Artfest 2012

Words will not adequately convey the fabulousness of the Artfest experience.  The pictures will do the talking.  I shall attempt to narrate.  How did I decide on Artfest you ask?  I believe I found it via facebook or on Misty Mawn's website. She is my favorite artist, and I had just taken her online class in January.  Highly recommend it.  There were a group of women who all posted about taking Misty live at Artfest and I caught wind of it.  I thought, that would be epic and then I looked into it.  She was teaching on my birthday for crying out loud.  How could it be any better?  I went for it.  I am so glad I did.  It quite literally blew my mind.  I don't think my feet touched the ground the entire time I was there.  It was my first trip to Washington, it's cold there see.  I usually opt for warm and beachy.  But I decided to bring long sleeves and work with it.  It rained everyday, as expected, and was quite windy (48mph winds) but I overlooked the weather,  and took in the charm of Washington.  It reminds me of Maine, it has a seaside, quaint and historical look to it.  Brick buildings and colonial style houses.

 I arrived on Weds, March 28th and drove from the airport to Port Townsend with a friend named Lisa who I had only known online.

We chatted the whole way and stopped at some thrift shops on the way.  Then we were there, at Fort Warden, an ideal location to host the entire event.

It had dorms, houses, large gathering rooms for classes, a giant cafeteria and buildings big enough for the hundreds of women like me who were going to art camp.  http://www.parks.wa.gov/fortworden/
The first night they welcomed us all and I got to witness a live proposal....how exciting is that?

she said yes!  The next day was art class with Jesse Reno.  He is extremely artistic and wildly different from me stylistically.  Here is an example of his work.

but he taught me how to keep adding layers upon layers and keep working on something until it shows itself.

 I stretched.  This is the first piece I came up with.

He had us draw five eyes and connect them, and do all kinds of things to open up.  I had never done anything like it before and that is how we grow.  Then that night there was a bonfire at the beach with art journaling in the nearby shelter.  This was one of my favorite memories.

Adeola was a kick, and she had fun wearing my tutu and taking pictures.  I don't usually meet someone who takes MORE pictures than me.  She did. 

I laughed at how many, we would walk a step and take a picture...I met all these wonderful women, who all opened themselves, shared supplies and laughed together...Art has a way of uniting women without competing that inspires me.  Day 2 was Jesse again, doing two more paintings.  stepping outside our comfort zones and looking for symbols and imagery in our 'mess'.  These are my 3 paintings from his class, as yet unfinished.

really different for me.   Loved it.  That night was the artist gallery and all my favorite artists were selling their work.  It was so crazy to see them live after seeing their work on facebook, I truly had a hard time absorbing it.  I debated on splurging on original works, and ended up just getting a couple small things.  Good girl.  The next day was my birthday and last day of Artfest.  Saved the best for last, and Misty was all that I hoped for.  Sweet and mellow, so easy to talk to, I felt like I was in a dream when I saw her paint her demo and then play her awesome soundtrack while we painted.  When life is just that good it is challenging for me to chill and take it in, I am buzzing like a hummingbird..then I get a painting from Misty, for my birthday.  What?  I mean how can it just keep getting better? I bought one so now I have two Misty originals to grace my walls.  They are so much more special now that I have met her then if I bought them online.  She paints like she is, which is beauty and grace.  She humored me with a tutu picture or two too...

 birthday girls

 who could it be? none other than Misty Mawn..

come to find out her birthday was the very next day!! so connected.  After all that excitement it was show and tell where everyone put out the art they made and we all walked around and saw the stellar work produced at this event.  Mind blowing.  I am eliminating so many pictures and so many details as I am just too pooped to share them all.  Another gem of a girl was Miss Charlotte.  She made her wig and don't just think it matches my pink tutu perfectly?  She was thrilled to wear it, and pranced all over the grounds twirling, making everyone happy.  She was meant to have it and it now resides with her in Canada, I know she will do amazing things with it.

The last day was gorgeous and sunny enough to wear a semi short sleeve, we explored the town a bit, and bought fun souvenirs.  I swear I could go on but this Hip Chick is still recovering from all of the hoopla.  This is my Disneyland and I am so grateful to have found my people.

