Crows Forever

Crows Forever

While in Bemidji, MN on the Creative Gents Retreat, Brian Kasstle introduced a journaling activity that shadows what a graffiti wall looks like.  I just finished my spread after a week of working on it.  Brian will be teaching how to do this spread when we team teach at the Pacific NW Art School in August.

Observe

Observe

I am working in a meandering journal.  I love working in a journal smaller than what I usually work in.  I love the simplicity and the thought behind something minimal.  It has a Wabi Sabi feel to it.

MORE Creative Gents Retreat Photos

metal moose downtown Bemidji

working in Terry's studio

total concentration in Terry's studio

Paul Bunyan, Bemidji, MN

Buffaloes Roam

Buffaloes Roam

Brian Kasstle, Terry Garrett, and I will be teaching a workshop together at the Pacific NW Art School in Coupeville, WA in August.  The three of us have decided that we will create an example for each of the techniques on each of the fifteen spreads that we will teach.  Brian will be teaching this one.

Chattanooga Stomp

Chattanooga Stomp

I like to listen to music.  In fact, I love listening to music when I work on art but I rarely do unless I am working with others.  Why don't I listen solo?  I guess I am so into the art that I forget about outside stimuli.

Music and I have had a rough bout. When I was in high school I tried out for concert chorus because my friends were trying out.  The choir director allowed us to try out in quartets in front of the class or we could do solos after school with her.  I was a very shy person in high school and would never stand in front of a group unless I was forced to do so.

I stayed after school and sang Green Sleeves.  At the end of my song, Virginia Harder closed the cover over the piano keys, looked up at me and said, "Have you ever considered taking Ceramics?" Needless to say, I did not make it into Concert Chorus and I did take Ceramics.  My art career was off and running!

I shy away from using anything about music in my collages.  However, I found a vintage book on jazz at Goodwill and here is the piece, Chattanooga Stomp, as a result.

Nothing

Nothing

Nothing is busy, busy, busy!  Last week at the Creative Gents Retreat in MN, Terry, Thomas, Brian, and I played the prompt game.  It is a favorite activity whenever we meet.  Each in turn gives out a prompt until we get to the point, usually about prompt 21 or so, when we need to finish with a focal point.  Nothing is the result.


Here are some photos of our retreat in Bemidji, MN.  Thomas LaBadia, John Arbuckle, Terry Garrett, and Brian Kasstle (left to right....
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ATC Bemidji, MN 2015 - Creative Gents Retreat

ATC (front) Creative Gents Retreat, Bemidji, MN 2015 

ATC (back) Creative Gents Retreat, Bemidji, MN 2015 

I just returned from a week in the wilds of Northern Minnesota attending the Creative Gents Retreat at Terry Garrett's home.  Also in attendance were Brian Kasstle and Thomas LaBadia.  Terry lives in a long cabin, if you can say cabin when the house is about 4500 square feet (not sure of the exact footage), surrounded by a forest of birch trees.  What an amazing location and amazing hosts (Terry and Ron)!

While at Terry's we created up a storm and taught each other new techniques.  Too much fun and laughter!  What happens in Bemidji stays in Bemidji!  Well, not exactly because we have been posting all over Facebook.  I will post more here over the next few days.  Let's just say I had an absolutely fantastic experience. :-)