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In addition to art, one of my greatest joys is travel. I am partnered with World Tours Studio, to create travel adventures focused on cultural experiences.
Our newest offering is an exploration of Italian opera in Verona, Italy! For more information and to register, please click here.
Here are my ongoing classes for kids! Come learn, be inspired and have fun! Register by clicking here!
Whether you are an artist who wants to connect more with nature, or a nature lover who wants to do art, come geek out about birds with me in my upcoming workshop, Birds! Sketching, Drawing and Painting Birds
Located at Cloud 9 Art School
18414 103rd Ave NE
Bothell WA 98011
www.cloud9artschool.com
Wednesdays 9:30am - 12:30pm
February 21 - April 11
Come learn about birds and how to draw them with convincing form and color. We will work from reference photos and field trips to the zoo and other bird venues. We will learn the basics of bird anatomy, proportions and features. We will construct simple 3-D models to better understand foreshortening and to examine how light looks on birds.
We will learn to sketch quick thumbnails to help us capture the essence of birds so that we can more easily draw them from life. We will also look at how to draw and paint detailed, realistic birds. All Levels of Skill Welcome.
In addition to my suggested art supplies, please purchase a copy of The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds. I could find it on Amazon but for way too much money (over $70!) so I recommend buying it directly from the author's website at johnmuirlaws.com/store/ for $25. Plus he will personalize an autograph for you!
I rarely ask students to purchase a book for any of my workshops but I absolutely love this book. Simple enough to explain to total beginner artists how to draw birds and informative enough to teach seasoned artists about bird anatomy, it is a must have!
Register at https://charlenecollinsfreeman.com/workshops/
Friday, Saturday & Sunday
March 23, 24 & 25
Join the original urban sketcher, Seattle-area artist and journalist Gabi Campanario, for a weekend of learning and exploration around the revitalized downtown of Bothell, Washington.
“Urban Sketching Bothell” consists of a combination of indoor demonstrations at centrally located Cloud9 Art School and practical field sketching sessions at nearby scenic locales such as Bothell Landing, the historic Anderson School McMenamins Hotel and Bothell Country Village.
Lessons taught by Campanario will emphasize creating accurate depictions of urban spaces and human activity and infusing the artwork with a unique personal style. Topics will include choosing and framing subjects, identifying shapes, measuring dimensions and angles and other key steps to make lively sketches that capture a moment and a sense of place.
The workshop is designed for people who have some drawing experience but are not used to drawing from life -or on the fly- directly from observation. This intensive, weekend-long experience is ideal for drawing enthusiasts interested in documenting the world around them and professionals in the fields of design, illustration or architecture who want to refresh or expand their visual skills.
Bothell is a former logging and farming town located 15 miles northeast of Seattle near Lake Washington and Woodinville wine country.
Space is limited to a maximum of 12 participants.
Workshop schedule
Each day begins with a one-hour demo focused on technique: pencil and ink on Saturday and watercolor on Sunday. Following these indoor demos, Campanario will aid participants through additional demos and exercises out in the field. Saturday is dedicated to linework in the morning and values in the afternoon. Sunday is dedicated to color.
Friday
5-6 p.m. Check-in and welcome presentation: “The art of urban sketching.” (at Cloud 9)
6 p.m. Group dinner (Optional)
Saturday
9:30-10:30 a.m. Demo 1: Pencil and ink. Keys to mark making. (at Cloud 9)
10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Field sketching session 1 (McMenamins/Downtown business district)
Linework. This session is all about the foundation of the sketch. Using lines only, we will cover how to establish a focal point; how to get scale and proportions right by measuring dimensions and angles and transfering them to paper; and how to layer a scene into foreground, middleground and background. Thumbnailing before sketching will help us test different compositions before wasting time in weak approaches.
1:30-2 p.m. Break/Lunch
2-5 p.m. Field sketching session 2 (Location: Bothell Landing Park)
Values: How to see in monochrome. We will make value sketches in pencil, ink and watercolor to sharpen our perception of light and shadow in the urban landscape.
Sunday
9:30-10:30 a.m. Demo 2: Watercolor technique. (at Cloud 9)
10:30 a.m.-1:30p.m. Field sketching 3 (Downtown business district)
Color. We will work on adding color to sketches done in previous sessions, learning the application of wet on wet or wet on dry to create soft and hard edges in the desired spots.
