Withering petals, Workshop in Wisconsin, and Whales

*waves*  Hello!  It's been a while.  When we last spoke I was on my way to Valley Ridge.  We had a terrific time - a full class of enthusiastic artists who painted and played for three whole days!  It was rewarding on so many levels and filled my well for a long time.  Love being in the studio and feeling the energy that gets generated when artists gather.

One of our assignments was to walk the gorgeous property in search of new shapes to inspire hand-crafted tools (stencils and stamps).  It was a perfect break from the work, to take in the scenery, breath in the not-quite-fall-air, enjoy the sun, and observe all that was before us.  I found my way to Katherine's garden - very much in hiberbation and decay, with amazing shapes.  The once vibrant flowers and plants presenting themselves as dried pods and other interesting stages of non-life. 

 

I later learned these were coneflowers - typically adorned with violet petals.  My impression upon observing the dried evidence, was that the flower had possibly been a black-eyed susan, with golden petals.  I am so glad I didn't know they were once purple, as the darker rustier color served as my inspiration for this painting.  I used the river rocks stencil by Mary Beth, adding in a few larger stones to make it my own for the section of ground.  I made my own stencils for the flowers, and included roots since my attempt at pulling a few to photograph came straight from the earth with entire stem and roots. 

 

Some evidence of our walk around the perimeter of the VR property....Mom is there gathering weeds and avoiding coyotes.  (Actually, we only hear them at night....haven't seen one there yet.)

 

Here is the group - thank you ladies!  I loved seeing your individual perspectives, and your fabulous work.  So much fun to see old friends and make new ones.  I had a great time Raising the Bar with you :)

And just days after arriving home from Wisconsin we road tripped up to Canada.  It's been a few years since we have been there and promised the kids a return visit to see our beloved friends, the orcas.  You can read about our previous memorable visits in a past post HERE.  It was so heavy with rain on the first day that the park was not even open.  Drats.  Luckily it cleared enough by the next day that we headed straight for Friendship Cove at Marineland, Niagara Falls, Ontario, to see Kiska and Ike.  A happy ending.

 

 

 

Comments

[Seth]

Happy to hear that your travels and workshop were so wonderful. I love "He Loves Me" and what you did with those coneflowers. Sensational piece.

[finnabair]

"He Loves Me" is just breathtaking... huge wow! I'm happy to read you had a great time on classes together. I wish I could join your class one day:)

[cin]

hey you! looks like you had a wonderful time. and i love the 'he loves me'. amazing stuff you! xoxo

[Renee]

Great pics of Kiska and Ike.

[Carrie]

*gasp* i LOVE your painting! Mom plants coneflowers in her garden, they attract goldfinches and she loves that. They're somewhat dramatic looking too. What you've done with the silhouette is absolutely stunning. Some day I'm going to join you for one of those workshops. I'm dying to join the club!

So glad you got to see the orcas before the end of your trip to Canada :) Beautiful photos of them!

[Jane]

Hi Michelle,
Your painting is a masterpiece!! Looks like you had two great trips-I'm glad you're back though, I'm hoping for Crusade 56. :-)

[Judy N]

Hey Michelle -

*waves* back

Have been missing you and watching for your posts daily. Your finished piece is awesome, I am so glad I got to see it while you were working on it.

Just wanted to say Hi!

Until later,
Judy

[jeanne]

hi there! glad to see you had fun in canada! my drumsticks have been a hit with my buds! and i've been able to share a few of your techniques with my "crafty chicks" group! we're going to make a stencil and mask at our next mini artfest and will be doing the layering with them... such an inspiration, you are! i ordered a couple of your stencils... hope they get here soon!

nice to see you back!

jeanne

[Carolyn]

Thanks for sharing what you made with the flowers you picked on our walk. You'll never believe it but I was working on a trade for an upcoming retreat and I was stuck. My daughter looked at it and said "The button just looks like you bought it. You need to make it look like you left your mark on it." I was blown away - that was what you kept saying in your workshop. Once I left my mark it really did look much better. Thanks again for such an inspiring weekend.

[Kim Mailhot]

Looks like an amazing time was had by all. Those coneflower pieces are yummy, yummy, yummy !!!
Glad you and the clan saw your whale friends too.
Much love and squishy hugs !

[Jennifer White]

*jumping up and down* what a great weekend we had...and how kickass did you painting turn out! Whenever we see one another, it's like we pick right up where we left off... I love that about you and our friendship. A rockstar weekend was had by all... love you...xoxoxox

[Marlynn]

Loved Valley Ridge and so happy to see your finished "He Loves Me" - it is still just as stunning as I remember. Glad you could see your Orcas. You rock and I am proud to know you and be a friend. Hugs and xoxo

[Inge Bekaert]

Hello Michelle,

I bet you all had a great time at Valley Ridge ! I wish I could once join you...
Do you have photos of this workshop : I love to see what you created but most of all the energy that speaks in the photos of what happened there.

You made a great painting ! Wow, love how you incorporated the shapes in the whole painting. Love all the textures and dept it seems to have.

It's amazing to see how you find and see shapes in nature.

About your trip to the orcas... everytime I see an orca on TV I think of you and Sam and your story...

Thanks for the confetti on your birthdaywishes on facebook ! I wanted to reply but I've not been well since then.... so I'm a bit "out" for the moment. Energy is coming back a bit, so I'm able to read on my computer while lying in the couch..

till later !
greetings from Belgium
Inge

[Lisa Hoffman]

That piece is pure "evidence" of an amazing workshop. Only wish that all of your readers (writ: ME) could be there to play and stir the fizzy, bubbling cauldron of Fabulousness. Perhaps next year?....
...here's to Valley Ridge Dreams....

[Linda Warlyn]

Just when one thinks their gardens have stopped bearing gifts, you come along and show everyone it's just the beginning of terrific tools and stunning artwork. He Loves Me...simply sublime, Michelle. You and Valley Ridge are instant unforgettable. Oh, those lucky ladies! I'm so happy the skies finally smiled down and gave all of you a great day with the whales, especially sweet Sam. oxox