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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Squam Art Workshops Part 2

Thank you, Jen, for the prayer flags in our cabin. I stood and read several and they were beautiful. I'm going to get prayer flags for my studio now. I can think of nothing more fitting.

Several of the participants and I talked about how you could almost feel the presence of previous souls who had trod these lovely paths before us. I felt so safe here.

Every evening was serene, calm and inspiring.

Every evening was filled with laughter, friendship and warmth.

I heard that this is one of the last places where ice is harvested from the lake in the winter and stored on sawdust in an ice house for use by the guests in oak ice boxes in the cabins.

This is the ice house where the hunky boys gathered fresh ice for our cabins each morning. They were kind enough to smile for my camera.

The huge breakfasts put big smiles on our faces. So did the sunshine that peeked in and out at just the right times.

Now I'll show you some of the student work from my classes. I was a poor reporter for you this time as I was wrapped up in the magic myself and for the first two days took very few photos.

So most of the photos I did take were from my expressive faces class. Wow, did I ever have some painters in there!

I hope you'll forgive me for not crediting or linking these images but I want to show a sampling of the kinds of explorations we did in the class.

The fact that these explorations led to some marvelous work was a side benefit. The actual purpose of the exercises was to show how we proceed in experimenting and going out on a limb.

The assignment was to make the faces interesting, to explore without judgment.

There are a few photos from the journaling class I see. Sometimes we mistake fortunate accidents for unfortunate ones. Is there a difference?

Isn't the human imagination wondrous? The inventiveness, the playfulness, the fun of creating?

Beauty in the faces. Beauty in the faces of the makers. I am the witness to beauty.

Several exercises called for faces on funny backgrounds.

Faces on painted backgrounds.

These are the finished paintings; some on canvas, some on paper.

Oh, I love the lady in the bathing cap. I resonate with swimmers, with water, with diving down.

Can you read her words? It says, "holy shit, she said to draw a face!"

The journaling class again. What a wonderful page. Can you see Andy Warhol?

Back to the faces class.

Isn't it interesting how often our own faces resemble the faces we create?

Love the iPod man. It looks like Tracey!

Yes! There were men at Squam too.

This is the end of the so-called student work today. Brilliant work. Every one of the paintings were worthy of their own museum; I was overjoyed at the willingness of everyone to play and to let go.

At the end of the day we retired to our cabins, tired and yet strangely renewed for our lives back home. We are golden stardust as Joni Mitchell once wrote and these are our days of wonder and delight. We will not let anyone keep us from passion, from love, from helping each other thrive. Our hearts are open.

20 comments:

Heather, paperfollies.typepad.com said...

oh how i wish now that i had taken a class with you...but i know that the universe will have our paths cross again and i will delight in that time! xo heather

John Gascot said...

Wonderful pics as always. So glad to see a guy in your class! I was beginning to wonder if the classes were a Girls Only thing. I'd love to take a class if you ever come this way.

Sherry said...

I so enjoyed looking at all these works of art -- so very unique and individual. More than that I loved seeing the smiles on the faces of the artists who were sharing the love of art and creativity and not judging themselves -- that is huge. I laughed at your comment about how the faces we do often resemble us -- you are absolutely right!

Carla Sonheim said...

Wow... great work from ALL of your students, and what wonderful reports on Squam, Judy. So fun!

Cheryl Connell said...

Judy,

Love the Squam updates. Thank you so much for sharing your journals and your life with us... they were so inspiring. I had a great time in your class. Can't wait to see you at artfest!

Cheryl

katie said...

how amazing this magic place on the lake, and the time spent there with such beautiful and creative souls...gives me goosebumps, it does. i can imagaine it all, sense it all through your words and photos - i'm so happy you all got to share this time. and your student work is beautiful!!
xo

Chris said...

Hi Judy!
How fantastic! I love what your students created, fabuloso! Sounds like a perfectly wonderful setting.

Sharon Andrews said...

Dearest Judy, Thank you for your wonderful spirit, for making me laugh, for helping me to jump-start my healing process and most of all for your encouragement. You are a wonderful teacher and I had a wonderful time in your faces class. My bathing cap girl represents to me a plunge into new waters and I am ready to swim! Squam was Magic!!! Thank you for being a part of "that magic." I look forward to spending time with you again one day,hugs, Sharon Andrews

Candace said...

Oh the lake, the lake! What memories that brings back to me...
great great post. Lovely people, lovely faces... All my face artwork looks like me. LOL...
Just wonderful things and again, thank you for sharing.
Maybe next year.

Unknown said...

I loved the classes I took, but it makes me ache that I didn't take your classes!! Next year. Thank you for sharing yourself with us at Squam. I learned so much from your wisdom and easy way. These faces really are impressive!!

Anonymous said...

your wisdom shines

and warms

we bask in the glow

xox - eb.

Anonymous said...

100% lovely & amazing.

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

OH, Judy! Won't you please come out to New Mexico and teach this class here?
I love what you were able to draw out of your students. What an awesome class.

Anonymous said...

Looks like a wonderful, creative time was had by all. And why not? With you as teacher?! What a beautiful place!

Anonymous said...

missing you....

Jamie said...

So many wonderful things about this post. I love the student paintings and the ice house. Squam is definitely on my list of places to be one day.

I started collaging in my art journal that I made back in November. Thanks again for the tutorial - you were my very first source of inspiration for it all.

Laura said...

Hi Judy!! I am SO wishing that I had went to SAW, I've heard nothing but good about it (and yes Susan Tuttle is an amazing, dear soul, I finally got to meet her in person at ConvenZiONE just a few weeks ago) I hope to one day be fortunate enough to connect with you too, maybe next year at Squam - it is definitely at the top of my picks.

P.S. I am still journalling in my paperbag journal from your tutorial, everyone loves it and of course I let them know who I was inspired by :> I need to make a new one soon!!)

Anonymous said...

what a wonderful post - still reveling in the stardust - savoring - still in the afterglow...

xox - eb.

Lorri Scott said...

This looks like it was a wonderful retreat. All the students seem so proud of their art and the setting is lovely. How lucky for everyone who got to go!

Lorri

jenica said...

this post has me missing squam something bad. someday... i will take your faces class, someday...