Saturday, April 27, 2013

Art & Soul Radio... Tune in for Seek Your Course Takes A Turn with Jess Greene, Mon., April 29

 
Jess Greene is a Creativity Advocate, Dream Amplifier, and Curator of Transformational Opportunities. As the founder of Seek Your Course — a digital media platform for the promotion of creative classes all over the planet — Jess inspires adults worldwide to engage the creativity inside their minds and craft-inspired lives. 
 
Her Creative Ease classes and consulting services enable artists to master the current technologies that can take their endeavors to the next level. Give your creativity permission and potential by seeing what she has to offer, and keep up with the latest updates on creative classes by signing up for the Seek Your Course mailing list.

And listen to our inspirational chat this Monday...

Art & Soul Radio featuring Jess Greene
with Lesley Riley
Monday, April 29
7:00pm EST

blogtalkradio.com/art-and-soul-radio


Monday, April 22, 2013

Virginia Beach... Things to Bring & Lots of Shopping!

Well, kiddos... it's almost here! Virginia Beach Art & Soul kicks off tomorrow and we've got so many wonderful workshops, exciting events and good times planned for you.

So to get you all excited about your creative adventure, we thought we'd share a couple things with you that we get asked a lot....

First, "what should I bring in my 'Basic Supply Kit'?" is one of our topmost questions. We consider this like your creative purse... of sorts. Stuff you'll probably need or that you wish you had on hand — in a pinch — while you're here. So, on the right here... is what we think are the top items you might need in your magic bag! So, in addition to your specific workshop supplies, you may want to bring along some of these popular items.

That covers Things to Bring. Now didn't I mention Lots of Shopping? Oh yeah! Our attendees are always asking, " What can I find at the on-site store? And when are they open?"


As always, Judy Gula and her fabulous Artistic Artifacts store have set up shop (pun intended) at our retreat as our exclusive On-Site Store! We love Judy for her tireless dedication to our creative adventurers, and of course for her awesome selection of hand dyed vintage linens & trims, coins, keys, beads, buttons, charms, metal, paper & fiber collage kits, vintage and new game pieces, surface design supplies, embellishments, craft tools and supplies, books, magazines inks, paints, rubber stamps and sooooo much more. So if you forget something, need something, or just have to have something... she's got it! And she'll even have a space set up to try out some of the latest and greatest products... so you'll know that you have to have them!!

The Artistic Artifacts on-site store hours 
(same as the Art & Soul Office hours) will be:
Tuesday, April 23 — 3:00pm - 6pm
Wednesday - Friday, April 24 - 26 — 7:30am - 6pm
Saturday, April 27 — 7:30am - 5pm
Sunday, April 28 — 8am - 2pm


And then there's our Vendor Night Extravaganza!! "What time should I be there and who is vending?" We'll have a giant room full of vendors — which includes many of our very own instructors — offering original artwork, antique objects, fabrics, jewelry notions, collage items, assemblage and mixed media components, art supplies, vintage everything and more! Something for everyone. The vendor event is free to registered attendees and is open to the public for a fee of $10 at the door. A no-host bar will also be available to enhance your evening... and loosen your purse strings, LOL!

Here's a list of people and businesses you'll be able to shop on 
Saturday Evening from 6pm - 9pm!

Workshop Teachers:
  • Sally Jean
  • Catherine Anderson
  • Serena barton
  • Clarissa Callissen
  • Jen Crossley
  • Doreen Kassel
  • Erin Keck
  • Kari McKnight
  • Lynn Suprock - Simlpy Pretty Things
  • Cheryl Strait
  • Jean VanBrederode
  • Sandra Wilson
  • Kim St Jean
  • Stephanie Rubiano
 
Outside Vendors:
  • Renewed Interest- Nancy Clark
  • Collage Closet
  • Found Objects
  • Havana Banana
  • Paper Gems
  • Rusty & Crusty
  • Vintage Rescue Squad
  • Soulie Sandras - Sandra Koterba  
  • and maybe a few surprises!

So save a little money and leave a little extra space in your luggage and we'll see you there!

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Something for You... Something for Me.

Got junk? How about stuff? Have some UFOs (Un-Finished Objects)? Art supplies? Surfaces? Bits and pieces? Remnants? Vintage whatnot? And you know that you're probably not going to use it? But you don't want to toss it. Well then... bring it with you to the Virginia Beach Art & Soul and donate it to our Swap Table!

