Chalice painting
"Chalice", 24" X 24" acrylic on canvas
Imagine With Art Newsletter

Issue No.16

December, 2010
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Table of Contents:
  Winter Workshops
  Meditation
  Art Play
  Hot web gallery



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picture, SusanLight cannot see the inside of things.
That is what the dark is for:
Minding the interior.
-John O'Donohue

Dear Friend,

Have you been out puddle jumping between winter storms to enjoy the variety of colors and shapes and smells of the rotting leaves and new growth poking up through?  Today I saw some Narsissus blooms and stunning red mushrooms and wanted to run for my sketchbook.  Each time I come out my front door I surprise a flock of quail who make a noisy retreat and then return in a few minutes.

With a month's break from teaching I am enjoying finishing projects, like the painting above for the Chalice Project.  The exhibition of painting, sculpture, and photography, inspired by the word Chalice, will be at the Glaser Center, 547 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA January 15-February 25, with a Gala and Auction on February 26 at 5:30pm.

Next week I'll be in Palm Springs taking a painting workshop and having a lovely break from my usual responsibilities.  Then my schedule gets busy again with the winter workshops.  Hopefully you can join me at some point.  This newsletter also has some new ideas for engaging your creative spirit in the new year.

Cheers,

Susan

2011 Winter Workshops 



2011 Winter Workshops

Tuesday Evening Muses (meets weekly)  New Session!
The Muse group is a laboratory to spark creative expression, an opportunity to treat yourself to a regular infusion of art play in a supportive group setting.  Each session features a different painting or art technique which you can add to your repertoire - from textured collage to a variety of wet media painting techniques.  Simultaneously you will learn an art practice which captures your thoughts, feelings, and intuitions in a playful visual format that you can keep as an ongoing book of your life.
When:  January 11, 18, 25, Feb. 1, 8, 15, 2011
Time:  6:30-9:30pm
Cost: $180/6 sessions

Saturday Muses meets monthly on a Saturday  
New 6-month Session: March 5, April 2, May 7, June 18, July 9, Aug 13
Time:
10am-2:30pm
Cost: $240/6 sessions

Sunday Muses meets monthly on a Sunday
New 6-month Session:  March 6, April 3, May 8, June 19, July 10, Aug 14
Time: 10am-2:30pm
Cost:  $240/6 sessions


More Painting with Inks and Gesso! 
(wait list)

Explore this exciting combination of thin and thick mediums, watching your imagination take flight as you learn new methods of applying paint.
When:  Saturday, January 22, 2011
Time:  10am-4:30pm
Cost:  $80
deer


Paint Winter Fantascapes on Crinkled Oriental Paper
Capture the mood of the season with this surprising technique which combines eastern and western painting methods.
When:  February 19, 20,  2011
Time:  10am-4:30pm both days
Cost: $170 (includes papers)


Image Transfer with Nature's Patterns
Incorporate the exquisite patterns of nature in your mixed media paintings through digital image and copy transfers.
When:  Saturday, March 19, 2011
Time:  10am-4:30pm
Cost: $80

Location:  The Studio in the Orchard, North Sebastopol
To register for workshops contact Susan, [email protected]

Tuesday Muse


Comment from a recent Muse Group student:
"After dormant years a new freedom of expression was discovered and let loose.  Now, it's not just about technique and materials.  It's self exploration.  LIfe exploration.  spiritual exploration.  It's letting what's inside come out, honestly, without judgement." -Linda



Meditation Instructions

We do a guided meditation in all my workshops as a way to quiet the mind and access the creative force directly before beginning our art making.  Many students have asked for an audio track of the guided meditation, and I have it in mind to create a CD for this.  In the meantime you might want to try the free download of simple instructions that are offered by Sally Kempton on her website.  She is one of my favorite meditation teachers and she also has meditation CD's and books for sale on her site.
,Art Play: Training the Intuition
peekaboo

What happens when you put together images that don't "go"?

 

The mind naturally dismisses the non sequitur, the idea that doesn't fit with the prevailing story line.  Often when we pick collage pieces, we are trying to force meaning rather than letting the images come together naturally.  We may be looking for an image of an elephant, say, and meanwhile come across pictures of a car sitting in a sunny meadow and a polar bear.  Or, like the above image, we find a turbaned Indian and a European baker lady and some lilies.


These images throw us off base, but seem to go together in some irrational way that we want to explore. They match in color scheme. They provide variety of shape and size.  They make no logical sense together, but they make dream sense, intuitive sense.  We wouldn't want to have to explain to anyone else why they fit together, but they do. Now we're on to something original that possesses intuitive wisdom.  If we play with these images and write about them, we can enter the space of right brain, holistic thinking and access entirely original material. 
 

Beware though!  Another part of the mind will barge in and discount it as ridiculous.  We will apologize for the image as we share in a group.  Meanwhile the group is looking at a truly original and powerfully expressivepiece of art and feeling the impact!
 

Try this:  collect your collage pieces based solely on what attracts you and seems to match in color or shape, much as you would select beads to string on a necklace.  Make sure you have contrast as well, something that makes you feel at least mildly uncomfortable.  Move the pieces around on the paper until they find their place in relation to each other, each piece connecting to another in some way.  Study the resulting image and take five to ten minutes to write about it and all its parts. 


Your intuitive muscle will become more and more toned and ready to speak to you in a voice you can hear next time you need it!



Hot Web Gallery

If you want to see some fun examples from another artist who explores the hinterlands of the imagination using image collage you might enjoy Karin Hillmer. She juxtaposes photographic fragments in her digital darkroom, exploring opposite forces to arrive at some dramatic and mesmerizing images. 
Have an artfully bountiful New Year!!

Cheers,

Susan

Susan Cornelis


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