Helen's artful space

Helen's artful space
Originally uploaded by Agave Latte

This is my space at Amber George's 3 Day Monotype and Collograph Workshop this week....I've been trying to post the rest of the photos of our fantastic group and our artworks but can't figure it out....flickr..
Anyway..if you click on the photo it will take you there....
Amber George http://www.ambergeorge.com/   is a very talented artist who shared so much with us. Thanks Amber!
We had a great artistc buzz going on....

Patron Saints Collabrative

 I was one of the Artists who participated in the Patron Saints Collabrative Book Arts Project in 2008,09. My book structure is constructed with paper mache, acrylic, inks, watercolor, and found objects. Saint Gertrude is on the right. I chose her because she's the patron saint of .....you guessed it.....Cats, Gardens, and Travelers. Santa Lucia is another saint shown, selected by Laurie Mika http://www.mikaarts.com/ St. Lucia is the patron saint of light, who unfortunatly, had her eyes gouged out by some horrible persecutors. She was miraculously still able to see without her eyes. And that is why, In paintings and statues, St. Lucy is frequently shown holding her eyes on a golden plate.


A majority of the works were developed in watermedia with some collage. I’m interested in organic shapes that are surrounded or are housed by geometric calligraphy. Each patron saint is surrounded by icons and symbols representing and supporting the figure. These shapes were sometimes pulled out of the geometric “housing” to create a sense of depth.  

This is the description from the Ukiah Art Center, where our books are currently  on display.
The Patron Saints Project -13 Women, 13 Books Project. Thirteen women artists in southern California and Oregon each made a book or container and chose a Saint. Each book was mailed in a circle for 13 months with each artist making one page in each book. Each book contains 13 Saints either ones recognized by the Catholic Church, or nominated for sainthood with a couple newly created ones. Artists: www.lisabebiart.com, Dorte Bistrup, Karen O'Brien  http://www.keobrien.com/, Deb Denton, Andrea Callas Hein, Helen Shafer Garcia, Lisa Guerin, Susanne Knutilla, Lyn Leahy  http://www.lynnleahy.com/, Laurie Mika  http://www.mikaarts.com/ , Josie Rodriquez http://www.josierodriguez.com/, Cheryl Tall, http://www.cheryltall.com/  Elizabeth Raybee http://www.eraybeemosaics.com/  The books will be on display through January 15. There will be two times during exhibit when viewers will be able to carefully look through parts of the books that will not be visible during the exhibit. Wednesday, December 8 2pm - 6 pm Sunday December 19 12 - 4 pm
Art Center Ukiah, 203 S. State St. Ukiah, 462-1400

http://www.artcenterukiah.org/

These are the counters that Jack's building.......

This is Jack http://www.jaxdesignshop.com/

Jack is a Renaissance artist in my mind.

He is building our concrete countertops for our new kitchen. He has a very cool shop in Carlsbad close to the beach.

 Jack's tattoos read: "Become the change you wish to see" .....Mahatma Gaundi quote.....

Jack rides his bike from his home in SD to the train station, rides up north and then bike rides to his shop. His trucks run on Bio fuels....need I say more?

The second photo shows the templates he made for our counters.He's going in include some small found  stones and things in some of the sections.

My friend Al Rodriguez just came back from a fishing trip in  Baja...a thousand miles south. He picked up  a small very worn down shell remnant on one of the beautiful beaches and gave it to me last Friday at his studio in San Diego. http://yagottahaveart.com/bio.htm . Al's shell will be a part of the countertop....thank you Al! There are also some milagro birds and a couple of clay buttons.....more photos after the holiday...

This is the Bath that Juan is building....

This is Juan. He's creating our beautiful bathroom with tumbled travertine, glass tile and mosaic bits. He created 2 nichos for us. I designed the nicho mosaic and the glass tile strip. Together we placed each small shell, ceramic buttons (that I made in high school!), ceramic heart designs, a little fish design plate, and stones. Juan had never created a mosaic piece before. He hand cut tiny bits of glass tile to fit around the objects in the nicho. The photo shows the nicho before the grout was laid. We picked out a teal blue...it looks great. Juan likes to sing while he works and it makes me happy to hear him.


