Wild Women

I had the opportunity to go as Jennifer Stone’s assistant to Crosslake, MN.

She was teaching her wildly popular class “Wild Women.”

I have already taken this class from her, but it is always fun to listen and take it again.

Although, going as an assistant is different- I really was there to work and assist.

But who wouldn’t want to hang out with their art bestie while she is teaching in northern MN by a lake?!

I did everything from helping bring things in (my stuff included), setting up tables, arranging the classroom to handing out tissue papers and matte medium and making sure we had lunches and afternoon coffee. :)

Definitely kept me on my toes.

I tried to think ahead and do things that I would like as an instructor to keep her life easier. 

I also drove back and forth to class…. I only missed a couple of turns that first day. Uffda. Lol.

I like the challenge of not always having to use the navigation once I get to a place. 

Oh!! And I glanced up as one of the last ladies was coming into class, and she said, “Kristin?”…… Such a great surprise to know someone at class. Lily. You are such a card! and I loved seeing again!

I did manage to create a bit while I was there assisting….. Made my stamps and papers and I did work on a smaller sheet of watercolor paper.

A little taller than I would like, but….. sometimes working outside of our comfort zone is necessary.

Nothing is learned in comfort.

Put papers down.

Fiddle. (My usual.)

Wishing for clear gesso. (I had none).

Keep working.

Add. Subtract.

Another layer of something else.

Opaque collage. (that is a comfort zone, but for the record, isn’t always necessarily the answer. lol)

Her eye is so captivating. (it is the small tweaks that seem to make the difference)

Large. (focal spot- my eye goes right there)

Now thankful for the taller than average paper- cuz her eye isn’t in the middle….

And my nose…. turned out so well. I am not always great with noses…..

Then, down to the mouth. Which I also fussed with a fair amount. And at the end of the day- I do like. 

I like the mix of (my mostly) realistic and the sense of the abstract that this piece seems to hold. The background still feels a bit busy to me…

But she begs to be picked up. Really look at the details on the paper. 

I feel like there are small things that could be done (?) to make it a bit better…. But I like her now and at the end of the day I am not usually hunting for perfection. 

And, I discovered one thing along the way ….. I can do an image transfer with tissue paper. (this really happened mostly by accident lol; but it worked. Insert heart hands and big smile here.) 

Such an amazing group of ladies! They all worked hard and it is so fun seeing what each of us came up with.

Hope you enjoy the pic and slide show (was hoping the loon was going to call.)

If you are in the St. Cloud area….. we stopped at two beautiful flower gardens on our way home. It was obviously, towards the end of the season, but, honestly, that is my favorite. The gardens were called- Clemens and Munsinger Gardens. Definitely worth a stop if you are there.

Xo. Kristin