Virginia Beach... One Colorful Event!

Wow, wow, wowie, wow! What a colorful event Virginia Beach Art & Soul was! Everywhere I turned there was bold color and striking patterns in all kinds of mixed media projects created in our amazing workshops. Like this gorgeous enamel pendant made by one of Jean Van Brederode's students... it looks like it was made by Mother Nature herself!

These Alcohol Ink backgrounds created in Cathy Taylor's class just blew me away. And, in case you didn't already know, she IS the Queen of Alcohol Inks. She has so many techniques that produce so many different results, it's always a pleasure to peek in and see what her students are creating.

And how about these magnificent copper bracelets made in Eva Sherman's class! They look like they're painted with Alcohol Inks, but they're actually painted with fire! A beautiful and sophisticated cuff with texture and color made from a flame. Wow!

We love seeing happy students showing off their colorful projects, like this hand made journal from Doris Arndt & Judy Gula's Printed and Bound workshop.

How about layers and layers and layers of color and patterns to create a basis for some awesome sea creature paintings, made in Kitty Miller's class. Such richness and depth!

 

Our on site store, hosted by Judy Gula of Artistic Artifacts is always a colorful place to stop in and shop in. She so graciously carries everything you could possibly need (and more) for the many different workshops we offer. It's a partnership made in mixed-media heaven!

And of course, we absolutely adore our colorful attendees... dressing the part... as unique and creative as the events we host... they are the epitome of the fun, lightheartedness and whimsy we strive to embody at all our retreats!!

In addition to all the wonderful work that comes out of Art & Soul, we really appreciate where it's all made... and take full advantage of the very, very, very spacious classrooms at Virginia Beach! It creates the perfect environment to stretch your mind, and your legs... and to spread out all your goodies, set up workstations and have all the room you need to create until your heart's content.

As always our professional, nurturing instructors enjoyed guiding our students through every facet of the creative process. Our teachers absolutely love sharing their knowledge with you, and it shows. They've been so inspirational for so many people, it just warms my heart.

And what's an Art & Soul retreat without a little showing off... like your new hooters... from Erin Keck's workshop of the same name, of course. What were you thinking?

These ladies were so proud to show off their tunics made in Ruth Chandler's sewing class, made with vintage fabrics. It was a fabulous way to take the old and make it new again! We are thrilled to be able to offer unbelievable sewing classes, thanks to Bernina providing us with all the machines we need.

And our Virginia Beach retreat would not be complete without Mother Nature showing off! We were so lucky to catch a glipse of these dolphins playing and feeding right off shore during our week on the Chesapeake Bay! What a delight to watch.

So, in case you couldn't tell by now, we had a great time in Virginia. We LOVE the beach! The opening party continues to be a smash hit. Big thanks to Sally Roesler and Beadniks for hosting an open house – complete with special music provided by Dennis Webb. Our students continue to astound me with their adventurous spirits and fearlessness when it comes to trying something new. Our instructors have become family and as they nurture you I watch in awe at the creativity they bring out in all of you! Our Vendor Night, our hotel staff, our rooms with balconies to soak in this amazing shoreline... I am blessed to be a part of it all. So thank you, thank you, thank you... from the bottom of my heart... and soul.

Glenny
xoxo

Kansas City in Full Swing!

Well, we're at the glorious Elms Hotel and Spa in Excelsior Springs, MO and our mixed media art retreat is in full swing! There is something about this hotel that is difficult to explain unless you experience it in person. You immediatley feel welcomed and embraced. And its not the staff — it is the HOTEL. And its EXACTLY what Art & Soul is all about.

Classes are in progress and students are busy making, making, making. Just check out this Steampunk Airship Chime from one of Erin Keck's students. Too cool!

And here are some of Erin's students getting their etch on... in her Shoe Cobbler's Journal workshop. They hand crafted some amazing books!

This adorable lounging feline is the class sample for Doris Arndt's Here Kitty Kitty workshop. Can't wait to see the colorful creations her students come up with.

And speaking of colorful, I'm so proud of our very own Cathy Taylor, shown her at her book signing...