1:30-2 p.m. Break/Lunch
2-4 p.m. Town Sketch-Walk (open to the public) at Bothell Country Village and exhibit at Cloud 9.
Learning goals
Train the eye to see shapes, value and color in outdoor scenes
Become comfortable sketching in public
Learn to draw standing up
Become an urban sketcher and start reaping the benefits of seeing the world in a new way
Registration: $395. For detailed information and to register please visit www.charlenecollinsfreeman.com/workshops/
About Gabi
Gabriel “Gabi” Campanario is an award winning illustrator, author and journalist best known for his storytelling work as the Seattle Sketcher at The Seattle Times , and as the founder of the global Urban Sketchers movement and nonprofit organization. A native of Barcelona, Campanario has a journalism degree from the University of Navarra in Pamplona, and has resided in the United States since 1998. His career as a newspaper artist spans more than two decades working in newsrooms on both sides of the Atlantic, including La Vanguardia (Barcelona), The Reno-Gazette Journal (Nevada), Diario de Noticias (Lisbon), The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, Calif.), USA TODAY and The Seattle Times. Campanario’s work as a sketch journalist has been recognized by The Society of Professional Journalists and The Society for Features Journalism, and was the subject of a five-month solo exhibit at Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry in 2014. You can see more of Gabi’s work on his website , Seattle Times author page , Facebook and Instagram . Bibliography: The Art of Urban Sketching: Drawing on Location around the World (Quarry Books, 2012); The Urban Sketching Handbook: Architecture and Cityscapes (Quarry Books, 2014); and The Urban Sketching Handbook: People and Motion (Quarry Books, 2014); Seattle Sketcher, An Illustrated Journal (Pediment Books, 2014).
Some of my favorite art nerds joined me and my husband for an art getaway to Portland this weekend. We boarded the train in Edmonds, Washington on Friday and arrived early enough to explore the Pearl District after checking into our lovely hotel.
The Paramount Hotel
Saturday we headed to the Portland Art Museum, which is exhibiting The Wyeths: Three Generations, featuring art by N.C. Wyeth, one of America’s finest illustrators; his son Andrew, an important realist painter (and art crush of yours truly); Andrew’s son Jamie, a popular portraitist; and members of the extended family. Andrew Wyeth is one of my biggest art crushes and was the impetus for this getaway. Amazing to see his father's work, his son's work, his sister's work. Swoon!
Andrew Wyeth (American, 1917-2009), On the Edge, 2001, Tempera on panel, Bank of America Collection, © 2017 Andrew Wyeth / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
In addition to the Wyeths, the museum had another amazing exhibit that got my imagination running wild: Animating Life: The Art, Science, and Wonder of LAIKA. This exhibit is a joyful view behind the curtain into the visionary artistry and technology of the globally renowned animation studio, LAIKA. Their creative process, production design, sets, props, puppets, and costumes are magical.
We've had spectacular weather and have taken to exploring the city: just walking around, shopping, eating, drinking, and sketching kept us bubbling with excitement.
We did what we could to Keep Portland Weird.
Thank you to all my travel mates for joining me. I hope you were all as inspired and thrilled as I was. See you on the next adventure!
If you are interested in being more creative, learning more, finding inspiration and pushing yourself to new art heights, check out this article by Roger Dale Brown, a passionate and talented oil painter.
The topic of setting goals and constant self improvement is very near and dear to me as I am a big believer in the power of goal plans, vision plans, and action plans. Plan, plan, plan!
I hope you enjoy Roger’s outline of how he sets goals and sets them into action. Thank you Roger for sharing your experience with the rest of us!
Maybe it's the promise of a clean slate, a shiny new beginning, but I've always loved the new start and freshness that a new year promises. I like the introspection of looking at the past year and considering new resolutions and goals and bucket lists. Yes please!
I set up goals every year: artistic, business and personal. I get all giddy thinking about listing my goals, books I want to read this year, movies I want to see, places to travel to... Setting goals helps me clarify for myself what priorities I want to pursue; it helps me organize my days, and strive towards finish lines. They help me define my next steps.
Below are some of my goals for art & business goals for 2018. If you like to set goals too, please share them!
Art Goals
I have signed up for a challenging, year long course on botanical art: observing, drawing, and painting nature.
