CREATE Mixed Media Retreat!

The poster outside my classroom

I have been in Lisle on the outskirts of Chicago for several days "doing art" at CREATE, 2011!  My favorite part was making new friends and sharing creative ideas!   I am already looking forward to the CREATE retreat in Irvine, California. 
I thought I would come home and clean up and organize my studio, but instead, I was so jazzed about the new things I learned and the encouragement I got about my journals, that before my suitcase was even empty my studio became messier than ever!  I think that I now have about 4-5 projects going - all in the different stages of completeness.  Watercolor, watercolor journaling, book pages, and even painting on fabric!  Yes, you CREATE fabric folks made an impression on me!
Is this how you like to create?  Or are you more of an organized, neat, finish one project before starting the next type of artist?

More photos from my Flip, Flaps & Fold-out Class at CREATE:

I love traveling through the San Francisco Airport.  They always have an interesting artistic display.  This month it was a look at old TV shows and board games.  Do you remember the Twilight Zone Game?  Lost in Space?

Chickens - Update..... 5 just born!

Just out of the shell and one still to come out! August 17, 2011

My brooding hen of 21 days reminds me of a painting I did a couple of years ago.  Chickens are a great subject to paint, practicing soft edges, reflected light and big shapes.  Sometimes when I am at a loss as to what to paint, I always dabble with chicken paintings.

Ethyl is Out, Watercolor

Just Pecking, Watercolor

The excitement around our house yesterday was that we heard little chirps coming from the six eggs we gave Laverne, our sitting hen.  While Laverne was up, stretching her legs and getting her self-induced regime of eating only once a day, I actually saw one of the eggs move! Today is the 21st day and the chicks will be breaking out of their calcified confinement. 

Laverne sitting on eggs

Curious onlookers

Playing with Color for the CREATE Retreat

Rainbow Studies

Flip, Flaps and Fold-Outs

CREATE Mixed Media Retreat is two weeks away and I have been excitedly getting ready for my classes that I am teaching.  Even though the Flip, Flaps and Fold-Outs class is full, there are still a couple of spots left in the Rainbow Studies Class.  This class will focus on using the color wheel to create harmonious little watercolor painting studies.  If you struggle with color, this class will be of great value.  I look forward to meeting all the artists that will be at CREATE!