My fellow Artist-in-Arms Kate and I wrapped up our annual Art Camp in mid-September, having not only have a marvelous time, but perfect weather! We also celebrated both our birthdays very belatedly and did a good deal of art! No arguing with that! We even got in a road trip!
For those who haven't followed me long, art camp is a week period time when Kate and I head to the cottage and focus on our art. But there is also time for long walks, swimming, books, Britbox and Acorn, good wine and great food. It was also the only truly relaxing time I've experienced all summer.
OK -- it IS art camp, but let's start with the food! I won't go into each and every meal (that would be boring!). But let me say that I did make the best pesto ever, courtesy of my friend, Anne, who shared her recipe. I froze some; we also enjoyed it on crackers, tomatoes and more.
And of course, there was more than one toasted caprese salad and pesto-basil-and-tomato sandwich on Rick's bread!
Probably our best meal was our annual sojourn to Bennethums, a nearby restaurant for their Happy Hour. We enjoyed spicy Boom Boom Shrimp, delicious salmon cakes, slightly too-spicy Thai lettuce wraps (the waitress did warn us!) and guac and chips (it could have used a little salt). We washed it down with a lovely French Bordeaux!
The walks and swims were good, too. The weather was flawless and I was able to swim several times, going my usual route (even though neighbor Jim did remove his buoys, which I use as markers, for the season).
It's always the same path walked but we always see something new and pretty. My favorite was this garden, with the photo not nearly showing it's lovely informality to the best.
My least favorite (but maybe the best photo) was this one -- Too early for me to be welcoming red autumn leaves!
Then there was the art!
For once, Kate wasn't working under deadline so we decided that in addition to doing whatever else we wanted, we'd take on a series of online color challenges from artist Este MacLeod. Over several days, Este picks a palette of several colors and a theme we can interpret in those colors only! The theme for this one was "Fashion."
We did several of these (and will continue throughout September independently). (The theme for this was "Faces.")
The photo below shows Kate's version of "Faces." (I should have saved it for "Feline," which came a week later!)
I decided I would focus on painting animals again and picked several to work on. This is Rosie, the dog of my former neighbor, Matt.
And a FB friend, Mary, has a dog I was dying to paint! I've tried a couple and I'm rather happy with the tight shot.
I also continue to work on a building from Stow-on-the-Wold (it just isn't coming together right! I need another round or two of bricks and work on the roof).
There's a bit more to work to do on this painting of our little guys playing in the sand earlier this summer.
I also did a couple of needle felted ornaments, poking myself as much as the wool. I'm pretty happy with the robin.
But the bunny needs a bit more work, especially around the eyes. These will be ornaments and included in my fall sale. (I am now working on a dog, a fish, another bird and a wine bottle!) I'm hoping to have at least 10 new ornaments, hopefully more, for the sale.
My cousins from Cleveland, Mutty and her husband, Howard, returned to the lake for the first time in many, many years (dare I say decades?). They stopped by a couple times and it was such a joy to connect.
I hadn't seen Mutty since her son's wedding, almost a year ago. It was a great reunion!
Then, of course there was the nightly show. We couldn't stop taking photos of the sunsets. Every one seemed more beautiful than the last.
How many sunset photos do I have? How many did I delete!
Even if you were sitting with your back to the sunset, you still got a view!
Oh wait! I didn't mention the road trip? That was so good, it deserves a post of its own. Meanwhile, we ended our holiday with the ride home -- stopping at the Covid rest area for a test!
This is terrific -- the station is at a rest area served by both north and southbound traffic. Let me tell you, that PCR test went where no PCR tests have gone before! We were both negative.
I leave you with a last look at one of our lovely sunsets.
It was a beauty!
Sharing with: Love Your Creativity / All About Home / Share Your Style / Rain's Art Dinner Date
67 comments:
Sounds like you're enjoying yourselves.
