Recycled Circles workshop at the Long Beach International Quilt Festival

A detail of my Recycled Circles meets Dia de los Muertos! (I'm getting in the mood for our San Miguel de Allende Mixed Media retreat in October 2012)

Just back from teaching at the Long Beach International Quilt Festival.

Long Beach, California had gorgeous weather and the part of town where the convention center is located is really nice.That's the Hyatt hotel on the right, it's next to the convention center.
I taught two workshops and here's some student work from my "Recycled Circles" class. All were done in fabric and machine stitched. (They'll hand embellish and finish later)
 
   
 
I love how each ends up differently.
 
    
I'm teaching this workshop at CREATE on August 27th in Chicago, using a combination of paper and cloth on a paper substrate. They had to add a second day, because my Wednesday workshop filled up. And I'm teaching it at Art & Soul in Portland, Oregon on September 29.

Mixed Media Sketchbook ~ dreaming of Italy

Italy. May 2012. I'm taking a group to do sketching and watercolor: journal style. We've got 5 signed up already! So, I'm practicing my Italian in my mixed media sketchbook while husb prepares dinner.






 
I created this background last week, and then drew on it straight to ink, and then added color pencil.

Prayer flags 12 & 13

Prayer flag #12. for balance. I used the yoga 'tree pose' as the metaphor for balance. Some days it seems like I can do the tree pose easily, sometimes I can't stay upright! Trying to keep a balanced life, diet, work schedule and emotions is not always easy, but I do my best.





Prayer flag #13 is for Ann Cobbe. She took her own life last November.

As I worked on this, I started with the flowers that were Ann's bright spirit, humor and strength. Then I began stitching over the flowers with black thread, signifying the postpartum depression she suffered. In the end, it was a tragic mis-judgement regarding her medications......She was 39, with 2 small children.



Not all prayer flags are pretty.
Each breeze carries love for Ann and those left behind.

Utah watercolor journal pages

My watercolor pages from my trip to Utah. There is something about these thistles that I love. They always make me think of my grandmother. On the right of the page, I played with some designs, based on the realistic image on the left.

A flower from our table arrangement. And some designs based on the realistic version.

Wildflowers from the property.

Captured this long distance view from the porch. (above and below)

(yes, that's a photo of the view from my pogo printer.)


We sketched at a nearby store.

and you saw a glimpse of this one, here.

Dreaming of the French Riviera

I showed you here how I started this page, sacrificing my waistline for art!





Walking and watercolor along the French Riveria September 2012.
My whole teaching schedule is on my blog here.

Utah Art Retreat ~ Sketching & Watercolor: Journal Style



My artwork. Pineview reservoir.

 Just returned from a wonderful weekend in Utah. (Huntsville, about 45 minutes from Salt Lake City) My second time with Creative Inspiration Mountain Retreats.

Our stunning view.

We started Thursday evening by drawing and painting from little faux birds.

Me, photo by Susan Lazear

The next morning a hike, then back to the house for painting wildflowers.
    


Pages from Friday morning.

Then for a little retail therapy. We selected items from Dottie Becks, in Eden Utah, and drew and painted them outside the shop under a giant maple tree.

Pages from Friday afternoon.

Saturday morning to beautiful Pineview reservoir for a landscape lesson

Gorgeous pages!
A wonderful time!!

Botanical-ish in my Mixed Media Journal

Imagine that! I'm working in a large sprial bound journal! The Strathmore Mixed Media Visual Journal at 9x12 inches! You can teach an old dog new tricks, I guess. True, the mixed media paper takes the watercolors differently that my usual high quality watercolor paper, but I think it helps me work looser.

As I drew the blooms, leaves and pods of the Eucalyptus leucoxylon 'rosea' (White Ironbark) from snippets of the tree, I also created little graphic designs on the same page. So fun!



I'll use the designs in my other artwork, maybe free motion stitching or who know what! (Like in chapter 4 of my DVD/download "From Art Journaling to Art.)



I'm teaching a 6 week Sketching & Watercolor: Journal Style class in  downtown San Diego this year (starts October 11-Tuesdays, 9-noon through the Athenaeum-- registration isn't open yet) and I'm playing with ideas for the sllyabus.

I'm thinking this would make a cool stamp or thermofax print. You know I'll keep you posted!



You can see my teaching schedule here. (Phoenix August 5: Pinecones & Pods and online starting August 11, Friday Harbor near Seattle September 10&11)
I'm teaching in Utah right now, returning next week, then onto the Long Beach International Quilt Festival. Oh, and I'm even teaching sketching & watercolor at Make It University at the Quilt Festival! Saturday, July 30, 11:45-12:45. Sign up for the lottery beforehand, limited to 25.