 We love making art in our PJ's Theresa Merkling!We drew Theresa’s name in the wee small hours of the morning on February 1st – she is the proud winner of our January sign-up giveaway of a pajamagram that allows her to buy the pajamas of her choice! Congratulations Theresa – we hope to see those snazzy pajamas at Art Camp in the near future! Thank you to each and every one of you who signed up for our newsletter. Lorri and Lori Art Camp for Women welcomes Kelli Nina Perkins as our Guest Blogger this week. Kelli will be teaching mixed-media art at Art Camp for Women in October 2012. She will be teaching at Deluxe Camp as well as “The Works!” Camp! Welcome Kelli.This is Kelli Nina Perkins guest blogging for Art Camp for Women. I’m already looking forward to fall and vibrating with ideas for our upcoming session! We’ll be exploring self-portraits with juicy, colorful projects and a bit of self-exploration. I’ll share more about that later this year.  Self Portrait by Kelli Nina Perkins I bet that if you asked a group of creatives what the most important art-making ingredient is, you’d get responses like; “talent,” “practice,” “the right supplies,” “intention,” and even “imagination.” All of these are wonderful and impart their unique flavor to the process, but you can possess all of them and still make no art. Here’s an example. In the past six months I’ve taken no less than three online courses in art making. Each was taught by a good teacher and covered material of interest to me. I watched and absorbed the information with fascination…then I filed it away for another time. Classes taken: 3. Art created: 0. I believe the reason these online classes didn’t translate into art is a matter of space. I didn’t make space for art.  Original art by Kelli Nina Perkins Making space for art isn’t about having a studio or an award-winning cache of craft supplies. It’s about intentionally making place space, time space and mental space. All three are necessary if we are to move our creative work forward. Place Space Place space doesn’t need to be large or fancy, but it must be ready for our explorations. That means a spot we don’t worry about messing up, a place with some tranquility of mind (or a good pair of headphones) and a space with supplies uncapped and ready to use. The only materials you’ll use are the ones at your fingertips, so lay them out where you can see them. If your place space is the break room at work or a the doctor’s waiting room, have a mobile art kit with supplies that are easy to take out and put away (hint: this requires planning ahead). Tips for making place space
Time Space It’s a cinch that you’ll never make any art unless you make time.There are always competing interests, so don’t wait for an open slot. Look for those small gaps in your everyday life that could accommodate some art. Most of us feel that we couldn’t possibly squeeze another drop of doing out of each day, but the time really is there; it’s just small. Write it on your calendar or your daily “to-do” list so you know that in this specific time space you will be making art. Then, show up prepared and ready to go.  Art Can Fit in Small (time) Spaces Tips for making time space
Mind Space If you want to make art, this is coming from a place deep inside of you. There are plenty of people telling you what you should do, and what you must do, from bosses to spouses to friends. If making art feels like a guilty pleasure, give yourself permission to create! Listen to your inner voice and make mental space for art in your life. All the place space and all the time space in the world won’t add up to anything if we don’t believe we deserve to be creative.  You Have Permission Tips for making mind space
When it comes to making space for art, the perfect place is Art Camp for Women! We’ll set aside a time for nothing but making art, in a place with all the supplies at the ready and with our mental energy focused on making to our heart’s content. Women who’ve attended often make more art during a few days at camp than they do the entire rest of the year. Art Campers arrive home with a stash of tasty projects that display the work of their hands and act as a reminder of what happens when we truly make a space for art.  Art Camp for Women - the best space to create! Here’s to a wonderful 2012, filled with art! All art and photography on this page by Kelli Nina Perkins.