I have had a story line and illustrations for a children’s book rattling around in my heart and head for over 20 years. This year, I will put it to paper!
I will have a solo exhibit at Tsuga Fine Art. I have a lot of new paintings to create!
Business Goals
Now that the art and yoga classes are established and growing at my art school, I will launch a writing program in 2018! Stay tuned.
I want to bring in a few new teachers to add to our already amazing group of teachers. New teachers and new media: wood cuts, color pencil, and acrylics to name a few!
Cloud 9 Art School will have an open house on our one year anniversary, September 5. Which also happens to be my 9 year wedding anniversary. So much to celebrate!
Books I want to read this year
The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds by John Muir Laws
Writing Children's Books For Dummies by Lisa Rojany Buccieri and Peter Economy
Interpreting the Figure in Watercolor by Don Andrews
When Wanderers Cease to Roam: A Traveler's Journal of Staying Put by Vivian Swift
Travel Goals
Portland, Oregon three day getaway to explore the city and see the Wyeth Three Generations exhibit at the Portland Museum.
Sailing in Sardegna
Taos, New Mexico for an artist retreat
Verona, Italy to spend Christmas with family and friends
So this is how I love to start each year. Setting goals and coming up with a plan to put them into motion. I understand that this approach is not for everyone. You have your own temperament. Figure out what you would love to do this year and then figure out your own plan for getting closer to those dreams. Get better, get closer, get happier.
Happy 2018 to you all!
Last year at this time, like I do every year, I listed my goals for the new year. And in the name of accountability, here, in review, is how I did.
My goals included artistic, business and personal. I get all giddy thinking about listing my goals, books I want to read, movies I want to see, places to travel to... Setting goals helps me clarify for myself what my priorities are; it helps me organize my days, and strive towards finish lines. Without my lists of goals I would be like one of my Great Danes, distracted by every squirrel (or inspiration) I see, darting in one direction and then the next, but never really getting what I want.
I want to add that the biggest goal I achieved this year wasn't even on this list. I've had a long time dream of opening up my own art school. On September 5 I opened the doors to Cloud 9 Art School and it is everything I had dreamt it to be. I love my lists but wow the universe can step in unexpectedly and propel us forward when we work with focus and create relationships with amazing and supportive human beings. My husband's belief in me and his unwavering support helped all the pieces come together. So many friends and students offered to help in so many unexpected ways. I am humbled and amazed. Thank you all! The stars really lined up for me in 2017!
Below are the art and business goals I set for myself for 2017.
I want to get better.
How do I get better? I focus on specific techniques, materials, subjects or styles that speak to me and pursue them.
I definitely pursued this goal. I read many books, filled sketchbooks, took workshops, and pushed forward. I did not prioritize botanical watercolors like I had wanted to do so that is on the list for 2018.
I want to expand my boundaries.
I love watercolors, and sketching, and drawing. But I am inspired by all kinds of art and I wanted to explore creating beyond my comfort zone, to venture into new techniques, mediums and tools. There is simply too much joy in learning new ways of seeing and creating to limit myself to what I am comfortable with! All learning helps me grow as an artist. So I took on paper folding book art, explored writing and illustrating children's books, and worked in color pencils.
Movies
I discovered a list of great movies about artists. I wanted to see these all in 2017 and I did!
10. Basquiat (1996)
9. Frida (2002)
8. Pollock (2000)
7. Chi-hwa-seon aka Painted Fire (2003)
6. The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)
5. Seraphine (2008)
4. Andrei Rublev (1966)
3. Mr. Turner (2014)
2. Lust for Life (1956)
1. Edvard Munch (1976)
Books
I have so many books on art, it's a mini art library at my house! I wanted to read several of them this year, including:
The Art of Botanical Painting by Margaret Stevens
Botanical Sketchbook by Mary Ann Scott
Powerful Watercolor Landscapes: Tools for Painting with Impact by Catherine Gill
When Wanderers Cease to Roam: A Traveler's Journal of Staying Put by Vivian Swift
These are the books I actually read:
Botanical Sketchbook by Mary Ann Scott
Painting Life with Life by Bev Jozwiak
Art & Fear Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking by David Bayles and Ted Orland
Uno, Nessuno, Centomila by Luigi Pirandello
Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir by Roz Chast
They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel
Shut Your Monkey, How to Control Your Inner Critic and Get More Done by Danny Gregory
The Art of Botanical Painting by Margaret Stevens
Painting Vibrant Watercolors: Discover the Magic of Light, Color and Contrast by Soon Y. Warren
Powerful Watercolor Landscapes: Tools for Painting with Impact by Catherine Gill
Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age by Sherry Turkle
The Natural Way to Paint: Rendering the Figure in Watercolor Simply and Beautifully by Charles Reid
Jean Haines' World of Watercolour by Jean Haines
The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine by Mark Twain and Philip C. Stead, Illustrated by Erin Stead
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards
So I will put When Wanderers Cease to Roam: A Traveler's Journal of Staying Put by Vivian Swift on my 2018 list.
