Last Chance for Portland Special Pricing!

Portland Art & Soul
September 30th-October 6th, 2013

Just a friendly reminder that this is your last chance to get our rollback pricing for this year's Portland Art & Soul! This offer is only available through July first. After that, you can still register for classes, but the new pricing will be in effect. In case you forgot the details, check out the info from our announcement post below...
 

Special Pricing for Portland 2013!

We are going to ROLL BACK class pricing to 2004 listings!!  That's right -- all day classes will only be $135!  These special prices will only be available until July 1, 2013. So do not hesitate.  Sign up NOW to make certain you reserve your spot in your favorite classes.  With our payment plan and different payment options, it makes Art & Soul the most affordable retreat for you.

Many of you know that Art & Soul was "born" in Portland and I'm excited to announce that this will be our 12th year.  Can you believe it?  The years have passed in a blink of an eye. This particular event is like my first born child, and I am blessed to have incredible instructors, volunteers and attendees who have offered countless hours of support, innovation and research to make the event the most outstanding art retreat in the country.  The friendships that have been made will last a lifetime and it warms my heart to see the reunions each year.  If you have never attended — join us and connect with like-minded souls! And if you are returning — we cannot wait to see you!

Find out more about this year's workshops, instructors and lodging at... www.artandsoulretreat.com
 

One more special! There is a one-time registration fee per person, per event of $40.  This $10 savings is only available until July 1, 2013.  After that date, it will be $50.

Unexpected Surgery... Knee Deep!

Five days post-op.

Not long after the Virginia Beach Art & Soul retreat, I blew out my knee. Having two "routine" but complex surgeries 7 months apart is quite an experience.  I was physically ill after the bypass, struggling to stabilize blood sugar and insulin doses and dealing with food.  Pain was an issue, but not debilitating. However, being continually nauseated and not able to lift my head from the pillow was miserable and emotionally draining.  It took months before I was back to feeling normal and able to function.

My bed partners on the left of me.

A knee replacement is the opposite. I had my first replacement 13 yrs ago, suffered greatly and refused to have the other knee touched.  I gained more weight, became sedate and it was not an issue for the diseased knee because it didn't have to work.  After losing a significant amount of weight, adopting a very active Giant Schnauzer puppy and becoming more active, the knee was done, not going to function... surgery needed ASAP. 

Bed partners on the right. Hey, I'm in good company!

I have never forgotten the horrible time I had in 2000,  and was continually told not to worry... how different and advanced  the procedure is now.  Uncle Sam (no, not that Uncle Sam!) had his replaced and it was a piece of cake.  Uncle Sam is 102. And, true, all aspects of the surgery from orientation (there was none in 2000) to rehab have changed...and for the better.  The one constant for me is/was the excruciating pain.  I apparently have a very low tolerance for deep bone pain or am just a big baby.  Whatever.

During this time — because I wasnt suffering with nausea and side affects — we learned that it takes my body over an hour to absorb medication.  Even an IV is not instant relief.  So it took a few days to find the proper regimen of drugs to keep me comfortable and yet not put me in a drug-induced coma.  I dont get why people enjoy drugs to the point of abusing them.

Being fully drugged was an uncomfortable feeling for me. I want the pain controlled so that I can function.  Not only physically for my therapy sessions, but mentally as well.  Too much of this stuff and I was having conversations with my mother and Marie.. at the same time.. in my kitchen! Like a dream, but I was awake.  I also took myself on shopping trips.  Packages are beginning to arrive and I have no clue when I ordered them or what I was thinking. It looks like it will be a great Christmas for my family and the totes for A&S are really cool.

Cara being good. What a sweetheart!

I'm home from the hospital, doing Physical Therapy and trying to keep the pain under control with low doses of medications.  The difference between the two surgeries is amazing. With the bypass I could not function mentally at all.  Just trying to move made me nauseated. I didn't care to read or watch TV and couldn't use the computer. I was miserable.. like being car sick all the time.

This time, with pain under control, I'm thinking I could try sitting at the computer in a few days.  Right now, I see where the walls need touch up paint.  The bedroom might work better if I move the dresser.  Wondering if the septic is on an auto schedule for annual dumping? Have all the proposals arrived for Portland? Is it time to change the color scheme on the web? My mind is clear and racing. And then it's time for PT, pain meds and a nap. 

