This past year Cindy Blumkin and I enjoyed bringing Art Lounge on 101 to the San Diego community. We loved planning with amazing teachers creative outlets for experienced and novice art students, and providing an intimate environment for these art and craft classes. It has been a pure delight! Although the process has been rewarding, we realize our …
I saw this headline in an email this week. It stopped me in my tracks. “Creativity Heals. Creativity is a most precious gift.” Yes, indeed. Let’s face it, we might have amazing lives, and be happy most of the time or at least satisfied or content. But there is always a little icky stuff, no …
While at Art Camp last summer, I became friends with Marsha. Everyone LOVES Marsha, so it was easy to fall in love with her and her zest for life. She has been going to Camp De Benneville for many, many years, and is so well acquainted with the forest that she lead nature walks in …
My mom could read cards, as could her sisters. Mom was intuitive and in touch with the other realms. Her oldest sister, Annette, was so good at readings that we would clamor around her, begging for insights. She was discerning, and never told of anything negative, trusting that if she didn’t tell of those things, it …
journey (n.) —1. a traveling from one place to another, usually taking a rather long time. 2. passage or progress from one stage to another. Whether physical, mental or spiritual, we tend to describe our journeys in the state of “during”—what we did or felt while we went through the actual experience. But what about …
I love to take classes… I am curious and love learning, but the greatest joy is actually sitting in a room filled with art supplies and a bunch of creative people. Michael calls them my “peeps.” And I do have to say that whether or not I am compatible with these folks outside the studio matters …
There’s busy and there’s too busy! I love being busy, I do. Always have, and probably always will. But as I’ve gotten older the busy has gotten worse as my interests have broadened. And there comes a time when you have to say ENOUGH! My question is (and it’s the one that always trips me …
I can’t believe it—it’s been four months since I returned from Morocco! Maybe it’s because recently discussed Morocco with a new friend over dinner (who is on her way there this fall), or maybe it’s the art I’ve been creating (I’m working on a painting of the King of Morocco)… or maybe the long conversation I …
Today’s the last day to get into the groove at a discounted rate! Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to spend a week creating in nature. Discover new techniques from an expert, unearth hidden talents and come away with a unique and complete altered book that’s all your own… Join me for my Altered …
Explore your creativity & the great outdoors… Join me for a week of creating under the pines and in community at Art Groove Artist Retreat, August 19-24, 2016, in beautiful Angelus Oaks, CA. Want to learn different techniques for crafting your own Altered Book and come away with a book that’s entirely your own? Sign-up …
Looking to explore and enrich your creative side while enjoying the beautiful outdoors? Join me at Camp de Benneville August 19-24, 2016 Welcome campers! I can’t wait to meet and collaborate with the 12 artists who will be attending my Pattern Play Altered Book Project sessions. I’m honored to be a featured teacher this year …
All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. —William Shakespeare, As You Like It (Act II, Scene VI) Let me take a moment to wax poetic… Spending 6 weeks in …
JOIN US!!! Introducing: Creative Exploration through Art Journaling Sunday, April 17, 2016 10AM-2PM This includes a 30-minute break, so please bring a snack/lunch. Plan to arrive 10-25 minutes early, we’ll begin on time Cost: $65, includes some supplies. RSVP by April 10, 2016: artloungeon101@gmail.com use “Art Journaling” as subject line. Art Journaling is a fun, intuitive art making …
At Camp de Benneville Pines, have a truly memorable summer that engages your artistic being while experiencing the beauty of the outdoors. Join me and my fellow campers August 19-24, 2016 for a a week of creating, collaborating, hiking, meditating and just enjoying our surroundings at Art Groove. Last year I had the pleasure of teaching …
The journal spread above uses a set method. Although I don’t usually work this way, this is how this spread was done. The slideshow above shows 4 of the 5 steps that are listed below (sometimes I forget to stop and take photos). I suppose the thing to notice is how unrelated things are to begin …
Patience is the most important thing when dealing with anything “new.” And being patient is especially important when art journaling. I say this because the final image slowly reveals itself… first going one way, then another… sometimes resting with nowhere to go for a while… then finding a new path. For those of you unfamiliar with the …
My favorite new thing… short, one day workshops… especially suited for experienced art journalers. These give participants an opportunity to create while working side-by-side, sharing in a favorite creative art-making activity, inspiring one another and having fun! And that is exactly what we did when Kelly Kilmer came to town for a one day mini-workshop. Kelly is …
Sometimes days go by and I haven’t had the time to sit down to make something. I feel bad, guilty and wonder why. Especially after I clear the workspace and start on a project, image or journal page. Because once I start, and push past the resistance, and discomfort of having been away for image …
This past year I was fortunate enough to study with several wonderful teachers that I had only dreamed of learning from. Each meeting has brought such a rich plate of experience. I am fortunate! One such opportunity was to take two workshops with Seth Apter, a phenomenal artist from New York. One of these workshops, which was entitled …
The slideshow above chronicles a few of the steps in creating this completed art journal page. (I get so focused that stopping to take progress photos can be somewhat challenging for me…) Although I do tend to work in pristine, store-bought journals, I began this particular journal with a book from the “Free Rack” at the …
Although this may appear to just be scraps, paint, glue, napkins, xeroxes, and paint pens, and in reality that’s all it is, there is something else going on here. Call it what you will, but I call it Divine Intervention. Creativity is still a mystery to me even after all these years. I’ve been making images …
Over the past several months, I’ve been learning about and experimenting with art journaling. My teacher Pnina Gold recently urged me to sign-up for a two-day workshop with Art Journaler extraordinaire Orly Avineri to expand my technique and perspective. Twelve of us, including Orly, attended the workshop, which took place this past weekend at the beautiful home …
Something is happening. Something is breaking open. Something is being born. Art journaling is the new therapy… and much like meeting with a licensed professional, it’s all a process. Sometimes scary, sometimes frustrating, but always worthwhile. What is art journaling? It’s an intuitive creative exercise that allows spontaneous self expression with no end in mind. …
