Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Dip Your Toes in the Water... at VA Beach!

Hey Virginia Beach Art & Soul'ers we've got a little treat for you at our southeastern retreat! A chance to dip your toes in the water, so to speak....

A few of our instructors have created short Mini Workshops to provide a short burst of creative fun and introduce you to their fabulous tips and techniques. The classes are 45 minutes long... they include all the supplies you'll need... and these quickie classes cost only $25!!  How cool is that? Here's a sneak peek at a few of these special offerings...


Feeling wired? Perfect! You can take Hammered Wire Rings with Ruth Greening!



Try your hand at an accessory for your hair in African Hair Pins with Debbie Rijns.



Get hammered with Erin Keck in her Creative Techniques with Metal - Texturizing workshop. 



Erin is actually teaching 4 mini classes on manipulating metal, and if you take them all, you'll have a finished bracelet at the end!

Those are just a few of the inspirational mini workshops we have to offer. So if you've ever wanted to dip your toes in the water and try out a new technique, or just fill up your time in Virginia with an extra dash of creativity... now's your chance to do it in a mini, jam-packed session! Check out our website for a complete listing of all our Virginia Beach quickie classes and sign up today! Space is limited.

September 26 - October 1, 2016
Virginia Beach Resort Hotel

And... if you haven't signed up yet, come join us for an amazingly inspiring mixed media art retreat, in an amazingly inspiring location. For more information and to register for our Virginia Beach 2015 event, visit our website www.ArtAndSoulRetreat.com

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Minneapolis Registration Is OPEN!


Yes, folks... a couple of birdies told me we're returning to Minneapolis, and we are so delighted to bring to you another retweet... oh, I mean retreat! And I'm just flying in to let you know that registration is now open. Woohoo!


Our newest midwest location was so well received that we're doing it again in twenty seventeen! Art & Soul will be back in Minneapolis and we've got a great lineup of mixed media workshops just ripe for the picking, taught by our very talented instructors. We've got classes in drawing, doodling, collage, assemblage, dyeing, painting, bookmaking, journaling, fabric & fiber art, sewing, dollmaking, jewelry and more!

April 26th - May 1, 2017
Crowne Plaza Aire Mall of America Hotel
Minneapolis, MN

We're coming up on the dog days of summer, and I know it's hot out there... so grab yourself a cool drink, turn on the air conditioning, browse our website and pick out your Minneapolis workshops. And don't forget, we've got a Special Offer for all you early birds... Sign up by October 31st and get $15 off your registration fee and $15 off each full day class! And as always, sign up for 3 or more full day (6 hour) classes and you'll receive our custom theme tote filled with all kinds of artsy goodies. Sign up today to make sure you don't miss out on any of your favorite classes!

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

A Tale of Two Kittys...

Endangered Encaustics
We've got some meow-velous news that we'd like to share with you!

We've added Kitty Miller to our lineup of Virginia Beach Art & Soul instructors, and she'll be teaching 3 classes at our upcoming retreat! Kitty Miller is a mixed media artist that specializes in vivid portraits of animals, people and birds. She uses layers and layers of dreamy fluid acrylic paints almost like water colors and then uses them as boldly as palette paint. She's been making art since childhood, so she's had years of practice! People loved what she did so much that teaching was just a natural progression for her. We are delighted to have her in Virgina this fall. Here's what she has in store for you...

In Endangered Encaustics you'll collage, paint, and layer with tons of supplies and techniques and encaustic wax. You'll create 2 stunning pieces that are both beautiful and educational.

You'll get skills that will carry over into everything you paint in Kitty's Birds of a Feather workshop. Use book pages, papers, paint, stencils, stamps, tissue paper and more to create your base and learn the techniques to paint a realistic bird over top of your mixed media masterpiece.

One Fish, Two Fish, An Ode To Whimsey

In One Fish Two Fish, you'll experience cheerful creativity with Kitty's nod to whimsy as you jump into the underwater world of fun. Using her favorite collage and painting techniques, you'll get to create a vibrant and beautiful background and paint some fun fish and friends to inhabit it.

So be sure and check out these fun, inspirational, creative classes Kitty Miller has to offer, and peruse our entire lineup of workshops for Art & Soul Virginia Beach 2016. It's a little over 6 weeks away!!


Agnes
So that takes care of one Kitty... but what's the rest of this tale about? Well, you know how we have friends that do wonderful things because they have such big hearts. And you know how sometimes, you see what they are doing and you just wish you could help out even just a little bit, but you're not always sure how you can help or what you can do to make a difference. Then, dang-it, something happens and you know exactly how you can help and what you can do, but it wasn't something you were planning on?

Louie
Well, that's how Agnes and Louie walked right into my heart. Yup... these two adorable-beyond-belief Persians were rescued from a cat hoarder and found their forever home with yours truly. Agnes is very sweet-natured and Louie is quite the adventurous explorer (hence the name, after Lewis from Lewis & Clark). Both are a welcome addition to my house and my life. We shall see in the coming months who rescued who!

And that's how the story goes. We got Kitty and I got kitties. So I'll be seein' ya... in Virginia Beach, or at the pet store loading up on bags of food...in case you'd forgotten about my other rescues...

Wilson on the left and Victoria at the wheel

Who let the dogs out? Who, who, who, who, who? Wilson, the poodle is a craigslist rescue. A long, not so happy story that I will spare you the details of. But he is goofy and sweet and I'm thrilled to have him.  Victoria, was a rescue from a breeder. She is a national champion, but did not give them puppies - and therefore does not make them money. Lucky for me as she is a dear companion.

Enjoy the rest of the summer kids!