I'll spend the next few days putting together my list of goals for 2018. This is how I love to start each year. Setting goals and coming up with a plan to put them into motion. I understand that this approach is not for everyone. You have your own temperament. Figure out what you would love to do this year and then figure out your own plan for getting closer to those dreams. Get better, get closer, get happier.
Happy 2018 to you all!
Shopping for art supplies and books is one of the best things about being an artist but it can also be overwhelming if you aren't sure what to get. Below is a list of supplies that I recommend for young artists. You can click on any item listed to go to a link on Amazon.com.
Acrylic painting art supplies
Canvases for acrylic painting
This is a good deal for a set of 10 canvases.
Acrylic Paint Set & Easel
Lovely set up for acrylic artists.
Brushes for acrylics
Set of brushes
Sketchbook artist supplies
I have really fallen in love with the Stillman & Birn sketchbooks. For your young artist, I recommend the:
Alpha (which contains mixed media paper)
I like them about 8.25 x 11.75
Pens
Waterproof ink pens in black ink, in various sizes. Many brands claim to be waterproof but end up smearing and ghosting ink when we paint over them so I prefer the Black, Pigma Micron Pens which are truly waterproof. It's good to have a variety of pen sizes for various weights of line. I like the:
Black, Pigma Micron Pen 01/.25mm
Black, Pigma Micron Pen 05/.45mm
Black, Pigma Micron Pen 08/.50mm
For younger artists, I recommend having an extra fine point Sharpie instead of these more expensive pens.
Watercolor supplies
There are a lot of options out there. For the teen artist, I recommend:
I recommend Winsor & Newton Cotman Sketchers' Pocket Box 12-color Half Pan as a starter set. If you are not sure how much you will enjoy sketch booking and don't want to spend much, this set is one of the best for a student level watercolor set.
For younger artists, I recommend:
Prang Professional Watercolors Set
Watercolor brushes *
I recommend having at least three brushes of various sizes. For sketch booking it’s important that they are travel brushes (they will have caps on them so that they don’t get ruined when you put them in your bag).
A affordable and convenient option is the Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brush Assorted Tips, Pack of 3. These brushes can be filled with water and are quite convenient.
For painting in the studio, I recommend:
Robert Simmons Simply Brush Set
* A word about brushes. Simply Simmons is a great brand and the price can't be beat. Be sure you buy the watercolor brushes and not "all media" or oil/acrylic brushes. Please do not buy Artist's Loft brushes. I know these are easy to find but they lose hair immediately and are very frustrating to use.
Watercolor Paper
I love the sketchbooks I listed at the top of this list but it would be good for your young artists to also have watercolor paper for paintings since the pages in the sketchbook are not meant to be torn out. I recommend watercolor paper 8 x 10 or bigger, 140 lbs, cold press. Avoid the 90 lbs. paper as it is too thin and is frustrating to use for watercolor painting. This is a good choice:
Strathmore 400 Series Cold Press Watercolor Pad 9 x 12
Other incidentals for a good set up for your young artist include:
A water container (like an empty yogurt container)
Paper towels
Mechanical pencil (so you don't have to worry about a sharpener)
A ruler (preferably clear)
A little bag to keep all your pens, pencil, erasers and ruler in. I love these little beauties because you can open them and stand up the bag like a cup to hold everything upright while you sketch.
Pencil set with Blenders and Erasers
Color pencil sets by Prismacolor
And that makes for a wonderful art studio for both at home and in art classes!
