Kansas City... Fun and Play and An Arrest on the Way?

Well, another successful Retreat at Art & Soul Kansas City. Our venue — the Elms Hotel & Spa — just made it even more spectacular, with it's rich history, decor, and just the whole feel of the place.

We had so many happy students, making beautiful mixed media works of art, learning new techniques, stretching their creative boundaries.

To our attendees, work is play, just like play is work. But it's the kind of work you could do every day! When I walk into a classroom and everyone is silent... that's when I know they're in the zone!

As usual the projects that came out of our workshops were simply spectacular, as were the grins on the faces of the makers. I know I sound like a broken record, but that really is one of my favorite parts of doing these retreats. When someone creates something they never thought they could, and feels great about it! Boy, am I the proud mama.

The teachers we had lined up for this event were just spectacular. With degrees in Art, Life, and doctorates in Patience.... they really do help our students shine!

There were such a variety of classes available, that everyone found something to push their creative boundaries. Jewelry, fabric, collage, assemblage, bookmaking, sculpting, and so much more!

It was a pleasure to watch all these different techniques unfold through all the different projects taught at this retreat. ALTHOUGH... when the police arrived, we were all wondering how such a low-key creative retreat could have brought the boys in blue!

We're still not sure WHY the local police arrived (including the Captain who happily put on a steampunk hat) but we had them laughing and enjoying our festivities. And it was a fun ending to a great week with a few of our hororary attendees. 

And THEN, we were sure the ghost had placed a body in the pool – and were amused to learn that it was an attendee who just left our foolishness and was soaking and floating around!

Just more proof that you never know what will happen at one of our Art & Soul Retreats... whether it's art imitating life... or life imitating art (or a scene from CSI!) a good time and good laughs are always had by all!

See you next time in Virginia!

Glenny & the Crew
xoxo

© photos courtesy of Glenny Moir, Jean Van Brederode, Erin Keck, Mindy Lacefield, Seth Apter, Blue Twig Studio

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

Teacher Spotlight... Helen Garcia!

This is just one of Helen Garcia's amazing projects from the amazing workshops she'll be teaching at our Kansas City, MO Art & Soul Retreat! We got to experience this class — Crinkly Iridescent Vestiges Quilt — in Portland and it was... amazing!  This paper quilt is loaded with colorful crinkly textures. The paint and ink flowed into the crevices giving the papers a wonderful aged look. Students got to experiment with this special watermedia batik-like technique on Masa rice paper. They used an acrylic ink technique to make marks and paint with watercolor, letting the colors blend and fuse together naturally. Simply stunning!

Helen Shafer Garcia is a painter, mixed media artist and award winning illustrator. Her whimsical style shows a love for living creatively with a studio filled to the brim with found objects! She’s currently working with watercolor, pastel and mixed media creating contemporary images on paper along with a series of Icon folklore triptychs with wood, watermedia and found object construction.

For the past 20 years, Helen’s watercolor illustrations have graced the cover brochures, garden articles and advertisements of numerous International resorts and magazines. Awards include four San Diego Press Club First Place Awards of Excellence in Illustration for San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles Magazine. Helen holds a BA degree in Fine Arts and currently teaches college level Watercolor and Acrylic painting, Book Arts, and Pastel.

Here's a sneak peek of what Helen will be teaching at our 2015 Kansas City retreat, which is just around the corner I might add!

Poured Painted Surfaces

Tuesday Evening, April 28

Block Collage Prints

Wednesday Evening, April 29

Inky Prints Folded Book

Thursday, April 30

Crinkly Iridescent Vestiges Quilt

Friday, May 1

Such colorful and graphic workshops Helen has to offer! So why not come play with us and make something beautiful?

Kansas City Art & Soul

Mixed Media Art Retreat

April 27 - May 1, 2015

The Elms Hotel & Spa

Excelsior Springs, Missouri

For more information on Art & Soul or to register for any of our events, visit us at www.ArtAndSoulRetreat.com

See you soon!

Right Around the Corner... Kansas City Art & Soul!

Whew! Time sure does fly when you're thinking about attending an Art & Soul retreat. So I wanted to drop in with a friendly little reminder that registration For our Kansas City Retreat is nearing the end. With the event only about a month away, if you haven't signed up for your favorite mixed media classes... now's the time!

There are still a few spots left in some amazing workshops, with some terrific teachers! And our venue — The Elms Hotel & Spa — is out of this world. This historic hotel exudes a certain quaint and cozy charm like none other. So don't delay... our special Art & Soul hotel rates are only available until April 11th!

Kansas City Art & Soul

April 27-May1, 2015

The Elms Hotel & Spa

Excelsior Springs, MO

So stop what you're doing (we won't tell your boss!) and peruse our selection of Kansas City workshops, then sign up today! It's just the creative playcation you need, to give your creativity a kick-start for Spring! Here's a look back at last year's event. What a wonderful time we all had. Come join us for this inspirational event!

Kansas City Registration Is Now Open!

That's right all my little mid-western mixed-media mavens.... Art & Soul is coming back Kansas City for another event in March 2014! Woohoo! We're totally smitten with this new location and are pleased to have one of our nationwide art retreats here again. Registration is now open and you are going to LOVE the talented instructors and the creative classes we have lined up for you!

Art & Soul Kansas City

March 19-23, 2014

The Elms Hotel & Spa

Excelsior Springs, Missouri

Our gracious hosts for our retreat will be The Elms Hotel & Spa — a wonderfully historic property that offers us the intimate surroundings we absolutely love for our retreats. I must say that I am so ecstatic about this inspirational location that I just cannot contain myself!! The staff made us all feel welcome at our 2013 event and treated us as a part of their family. It really is an amazing place to relax and create!

Here are just some of the highlights of this awesome property...

• Seasonal culinary delights! Our experienced culinary team prepares fresh all meals from scratch featuring seasonal and local ingredients.
• Largest spa between Chicago and Dallas! Our full service spa features a private grotto, Eucalyptus saunas and a wide variety of treatments.
• Enjoy Keurig coffee makers in every guest room, stocked with Elms blend coffee prepared by the Roasterie.
• Fitness center featuring Precor equipment
• Indoor European lap pool with hot and cold tubs, open year round
• Outdoor pool, hot tub and cabanas are available seasonally
• Vintage lawn games, bicycles and guided historic and ghost tours 
• Complimentary wi-fi in guest rooms and all public spaces

So pick out your classes and mark your calendars and get ready to relax, recharge, and rediscover your creative side at this amazing location!!

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