Jen April 9th, 2008
… and still struggling with the time difference. It is SO much easier to go East to West than West to East. That whole Spring forward/Fall back thing I guess only with a FOUR hour difference. heh.
So. ArtFest. It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.
The best because I got to meet face-to-face with some long time online friends and there really isn’t any substitute for ‘in the flesh’ time. Hanging out at Camprunamuckus was perhaps the highlight of my time at Fort Worden. We’d give a daily Show’n'Tell of what we’d learned/accomplished in our classes and were as varied as the dozen or so of us that were billeted in that dorm. We’d finish projects, journal (though honestly? I HATE using that word as a verb! 
), play and kvetch. Some of the ladies kept us in stitches, tears pouring down the cheeks laughing.
The worst because frankly, being surrounded by 500+ women scared the bejezus outta me. I am not an outgoing person in a crowd. I prefer smaller, more intimate settings and walking into a dining hall FILLED with unknown people? Yah. Panic attack mode. There were a few folks I recognized but didn’t have the confidence/gumption to walk up and introduce myself. (Ms. Katie I forced myself at Vendor’s Night because I wasn’t sure I’d ever see you again. But we were in the same dorm. *sigh* I am SUCH a wanker!)
The Classes:
Who’s Your Dada? with Linda & Opie O’Brien.
We were all given the same head and block of wood to start with. The end results were ANYTHING but similar. I was absolutely astounded by the depth and variety of talent in this class. Or as I’d later learn, at ArtFest in general. Truly mind boggling! Remember, I had limited how much I took with me so each class was a challenge in working with what I had. We were also introduced to a new product called Apoxie Sculpt. I am in LOVE! Truly this stuff rocks the Free World. (the heart is made with this stuff with a bit of red acrylic mixed in) The advantage of it is it’s long workability time, 3-4 hours then dries to a hard finish that can be drilled, sanded or otherwise "tooled". PLUS it is a strong adhesive. Seriously rocks!
Transparency Collage with Michael deMeng.
The first class with Michael - his classes were held in the Art Asylum - a room that is set up with all manner of detritus that other artists bring for everyone to play with - and a good thing too, because after looking at my paltry selection of stuff for 8 hours the previous day it was obvious what I had brought specifically for this class was NOT going to cut it. I managed to find a box - complete with folk art painted apple and checkerboard if you please - to house my frame in. A couple of cuts with the dremel and a judicious coating of Dap adhesive (another new-to-me product that rocks!) and it was ready to house my transparencies.
Michael went into great depth of "his" painting techniques and I was amazed to learn that we use very similar techniques - base layers of watery washes with "The Uszhhh" (aka The usual) - Quin Gold & Mars Black (though I often use Payne’s Grey but I digress) and I tend to bring up more colour with a final coat of Titanium White applied with my finger. But similar enough. It felt as though I was being validated if that makes any sense at all. I also learned that burning transparencies creates totally cool edges. I was also thrilled that I was able to complete the project in the given time frame. Something that concerned me as in the past I’ve often needed more "pondering time" to grab a theme and go with it. Guess all these weekly challenges have paid off!
![Transparency Collage [detail]](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2418/2398783215_6fdbb946db_o.jpg)
The (infamous) Morpheus Box with Michael deMeng.
The class that made me go to ArtFest in the first place. And it was all worth it. Again, I didn’t learn a whole lot in technique in any of these classes, I so fell in love with the structure for this project and can see using it again and again. One of the best things, maybe THE best thing was the critique at the end of each of Michael’s classes. Starting with his playing of the theme from The Good, The Bad & The Ugly (and frankly, it will forever induce a panic attack when hearing those opening bars!), wherein at the end of the song, we’d all "put down our pencils" and assemble at the table to receive a critique of each and every one of our pieces. Finished or not. I learned SO much from these - from Michael’s ability to find something positive in everyone of our creations, as well as how he’d make connections with our choice of colour or material and why these were important. LOVED that!
In the end it was about the connections with people. The classes, the projects were almost incidental. My brain is overflowing with ideas. Now if I can just get over this jetlag to implement some of them. Don’t forget…new challenge on Friday!