Since I've been sharing links to Amazon.com for art supplies for years, I've decided to become a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, which means when you use the links on my website, Amazon pays me a fee for sharing the Amazon love. Win-win!
Gratitude is at the heart of Thanksgiving. I would like to express my profound thank you to you all for your support. You are the reason I love what I do for a living.
I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!
My teen art class students took on the challenge of creating a large mural in one of Cloud 9's studios.
The teens spent quite a bit of time brainstorming words and images until they came up with ideas they all agreed on for the mural's aesthetic. Then they each got to work sketching on their own before getting together to share their sketches and figure out how to merge them into a cohesive, collaborative design.
They chose to paint a large koi swimming through cherry blossoms. Love the idea! After drawing their final idea onto a large paper to assess scale, it was time to draw on the walls!
The following week, they were finally ready for paint! Woot!!
All that was left to do were the details. Last night those were added and the end result is a gorgeous mural at Cloud 9!
Thank you Eli, Kirby, Katie, Ash, Rita, Abby! You rocked it!
Here is my sketchbook from my trip this summer to England, Scotland, and Italy. Sketchbook 2017, Volume 5. (If you've missed my other sketchbook tours, I posted them in previous blog posts.)
I hope you have fun scrolling through my sketchbooks. And if you have any comments or questions, don't be shy. For as much as I love painting big watercolor paintings, traveling & sketchbooks are my real source of inspiration and joy. I hope you enjoy!
For our first sketchbook field trip, we went to Trafalgar Square and took in London.
The Tower of London
We spent a day sketching at one of my favorite museums, London's Natural History Museum.
We explored a flea market looking for treasures (I found this gorgeous bird cage clock) and then we sketched on the lawn of Westminster Abbey.
A short train ride from London, we fell in love with Bath.
I loved all the different door knockers we saw walking through the streets.
Bath's Fashion Museum was a visual feast. I spent a few hours sketching the displays.
I ducked into the Abbey to get out of the rain for about an hour and sketched the other tourists.
We turned a corner and saw this comical window display in a tattoo parlor, so unlike anything else in Bath.
One of my favorite squares: Bath Abbey Square. Always full of music, street performers, cafe tables, and people.
We flew from London to Edinburgh. My first visit to Scotland. Heart!
We stayed at the wonderful Royal Scots Club. The tall windows in our hotel room looked out onto a hill on the edge of Edinburgh's center.
Scenes from our touring through Edinburgh.
The sound of bag pipes is everywhere in Edinburgh. I know they are there for us tourists but I still couldn't help stopping to watch and listen to each one we came across.
We spent several hours at the Royal Botanic Garden and then had lunch at their cafe. Sitting outside with many other visitors, two French woman raised their voices in anger as a bird swooped down and took a bread roll off of their plate. We all chuckled as we covered our own plates.
This sketch doesn't look much like my husband, Dave, but it still makes me smile every time I see it. Dave is an adventurous eater and the only one to try haggis. On several occasions.
We flew back to London, from Edinburgh, and from there, we flew to Verona. Home, sweet home.
For the first part of our time in Verona, we stayed at the Aurora Hotel, in Piazza Erbe. The views from our hotel balcony were intoxicating.
We took a drive into the mountains to escape the heat.
Back in Verona, we sat outdoors in Piazza Erbe, sipping ice-cold mojitos, sketching (me) and talking to a man (Dave) at the table next to us. He was from Ireland and had quite a few entertaining stories to share.
Yet again, to escape the heat of the city, we hopped on a train for a day trip to Bolzano. It was raining and thundering there. And it was a welcome relief.
We moved into Richard's apartment for the second week in Verona. His apartment is an architectural gem and it is decorated with some vintage beauties. Thank you for the hospitality Richard!
Dave and I wandered into Sant'Anastasia, one of Verona's churches, right as a concert was starting. A group of young performers from Bath!
We spent an afternoon with my cousin, Gloriana, and her husband, Beppino, visiting an abbey by Lake Garda. This is the view of a path we followed, walking from the abbey to its centuries old cemetery.
Statue in the abbey's courtyard.
Live performance of Romeo e Giulietta in Verona. Fantastic!
On our last day in Verona, we had a big family lunch. My cousin, Saverio, drove his classic Fiat 500. Thankfully, Dave couldn't resist getting in it. So funny!
