Annual Art Retreat

Annual Art Retreat

In my last post, I showed you how I was creating some mark making tools for our annual art retreat. We had the retreat and had so much fun creating abstract artworks. I apologize for the poor quality of the photos as the light is very bad at the lodge where we stay and I was in a bit of a hurry.

The process involved each of us starting with the same size piece of painter’s canvas and then ‘changing’ the canvas with a variety of media and techniques. Some of the steps were timed and some not. It took us nearly a full day to ‘complete’ our pieces. Some of us are still working on them, some may tear them up to use in a different way and other’s may keep the end result as is.

Here are some of the supplies that we used and you can see the piece of folded canvas at the front of the table.

We did construct a few more mark making tools, mine are on the left, Paula’s in the middle and Louise’s gelli printed feather brush is on the right.

I thought it would be interesting to see the pieces as they progressed so I will show each person’s piece separately.

This is Deb’s piece from start to finish.

Here is Louise’s piece. I think she is still working on it.

Here is Paula’s piece. You can see the light shining through the picnic table in these photos. We usually forget that the picnic tables have spaces in between and this always causes issues with such things as printing or marking over the surface. I think Paula is planning on cutting/tearing this into smaller pieces to use in some manner.

And here’s Sally’s. You can’t see this in the last photo but she has added hand stitching and beading. She was not sure if she is finished with it or not.

And lastly, this one is mine. I think I am finished with it and actually happy with the result. Usually, I don’t tend to like my attempts at abstraction. I didn’t add much color so maybe that’s why I like this one better.

We had a great time and I am always amazed at the different styles that come from each person. We know each other well enough that it would be easy to recognize who’s piece is whose.

20 thoughts on “Annual Art Retreat

    1. Thanks Ann, right now the piece is hanging on my studio wall. I’m not sure it will have a purpose or be hung anywhere long term. It might be cut up and put into something else. Who knows at the moment?

  1. Looks like a great retreat. All the pieces are interesting. Sally cutting it up and reassembling I especial like. How did you like the tools you made? or is that another post?

    1. Thanks Ann, our retreats are always fun. The tools I made worked fine. I didn’t use them all on this piece but the feather ones work especially well for fine lines. It was fun making them even if I don’t use them much.

  2. Thanks for sharing these pieces, Ruth. Your group looks really fun. I agree with Karen that a F&FS group would be a great thing to aim for – count me in! In the meantime, it’s lovely to see your work alongside that of your felting friends. X

    1. Thanks Lindsay, I am glad you enjoyed seeing our abstract creations. I am definitely looking forward to when I can travel to see you all over the pond 😁

  3. It’s great to see your mark makers in action. Making a piece like this is not as easy as it looks – it’s actually quite difficult to ‘let go’ and follow your creative instincts. Your limited colour palette worked well and it’s a very attractive wall hanging!

  4. O my gosh Ruth! What a blissful weekend. Pity we are all not closer. Imagine the fun we would have. All the pieces are so different and so beautiful.

    1. Thanks Helene, we always have a wonderful time on our retreats. It is great to be able to spend uninterrupted time with like minded friends. I am definitely going to start working on arranging an in person get together for Felting and Fiber Studio when I can travel more easily across ‘the pond’.

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