Terri Ford Pastel Workshop and Ojai Preserve Painting in Plein Air

These landscapes of water and reflection 

have become an obsession.

~Claude Monet

Terri's Beautiful array of pastels ...

Terri Ford Workshop

Ojai, Spring 2016

It had been, at least, a couple of years since I'd taken my last intensive 3 day pastel workshop. I'd loved taking a couple of those workshops with Richard McKinley, but he hadn't done one in Ojai for such a long time, so I'd been keeping my ears open for a great instructor. Terri came highly recommended and after checking out her website I got really excited! Her work is loose, gorgeous and vibrant. Bingo. 

Day 1

In the Studio

Terri sketching in her darkest values ...

It's always wonderful, as an artist, to stretch and move yourself in directions that you wouldn't ordinarily take with your art. It's not always easy but sometimes you have to make yourself uncomfortable in order to grow. Life lesson, right?

Terri's demonstrations were great because, like Richard, she explains her process as she goes along. She lets you in on why she is doing what she is doing and is very generous with all her knowledge. She's also just a really great gal and easy to spend time with over 3 days of working.

Here's her first finished demo. I'm sorry I don't have the reference photo but the finished pastel painting is so much more beautiful and interesting than the photo ... which is the hope, right?

That first day, we worked in the studio all day, having been told ahead of time to bring reference photos. Plus, as I recall, the weather forecast was a little dicey. 

Day 2

en Plein Air

Ojai Preserve

Ah ... spring in Ojai! Just wanted to mention, that it's amazing how many art supplies I can fit in my Mini!!

It was obviously a gorgeous spring day! Terri set up with a view of the Eucalyptus trees. When you work outside, you have to get in the broad strokes. There isn't a lot of time to work before the light completely changes!

I loved loved loved this demo. So fresh and loose and vibrant ... and all the information you need is there and just sunny and beautiful. This underpainting was vibrant using pastel (you can see that magenta under the sky!) and then washed with denatured alcohol. Then soft pastels over the top!

Of course, the big question is where and what do you want to paint?

 

I must have flowers, always, and always.
~Claude Monet

I decided to set up near the water, in part, because usually water isn't really my forte. Sometimes I get lucky but ... well, at least it was a pretty spot and I was stretching, remember?

The reflection of the reeds in my pastel were kind of cool and I liked the texture on my mountains but the water?
Eh? Not so much. Oh well. I'd have another chance on day 3.

In the meantime ... photos and enjoying the gorgeous afternoon! (And a fabulous almond cacao smoothie from Farmer and the Cook down the road.!)

 

It's on the strength of observation and reflection 
that one finds a way.
So we must dig and delve unceasingly.
~Claude Monet

Day 3

Terri set up, in the morning, with a view of Eucalyptus trees, mountains and sheds. It was fun to watch her edit what was in view and even lowering the line of the mountains. 

Another fabulous demo and it was even more wonderful in person. So yummy.

She wanted us to loosen up so she told us to be done with our painting by lunch. I think we had an hour or something? Maybe a little longer but not much! 

I loved this tree and the light coming across the grasses so I quickly threw up my tripod and attached my pastel box!

I loosely sketched in my little composition ...

Then used a paint brush to add the denatured alcohol, so it became a wash. (looks like  very saturated watercolor.) Then, I took a couple of pictures of the scene and before I knew it the sun had gone behind a cloud! No more light and shadows! Thank goodness I'd taken pictures!

My day 2 set up ... 

A nearby log that caught my eye. Might have to draw ...

OK, back to work! A little sun coming back ... 

And after my friend Tom took this photo of me, below, the wind started coming up and a few raindrops so ... time to break it down and get out of there before our paintings became pastel soup!

I did a just a tiny bit more in the studio, adding the lights into the tree, and will still want to add a bit of darks below the line of trees in the distance but until then, this is what it looks like ... My favorite of the weekend.

I worked on another piece in the studio that afternoon (of Italy, surprise, surprise!) I can share it later but I'll end with this, for now. It was fun to work more bold and colorful than most of my other pastel work. See? Good to stretch!

Eventually, all the information you gather and all the various things you learn from different artists and experiences, influences your work and it helps you grow as it becomes incorporated into your "toolbox" and merges with your own style, personality and creativity. 

Anyway, you should check out Terri Ford's work Here, and if you enjoy working with pastels, I definitely recommend taking her workshop! When I win the lottery I'm buying her paintings that she did in France.  GORgeous!!! 

Every day I discover 

more and more

beautiful things.

It's enough to drive one mad.

I have such a desire to do everything,

my head is bursting with it.

~Claude Monet

Happy Summer!

Blessings and light!

