Squam-ward Bound!

It's hard to believe that it's been a year since I snapped this photo. Me, my legs dangling off the dock on the lake, just a few minutes after I arrived at cabin at Squam. Me, just a few hours from giving the opening night speech at Squam, not sure what to expect.
This year I'm returning as a teacher. I have lots of new friends I can't wait to see and a lot of new experiences to be had.
Last year, on my way home from Squam, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and barely recognized my reflection. I looked younger and more relaxed than I had in years. I can't wait to reclaim a little bit of that calm, if only for a few fleeting days.

Explorations in Plaid

Recently, a reader mentioned that I don't share much of what I've been working on lately. That's got to change! Lately, I've been really into making watercolor prints and I've been really, really into playing with and disecting plaid. These prints are a riff on those Watercolor Stripe Cards I made a little while back, using watercolor and washi tape as the medium. As always, I love imperfection and unpredictability in watercolor so I'm always happy when a little paint spills out of the lines...

When is a Box More than a Box?

Last Saturday I taught a group of (mostly) kids how to make origami boxes from scrap paper at a near-by library. I love teaching children because it gets me out of my head and out of a routine. You never know what to expect with them! They aren't self-conscious, they don't worry about making things "just right" and they are creative beyond my wildest dreams.
My favorite project of the day was from a young boy who turned his box into "a shark. With a turbo jet." Explain to me again why people think it's ok to cut funding for art classes in public schools?

Squam Online Workshop: Abundant Wildlife

Exciting news alert! My dear Squam Art Workshops is holding it's first online workshop, in partnership with the wonderful Alena Hennessey, called Abundant Wildlife. Registration is open now and the class runs from April 30th- May 25th.


In Abundant Wild Life, you will have the opportunity to work directly with Alena as she guides you through a carefully crafted curriculum that is brimming with techniques and experience to help you deepen your connection with the best and most fulfilled...abundant, wild, life. Through mixed media, journaling, photography, meditation, interviews with successful artists and a little bit of magic,  Alena helps you explore a mind, body & spirit approach to creativity.

Alena is an extraordinary resource who brings a wealth of specific design skills (her client list includes: ABC Studios, Target, Urban Outfitters, Galison/MudpuppyStationary, Papyrus, Monique Lllulier, Lark & Loon, and the City of Chapel Hill, North Carolina) but even more, she is an amazing teacher and guide in the artful experience. I speak from experience: I took a class with her last September and it was awesome! After the class, I felt invigorated, refreshed and full of creative energy.

Find out more and wath the video about the class here.

 

Motoi Yamamoto / Salt Installations

Following the untimely death of his young sister, Motoi Yamamoto began making these incredibly intricate ephemeral installations of salt. Not only are his pieces a commentary on the fleeting nature of life but salt is a large part of the death culture of Japan, used often in funerals. Can you imagine seeing one of these in person?
via Trendland