Southern Exposure: Wine and Canvas

Let the season begin! Southern Exposures spring workshops have begun and I was pleased to be at the first, "Wine and Canvas."

But first, a look at the gardens as they are waking up to a new year. Let's wander through the gate. Not many flowers are in bloom yet.

But the buildings are looking terrific.

And so, too, is the statuary.



I couldn't resist playing with some of the tricks on my new camera! With one, you shoot one frame and it alters it in any number of ways, adjusting color, zooming in and out! I never know till I download what I'll find!

                   

Maybe even a sketch!

I find a visit to Southern Exposure is the equivalent of a spiritual retreat. There you are with nature, beauty, loveliness all around

And should you think there were no flowers in bloom, think again! Daffodils were joined by potted pansies ...

 

... and primroses were everywhere!

 

There is good camaraderie among the participants, both at dinner and while working on the project. And of course the tables are beautifully set and the dinner divine. (This time it was a Monet-inspired dinner of chicken stuffed with brie, asparagus, new potatoes and a salad with a marvelous vinaigrette, all topped off with a marvelous apple pastry.)

 

Then it was on to the craft tent where the chickens joined us!

I have to say I didn't feel the project worked for me. We only have about an hour to do it, so our canvas was prepped with a neutral taupe/brown. We were given leaf stencils and white paint. I, of course, didn't always stencil well -- it's not my artistic strong suit! I ended up using some straw from the hay bales we were working on to "fix" my mistakes (and make some veins).

Final verdict? Very fun and OK -- but I wasn't satisfied.

         

So, home I go -- and, yes, you guessed it! I got out the acrylics, some French text, texturing mediums, and got to work.

 And the vertical... (there's some camera glare, but you get the idea).

I'm feeling better about it now. It's not my best but a good rescue for me! I can already see it at the lake!

I have three more trips to Southern Exposure planned for this spring, so stay tuned!