Our lovely group of artists
I am so grateful for this past week, what an amazing group of women! Our class was filled with 10 lovely and talented women that came to learn/ share/ create in the most wonderful way. We had a beautiful environment to create in - the weather was sunny, the food delicious, the mineral baths relaxing, a massage here & there... what special place to spend a week painting.
Thank you to each of you for making this such a special workshop.
-Cari
BIG thanks
I want to express my deep thanks for all who helped make this workshop possible.
My lovely and talented co-teacher Cynthia - thank you for extending so much love, kindness, support, and tenderness. You have a most amazing way of keeping open to all that is happening, thank you for your guidance and friendship. And biggest thanks to you for bringing encaustic to Esalen!!
To the Esalen staff- goodness!! Thank you for keeping the lights on!! - even when we took all of the power... the professional and kind help that we received was so supportive, and allowed us to do our job - BIG thanks!
To each of the lovely 10 women that made the effort to re-arrange their lives for an entire week - thank you. This wouldn't have happened with out you - Deanna, Amadea, Desiree, Larae, Naomi, Erica, Odile, Linda, Winddance, & Leticia.
Finally, to Todd Elliott - my supreme thanks. Not once did you hesitate when asked to help -- from making medium non-stop, to testing electrical power, tapping cords, moving tables, assisting students, packing/loading ... you gave it your all, thank you so much.
Encaustic Workshop Description
This one-week workshop "Encaustic Painting: a Contemporary Ancient Art" will be co-lead by Cynthia Johnson-Bianchetta and Cari Hernandez. They have designed a workshop that is well suited for beginners as well as experienced encaustic artists looking to infuse new ideas and techniques into their work. With two leaders teaching this workshop full-time, there will be plenty of individualized attention. Both Cari and Cynthia bring years of experience to their teaching, that will help guide and inspire this unique creative artistic journey.
Enjoying the splendid enviroment of Esalen
Attending a workshop at Esalen is truly a unique experience, the natural serenity and beauty of the land create a calm that both relaxes and inspires creativity and personal growth. Finding balance from the intensive creativity that is much a part of the painting workshop, you will find relaxation and rejuvenation soaking in the hot mineral baths, walking or hiking the surrounding grounds, attending a yoga practice, or enjoying a world class massage that was uniquely developed at Esalen (see side-bar for a description).
In addition, the FOOD! Meals are not only healthy and nourishing but wonderfully delicious. Snacks and warm tea are made available throughout the day.
This is truly a place to come and "let go".
Workshop Overview
Ancient Egyptians created an art form in 100 BC that is alive today with many contemporary artists since its revival with Jasper Johns in the 1950s. The alchemy of the elements of fire, air, and molten pigmented wax creates the sensuous beauty of wax paintings. The process of encaustic painting is a seduction and enticement to many creatives because its varied uses and expressions are vast.
This work has an amazing range, from sheer and translucent to boldly opaque and sculptural. Paintings can be created on wood panel, plexi, paper, or collaged with ephemera, found objects, artifacts, and photographs. The emphasis in this workshop will be incorporating our inner life, dreams and spiritual expressions into our art-making through meditation and movement explorations.
This workshop will give a well-rounded opportunity to learn a solid foundation, then let participants loose for experimentation. With five consecutive days of teaching, resources, and support, participants will truly be able to work through the many early learning curves that often inhibit development. The workshop invites new folks with an interest in learning art, as well as accomplished artists who want to explore new creative terrains.
Cynthia Johnson-Bianchetta
In her thirty year career as a photographic artist, she has worked and exhibited internationally, nationally and locally. As assistant director & curator of the Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego, Ca., co-created the first international museum solely dedicated to photography, film and video. She is also the former director of the Weston Gallery, Carmel, Ca.
In recent years she has been a co-founder of the Creative Arts Center at the Esalen Institute, in Big Sur, California and the art and photography editor of the Esalen Catalog. Cynthia has been leading photographic workshops for the Esalen Institute, SIGHT/INSIGHT; and also for the Taos Institute of Arts in Northern New Mexico, PHOTOGRAPHING THE LANDSCAPES OF GEORGIA O’KEEFFE and CHACO CANYON PHOTO EXPEDITIONS. Recently she’s led WOMEN’S CREATIVITY RETREATS with Kathleen Carr author of POLAROID MANIPULATIONS, where Cynthia is featured in the Gallery section.
Her most recent work SMOKE & ASH was exhibited in November 2008 at PAQ Studios in the El Caminito Art Complex in Carmel Valley. This work was an abstract response in large-scale acrylic & encaustic paintings, photography and one of a kind monotypes, to the summer fires in Big Sur, where she makes her home. She has studios in Carmel Valley & Big Sur.
www.cjbgallery.com
Cari Hernandez
Cari is a native Californian who calls the Bay Area "home". She attended the Academy of Art College in San Francisco, CA with a major in fine art photography. Upon finishing her studies she opened her own commercial photography studio in San Francisco, working primarily with advertising agencies, producing images for national campaigns.
She is a founding member as well as an executive board member of the non-profit group International Encaustic Artists, in her third term as creator and director of the annual Retreat and Conference.
As a full-time artist, she works in mixed medium using encaustic as the common element in her work. She teaches, lectures and shows her work nationally.
www.carihernandez.com
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