Marrakesh, Yes!

This is the absolute dream trip for me. Imagine it, the colours, the history, the markets, the textiles! Small group, so check it out, and contact Angela at ACE CAMPS if you want to come along with us. Can't wait.

Naramata painting retreat weekend

If you have ever been to Naramata, you know that its enchanted. I will be at a beautiful B&B right there on the lake in February with a small group of people who would like to paint, maybe do a little yoga, definitely eat and drink and talk and laugh. Our host is Renee, who traveled with me to Spain last year and it promises to be cosy and productive and, I am hoping, enchanted!

COURTING THE MUSE

A Weekend Workshop

February 24, 25, 26

with

Professional Artist and Teacher

SUZANNE NORTHCOTT

www.suzannenorthcott.ca / suzannenorthcott@shaw.ca

Presented by Renee Matheson

Robinson Place Workshops

www.robinsonplace.ca

60 Robinson Point Road, Naramata

Home (250) 496-4265 Cell (250) 488-4999 Email: info@robinsonplace.ca

Painting, writing, dreaming...what awakens the muse in you?

“I invite you to join me in a place of warmth made for a passionate encounter with art and spirit. We will spend our time painting, eating, and talking, and certainly laughing.” Suzanne Northcott

Join Suzanne for a creative adventure. She will delight in helping you to find the way of working that suits you, from playful and wild to focused finesse, and in the medium of your choice. Painters at all levels are invited to share in a small group atmosphere with emphasis on individual attention and instruction. Fill your sketchbook journal with fresh lively sketches and anecdotes, or linger over creating paintings, Suzanne looks forward to helping you to make this workshop your own creative adventure.

This is not just a painting class but will be an opportunity to take time to explore your creative impulses in the company of people who love what they are doing and love to share it.

Suzanne Northcott is a painter, teacher and philosopher who brings her passionate and enquiring nature to all that she does. She finds resonance for personal understanding through observing the natural world and uses imagery and stories to share insight and questions. A teacher for over twenty years, Suzanne brings a vast store of technical knowledge of painting and drawing mediums and a clear and lively way of relating what we learn about painting to what we come to know about our lives.

From yoga and meditation in the morning, to conversations over a glass of wine and dinner, this is an opportunity to court and open up to your individual and distinctive creative self.

Suzanne’s work is collected and published internationally and she is in demand as a teacher and lecturer.

Robinson Place Workshops

Imagine giving yourself the gift of a creative weekend at a beautiful home on Okanagan lakefront…a time away to paint, learn, share, and relax. Good company with like minded artists, comfort food, a crackling fire, a warm therapeutic Jacuzzi…a time to create, reflect and rejuvenate. This is what Robinson Place Workshops offer you.

Robinson Place Workshops are hosted at Robinson Place Bed & Beach. Owned and operated by Renee, great granddaughter of the founder of Naramata, this beautiful lake front home sits on the land that once was part of the Naramata Heritage Inn built by Mr. Robinson. This lovingly restored home is filled with beautiful art and antiques, many from the original Inn.

You are welcome to use the open kitchen, the beachfront Jacuzzi and property at all times. This is your home for the weekend to enjoy, your home for relaxation, restoration and rejuvenation.

This workshop is limited to 10 students in total, on a first-come first-serve basis. The Full Immersion including sleeping accommodations is limited to 6 people with some sharing.

Your Investment

Workshop Only (without accommodations)

$285.00 plus HST

Includes: All instructional workshop hours, Friday evening Tapas welcome and dinner, Saturday evening Tapas and Pot luck dinner, coffee and tea beverages for the weekend, access to the Jacuzzi, Saturday and Sunday morning yoga and meditation start up before art.

Full Immersion (workshop with accommodation)

Includes: As above PLUS accommodation and breakfast.

NOTE: Please bring your own cocktails or wine for dinners to share. The workshop does not include these beverages.

Accommodations

The Robinson Suite: Large room on main floor with a breathtaking view of Okanagan Lake, a King size ‘plus’ bed, claw foot soaker tub, two sinks, walk in rain shower, patio door to Jacuzzi. $150. a night

The Lilly Suite: Lake view room on the main floor, King size bed or 2 twin beds, large walk-in rain shower, patio door to Jacuzzi. $125. a night

The Gwendolyn Suite: Second floor room with private balcony and beautiful lake view, Double bed, shower.

$100. a night

Note: If you want to share a room with a friend, please make your own arrangements.

Weekend Schedule

Friday, November 25^th

Full Immersion participants (with accommodations) will be able to check in any time after 2:00 pm on Friday.

Workshop Only participants are invited to arrive at 4:00 pm on Friday.

Everyone please arrive with your supplies for the weekend.

*5 PM - We begin the workshop weekend with a glass of sherry, tapas, soft music, and a crackling fire. Introductions and a description of the weekend to follow.

*You will be welcomed with Tapas inspired by Renee and Tina Baird’s recent ‘Flavour of Spain’ art excursion to southern Spain in October. This was a fabulous 11 day all inclusive art experience that was lead by Suzanne Northcott. We will share some of the high points of this experience with you. www.flavourofspain.net

*6:00 PM - Dinner for all participants provided by Renee and Robinson Place.

*7 PM- 8 PM – Suzanne will begin instruction.

Saturday, November 26^th

*8:30 AM - Continental breakfast for the Full Immersion participants.

*9:15 AM to 9:45 AM - Informal yoga stretch and meditation in the living room for all participants with yoga instructors Suzanne and Renee.

*10 AM to 12 Noon - Morning Art Session: Instruction, Demo, Painting

*12 Noon to 1:30 PM - Lunch break - Self provided

Suggestions - Bring your own or there are several offerings available in Naramata: NeverMatters Café for soup and a sandwich, The Pub, China Beach Restaurant, or The General Store Deli for a soup and sandwich to go - delicious!

*1:30 PM- 4 PM - Afternoon Demo and Painting Session

*4 PM – 5 PM - Group Sharing and Critique

*5 PM – 7 PM - Refreshments, Tapas and Pot Luck Dinner for all participants. Please call Renee for suggestions of menu contributions, and the meal plan. Please bring your own desired dinner beverages for the weekend.

* After dinner- visit, rest, relax, paint, Jacuzzi, sleep, journal, or watch an art movie.

….Goodnight….

Sunday November 27^th

Same as Saturday’s Schedule with the same final group sharing and critique from

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm.

Wind up and check-out for all participants will be from

5:00 pm- 6:00 pm.

…Thank you all…

Registration:

For workshop registration and accommodation reservations please contact Renee Matheson at Robinson Place Bed and Beach. Home (250) 496-4265 Cell (250) 488-4999, Email: info@robinsonplace.ca

A 50% deposit is required upon reservation for confirmation.

Supply list available upon registration.

little bag

I made this small bag from the last pieces of a really great jacket. It was inspired by a beautiful crumpled worn bit at the cuff, where the leather had been gathered slightly. That became the flap, the fittings are all riding tack, the interior is from a pair of men's chinos, my new favourite solution. It is very small, just 6" x 10" and I have been using it, loving that I open and...there's my stuff! No digging. After photographing it, I lengthened the strap so it rides just under my hipbone when worn crossbody.

making things

Happy New Year!

I am happy when I am making things, especially when they are for someone and there are no expectations. This Christmas I made a lot of things, mostly tiny drawings, ornaments from leather and metal bits, and nests.

David's mom, Yuki, turned 90 in December. She doesn't need any thing. I made her this painting of a crane, the symbol of long life...


Crane for Yuki, 6" x 6", mixed media on cradled clayboard.



Snowberry Nest, 3" x 3", snowberry branches, lichen, spaghnum moss, wax, pigment

Bog Silver

For several years I have been donating work to the Art For Life fundraiser. This year, we agreed to use a 12 x 36" colour photograph of mine, Bog Silver, printed on metallic paper and mounted on aluminum. The piece went very close to value ($2500) which is great for me and for the cause.

My work in the Derby Bog was completely absorbing and the transition to photography that resulted from it completely unexpected. I began by taking the photos to use for source material for paintings and eventually realized they were already themselves, not needing reinterpretation.

Later, I also did paintings inspired by the series.

This one, Bog Grass Fall, 36 x 48" in acrylic was the most recent, finished this past September. I continue to be inspired by the linear and spatial possibilities of light on and through grasses. When I notice that light it gives a lift to these days when the colours of fall have fallen away. Whoa, guilty of overuse of the word "fall".

tiny drawing

Rabbit for Linda, graphite and coloured charcoal on cradled chalkboard panel.

This piece is just 6 x 6". It was a pleasure to work simply, letting the delicate gesture be the focus and finding the small nuances in the line at the contour of little rabbit.

new bags

Grommet Bag, from famous painter and my beloved bro-in-law, Alan Wylie's, old black leather jacket, very slouchy and soft (the bag).


cavalry bag, vintage chocolate brown leather, harness fastenings

I am leaning into getting some bags finished for our sale (Bohemia in the Burbs) next weekend. I had thought I would start to standardize them a little but find myself still spending a lot of time with each one, figuring out how to best use the materials. Loving the use of riding tack as a fastening solution in some and found some beautiful old kilim type rugs to make the "new bohemia" bags I had envisioned.
All the bags have linings with interior pockets, many sourced from men's shirts and chinos.

New Bohemia bag, old kilim rug, brown leatehr jacket, reins, halter fitting

Still have some stunning materials that I haven't had a chance to get too. Will keep you posted.

New Bohemia bag, detail