3rd Annual Artist Retreat - Saturday

This time last week, I was still in Oz. The last day of our artist retreat had arrived. Pieces were hung in preparation for a Skype show 'n tell with our friend Julie back in Virginia. The studio was neatened, no more rust laying around on the floor. Packing had begun Friday night.

Before the Skype session, I had a bit of time in the annex. Just me, my camera and Pam's wonderful water.

Honestly, I could have made a day of it in the annex just taking photos. The length [16 feet] combined with the body of the spun polyester is perfect for replicating the undulations of waves. Add those that Pam created and I swear that waves crashing on the shore could be heard in the distance.

Pam - Envision an installation of sorts where you walk into a room to be greeted by wave after wave of water moving across the floor.  Just a thought...

With Esmerelda and Cecil looking on, we'd arranged our work in a way that we hoped would give Julie a good idea of what we'd been up to all week.

Pam and I found ourselves standing back and being amazed at how her water and my rust compliment and, pardon the pun, flow together.  Our previous work didn't.  Could have been my very bright color palette. Now...well...now we can see the joint exhibition taking shape.

Then the computer rang and the show 'n tell began. Lap tops do come in handy.

It was great fun to stand back and watch Julie's reactions, listen to her questions, answer a few myself, etc. All too soon, it was time to stop. Pam and I were off to town to shop for my little urchins.

That night, I went back down for one last look, one last visit. Standing alone in the studio, I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and offered thanks to the studio, the muses, the house and all in it for the week, the magic, the friendship, the haven, the heaven that was our 3rd Annual Artist Retreat.

3rd Annual Artist Retreat - Friday part 2

Pam has been working with a fabric that she purchased recently from a little country store that carries a bit of everything. The owner could not identify it. Pam took one look and saw potential. She knows that the fabric is a spun polyester, but beyond that...well...

And it doesn't matter, because Pam has had the most fun this week what if-ing, just doing it, focusing, keeping it simple and cropping. Yes. If you read Friday part 1, you'll know that the mantras were mentioned. Seems they've found another home and were put to the most excellent use.

After painting a 16 foot length on Thursday, Pam was looking for a quicker way to do it on Friday. She folded the length until it fit nicely on the printing table and started. I grabbed my camera and happily snapped away.

And this is what 15 minutes of our Friday was like. Think what if then just do it. No delaying, no over-thinking, no re-thinking. Just. Do. It. Keep. It. Simple.

And, believe me, the results are sublime.

3rd Annual Artist Retreat - Friday part 1

Friday was a day of accomplishments. A day of what ifs, just do it, keep it simple, focus and crop it. All my mantras [plus a new one] rolled into one delicious day.

 Friday morning's screensaver compliments of Pam's husband. 

 A bit of rusty tea exploration on paper.

 Figuring out what to do with these.

Pam's first completed piece outside the annex.

2 lengths of 16 feet each drying inside.

 My view from the shared work table. 

Love the play of the colors.

 Pam's luscious water fabric.

 Feather from Julie. 

 Light and shadows.

 A sliver of sunlight gracing my rusts.

 The sound of water moving will be missed.

Need one in my studio.

 Hmmm....what to do?

 Crop it.

 Then crop it again.

Esmerelda approved.

Green tea #1

 Green tea #1 is now 3

 My halogens [photo above] need to be replaced with sunlight or color correct lights.

Isn't the color here wonderful?

 Pam's water fabric stretched on canvases.

 My rusty remnants after going on a tear

and cropping oh! so many.

 3 rusty thread nests for Jeanne

135 rusty squares of varying sizes waiting to be stretched onto canvases

3rd Annual Artist Retreat - Thursday

Thursday

my 5th day at Pam's

working in her studio

leaving my stuff all around

enjoying the play of light

while still being on a tear.

We went out for lunch

and parked in the garage

across the street from the art center.

Turkey sandwich anyone?

More threads were added to my collection for Jeanne to use in her nest series.

A goodie box arrived from our friend Julie

which included a piece of her wonderful fabrics for each us along with other treasures. Thank you Julie!

My funny bone got tickled today upon hearing the lyrics

Ding Dong! 

The Witch is dead. 

Which old Witch? 

The Wicked Witch!
Ding Dong! 

The Wicked Witch is dead.

being practiced by the summer youth theater cast of the art center. Actually hearing those words sung in Kansas...in Oz itself...had me in peals of laughter. Pam too come to think of it. Only I think she was laughing at me. After all, she's lived here a bit and is probably used to hearing the songs.

And such was our day. Oh. In case you're wondering, we really did work in the studio, but that's a story for another day. 'Night.

3rd Annual Artist Retreat - Asiatica

If you are ever in Kansas City, a trip to Asiatica is a must. It's a total treat for the senses.

We go to Japan every year and look for functional and beautiful pottery. Sometimes we find only a single piece; other times we buy a dozen or so. Food tastes so much better when it is presented with imagination and variety.*

Asiatica uses vintage Japanese kimono fabrics, contemporary Japanese textiles from NUNO and Italian linens and woolens. Every piece is unique and made in our store in Kansas City.*

I couldn't resist taking this photo of Pam looking at the summer or fall line of clothing in the back room of Asiatica surrounded by row after row of kimono fabrics rolled up and displayed so wonderfully. My fingers yearned to caress the cloth, to feel the textures, to dream of wearing it. I was good, however, and refrained from giving in to the temptation.


*via Asiatica web site

3rd Annual Artist Retreat - Tuesday part 2

While pondering what to do with the triple circle piece yesterday, before the tearing began, I walked around the studio a bit to clear my mind.

Intrigued by the swirls on the copper, those reflected in the mirror and the rusted ones on the paper hanging next to the mirror, I took this shot. As I turned to go back to my rusty bohemoth, circles began catching my eye. They were everywhere I looked!

Pam got a good chuckle when showed the photos and even pointed out a few that I'd missed.

In case you're wondering what Pam was doing while I was engrossed in circles and going on a tear, well...she was creating the most amazing water.  Part of her photos are edited and I want to get them all ready before posting. Believe me, it will be worth the wait.