Novato Library Beading Class

 The latest Novato library class was all about beading.  We had our choice from thousands of beads and findings to create our own necklaces and earrings.

 The instructor gave us some tips on how to join the pins to the earring loops.  i definitely still need some practice!

I like working with beads that have larger holes, that can be strung on think cording like this.

Felting Lessons

 Our local library offers free classes twice a month.  This month was needle felting.  The teacher brought in these samples to inspire us.  We started by creating a simple armature with pipe cleaners.  they just added wool roving and started poking.  The felting needles have barbs to catch and secure the fibers to create felt.

 This is the bear i created.  i added a bit more "fur" to make him even more defined.  it was surprisingly easy to do.  

here are some of the other student's work in progress:

 a horse

 a lamb/sheep with curly wool fur

 a bunny

 a pig

 ? anteater?

 bear

 sheep

 this became a purple bear - just needs a head

bear

A couple of weeks later was our second felting class.  This one was all about "wet" felting.  We were given a pool noodle, some bubble wrap, some soapy liquid and our choice of wool roving. 

 You start by creating a mat of roving - alternating directions for strength.  then you roll it up in the bubble wrap and  a piece of netting.  then you add the soapy liquid and rub. 

 Here is another student's mat before it got wet.

 them you around the pool noodle. You roll and roll and roll and roll some more. 

 The roving eventually joins together to create felt - but it is not yet strong enough. 

 The final step is to soak it in hot water and wring it out.  rinse in cold water, then hot then cold again.

If you have blank spots or want to add some colour - you can use the needle felting technique to add more roving to your piece.

Here are some other student's work:

All in all - two fun and informative classes.  do i want to buy all the supplies and start creating felt animals and felt pieces?  Probably not.  But if the opportunity arises, who knows!

Mike Snow Art Retreat pART Trois

 Another day in Saussignac, painting with Mike Snow.  

This is the view through the Studio window in the chateau.

 Our last painting.  Choose a black and white photo. 

 I chose something a little more challenging.

 First sketch

 cover canvas with paint

 Rough in the first layer.  Oh - Bunny ears?  "Where did they come from", said the reader as they scrolled back up to look at the original photo.  It occurred to me that my 4 previous paintings began with B.  Boots, Boy, Ballerina, Babe (or Boobies).  so this girl needed something to make her follow suit.  Hence the bunny ears and Easter basket.

 a little more detail

 lots more detail.  ooh - too much.  looks cheap.  help Mike!

How about you just swish around with a wet brush and soften some of those flowers?

This was as far as i got by the end of the day.  All my paintings are being shipped home to the US, so i can marvel at my accomplishments.  This one needs some additional work on the face. and maybe some details on the grass.

 I asked Mike if he wanted me to bring him anything from the US.  Like his favorite condiment, or whatever.  he asked for peanut butter - apparently next to impossible to find in France.  it wasn't to make sandwiches.  it was to make cookies!

 Here is another project we worked on all week.  We were asked to illustrate "who we are".  i drew myself as a sad blond bombshell, hidden in a fat body (hence the muumuu).  then we had to paint it onto a huge canvas.

 My classmate Joelle said her true self was someone determined to live life to the fullest and move onward and upward.  So she painted herself with and arrow pointing to the sun.

 Everyday, whenever we had extra paint on our palettes - we were told, not to waste it!  

Just add something to this canvas!

 You can see how the freedom to let loose on a large piece of art can be very creative.

 Oh - and we had to mix it up.  not to stay on our own person.  I added the scarf on Joelle.

 Even Mike got into the game.  he painted with us in the studio.  

Quite the inspiration i must tell you.

Here are some of my fellow student Joelle's paintings.

And here are some of Mike's:

 Yeah. Wow.

Well, that's it.  Farewell to Saussignac.  
There are no words to properly thank Mike and Tim for this amazing adventure.
Just hugs and two cheek kisses to you both.

Mike Snow Art Retreat pART 1

 Deep in the south west of France lies the tiny picturesque village of Saussignac.  
In this village is a chateau.  
In the chateau lives a creative duo of expats who have opened their home and studio 
for visiting students, like me!

Please meet Mike Snow, artist extraordinaire and a thoughtful guiding instructor.  I spent a week with Mike and his partner Timothy White, improving my painting skills, and getting a mere taste of their idyllic life in France.

Here is their sweet dog, Picasso.