What an adventure we had. Memories to last a lifetime. And a book full of sketches.
Arrivederci!
Still Life, 1983
I often get asked by students if I can show them some of my earliest watercolors. Although most of those early paintings hang in my parents' home, I do have photos of some of my first watercolors.
These are from the early 80s. I was a teen and the images were photographed a lifetime ago. Despite the deteriorated quality of the photos, I am sharing them with you. Part nostalgia, part proof of the lifelong love affair I've had with watercolors, I hope you enjoy this peek into my early painting efforts.
I painted this gas pump during my first plein air experience. My university art instructor, George Dibble, walked the class down to this run down gas station during a gorgeous autumn day. I still remember the thrill of painting out "in the wild" for the first time!
In 1984 I took on this ambitious watercolor of Verona, Italy where I grew up and where my family still lives now.
This watercolor is also from 1984. I was already painting full sheets of watercolor paper (22 x 30) and I have continued to prefer painting full size or bigger watercolors.
These were my first steps on this journey that continues to bring me so much joy. It's been a pleasure sharing them here. Thank you for indulging my walk down art memory lane!
So thankful to the Bothell-Kenmore Reporter for this lovely article about Cloud 9 Art School!
Cloud 9 is the art school I opened in downtown Bothell just two months ago. Frightening and exciting, opening this art school has been a dream of mine for many years.
Eight teachers have joined me there to offer classes for kids, teens and adults in drawing, painting, beading, knitting, meditation and writing.
Come join us for inspiration, creativity and some joyful fun!
“If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” ― Ellen Johnson Sirleaf,
In a few weeks my Sketching Nature: Trees, Birds and Flowers will start. I love sketching in general but there is something soulful about sketching nature in particular.
Spending a few hours, sitting in the sun, listening to birds and sketching. Heaven.
Sketching Nature: Trees, Birds and Flowers
Located at Cloud 9 Art School
18414 103rd Ave NE
Bothell WA 98011
www.cloud9artschool.com
Wednesdays 9:30am - 12:00pm
November 8, 15, 22, 29
December 6, 13 & 20
Register here.
We will cover tips and techniques for drawing and watercolor painting a variety of trees in all seasons, birds and flowers. We will start out with drawing basics, using reference photos, and going outdoors. We will study shapes, colors, textures, composition, and details. Whether you want to learn how to study nature for your sketchbook or for larger paintings, this course is for you.
All Levels of Skill Welcome.
Three Main Learning Objectives:
To understand basic principals of drawing in graphite, pen, and painting in watercolors.
To introduce students to fundamentals of depicting trees and their parts: roots, trunk, branches, leaves; flowers and birds.
To practice techniques of drawing and watercolor painting.
Designed to teach skills, give encouragement and create the environment needed to explore and develop our natural creativity with an emphasis on fine art skills. Focus on drawing, watercolor painting and keeping a sketchbook.
Andrew Wyeth (American, 1917-2009), On the Edge, 2001, Tempera on panel, Bank of America Collection, © 2017 Andrew Wyeth / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
I have a few art crushes and one of them is the amazing Andrew Wyeth.
With the 100th anniversary of Andrew Wyeth's birth, the Seattle Art Museum will exhibit Andrew Wyeth In Retrospect examining this American master’s 75-year career. And if that weren't heady enough, the Portland Art Museum is exhibiting The Wyeths: Three Generations, featuring art by N.C. Wyeth, one of America’s finest illustrators; his son Andrew, an important realist painter (and art crush of yours truly); Andrew’s son Jamie, a popular portraitist; and members of the extended family.
Swoon!
So I've planned a trip to Portland and you are invited to join me!
Round Trip Edmonds to Portland by train, two nights at the Paramount Hotel, and entrance into the Wyeths Three Generations exhibit
We will catch the train from Edmonds on Friday January 12 at 10:17am. It is about a five hour ride to Portland so settle in for the beautiful views and relax.
We will stay at the Paramount Hotel (.2 miles from the museum).
On Saturday we will visit the Portland Museum to see the Wyeths Three Generations exhibit.
There will be a lot of free time for everyone to explore Portland on their own or with each other. For those interested, we will have a group dinner Saturday evening.
We will leave Portland on Sunday, January 14, on the 2:50pm train, arriving in Edmonds around 7:30pm.
