Beadlust

ArtFest ~
Registration Starts
September 5th

If you haven't heard of ArtFest or looked at Teesha Moore's website or blog, today could be a big treat for you!

This is The Book of Plenty (which I made in Albie Smith's class by the same name) and Mini Prayer Book (which I made later for a friend). You can see more pictures of these books here and here. Albie doesn't have a website or blog, which is sad because she's my idol as far as teaching, painting, paper making and book making goes. A totally generous teacher, her classes are the best of the best in my opinion.

ArtFest, 2004 (and again in 2005) completely changed my life as an artist, opening doors that I never thought would open. Picture this:

• 400 artistic, fun-loving, highly enthusiastic people from all over the country gathering together for five days
• taking three days of classes from nationally known artists such as Anne Bagby, Lynne Perrella, Nina Bagley, Linda & Opie O'Brien, Keely Barham and Michael De Meng
• hanging out after class in the art asylum, where tables piled high with free-to-use ephemera and art supplies and empty work tables sing their siren songs
• exchanging ideas and trades during meals
• enjoying the Olympic Peninsula, at least on the way to Fort Worden in Port Townsend, Washington state, where the event is held (once you're there, it takes discipline or extra days to see anything but art and more art)
• being too excited and inspired to sleep

Before ArtFest, I was a person who didn't think she could paint. After ArtFest (with HUGE thanks to Anne Bagby, Albie Smith and Lynne Perrella), I became a painting fool! Before ArtFest, I made books. After ArtFest, I made books with my own painted papers.

This is a detail from a piece I did in Anne Bagby's workshop. We cut out pieces of painted papers, like a jigsaw puzzle, and put them together to make a design, then painted in the details and shading. I couldn't get Blogger to upload the whole picture, so have put it here, on my website.

OK, so enough about me... If it's not clear already, the reason for this post is to encourage you to take a look at the workshops being offered by ArtFest Mar 28 - April 1, 2007.... And think about joining the fun! Registration begins September 5th, the day after Labor Day. Generally most of the classes FILL UP the first day or two after registration opens. Most likely the whole event, all available spots, will be sold in a week.