Time to say goodbye to the Retreat

The last day has come and gone. It was so hard saying goodbye to Ann and her beautiful retreat. I learned so much this past week about God, myself and my art. I was blessed to have spent this week with one of my very best friends. We will forever be change by this adventure. Ann, our host, was a truly amazing woman. I found in her a friend for life. She opened her home and her heart to us and I am so thankful. She taught s so many new techniques this week. I have taken classes in the past, but never had time to be alone with what I had learned and be able to play so freely with it.

I am going to miss the morning meditation time on her back porch. The great chats we all would have. Getting into the studio just before sunrise and watching it fall onto my canvas. Cooking together. The evenings when my back and feet hurt so bad but i really really didn't want to stop. The nurturing of Ann as she would sit and talk about the art and God. The most comfortable bed ever! The music. The laughing so hard I thought I was going to pee my pants.

Thank you Ann. You will forever be in my heart.

Here are some pics from the last day.

Enjoy!

Final Day @ the Art Retreat

Well the final day has come for the Art Retreat...(tear) It has been an amazing week. I will recap it all for you tomorrow..I have finally hit the wall with art!

I can now see how some of the famous artists lost the sanity being submerged in painting all the time. And of course, I do nothing in small little doses. I am an addict...I do it fast and furious and don't stop til my body tells me that it has had ENOUGH!!! Now, I know that I am tired and I know that my feet and back hurt so bad that I don't want to sit, for the fear of having to get up in pain...but have I really had enough? Probably not :-) Art is a passion and fire in me that I can't seem to let go of...and NEVER would. It is part of who I am. From the tight little paintings to the crazy abstracts. It is a craving in my soul that must come out. It is a meditation in quiet times and a frenzy of splattering paint in the throws of mania. I adore it. Through art I find my God and my path. I also find a strange little girl with some really weird ideas. But hey! That's the beauty of this journey right?

Here are some pis from the last day.

Enjoy!

Day 5 @ Retreat

Sorry that I forgot to post!! You know after so many days submerged in art one begins to be lost. I can feel myself becoming quiet and content and at peace with the rhythm of the painting. I think that it takes about 2-3 days to REALLY unwind to the pace of an art retreat. So if you decide to come here give yourself the time to settle in and slow down.

Yesterday we painted and painted and painted. Ann taught a class in pastels and then it was off to lunch. We went to a little cozy place at Desoto State Park. YUM!!! Driving back we stopped at a place called Miracle Pottery.http://www.miraclepottery.com/ WOW what a story this girl has.

God seems to be everywhere every minute here! I am so full that I feel as if I am going to pop!

Here are a couple of paintings that I played around with yesterday. I forgot to take pics of them all so here are 2. They still need a lot of work to do ...but hey its fun. Music seems to have such an effect on my paintings....the small landscape is classical music...the lips are Amy Winehouse (don't know if that is spelled right)

Gotta go for now....Painting time has begun!!!!

Enjoy!

Day 4 @ Retreat

Well I was wrong...Day 4 has topped day 3! Can't wait to see day 5!

Today we started our day at 5am with Sassy the house cat taking perch in her thrown. So I guess she was starting our day with a theme.

My husband sent a wonderful treat today that completely surprised me and brought me to tears. A little bouquet of flowers...the delivery girl was so tickled to know this was a treat and a surprise. She was laughing hysterically:) What a treat....I don't know exactly what I did to deserve this kind of love. But hey, I'll take it!

Angie and I went off to the falls this morning. Ann was teaching an art class, so we needed to get out for a bit. Oh My Goodness the falls were AMAZING!!!! Then it was off to lunch at a cute little place in Mentone called the Wildfower Cafe. How fun! And the food was...well....to die for.

Stuffed and ready to return to art we headed back. Our friend Becky drove down and has joined us for some art therapy for the next few days. She is as tickled to be here as us.

Our day ended with Ann http://artforartlovers.net/teaching us all kinds of new techniques...and a new painting came out!

I guess I will have to call it "Sassy"

Here are some pics of the day...Enjoy!

Day 3 @ Retreat

WOA!!!! I don't know if day four can top day three. Today we awoke at about 330 am to the sound of high winds and trees banging against the roof. But what a wonderful way to be charged head first into a day:) So, I said...what the heck..I'm up...I might as well paint! Isn't that the point? YEP!

I am not going to post the painting that I did today because it is a surprise for my sister in law and the new baby...but I will post it when it has been sent to California.

I'll post a few shots of our day. Ann took the time with us this evening and taught us a great mixed media process. All I can say is YUM!!! I will post shots of the actual work tomorrow.

The house is so very cozy and comfy. We eat and talk and share our lives with each other. All the while keeping God in the forefront of our thoughts.....you know he is the reason I am here in the first place. It is all such a wonderful recipe for good juicy creativity.

Off to dream of colors and paintings for tomorrow....

Enjoy!

Day 2 @ Retreat

Ahhh the painting begins....

These are a couple of quick paintings that I did today. It is nice to be able to paint and eat and paint and sit and paint and paint and paint! Today Angie and I swam in the music, the sunshine and colorful paints. Going to take a break for a bit and get off my feet....maybe :) I keep getting drawn to the studio as if there was no tomorrow....but it's nice.

Happy Easter!!!!

Enjoy

Off to Art Retreat!!!

Today I am leaving for a week to go to an art retreat with a girlfriend of mine. Angie http://pickmybrainsart.blogspot.com/ and I will be heading out to Ft. Payne this morning!!! Ann Hamilton has a b&b/art retreat there.http://artforartlovers.net/

I am soo excited to be able to kick my shoes off and wade in the art waters for a whole WEEK! Business and life has been a tad bit busy around here and my body and soul are craving some time off. I will be posting pictures of the week and paintings as we go. I am sure we are going to have a fantastic time....

Here are a few first pics of the place

Enjoy!