Art Camp for Women welcomes Carol Sloan as our Guest Blogger this week. Carol will be teaching mixed-media bookmaking at Art Camp for Women in June 2012. She will be teaching at Deluxe Camp as well as “The Works!” Camp! Welcome Carol.  Carol Sloan Spirit book - Wanna make one too? I am so excited about teaching at Art Camp for Women this year! I think that we, as women, have so many responsibilities in our lives that we often put our need to express ourselves creatively last on the list. We spend our days meeting the needs of everyone but ourselves. It’s so important for each of us to be able to tell our stories…to express what we have lived through, what we are dealing with or how we are feeling. And doing this in a creative manner is often just what the doctor ordered! Everyone has a story to tell, whether it’s about your own life, a loved one or a made-up tall tale. It’s there just waiting to be shared. Imagine being surrounded by caring, loving women that truly understand your yearning to express yourself creatively. Being in an atmosphere where your lack of skills (or your imagined lack) is no longer an issue. Imagine having every tool, every little item that you need to create a stunning piece of artwork right at your fingertips…everything.  Every tool, every little item at your fingertips. Gourmet food waiting at the table. Wine poured for you.  Dinner is Served! Smart, talented and funny instructors that understand your fears and hesitations. We have a knack for helping those that think they can’t be helped… Imagine finding your tribe. That special group of women that share your likes, your experiences, that love the same things that you do. You speak the same language when it comes to being creative. THAT is what Art Camp For Women is all about. It’s about connecting with like-minded women and spending a few days wrapped in the cocoon of creativity away from all the distractions of everyday life. I’ve spent the last couple of months creating a special class for the June camp. I wanted everyone to be able to create a book that they can use for whatever purpose they choose to use it for, whether that is an art journal, sketchbook, writing journal or as a piece of art in itself.  Carol Sloan Painted pages I also wanted to consider the brand new book maker as well as the experienced one. I did a lot of research on binding stitches and feel that the combination I worked into the book will be perfect for our purpose and range of experience. It lies completely flat when opened, goes together beautifully, incorporates found items or treasured keepsakes and the paper is heavy enough to use watercolor paint on. I wanted to keep it simple enough so that everyone could go home and put another one together on their own and not feel frustrated. I also wanted to include more than one binding stitch. In planning the workshop book, I’ve included three different stitches in the binding. All easy as pie but beautiful! They really show off the thread color too. I’ll be bringing lots of thread colors to choose from too! Here are a couple of photos of sample books that I’ve been working on.  Carol Sloan Handmade Books - Don't you want to take one home? I had received an email or two asking about what could be expected from the class – what will we learn kind of questions. So I thought I would list that out. Here’s a partial list, as I tend to include all kinds of extras when I teach. I’m one of those teachers that like to share as much as they can. It’s not in my personality to hold things back… Basic book structure
That’s the list that I can think of just sitting here…there will be more but not in an overwhelming way. I also provide several pages of instructions to take home with you – complete with hand drawn stitching details. We will have lots of book making books for you to look through also. One thing that I still find so exciting is that the participants don’t have to bring their own supplies to the retreat! How cool is that??! Everything is provided for you, with many things to choose from and make the book special for you. You owe it to yourself to investigate those creative urges that you feel. Art Camp is one of the few (if not the only) retreat that pampers you the way that they do. No carrying a huge stash of art supplies, no wondering and second guessing if you’re taking the right tools… It’s all there – waiting on you. So, if you’re looking for a retreat that allows you to investigate your own creativity in a safe and nurturing environment, then this is your place. You give so much of yourself to the other people in your life, it’s time that you started treating yourself the same way!  Carol Sloan Antelope Book
I’m a blogging coach, and I have a confession to make – I have a soft spot in my heart for artist’s blogs. I think artists create some of the most visually engaging, dynamic blogs on the web. Art blogs are filled with images that are so yummy I just want to reach through the screen and touch ‘em. I could look at them all day. If you’re an artist, why should you consider blogging (other than just giving me more fabulous eye candy to savor?) Here are the top five reasons every artist should blog: 1. Your blog will give you a very professional, accessible presence on the web. Whether or not you sell your art commercially, a blog is a great place to share your work in a beautiful, polished way. An artist’s website is their “home base”, the place that acts as their online business card (and much more!) Blogs give you lots of options for creating your online presence in gorgeous ways that really reflect your artistic style. And if you ARE interested in selling your work, using a blog is the easiest, quickest way to set up your own online shop. Blogs can also integrate beautifully with Etsy, if you’re selling your artwork via their platform. Search engines also love blogs, and Google rewards bloggers who update their sites on a regular basis. So if you’re creating art in a specific niche, blogging will make you more findable on the web! 2. Blogs help you build connections and relationships. Your blog will make it easier for everyone (friends, family, gallery owners, potential buyers) to see your work. They can also encourage you by commenting on your work and cheering you on! Blogging also lets you hobknob with other artist bloggers (in your niche and beyond) in order to exchange ideas, share tips and tricks, and talk about exciting upcoming conferences and camps – like Art Camp for Women! Meeting new people and growing your connections and relationships is excellent fodder for your artwork, too. After all, isn’t being in relationship with someone the ultimate act of self-expression? These relationships will make your life richer and your art better. 