Katie's Workshop

Sometimes I think my 'art' is just posting to this blog. Scurry and write; that is my life right now. And we're all so busy. Does anyone read anyone else's blog these days? The sun is shining, the woods beckon, work abounds. But still the girl reporter shows up for work. Here is the latest.

Yesterday I went to a workshop at Innerstandings with Katie. I've been to many of her classes now and each time I "get it" on a deeper level. Her strength is connecting people to their creative selves; the right brain, the intuitive channel. She opened the workshop with exercises that urged us to let go of control and judgment and to enter the sphere of play. She's good at that.

Here we are making big messes as we enjoy the hours together. Livin' is easy in a workshop with Katie.

At lunch time we repaired to the kitchen for Diane's Curried Rice with all the accoutrements; I think it was my favorite meal that I've experienced there. Diane works very hard at making the day a respite for her attendees; she brought us hot scones, cheese and crackers and chocolate covered almonds at various times of the day in addition to hot beverages. She babies us. :-)

This is an example of what my journal pages looked like at an intermediate stage of the workshop. All this got covered up, mostly. But I liked it, if only for a moment.

Look what Katie's painting!! A lovely wood faun that made us all smile. She's got mysterious ideas that make us happy. Where do they come from?

After everyone left Diane did a demo for Katie and I showing us how well alcohol removes layers of dried acrylic paint. Wow, it's like looking down into a crusted hot lava bed. Can't wait to try it.

I swooned over this image of a beautiful woman. I find it perverse that our culture does not love women past a certain age. My God, but we are full of wisdom, power and beauty. Maybe the culture is afraid of us. What a regrettable mistake.

I made this page which I laughingly think is a cross between deKooning and sad Ophelia. Just messing about and this is what appeared.

And this page. The black pencil is Stabilo; I like to go over it with acrylic medium to deepen and smear the blackness. Not for dainty work.

The giving hands. The hands that can feed, share, create and help. Hands with great strength and the power to change the world.

A page about silly moods. Silly moods are good too. Happiness benefits everyone.

This last is my latest encaustic done with a variety of techniques. Aren't we just walking miracles here on the planet? I am in awe of every one of us. We are golden.