Women of God Art Retreat

Decoration Day

2009-05-04T00:19:00.000-05:00

Sunday, May 3, 2009 It has been a busy week at the retreat; preparing for new guests; taking time out for Decoration Day at the cemetery were my paternal grandparents, my parents, my infant brother and other family members, and friends are buried. It is a tradition in the south to decorate the graves on a special day. I go along with traditions, even the silk flower arrangements, rather than live flowers. It is in keeping with the Church's suggestions, making it easier for the groundskeeper. The day brings back memories of my childhood and past Decoration Days, before silk flowers, when roses, peonies, wildflowers, dogwood blossom and sprigs of forsythia and other plants and flowers were used for bouquets on the graves. These events, like all-day gospel singings, Sunday School, worship service, Wednesday night prayer meeting, and revivals at the small church I attended were the center of my social world. And since the church was only a mile away from my home, I attended all of these from the time I was put onto a "Pallet" underneath a pew until after I graduated high school and moved away from home. They remain much of who I am today, except that God's grace much more abounds in me than the hell fire and damnation sermons that I often heard back then. I must say, however, that for many years these "probably" kept me on the straight and narrow path. Not until I fell away from this path, though, did I truly discover God's interest for good in my life, and His desire to bless me through art! Sharing news from this week's emails: “Budding Artist” Hi Leigh Ann, Wonderful things are happening with my new art retreat and one of those is the creative spirits God brings to the retreat. Have you checked out my web site? I have redesigned it as the result of my first artist retreat guests in April. Their visit here was a transforming experience in my concept for the retreat. The web site is: http://artforartlovers.net. I have renamed the retreat to "Women of God Art Retreat." And my first guests have become my Goddaughters. I have a feeling that the remaining years of my life will be blessed with many more Goddaughters. Your daughter, Alley, may well become one of them. My heart is open to the gifted people God chooses to send this way. I love working one on one and in small groups. As the retreat evolves according to God's plan it is still quite flexible...and I can be flexible as well. I would love to have your daughter attend a retreat with you, by herself, etc. There is nothing I love more than sharing what I have learned about art, being an artist and how God has affected my life bringing me to this new creative juncture. I celebrated my 70th birthday in March and am happy to say that I believe the best years of my life are ahead of me as I do mentor others through my work. My rates/fees are modest. Five days at the retreat, including accommodations, use of kitchen and the studio is $250. Private instruction is extra and can be designed around the person's needs. If you were to want me just to take your daughter in two for four to five days I will be happy to work something out that will help all of us. She will have the opportunity of living with a real artist, working and learning for much of each day in the studio, and we can be creative in the kitchen as well. The $250 does not include food but we can talk about that as well. I said flexible and you can see this is what I mean..It is important to me to live as I live daily in the retreat and I believe it is the best way I can serve other artists. If this interests you, let me know, give me some of your ideas, and we will keep talking and see what develops. Sincerely, Ann Hamilton

2009-05-04T00:16:00.001-05:00

Re: Answer to an email from a “Budding Artist” Hi Leigh Ann, Wonderful things are happening with my new art retreat and one of those is the creative spirits God brings to the retreat. Have you checked out my web site? I have redesigned it as the result of my first artist retreat guests in April. Their visit here was a transforming experience in my concept for the retreat. The web site is: http://artforartlovers.net. I have renamed the retreat to "Women of God Art Retreat." And my first guests have become my Goddaughters. I have a feeling that the remaining years of my life will be blessed with many more Goddaughters. Your daughter, Alley, may well become one of them. My heart is open to the gifted people God chooses to send this way. I love working one on one and in small groups. As the retreat evolves according to God's plan it is still quite flexible...and I can be flexible as well. I would love to have your daughter attend a retreat with you, by herself, etc. There is nothing I love more than sharing what I have learned about art, being an artist and how God has affected my life bringing me to this new creative juncture. I celebrated my 70th birthday in March and am happy to say that I believe the best years of my life are ahead of me as I do mentor others through my work. My rates/fees are modest. Five days at the retreat, including accommodations, use of kitchen and the studio is $250. Private instruction is extra and can be designed around the person's needs. If you were to want me just to take your daughter in two for four to five days I will be happy to work something out that will help all of us. She will have the opportunity of living with a real artist, working and learning for much of each day in the studio, and we can be creative in the kitchen as well. The $250 does not include food but we can talk about that as well. I said flexible and you can see this is what I mean..It is important to me to live as I live daily in the retreat and I believe it is the best way I can serve other artists. If this interests you, let me know, give me some of your ideas, and we will keep talking and see what develops. Sincerely, Ann Hamilton Subject: Budding Artist Hi Ann. I have been reading about you (via the flying monkey arts center website). My daughter is 15 yrs old (Alley) and has a natural talent for art and is a creative, free spirit. I read about your retreat for artists and I think Alley would be a bit young for that, but I was wondering if you offer anything similar for teenagers/young adults? If not, I would love the opportunity to bring Alley to your beautiful place for a visit. My goal is to find Alley an Artist Mentor to help her on this path and not let it go by the wayside. I have not been successful going thru the school she attends and do not want her to under appreciate what God has given her. Hope to hear back from you soon and have a good day.