3. Blogging lets you measure your progress over time. When I look back at my earliest blog posts, I see that my writing style was more amateur, my explanations on technical topics not as clear, and my presentation not as professional. I see a huge difference between my early posts and the posts I’m publishing today. Imagine seeing your growth and progress as an artist as you flip back through your archived posts. You’ll see how you are changing and growing in your art, and also as a person! As you integrate new skills you learn from classes and conferences, you can see clearly how you go from beginner to expert over the course of time. It’s incredibly satisfying for you, and really compelling for your blog readers, too! You also get to keep your blog as an incredible online scrapbook and archive for your kids, your extended family, and your friends. Blogs will stay up on the web as long as you keep them up, so your art will have a staying power! 4. Blogging is motivating and inspiring. Blogs provide a wonderful structure in which to work and play. If you’ve decided to post a new photo of your artwork once a week, and you know your readers are expecting a new post, you bet your booty you’ll be more motivated to sit down and create. Some artists even post new artwork every day! You certainly don’t NEED to post everyday, though, to get an enormously fun motivation to create. You can also find inspiration from your blog – from the comments you’ll get from readers, from other artist blogs and websites, and from images you’ll see all over the web. A blog is a wellspring of constant inspiration if you’re curious and keep your eyes open! 5. Finally – and perhaps MOST importantly – blogging is FUN. Modern blogging tools, combined with state-of-the-art digital cameras – make it fun and easy to publish new posts, switch out new blog templates, and get creative online. And artist bloggers can let their passion for color, light and texture run free online. Blogging is a blast, and once you get started, you won’t want to stop! Sold on the idea of blogging? Then I invite you to join us at this year’s Art Camp for Women sessions for a special workshop on blogging. Create Your Artist’s BlogSnow Mountain Ranch, Colorado Here’s what you’ll get from the course:
During this two-day class, I’ll teach you how to:
You will need a laptop computer and a digital camera (or photos already on your laptop) to participate in class. Important note: If I haven’t sold you on the idea of blogging and you’d just like to create a regular website, we can do that, too! I’ll teach you how to use WordPress to create a regular website with your images and text. You’ll still get a TON out of this workshop. I am absolutely thrilled to be teaching this class as part of this year’s Art Camp for Women sessions, and to have the opportunity to teach side-by-side with Lori Wostl and Lorri Flint, two of my favorite women (and two of the best TEACHERS) in the world. We’d love to have you join us. Want more info? Here’s where you can get more information on registering for the upcoming Art Camp for Women camp, or get more details on this blogging workshop.
Susan came to our fall 2009 Art Camp for Women and was an accomplished quilter and owned a quilt pattern company before then.  Susan at Art Camp with samples of her art.  Susan Journaling When she arrived at Art Camp Susan had just begun exploring the mixed media art arena with paper, collage and stamping. She says it was accidental brilliance on her part putting herself in Art Camp. The immersion style at Art Camp, into mixed-media art really worked for her. The fact that the teachers were always there to not only answer questions, but to chat over dinner and discuss the ins and outs of different methods and products was invaluable. In Susan’s opinion the interaction with the staff and other participants was as important as the classes. Currently her regular life includes remodeling her kitchen, training a new puppy and being the best grandmother possible. In her art she is still using the shotgun approach to find her own style and voice but feels that she is coming to the end of that particular phase. Last fall she took a class with Julie Fei-Fan Balzer in stamp carving and has become addicted to the practice. It is soothing and meditative and she ends up with authentic art to include in her larger pieces. Susan currently has several art projects in the works. She is making samples for a fabric arts class she will teach at local fabric stores in 2012 in the Cincinnati area. She is working on several small framed quilts to for inventory for an etsy shop. She will also be making quilt pictures to sell in her shop. We couldn’t decide if the shop itself would be a work of art, but I am assuming it will be. When asked if Art Camp for Women had any lasting impact in her life she was a definite yes. Just in allowing herself to go [to camp] Susan made a statement to herself of her own worth. She also shouted to the world that her art was an important part of who she is as a person and that she is entitled to be that person. Additionally she has become a person that keeps an art journal, in fact she keeps several. For example, she has begun telling stories about her family to her grandchildren and the children ask her for the stories over and over again so Susan intends to record them in her art journals. Another benefit is that she now regularly works and plays at her art. It is no longer relegated to “when she has extra time.”  Susan with watercolor - a new medium for her Susan, thank you for joining us at camp and for this interview. |
 
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