Her new book, Pigments of Your Imagination is hot off the press, and chock full of ideas for using Alcohol Inks in your art. It really is stunning!

So that's just a sneak peek at what we've been up to. There's a whole lot more going on. If you're in the area, stop on by and we'll fit you into a class!

© photos courtesy of Jean Van Brederode

Pigments of Your Imagination... A New Book by Cathy Taylor!

We are so excited to announce... or brag, really... about one of our very own Art & Soul instructors, Cathy Taylor. She recently published a gorgeous book on the many ways to create using Alcohol Inks entitled Pigments of Your Imagination. How adorable is that title!

Besides being a popular and talented workshop instructor, Cathy is an award-winning mixed-media artist and one very creative soul. Her artwork is a celebration of the patterns, textures, and color found in the the natural environment. Cathy is known for her ability to interpret a subject in a variety of styles. From her colorful detailed alphabetical designs, to her whimsical collages and multi-dimensional abstracts, Cathy's work is represented in museums, nature centers and private collections throughout the U.S. and abroad. Some of Cathy's work is licensed for use on clothing, textiles, and gift items. She is also a signature member of both the National Collage Society and the International Society of Experimental Artists. She's one talented lady!

Here's what her publisher, Schiffer, has to say about this amazing compilation of unique techniques...

"Discover magic! Join the vibrant, prismatic world of luminous alcohol inks. Mercurial, versatile, inexpensive, and wildly colorful, alcohol inks are one of the newest mediums to hit the art community. Pigments of Your Imagination is your essential guide for working with alcohol inks, from choosing which inks to use for each project to learning how to maximize your artistic potential with a wide variety of fascinating techniques. Using an assortment of materials and tools, learn how to work on a variety of surfaces, including paper, glass, metal, fabric and plastic. Find inspiration for your own masterpieces in the step-by-step demos and guest artist gallery. from the beginning craftsperson to the professional artist, Pigments of Your Imagination offers a broad insight into the expansive world of alcohol inks. Explore the limits of your artistic ingenuity with alcohol inks. Jump Start your creativity!"

We're so very proud of Cathy and this new publication, which will be available this March. For information on the book or to pre-order a copy, you can visit the Schiffer Books website, or amazon.com.

If you're interested in taking a workshop with Cathy in-person, she'll be teaching multiple classes at our Portland Art & Soul event, at our Kansas City retreat, and at the Virginia Beach venue for 2015. So reserve a copy of her book and check out the unique workshops she has to offer!

Congratulations, Cathy Taylor!

© 2015 photo by Schiffer Publishing

Woot! Woot! Next Stop... Virginia!

Yeah, yeah... I know. Most trains go Toot! Toot! But this year at Art & Soul, we're aboard the Orient Express... a clever and creative locomotive, heading right for your favorite mixed media workshops! Our theme for this year, Orient Express is a great analogy for our events... with so many exotic workshops to offer, over a week's worth of time... you'll be on the fast train to uplifting your creative spirit like you took an artistic vacation. Woot! Woot!

And the next stop on this amazing journey is our Virginia Beach Event. Filled with such a variety of classes in all types of categories, you won't want to miss this Art & Soul in October. Here's just a sampling of what we have to offer this year (and a special offer at the end of this article)! Check it out...

Julie Haymaker Thompson's whimsical approach to jewelry makes this Full Metal Jacket workshop fun and easy. Using cold-connection techniques and tons of layering, these beautiful baubles will adorn you by the end of class!

Okay, seriously? This looks like something you can find in a high end interior decorator's store. But Tory Brokenshire can teach you how to Light Up Your Life all on your own, from wire form to finished lamp! How cool is that?

We've altered everything else at Art & Soul, so why not your jeans? Sandy Lupton helps you do the Hippy Hippy Shake as you alter and embellish your favorite comfy blues. The results are pretty adorable.

Do you Zentangle? Well if you have, you know... but if you haven't and you try it, you'll never ever stop! But how could you with such gorgeous results as these. Join Suzanne McNeill as she kicks it up a notch with color, not to mention some style and pizazz!