Anna Corba class at Hip Chick's

Today I got to hang out with the charming Anna Corba at my shop and facilitate her workshop on journals.  I admire Anna on many levels, mostly for being the real pioneer of vintage paper crafts.  Anna is a gentle soul and an elegant artist, everything she makes has her distinct style.  Today we had 7 lovely ladies surround the back work space and we all talked, laughed, crafted, learned and played.  One of the best parts of hosting a class is taking it myself, and I have a lovely keepsake to remember the fun day.  Here are some pictures to share..
we had lovely snacks and roses to make our day beautiful

 here is the lovely Anna Corba explaining the journal process

Here are Anna and Kae, two awesome women enjoying each others company

 here Anna is walking everyone through the waxing method

 Hip Chick Carrie and Anna Corba....

 our lovely group of students and the finished products

It was a glorious day and I am re-inspired to host and teach more classes.  I am going to host a Tutu Tea Party in May, with all students receiving their own tutu, tea cup and art project.  There are open studios May 5th and 6th so lots of fun on the horizon.  Monday is Annie Sloan Chalk Paint venue and I guarantee a tutu picture with her, until then...

Chalk paint is my new obsession

I am addicted to chalk paint.  My name is Carrie and I'm a chalkaholic.  It's not a problem, YET.  I think it's like a new love all exciting and fun, vibrant and fulfilling,  I want to use it on everything, and I am.  I can't paint fast enough, I will be painting one thing and look over and see something else and start to paint that.  It's crazy.  But good, therefore, it's CRAZY GOOD!  I am all about seeing is believing.  Here are some samples...here is a gorgeous dining room buffet before chalk paint..for those who aren't aware here is the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint link, I am a licensed retailer partner and lover of the stuff....
http://www.anniesloan.com/acatalog/North_American_Stockists.html

 and this is after even though it isn't finished. (I couldn't wait to show you)

 here is a close up of one section I like...this is Paris Gray with Old White with clear and dark wax.

 these chairs will be even more fabulous after some chalk paint...I love them already.

 here is a mirror, mirror on the wall find before chalk paint...

 and this is after a coat of Paris Gray..

 this is after some clear and dark wax added to give it depth.  I love it.

 Mirror, mirror on the wall who loves chalk paint most of all???

 that'd be Hip Chick...

 here is a picture of the store, the table behind the sofa is painted Louis Blue and the chairs are also chalk painted

 Christine Kerr is a featured jewelry artist this month, her gorgeous one of a kind pieces are all made from copper and real gemstones...

this says gratitude and would make an amazing gift....

 this is my back wall, my painting "White Whisperer" is a Chalk Paint original and is selling for $400.00 it has a gorgeous soft palette and of course goes wonderfully with all my chalk painted furniture...

 various jewelry is hanging from branches and if you peak past the branches, to your left is my chalk paint and to the right is Tokyomilk, I sell perfume, candles, soaps, with lotions and purse packs coming soon...
http://www.tokyo-milk.com/

 here are some angels playing music for us and some french text for collage or art projects...

 my ribbon lamp made from hand tie dyed ribbon

I have been so busy playing with my paint I nary have time for anything else...but I thought I had better do a blog post to keep you all up to date on what's going on at the shop. 

 We have the amazing Anna Corba coming on March 17th to teach a class and sign her latest book, if you would like to join the fun email me at carrieclay@yahoo.com.  http://www.hipchickdesignsca.com/Art-Classes.htmlAnna Corba is the pioneer of vintage crafts and one of the most charming women I know..this is Anna's project, she will teach us how to make our own vintage journal.  

That's all for now, there is always so much to share and I am feeling so grateful for the chalk paint and Art is...and Anna and mostly that I get to do my thing and see that others like it too.  Thank you for all your support and love, it fuels me daily.

Art is....coming to the Arsenal in September!

I have been so busy trying to come up with a killer class for Art Is.....I can't believe they are coming to the Arsenal, and I GET TO TEACH A CLASS!  I mean what?! Seriously, I just dreamed it only recently and now here it is coming true.  One thing I know for sure, if you try, really try, for your dreams then they can come true.  First you have to figure out what you want.  Then you gotta take action towards it.  It's been my experience that if you are in action, and you want it, then the universe responds.  It's like it's listening.  (mental note-good art idea) I only went to my first art retreat EVER last fall, it was "Spark the Event" in Salt Lake City Utah  http://www.sparktheevent.com/ and it did more than spark me.  It lite an inferno!  I was on freakin' fire after that, realizing that's what I want to do, TEACH ART WORKSHOPS.  What could be better?
But how? well, first I had make a lot of art.  Art I liked, art I was proud of.  But before I even tried to get "good enough" it was presented to me!  Holy Moly!  Long story short my friend Sharon Payne Bolton (talented bionic artist) went to Art is last year and met the head honchos, talked about how the Arsenal in Benicia would be so ideal for classes, and before we know it, they agreed!  It all thanks to Sharon http://www.sharonpaynebolton.com/, and her amazingness, and I just happen to be lucky enough to ride this wave too.  Now I have less than a week to come up with a two day workshop worthy of Art is.  NO pressure.....haha.  Seriously it's terrifying.  But one thing I am good at is seizing an opportunity.  And this one is a doozie.  So I am madly making wings as my theme.  I think there is serious wing appeal happening as wings have so much symbolism.  I looked up what do wings symbolize and found this...
http://www.whats-your-sign.com/meaning-of-wings.html
Winged Humans:  "Angels, of course. They are divine liaisons. They are messengers with the ability to move freely from the realm of earth-bound matter to the unlimited heavens. They're depicted with human attributes, and so we reason they have human interest at heart. They are gifted with magic and flight, they are creatures of the divine."
I know they are popular in mixed media.  Everyone puts wings on their art, and I admit it's addicting.  It just gives an image an extra special ability.  Instead of being simply mortal they can be fairies, angels, butterflies, and birds.  
One of my favorite artists is Misty Mawn, you can find her here http://mistymawn.typepad.com/ she uses wings in much of her work....here are just a few examples

