Camera, Paintbrush, Pencil, Pen

Once I read a beautiful quote..I believe it comes from ancient China and goes something like, Hand, eye, heart, two won't do.
Sometimes I think of that when I work because of my constant desire to keep my hands and my eyes and my heart in my pictures.

I'm excited about the fact that the sister worlds of photography and painting & drawing will meet and play together, this fall in Spain!

I recently went to Vancouver to visit with the Flavour of Spain workshop hosts, Mike and Hilary Powell, and Gail Short, who will be teaching alongside me the same week.  Gail and I were so happy to finally meet one another, and talk about our upcoming workshops.

We have decided to act on inspiration and create a format in which our participants (and the two of us) will be able to enjoy the best of each of our worlds- photography and painting & sketching! 

We plan to organize our days so that everyone will be have opportunities to learn from both Gail and me, and/or focus on their preferred medium intensively.

Gail will be teaching small format pen, pencil and paint techniques for participants with any and all levels of experience. She is a lively and lovely, fun person. I am so looking forward to working with her. I totally marveled at Gail's tiny pouch of materials, in which she keeps all the tools she needs to create her amazing beautiful sketchbook journals, like the one she shared with us over lunch. I'm inspired!

Here is a link to Gails website. http://www.gailshort.com/

If you’ve still been considering coming to Spain, jump in -you’re not too late. There are 2 spots left, last I checked.  Call Cindy Horton as soon as possible, if you’re interested. She’s the agent for Flavor of Spain. She can answer any questions or help you book your flight. October 7-16. It’s sure to be a lot of fun.

Cindy Tel: 604-926-8511


Toll Free: 1-800-661-7176

Email: cindy@trvlconcepts.com

Above: Me and Gail Short, Gail unpacking her little bag of magic, 

our incredibly wonderful hosts of Flavour of Spain, Mike and Hilary Powell.

I've learned that they really know Spain! And I can tell that they truly love art, people, and travel, going about all of it with great humour, constant enthusiasm, and delicious food and wine.

Gails beautiful sketchbook and exceedingly portable supplies!

Amazing

Greetings!

The 2013 workshops season is nearing its end, and it has been truly amazing.
The images, the fun, kind people, the creative synergy - - wow.
I am eager to share a recap, and some pictures with you, and will find a quiet moment to do that soon.
This Thursday and Friday, the final Salt Spring workshop is happening!
There is still time to jump in, if you're wanting to stir up your photographic art life, or just retreat to a creative space for a day or two.

On Thursday, July 25th, we'll be working on photographs with dry pastels and pencils.
On Friday, July 26th, we'll paint all day using acrylics. Come to both days, or just one.
Each session is $135. All materials are included. No experience is necessary to participate. You will be have the opportunity to complete finished artworks to take home.

*I'm offering a summer gift discount for the remaining seats in this season's end workshop. If you've been curious about hand painting photographs, you're in luck. This is it.

To register, or for additional info: Phone 250-537-6120.

2013 Workshops Brochure Release

Greetings, and Voila!

A new season of workshops is coming right up, and the catalog is ready.
I have enjoyed the meditative process of deciding what might be fun to offer this year, while at the same time being most likely to be of real and lasting benefit to you.
All of the sessions will be very small groups, so be sure to let me know soon if you'd like to save a spot in any of this seasons workshops!

Also, there are still a few spots left for the grand Spain adventure in October as well!
If you're feeling creatively curious, jump on in. These courses are for you - to nourish your creativity, in a totally dedicated way, in a beautiful place, and in the synergy created in good company.

I hope you are all loving the beautiful beginnings of May, wherever you are.
Amy

Click on the image below to download the full pdf catalog


Click on the image below to visit the Flavour of Spain
website for more details

For the Love of Dandelions

Okay, so there's Paris...and stars, and big oak trees and 30lb salmon. Amazing.
And things that need our attention in a big way - like our families, farming, proposed pipelines. All the while, at our feet every day, there are volunteer ambassadors of Awesome to show us how it's done.

Dandelions are like calling cards scattered by the sun.

Wherever you live, work, walk, park or play, I bet you can find one-or more likely, many! They are so common, in fact, that they are often overlooked, even battled as "weeds". 

I think they're phenomenal. Not only are they hardy edibles, they always catch my eye for their beautiful design.  Their ultra vivacious yellow can barely contain itself in the delicate petals that are laid out in perfect symmetry. 

And this is all before they become little wish factories. Way to bring it dandelions!

I like to pick one and bring it in to look at it throughout the whole week. The single dandelion, in it's modest glory, reminds us that it has as much to be and give as any bouquet, or zebra, or you, or me.

On the infinite list of scenic wonders in this world, I would seriously put dandelions right up there with Paris, France.  

See, there's my muse for this post!

Echoes in Design

I'm starting to look through pictures from my time in California. I love that photos make it so easy to revisit an experience. Through images, fleeting moments are suspended in time, making it possible for us to appreciate them all over again, and often in new ways.
Came across this pair of magpies on a misty January day, while out walking with  family. I am amazed at how similar their elegant markings are to those of the southern resident orca whales.

photo of orca: swimmingfree.wordpress.com

Where I've Been

I’ve just returned to Salt Spring Island after a long visit to gorgeous northern California.  What started out as holidays with the family, ended up being a four month adventure - including an entire one fourth of 2013!

My good intentions to share the experience along the way, via my blog, went wayside. I'm not as up to speed as my insta-gramming daughters! 

Instead, I nearly abandoned the computer, and like a honeybee in a clover field, I buzzed around from place to place, giving my whole attention, at any given moment, to family, friends, trees, flowers, whale spotting, stars, rest, exploration, art, audiobooks, …. I guess I needed that. 2012, after all, was a big year.

Then, sure enough, coinciding with the arrival of wildflowers and the eager new grass, my batteries began to feel re-charged, my soul inspired, and my compass pointed north toward my studio.  

When I turned the key and opened the door to my little studio on Salt Spring a few days ago, I felt the kindness of the warm welcome by an old friend. And, that’s a feeling I am fortunate to say I know well. Love to all of you who opened your hearts and homes to me during the past amazing four months!

 

Here’s a postcard sampling of a few of the beautiful things I saw. They're almost in 

chronological order...

Cheers, Amy

A New Year

Wishes of love and peace for all in this new year . Amy