Are you a queen? Yes you are! So you totally need to make this stunning French Beaded Crown with A Gilded Life's girls Shea Fragoso and Debbie Murray. And you don't even have to bring a thing to their class! Now that's being treated like royalty.

Cathy Taylor takes you where very few have gone before... inside your electronic devices! Why? Well, it's for the purpose of repurposing circuit boards to create whimsical collages. Don't worry, your brain won't Short Circuit in this workshop, as Cathy is the most patient of teachers.

Get whisked away to a magical forest in Judy Porter's Woodland Whimsies workshop, as you learn to sculpt your own fairy, elf or troll in polymer clay. A fun and unique class that will surely appeal to your fantasy fetishes.

And there's really so much more that we have to offer this year. When I was reviewing all our workshops for this post, it was so hard to choose which ones to showcase. We've got amazingly talented instructors, with stunning projects and techniques to teach you.

Virginia Beach Art & Soul

September 29 - October 5, 2014

Virginia Beach Resort Hotel

Virginia Beach, VA

So check out our classes today. And, if you register before May 31st, you'll get 10% off all workshops. Simply use the code SPRING VA for your special discount! For more information on workshops, you can browse our website by workshop instructors, individual classes, or even by project photos. So grab a cup of your favorite beverage and have a look around.

Kansas City Art & Soul... a Spectacular Event!

If this looks like a smorgasbord to you... If this makes you take a quick breath in and sigh with delight as that same breath flows back out... If you think you've landed at the buffet line in Art Heaven.... well, then... you've either been to one of our mixed media retreats... or you need to attend one!

And although we are in the midst of our Portland event (are we even allowed to have this much fun in one month?), I just had to share with you what a spectacular time we had at our Kansas City Art & Soul Retreat!

Every year we return here, we feel more welcome, more excited, and more overwhelmed with the positive response we get from attendees. It makes my mixed media heart go pitter-patter!

We had lots of smiling teachers — who actually travel from all over the US (and other countries!) — just to share their creative projects and techniques with our students. We're pretty lucky.

We also had lots of smiling students! Their zest for learning never ceases to amaze me.

...and yes, sometimes we let Marie out to play! Just look at that gorgeous fabric book she's working on.

Put them all together and what do you get? Some pretty amazing artwork. Like these alcohol ink prints made in Cathy Taylor's class.

...or this spine-tingling mixed media necklace made by a student in Jean VanBrederode's Gruesome Griselda workshop. 

In Leslie Brier's Santos class, students really pushed the limits of form and function to create these doll reliquaries using all sorts of bits and baubles. The quiet moments in the classroom let you know that there's something good going on. That's the sound of concentration and being in the moment!

Here's a student all tangled up in Zentangle, taught by the very talented Suzanne McNeill. I'm telling you... if you ever start to Zentangle... you will never stop! It's doodling at its finest (and funnest!).

And speaking of addictive hobbies... have you played with Gelli Plates yet? Go ahead... I dare you! And I won't even say, "I told you so!"

No matter what your artistic inclinations may be... and no matter what your level of creative experience... there was something for everyone at Art & Soul, Kansas City. We pride ourselves on being an open, welcoming group for all levels of artists.

Besides the workshops we had to offer, it's the sense of community that you find at our retreats... the formation of friendships... and the bonding over new creative adventures that seem to bring our students back year after year. That's the reason I do this. So thanks to all of you who attended, my right and left hand chicks (Marie and Liz), our talented teachers, our lovely hotel & spa The Elms along with their staff, and our on-site store Artistic Artifacts. Together we make one tribe!

Glenny
xoxo

P.S. Want to see more awesome pictures from our Kansas City Retreat at the Elms Hotel? Check out our photo album on the Art & Soul Facebook page.

© 2014 photos by Liz Kettle

Button Up & Enjoy Some Alcohol...

Just wanted to pop in and show you some virtual eye candy of the wonderful classes we have at our upcoming Kansas City, MO retreat. Event though it doesn't start until March 19th of 2014 — it'll be here before you know it!