Oh!! That last pic is a STUNNER!! I'm glad you ladies and gents had such a good time ~
A lovely post, what a great time you had.
Delicious food, wonderful art and those sunsets are beautiful.
All the best Jan
Looks a fine weather to paint!
Happy Art Camp!
Lovely artwork there. The idea of a whole week dedicated to creating art with a friend is a plendid gathering of like minds.
Looks like you had a great time, wonderful international meal! Love your art projects - especially the Fashion one. Gorgeous sunsets, I'd be taking a lot of photos of those too.
I love your posts on art - so pretty. I also love that Michigan has a COVID rest stop where you can get tested. I of course live in the state of denial and disbelief! We'll say no more about the governor.
Your art camps are fabulous. A super great way the end the summer.
Covid is on the rise here at the CCC. Time to start being careful again. That rest stop testing is a wonderful service and gives travelers to take a longer than usual break from driving.
I love the painting of Stow-on-the-Wold! :D
Art Camp sounds like fun!
Good evening, I so enjoyed your post-what an awesome time with your friend-art-food and sunsets-hugs Happy new week Kathy
What fun Jeanie, art camp, friends and a special meal .The sunset is beautiful. A lovely life.
The photo with the red autumn leaves is beautiful! Beauty is never too early.
I definitely envy your energy. So many activities: art, walks, swimming, road trips..it would have 'finished' me, and you call it relaxing time. I can usually relax when I focus on one thing, and nobody around to ask for my attention. But as they say: to each his own.
I enjoyed beautiful red maple leaves for the first time this autumn. Thanks a lot.
Every year I wish I could come to your art camp!
Looks like you had a fantastic week!
It sounds like a wonderful camp week with a number of beautiful paintings produced and wonderful food and company.
Hello, Jeanie,
Your art work is beautiful, I love the dogs and the Stow-on-the-world building. Your last sunset is stunning. I am glad you and your friend had a great time with art camp. Good news getting a negative Covid test result. Take care, have a great new week!
Oh what a wonderful, wonderful time!! Great weather, art, friends, good food, and breathtaking sunsets...what more could one ask? :)
You obviously had a great time together, Jeanie. Bravo!
Love your artwork I don’t do much with animals or faces. I guess landscapes are my favorites and buildings, any structures. I do mostly tutorials which is cheating a bit but it takes all the guesswork and stress out of it. Beautiful sunsets this time of year. Sunrises too but I don’t get to see them very often. Enjoy your week
lovely post. such lovely pics of the lake and your activities of painting. It is a great salute to summer coming to an end and the glorious colors of fall that surround you. be well, keep enjoying life!!
Splendid!
I am loving the picture of the youngsters on the beach.
And the felted bird.
Also the whole concept of Art Camp with a great friend.
I think the culinary arts are definitely ART.
And you kept up your principles. I hope Kate did too.
Adelaide Dupont @ Halfway up Rysy Peak
What a beautiful friendship you have with Kate:) Fun all the artwork and food and wine :)I love your silver hair Jeanie!
I make Bang Bang shrimp that we love must Google Boom Boom..About 30 yrs ago at a gift exchange at work..maybe more..Claudia got my name a and painted a picture of me gardening..so reminiscent of your boys.I still have it framed and still love it.
Such fun. Lovely
how absolutely wonderful!!! I am able to get together with friends a couple of times a year to do something like this and it is rejuvenating! Thanks for taking us along
Cathy
This looks like such a fun week Jeanie. I remember you have your art camp, and I'm glad you could have it this year. And had the negative covid test. I went and got my latest covid booster with the omicron yesterday so this morning I am dragging quite a bit. The rain probably doesn't help, but does make a good morning to relax and do nothing-smile. Although as I write that I am definitely inspired by all your paintings from art camp to do some playing. Happy new week Jeanie. hugs-Erika
The food and art work is wonderful and I am happy you can do that....but...the best part is the friendship that makes everything so much more special. You have such a sweet time there. I am jealous! xo Diana
I was wondering if you would have art week at the lake! It seems later this year, but just as fulfilling. Happy for you!
