Creative hangouts...

I was in northern Connecticut today for a colored pencil workshop with CZT Cheryl Cianci.  So well done!  Now I need to practice.  Hmmmm, isn't that a recurring theme with me...I really DO need to practice.  My plan this week is to get down to it.

Cheryl had put a huge amount of thought into the workshop, and among other things she gave us a large selection of different types of colored-pencil-friendly papers to try out.  We began by experimenting on plain white cardstock (below) and then we moved to trying out colored pencils on black (I think Strathmore's Artagain paper).  She even gave each of us a sample of printmaking paper to try; I'm looking forward to testing that out.

She had also brought us all a supply of tissue-thin coffee filters to use with colored pencils and Microns to create Zendalas.  We never got to work on these but we all got to take some home.  I cannot wait to work on mine.  This photo (below) shows the bookmark I did (black), the white cardstock we started with, and underneath them you can see the used coffee filters, some of which, after having been rinsed of course, were given a watercolor wash.  Oh my--love that idea.  She is so creative!

I should add that the orangy-reddish tint to the coffee filters is caused by my kitchen tablecloth, which is bright red.  I laid these out on the kitchen table to photograph and was surprised by how much that color showed through.  Here's the photo:

As you can see, I will need lots of practice.  Some of the lines on the bookmark are Jellyroll Pens that I used on top of the colored pencil--that worked well.

Cheryl's samples and her pencil work were all spectacular.  She'd brought a few albums to show us and they were inspirational.

Just before I left, she taught me a new tangle she'd created called Emanon.  I'd show it here but I don't have her permission to show it; I'll need to check with her.  And my first try at it isn't finished, anyway.

Time just rushes by when I am spending it with creative, inspirational, generous artists like Cheryl and the other attendees.  I should add that Donna's house, where the meeting was held, is nothing short of spectacular--both the setting and the house.  What a comfortable place to be.  To be able to create that kind of comfort and beauty indoors and out is also incredibly creative.  It was an absolutely lovely day and so worth the travel.

---