dj pettitt - gentle whispering hues

workshop photos and other fun stuff

The workshop in Jacksonville this past weekend was fabulous!

(Karen D, Cheri R, Belinda V, and Jessica L)
The classroom holds 8, and there was a cancellation, so with 7 students, I was able to spend lots of individual time with each person. A couple gals even started more than one book!
(Karen D)

With less people in class, it seemed there would be all kinds of time available, but I still didn't get photos of everyone.   There's always more to do than we have time for no matter how many are in class! (Karen D and Cheri R)
I missed some amazing work by Marbi B, Karen C, and Corinne S because they had to leave a bit early, and somehow didn't get details of Cheri's book. Hopefully when they finish, they'll send scans so I can share them with you. Corinne has photos of her book on her site though, and you can see it there!

(Jessica L)

  (Belinda V)
If you missed this workshop and would like to learn photo altering, painting, and book making techniques, I'll be teaching the same class again in September! Yesterday, I drove to Shady Cove, Oregon where I saw two huge trees covered with hundreds of neck ties! Is that just the most creative and fun project ever?  I've used one of them as my weekly caption post for the monthly drawing that I'm doing. If you leave a comment or caption for the photo on facebook, I'll add you to a drawing for something I make. Last time I made a journal for the prize. The tie trees were at an antique store, so I'm assuming they found a few hundred at an auction somewhere and cleverly decided this was a fun, wrinkle-free place to store them :-) It definitely made me smile and I had a great time photographing them.

I really miss photographing birds and was hoping to find some yesterday on my drive, but the only ones I found and was able to capture were man made.
We still have quite a few in our back yard, but with the summer foliage, it's so dark that I can't get good shots. I'm saving for this flash and this flash output booster though, and can't wait. In the meantime, I'm having bird withdrawels, and was thrilled to find info on bird blinds that you can reserve in the Klamath Basin a few hours from here.It's a bit of a process to get the permit and reservation, but I'm going to do it and hope that they aren't reserved too far in advance.
Hope you're all having a wonderfully creative day. Go out and tie some ties to a tree :-) I guarantee it will make you smile.

book revisit

I think I posted photos of this book way back in January when I started it, but I didn't finish it until now. I spent yesterday and today completing and revamping it- finally!
Although unfinished projects bother me a lot, I do know that they turn out much better when not forced or rushed. I love this book now, and I wasn't that thrilled with it 6 months ago when I started it. Happy day! :-)

The adorable clay bird was made by Connie Williams

An Artful Journey registration opening, artsee bloggers, and journal prize

Greetings! I hope you're all enjoying beautiful July weather, fun summer and family activities, and of course... lots of art projects! I wanted to remind everyone that tomorrow at  noon, An Artful Journey registration opens! I love teaching at Cindy's retreat, and I'm very excited about the class that I'll be offering next February at AAJ. Even though we've already listed techniques included in the class, I'm still coming up with new ideas and love the direction that my photo paintings are going. I'll continue to post new samples as I finish them. After my workshop this weekend in Jacksonville, I'll be creating with those new ideas in mind and can't wait to see where they take me. Speaking of new ideas and visions, Geri Centonze has created a great place to be inspired and to explore the work of other blogging artists. Her artsee bloggers site premiered today, and after checking it out, I'm happy to recommend the site to you. Rather than blog hopping, you can find links to many different artists directly from her site. Different categories at the top of the page make it a simple click to explore areas you're most interested in. Geri has plans to add links to many more artists, as well as include interviews and tutorials (I'll be adding one as time permits), so be sure and check it out and bookmark it! You can also contact Geri if you would like your blog to be included on the site. Yesterday, I had my first Monthly Caption Drawing on my Facebook page, and Marla McCafferty won this single signature journal that I made for the prize: If we aren't FB friends, and you would like to play, send me a friendship request so you can get in on the fun.I've been posting a photo once a week and anyone who leaves a comment with a caption for the photo will be in the next Monthly Caption Drawing.The journal pages are painted, lightly stamped, and hinged with fabric.
 

An Artful Journey!!

Registration for An Artful Journey opens on July 12! What a fabulous line up Cindy has- I'm thrilled to be on the list of instructors, and very excited about the class I'll be offering.
Although not an encaustic class, we'll be playing with wax along with painting photos using new techniques that I haven't taught before.
Cindy and Rice Freeman-Zachary did a great podcast that I'll add below since Rice will also be at the retreat. She and Cindy have some fun things in the works for February!

 

Hope all of you in the good ole USA enjoyed a wonderful freedom celebration yesterday!

Oregon's Jacksonville Wilderness trails

I've been enjoying hikes around the Jacksonville Wilderness area the past couple days. It's a beautiful place to go for a morning walk.
Most of the wildflowers have gone, but there are still a few here and there.



Lots of poison oak everywhere, so you don't dare wander, but there's plenty of beauty to enjoy along the trails.


I really don't know if there is anything as wonderful as being outdoors in the sunshine, hiking a trail with my camera.
After not feeling well for a year, it's even more wonderful to walk and feel the beauty around me, breathing it in and dwelling deeply.