Paintings With Soul

I am so excited to finally be able to share I am one of the 26 instructors in this year's   Make Create Express 2020 . Make Create Express is an online journey of creativity, a collection of 26 artists, each having created 2 exclusive lessons outlining their unique approach for this adventure. The video lessons and other content are delivered weekly via email right to your inbox, so there is no need to scroll through feeds or remember to retrieve/download a thing. And wait - it gets better. Because there's FREE stuff!!  The kickoff to the Make Create Express year is a   FREE Creative Retreat Weekend . During this weekend, which falls on July 11 and 12, a free lesson from each instructor is unlocked. So clear your calendar for two intense days of artmaking! The Creative Retreat Weekend is a great way to check out new-to-you instructors and processes, f ind inspiration in the workshops and the community, and d etermine if the yearlong Make Create Express...

My brave crewe of painters from the Louisiana Art and Artists Guild. I've been in Baton Rouge the past week, painting alongside these lovelies, working on color, brushwork, and what it means to honor one's path as a creative. They were fearless and inspiring, each one tackling their own wish list of lessons and finding ah-ha moments. Including me! Now I'm in New Orleans with  Dianna Reilly (A.K.A. Stella Gray)  for a few days. New Orleans is the perfect setting for further discussion about the way creativity weaves itself into our lives, and how we can best feed it. There are also grits. Lots of grits.

Photo courtesy of one of my Louisiana Art and Artists Guild workshop students from April 2013 - I'm kicking myself hard for not tagging this photo with your name - whoever you are, I am blowing you kisses - thank you!! With a local weather forecast of negative double digits, significantly more snow accumulation, and our school district already warning of possible closures, you can bet I'm excited to be heading south next week. Friday and Saturday I'll be teaching at The Craft Shack near Orlando Florida . I've condensed my 4 day workshop into a whirlwind 2 day extravaganza. We are focusing on color and brushwork, a combination that will leave students with a whole new bag of tricks when they return to their own studios. That is, if they don't collapse of exhaustion first. Because I am a slave driver in the classroom. There were two escapees, err cancellations, yesterday - so grab a seat while you can and leave that winte...

photo courtesy of Sharon Passmore   Prepare class timeline Review exercises, verify demos for each - if not on hand, create, tag, and include Review slideshow/presentation materials - update as needed Refresh bibliography and assemble workbooks Print out extra worksheets Pack props, including candies and treats (purchase fresh) Pack tools, brushes, paints, panels Revise and print out scripts for directed content Prepare demo references Select finished paintings to match/illustrate lesson plans - wrap carefully Verify destination - program GPS Pack personal effects Review 100 times and make sure nothing's been forgotten Stop on way there and purchase whatever's been forgotten Wednesday I collect  Elizabeth St Hilaire Nelson  from the airport, and we head to Traverse City together (she's teaching this weekend too). Thursday the madness begins for both of us and our "kids."   I get tingley just thinking about it - I love teaching! ...