Primavera! Ojai Spring Yoga/Art Retreat and Other Gifts of Spring

"What day is is?" asked Pooh.

"It's today," squeaked Piglet.

"My favorite day," said Pooh.

Ojai Preserve, Spring 2016

A little music to go with glorious Spring!

When we are mindful, deeply in touch with the present moment,

our understanding of what is join on deepens,

and we bin to be filled with 

acceptance, joy, peace and love.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

My friend Shea, who has taught yoga for years in Los Angeles, came up with an idea ages ago. She thought that it would be great for us to hold a combined yoga and art day, for Spring Equinox. This year, it finally happened! Our focus throughout the day, along with renewal, was on mindfulness.

We held it on the actual day of the Spring Equinox, in Ojai, California.

 

The morning yoga session was cool and foggy as we said goodbye to winter, but as the day progressed we welcomed Spring and the sunshine! Tables were set up for the art sessions under the trees ...

But first, a little water and yogi tea break!

The mindfulness "art project" was to create a sort of dream catcher mandala, so everyone could choose a tree from where they were sitting, or wander about the property to find which spoke to them.

Begin doing what you want to do now.

We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment,

sparkling like a star in our hand

and melting like a snowflake.

~Francis Bacon Sr.

There were two little art sessions. The first was before lunch, after which Shea guided a mindfulness walk through the cactus garden.

Walk as if you are kissing the earth

with your feet.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Here's a little sample I did which was a jumping off point, if people wanted to add more to it ... or if they wanted to do cactus or something else, they were welcome to do so. Difficult to see the silver metallic paint around the tree and a few little washes of silver sparkle in the branches, but the silver is there, I assure you!

Drawing something like a tree is a wonderful mindfulness exercise as you become present to what is around you and in front of you. The changing curves of a branch, where light sparkles through the leaves, where the shadows hug surfaces and where texture creates shapes. It becomes a mindfulness meditation.

Here, in the following photos, is what a few of the ladies came up with! The colors were so beautiful and each one unique to the ladies ... some had silver and others chose gold. I couldn't really get it in the photos with the lighting so you'll have so imagine how they glow a bit from different angles.

If we are not fully ourselves,

truly in the preset moment,

we miss everything.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

A little chakra clearing workshop before finishing with a wonderful restorative yoga session, under the trees, listening to the birds, rustling of leaves, and soft Native American music in the distance. (Ojai was an area where the Chumash Indians lived. The area is considered sacred to some people and filled with a incredible energy by many who live there and visit the Ojai Valley.)

Shea and I on the tennis court where we held the morning yoga session ...

Including Shea and I, there were 21 ladies. It felt like a perfect number!

A little toast later at magic hour to celebrate the beautiful day.

Be happy in the moment,

that is enough.

Each moment is all we need, 

not more.

~Mother Teresa

 My sister shared lemons from her trees ...

A couple of days later I went to see my aunt and uncle in Long Beach. A great rooftop view of the sunset, in which to toast!

I don't know how many years it has been since I've had a manicure but I decided I would celebrate the season with pink nails! I just loved the eye candy of the spring colors, so I had to share! In the background is my "WeMoon" calendar that was on my lap at the nail salon. (artwork by Jessica Perlstein)

And to celebrate Springtime ... These fabulous artists!

Keya, 10, with her glorious mixed media landscape of wildflowers!

 

When you discover 

that all happiness is inside of you

the wanting 

and the needing

are over, and life gets very exciting.

~ Byron Katie

This fabulous acrylic abstract by 12 year old Caroline, who doesn't like to have her photograph taken! I love that the shapes were so silvery and had such movement but it's all done with paint (and none of it silver!)

Tessie, 8, with her Landscape of Red Poppies!

Tessa, just turning 7, with her watercolor wildflower. If that sweet expression doesn't melt your heart ...

Violette, 10, and her mixed media graphic popsicle! (wouldn't it make a cool fabric repeat?!)

And here's Lola, 6, with her pastel drawing the Easter Bunny.

I couldn't resist taking this photo with the light coming through the window ... Mia's fancy little dress for  Purim.  (I quickly found her an apron!)

 A fabulous Easter Brunch of smoked salmon and spinach Benedict with a dear friend.

Not a great picture below, but I had to point out that the lovely sequined and metallic eggs on my chandelier are from the 99 cent store, along withe the green wire basket and grass for it in the photo above. (I made the Ukrainian eggs a few years ago.)

And I'm ending this post with a spring memory of Italy, taken at the Franciscan sanctuary of Fonte Colombo in the Rieti Valley ...

Now is where Love Breathes.

~Rumi

Hope your spring is off to a beautiful start! Many blessings and a celebratory rebirth and renewal to all!

Blessings and light!