Souvenirs

One of the great things about traveling is having
the chance to collect or bring home souvenirs from
my experiences. These trinkets, tokens... and
wondrous treasures remind me of incredible
occasions that very often took my breath away.

Inevitably, when I am reminiscing about a trip, my
souvenirs help recreate the details of an adventure
that might otherwise be lost. Such mementoes, that
I can see, feel, or hear, evoke warm feelings of that
special time and place. And, they always make me smile.

I have, over the years of teaching and attending art
retreats, had the good fortune of purchasing some
beautiful and unique, even one-of-a-kind items from
fellow artists, or friends. These are my favorite kind of
souvenirs, as they carry a small piece of the creator's
radiant light with them.

However, my most cherished souvenirs are gifts bestowed
into my keeping from nature, and opportunities to capture
inspired moments with my own hand. These gems, that find
their way to me or come pouring forth from the imagination,
serve as a bit of serendipity revealed in that one sparkling,
magical instant.

Pictured here are just a few of the incredible souvenirs, I
will always hold dear from my recent time at Squam Art Retreats.

Over Yonder

"Over Yonder"... such a quaint title for
the cabin where I taught during
the Squam Art Workshops Retreat.

This place, this haven will be forever a
part of me, the memories of light-filled
rooms with every window facing the lake.
Where the imagination could dance and
shimmer, and cast rainbows across the water.

These two words, "Over Yonder"...
now warms the deepest recesses of my
heart with a burning glow of remembered
love, laughter, smiles, friendship, art-making,
and beauty. Students eager to learn and express
themselves in the creating of poetic Prayer Flags
that possessed collaged and painted images and
words uttered from their souls.

Oh, how I wish, I could bottle the radiant glow
from these moments, my incredible students,
these days.



I invite you to see more Inspirational
Prayer Flag Banner artworks, here.


I had never, ever visited the fine state of
New Hampshire before this trip, but I
will tell you that I am counting the days,
the hours, the minutes until I return to this
piece of heaven that is S.A.W.

All my worries simply melted away the moment
I arrived and stepped into the registration cabin,
greeted by Elizabeth MacCrellish, the coordinator
Extraordinaire!

She gave me the biggest hug, wearing the brightest
smile on her face. And from there... WELL..
the moments ONLY GOT BETTER!

Finding Heaven

Journal Entry, Wednesday, June 3rd:

"I Arrive.

Enveloped by a quiet and stillness
that is vastly different than the everyday.

Settling in, I rest in a worn green rocker,
nestled among other sun-faded furniture
on the large screened porch which
spills out over the water's edge.

Waves lap against the side boards, speaking to
me in reverent voices and hushed whispers.

Birds sing a chorus of joyful refrains,
the forest is alive!

Squirrels and chipmunks scamper about,
bats fly...
the lady slippers come to greet me,
invited by the prickle berries,
leaves rustle sounding like rain,
as wind swept breezes caress
sparkling pools of summer dreams.

Hear the haunting calls of a faraway loon
that gently rock me to sleep.

I find heaven, or a bit of eden lost
here, in the moments on Squam Lake."


I have Much, MUCH more to share with you about
my Squam Art Workshop experience,
so while I am pulling together
my 100+ photos, check out this...
INCREDIBLE Video by Marlene White

Energize and Renew!

With the recent warm sunny days here on the Plains,
my thoughts drift toward the upcoming Summer
months and the journey I will be making to New
Hampshire in the early part of June. I am so excited
to be teaching at the first ever...
Squam Art Workshops - Fiber Retreat.

I am offering a BRAND NEW! workshop designed
especially for Squam, that I am completely over
the moon about!

The Painted Fiber Prayer Flag Banner is a one day
class that is available during all three sessions of the
retreat. In this class, we will create our own expressions
of peace and hope by drawing upon the extraordinary
natural setting that surrounds us on Squam Lake.

I will be sharing some very unique techniques for painting
on fabric with acrylics, which is quite similar to painting
with watercolors on paper. I especially love working in the
acrylic medium because it is easy to correct mistakes. Also
because fabric is such a versatile canvas, painted subjects
can be easily removed from their original background and
attached to other surfaces.

Sometimes, students are concerned that they will not be
able to render nature subjects with the same amount of
detail as my samples, so I thought I share some examples
from a past nature painting workshop. Take a peek here
and here. These pieces are truly BREATHTAKING!!!!
and over 80% of the class had never tried painting any
sort of nature subject before this.

