Sue Benner class in AZ Page #2 02-09-18

This is the work of less than half the class.  Unfortunately, I have some photos of design boards that don't have the artist's name on them, so I will have to do some research before posting.  But I have more of the class to post tomorrow night.  These are in no particular order, just as I went around the room.   The pictures I ID as the 30-min project are from a project that Sue had us take a picture of the surrounding landscape and send it to the MICA coordinator on site.  She then made color print outs for each of us and we were given 30 minutes to recreate our picture in fused fabric.  It was intense and a lot of fun.  We all loved the project and hope Sue will integrate it into her future landscape classes.  Be forewarned!

Gail Wilcox is selecting fabric for the lake which she first did a small study seen at top. Below on her board are three photos on the left and the three studies she did of each on the right.  We were all required to do three 9" x 6" studies from pictures we brought with us, using the techniques Sue demonstrated for us the first day.  

  

Alice Sprenger shows the three studies from the pictures she brought and on the top right her 30-min project.  She has started a larger piece on the bottom using strips for the sky.

Jackie Nixon-Fulton has her three studies at top and center, with the 30-min project on the right.  I don't know if the piece on the left is something she may have done before class. 

Kathy Cole shows her three studies down the center of her board, along with the pictures she brought from home.  On the right is her 30-min project.  She has used strips to form the sky and ocean on her large piece on the left. 

Since Kathy has been home she has completed the large project.  How expansive the sky and ocean are in the completed piece.  Very nice work. 

Lynn Welsch was thoughtful and introduced herself on the first day of class, because one of her 12X12 pieces is in TCQC.  I rarely meet the artists whose work I purchase from the SAQA auction, so it was special to be in a class with her.  

She has her 3 photos and the 3 interpretations on the top right and her 30-min project on the bottom right.   She made great progress on her larger piece with the pine trees lining the opposite side of the lake/river.  

This is one of Lynn's 6" x 9" studies. I think the mountains are fabulous.  What an eye!

This shot of Lynn's work shows a technique that Sue taught the first day.  Cut little strips or pieces and fuse them together on release paper or parchment paper, then lift them carefully and fuse them to  your background or foreground or wherever.

 

Vicki Gadberry did a beautiful interpretation of the picture above her rendering. 

I believe the top right is Vicki's 30-min project, while her 6" x 9" studies are down the middle.   The piece under her name is, I think, one that she brought from home. 

Nancy Robins' three studies with photos are on the left and top right is her 30-min project.  Lower right is her large project of a lake landscape with a tree hanging in from the right.  

Here is a closer picture of one of Nancy's studies showing the fabrics better.  One troublesome thing in a class like this is that one never has just the right fabric.  This class was very sharing and allowed each other to "shop" in what they had brought with them.  Sue brings fabrics for student use and Andrea Bacal brought a whole table full of fused and un-fused fabrics to share.  She saved many of us with her generosity.  

Enough for tonight more tomorrow evening.  Del

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Sue Benner class in AZ Page #1 02-08-18

One thing good about doing a Blog every day is that I rarely forget the date!  But now I have lost an entire month and am not sure each day what the date is.  So, here's to that memory crutch - hope it lasts.   It will take me a while to get caught up with my "adventures", not that they are very adventuresome, but some, I hope, are interesting.  

The class (Jan 7 - 12) with Sue Benner in Tucson at the Tanque Verde Ranch Resort was fabulous, as I have found all of her classes.  The class was offered by the Madeline Island School of the Arts (MISA) which is based in Michigan, but offers winter classes in Arizona and New Mexico.  There were three classes: Sue's Landscapes, a writers class, and an oil painting class.  The facility is very nice and each of the 14 students in our group had their own eight foot table - a bit of heaven!   All the meals are provided and the food was very good.  Breakfast and lunch were buffet style, but dinner was regular table service.  All kinds of choices at whatever meal.  The weather was gorgeous and we only had a very light rain one morning.  But ICE on my car in the morning the day we left.  I had nothing to scrape with, but managed to make a hole so I could turn the windshield into the sun and the ice melted quickly.  I was not crazy about the dude ranch aspect, I guess I just wasn't prepared. There is a large corral and a small one with a total of about fifty horses and, of course, those horses have flies.  Nobody else seemed bothered, but whenever I sat still I attracted flies - just lucky that way, I suppose.  The accommodations were very comfortable in single story units that look out on the beautiful high desert landscape with saguaro cactus and all the other desert flora.  Didn't see any desert fauna, but others said they heard coyotes in the night.  Dogs are not allowed!  Poor KoKo stayed with Nancy Ota and Bud in San Clemente.  
It is about eight hours or so driving from Placentia to the ranch and I spent the night both ways in Yuma at a Hancock Inn.  Saw nothing of Yuma.  And only about 14 miles on Speedway Road of Tucson, because the ranch is waaaaay out on the eastern border.  Once there, we had no real reason to drive back into the main part of town.  I'll have to go back some day, they have a number of interesting museums.  

Everyone in the class said okay to showing their work on my blog.  So I will post pictures that I took in class.   Several students have been working hard at home an finished their main pieces which are very, very nice.  

Just a little feel of the place, this guy greets you in the registration office.  I sat beside him for about three hours before I could get a key to my room.  I did walk around a bit since he wasn't talking.   Sort of cowboy humor.  There were some cowboys in typical garb who would touch their hat and say " 'morning, ma'am".  Sort of corny for a city girl.  

This saguaro cactus grows right outside the room I was in.  I have heard that they do not start growing arms until they are 100 years old.  Behind it is an ocotillo, but they won't bloom for a couple months.  

All the modern conveniences in a rustic setting.  Ice Machine. 

This is my room with wide windows and an awesome view into the mountains.

The furniture is all very heavy, dark Mexican style.  This view is from the bottom of the king sized bed.  Since I drive I always take along a quilt (which isn't king sized) and my pillow.  But there was a very warm feather duvet on the bed and an extra blanket in the closet. 

 At dinner the first night we had discussed the critters of the desert; lizards, snakes, scorpions, tarantulas, etc..  So when I turned the cover down, my mind was still on critters and this appeared and I jumped back.  My first impression was a tarantula!  But it is just the elegant monogrammed sheet.  Doesn't look a thing like a tarantula. 

The room was spacious and well appointed and sort of rustic. 

On the way to the classroom we walked by the horses.  There were many horse riding guests and some were taking lessons and going on trail rides.  

This image is from the day we went home, but I wanted you to see what a great classroom we had with our eight foot tables to work on.  

Tomorrow I will post pictures of the student work we did.  

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WHEW I've been through the "mill"

After an uncountable number of attempts, I have finally gotten back into Google with a really weird, for me, password.  I have written it down twice and stored it in an obscure place, so I hope it will continue to work.  Been missing my blog and also access to Google Photos.  I am afraid that Picasa, which is no longer supported will collapse and a decade of photos will disappear.

I have not had the flu and keep using hand cleaner.  But I haven't been able to just stay at home and avoid exposure.  I have several events to share with you, including the fabulous class I had with Sue Benner in Tucson, AZ in early January.  That is where I was when my Google problems started.  Also attended the opening of new exhibits at Visions Art Museum in San Diego.  I urge you to make a visit to see works by Jane Sassaman, Betty Busby, Regina Benson and Erma Martin Yost, who creates gorgeous "Felted Gardens".  Also two exhibits of small quilts by members of Visions (are you a member?  You should be.) from all over the world and by members of Canyon Quilters Guild which supports the Visions "vision" all  year around.  Today I am trying to complete the Surfside Quilters Guild newsletter and then I will get going on my blog.  Meanwhile, here is my constant companion at rest.

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