Portland is a fun city to visit. Just walking around, shopping, eating, drinking, and sketching could keep you busy all weekend. Other things to do:
Portland Japanese Garden (https://japanesegarden.org)
The DIY Craft and Sip Bar (https://www.diybar.co)
The Oregon Zoo (http://www.oregonzoo.org)
Deadline to register is October 16!
If you want to join me for this art weekend getaway, please register here.
And remember their slogan is Keep Portland Weird. What could be more fun?! Let's do it!
My art school has been open for a few weeks now and we are settling into a nice rhythm, with classes for kids, teens and adults. We continue to add classes as we work on turning Cloud 9 into a slice of heaven for all.
I'm especially excited about the new knitting circle on Saturdays offered by Jann and the mindful meditation Friday sessions offered by Liz. I'll be attending both every week!
Between the classes I am teaching at Cloud 9 Art School, and the classes I'm excited to take, I will be on Cloud 9 a lot. And that is exciting to me! It shows me that I am on the right path, making Cloud 9 exactly the kind of place I hoped it would be. My kind of place.
If you are interested in joining me for knitting or meditation, the information is listed below. And of course, it's on the Cloud 9 website too. For a catalog of all our current classes and workshops, click here.
Come join me on Cloud 9!
Fridays 10:00am -11:00am
$12 per class/ $40 per month (pre paid)
Welcome! Liz is excited to facilitate a class where we will learn about mindfulness practices as well as experience different forms of meditation. Please join us if you are a beginner or experienced meditator. We can all learn from each other and deepen our practice.
Class format: Introductions, reading from inspirational text & brief discussion, 1-2 short meditations (guided), and closing thoughts.
For more information and to register please email elizabendroth@gmail.com.
Saturdays 1:00pm - 3:30pm
Ongoing, register month to month
$20/week
Bring your projects for trouble-shooting, brush up rusty skills or learn a new technique in a supportive group setting with an experienced knitting instructor. Bring your own supplies.
I look forward to sharing my love of knitting with you.
For information and to register email gumleafdesigns@live.com.
I frequently get asked questions about how to turn a passion into a career. It's been a process of learning: there is the legal side of it, the accounting, the marketing, and even just the puzzlement over how a passion can generate money.
In response, I have created this six week workshop:
The Business of Being an Artist
Wednesdays 6:30-8:30pm
October 18 - November 22
$175
This workshop sheds light on the business side of being an artist. Designed to help artists answer questions about how to turn their passion into a career.
It's a myth that artists can set up a studio and spend all their time there, creating great work until they get discovered.
Bring your laptop or desktop computer.
Bring your questions.
Bring your ideas.
I will share information about my journey and give you suggestions, advice, and hands on experience for turning your passion into more than a hobby.
Space is limited! To register, please go to my Workshops page.
We are proud to present to you Cloud 9's Fall Catalog of classes. We have classes for kids, teens and adults. We have classes in fine arts: drawing, painting, sketching. We have classes in mindfulness, beading, and knitting. We have Friday night art classes for the kids and "parents & me" classes during the day.
Come learn, explore, have fun, and be inspired!
By clicking here you will be able to see, download, print and share our catalog. Please do!
We will be opening our doors today and we hope to hope to see you on Cloud 9 soon!
I’ve been at the school for the last few hours just finishing up a few things before the opening bell tomorrow. Actually I don't have a bell. Maybe I should... I still have to hang art and I’m sure that over the first few months, I will continue to find things that need to be rearranged. But for now, I am incredibly happy and proud.
Here are a few snap shots of the school.
Truly HAPPY.
A huge thank you to so many of you for believing in me and encouraging me. A heartfelt thank you to the eight teachers joining me at Cloud 9. You have all created fantastic classes to teach at Cloud 9. I am so proud!
And an extra HUGE thank you to my husband, Dave, for all the hours spent at the school making it beautiful, for encouraging me every time I needed a nudge, and for all the perfect martinis at the end of long days.
Here’s to an extraordinary school year!!
The lobby
The adults' studio
The adults' studio
The adults' studio
The adults' studio
The World Tours Studio
The knit circle studio
My studio
The kids' studio
The kids' studio
The kids' studio
The kids' studio
The kids' studio
Come learn, explore, have fun, and be inspired!