Heading to Africa

On Tuesday I head for South Africa.  Between teaching workshops, I'll have the opportunity to spend time at a place that means a great deal to me - Woza Moya in the Ufafa community, near Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal.  Woza Moya is an AIDS community care and support center and much of their work is centered on the at risk children - children affected and infected by AIDS.  I was last there in 2008 and was touched by the children who are featured in these videos:





I am humbled by the selfless work of the community care workers and those who run Woza Moya, in particular Sue Hedden.  They are an inspiration and a living example of making a difference in the world.

I'll be there at the beginning of April on the days that their crafters meet.  The crafters make beautiful embroidered cards to sell to support their families.  I love supporting those that create beauty for others.  I'll be lucky enough to meet and talk to them, and see their latest handwork, and of course bring some back with me.

Artist Sara Naumann

 I'm looking forward to meeting artist and teacher Sara Naumann in person at Art & Soul, Virginia in a couple of weeks time.  She is flying all the way from Amsterdam to teach!  Sara's art has been published in a number of publications:  Somerset Studio, Somerset Apprentice and in beading and jewelry magazines  Sara has taught workshops in England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and across the US.   I am in awe of the fact that Sara balances her role as artist and teacher with that as mother of a one-year old daughter.   So if you are a mother who wants to know how find time for your art, read on as Sara has some tips for you.

Catherine:   Tell me more about one of your classes--what techniques students will learn, how you developed the project, what you're excited about.

Sara:  I’m excited about all three of my classes, but the one I’m especially keen to talk about is the Journal of Musings. This is an evening workshop that’s designed to offer a sort of “breathing space” for students. Art & Soul (and so many retreats) is full of life and energy—sometimes it helps to have some time in the midst of all the excitement to look inward, to pause and reflect. 
The workshop combines very simple meditation with journaling prompts focused on key areas in our creative lives. I’ll ask students questions that they can then journal about in the class. It’s going to be a very relaxed, introspective time and I think a good way for people to pause and rejuvenate. The project was initially developed in response to my own experience in meditation-with-journaling and the surprising (and very useful) things that come out of a session like this.

Catherine: How has your artistic style developed over the years, especially in terms of your teaching? Do you develop a different sort of art for the classes you teach, or have you developed techniques because of a teaching experience?

Sara: My artistic style has definitely evolved over the years, mostly due to lifestyle changes. I moved from a place (Portland, Oregon) that has a lot of readily-available craft supplies to one (Amsterdam, Netherlands) that has few craft stores but lots of art supply stores and markets. So my supplies-on-hand have changed, which has forced me to investigate materials I might not have thought about using before.  I also take classes, which teaches me new techniques but more importantly, allows me the time to nurture my own creative spirit. Sometimes people wonder why a teacher is taking classes—I think it’s vital that we do.

As for developing techniques in light of my own workshops…when I’m working in my studio, half of my mind is always thinking, “Can I teach this in a class? Could I write an article about this?” and then, “What questions would the students/readers ask?” Those questions very often lead me down interesting paths, as I imagine students saying, “Okay, but what happens if I do this instead of that?” Well, I’d like to have an answer for them!

Catherine: With a young child how do you find time for your art?

Sara: Naps, naps, naps! J I have a daughter, Anna, who will be one in February—she goes to kinderdagverblijf (daycare) two days a week. Those are my days to make stuff, design classes, put together class kits, etc. All the messy stuff or projects that require concentration or need to be kept away from little fingers. On the other weekdays, I take advantage of her naps to do quicker projects or writing.

My studio is a shed outside, so if I’m going to make art while she naps, I need to bring materials inside and set up on the kitchen table. So the night before, I decide what I’m going to work on during Nap #1 and Nap #2, then I fill a cardboard box with the supplies I need, and put it in the closet. When she falls asleep, I whisk it out and when she wakes up, I pop it all back in the box and into the closet. Evenings and weekends, my husband and I tag-team it so we each have time to do our own things.

