Upcoming Workshops at JournalFest

I’ve got 2 workshops coming up that you won’t want to miss! I’m teaching at Journalfest October 26-30 in Port Townsend, WA. This is an intimate art retreat that is like summer camp for adults! The setting is beautiful–it’s at Fort Worden, an old military base that is now a state park, right on the ocean. It’s nestled in the quaint town of Port Townsend–so quaint, that some attendees of ArtFest or JournalFest have moved there. This retreat has a very different feel than the large ones held in hotels. I feel it’s more personal, making it easier to connect and get to know like-minded people. I taught at the first Journlafest, and I’ve taught at ArtFest in the past–this is really my favorite setting to teach. I always come home feeling very inspired.

Revival: An Awakening, Thursday, October 27, 2011

I enjoy creating new from old, recycling, reusing, and awakening what seems to be defunct. When I see old, worn books at library sales and thrift stores, I think of the possibilities and the joy I would get from their reformation. In this class, we will bring new life to forgotten and discarded books, reviving them to be the foundation for your visual or written pleasures. Using the covers of a book, I’ll show you how to breathe new life into it, discarding the old pages to make room for the new. We will collage, paint and adorn the prepared cover for the revival, giving it a restoration to a visual life. Then I’ll teach you how to decoratively sew in signatures made up of a mélange of different sizes and types of papers to add visual and tactile interior interest. The papers can be anything such as pages removed from other books, watercolor paper, printmaking paper, brown paper sacks, tabs, hinges, and envelopes. I’ll also teach you some simple painting techniques to decorate some of the pages before attaching them. You will go home with a beautiful new book made from the old, and the knowledge to continue reviving discarded books. This class is for everyone. No experience necessary!

The Maiden Voyage: Journaling for Beginners , Friday, October 28, 2011

A visual journal combines various aspects of mixed-media and written word to personally express oneself. This workshop is for anyone who is intrigued with visual journaling, but feels like a deer in the headlights, not knowing how to even start to visually express themselves, or feels like they can’t do it because they don’t have the skill or art background. Don’t worry, I’m here to guide you. I’ll take away the fear and obstacles and open up a new world for you, teaching you everything to get you started on your new journaling quest. Starting with conquering the blank page through playing with paint, stamps, and collage, we’ll get our hands moving to free our minds and quiet the critic. Then I’ll gently guide you to the next level: journaling. I’ll teach you how to combine mixed-media and imagery with text for your own unique visual expression. This fun and light-spirited class will initiate you into looking inward for visual, self-expression and is for anyone regardless of art background. It would also be a good refresher for a visual journaler who feels like they are in a rut. Techniques to break through blocks to get you moving on your voyage will be covered, as well as different journaling prompts to get you started looking inside for what needs to be expressed. No art or writing experience necessary.

I can assure you, that going to JournalFest is an experience you won’t want to miss. I’m also not teaching as many workshops as I have in the past, so this is a great opportunity to take one from me. For both of these workshops, you don’t need any kind of art background or experience. Complete art and journaling newbies are welcome!

A new book, by Ricë Freeman-Zachery is out, Destination Creativity, that talks about going to different art retreats. While doing her research, Ricë visited Art Fest at Port Townsend. Check the book out if you’ve never been to Fort Worden or Port Townsend, and would like to get a feel for the place.