Creative Soul Retreat 1

You know your life is a little out of balance when you get back from artist retreat and it takes two weeks to even unpack and start to blog about it. But here we are and if you have the time to read, I would love to share some of it with you.
Here in Australia we don't get a lot of opportunity to take classes from international tutors. I can only read with envy about Art Fests and the like across the Pacific. So , when the opportunity comes, I jump and for me that meant attending Creative Soul Retreat organized by Bevlea Ross with her trusty helpers Eva and Lucy. To take time out for nourishing the artistic side of my soul was a pleasure. The place was gorgeous. Up in the Dandenong valley just outside of Melbourne, nestled in some lovely countryside with vines in pastures and surrounded by sweet smelling trees, one couldn't help but awaken the senses and slow down.
I had signed up for three days of classes with Judy Wise and planned to finish with Laurie Mika. I was a little concerned that I was putting all my eggs in one basket but I love Judy's work and was really looking forward to spending three days with her.
I was pretty disappointed as well as concerned when Judy announced her impending surgery which would prevent her from coming to Australia. I nearly dropped out of the retreat but I had paid and put aside the time and really wanted to go. Judy organised a replacement and I hoped that Jan Harris would be able to fill Judy's shoes.
Well fill them she certainly did. Jan turned out to be a wonderful warm woman with a gentle quiet nature. I am sure she was nervous on her first day. I am so glad she had the courage to come in Judy's place. We ended up getting "two for the price of one". Jan taught Judy's techniques and added her own twist and we had a ball.
In the end she was one of the best teachers of art I have ever had but more of that in the next post.

Our first class was waxy layers. I love bees wax and I love collaging with it. In honour of our class I had made twinchies for a swap using Bees wax. The theme was Leonardo de Twinchie. and here is my piece.

But for class we had larger canvases to complete. I found myself really floundering at first. I didn't bring large images and my muse was pretty rusty. The smell of bees wax must have got to me because I eventually found some inspiration and created my first piece.

Those of you who are not from Australia wont recognise this very attractive woman but she was the youngest parliamentarian in Australia and then the youngest leader of a political party. Unfortunately her party imploded despite her best efforts. The wonderful texture in the top left corner is from flooding the canvas with Shellac and then lighting it. It reminds me of the rot setting in around her. I am happy with the piece.

Later that day I did another piece more in my old style. There were lots of fun techniques to play with like toner transfers and foiling. I just had to go to Bunnings to get a number for the house of ill repute.
Thanks Jan, It was a lot of fun and the class loosened me up for what was yet to come.