What a fun week! You are such an inspiration with your art! And oh how I love the wool ornaments! Please show us more when you are finished.
What a great girl time you had along with seeing friends from Cleveland!
The food looked incredible!
And the sunsets were spectacular I am sure.
~Nancy
What a lovely week! I love that you two have this tradition. I am sure you both really look forward to it. Is Kate a life-long friend? Or someone you've met in the last decade? You may have told us how long you've been in each other's life. But this art camp is friendship goals for me when I get to that era of my life. It feels far off but I know time flies and it will be here sooner than I might think. I'd love to have a tradition like that with a friend or 2!
Did one of you draw that Eiffel Tower on black paper? That is of course what my eye was drawn to being a hardcore Francophile!
You are such a great photographer! Every photo is a work of art. You certainly have a keen eye for color.
Sounds like fun! And yum, and fun!
Great paintings indeed. I have such watercolors, too, but Ingo presented me with watercolor-pencils and I tried that first.
Looks great when wet, and boring when dry, what do I do wrong?
Cute bunny! And yay for friends stopping by! And beautiful lake pics.
What wonderful memories you have of times at the lake, especially art camp and sunsets. I loved your art. My favorite picture was your second one with the art supplies sitting there and the lake in the background. That sort of tells the whole story. Oh and the pesto sounds delicious.
That must be a great week ….!!….like your paintings…and owwww that rabbit is tooooo cute !!…..love it ….have a nice week…oww may I ask you …did you see my new post from yesterday? …I have one comment….i think something goes wrong…please tell me ….love Ria and Leaf 🍀💗🐾🍀
I love reading about your art camp adventures!
That is the most wonderful post! I enjoyed your adventure.
I sure wish I had friends here. I've been too stressed. Take care!
Looks like you had a brilliant time.
The first faces painting is my fav.. gorgeous.
I always enjoy your art camp posts. They are always fun to read. However, today I am reading about food, something I need to get in me soon. I also eat a lot of caprese salads, especially right after I pick my cherry tomatoes. And of course, I have so much basil, I will never use all of it.
Sounds like you and Kate really enjoyed yourselves. I love the bunny rabbit. You felt those so well.
I thought of you today as I watched every minute of the Queen's funeral. Majestic.
Your art camp must have been fun. I get that joyful sense from your account and photos. I'm sure a good time was had by all.
Beautiful weather and amazing art you shared dearest Jeanie! you had me with that big tub of Pesto, if only I could grab a spoonful and put it over some cooked pasta! Thank you for sharing your Art Camp adventures and sharing all those beautiful works!
Jeanie, you and Kate had a really fun time painting, walking, and yes definitely food. I enjoyed each photo that you shared and reading the commentary made me feel like I was there. Have a wonderful day!
It is been a long time since I touched water colour. Like that "Fashion".... so colourful.
What a lovely series of photos and great that you got to see your cousin and her husband after a long. Made the meet-up even more special I'm sure. Hard to pic a favorite but I always enjoy looking at your artwork. Enjoy the rest of your week Jeanie :)
Art camp that is brilliant. What a lovely time you had. That covid station is excellent! There should be more of those. The are is wonderful too. YOu look so happy. Have a nice evening.
Your art camp was not whatI expected. I think it ws much better though. Sounds throughly delightful.
I like the fashion drawing.
Lovely post !
such a fun tradition, art, food, friends, plus lazy lake life, a perfect combo! I'm sure you both greatly inspire each other as you paint and create together! The sunsets are beautiful, you can't ever have too many!
Jenna
Good food, wine and art camp. What could be better?
So glad you got to reconnect with your cousins.
And a Covid test rest area. What a great idea.
Jeanie, Such a wonderful tradition. Art, food, and walking - the essentials of life I say. Thanks for sharing. Sylvia D.
I love your needle felting work! I try so hard with that lol. My stepmom is so talented at it and bought me a bunch of supplies but I struggle. I will get the hang of it eventually!
It sounds like you had a fantastic time. :) What a wonderful tradition.
Jeanie, I always love your paintings. I especially like the dog in the Uncle Sam hat. What a great time you had with your friend. The sunsets are beautiful and I imagine it is sad that your time at the lake is coming to an end for another year. You look so cute with your hair gone gray. I am so happy that my time of dying my hair has come to an end. I wish mine would get really white but I don't think it ever will..Happy Fall, my friend..xxoJudy
Jeanie, the art camp sounds fun, and your paintings are delightful. The dog with the fourth of July hat is my favorite. That turned out really good. And I don't know why you thought the felted bunny ornament needs work, he's sooooo cute. And the Robin is my beloved bird. That spread of shrimp, lettuce wraps, guacamole and chips, and wine sounds like a delicious meal. And the Autumn leaves made my heart sing. It's never too early for me to see signs of Fall. I'm glad to hear you didn't get the virus. And those sunset photos are lovely as ever.
~Sheri
beautiful pictures! 🙂
You and your friend had such a lovely time together, it sounds heavenly. I love love love your felted robin, what a cutie! The food looks delicious, too. I love pesto and caprese, so perfect for summer. Yes, the turning of the leaves is early this year. My Chinese Pistache is starting to change color, I hope it will be as stunning as the past years. Your sunsets are gorgeous, of course you photograph it every time. I would do so as well.
Such a lovely experience to share with a friend and visitors. your art is charming. The cat is striking, i enjoy looking at it.
Lovely post and enjoyed the art
It doesn't get better than that, Jeanie! Your art is impressive, as always! How wonderful to share your passion with a friend for a week. I love the idea that you set aside a week to do it together!
It all sounds wonderful. Any chance you could share your friend's pesto recipe that you like so much??
What an uplifting and heartwarming post, Jeanie! Wonderful art, food, nature photos, and special relationships. Life doesn't get much better. All the best to you!
Oh my goodness, busy, busy only with all fun stuff and with all fun people. What a wonderful time you had and yes some great art ... love the animal picture and the animal ornaments. You are wise and lucky to be able to relax and enjoy ... takes the edge off after a few years of Covid. What a delight to join you on this outing and oh my, the sun sets are gorgeous :) Stay well, Jeanie :)
Andrea @ From the Sol
Oh my goodness, busy, busy only with all fun stuff and with all fun people. What a wonderful time you had and yes some great art ... love the animal picture and the animal ornaments. You are wise and lucky to be able to relax and enjoy ... takes the edge off after a few years of Covid. What a delight to join you on this outing and oh my, the sun sets are gorgeous :) Stay well, Jeanie :)
Andrea @ From the Sol
Oh my goodness, busy, busy only with all fun stuff and with all fun people. What a wonderful time you had and yes some great art ... love the animal picture and the animal ornaments. You are wise and lucky to be able to relax and enjoy ... takes the edge off after a few years of Covid. What a delight to join you on this outing and oh my, the sun sets are gorgeous :) Stay well, Jeanie :)
Andrea @ From the Sol
What a week . . .
Paints ad Pics . . .
Foods and wine . . .
Walks and sunsets and more.
Looks and sounds GRAND you two!
Love the post, Jeanie. You have truly had a busy summer, you deserved a relaxing week doing what you love. You have truly posted glorious sunsets but I believe this one with all the pink tops them all. You should paint it, place it in a gorgeous frame and charge a fortune for it. Some luck soul would be delighted to enjoy it for years to come.
Have a great week, Jeanie!
What a wonderful setting! I can see how it would inspire creativity, and the congenial company and time in nature makes it sound like the perfect week :)
Sounds absolutely wonderful...
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