Glenny
xoxo

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!!

Design Our 2014 Art & Soul Themed Logo!

Introducing... Our 2014 "On The Orient Express" logo designed by... (your name here!) 

How would you like to see your name as the creator of next year's Art & Soul themed logo? Well, we’re putting it in your creative hands this year with an exciting new contest! Use your mixed media magic to design a logo for our On the Orient Express theme for 2014.

Our 2011 logo designed by TweetyJill's Jill Haglund

The winner will receive a free Art & Soul class, a printed tee with their design and recognition for the logo design. We'll even do a blog post featuring your design and the inspiration behind it!

2012 logo by Lynne Perella

Design a logo for us incorporating the words On the Orient Express, the year 2014, and leave the rest to your imagination! Create themed artwork with a mixed media flair and you could be a very special winner. Well splash your logo all over our website, programs, blog, tee shirts and other promotional items. You'll be famous and win some awesome stuff.

This year's On Safari logo by Michelle Bernard

Check out our guidelines, rules and legal stuff below... then make us a new logo! The winner will be announced and the logo unveiled at our 2013 Portland Art & Soul event. We're so excited to see what amazingly creative ideas you'll come up with... On the Orient Express! 

Art & Soul Logo Design Contest

 

Submission Guidelines

The purpose of the contest is to design a logo for the Art & Soul 2014 season in the theme of “On The Orient Express”. The logo will be used online, in print, on merchandise and for our event’s promotional materials and programs.

The logo must contain the words “Art & Soul” the year “2014” and the theme name “On the Orient Express”. These may be incorporated into the design in a creative manner.

The submitted artwork must be in black and white. No photos or greyscale images.

The logo should reflect the mixed media style of Art & Soul Retreats and appeal to our target audience and attendees.

The original artwork must be designed at approximately 8” x 10” (can be horizontal or vertical) and can be done by hand or digitally. If the original work is created digitally, it must be high resolution at 300dpi or higher. If the logo is created by hand, we may request the original artwork.

Only one entry may be submitted by any one entrant. One winner will be selected from all entries submitted.

How to Enter

Initial entries should be submitted digitally by email to Glenny Moir glenny@artandsoulretreat.com. Entries must be submitted as a high resolution (300dpi or higher) greyscale image in a jpeg format and should be no more than 5mb in size. A scan of your original logo design is acceptable for initial submission.

If your file is larger than 5mb, please email Glenny Moir glenny@artandsoulretreat.com and request a physical address for your entry to be sent.

We may request your original artwork be mailed to us if you are chosen as the winner.

The email must include the name, postal address, phone number and email address of the entrant.

   

Entries must conform to the Submission Guidelines above. Entries that do not meet the guidelines will not be considered.

The deadline for submissions is midnight on Saturday, August 17, 2013, Pacific Daylight Time.

We cannot be responsible for entries or responses lost in e-mail.

   

There is no fee to enter the Contest.

The Contest is open to entrants 18 years of age or older.

Prizes

The winning logo and designer will be revealed at the 2013 Portland, Oregon Art & Soul Retreat on September 30^th.

The winning designer will receive:

1. One (1) free Art & Soul Workshop at the 2014 venue of their choice (Portland, OR, Virginia Beach, VA or Kansas City, MO)

2. One (1) free t-shirt printed with their 2014 logo design.

3. Recognition on the Art & Soul blog with a feature article about the logo, designer and their inspiration behind the winning design.

4. The right to showcase the logo on public media channels for personal promotion and identify themselves as the logo designer

Intellectual Property

All submitted work must be original art and must not contain components that are owned and/or copyrighted by other individuals or entities.

The winning logo designer gives full rights of usage to Art & Soul – A Creative Journey, Inc. and will allow the design to be utilized for advertising and promotion online, in print and on promotional materials. Copyright will remain with the original designer.

Art & Soul reserves the right to manipulate the artwork provided for various needs in print and online.

Art & Soul Radio... Tune in for Uncovering The Layers with Chris Cozen, Mon., June 10th

At the time of this interview, Chris Cozen’s (and co-author, Julie Prichard’s) latest book, Acrylic Solutions: Exploring Mixed Media Layer by Layer was #1 in 2 Amazon categories - mixed media AND acrylics. A wonderful accomplishment for this accomplished artist.

