After 3 1/2 days of painting, friends, and parties, I am totally wiped out!  It was my first year of attending Artfest, as well as Artfest’s last year of operation.  Teesha Moore, the creator of this art retreat, promises something even grander in the works.  I can’t even imagine what that might be.  I just hope it’s still local!

After a retreat I always feel both completely filled up – with ideas, inspiration, and the emotional charge that comes with connecting with old friends and making new ones, and completely depleted, from giving some blank canvases everything I’ve got, from sharing with friends a lifetime’s worth of crazy inebriated stories, and from knowing I have to say goodbye, even if it’s just ’til next year.

Since my brain is feeling fried, and I’m being subjected to a never-ending loop of Nyan Cat (thanks to my children), the rest of my post will be more pictures, than words.  I wish I’d taken more photos, but I was too busy playing!

I painted with Jesse Reno for two days, and miraculously, finished a painting.  A second piece is still in the works.

Before:

After:

It says “OPASNA” (oh-pas-na) which means  she is dangerous, in Russian.  It is my interpretation of an anglerfish.  If you can believe it, when I started it kinda looked like Marilyn Monroe.  Ha!  I wish I’d taken some transition shots, as it went though many stages, but my hands were always covered in paint.  By the way, I’m not sure if the title is referring to the painting, or the artist… 🙂

Another work in progress from Jesse’s class.  To be finished soon, I hope!

Jesse doing a drawing demo.  I love watching people sketch with ease.  I always get nervous if I’m too aware of people watching me!!!

Below is a warm-up exercise we did in Jesse’s class.  I’d like to play around with it some more.

I took Mindy Lacefield’s class on Saturday, and it was great to share the day with her!  I’m so glad that I’ve gotten to know her better over the last two years.  I had a blast helping her out at her marketplace table Friday night.

She did some great demos in class.  It was fun watching her work.  She is a master at cuteness!

I worked on four backgrounds.  Can’t wait to play with these more.

The owl and the pussy cat?  I did this in class.  The owl and cat are made from torn paper.  The words say “Ya Teb-ya Lyoob-loo” which means I love you in Russian.  I may play with this a bit more, but I like the raw wood showing through.

Two heads are better than one.  This other piece is unfinished.  It’s a two-headed bird.  These birds may get some stripes and crazy legs… not sure yet.

Well, that’s all for now!  Friends, old and new, I hope you’ll keep in touch.  And ladies, (*ehem* Danielle, Janna…) let’s not forget about our plans for next year!