One thing about kids, though—I think playing with kids is one of the best ways to get your creativity going. There’s nothing like making up silly songs, making stuffed animals “talk” in funny voices, or going to the park or the petting zoo to force you to relax and have fun. And that, for me, can be just the break I need to get my creativity going.

But I have to say, this year has been a biiiiiig learning curve for me in terms of balance and flexibility. And I don’t get it right all the time by any means—some days are great, some days are hard…and sometimes, each day is it’s own exercise in creativity as I’m just trying to figure out what the heck I’m doing.

Oh, one more thing…as a person who loves to say YES to projects, I’ve found that having a limited amount of time has really forced me (in a good way) to learn to say NO to things I don’t have time for, so that I do have time for the things I want to do.

Catherine: Do you work in a planned or intuitive way?  How would you describe your approach?

Sara: I’m a “planny” sort of person anyway, so I like having a general idea in my mind before I get started. That said, once I have the gist of something down, I love just seeing where the path goes—whether that’s trying a different color or seeing what would happen if I did this to that…

I also structure what I call Lab Times into my creative work time. This is where I have a sort of self-assigned question or idea or thought and just want to see if something would work. This relieves me of any stress over “making” something, and the experiments are usually where I come up with the most useable techniques. (Even if the experiment only allows me to tell people what not to do!)

Catherine: What do you enjoy most about teaching?

Sara: I love the connections that happen in a class—between students, between me and the students, between the students and the technique or product or their result. I feel pretty privileged to be a part of this greater creative community, where we can all share what we know.

Thank you Sara!

Sara's class on Lazertran Transfers is so popular that it is full, but there is still space in her Narrative Jewelry class and her Journal of Musings class.

Don't forget to comment on this post to be in line for an exciting Art and Soul goodie bag draw provided by Artistic Artifacts Annex.  

Wisdom is of the Soul

I've been preparing additional samples for the Photo Transformations class I am teaching at Art and Soul in early March,and just love the message this owl had for me.  This is a Great Horned Owl that lives at the Carolina Raptor Center.

I often look through the words in old books to add text to my art and today these words jumped out at me "Wisdom is of the soul".  This was after I decided to name this regal looking owl "Wisdom" - it seemed like the right name for him.  Then I wondered why he looked so stern and the words "Listen! Nature speaks" came together.  It seems he wanted to make sure I was listening to the signs of the natural world.

Yes, I am ...

Scattering joy through paint.fabric.metal

Jenni Horne's byline: scattering joy through paint, fabric.metal reminds me of what creating art does for me - it makes me feel joyful! I love viewing the world through the eyes of another artist and just love the way Jenni depicts the world through her paintings. Spending time with creative people inspires our creative life and that is why I have attended art retreats.  A couple of days in the company of creatives seems to encourage my creative soul to give more time to what I love doing.  I will be meeting Jenni in person at Art and Soul in Virginia Beach at the beginning of March this year, but wanted to get to know her a little before the event and share her with others.

Catherine: Where do you get your inspiration from?

Jenni:  I draw inspiration from so much on a day to day basis.  The class I am teaching at Art and Soul is called, “The American Still Life”.   I am drawn to the simplicity of these subjects; trucks, bikes, campers, old phones, etc.  To me they symbolize gentle reminders to slow down, remember the past and look forward to the future.

  

Catherine: After art, what else is your passion?

Jenni: I am a sucker for decorating our home.  We just moved into a new house so I am having a wonderful time making our home a nest to enjoy. 

Catherine:  What type of classes do you like to take at Art and Soul

Jenni: I love to make jewelry.  Although I am a painter by trade, jewelry making is truly a passion.  I try and take at least one class every retreat to build my skill level.

Catherine: What aspect of teaching do you love the most?

Jenni:  I love inspiring others to create beautiful works of art.  I do not encourage “cookie cutter” art in my classes, but rather encourage students to find their own voice in the creative journey.  I always tell my students in the beginning of class that I am here to guide them through the art making process.  In the end, it is not my goal for them to create a “Jenni Horne”, but rather a piece from their own hands  that is the voice from within them.  Of course as a student they are there to learn from my experiences as a painter, and through a day’s workshop we explore many techniques and materials together.  Always however, the end goal is for my attendees to leave inspired, and full of enthusiasm for a medium I love.  With this knowledge my hope is that they continue to build their creative journey at home.

