Art Camp for Women

Pavlova Summer Dessert

6 Egg Whites       
1 1/8 Cup Sugar

2 Tsp Cornstarch

1/4 Tsp Cream of Tartar

1/2 Tsp Vanilla              

 

Preheat oven to 275

Beat egg whites, adding sugar a little at a time.  Part way through, add remaining ingredients.  Beat until soft white peaks form.

Cover a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper.

Spoon mixture on to the parchment paper to cover an area about 8" round with about 2" high sides.  Smooth the top surface so it's level.

Cook in center of the oven for 1 hour.

Turn off the oven and leave the pavlova in the oven to cool down slowly (about 4 hours or over night).

 

When ready to serve, decorate with freshly made whipped cream and fruit (blueberries, sliced strawberries, Kiwi, mandarin oranges, etc.)

 

Once covered with whipped cream and fruit, any leftover pavlova does not keep - so plan on a crowd to eat it all up at one sitting!

Watercolor Class Supply List

We provide ALL supplies for Art Camp, however, if you want to purchase your own supplies to use at home, this is Carol's basic Watercolor supply list.

Paper:

- 140 lb or 300 lb. cold press or rough made by Arches or Strathmore. (A large sheet can be folded and torn into smaller pieces leaving a deckle edge on all side.)

Brushes: Make sure they are watercolor and not acrylic or oil brushes

- Two rounds (different companies call them different things, just picture mine when you shop) approx. size 12 and size 6 (sizing changes by company, too, so make sure that one is larger for laying a large wash and one is smaller for detail.

- Two flats (I prefer these over brights) approx. ½ inch and 1 inch

- One rigger - size 1 or 2. (Make sure the hairs are ¾  to 1 inch long. Some companies call them "liners". )

- Stencil brush (inexpensive, found in the craft dept.)

Paint: non-staining transparent shades

One 5 ml. tube each of Winsor & Newton Artist Water Color (not Cotman as this is a student grade) 

- Cobalt Blue

- Rose Madder Genuine (not Rose Madder Alizarin which stains)

- Aureolin Yellow

- Neutral Tint.

Other: 

- Kneaded eraser (Do not use a pencil eraser on your watercolor paper. It will damage the grain of the paper and might leave a residue)

- Pencil

- Palette with cover or a white plate (cover with plastic wrap between uses)

- Small sponge (very absorbent)

- Plexi-glass or other stiff backing board to tape down 140 lb. paper. The plexi should be slightly larger than the size of your paper to allow room to tape it down. 300lb. watercolor paper does not have to be taped down unless you are using a full sheet and getting the paper very, very wet. 

- Masking tape

- Paper towels, inexpensive, white

- Two small water containers or plastic cups (one for clean water, one for dirty water)

- Magnifying  glass 

Hint: To test your brushes to see if they are well made, dip them in water and flick the brush hard. If the bristles line up and form a nice edge on a flat brush or a point on a round brush it is good. Next, wet the brush and make several strokes with it. It the brush collapses after one stroke or the bristles start to spread it is not good. It the bristles spring back to their original shape after each stroke it is good. You don’t have to throw the “bad” brushes away. Later on they can be used for different techniques. But for a beginner, reliable brushes are a must.

Hint: If you did not tape your watercolor paper down and it buckled while drying it can be made flat again. First, let your painting dry completely. Second, turn the paper over and wet the BACK side of the paper evenly. Third, place a sheet of plexi-glass or clean flat material over the entire sheet of paper. Next, place a book or other heavy weight on top of this surface, completely covering it. Leave the weight in place to dry for several hours or overnight. When you remove the weight, make sure the paper is thoroughly dry. Removing the weight too soon might not prevent the paper from buckling again. If it is still wet/damp, put the weight back on and allow more time for drying.

10 Ways We are Different from Other Art Camps

1. We are smaller - we can accommodate a maximum of 20 women per camp session, so we are much quieter with less hustle-bustle.

2. We supply all the art materials for the campers. This allows people to try out new art media using the best supplies available, without having to buy a bunch of stuff they may never use. And packing for camp is so easy!

3. We offer fewer classes than the larger art camp venues and the campers get to try all of them. We currently offer basic drawing, water color painting, plein air painting (water color) and composition.  Then in the fabric arts we offer fabric painting, photo transfer, stamp making, embellishment and assemblage. Our art journaling allows you to individualize your camp experience and maybe your art experience for the rest of your life.

4. The smaller size of the camp allows for more personal attention from the instructors, and since one of our partners is a professional life coach, we offer life coaching for anyone who wants a session or two at no additional cost.  The coaching ranges from "what do I want to do with my life?" to "how do I get more organized around my art?"

5. All meals are prepared by a personal chef and are delicious AND healthy; a vegetarian option is always offered. And of course there is always wine, chocolate and a late evening dessert.

6. Some time in the course of the week, you might find yourself staying up until midnight in your pajamas to finish your favorite project.  No problem, the art room is always available to you.  Camp is held in comfortable lodges with all of the modern conveniences, yet away from the urban hustle.

7. Because of the smaller numbers, the campers are together much of the time, i.e. classes and meals. This allows for friendships to develop and for getting to know women you might never have met otherwise. Of course people split into smaller groups, some people go hiking while others continue working on a project. Some people do the morning Sun Salutation Yoga while others sleep in.
 
8. Our excursions involve going to nearby hot springs and a hike through the splendors of nature.  And really, the Rocky Mountains rival the natural splendors of anywhere in the world.  We will have warm sunny days with crisp cool nights, all at the peak of our fall foliage season.

9. We are out in the mountains, and if you don't want to wear makeup, no one will care. You will not need to get into a car the entire time if you don't want to.

10. You may see a bear or a fox on your way to breakfast; you will certainly see spectacular scenery!

 And the Ways We are the Same

1. Camp provides a time out from life, a time just for you to explore who you are this year, with no obligations other than to have a good time, whatever that looks like for you.

2. Some one else does all the cooking, cleaning and errand running

3. You will learn and have fun in a non-judgmental atmosphere no matter what level of skill you have.

4. Our instructors are highly qualified working artists and teachers.

5. You will meet other like-minded women while getting out of your comfort zone and learning new things about your creative ability and yourself.

6. When people stretch their limits of creativity with others, these others do become lifelong friends.

7. You will have a week of complete freedom to do something you have a passion for.

8. You will go home recharged for your family and your work, with new techniques to apply to your life and your art until the next time.

So - if you suspect you are an unexpressed artist and want to find out, or if you are a fully accomplished artist and want to expand your horizons, or if you want to cross-fertilize your art and experiment with other media in the company of professionals, or if you just want an art vacation..... Art Camp for Women may be for you.  

REGISTER yourself in Art Camp for Women!

Register yourself in either our Mini-Camp in June or in the full session camp in October. Look forward to days and days of art, friends, no cooking, cleaning or shopping.  Space is limited so pick your dates and register soon!

Click here to register for Fall Session Camp October 6 - 13