Puerto Vallarta, December 2018, CONCRETE!

What a blast I had at Hacienda Mosaico in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico! I follow Sherri Warner Hunter, a concrete artist whose books are my guides to concrete creations. I saw that she was teaching for a week in December 2018 in Puerto Vallarta. I love Mexico, I like PV, and I love working with concrete so it was an easy decision.

There were 8 students with Sherri living and working in a gorgeous setting right in the heart of PV. I learned a lot. I got to know Sherri. And I roomed with good friend Barbara. What a blast!

Amazing mosaics on the walls.

Concrete and mosaics to inspire.

 

A beautiful mosaic surprise while walking in the garden.

Sherri Warner Hunter in our covered studio at Hacienda Museico.

Delicious meals, discussions, and rest poolside.

One of my projects. Body is sculpted styrofoam with metal armatures covered with an adhesive mesh.

A slurry cover before the first coat of concrete.

The fish plus my reverse cast Mexican sombrero and my try at a sand cast sculpted face.
A great learning experience.

I always bring back a hat from Mexico!

Summer 2018 Pastel Workshop

Soft Pastel Landscape Adventure
Instructor: Kay Brathol-Hostvet

July 29 - August 4, 2018
The Clearing, Ellison Bay, Wisconsin

After taking a couple one-day classes with Kay Brathol-Hostvet I decided to treat myself to a week long workshop. I knew that at least a day would be spent working plein aire (outside) and needed to figure a way to transport my supplies. I came up with a simple solution of pastels sorted by color in plastic containers that could stack and live in a rolling bag. It worked OK, but I felt a little bit like the country bumpkin.

 

The Clearing is a Folk Art School founded by landscape architect Jens Jensen near Ellison Bay in Door County, Wisconsin. 

The buildings and pathways are rustic and provide a retreat atmosphere for city folks. Since I live in the woods and have a cabin in the woods this didn't really feel like an escape for me. But, it was lovely. 

Lighted pathways connect classrooms, dining hall, and housing.

My room.

 

Kay setting up for a demo in the Schoolhouse.

Kay sets up for the demo for plein aire. 

After dinner some of the class would come back to the studio to work on paintings.

Good things the paths were lit!

The class.

Me and my soft pastel paintings. 

I enjoyed the class. I learned a lot. And I especially felt that giving myself a week to do nothing but art was a true privilege. I will continue to work in pastel as I get my work space organized. I hope I can learn to make marks that are looser than what I created at this workshop. I'll check back in.