Art Retreat Musings

2009-05-01T07:16:00.003-05:00

We all have them...weeks like this past one. Nothing went right. My PC crashed, I couldn't blog, I couldn't work on my web site. Painting went good between taking the computer to the shop, praying I did not lose "my stuff," gardening and...poison ivy attacks. "That's life," Mur ( my mom) would say when she was alive...I miss her bunches, not to remind me that life happens, but because there's no better friend than a good mother. She came by the name Mur when her first grandson, my first child tried to call her mother. By and by she was known throughout the community as Mur. Many of her high school students called her that as well. I wish she were here to enjoy my paintings, to critique them and tell me which spots need more color and which paintings appear to her to be "discombobbled." She was a fantastic artist herself. At first, she did folk art and one day I suggested she paint the things around...those she loved so much. I have several of her paintings and our styles are much the same. More about her later. Miss Marble is up, this week's retreat guest. Coffee time. The raining is coming down...good for the freshly planted flowers and working in the studio. Have a good day.

Women of Art Emails

2009-04-20T10:27:00.002-05:00

Today’s Post is the sharing of emails about the Women of God Art Retreat God is continuing to work for the Women of God Retreat! My heart is so full and I want to sit, meditate and journal all of my feelings about the first retreat.. I know it is important for me to stay focused. I'm working toward that. First thing, getting dressed, cleaning cat litter, etc., having breakfast, and putting the God's next retreat and painting before housework! Yesterday, I did an oil (small) seascape. I started doing another flower painting on top of a seascape when I stopped myself and chose to finish the seascape. Below are copies of the emails from Gasby, Hal and Yvonne. Aren't they wonderful! I went into the cellar last evening for about 30 minutes. Damages occurred in a nearby community. I have a chair, radio, and lights as long as the power stays on. And, part of my creative energy is going to go into making the cellar more comfortable..if not attractive. Lots of love, Ann This is so wonderful, Ann. Look at God! When I searched for art retreats I eliminated some because they were too New Age or just didn't fit my budget. Without knowing you were a believer, He led me to you. "Whom God chooses, He also uses". Can't wait to see you in May and advance my art in HIS name. Faithfully, Gasby Original Fine Art by M. Gasby Brown Ann, thanks SO much for the wonderful emails, yours and Gasby's; that is very encouraging and we are SO happy for you and your new success in art retreat ministry. Thanks to God for his move in your life, we praise Him for it! We are doing fine. Hal just finished a baby portrait. Yvonne is now music minister at our church, playing the piano and directing the choir today. We will keep praying for you and your ministry. It is so wonderful to find out about Gasby and her discovering you and your retreat. What a great email she sent you that you shared with us. We went to her website, such creative works! Again, praise God and God bless you and your retreats abundantly! Love, Hal and Yvonne

First Women of God Art Retreat

2009-04-19T12:45:00.004-05:00

Michele Lee and Angie True, my first art retreat guest left yesterday, leave me with blessings that will keep on giving. They are truly Women of God. I have adopted them as my God Daughters. They plan to return to the retreat on an annual basis. You can read what they had to say about the retreat at http://micheleleeartblog.com and http://PickMyBrainsArt.com. They also have paintings posted from the retreat. Wow, what a work-out. I taught them techniques with watercolors, oils, pastels, acrylics and mixed media. I didn’t know I had it in me to do so much plus do some of my own work! Michele also wrote about the retreat and published this story on the http://HunstvilleArtBlog.com. This is a great blog site and it is how I became acquainted with Michele and Angie. After my God Daughters left I took a nap then decided to go into the studio to see if their sweet spirits were still there. So sweetly was the ambience they left I was inspired to do an oil painting of the roses Michele gave to me. My energy is still so high and I have written down the paintings I want to do as the result of the retreat. I think I liked Michele’s abstract work best and I am going to attempt to try some of her techniques, Angie’s cloudy landscapes are examples of the peace and serenity she has in her heart. The low horizons in the paintings leave a vast space for ephemeral skies above them. Sassie, my cat, and I are calling it a day today at the retreat. I think she misses Michele and Angie almost as much as I do. Tomorrow my Granddaughter, who is also an artist, is coming to help do some cleaning in exchange for art lessons. I’ll post how the day goes in my next post. Ann Hamilton.