We took out a massive iron tub that no one ever used and now we'll have this wonderous Mexican style shower....we'll want to sing everytime we take a shower too!

Yesterday I found a copper sink that looks like a seashell for only $55.00. Juan is going to mount it on top of the cabinet like a vessel sink. This bathroom is going to be amazing when it's finished. Our remodel continues.......



Helen on Vista Grande Trail

Helen on Vista Grande Trail
Originally uploaded by Agave Latte

It was a lovely Thursday Morning at Santa

Rosa Plateau. My art friends and I painted along the Vista Grande Trail near the Visitors Center. The light was warm and wonderful.

Ceramic Tree of Life for my Kitchen

This is a close up of my Ceramic Tree of Life I made at my friend's Ceramic studio http://www.cheryltall.com/ Cheryl offers studio time each week and you get to see her fabulous sculptures too.

I used to have a running gas kiln but it's covered with a Wisteria Vine in the backyard. It would be quite a sight running that kiln with an eight foot torch of fire on my vine!
This Mosaic piece will be mounted on the wall behind my stove in my new kitchen. I almost didn't leave enough room for it.....didn't exactly measure.......
The kitchen cabinets are up and my tile guy, Juan, is putting up the tumbled travertine and glass tile in the bathroom as I write this......more photos soon!

Plein Air at Susan Frommer's straw bale house

You know what I love about teaching? It's the fabulous places I'm able to go to and the interesting people I meet. Take for instance Susan Frommer's house. http://www.consciousinspiredliving.com/feature.htmlShe and her hubby built a Straw bale home just north of Santa Rosa Plateau http://www.riversidecountyparks.org/locations/nature-historic-centers/santa-rosa-plateau/ in Murietta, CA. My Wendesday Pastel Class from http://www.fallbrookschoolofthearts.org/ traveled north  to paint on location this afternoon. Susan kindly invited us for a perfect October setting with lovely views of the Santa Rosa Plateau landscape. Of course, most of us ended up painting part of the Staw Bale veranda along with succulents and cactus! Christine Bowman http://www.christinebowman.com/blog  and friends from my Escondido Pastel class joined us also. Click on Christine's link to see more photos of our outing including Christine's great painting.....


A good time was had by all....Thank you Susan!!

the kitchen remodel continues....

My new nicho complete with my son John and our kitty Frank. John's standing where the frig will go at the end of the room. Check out our new stove...5 mega grills for mucho tortillas y carne asada.....
yummy....

money palette

This is the most inventive palette I've seen yet in my Palomar College Acrylic and Watercolor class. This student read somewhere that the vellum in the paper works well as an acrylic palette....pretty clever, isn't it? Just spray it from time to time to keep the paint wet. Of course if you are in dire need of a 3 dollar Starbucks coffee you might have an issue......

Great artist retreat next April 2011!

Exciting news!


Now’s the time to sign up for a fabulous trip to San Miguel de Allende next April, 2011. This will be a fantastic opportunity to work with 4 amazing artists....including me! Our workshop and lodging will be located at Casa Luna, one of most prestigious and well known inns in town.

All details are listed below on our website.

Tesoro del Corazon

Art retreat in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

April 13 - 20, 2011



Come and enjoy a week of workshops and fun with four

top notch instructors: Helen Shafer Garcia, Jane LaFazio, Lynn Leahy and Laurie Mika

The old colonial town of San Miguel de Allende will provide the back drop

for workshops where your creative energies can flow.
 
All the techniques pictured below will be taught.

 Please find detailed


information at our website http://web.me.com/themikas/San_Miguel_retreat/Welcome.html

Or email SanMiguelRetreat@gmail.com

$1390 (not including airfare)