Along the Vista Grande Trail, Pastel Painting at Santa Rosa Plateau

Along the Vista Grande Trail, Pastel, Helen Shafer Garcia
Originally uploaded by Agave Latte

Today I took my Fallbrook School of the Arts Pastel class to Santa Rosa Plateau to paint on location. It was the calm before the storm...cold and overcast with hints of sunshine. We painted till our fingers got numb, then hiked back to the vistor's center for a warm up critique. Fun afternoon!

Art and Soul Blog Hop!

I'll be teaching at  Portland Art and Soul Retreat www.artandsoulretreat.com/Portland-2011.php    this coming September 28th and 29th! Very exciting! I'm joining these fine instructors in a blog hop...check out thier works to see what they are teaching.

Sharyn Sowell  http://www.sharynsowellartblog.blogspot.com/

Jane LaFazio  http://janeville.blogspot.com/

Jenni Horne   http://www.jennihorne.blogspot.com/

PeggyKrzyzewski-   http://www.artandsoultoo.blogspot.com/

Rogene Manas  http://www.rogenemanas.blogspot.com/

Doreen Kassell  http://www.doreengay-kassel.blogspot.com/

Corey Celaya  http://www.art-with-moxie.blogspot.com/

Patricia Seggebruch  http://www.encaustikits.blogspot.com/

M&Jen Crossley  http://www.amarkintime.blogspot.com/

Barbara Lewis  http://paintingwithfireartwear.blogspot.com/

I'm teaching 2 workshops......

 Batik Flora and Fauna Wednesday September 28th

Casa de Milagros Thursday September 29th

Fallbrook Library Book Arts Exhibit

I just returned home after installing my Book Arts Works for the Grand Gala and Opening of the Newly Built Fallbrook Library. http://www.fallbrooklibraryfriends.org/ It opens to the public next Saturday, January 22th.

This new space is exceptional. The art works alone are incredible and the new outdoor patio will be most popular with readers and artists. Mary Perhacs, Director of the Fallbrook Art Center; http://www.fallbrookartcenter.org/ personally  invited me to exhibit my Artists Books in 2 plexi display boxes located in the new reading room with an outrageous glass beaded fireplace.

Drive up for the afternoon in a  week or so....have a great cup of coffee at Primos Coffee just down the hill, check out the new library.....oh...and did I mention the new planted roof? Succulents and such......So very cool!

My new Book Arts 8 week class starts next Thursday afternoon from 1 to  4pm http://www.fallbrookschoolofthearts.org/classes/paper-arts.html
There is still time to register!

Palm Springs Weekend with my friends

Papel de Fiesta
Originally uploaded by Agave Latte

Jeannie Moore http://jeanniemooresblog.blogspot.com/, Jane LaFazio http://janeville.blogspot.com/, Susie Clark and I spend a lovely 4 days at Jeannie's getaway home in North Palm Springs. We each taught a mini workshop, shared many laughs and giggles, and inspired each other....not to mention a tour of Elvis's Honeymoon house up the street....and did I mention the adventures of the "Dizzy Dolls in Palm Springs"? You have to see it on Facebook....Susie was our director...

This is the kitchen that the Elton Brothers are building

Brothers Winston and Leland Elton are my contractors for our Kitchen and Bath Remodel. Highly recommended! They are creating a beautiful new kitchen and bath for us. http://www.winwinhomesinc.com/
They are kind and considerate and willing to listen to you. That is almost unheard of these days it seems. Good quality work and on time scheduling. Thanks guys!





The next photos show updates on our new custom built cabinets, concrete counter tops, tumbled travertine tile and Mexican tile backslash and our new back door.  Our new sink is also concrete....way cool! I'll post more photos when everything is finished....

Love and Joy

Wishing you

a great holiday season full of warm yummy treats,hugs and fuzzies......

Taos in Winter I   

San Miguel de Allende next April

Just keep this in mind..and sign up soon! ........
a wonderful, art filled getaway awaits you  in the heart of Mexico next Spring with Laurie Mika, Jane LaFazio, Lynn Leahy and Me! http://web.me.com/themikas/San_Miguel_retreat/Welcome.html

We would love to have you join us for our week long retreat "Tescoro del Corazon"  -Treasures from the Heart.
April 13 to 20, 2011
This will be a progressive approach to art making in the creation of a single final mixed media art project. There will be four different classes running simultaneously and each day students will work with an instructor on one facet of their box.

Each day students will rotate into another class so that by the end of the retreat, all students will go home having learned a variety of mixed media techniques....and with a unique box that will hold all of their treasured memories of San Miguel.



San Miguel de Allende will warm your heart and fill your imagination and soul.........

Photos taken by Amberley Shafer...my niece who lives in New Zealand...thanks Amberley!

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...