I just love her style, and lucky me I get to meet her at Artfest in March.  This is Artfest:   http://www.teeshamoore.com/artfest/classes.html.  She is teaching a portrait class ON MY BIRTHDAY! Another dream come true....I tell you, it's crazy.  I will also be taking a class from Jesse Reno, he is hugely popular, and wildly imaginative.  Here is his website to check out: http://jessereno.com/art/, and I will show examples of his work which all happen to have wings in them..

These two artists have extremely different styles obviously.  I am taking Jesse's class to see how far I can loosen up and try something different.  I am challenging myself, so I can grow, learn and develop as an artist.  That doesn't happen staying safe and content making the same thing.  Right now I am like a sponge, soaking it all up, and just making whatever I can, whenever I can.  Rarely does a day go by without making something,  I don't really love anything I make to be honest.  I know I can do so much more, and it's really hard to impress ourselves.  But that's good too, because it drives us to keep at it.  Even when it's frustrating (which it is more than isn't) and even when it's crap (which it is more than it isn't) we yearn for the masterpiece.  We wait for it to present itself.  

I am impatiently waiting this week for my class masterpiece to present itself.  I have the tick tock of the clock at my back and I am slapping plaster, wax, acrylic, pencil, ribbon, glue, twigs, feathers, and wood together to come up with a finished product that looks good.  All I can do is my best, and I sure am giving it my all.  I appreciate you taking the time to check in on what's happening with Hip Chick, I will share the finished product soon, and after this week I get to learn the in's and out's and techniques of chalk paint.  This is another new technique I am adding to my repertoire.  Here is Annie Sloan's link to check out : http://www.anniesloan.com/index.html I simply LOVE chalk paint and love having it to play with at the shop...

Here is one example of how chalk paint gives a piece depth, and warmth unlike regular latex paint.  The colors are simply delicious.  More on that later.  For now it's bedtime.  I have more wings and things to play with tomorrow, this creative is flying to slumberville....sweet dreams my friends. 

Horses are the latest thing

Well it's a new year and this is my first blog post of 2012.  I thought I would blog more often this year, but I usually blog when I have something to share.  So today I am sharing my latest painting in it's phases and sharing how it came about.  I have a love/hate relationship with horses.  I love how majestic they are, how bold and free their spirits are, and yet I hate riding them.  The reason why is, I have had MANY bad experiences riding horses, and mostly due to the fact I don't have a clue how to 'show them I'm the boss'.  Therefore they always take advantage of me.  But when I am not attempting to ride them I really appreciate them and have a cowgirl vibe about me that one would think comes from me being a horse girl.  Wrong.  I just dress the part, cowboy hat, cowboy boots, and such but just don't ask me to actually get on one of these babies...just let me stand there and look good.  Anyway, that is just my funny relationship to these beautiful animals and I decided to try to paint one after I was inspired by a beautiful photograph I saw online.  The horse has flowing long hair and the background is so serene it just beckoned me to paint it.  I used my new "Annie Sloan" chalk paint for the first time as the palette is muted and I wanted to see how it performed on canvas.  I really liked it.  Here is the painting in it's various stages...

 this is the image I was inspired by...

 the sketch..

 first layer....

 more layers..

and the finished painting...

I called this "White Whisperer" and I really like it.  Its one I could look at for along time and just breathe in.  I am going to submit it to Arts Benicia today for the "Art of a community" show they are having soon.  Now I am thinking of doing a horse series.  Among other things, I am also interested in doing an ocean series, a portrait series and so on....but this is what is current for me today.  I am enrolled in so many online art classes I can't possibly keep up with them all, even when it's my full time passion and I can devote most of my time to it.  I have overextended myself with too many classes.  But I have accepted that I won't get it all done (difficult as this is) and I do what I can in the time I have.  The good news is it's all art, all the time.  The more I do, the better I get.  win-win.  I still struggle with finding my voice, my unique style, but if I just keep doing the work it will reveal itself to me.  It's important to just go with it and see where it leads.  Thanks for checking in on me and I love to hear from you.....happy painting!

