Recently I worked with about 225 other artists around the world on a workshop about mixed media taught by Judy Woods. She is an amazing modern artist in New Zealand and very gracious with her knowledge. She has great wit and charm and I loved listening to her as she explained how to hone our craft. She also was very kind on the zoom calls as people could ask her questions. She is a great artist to follow and watch as she gains more publicity in her pursuit of gorgeous artwork. (www.judywoodsart.work)
“Walking on Sunshine” - mixed media - 2022 - 9”x12” on paper
Being part of this workshop, I realized how much I love to learn more now than even when I was young. I’ve always done my own research on topics and I spend time at the library scouring new information. My Dad would read the Encyclopedia Brittanica when I was a kid, and I thought it was so weird. But now I find myself devouring anything that I read, especially about things I enjoy. Gardening, flowers, art, old houses, faith, parenting, being a better human, you name it, I will read about it. I have never been a huge fan of fiction, I think because I like to create fictional things in my own art, so I like to think up images in my head.
My recent mixed media work has been about saving pieces of paper that have been forced into antiquity… maybe hidden in a book, bible, old hymnal… and I just saved a whole book collection of Child Craft books from the landfill. I use the illustrations and words to relive in artwork and not just hidden in a book, always closed. Some of the pieces are handwritten on, from a human that thought enough to write down this passage or that verse. Hidden away, they will never help another person, but I like to bring them out in my own artwork to share joy, peace and encouragement in a time of sadness and grief. We need to have joy and laughter, even on the toughest days. Not to brush off our emotions or hide the pain we may feel, but to live and survive, then thrive.
“Chicken, Cat, Duck” - mixed media - 2022 - 9”x12” on paper
“Trumpet Duck” - mixed media - 2022 - 9”x12” on paper
What I learned from this workshop was more about how to hone my craft, and also to pursue more in education. It is great to feel like being free to do that again and to strive - not for perfection - but for the process of work and doing it well.
Cheers to everyone pursuing the goals you have set before you and to the process!