 Chris Cozen has always had a creative streak, dabbling throughout her youth without any formal training, taking a few design courses over the years. Trained as an educator, Chris spent 30 years as teacher, administrator, college Instructor, and Seminar Leader doing art when the time and space allowed. When she retired from education in 2000, she built a studio and focused her efforts full-time on her art.

Chris is essentially a self-taught artist with an innate understanding of color and design. Many of her pieces are “stories” of people and experiences, enriched with pieces of family history. Her work is colorful, whimsical, and intricate, building layer upon layer of meaning along with color and collage elements. 

 

She is a member of the WORKING ARTIST team at Golden Artist Colors, Inc.. Chris enjoys the process of exploring the many art materials. Her many hands-on workshops and speaking engagements focus on Acrylics and their possiblities, especially in mixed-media. So please join us for an inspirational chat this Monday...

Art & Soul Radio featuring Chris Cozen
with Lesley Riley
Monday, June 10th
7:00pm EST
blogtalkradio.com/art-and-soul-radio

Virginia Beach... An "Event-ful" Trip!

Well, folks... we had another great event at Art & Soul Virginia Beach this year! Just as we wrapped up our Kansas City event, it was practically time to start packing for this trip! And what a great time it was. I mean... look at the view from the hotel balcony! And the weather was very cooperative this year. Hooray!

The opening night party put on by The Bead Goes On was a great icebreaker for the event. Everyone showed up in their safari best and enjoyed themed food, jungle decor, and wonderful goodies from our sponsor. It was a great way to relax, meet other students and teachers, as well as have a little fun before the creative classes began.

Did I mention having a little fun? Well... um... yeah. We did. And Marie is always there to rescue me if I've been "hanging around" for too long! Gotta get a good night's sleep so I'm well rested for the official opening day!

So here I am in the "office"... our little makeshift area where we check you in for your classes. And  there's a lot less of me than there was last year... after all the weight I've lost. Yay me!

This venue seems to bring out the best in everyone. The bayside waves lapping at our doorsteps and the smell of salt in the air just remind you to slow down and enjoy the moment. And that's really what Art & Soul is all about... being in the moment. Enjoying the journey. Soaking up new ideas and techniques like a sea sponge! It's easy to do here. Just look at the results!

Whether you were waxing poetic in Serena Barton's class or...

...waxing collaged houses in Stephanie Rubiano's workshop, the sweet smell of beeswax had everyone abuzz!

Lots of time? How about trying your hand at a Steampunk clock, like Sheila, who came all the way from Key West, Florida to stretch her creativity!

How about jewelry making with a bang? Lynne Suprock showed her students how to use shotgun shells to create these "charming" rings!

And speaking of charming... isn't this Chandelier from Sally Jean Alexander's Mini Ella class just divine? The photo is a little out of focus but this student's work wasn't. How fabulous! Absolutely gorgeous!

And boy, do we treat our babies well at Art & Soul! They're all bottle fed around here. Whoops! Wait a minute... is that a heat gun? Of course it is. These vintage dolls are getting an upcycling in Clarissa Callesen's Steampunk Sally workshop.

Got mold? No, not that kind... the good kind! Molds you can use over and over and over and over again after you create tons of them in Ty and Marcia Schultz' class. The wheels are turning just thinking about all the ways I could use them!

Shhhhhh. Quiet. Sometimes what you hear when you walk into a classroom here is nothing. Not a peep. And that, my friends is the sound of creative concentration. (whispering...) Can you hear it?

Oh, what shall I do next? Where shall I go from here? So many possibilities! So much fun in Mindy Lacefield's Journal Play class. Mindy puts the wheeee in whimsical!

And there was some Delectable Doodling going on in Kari McKnight's class! Just look at that juicy journal fodder. Yum!

And painting...

And clay figure making...

And of course vendor night is always a fun frenzy! Shopping for vintage bits and baubles as well as finished artwork from several of our very own instructors is a magical time for us mixed media mavens. I know I go around at least 3 or 4 times... just to make sure I didn't miss anything!

We also had a rockin' on-site store thanks to Judy Gula and Artistic Artifacts. Fun demos from Ken with Spellbinders... we even snuck in a late night pajama party! Wow! So thanks again to everyone... the gracious hotel staff, my right hand chicks, the teachers, the attendees, and everyone else who made this such a spectacular time. Until Portland...

Hugs,
Glenny