"Reach"-my word for 2012

I lay in bed, cozy and comfy.  It's my favorite place to fill up my juices.  I am grateful for all the holiday celebrations, and ready to look ahead to the New Year. Recently, I read a post about how to find a word for the New Year to emulate what you want to focus on, and thought, "I should do that".
Here is the link for those who care to read it...http://quinncreative.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/choosing-your-word/ So after much thinking I came up with the word "REACH".  This painting will be my Reach inspiration, I barely started it and will share it's development as it evolves...

and tonight I did this one with my new pan pastel I got for Christmas...

It feels like what I am going to be about next year.  I want to reach further and higher, to stretch myself to my fullest capacity.  I even treated myself to some help.  I am going to be working with Tiffany Moore of Teahouse studios, to help me structure and nurture my goals for the upcoming year.  http://www.tiffanymoore.net/  This is a giant step for me, to have someone help me fine tune my goals.  I have never done this before and I am really excited.  It's so easy for me to have art ADD and want to do this, and that and then flitter all about and not get anywhere.  With help I am hoping to implement a more strategic way to get where I want to go.  Even knowing exactly where I want to go is hard, but I have some lofty goals, and while I am moving towards them I know it will become more known to me where I am supposed to go.  That's what always happens.  When I am in action the universe responds.  Usually very generously.  It's the getting going that can be the challenge, and in which direction.    So instead of bumbling about like I tend to do, I am hiring a guide.  How lovely, to not have to figure everything out on my own!!  Yay.
I am also treating myself to some delicious inspirational reading, I can't recommend this enough! "Succulent Wild Woman" by SARK.  I am devouring it, bite by delicious bite. http://www.amazon.com/Succulent-Wild-Woman-Sark/dp/068483376X It is a feast for my creative senses, in every way.  Visually stimulating, emotionally engaging, and highly motivating.  I read a few pages everyday to start my engines, she is so inspirational.  Here's just a sample of what I mean...

"All my life, I've heard that I'm too much.  Too wild, too outrageous, too emotional, too sensitive, too needy, TOO MUCH. "

"Living wild has consequences.  Welcome to these and learn from them.  PLEASE GIVE YOURSELF TOO MANY GIFTS! "

"We have the right to live wild, succulent lives.  right now open your window and yell at the top of your lungs "I'm here1 I'm wild!  I will live a daring and remarkable life! "
scary huh...

I have really only started this book and there is so much MEAT to it I don't do it justice.  I encourage you to read it, do what she says and treat yourself.  I have been doing this lately and I am loving it.  It feels good, and am I harming anyone? NO, am I making us go broke? NO, am I giving myself what I need? YES!  hip hip hooray!!  It's kind of hard isn't it to really dote on ourselves, we are so used to being martyrs that it's actually EASIER to deprive ourselves then treat ourselves.  Now I can't speak for you of course, maybe you are already a succulent wild woman who completely, utterly loves herself and treats herself like the queen that you are.  if so, GOOD FOR YOU!  You are awesome.  Personally I don't know that many women who do this.  And I know a lot of women, and very strong, talented women at that.  Even me, a tutu dancing, artist has a hard time totally indulging myself.  I am learning, and I learn form those who show me how.  I look to the women who "lead by example".
So I think 2012 is going to be a big growth year, and I intend on reaching and stretching myself as far as I can.  Here's how....
I want to try new things, go on adventures with people I love and by myself, grow artistically, improve in my business, meet new friends and play with those who can, love deeply and often, laugh daily, pause when agitated, SLOW DOWN and quit being so impatient all the time, shush my critic and encourage myself instead, be kind, be silly, be TOO MUCH, be creative, dance and sing and eat good food, sleep a lot, and exercise, feed my spirit with spiritual food, be in nature often, see great movies and eat popcorn, have passionate sex, massages and pedicures, explore towns I have never been to, talk to strangers and take classes, take tons of pictures and absorb the world as a wondrous, glorious place, swim in tropical waters with turtles and eat fresh mangoes, try a new art retreat and learn new techniques, have artist dates with myself and marvel at the limitless possibilities of creativity, love myself more and stop being so critical, go to flea markets often and find amazing treasure, learn how to build things, paint often and not care what it's for, spend less time on facebook and more time with real people, do nice things for those I care about, and even those I don't know, reach and stretch and grow beyond what I can even think of, and most of all be grateful.