Artfest 2008
The first thought that comes to mind when thinking about my experience this past weekend at Artfest is: amazing. It was friendship (old + new) and fresh air and art and expansion and laughter and getting messy and learning a bunch of new techniques and ways to think about how I create and being a student.
Artfest is an annual event held at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend, Washington hosted by Teesha and Tracy Moore. It's pretty much like going to art camp with much better food. The setting definitely adds to the feeling of the event. Here's a shot I took in front of our house on the first morning:
I embarked on this journey with Jill and Dona, driving from here to there over the course of two days last Tuesday. We had many little side adventures including stopping at the Goodwill Outlet store, staying overnight at the house I grew up in, visiting Daniel Smith art supply store, riding the ferry from Seattle to Bambridge Island, lunch + shopping in Poulsbo, and an abundance of laughing.
I took three day-long classes.
My first day was a class called Radical Artist with Sas Colby. I loved this class. It was all about "getting out of your head" when drawing. We used no brushes - it was all with natural elements like sticks in a variety of different widths, seed pods, etc (all found objects) dipped in black ink. She had us do things like draw with our non-dominant hand, draw with a blindfold, dripping water onto our pages, etc. We all hung up our drawings on the wall as we went along and talked about them - it was so cool to see each of our interpretations of our objects. I especially loved when we placed our non-dominant hand drawings next to the dominant hand drawings. In just about every case the non-dominant drawings were much more "alive" and dynamic.
These are two of the drawings I did in class. They are each 15 inches x
22 inches and were created using a waterproof india ink.
Here's some of the tools:
And a shot of some of the work up on the walls:
My second class was Just In Case with Pamela Huntington. One of my favorite techniques I took home from this class was diluting PVA glue with water and actually immersing the fabric into the glue and then placing it around the case. I used linen for my case and loved the result. The other technique I thought was so cool was creating fabric collage paper using muslin (or fabric) + the same diluted PVA glue + tissue paper or old patterns on top (you can see that on the outside + inside of my case). I really like how this turned out and will use it to hold paper odds and ends.
And an in-progress shot:
My third class was Butterfly Boxes with Stephanie Rubiano. In this class we created shadow boxes using images, text, found objects, and real butterfly wings. The photo is mounted onto wood and was cut using a jeweler's saw (that was quite an experience).
I learned a lot about adhesives this weekend and had the chance to experiment with a bunch of different things I have not used before like Liquid Nails, The Ultimate by Crafter's Pick, Golden E6000 - lots of things that will really make something stick. Every instructor has their favorite and I liked being able to try each of them within the projects.
Other highlights included getting to see everyone's creations on the last night (especially some of the assemblage and jewelry pieces), hanging out with Emily, and getting to meet Kelly Rae Roberts, Jennifer Louden, Liz Lamoreux, Desiree Tanner, Traci Bautista, and others.
It was such a cool experience for my personally. I was hoping for a weekend that would expand my horizons and challenge me in lots of different ways and I found that at Artfest. I feel freed up creatively and more willing to experiment. I really needed the opportunity to be a student.
I will definitely go again next year.
What an exhilarating experience this must have been. Nothing like being inspired by arts and crafts. Looking forward to NC later this week!!!! Hope to see you there.
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Forgive my ignorance but what is PVA glue?
Your weekend sounds wonderful! Your drawings are really neat, I like the one that looks like a wedding cake with a potted plant on it. I am sure going to look into Artfest now!
Laurie
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How fabulous, the classes as well are your creations. Bravo *clap* clap* as always!!!!!
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Love your india ink drawings... YOU MUST BE SO PROUD! Happy you got to be a student as we all know how much you put your soul into being a teacher. I'm glad you got to switch... Like working w/ your non-dominate hand. Repeating themes abound!!!
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Thank you for sharing the pictures of your projects. I'm glad you had such a blast. It is so much fun to be the student and get to play and have someone else help guide you if you need it.
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So glad it was up uplifting for you and always being creative is a good thing.
Love the case with the fabric application, but then I am a fabric junky!!
Nicky Anderson
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Oooh - that looks awesome and hey... BEAUTIFUL drawings! The one on the right is ... Wow. If you ever feel like selling it - do let me know because it's RIGHT up my alley! (No pun intended...! *smiles*)
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It all looks and sounds so cool.
So happy that you had a great time - so good to fill up your 'creative cup'. Good stuff!!
A.
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What an excellent adventure - love Fort Worden, when I was a kid we camped there many long summer vacation. And did you get to explore the bunkers? I was so proud when I was old enough to ride my bike into town for ice cream :)
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so glad you had a chance to recharge & create in such a beautiful setting. thanks for sharing your projects.
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Artfest sounds like it was VERY interesting. That's only about an hours drive for me. I might check it out next year. Your ink drawing class reminded me about when I was teaching preschool. I would take the kids out for a walk and we would gather up "things" and bring them back to the classroom and use them as our paint brushes. I never thought to do it at home myself. Duh! Glad you enjoyed yorself.
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Thanks for sharing your arty-goodness experience! Love those projects.
Awesome brushless concept for the ink.
Cool, cool case, technique and all!
and Love that photo of you for the butterfly box - I remember it from one of your books. Did your mom take it? Talk about capturing!!! (And now you're creating with it - how awesome!!!)
"Capture. Create." Spanning the generations!
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Don't you just love Port Townsend? My husbands 3 sisters live there one owns a winery called Eagle Mount. Just a beautiful area.
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Oh. I am so envious for your creation time. See me, green?
Thanks for sharing...
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Sounds like such a total breath of fresh air....what a cool thing to hear about...thanks for sharing! Erin :)
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Just love your projects ~ glad you had a good time !!!
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I agree, the whole experience was amazing. It is hard to describe in words how creative and exciting Artfest was. I can not wait until next year. Enjoy your new creative endeavors!
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Ali,
This is rad.
I LOVE the shadow box.
It sounds like a Natural Helper Retreat/Summer Camp/amazing art experience. I'm glad you made the trip to go.
See you soon!
Love,
Jessica
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Thank you for sharing! I'm considering going next year, and your post really helped make up my mind. So glad you had a good time.
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Now THAT was the best freakin' camp ever!!
Still unpacking and getting my 'momma head' on straight...but will post soon.
...Looking at the world through a new lens and perfect light!
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What a Great post Ali. Artfest seems fantastic...I'm going to do a butterfly box now for my little cousins birthday. You inspire me to do more. Thanks, Misty, Fort Worth,TX
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the projects are just beautiful, Ali. Thank you for sharing them and a glimpse at your experience.
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Ali, those drawings are fantastic. I'm going to get some india ink now!
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What a fantastic experience! Love your ink drawing. Thanks for sharing :)
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sounds like a fabulous experience ali!
i especially love the butterfly box!! so cool!!
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