties of the year. Without me.

Those of you that know me or have followed my blog over the years know my battles with depression, for those of you new here, now you know too. It continues to be a life challenge, especially during the winter months.  I have a SAAD light, it helps, but it's not just about the outside light I'm learning, it's a lot about my flickering inside light that just needs much more care and attention right now. My self care takes priority #1, everything else has to take a back seat.

Taking care of myself can mean taking walks outside by the river, being bowled-over-on-the-ground by the majesty of the eagle that tops our cedar tree, listening to the eagles call

Are they talking about salmon?

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Allowing myself lots of room to DO nothing, sit,  meditate or wile away the hours reading and writing. To let go of the critical voice that wants to constantly remind me that I am behind, or not enough, or not, not, not...

Creating a little something beautiful somewhere in my life, it could be re-arranging a collection of beautiful objects...

 *painted box and pottery cups creations of dear friend Misty Mawn*

Spending time in my visual journal, with my canvas, in my kitchen, garden, or sewing room. Painting a self portrait  can be theraputic.

Taking small actions during the day that I can feel good about, accomplished about. It doesn't matter how small. For example - sweeping the floor. 

Reaching out a little every day to others. An "I love you" or "thank you" or "I so appreciate what you did/do" keeps me connected and grateful. 

Finding something that makes me laugh - remembering something funny or watching a comedy (The Long Long Trailer, a movie starring Lucille Ball and Desie Arnez will do it every time).

Remembering what I do have to offer to the world, what are my gifts? Remembering my purpose here, even when I'm on "sabbatical" for a few months or however long it is.

Being grateful, making a list - either mental or on paper - of all that I have to be thankful for...that list is long.

Each and every day I exert a great deal of energy to keep my boat afloat and going the right direction in these storms. But I've also got better maps now and I use them, and the internet lets me stay connected in a way I didn't have before.

And from experience I know now that there will be gifts to see and receive when the sky is again blue and sun bright, gifts that can also be what I have to offer the world.

I honor and claim this story I'm living, each day I create it through my thoughts, my actions, and my sometimes-weak-and-flickering-but-Beloved Light. 

Wishing you all the deepest joy and love this holiday season, and into the New Year. 

 

 

Studying Under the Masters - An Online Class

TODAY is the LAST day to register at the early registration price of $48? Tomorrow the price goes to $62. 

Do you want to know more about the course? For more information about this online class and to register go here. It's going to be amazing!

Let’s look at the masters that each of the nine artists will be studying under...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's starting to feel a lot like Solstice here...

The weather dropped into a single digit temperature this weekend, rare for us here in the PNW, brrrrr. We've got the wood stoves going non-stop to keep the house warm.

We unexpectedly lost this lovely tree this fall, walking into the woods one day we found it lying on it's side, huge rootball facing the sky. This was a special tree to me (see the white shell peeking up from beneath it?). I had built an altar under her boughs and we had celebrated next to her under full moons, solstices, and equinoxes. Today, she is burning in our woodstove, keeping us warm. Feeling grateful for the memories I have of this beautiful tree and all she has given us, beauty, companionship, warmth.  As I think of her, my heart feels grateful for all the wonders I'm aware of in this day.

I've dropped out of the holiday crush and spend most of my days painting in the studio. Since our Pilgrimage in Paint workshop this fall in San Miguel de Allende, I've been reunited with an old love - painting on plaster. I'm loving the softness of the surface, the porous texture, and particularly the way hard pastels respond to the surface.

Photo courtesy of Paula Fava

And incase you hadn't yet heard, Judy Wise and I already have another painting session in the works for 2014 - this time in beautiful Oaxaca, Mexico. There will once again be painting on plaster, among other media, as it was such a hit! Kathie Vezzani of Bellissima is organizer extraordinare for the event. The spots have been filling up fast, if you're interested in joining our merry band of artists there, check out all the details here.

Painting; reflections on the process

 WIP day 1

Thoughts about painting tugged me awake at 5:35 this morning; I knew I needed to get some words out here before I explode, markers along this labyrinth I'm walking. The thoughts aren't just targeted at this painting, a sawed off door I've propped on my easel, but extend out to my journal pages and all my smaller paintings as well. 

WIP day 2

I'm interested to recognize that I've gone for months without writing here, most months actually, only occasionally stepped out when I've had an announcement to share. 

But this...these questions-with-no-answers, they are burning in me now  as I stand in my studio painting and still hours later when I'm lying in bed when I should be sleeping. I'm grappling to express the core of it here but swim circles around it.

I'm divided.

Half of me wants unrefined, raw, abstract. The other half wants a hint of something representational to cling to. I tell myself it's "refining", but is the painting better for it?

 

There is a part of me that longs to linger in rough and unhewn

And another part of me that needs to wipe out much of what I see, yearning for that simple kernel of truth

(I know one can one get that in a painting, I've seen it and felt it)

So this is the path I travel these days, paint brush in hand, my head overflows with questions while my curious spirit propells me forward...  my heart longs for answers but all I can do is paint.

