My Self…Just Now

with Albie Smith

Imagine if, each day, there truly were no expectations, just a simple exploration and willingness to ask:

"What now"?
"What do I want"?

This workshop will allow you the space and freedom to explore those questions. This discovery may take many forms. There will be demos each day for learning both simple and complex techniques, if that is what you want. Allow your love of beauty and creating to take you down one or many of the different paths that will be available to you. Explore making a journal from this spacious place, or raising a simple painting experience to a new level of self-awareness. You can do as much or as little as you desire. You can come away with wonderful finished projects, or with uncompleted bits and pieces that will continue to inspire you at home.

I designed this workshop for you to have the type of experience I have in my own studio—lots of choices, lots of color, lots of time. I’m providing most of the supplies so that you can experiment and play with whatever speaks to you. We’ll start off by exploring the world of surface design on paper using paste paper, painting techniques and color washes. I’ll provide lots of stamps and stencils to use with the acrylic gesso, paints and glazes that will be our primary mediums for the next three days. You’ll learn new techniques and gain confidence in expressing your ‘self’ with color, texture and design. The skills you accumulate will translate from one project to another, as we first make journals with simple bindings for you to record your discoveries over the three days.

I’ll offer optional exercises, such as collage with magazine images and mediums, to help uncover who you are in that moment; painting demos if you want to express yourself with color and paints; and a full-body representation of your ‘self’. You’ll know which direction you’re pulled in, and I’ll be there to guide you as needed. You’ll decide if you want to focus on surface design, making lots of soft-covered books, exploring collage, painting, or whatever else you’re drawn to. Finally, I hope you’ll join me in making a ‘life-size painting’—an expression of all you’ve discovered about yourself.

Starting with your life-size outline, we’ll explore: What speaks to you from inside? What images, colors, designs reflect what lies within? Are you fiery red with swirls of emotion? Cool blue serenity? A rainbow of delightfully conflicting ideas? Is your heart bursting with love? Or is that grief for a painful loss? Where is your energy? Where is your calm? Do you hold something special in your hands? Are your eyes really in your head or do you see from somewhere else?

If your desire is to learn new ways of creating…this will be a space to allow that to happen. If your desire is to create a book, a collage or a painting…this is an opportunity for that. What you learn is often unexpected, and what you will bring into form will surprise you with its beauty and depth.

What luxury! The time, the abundance, and the support to play in color and form, and all in a beautiful, serene setting. I hope you’ll join me…

There is a $25 supply fee, to be paid directly to the instructor on the first day of class.

An Artful Journey has teamed up with an online vendor to make your artful shopping easier--order supplies at a generous discount AND have them waiting for you at the retreat, for no additional charge! Please visit http://store.scraplovers.com/artfuljourney.html for more information.

Supply List

Click here to download a printable supply list

X-acto knife
Cutting mat
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil
Awl
4 utility brushes (also called chip brushes). Get the ones that are 2” wide and put your name on them. These are available at hardware stores.
Two or more painting surfaces, such as canvas boards, 8"x10" or larger
Paint brushes for working with acrylics—bring a few different sizes
Gloves, if you don’t like paint on your hands

Optional: