dj pettitt - gentle whispering hues

Beautiful Orvieto Italy!

I'm so excited that I'll be teaching another painted photo and journal workshop in Orvieto, Italy in just a few months! I'm still sighing and thinking about my trip to Australia (I still have more to share about my amazing time there!) but with September approaching, my thoughts and my heart turn toward beautiful Orvieto, 
and memories of last year's dreamy adventure fill my mind. I fell head over heals in love with the beautiful Italian people;   

rolling terraced vineyards, and narrow, one-way cobblestone streets winding through  ancient villages clinging to cliff walls;      
the golden afternoon light;  
   
the many family run boutiques, markets, and restaurants blending food, art, and community;        
and the ancient history, breathtaking architecture, and heart-stirring sculpture.    
               I also fell in love with Giovanni, the head nun running San Lodovico, the 400 year old convent/B&B where we stay and create art. Honestly, I wanted to adopt her and bring her home. She reminded me so much of my sweet grandmother. I can't wait to give Giovanni another great big hug!

Below are a few shots of last year's students and the fun we had together. There are spots left in the September workshop, so if you're interested, or have questions, email Kristi, Bill  or myself, and any of us will be more than happy to answer your questions.

 cooking class

 
 

Bill and Kristi, our amazing host and hostess!

 
                     
  

     painted photo of an angel from the cemetery near Orvieto

Dearest Orvieto, I look forward to meeting again soon, so I can once again wrap my heart around you while closing my eyes and breathing deep of your magnificent beauty and charm.

painted photo of an Italian House Crow

Finished the book... it's ready to journal in.

Here's the finished journal (sold) that I made as a sample for my workshop this weekend. The covers are 6X9 canvas panels. The front cover includes a painted and collaged photograph:Spine with vintage buttons:
Back cover is a painted canvas panel:
I added faux crazy quilting and hand stitching on the lining of the front cover (faux because of the raw edges). On the right is a signature-wrap:
More faux crazy quilting and hand stitching on the inside back cover:
6 Signatures:
Painted and embellished pages:

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.
 

Springtime!

I thought it would be a fun challenge to try writing some haiku this morning. I'm not gifted at writing but I really enjoyed my first attempt at haiku. It's pretty easy since it's short and isn't supposed to rhyme. Not sure if it's supposed to be more than just thoughts and feelings,  but I decided to add Tulla in one anyway :-)

Hope you're all having a wonderful day!

 

 
 

painted crow photo

Before painting, this was a photo of a bunch of crows on the beach that I snapped last year.
Today was the first warm day we've had this year! And to make it extra special, there wasn't any wind. It was so incredibly nice to go outside without a coat, scarf, or boots, and feel the warmth of the sun soaking through me. This afternoon I enjoyed photographing the few flowers we have blooming as well as some happy birds. And the topper... it stayed light out until 8 PM.

Tulla and I had such a wonderful day.
Below are a few photos from the past few days, beginning with the winning Mr S of course :-) Such a busy boy he is. I laugh at how smart I thought I was when we had an arborist out to trim the trees, and I worked with him to preserve certain branches so I would have the perfect props when photographing birds.  Ha, Mr S sees things a bit differently.  He'll do anything for Mrs S, and constantly looks for the perfect twig or piece of bark to make the nursery more comfy for her. He makes many trips up the Maple and over to the Pine tree with the perfect token of his affection.

   

New book finished for my workshop in Orvieto Italy

Just finished a book sample for my Italy workshop in May. I'm so incredibly excited that after waiting so long, it's almost here. I leave on May 3rd, and I've been researching and deciding where I want to go during the extra week that I'll be there. I think I've decided on Siena and the surrounding area for 3 days, and Venice and Burano (the island with all the brightly painted houses) for the remaining 4 days. Any advice or favorite places that you've experienced in Italy? I would love to hear about it!

I'll also be teaching this same workshop in Australia in April, 2012!

angel photo by Bill Steiner
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

workshop sample finished

pocket on inside front cover

pocket on inside back cover

finished book

This book has many of the techniques that I'll be teaching in Italy next May as well as Australia in April, 2012. I'll also be teaching a similar book near here in January. We won't be painting photos, but the rest of the book will be similar to this. The January 2011 class is in Jacksonville, Oregon at the Trolley Stop Antique Store, about 15 minutes from my home. I'll be teaching a small (10 max), 2 day workshop. I'm excited about teaching without having to travel. And, how fun to create at an antique store with loads of yummmy inspiration all around!

The book is much softer looking than it appears in the photos. It was dark and rainy this afternoon, so I used a flash. One day, I'm going to take the time to learn how to use one!

 

card and bookbag

The book I posted yesterday is on the way to its new home today, and I thought you might like to see it all dressed up and ready for the journey. I made the bookbag from upholstery fabric and embellished the flap with vintage yo-yos, lace, and an old button. The flower was created from a yo-yo and has a needle punched center.

I fused some fabric in the heat press this past weekend, and used a piece of it in the book, and another to make a card.

Here's the back. The spine is part of an old leather glove.

I stamped the blank section in the center of the card with some circles in a sage color, but thought of it after I had photographed it. It's already in the mail, but you can imagine them on the right of the page next to the swirly fabric.

finished the painting

She's finished now. I softened and warmed her up, as well as worked on details.