Friday, April 20, 2012

Art & Soul Radio... Tune in for Deanne Fitzpatrick: The Artist Behind The Mat, April 23rd

photo by Lenn Wagg
Come along with Leslie Riley as she chats with Deanne Fitzpatrick, an artist who creates hooked rugs inspired by her life in the Canadian Atlantic areas of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. She has a rug hooking studio in downtown Amherst — a big creative space with a dye kitchen in the back where Deanne transforms old clothes and fancy wools into hooked rugs. She also writes books on rug hooking, and creates the designs for her kits and patterns.

You all probably think we're going to spend an hour talking about rug-hooking, but as I discovered when reading Deanne's book, Inspired Rug-Hooking: Turning Atlantic Canadian Life into Art, the mechanics and how-to of hooking a rug take a back seat to the wisdom she shares about creating in any form! So please join us for an inspirational chat...

Art & Soul Radio featuring Deanne Fitzpatrick
with Lesley Riley
Monday, April 23rd
7:00pm EST
blogtalkradio.com/art-and-soul-radio




And don't forget, Art & Soul Radio's interviews are also available on demand, to listen to at your leisure. Check out what other mixed-media artists are doing and how they're living their lives with passion any time!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Sometimes Life Just Happens...

No matter how hard we try not to brace ourselves for the inevitable... sometimes life just happens. It's regular life-stuff... you know the kind. But it happens anyway. And that's when the things that matter seem to rise to the top. Like friendships. Like a helping hand. Like a beautiful blue sky with little white fluffy clouds. Like art. Art seems to heal in so many ways... whether you make it or you are on the receiving end of it. It's like a soul transfer. Uplifting the spirit. Touching the heart.

And so I'm wondering if any of you out there — at just the right moment in your life — have been touched by a piece of art that you made for or received from someone special. I'd love to hear your stories...

Friday, April 6, 2012

Art & Soul Radio... Tune in for Wen Redmond: Art Quilter & Fiber Artist on April 9th

Come along with Leslie Riley as she chats with Wen Redmond, who has been creating art quilts since the 70s, a time when art quilting was in its infancy. Over the years it has morphed and grown to incorporate digital imagery and processes that have garnered her quilts attention for her unique vision and techniques.

Her work has appeared in numerous publications and shows, including 500 Art Quilts by Lark Books, Quilting Arts magazine and TV show, exhibits throughout the US and most recently, the mecca of all art quilting, Quilt National 2011. Wen’s current work explores digital imagery and combining fabric with a variety of mixed media and surface design.

Leslie and Wen will be talking about this and so much more in her interview. So please join us for an inspirational chat...

Art & Soul Radio featuring Wen Redmond
with Lesley Riley
Monday, April 9th
7:00pm EST
blogtalkradio.com/art-and-soul-radio




And don't forget, Art & Soul Radio's interviews are also available on demand, to listen to at your leisure. Check out what other mixed-media artists are doing and how they're living their lives with passion any time!

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

An Event Planner's Gotta Play Too!

What better respite for myself and my trusty sidekick Marie Kennedy, than to attend ArtFest, which takes place in Port Townsend, Washington, at an old military base. We got to meetup with old friends, make some new friends, and play, play, play! A much needed distraction after our very successful Virginia Beach event.


We got to take a class with Mindy Lacefield called All A-Flutter. She'll be teaching at our Portland event later this year, so it was exciting to actually be in a class of hers as a student! I just love Mindy's whimsical style and her childlike approach to art. Remember when we weren't afraid to try anything?


We got to spend some real quality time with friends and seasoned Art & Soul instructors Ty and Marcia Schultz. They are such dear friends and to be with them in such a relaxed and playful setting, well... it does this girl's heart good. Here's Ty passing the time with a bit of journaling... always up to something creative.


And hello, dolly! Or should I say... goodbye, dolly? Marie took a class called Steampunk Sally with Clarissa Callesen. This is a picture of her doll before and after... what a difference! Looks like she spent weeks on it. Too much fun.


We ran into Andrew Drydahl, who will also be making his Art & Soul teaching debut at our Portland event. He'll be teaching how to make these whimsical rag dolls and some gorgeous steampunk journals. It was great to have some time to get to know a new instructor. It's not very often that we get the opportunity to do so. Typically it's lots of e-mails and phone calls and paperwork going back and forth. So some real face time (and what an adorable face it is!) was a welcome change.

So, needless to say we had an amazing time here. It was a little bittersweet though as, after Artfest's 13 year run... this was their last event. The talented and artistic duo that put on this retreat — Teesha and Tracey Moore — are moving on to something new. It was time for them. But as we all learn together when we attend these wonderfully inspirational creative retreats... there's always something new to learn and discover about ourselves. Cheers to that!

Glenny
xoxo

© photos by Marie Kennedy