I'm back home in sunny Tempe, AZ, but wishing I were still in lovely Virginia Beach, VA where I taught two classes to an AMAZING group of students!  Sunday night was opening night where students got to mingle and meet the teachers and it was so lovely to swap stories and feel the excitement for the week that is Art and Soul!  

Each teacher had a table set up with examples of what students would be making in each class (there were also fun treats spread around the table, too!  It was a pirate theme!)

That night, I set up my classroom and got all excited like a kid on Christmas Eve!  Monday was my first class, Luscious Layered Portraits, where we learned how to make messy, layered backgrounds and collage papers AND learned how to draw and shade in a simple face over the top.  

My students were awesome and made amazing work!  Many had never drawn a face before!  They all did great!

Tuesday's class was Messy Mixed Media Angels!  We prepped backgrounds, made gelli plate prints and collaged our angels into our journals.  We played with paint markers, oil pastels, tissue paper, paint, stamps, and more!  My students made beautiful angles and had a blast building up backgrounds in their journals for future creative sessions!

I wish I could've stayed the whole week!  I had an amazing time teaching, getting to know the students, teachers and staff that make Art and Soul a magical experience for all.  Did you go to Art and Soul this year or have you been in the past?  Are you thinking of attending in the future?   What is your favorite part of an art retreat?  I'd love to hear from you!