Jean Van Brederode has outdone herself again with this gorgeous Button Up! workshop. In it, you'll create a charming necklace of buttons, buckles, and bling! Upcycle those favorite glass, bone, shell, metal, or plastic buttons as you form a delightful mixed media necklace by encasing and attaching single and groups of buttons in attractive and unusual combinations. You'll get to explore many useful yet simple soldering and connecting techniques, and you will leave with a complete and fanciful ready-to-wear creation!


And Cathy Taylor takes you out of this world with her workshop on Creating Magic With Alcohol Inks. Ohhhh, those bright, beautiful, luscious, yummy alcohol inks. I love it so much, I think I'm going to have to go to Alcohol Inks Anonymous! You'll be enchanted with the amazing new techniques presented in this fun filled, experimental workshop. Using alcohol inks and some weird and wonderful tools, you will create incredible artwork even if you don’t have a background in painting. Quirky, unexpected, and surprising results every time you create. You'll love learning how to go with the flow!

Check out all of our fabulous Kansas City classes for 2014 on our website. Or you can browse by instructor, take a look at our example project photos, or view more of our instructor videos. Any way you look at it, we'd love for you to join us!

Kansas City Wrap Up... sMiles & sMiles of Creativity!

Well, what can I say? Our inaugural event in Kansas City, Missouri this past April was a wonderful respite for creative souls of all kinds. With so many amazing photos to sift through (oh, and another Art & Soul Retreat in VA at the end of April), it's taken me this long to pick out a few to share with all of you!

I must confess... the first time you do anything new, there's always a sense of nervousness about everything going right. But I have to say... between the beautiful venue, the excited students and our multi-talented workshop instructors.... it was a time and a place to remember!

Our newest retreat took place at The Elms Hotel & Spa, located on the outskirts of Kansas City in the town of Excelsior Springs. Doesn't that sound just heavenly? Well, it was!

From the inside out, this historic hotel was an ideal setting for letting go of the everyday hustle and bustle of life, while attendees explored new artistic techniques and made wonderfully creative projects! The grounds and interior were absolutely gorgeous and the old timey feel only added to that.

Heck...  even the coffee was pretty! The staff was simply outstanding and met our very unusual demands with a smile. They enjoyed having us... and you could tell. And we enjoyed being there.

I mean... take a look at some of the classrooms! What an inspirational place to make art and create mixed media magic.

Like this amazing piece created in one of Cathy Taylor's classes. It's a brilliantly colored, cleverly shaded, excellently executed masterpiece! The students really take my breath away.

And speaking of masterpieces, want to paint like a master? Then study with Jill Berry and you'll be doing it in no time flat. Picasso in a day.... it can be done!

Like to play with dolls? So does Tory Brokenshire, here with some student work. Having students recycle tins for bodies and create clay people around them — each with their own unique look — was magnificent to see unfold in her Story Tellers class.

And talk about fine details.... you cannot even imagine the beautiful fabric and fiber creations that come out of any Liz Kettle's classes! All the careful, thoughtful placement of color and stitch is something that happens magically whenever she teaches a workshop.

Got Gelli Plates? Well, if you don't... and you try it... then you will. Ask anyone at Art & Soul who tried this technique... and they'll tell you they're hooked! A new and easy way to make fodder for your journal pages, collages and much more. So pretty!

Are you a metal head? We have all kinds at Art & Soul. These ladies are having a ball (not of the head-bangers type) in Jill Timm's dremel workshop. Now that's class!

Or maybe you'd like to Chime In... which was the clever name of Erin Keck's creative class, where students got to upcycle tons of vintage goodies to make a wind chime of the most extraordinary kind.

Perhaps you're more of the texting kind? Take a look at this amazing journal work. Just gorgeous!

A bit of schpritzing....

A little carving...

And a fabulous Vendor Extravaganza made this a first time event to remember!

We really had it all at Art & Soul Kansas City! The turnout was great, but the smiles are what made it all worthwhile. These pictures reveal only a fraction of the endless creativity and fun we all had, but I don't think Blogger will let me add any more in this post! So I'm going to just thank you all again... the attendees, the teachers, my right hand chicks, Judy and her pop-up store, our vendors, the hotel and staff.... Thank YOU! We'll see you all again in 2014.

Hugs,
Glenny
xoxo