We'll have a table set up for all those little things that are taking up valuable space in your craft room... so you can exchange it for other stuff you can use! Just bring your things to the on-site store/registration area and drop it off any time. And if you see something you'd like... take it home! It's just that simple.

So check your drawers, plastic bins, shelves and boxes. I know you've got some stuff you'd like to get rid of and make room for new goodies! Here's a list of some things that would be great for donating...
  • fabric, lace, ribbon
  • paints, pastels, inks, pens, pencils
  • rubber stamps and ink pads
  • ephemera of all kinds
  • vintage books and magazines
  • jewelry bits, findings, beads, charms
  • scrapbook papers
  • old toys, game pieces
  • yarn, thread, sewing notions
  • art and craft tools
  • unused clay
  • cigar boxes 
  • old photos
  • craft and project books 
  • interesting found objects 
  • antique anything
  • dolls and doll parts (yup! we love 'em all)
  • stuff you only used once
  • things you don't know what to do with
  • and anything else you can think of!

Can't wait to see you in Virginia Beach... can you believe it's just one week away!!

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Virginia Beach Opening Night Par-tay! Woot!

Going to our Virginia Beach Art & Soul Retreat in a couple weeks? Well then, we'd love for you to join us for an Opening Night Party sponsored by...


A most amazing bead shop, located right in Virginia Beach, The Bead Goes On features Hill Tribe silver and copper plated beads, handmade lampwork beads, resin beads, exotic beads from Thailand and all kinds of findings. Some very unique items, I must say!


Stop on in and enjoy food, drinks and a special goody bag with some pretty awesome... well... we'll just keep you guessing! Catch up with your Art & Soulmates and meet some newbies. Chat, nibble and share your creative excitement. The party is free for all attendees!

Virginia Beach Art & Soul 2013
Opening Night Party
Tuesday, April 23rd
6:00pm

We are beyond excited to have The Bead Goes On as one of our exclusive sponsors, and for generously putting on this pre-event shindig. We are equally excited to see our East coast Art & Soul family! See you in a couple weeks!!

© photos courtesy of The Bead Goes On

Monday, April 8, 2013

Springtime Brings... Happy Harpies!

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It's Springtime, yayyy! So I want you to stretch your arms way up in the air like a tree and then I want you to stretch your imagination and think.... Harpy! Why? Because our amazingly creative workshop instructor Clarissa Callesen will be teaching  Happy Harpies in just a few weeks at Art and Soul in Virginia Beach ...and there are still spots left in the class!!  Come play and make your very own Harpy — or maybe we should start calling them Bird Goddesses. Take a look at what her class is all about. Take it away Clarissa....

harpy
I seem to be kind of obsessed with the image of a woman’s face on a bird body or a Harpy.  But Mythologically speaking or in modern slang, the Harpy’s reputation is not a pretty one.

HARPY
–noun, plural -pies.
1. Classical Mythology. a ravenous, filthy monster having a woman's head and a bird's body.
2. (lowercase) a scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman; shrew.
3. (lowercase) a greedy, predatory person.

However in earlier Greek mythology, Harpies were described as beautiful, winged  maidens. So what happened? I have some feminist theories about what happen, but alas this blog is actually about art. I have been making lots of Harpies lately and it has been an image that has been in my sketch books for years.
 

No matter what materials you start with, these magical creatures always end up with very distinct personalities. One of the many reasons I love creating them! 

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 Assemblage Harpy made with a porcelain doll head on a fake crow body, made this past Spring.  

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This one's made from a vintage composite doll head with eyes that blink,
on a tacky Christmas bird decoration  


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A slightly scarier Harpy made of a composite Virgin Mary head,
with wings made out of gut stretched over wire. 

  
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  And my Geisha Harpy made from a doll head that I had from my childhood.

Wow! Thanks, Clarissa! Pretty cool stuff, huh? My mind has taken flight, thinking of all the wonderful objects I can repurpose into a fascinating bird assemblage! So be sure and check out Clarissa's Happy Harpies workshop, as well as the other amazing classes she'll be teaching at Virginia Beach Art & Soul... and then sign up to play! Hurry... the deadline for registration is April 22nd, and this event takes place April 24th-28th! Tweet! Tweet! 

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Kansas City... Inspiration at its Finest!

After a little help packing... we're finally at our newest venue in Kansas City, MO! The Elms is such an amazing place that it's hard not to be inspired here.

We're having a blast and I'll catch up with you when we get back... and tell you all about our midwest Art & Soul experience!

TTFN,
Glenny
xoxo