Classes and Workshops

Unless otherwise noted, classes are held at:
The Art of Your Life Studio
At SE 80th between Salmon St. and Taylor Court.
Portland, Oregon

Classes and workshops are small and offer individual attention. To ensure your place, please pay in advance within a week of the workshop date.

Not Just a Pretty Face
	January 24, 2010 11-4:30 80. All supplies included. What Leonardo and Van Gogh knew: Learning to paint faces is all about learning to see! Choose faces painted by great artists to work from, discovering your own style as you go. Leave with several practice studies and at least one finished painting that you will be thrilled to hang on the wall. No previous experience needed!
Journal to the Center
	Sunday, February 7 2010 11-4:30 50. Bring a blank journal. All other supplies provided. You'll bring a blank journal to begin your artful descent to your center with visual journaling! You'll receive written and visual prompts to inspire you to begin writing and illustrating your experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Whether your subjects are profound or everyday, you will create a lavish and enticing book in which to record and honor your life.
The Art of Life (Evening Group)
	Ongoing Women's Creativity Group Meets Tuesday evenings from 7-9. Tuition: 35. per week. Most supplies included. A group for women who want to experiment with art, move through blocks, and share the joys and challenges of the creative process. Each group includes playful activities designed to bypass the inner critic and loosen up inspiration. Spirited art-making produces fun and surprising results!
The Art of Life (Day Group)
	Wednesdays from 2-4 PM Starts March 3 120. per month. Ten week commitment requested. A group for women who want to experiment with art, move through blocks, and share the joys and challenges of the creative process. Each group includes playful activities designed to bypass the inner critic and loosen up inspiration. Spirited art-making produces fun and surprising results!
Transferred Secrets: Photo transfer techniques
	Saturday, March 20th 2010 1-4 PM 40. Bring laser and inkjet color and black and white copies of your favorite photos. All other supplies provided. Do you love the mysterious, the elusive, the romantic? Learn methods of photo transfer using laser and inkjet copies of your favorite photos. You will create a unique collage using your lovely transfer images as a focal point. Workshop open to all levels.
Mind Your Own Beeswax
	April 24 1-5 PM Tuition: 75. All supplies included. This is your chance to fall in love with the aromatic, luminous, and versatile properties of beeswax in the form of encaustic painting! We will cover basic techniques such as building up layers, fusing the wax layers, adding color, including collage elements, and incising. We'll explore various heat tools and many design elements. No previous art experience needed, only lively curiosity and a willingness to risk addiction to painting with wax!
Warming Up Charlotte
	May 1, 2010 1-4:30 Tuition: 45. Bring a Frozen Charlotte or similar small doll. Doll heads are welcome also. Contact me for ideas on where to find these amazing dolls. Frozen Charlotte dolls are hot! These little bisque and china dolls are being dug up outside old doll factories in Germany. The dolls got their name from an 18th century ballad about a vain girl who froze to death because she refused to wear a warm coat or blanket while riding in an open carriage at night with her young man. The dolls are also considered "frozen" because they don't have any movable parts. We'll use these vintage dolls and other ephemera to create delightful assemblages. Yours can be romantic, creepy, or humorous. I'll have lots of supplies for you to work with!
Wabi-Sabi Workshop
	August 8, 2010 9-4:30 At Art Unraveled Art Retreat, Phoenix AZ Go to artunraveled.com for more information on the workshop and retreat. Wabi-sabi--the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity in nature; of accepting natural cycles. It's simple, slow, and uncluttered and reveres authenticity above all. We’ll honor ourselves and go with the flow as we create a set of simple, eloquent, and, yes, gorgeous abstract pieces. The word “abstract” doesn’t have to scare you! I’ll show you how to let delightful accidents and mistakes lead you to creating with a playful spirit. We’ll cover some basic compositions and designs to start you on your journey. Using acrylic medium, acrylic paint, Ranger reinkers and alcohol inks, tissue, Asian papers, and artist pens, you’ll discover relaxing ways of interacting with your materials and your inner self. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, you’ll leave with four or more paintings and with inspiration to continue the Wabi-Sabi way. If you've taken a Wabi-Sabi classf rom from me before and loved it, feel free to join us! I’ll have new techniques and ideas for you!
Wabi-Sabi Workshop
	October 6 9-4:30 This workshop will be given at the Art and Soul Retreat Portland 2010. Please see their website at artandsoulretreats.com for more information and registration. Fall is the perfect time to explore Wabi-sabi--the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity in nature; of accepting natural cycles. It's simple, slow, and uncluttered and reveres authenticity above all. We will honor ourselves and go with the flow as we create a set of simple, eloquent, and, yes, gorgeous abstract pieces. I will show you how to let delightful accidents and mistakes lead you to creating with a playful spirit. We'll cover some basic shapes and designs to start you on your journey. Using acrylic medium, acrylic paint, acrylic ink,tissue and Asian papers, and artist pens, you'll discover relaxing ways of interacting with your materials and your inner self. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, you will leave with four paintings and with inspiration to continue the Wabi-Sabi way. If you took my Wabi-Sabi class last year and loved it, feel free to join us! I'll have lots of new techniques and ideas for you.
The Forgiving Medium
	Sunday, October 10 9-4:30 Class will be given at the Art and Soul Retreat, Portland 2010. Please go to their website at artandsoulretreats.com for more information and registration. No, I'm not talking about a compassionate clairvoyant, but a fun and supportive acrylic workshop for beginners or those who want to try new methods! We'll cover glazing, layering, impasto (thick, juicy paint), and various types of brushes, painting knives, and supports. Learn what Leonardo and Van Gogh knew: Learning to paint is all about learning to see! If you are one who thinks she can't draw, worry not!. You'll enjoy this relaxed workshop where you can paint without drawing. I'll provide lots of individual support and coaching and encourage you to paint with joy! You'll surprise yourself by creating still lifes and portraits. You'll leave with four original and delightful paintings.
Coloring Outside the Lines
	Individual art coaching Learning to make art involves learning to see, moving past the inner critic, and accepting what you produce at a given moment. I provide gentle and inspiring coaching and guidance with both the technical and emotional aspects of creating. Media used are: acrylic paint, water based oils, collage, assemblage, and gouache. We go at your pace and free you to find your own style.
Group Requests
	If you have a group of 3-5 people who would like to schedule one of the above workshops at another time, contact me to discuss scheduling options.