SORRY: THIS RETREAT IS CURRENTLY SOLD OUT. (Please see the side bar links for future retreats in Bali (& soon Cortona Italy!) August 2-5th, 2008 in downtown Ashland, Oregon At the Historic Ashland Springs Hotel  For accomodations and local info please see FAQ page. Featuring Artists Pamela Garrison, Amy Hanna and Anahata Katkin in a beautiful crystal ballroom and garden courtyard. Ashland, Oregon is home of the acclaimed Shakespeare Festival and a featured West Coast destination all it's own. This is an opportunity to explore mixed media from three perspectives. Drawing from a wealth of creative understanding and exploration participants will be able to dive into three distinct styles. Please see the vinyette's below to explore more about the featured instructors and their classes at ART IN ASHLAND.

WHAT LIES INSIDE WITH PAMELA GARRISON: Do you journal or scrapbook or make altered books? Do you want to learn how to make a special book filled with beautiful pages waiting to be used? We’ll take a vintage ledger and turn it into a personal treasure by altering it , sewing in new pages, and then decorating those pages. We will explore and play with all different supplies while preparing the pages inside. I will bring all my favorite journaling mediums so you can push yourself (or jump in if you need a starting place) to find new ideas within yourself and add depth to your existing techniques. We will touch on water colors, liquid acrylics, crayons, special pens, wax, glazes, attachments, sewing, (I’ll bring a machine), collage, etc. etc. This class is about creating the book and giving the pages inside background layers, not about the writing that you do in it. It would make a perfect journal, scrapbook, or anything book. Students Should Bring: Old ledger Water color paper (I HIGHLY recommend fabriano artistico 140 lb. hot press), torn or cut to size – ¼” less all around the size of your book when your book is opened flat- 18 full sheets so once folded you'll have 36 pages counting fronts and backs. Needle (size 18 tapestry) Waxed linen thread Awl Piece of velvet ribbon or heavier material to cover binding Embellishments and found objects for the outside of your journal Ribbon to tie your book closed if you wish Scissors Adhesives (glue stick, perfect paper adhesive, tombo roller, or gel medium, whatever you prefer to work with on your journal pages) A few of your favorite markers, crayons, pencils, pens that you have A few stamps that you like, if you have them and 1 or 2 ink pads Some favorite images, clip art material, photographs, papers for collage on inside pages a couple water color tubes in favorite colors a couple liquid acrylics in favorite colors (I like Goldens that you can get at Micheal's or Dick Blick) a few paintbrushes with different size brushes (not foam) a little mixing tray for colors and glazes etc. works great, they sell great ones with many cups for very little money-not a requirement OK, a word about not bringing too much stuff. Don’t overwhelm yourself. I will bring supplies to share, and artists are known for their generosity with their own supplies. Just bring a few basics and favorites and we’ll go from there. Artist Bio Pam Garrison is a mixed media artist who is passionate about creating and inspiring others to create. She shares her talents by teaching at paper arts and mixed media events in the U.S. and abroad. She currently serves as a Director's Circle Artist for Stampington & Co. Maybe you've seen her work in the new book "Crowns and Tiaras", or in Belle Armoire, Somerset Life, Art & Life or Somerset Studio. Or perhaps you saw her making treasures out of vintage finds on HGTV's "That's Clever." Pam lives in southern California with her husband and two children. She thrives on living artfully every day.