Catherine: Do you have a favorite technique? 

Jenni: I’ve actually developed my own painting technique over the years.  It combines the skills I learned in the print making studio, painting studio with acrylics and my love of encaustics, without the hot wax!  The end result is truly unique.

Catherine: Do you work in a planned or intuitive way?  How would you describe your approach?

Jenni: As a child I loved the plastic viewfinder toy.  You could click frame to frame at your own pace, flipping fast through lesser exciting images and staying for a spell on the ones that captivated your imagination.  My creative journey is much like this.  I have on my art desks always more than one project.  It allows me to seamlessly flow from project to project, as well as being a better use of my time.  It is not uncommon for a body of 5 paintings to be worked on at once.  They all get texture and carving, they all get cool colors, they all get warm colors, they all get collage at once.etc...  They are all a part of the wheel….and in the end help to create the story I am telling through my art.

Jenni, thank you for sharing your creative process with me.  And I have to let you know that I just love your blog, especially the image of you holding the Paint Something card! And discovering that you just live up the road from me (well sort of) in Atlanta, Georgia.

Visit Jenni's Blog: Jenni Horne Studios

Dawn Time

This past weekend I caught a 6:00am flight from North Carolina to California.  My plan was to try and sleep so I would arrive refreshed in San Jose.  But I was captivated by the changing light outside the plane window.  The bright blues, yellows, oranges, the moon in the dawn sky ... I couldn't help but feel the magic of earth waking beneath me and kept watching out the window.  Every few minutes the scene in front of me changed.  I felt surrounded by magic, and realized just how many mornings I sleep through the beauty of the dawn.

 
“One of the strange things about living in the world is that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is going to live forever and ever and ever. One knows it sometimes when one gets up at the tender solemn dawn-time and goes out and stands alone and throws one's head far back and looks up and up and watches the pale sky slowly changing and flushing and marvelous unknown things happening until the East almost makes one cry out and one's heart stands still at the strange unchanging majesty of the rising of the sun—which has been happening every morning for thousands and thousands and thousands of years. One knows it then for a moment or so...”    
Frances Burnett
 

This early morning flight was a reminder of the unending beauty of the sky above us.  The sun is always rising somewhere, the colors of the sky are always glowing brightly somewhere in the world.  I am so grateful to be living on this beautiful planet of ours.

Sunset over Glow-Worm Pond

One of my dreams is to one day live where I can see the sun set every day.  There is something about acknowledging the end of the day by taking time to watch the sun move below the horizon that speaks to me.  It seems like a good way to be present to the passing of time and to the beauty of nature, and seems like a perfect time to give thanks for the privilege of being alive at this time and in this place.

Last weekend my husband and I were fortunate enough to be invited to visit the farm of a Joe and Hilda Madaras in Peachland, NC.  Joe and Hilda have created a beautiful haven with trails through the woods, ponds with inviting places to stop and sit, and they get to watch the sun set every day over their pond from their home.

The sunset looks different every day.  A spectacular sunset depends on clouds in the sky.  But even when there are no clouds the jewel tones water-colored across the sky make you stop and want to breathe in amazement at the art of nature.

After our walk around the farm we sat snugly inside as the sun journeyed below the horizon.  Looking through the window I was greeted by the lights of Joe and Hilda's Christmas tree reflected on the glass door adding even more magic to the end of the day.

Live Each Day as a Work of Art

"What would it be like if you lived each day, each breath, as a work of art in progress?

Imagine that you are a masterpiece unfolding, every second of every day, 

a work of art taking form with every breath.

Thomas Crum

What would you do each day if your life were a work of art in progress?  Think about it.  Because your life is a work of art.  You create your life with each breath you breathe, with every thought you think, with every action you take.