We painted 6-7 hours a day, ate glorious meals, and even toured a bit of the country side.  But i am getting WAY ahead of things...

 About 10 months ago i started doing research on vacation locations - in Europe mainly.  My husband passed away two years ago and i wanted to take a special holiday, one that would not be overly depressing to do alone. I happened upon the pretty little town in the south of France, called Collioure.  it is a mecca for artists - so that got me thinking - hey, why don't i look for an art class or retreat in France.  that lead me to http://snowwhite.fr/.

I got in touch with Mike and started to make my plans for September.  i went ALL OUT.  i booked first class seats on points.  I spent a few days in Paris in a luxury apartment with a girlfriend. then I took the train to Bordeaux, then connected to Ste Foy la Grande - where Mike picked me up. 
 
I met my fellow student, Joelle, a lovely French woman from Breton.  We were the only two students!  Mike dropped us off at our "gites" - a french sort of bed and breakfast, only without the breakfast.

It was a converted french farmhouse/barn.  Gotta love them blue shutters.

La Shertane was located a couple of miles from the Chateau in a lovely setting with a pond.

Although it was mid September, the weather was quite mild. Leaves were not yet changing colour.  We got settled in and Mike came to pick us up for dinner.

 Well, the meals at the Chateau, prepared by Tim, were to DIE for.  Each meal begins with a question, "what colour? red, white, or rose?" The table was nicely set with candles and we are called, "a table!" We started with some pate and tomato salad.

 Then some coq au vin.

 And some cheese.

For dessert some ice cream with berry sauce.  Simple, but perfect.  
then  we headed back to the gites for a good night's sleep in the peaceful countryside.

 At 8 am Mike would pick us up and bring us back to the chateau for breakfast.  
Cafe au lait, fresh baked croissants, yogurt and granola, fruit, toast, jam.  
I cant tell you how wonderful it was to be pampered this way.

 Since it was dark the night before - this was our first real look at the chateau. It was like a fairy tale.

  Here's the view through the gallery windows.

 And out onto the lawn.

 Just look at the old world architecture.

And here is the studio where we spent our days creating.

Our first task was to write down some goals. then we sketched these rugged boots. 

not bad? 

 then we were asked to sketch them a little looser - not to worry about the details or the scale so much.  Put our own spin on it.

 Then a lesson in brass eyelets and laces.  always several colours on the brush - creates for interest and depth.

 Next we painted the boots.  i thought a picture of boots would be boring (or at least not something i'd want to put on my walls) so i added a bit of a farmhouse backdrop with some blue shutters.

Mike encouraged me to think about the painting and assess what is good, what could use some more layering, shadows, etc.  originally i had detailed stone walls - but it was too cluttered. So i toned it down.  then we changed it to a yellow ochre blend.  added more depth to the flowers. sign it and done!

Here is the majestic boot done by my classmate Joelle. 

 The next project was the find a balck and white picture in a stack of photography books that caught our eye.  I chose this little minx.

Next sketch it out. 

 we started with a background of our least favorite colour. and sketched the outline on that.

then paint outlines in black .

rough in some of the details. 

Trying to figure out the curtains.  and he looks too sad.

Smoothed out some of the folds in his shirt.  add a wash of white to the curtains.

et voila!  a few final details - like the edge of the window sill.  some laugh lines. the big thing we changed, was to add a frame to the right edge.  to help draw the eye back in.  Suggestions like these were what made a difference. 
 it still could use a few finishing touches.

and in no particular order - we ate:

 roasted peppers, fait a la maison, on toast

 a little polish influence

every salad was so fresh and tasty and so simple. 

more cheese please 

 apple tart

After a few days of painting we spent some time in Bergerac at the weekly farmers market. 

 Booths and tents were set up all around this magnificent Eglise Notre Dame.

 Hard to get it all in one photo!

 Inside it was Gothic and charming.

 With some brilliant stained glass windows.

Did anyone say wine? here is the Chateau Monbazillac  - a highlight of the region. 

Some local wine.

There are literally dozens of chateaux all over the place. and acres and acres of vineyards.  Kind of like Napa and Sonoma (where i work) - but just a wee bit more, well, old for sure, but also more romantic and authentic.

 here we are back in Saussignac a town of 350 people.

Gotta love them shutters....

That evening Joelle and i dined at the Gites.   Mini quiche, bread and salad purchased at the Bergerac market. 

  it was a nice change, because after all, dining every night at a chateau can be a bit tedious.....