Come spend the day with me playing in velvet boxes and old cigar containers where we will find new life in forgotten treasures. Bring your Granmere's jewelry box with old broken jewelry bits and bobs. Favorite old tin type photos even if they are not your families, favorite religious relics, rosary and medals. Your favorite uncle's watch fobs, keepsakes from a trip to a faraway place. Smashed coins from a machine or one that you placed under the railroad tracks yourself. Bring what ever is special and speaks to you. We all have a different meaning to a treasure so do not be afraid to bring whatever speaks to you and we will try to work with it. I will teach you how to wire wrap and to oxidize to bead and to use things you would not think of using. I will also teach you to solder. I am looking forward to meeting you and to hearing your story of what is special to you. Students Should Bring: Jewelry Pliers: Both round and flat nose. Two pairs of flat nose if you have them. You can usually find these at your local bead store. You can also order them through Rio Grande Catalog. Wire Cutters: Bring flush cutters, suitable for cutting 16 gauge wire. You can also find these a local bead stores. Wire: Bring wire to fit through your beads, I recommend sterling silver 22, 24 and 26 gauge wire, approximately four feet of each size. Some people prefer brass or copper wire that is fine too. I will be teaching you how to wire wrap so if you do not know how to please bring a cheap wire to practice on 24 gauge will work fine. Remember the cheaper the better to practice on you will probably not want to use the wire you learn on. Chain: Bring a total of two feet of your favorite chain style. I like to use old rosaries, bits of old necklaces, watch chain, and new large link silver or gold chain. I will demonstrate how to oxidize silver chain in class. You can also buy chain at your local bead stores. Beads and Buttons: I love natural semiprecious gems, rhinestone buttons, and old beads found on vintage necklaces. You may want to try to attend a local bead or gem show in your area to purchase stones and pearls, chain or wire the prices are usually better than the bead stores. Necklace Clasp: Bring whatever style you like, I prefer vintage rhinestone clasps but they are hard to find. You can also use sterling silver hooks that can attach to rings made of bone, rhinestone, mother of pearl or metal. Pendant: This will be the focal point, pick something special. I like to use vintage crosses, shoe clips, cameos, lockets, tin types, medals, stones or found objects. Use your imaginations! Note: I will bring a limited amount of pendants, beads, chain and wire to purchase. However, I will not have enough to supply each person completely so please make sure you bring your goodies. Hints to Help Your Treasure Hunt: I suggest that you search your local flea markets, antique malls, thrift stores, and if you are so lucky, a relatives’ jewelry collection. Local bead stores, and local gem/bead shows are also a great place to find everything you may need. The price and the selection are better at a gem/bead show than at a bead store. Gather the treasure pieces you plan on using, and even some that you may not think you will use. It is better to have multiple options when creating your piece. If you have something you love, but are unsure how to use it, bring it to the class and we will try to work it in. If you have any questions, please email me at amyhanna@cox.net. Artist Bio Amy Hanna was raised in Michigan and spent a great deal of time traveling and living across America. She is now the mother of three and resides in Southern California. Amy spends her early hours of the weekend at local flea markets to unleash her creativity and to find lost treasures. With a love of unique art and unable to find jewelry that represented her personal style she began creating one of kind pieces of jewelry made from discarded treasures. Along with flea marketing some of Amy's favorite things to do include taking art classes, teaching classes, traveling, spending time with her family and working in her art studio. Amy has been seen on That's Clever, taught at Artfest and been featured in Belle Armoire magazine. Come visit her online shop at: www.amyhanna.etsy.com

Using collage & mixed media we will create two dynamic & personal Icons. Each artist will draw freely from their own Symbolic Alphabet as they work to create new characters that will be both symbolic and spontaneous. We will cover collage and composition techniques, suggestive support with new materials & ideas as well as outline creative principals throughout the day. Each artist will emerge with two frameable, print-sized, mixed media Icons and a fresh perspective. This workshop is perfect for all types and levels of Mixed Media artists. Students Should Bring: 2 canvas artist boards (like the cheapy ones at Micheals) roughly 11X14 (or larger) inches. a lilí bit O white gesso Clear Acrylic Gel Medium, (*I prefer gloss from either Danielle Smith or Golden) mixed sized brushes a rag 2 garbage bags scissors A pizza cutter the wooden handled ones with an open wheel work best. black charcoal (*Get the pressed kind in square sticks) A couple of colored inks (*I prefer Dr. Ph Martins Bombay Colors -they are bright and translucent) Good acrylic paints and/ or Watercolors- current color favorites are fine Uniball White Signo Pen (*I have them on my website) Black writing pens like Uniballs etc. The following will help to enrich your experience. The sooner you prepare your goodies the better you will feel when you arrive. This list is open to interpretation: Each Icon will revolve around central images that you will create. I definitely do not want you to pre-plan your pieces but start thinking about faces and expressions. If you have favorite new or old photos you love bring color copies of them in various sizes. You may also want to do this with favorite things like, birds, hands, hats, name tags, flowers, labels, animals, crowns etc. Bring any collage elements that have circular patterns, central focal points, or cool lines, textures or patterns. Maps, Chinese papers, old books- you get the drift. Simple stamps like alphabets, stars & circles- not the fancy kind. Happy Hunting!! If you have any questions please email me: InspirationEngine@yahoo.com Artist Bio Anahata Katkin is a mixed media artist whose signature-style artwork is the backbone of the creative arts company, PaPaYa! Perhaps most well known for her line of internationally celebrated greeting cards. She applies basic materials and methods along with a heap of explorations to create her mixed media artwork. Her theory is simple: "As artists we have the rare opportunity or rather shortcut to enhance our lives with just one smudge, one snippet, one symbol, one page at a time. By following one impulse to another the creative process unfolds."