Tuesday, January 6, 2015

A New Year and a Workshop

Collage by Donna Watson

UP COMING WORKSHOP:  Wabi Sabi and the Spirit of Collage
Location:  Matzke Fine Art Gallery and Sculpture Park, Camano Island WA
When:  February 7-8, 2015,  9-4pm
Cost:  $290 for the 2 days, includes lunch

Wabi Sabi is a Japanese aesthetic.  This Japanese aesthetic is a beauty of things imperfect, incomplete and impermanent... rustic, earthy, simple, textured, and organic.  We will use hand painted washi or Japanese papers to create wabi sabi collages.  On the first day I will demonstrate how to hand paint these papers and everyone will create their papers.  On the second day, artists will then learn simple compositions and design elements based on Zen tenets like balance and harmony.  Everyone will then use their own hand painted papers to create whatever type of collages they want.  Matzke Fine Art Gallery is a spacious open space surrounded by a beautiful sculpture park.  Camano Island has beautiful beaches to explore.

For more information on how to register, location, lodging, etc.  contact Karla Matzke:  at 360-387-2759 or email her at:  matzke@camano.net.  Also, check out her website:  www.matzkefineart.com 

"may my mind come alive today
to the invisible geography
that invites me to new frontiers, 
to break the dead shell of yesterdays,
to risk being disturbed and changed."
John O-Donohue, from 'a morning offering'

hand painted papers by Donna Watson

So a new year is here.  What is it about the concept of a "new year"?  Some of us set new goals, some of us set the same goals we had a year ago, some of us look back at the year that has passed and rejoice in the accomplishments, the new friends, the new learnings, the goals met.  Some of us look back and think "Where did the year go?"  How fast did it pass?  What did I really accomplish?  What will I do now?  What makes Dec. 31st different from Jan. 1st?

"Our purpose in life isn't to arrive at a destination where we find inspiration, just as the purpose of dancing isn't to end up at a particular spot on the floor.  The purpose of dancing -- and of life --
is to enjoy every moment and every step, regardless of where we are when the music ends."
-- Wayne Dyer

hand painted papers by Donna Watson

"Don't think about what can happen in a month.  Don't think about what can happen in a year.  Just focus on the 24 hours in front of you and do what you can to get closer to where you want to be."
--- Eric Thomas

hand painted papers by Donna Watson

"It is in the thousands of days of trying, failing, sitting, thinking, resisting, dreaming, raveling, unraveling that we are at our most engaged, alert and alive."
-- Dani Shapiro

hand painted papers by Donna Watson

"The timelessness in you is aware of life's timelessness and knows that yesterday is but today's memory and tomorrow is today's dream."
-- Kahlil Gibran

"When you put your hand in the flowing stream, you touch the last that has gone before and the first of what is still to come."
-- Leonardo da Vinci

And here is my favorite Quote that I think I use every January of my new year:
"I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing your world.  You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing Something.
So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself.  Make New Mistakes.  Make mistakes nobody's ever made before.  Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect,  whatever it is:  art, life, or love, or work or family life.
Whatever it is you're scared of doing, DO IT.
Make your mistakes, next year and forever."
--- Neil Gaimen



18 comments:

Magdalena said...

Beautiful post Donna!
Thank you for the inspiration and/in the words...
Happy Year!

Carole Reid said...

Happiness to you Donna in this New Year. May you enjoy peace, love and creative pleasures. Your papers are gorgeous!

Tammie Lee said...

such wonderful hand painted papers.

it is interesting to consider time. i find it slows down when the electricity goes off. no lights, no phone, no computer, i love that experience. perhaps we celebrate a new year because we need a more conscious relationship with time.

i wish you a wonderful workshop.

Judy Shreve said...

Wish I lived close enough to take one of your workshops!
And thanks for this great posts - lots of wisdom here. But all of the words seem to point to the same truth - be here now! Be present! And that Neil Gaiman is one of my favorites too.
Wishing you much happiness in the days, weeks, months and year ahead.

Cynthia Schelzig said...

Beautiful Work!! Lovely quotes....Happy New year to you and yours!!

Seth said...

Sounds like it will be a wonderful workshop Donna. And I wish you wonderful 2015, filled with creative joy!

Barry said...

Hi D - the workshop sounds a joy - hope it is fully booked and goes well. May 2015 be a great year for you in many ways. Whilst the only moment of time is the present moment we frail humans like to break time top - looking back, looking here looking forward. Go well. B

Laura said...

Love the papers and wish you the best this year, wish I was closer...would love to create with you...

marthaslavin.blogspot.com said...

Hi Donna,
Thank you for the Neil Gaimen quote. Mistakes are important. I especially like his thought, "you're doing Something."
Thank you also for each of your thoughtful posts. They make good reading and reflection.

mano said...

I would be great to be a part of your workshop!
your collage is beautiful (are these stamps from germany??) and I love the quote of eric thomas and neil gaimen.
happy new year, dear donna!

ArtPropelled said...

Your hand painted papers are artworks in their own right. A workshop with you would be wonderful!

Caterina Giglio said...

amazing work as I consider the papers works of art in themselves, I am sure your workshop will be full and inspiring...

Fiona Dempster said...

So many beautiful and wise words here Donna - I love John O'Donoghue especially. Your workshop sounds wonderful and like others I am truly loving your papers - simply stunning. Wishing you a bright new year...

Fiona Dempster said...

So many beautiful and wise words here Donna - I love John O'Donoghue especially. Your workshop sounds wonderful and like others I am truly loving your papers - simply stunning. Wishing you a bright new year...

Fiona Dempster said...

So many beautiful and wise words here Donna - I love John O'Donoghue especially. Your workshop sounds wonderful and like others I am truly loving your papers - simply stunning. Wishing you a bright new year...

Unknown said...

Thanks for the beautiful quotes - some I've heard before, and a couple of inspiring new ones. Happy new year. Ax

Leslie Avon Miller said...

Love the hand painted papers; such texture and interest. And then what you do with them in collage is stunning as well. Lucky the artists who take your work shop! Happy New Year.

rivergardenstudio said...

Happy New Year Donna, may you always have Peace, Hope and most of all Wonder for 2015. Your workshop looks incredible and your art work full of beauty.
roxanne