Great day to start a workshop

It's sunny and bright here in Florida, not humid, just right. The workshop begins a little later this morning, so I have some time to relax. My aching bones are enjoying the warm air. Last night we sat out on a restaurant patio and ate pizza with one of the workshop students, a woman from Honduras. She told me she had formed a group to work through The New Creative Artist, which she translated into Spanish to teach them how to do the exercises. They worked every week for 36 weeks, straight through the book. That blows my mind. Can't wait to get started with the class this morning.

From the Sublime to the Freezing

Flying home from the Palm Coast, Florida, workshop I didn't give much thought to what I was coming home to until I saw the ground as we landed in Dayton. A solid sheet of snow and ice, although not very deep, was awaiting me. Oddly enough, as much as I enjoyed the Florida sunshine, there is still much that is comforting at home, even in the middle of a cold, cold winter.

The class was a lot of fun. I should have taken more pictures, but I get so involved in what's going on that I forget to get out my camera. Finally remembered at lunch the second day, so here's part of the group with a couple of insets in the corners. The weather changed after lunch and it poured rain briefly, then later in the evening there were thunderstorms and lightning, heavy rain most of the night. The last day was cool--in the fifties.

This was an enthusiastic group of accomplished artists looking for ideas and motivation for their artwork. I think each of them found something she can use or think about for a long time to help her grow as an artist. Anyway, that's what I wish for them.

Thinking of Florida

My editor picked up the last of the captions and art for Confident Color at my daughter's today, where I was baby-sitting. It feels good to have it all out of my hands, even though I know I will still be reviewing the copy-edit in three to four weeks.

I'm already beginning to think of my Florida workshop in February. It has been bitter cold here, not exactly the usual even for December in Ohio. Global warming is a tough sell here. I wonder what Palm Coast, Florida, is like. I've been South in the winter when it wasn't all that warm, but it has to be better than 18 degrees and five inches of snow. At least we didn't get hammered like some places did. I can hardly wait!