Studying Under the Masters - An Online Class

I'm thrilled to be part of Jeanne Oliver's upcoming online class entitled Studying Under the Masters; Becoming an Apprentice. Staring on January 7th, this nine week online course will focus on 9 Masters from the perspective of 9 working artists. Each week one of us will spotlight an artist and we will study them in depth, bringing you history, techniques, and inspiration through our live videos. I won't tell you who the other artists have chosen , but we'll be focusing on Marc Chagall during my week session.

There is a lost art of studying the works of others to find your own style. All of the "masters" were first apprentices. The apprentice sat beside the "masters", listening to their process, paintbrush in hand, mixing paint, creating strokes that told a story, and stirred their creative spirit.

Have you ever taken an online course, gone to a retreat, purchased an art technique book and were taught an artist's techniques and mediums?  Have you ever been worried about what is your style and what is "their" style?  Have you ever been afraid to create art that was inspired by another artist?  This course is for you!



Join nine artists as we become the “apprentice”. Through discussion and technique videos, each artist will share their week with a “master”. You’ll learn who their “master” artist studied under, who influenced their work and what techniques and mediums they used.

An integral part of the artistic process was to “copy” the master artist.  In this course, you will watch as these artists "copy" the works of another artist. They will share what techniques they learned and what they learned about their own creative process. 

You will then learn as they create art in their own style incorporating the techniques and/or medium of their chosen artist. 

My hope is that you will leave this course with freedom in your creativity. Freedom to pull from everything around you that inspires you and how to incorporate it into your art.

The confidence to realize that nothing is new under the sun and how to build upon others that have come before you.


 
*This is a nine week course


*Over 60 discussion and technique videos 



*Supply lists and prompts



*Weekly live chats on this site




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The Instructors:

Stephanie Lee, Katie Kendrick, Kate Thompson, Christy Tomlinson, Junelle Jacobsen, Danielle Donaldson, Teresa Sheeley, Jenny Wentworth and Jeanne Oliver

 * Earlybird registration opens NOW. The cost for this course is $48 for earlybird registration and $62 after that. Use the paypal button below to secure your place in what is sure to be a unique and amazing class!

 

Frequently Asked Questions

* What is an e-course?

 An e-course in an online class. The class is held on a website. There is a private classroom that only people that have registered for the course can access. All of my courses are held on the jeanneoliver.ning site.  Please go tojeanneoliver.ning.com and register (this is free). We will add you to the course.

  All videos are pre-recorded and you can watch them at your convenience. 

 * When will we receive the login and password information to access the course?

 You need to register at jeanneoliver.ning.com for course access. Please register (this part is free) and we will then give you access to the course.  If you have registered on the Ning site and paid through the site than you are already for the course.  This is only for people that pay through a button on a blog or website.

* Am I allowed to share my login and password with friends?

No. We have priced this course very reasonably and we have all worked very hard to give you a beautiful and inspiring course full of content. We would love to have your friends join us the proper way by registering. Thank you for honoring this request. We also promise to respect you by honoring the time and money you have spent for the course by giving you a beautiful finished product.

* What if I miss a week?  Will I be able to catch up?

Yes!  All videos are pre-recorded and available to watch at your convenience.  You have access to this course for over one full year and you will have plenty of time to watch everything again and again if you wish.

 *Do I need to be at the computer at a certain time to see a lesson?

No.  None of our videos are live.  We will have a live, written Q&A time once a week with one of the instructors.  If you miss this time slot you will still be able to read all the discussions on the website.

*What kind of internet and computer do I need to have to have the most success with the course?

To get the most out of the class you need to have a high speed internet connection and newer computer or mobile device that is equipped to stream video off of the internet.

 *Am I able to watch the videos from my ipad?

Yes, our videos are ipad compatible.

*I live outside the United States.  Am I able to sign up?

YES!  We would love to have you.  We have people signed up from all over the world. 

 

If you have questions that are not answered here please email us at [email protected]and we would love to answer them for you.

 

San Miguel de Allende, Pilgimage in Paint (Part 1)

Two weeks ago, I was here in this magical place, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

The experience surpassed any dreams or expectations I arrived with; everything was fresh, a surprise. I want to share a few highlights spread out over the next couple posts.

I partnered with Judy Wise (left) to teach two sessions of Pilgimage in Paint, Rebecca Brooks (right) our hostess for this amazing adventure, who has been leading groups of people to San Miguel for the past 7 years. They both have posted lots of photos of the trip and I encourage you to visit their blogs as well.

I could never tire of this daily view and it was on my route to purchase fresh coconut water from a old woman who set up a cart up the street. The freshest juice I've ever had, I probably purchased from her a dozen times over the course of my 3 week stay here.

Wandering the courtyard at Belles Artes, San Miguel's premier school for the arts, located in an old convent.

An artist at work there

A fiesta at Casa Carmen the first night, welcomed all the participants with delicious authentic foods, live music, and dancing

my very favorite coffee shop. last time I was in San Miguel I stuffed 5 pounds of coffee in my suitcase to bring back with me. This time both my bags were at 49 pounds so I had to just enjoy it while I was there.

 

the Pilgrims sketching

f

faces I would see daily

a favorite of the locals and one that became our favorite as well. They are known for their ginger margaritas

it was exciting to witness this beautiful wedding procession; there was a wedding in the zocalo (town square) every Saturday we were there, sometimes more than one

working on projects in the courtyard

the first group of pilgrims; I love these women.