howdy pilgrims!
art retreat no. 8 was held in montecito this year, on the coast.
we rented a spacious 2 bedroom cottage next door to a smaller cottage i’ve stayed at 4 times before. the upper village lane they’re on is lined with old estates and tall trees. the skies are black with masses of silver pin pricks of light.
pam and carol were roomies and they got up to plenty of hijinx.
i’m much more sensible and didn’t get involved.
we walked on pink-skied beaches at dawn and played in our sketchbooks non-stop.
we even had a special visitor:
dear joyce. i’ve set her expiration date to 2048 that way we’ll have plenty more time to play once i move to my trailer court in santa babs in a few years.
if you get up to santa babs soon do get yourself on over to the douglas family preserve on the mesa.
everything glows, with what i can only describe as aliveness. it’s palpable.
last sunday at dawn we were witness to an exceptionally vivid sunrise. as you know by now, being by the water is my elixir.
i’m home now of course. back into ordinary life that feels EXTRAordinary. i know i’m the last person on the planet to read eckhart tolle. i remember a dozen years ago when oprah featured him regularly. it all sounded and felt like hogwash, but now as i enter my 57th year i am wanting more than ever to “be here now” and it feels very deep and true.
on my bookshelf
i’m revisiting journal of a solitude which i like to do from time to time. the novels above were absorbing and a great pleasure to dive into both on my ride to school in the mornings and on my kindle at night. i try and get the book and audio of each one at the LAPL. such a treat!
i’m just digging my public library card. i can’t say enough good things about the libby app. i’m checking out books right and left and it’s a breeze!
see you soon!
What brand notebook is that first one with the tan elastic closure? I love the kraft cover. It would be fun to paint on it!
I WANT TO BE WITH YOU AND CAROL IN MONTECITO drawing and painting and dressing up and making funny faces!!! I’m 26 years older than you are – so what – we could still have fun. Meanwhile I absolutely love hearing about your fabulous adventures. xoxo AT1
love you madly dear art tart #1. when carol and i return to the PNW we shall have an art playdate FOR SURE. it will be such a joy. how i miss the fun we used to have together. xoxoxo
Happy Birthday! Looks like a lot of fun. That cliff view is dizzying–I am afraid of heights.
I love May Sarton. Have you read “I Knew a Phoenix”? You can see the piece her mother designed for the Belgian exhibition here: https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18654293/
sandra i can’t tell you how much i have loved knowing this new piece of story about may sarton. i had no idea her mother was an artist/ craftsperson . that desk is gorgeous. thanks so much for the link. any lover of may sarton must follow it and read about that desk.
i will investigate “i know a phoenix”
Hi Mary Ann – Happy 57th birthday! Looks like you had a great art retreat. The portraits and other art are really good. I, too, use the Libby App very much, and it works better than any of the previous ways to rent eBooks, etc.
it’s changed my reading habits and saved me SO MUCH $$$!!
Happy Birthday…Great post filled with art, beauty and friendship. Love the photos and art especially the portraits….New to your classes Sketchbookery and OMG and I am thoroughly enjoying them..Filled with lots of information, a wonderful approach to painting and all around having lots of fun…Thank you.
Hello Catherine,
thank you for your birthday wishes. it delights me to know you’re getting something out of the classes.
What a great post, Mary Ann. Birthday wishes from me too. You certainly know how to celebrate.
Your illustrations remind me of another wonderful artist: Maira Kalman. Both so free and hilarious. Made my (dreary, wet, cold) day!
oh chrissy,
how i love to hear from you there in cornwall, where i hope to one day visit with you and enjoy a mini-art retreat, or at least walk about with you xoxo
Beautiful photos and a wonderful start to a Monday. MERCI!
big waves to you over there in france, faith.
happiest of birthdays and wishing you many more celebrations on any occasion you so choose. I vicariously go on “art retreats” when you post your retreats. You’re lucky to live so close to the coast, especially the Santa Barbara area.
i am so grateful for living so close to santa barbara. oh yes indeed. it is a GIFT
I believe you have accurately captured all the details of our 8th art retreat… well except for the part where pam and I walked in the pitch black dark of our neigborhood without a flashlight because you told us that spoiled the beauty of the stars, and pam almost sprained her ankle when she walked off the curb, but that was a minor thing.