Help Us Find Our 2016 Theme! We Want Your Suggestions!

Puttin On The Ritz, 2012

We're deep in the middle of our 2015 retreats, but it's never too early to start contemplating what theme to do for next year's events! We usually unveil our choice — along with a spectacular logo — a few months before the start of the actual season. Just to get you excited and thinking about how you can play around with the theme for trades, book swaps, fashion, accessories and more. Even many of our teachers will submit classes for the year that have the theme incorporated into the project. Such fun!

So we want you to come up some ideas for us, and we're going to pick from your suggestions!

What makes a good theme? Well, lets see... I'll start by sharing with you some of the ways we'll use that theme...

Rock & Roll, 2009

• the Art & Soul logo for that year
• on tee shirts, aprons and such
• our program/your class passes
• for contests
• decorations and signage
• the opening night party

How else does our theme get used?
• for trades
• book swaps
• dressing up
• journaling fun
• demos
• midnight pajama parties
• on-site store DIY
• class projects

....and so much more!

So what else makes a good theme? It's something that can be utilized in all these ways. It's fun and interesting. It's inspirational for our mixed media crowd. It conjures up multiple ideas at the same time. And the images that would make you think of the theme are plentiful.

Into the Garden, 2011

Some of our past themes include Flights of Fancy, Orient Express, On Safari, Into the Garden, Wonderland, Rock and Roll, Cirque du Soul, and a few others that go way back. But now we want your ideas.

So go ahead... tell us what you'd like to see as our theme for 2016. I know that you'll come up with some great ideas! There will probably be so many imaginative ones that we may even use your suggestions for 2017... and 2018... and 2019... and 2020....

Painting A Portrait of Portland...

Wow! What a whirlwind of creativity, courage, and cameraderie we experienced at Art & Soul Portland this year. Tons of artistic attendees learning new and interesting mixed media techniques. Students pushing themselves outside their comfort zones. And so many souls of like mind coming together and forming new friendships and fostering those of years past. This is why we do these events! There aren't too many things better than having a front row seat to the innovation, ingenuity and individuality of our lovely attendees and talented instructors!

So let me paint that portrait of our Portland event for you. Our students are enamored with the genre of mixed media and well... I have to say they make a great impression!

They love to stretch and grow and build layer upon layer of creativity into their repertoire...

I see many thinking outside the box... figuratively and literally!

And we love our tools! Yes, there are paintbrushes and pens... but our mixed media retreats created generations of students that shop for their art supplies at the hardware store!

Time flies here at our events, and people really get in gear...

And sometimes our attendees have dog days... but of course it's always by choice!

And in most cases, we can just throw them a bone... and that makes them happy!

So... all-in-all everybody had a great time in Portland, made amazing stuff, and learned lots of new things. And just as that event has ended, it's time for us to ramp up for our Kansas City, MO Art & Soul retreat! Who wants to come play?

See you soon,
Glenny
xoxo

© photos by Ingrid Dijkers, Erin Keck, Ruth Krening, Rebekah Meier and Jean Van Brederode

Virginia Fun & Frivolity!

Okay, so Marie and I had to pose by the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel marquis. Who doesn't love to see their name in lights!

steampunk style fun in Leslie Brier's Machine Age Santos class

We're having a fabulous time in Virginia, but sometimes... when our Art & Soul students are busy, busy, busy...

gorgeous mica journals from Erin Keck's workshop

...making really cool stuff inside...

...well... some of us head outside for a little break! Here I am posing by the King Neptune statue with longtime attendee turned bestie, Dennis Webb. P.S. I'm much taller than I look! And...

...so is that statue! Holy sea creatures!

And if you've ever wondered what some of our instructors do on their time off, well... Ingrid Dijkers is just playing it by ear!

We're packing up to head home now, but... Wow! What another great retreat we had. I'll catch up soon with more photos and details of the Virginia Beach event.

Ta-ta for now!
Glenny
xoxox