August

August, a very interesting month.  Usually, the most popular month in summer as it is the warmest and seemingly the shortest with September looming around the corner!  It has been a good month for me with time to get away with family renting a cottage in the town of Bala, Muskoka.  It is always good to get away from technology distractions such as internet and TV, but this cottage has good cell phone capabilities so we got to read Facebook updates and email from our phones!  Yet even with all these, we managed to restrain ourselves from technology so that we could re-connect with family time! Enjoyed it to the heavens and back!

We had a work summer party this month as well, getting everyone together to enjoy friendship  outside work, enjoy food and drink and brace ourselves on the on-set of the hectic schedule of back-to-school in September!!

Today, I taught an Art Camp at Meta 4, with the them of Out of Africa"!  I had a good bunch of fun loving students, majority of which where 6 years old and a few 8 years old!  Most if not all, were very cute and creative.  Looking forward to next summer.

Together with my students.

Wee One's

Last Tuesday, I had the opportunity to teach 8 young aspiring impressionist artists!  The workshop was part of Meta4 Contemporary Craft Gallery's SUMMER ART CAMP!  Our theme for the painting day was to paint anything based on a famous artist!

Now who do you think is my FAVORITE and famous painter of all time?? Claude Monet!

After a brief lesson on the colour wheel, we launched ourselves into the impressionistic style!!!  Some students decided to paint their own version of impressionism, but most stayed true to the lesson and worked with me to create a wonderful seascape!  Here are a few pictures taken during the class.

Enjoy!
Marissa

Adventures in May!

Creative poeple are curious, flexible, independent, with a tremenous spirit of adventure and love of play. Join me in May to develop your creative spirit and jump in!!

Here are two invitations for painting adventures this May! The first; a creative weekend workshop at my home studio "Awaken your Creativity"! Join me for 2 days (May 14-15) finding new creative ideas to spark your abstract art! We shall start the morning with a 45 minute gentle yoga, (with my yogi friend Wendy Melville) to get us all relaxed and rejuvenated!! The rest of the day will be filled with hands-on exercises for developing new material and different means of expression in art. For more information; visit my website at http://www.taopad.com/

The second adventure; is "Sweet Art Studio Night", which is a 5-day open studio time for acrylic painters who want to paint their own specific projects, but want to have a forum to mingle with other painters. I will be painting with you guys, so if you have a question or need help, I can assist you right away! Isn't that cool?? Our date would be every Tuesday night, from either 6:30-9:00p.m. or 7:00-9:30p.m. Maximum is 4 so reserve your spot before April 29th, by emailing me at marissa.sweet@rogers.com. Cost is $20/session.

So don't hesitate! Art can transform your life, but be patient and take it one step at a time!!

Marissa

Ring the bells of Spring!

Hello again and welcome to my blog! Spring has sprung and so too, with the new buds we see on our ravine backyard! Even our residential beavers have begun to work away at the little creek behind our home, which has now become quite a lovely stream with matching rock waterfall!!!

I am busy gearing up for 2 big art shows!! The 1st (May 6-7-8) at the Pelham Art Festival, where over 65 artists show their original art work over Mother's Day weekend. The 2nd show (June 4-5), Toronto for the Riverdale Art Walk, on Queen Street East. Both shows are juried, so it is an honour to have been selected to join them.

Aside from shows, new art workshops are scheduled, both at my home studio and at two new locations! The first location will be at The Painted Tree, Cobourg, for a Mixed Media workshop on April 16, the second at the Visual Arts Clarington, Bowmanville, for "Abstraction without Fear", on June 11-12. Visit their respective websites to register!

"Awaken your Creativity", an abstract painting workshop ispired by yoga will be offered again in my home studio!!! Kick off your shoes and paint to your hearts desire!!! We start the class with a 45 minute yoga to get everyone rejuvenated and inspired. Workshop is on May 14-15. Visit http://www.taopad.com/ to find out more!

Lots of good stuff, inspiring workshops and shows... hope to see you this spring!!