Teaching Is A Two Way Street

Why do I teach?  I was asked to write about this for the upcoming Winter Wax workshop at the EncaustiCastle this coming January 2018. Details about the workshop are found in the workshop link on this blog. I hope you will check it out. Winter Wax is a deeply restorative experience and really taps into your creative vision and goals. I am so looking forward to being a part of their unique experience again. 

So, why do I teach? I ask that very question all the time, almost daily in fact. I actually have to switch out the word teach, to the word share. After all, sharing is what I am doing and teaching is not really what is happening when in workshop with me. What is happening is something that I can not predict at all. 

At first, I was really uncomfortable with the not knowing, and now, it is the only real way I know to be with the act of sharing. 

Sounds maybe a little loose and unstructured, maybe even a catch all or cliche, but I am being as honest as I know how to be. 

Yes, I write out reminders of what I would like to focus on, because I need some sort of anchor. I do stand in front of a group and make statements about how I approach things, knowing that there are many ways to approach anything. Often times I offer a guided exercise to get you going, because I believe that it is in the excavating that we come to know what we really want to bring to life. I have a wealth of knowledge about pigments and paint making. I understand the principles of employing certain techniques. I’m confident in many ways, and have come to know the value added of having had years of experience in the art industry and as a practicing artist. 

All that said, it means nothing in the scheme of things because ‘You’ will bring something that will be completely unique. There in lies the real quest. 

Why do I want to share what I know with you? The best way I know how to answer that, is because I know that in order to successfully share what I’d like to share, I also need to open to receiving what you will be offering. 

I learned a valuable life experience a few years ago that speaks more to a life style. That is, when two or more people come together a separate and distinct other entity co-arises. That entity is full of potential and is very organic. That entity is idea, visions, creative power, untapped potential. I never know what will come out of my working with another person, but I am willing to bet that if we both remain open enough, that we both will learn from it. 

Fall Newsletter 2017

Dear Friends,  

I’m home from my Art and Soul Journey to Ireland. It was an outstanding trip for me in so many ways.  This workshop/retreat has confirmed in me a desire to seek these opportunities out as a course of direction in my profession as an art educator, but not just so that I can teach. It goes well beyond that.

I have come to realize that in looking back over the last few years, I have slowly been cultivating a life style that supports me in all ways. It has been in this last year where I have really come to know this in my heart, through experiencing a great loss, I am aware of what I can never lose. 

My art, my undying desire to work with my hands, the rich community I am part of, the desire to share, the love of my friends and family ~ these are all pillars as I carve my way into a new (yet, old) life path. 

This may or may not make any sense, but I suspect on some level it does. It is after all, that other level, that deeper level where I like to swim. It helps guide me in all that I do. 

Life is rich ~

Here are some images of my work where I explore the notion that ~ Nothing is Random 

This is the beginnings of a new series for me. I believe that nothing is random, even when things come out of left field ~ nothing is random. I find this especially true when making art. There are so many decisions we make that we don’t even realize how quick our brains function, how many thousands of little decisions seemingly go unnoticed.  Our subconscious mind is never asleep. Even if we are blindfolded, while making art, we would use our other senses to help guide us in our decisions making.  As I type, I’m coming up with another idea for my workshops. You see . . nothing is random. 

Art and Soul Journey to Ireland 2017

My bucket runneth over. It is with bittersweet thoughts going through my mind that I write this post. Art and Soul Journey to Ireland has come and is now but a memory, albeit a recent one.
I've never been to Ireland before and it was always top of my list of places I would want to go given the opportunity.
Last year,  Lora Murphy (look her up) and I decided we would embark on offering an encaustic workshop and soul filling retreat. It all came together beautifully the first week of September when we held our event at The Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare for 19 lovely women. These women came from all over the globe and had varying prior experience with the encaustic medium, always a plus in my mind.
Lora taught portraiture in her portion and I guided the women in creating the "inspired landscape". There was a lot of wiggle room in what is "inspired", but the main idea was to begin to cultivate the impressions of the landscape in our mind first. We had spent the very first day touring the countryside, so our impressions were fresh. You will see in this post a beautiful expression from each of the women in the workshop. Many of the images are all but finished, while others are more sketch like. What I love about them is the freshness and of course, I have memories of the behind the scenes cultivations of these pearls.
If you ever get an opportunity to visit this neck of the woods, I would encourage you to do so.
Be on the lookout for when we offer this workshop/retreat again. I'm ready to pack my bags.

Phyllis Bryce Ely

Maureen Church

Patrice Maloney

Catherine Mansell

Kelly Finnerty

Laurel Haslett

Janis Loehr

Nancy Torbitt-Stewart

Bernadette Wright

Robin Samaljin

Rachel Packham

Maureen Butler

Mindy Rollins

Mandy Rollins

Marie Taylor

Diane Phillips

Connie Ehindero

Patricia Dusman

Anne McCune