Paint Mojo Recap

Beginnings....

This past weekend’s Paint Mojo workshop with Tracy Verdugo was the third multi-day “art retreat/workshop” I’ve taken since I started playing with paint and paper. In each one I’ve attended, I’ve learned tremendously … both what works for me and what doesn’t work for me. Some of the things I’ve learned have boosted my confidence, and some have shaken my confidence. I think both happened on this trip.
 

This was towards the end of the first day.

Tracy is a wonderful teacher, very gracious and very giving of herself. And her work is truly beautiful. And she sings too!  My struggle was in my skill level. As I already shared with you, I was pretty apprehensive about that 30” x 30” canvas. And it definitely got the best of me! I’ve never been comfortable with a paint brush in my hands. When I’m working in my art journals, 99 times out of a hundred, when I’m adding paint, it’s with my fingers. But I did my best to work through the process and eventually came to the point where I accepted the fact that I was just going to simply have to play and not worry about the outcome. Once I hit that point, I felt much better! What I’ve shared with you here are only five of the stages that our paintings went through. There were many others!
 

This was the point at which I actually kind of liked my painting!  I wanted to stop here!

The final stage didn’t actually make it home looking like this, unfortunately (bottom picture). I took that shot with the canvas lying on the table drying. Once we thought our canvases had dried enough, we all went outside for a group picture. My orange “sun” had not dried enough so it dripped even more (one of the things I learned is that I’m not a big fan of drips) and I also managed to brush up against it. It did add a lovely orange stripe to my jeans that I had already decided to sacrifice to paint that weekend so that was a nice bonus! I’m planning to go back to the canvas and try to “finish” it to a point where I’m happy with it … but that will have to wait until after Market Days! We also made two smaller paintings on wood that I haven’t photographed. I’m giving those to my girls to complete in whatever fashion they want to, so I’ll photograph the before and after of those and share with you when they are done.
 

But alas, I couldn't stop there, because our next assignment was to cover most of it up...

All in all, I had a good experience. I learned a couple new techniques that I will definitely play with in my art journals (ink and spray water bottles do wonderful things together!), and I loved meeting new friends and catching up with old friends who were there. I finally met “in person” a few people I’ve been friends with on Facebook for a couple years now! And as with every trip, I took my camera. Regardless of how the art I’m going there to create comes out, the magic I’m blessed to create with my camera makes every trip worthwhile. I’ll share some of that soon. Thanks to Tracy and all my new Paint Mojo friends for a lovely weekend!
 

End of day two and what I was about to go home until my sun got messed up and joined my jeans.