Lost in Camera Play with Apples

Last month while at Squam Art Workshops I stumbled upon two stray apples sitting perfectly in a pool of light on a table in our cabin's porch.

I ran up to my room to fetch my trusty point & shoot and spent the next fifteen minutes lost in play. There were 65 shots in total, I offer you a sampling of my favourites...

I suspect I have A. and T. to thank for this serendipitous placement of produce. Thank you girls, those sun-filled fifteen minutes are among the highlights of my trip.

Squam Art Workshops Day 3: Primary Colors

OK now I'm interrupting my 5-Day Challenge to bring you the last instalment of reports on my classes at Squam Art Workshops.

But before moving on to the class, I just had to post this picture taken by my cabin mate G:

the girls of Brae Cove + 1 (photo by Amy Gretchen)

For me much of this year's S.A.W. experience was about these women, about the comfort, the stories and the laughter we shared around the fire.

It was about my feeling worthy - and sometimes not - of having them in my life, wondering what I'd done to deserve the friendship of such wonderful kindred spirits. When I was done wondering I'd go back to the conversation in front of the fire and promptly forget all about my insecurities. I'd laugh until it hurt. Then all was good again.

Thank you ladies. From the bottom of my heart.

Now on to Day 3 shall we?

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Workshop: Primary Colors

Teacher: Mary Beth Shaw

What I learned: that three primary colours can make a LOT of other ones; that I like purple more than I thought I did; that playing with paints and experimenting with colour is potentially a great way to warm up before hitting the canvas; that scheduling a "lighter" session for Saturday morning is a great way to wind down the workshop portion of S.A.W.

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After Friday's heavy learning this light, playful workshop was just what the doctor ordered. There was music (love, love, love Mary Beth's playlist!), there was laughter and fun.

palette sample using one of the triads

But don't be fooled, just because it was fun doesn't mean I didn't learn anything. Encouraged to experiment with three differerent triads (red, blue, yellow) of different tones + white, it was enlightening to discover just how many colours can be created with only four tubes of paint. Try it, you'll see!

Squam Art Workshops Day 2: Painted Icon

I realized today that my return to work after S.A.W. was easier this year than any of the past three. I suspect is has something to do with the fact that I'm leaving at the end of October to pursue creative and business possibility.

OK I suspect it has a LOT to do with that.

On to Day 2...

practice faces - the one on the left was drawn with a charcoal pencil, the one on the right

with a charcoal stick; both need a bit of work, but I'm happy with the initial results

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Workshop: Painted Icon

Teacher: Misty Mawn

What I learned: how to use a grid to draw a face; that if I squint my eyes while looking at a portrait, shadows become shapes and when I focus on drawing the shapes, facial features magically appear; that I like to draw with charcoal because it's very forgiving; that just because I did something successfully before doesn't mean I'll do it again on a particular day; that I can easily descend into a negative spiral when I'm frustrated and that sometimes, maybe I just need to walk away instead of pushing through

~~~

What a pleasure it was to see Misty again! She was my first teacher at Squam in 2008; in that first class I picked up a paint brush for the first time since kindergarten and never looked back.

I learned some very practical techniques in this class that I look forward to practicing here at home. I also learned a lot about myself and my (in)ability to navigate the tricky process of painting when things just aren't. going. well.

It was a tough class for me - lessons about the self are sometimes the hardest ones, but the good news is that personal turmoil aside, I got to watch Misty work her magic with a paintbrush. And that alone made it all worthwhile.

Day 3: Primary Colors coming up next...

Squam Art Workshops Day 1: Pitch Perfect

Something shifted in me at S.A.W. this year (S.A.W. does that to you). It's as if my soul saw an opportunity to make itself heard in the silence by the lake, but I just can't put my finger on what it was trying to tell me yet.

apples, lake and the morning sun, Squam Art Workshops 2011

In the meantime I offer you a summary of the workshops I took; I enjoy the process of recapping each one. Here goes with Day 1...

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Workshop: Pitch Perfect

Teacher: Christine Chitnis

What I learned: how to structure a query letter; how to brainstorm and come up with ideas for articles that could be submitted for publication; that magazines have sections for which they want short paragraphs & photos and that it might be less intimidating to pitch those than feature articles; that we all have unique stories to tell, sometimes it's just a different spin on a common subject; that I like structure

~~~

Despite choosing to attend a predominantly right-brain art retreat I loved this class and all the left-brain activity it garnered. As soon as I saw the detailed workshop schedule in our handout packets I knew I was in good hands. And if that wasn't enough, Christine followed through with practical, tangible how-to's mixed with generous sharing of her own experiences and one-on-one support as we worked on our individual query letters. I'd have to say the day was pretty damn perfect.

Up next, Day 2: Painted Icon...

Between Rhythms (Back from Squam Art Workshops)

morning view from Brae Cove porch, Squam Art Workshops 2011

I'm back from Squam Art Workshops and taking my time returning to my normal day’s rhythm - a rhythm that doesn’t include loons on the lake, sitting under the moon on the dock or busting a gut laughing by the fire with eleven other women.

The normal day’s rhythm includes sleeping in my own bed, movies on the couch with D. and re-sinking into the warmth of home.

They’re different rhythms and it’s important to allow in-between time. It makes for a gentler transition.