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Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Art Unraveled Part 1

Last Wednesday I left Portland for Phoenix where I taught 3 classes at Art Unraveled. My roomie there was Katie and we agreed we could not have had more fun than we did in our 5 days there. I brought back a few photographs.

This is the view toward the east from our sixth floor balcony. My beloved Arizona mountains. (I grew up in Mesa.) So many tearful homecomings. I love this desert where I experienced so many years of joy and sadness. Nothing is ever just one thing. I always have such pangs of memory when I visit.

Stephanie Lee gave us this bouquet of sunflowers for our room. The generous thoughtfulness of friends. It makes all the difference; to be loved and remembered. I'm still learning that lesson.

I didn't get photos of my Business class but we had a wonderful exchange of information there. Then the next day it was on to the class of building collages with paper, encaustic medium, transfers and ingenuity. Yum, don't you love to see the art supplies spread out as we play and experiment?

Today I'll show only the student work from that Encaustic Collage class. The light was very low in the room and while most of these photographs are poor I'll post what I have. We had 21 enrolled attendees (one over a full class) and every single project turned out brilliantly.

Gold foil transfer on the Buddha above and also linen thread woven into the wax.

A strange Frida-bird rising from her strange Frida nest.

A beloved pet, immortalized in wax.

The moon; the beautiful, pensive moon. Mica, twigs, buttons and a bow.

A princess in her private world - a story in the making. Perhaps a legend.

This woman makes her own light as she navigates the darkness.

A sense of peace and stillness.

A woman with sass and style.

She became the mistress of Cortez, the mother of the Mexican people, "La Chingada" (the despised one), a woman who loved a dreadful man. She must have felt torn as she helped to shape present day Mexico.

A beautiful portrait.

Bridget Benton started out with a heart that she painted into an octopus; thank you Bridget for helping me out more than once and for being a great artist and teacher in the Portland area. (sorry for the lousy photo of your divine piece)

The little boy doll is attached to the back side of the board.

A pensive child.

This artist drew the central figure so beautifully; the towel is upholstery fabric.

Photographs, collage elements and more ingenuity here.

These are the photographs that I came away with although I realize I missed a few. Everyone's work was unique to that person and wonderful. I was so happy at the end of the day to see that everyone felt elated and successful.

Closing with a photograph of Doris Arndt and Thomas, celebrating their 30th Anniversary of marriage. Doris is skilled at many things (think book arts but everything else too) and she and Tom met in art school when they were just kids. I've seldom seen a happier couple.

As soon as I got home I saw that the class list is posted here for Artfest 2009. Wow, some great classes this year and I'll be teaching two of them. Heads up folks, this is a great retreat that you won't want to miss.

It's going to take me awhile to get back up to speed with everything. I'm on the job though.

17 comments:

Carla Sonheim said...

You're so right, Judy! Each piece is beautiful!

It was good to see you!

John Gascot said...

Wonderful! They're all great.

Candace said...

Judy, I am stunned by the sheer beauty of each single piece you have brought back via camera.

And Goodness, the photo of you and Katie (?) and the sunflowers... such a vibrant but serene shot!

Thank you thank you for sharing, again, Judy. This really is great, to be alive in a world that has such people and their beauty in it!

Candace

Anonymous said...

OH you beauty radiator you!! What wonderful work came through in your workshop. Mountains, sunflowers and wonderful friends. What more can life give us?

Welcome home. xo

Ro Bruhn said...

You must feel so proud knowing you've inspired so many people to create such wonderful pieces.
Ro
xo

Anonymous said...

Normally, I only have eyes for artwork that is yours, Judy, but I am blown away by the octopus woman! And I'm sure I don't have to tell you how very lucky you are to associate with such creative people—and they with YOU! :-) Welcome back!

A.Smith said...

"There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." - Edith Wharton, Vesalius in Zante.

Guess who is the candle? Love each and every piece (and you) Lunch soon, when we both come up for air.

Anonymous said...

The sheer beauty of each piece is a testament to your fabulous spirit and how you teach. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with us about how to be a professional artist. It was priceless! And I so enjoyed getting to know you. I look forward to seeing you again next year! Hugs, Fran

Meri said...

Thanks for posting the wonderful images from our class on Friday. My piece is the portrait of the woman with the "flower pin" on the bodice of her dress. The mystery woman happens to be my mother as a young woman.

Kim Rae Nugent said...

Beautiful art! Two months to go.
:)Kim

Pilar said...

It doesn't surprise me so much beauty came out of your encaustic class. You are a remarkable woman and your love & passion for art is contagious. I am so sorry I missed AU this summer. It would be a great treat to see both you and sweet Katie. xoxoxoxo

Anonymous said...

They are all so rich and integrated, like jewels. Wonderful. I only got to Artfest, but Arizona sounds like much fun. grrl+dog in Sydney

kate said...

These student artworks are amazing! You must be a teacher extraordinaire and your students have much talent. All the pieces are absolutely wonderful but "bella luna" really spoke to me!

Joy Logan said...

So many yummy pieces to look at! Your blog is so much fun to read and see.

BoneFolder said...

God, I love that Bella Luna piece and Bridget's piece. Shoshanah and I were disappointed that we couldn't take any encaustic classes at AU, a situation weve resolved to rectify next year. Will you be there?

By the may, can you send me one of the photos from your beloved camera that needs its distortion fixed? I think I may have a solution.

It was nice to have met you at the show.

--Mike Jennings
--Hannah Grey Curiosities & Drygoods
--mike@hannahgrey.com

Kel said...

I love how very differently everyone's work turns out. These are just stunning. I don't think I told you, but after taking your class at Artfest I bought myself an electric frying pan and stocked up on beeswax and resin and am having SO much fun.

Affordable homes said...

Very artistic! All those piece is beautiful! They are very great indeed. Thank you for sharing!