In addition to painting, we will be exploring dyeing and
distressing fabrics to create backgrounds that resemble
patina metals like rust and weathered vertigris copper,
as well as weaving both paper and fiber together into a
cohesive artwork and discussing design principles to use
for collage art compositions.

And as an added bonus for participating in my
workshop, students will receive - a voucher
to purchase my new book: Nature Inspired at
1/2 price, a Squam Only Limited Edition Print,
shown in the picture above, and a Package of
my Rust and Verdigris Copper Patina Fabrics!

Sign-up today to join me for one, two, or even all
three days of creating your own inspiring prayer
banner art!

IT IS DEFINITELY A DON'T MISS EVENT!

Just Around the Corner

I can hardly believe how quickly the moments are
passing, as February comes to an end. Soon the
Winter winds, snow, and ice will only be memories,
and we will once again find ourselves enveloped in
the Summer season enjoying the warmth, fun, and frolick.

Thinking about Summer definitely has me dreaming
of the journey I will be making to New Hampshire in
the early part of June. I am so excited and quite giddy
to be teaching at the first ever Squam Art Workshops -
Fiber Retreat.

I am offering a BRAND NEW! workshop designed
especially for Squam, that I am completely over the
moon about!

The Painted Fiber Prayer Flag Banner is a one
day class that is available during all three sessions
of the retreat.

I will be sharing some very unique techniques for
painting on fabric with acrylics, which is quite
similar to painting with watercolors on paper. I
especially love working in the acrylic medium
because it is easy to correct mistakes. Also
because fabric is such a versatile canvas,
painted subjects can be easily removed from
their original background and attached to
other surfaces.

Sometimes, students are concerned that
they will not be able to render nature
subjects with the same amount of detail
as my samples, so I thought I share some
examples from a past nature painting workshop.
These pieces are truly BREATHTAKING!!!!
and over 80% of the class had never tried
painting any sort of nature subject
before this.

In addition to painting, we will be exploring dyeing
and distressing fabrics to create backgrounds
that resemble patina metals like rust and weathered
vertigris copper, as well as weaving both paper and
fiber together into a cohesive artwork and discussing
design principles to use for collage art compositions

Come join me for one, two, or even all three days of
creating your own inspiring prayer banner art! IT IS
DEFINITELY A DON'T MISS EVENT!

There is an INCREDIBLE interview of the Squam
coordinator/director, Elizabeth MacCrellish on
the Decor8blog. Check IT OUT HERE!

Sharing Peace and Hope by Creating Art

"To me there are few things more beautiful
than colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind-
sometimes waving gently, sometimes raging;
a dance of shadow and light. There is perhaps
no simpler way to create good merit in this
troubled world of ours than to put prayer flags
up for the benefit of other living beings.

Prayer flags are not just pretty pieces of colored
cloth with funny writing on them. The prayers,
mantras and powerful symbols displayed on them
produce a spiritual vibration that is activated and
carried by the wind across the countryside. All beings
that are touched by the wind are uplifted and a little
happier. The silent prayers are blessings spoken on
the breath of nature."

-Timothy Clark
( in the 8th month of the Water Horse year at
Redway, CA., Copyright Radiant Heart Studio)


The above words by Mr. Clark are so incredible,
and powerful... don't you think!

After reading them, you can quickly understand how
they became the foundation for an EXCITING Workshop
I have been invited to teach at Squam Art Workshop's
June 2009 Retreat.

Beautiful, peaceful prayer flags seems so appropriate
and so very poignant, as our world continues to struggle
in these desperate and trying times.


In this class, we will create our own expressions of peace and
hope by drawing upon the extraordinary natural setting that
surrounds us on Squam Lake.

And I have been dreaming about the ENORMOUS impact of
faith, love, and goodwill, these banners will bring when
attendees actually SEE all of those prayer flags hung together.

The Painted Fiber Prayer Flag Banner workshop
will be offered every day of the retreat, so I hope
you will join me for one, two, or even all three days
of creating your own inspiring art.

An Additional Announcement:
at Squam in June, there will be a showing of a film by
Elizabeth Tanner Boll called "Who Does She Think She Is?".
If you are not familiar with the film, it was made by the
same producing team that won an Academy Award for
Born Into Brothels. "Who Does She Think She Is?" examines
some of the most pressing issues of our time: parenting
and work, partnering and independence, economics and art.

SAW June '09 - Painted Prayer Flags