Student Work Over The Years

I have had the privilege to work with many  diverse poupulations teaching art over the years.
I have compiled some images of mixed-media works created from students from over a ten year period from Community Colleges, Universities and many different community settings with Artists In The Schools Programs. I teach 3d design, black and white design, color theory, painting and drawing as well as mixed-media projects in community settings that focus on the conceptual self-portrait.

I am proud of students work that goes beyond rendering or representation and begins to touch upon their own personal story and language of visual narrative. I believe this is achieved by providing a plethora of mixed media techniques that include drawing, painting, collage, installation and an  encouragement to not only allow and accept what might be called  a "mistake" and  to embrace with an inquisitive mind "limitations" and make these an integrative part of individual process which I believe leads participants to individual authenticity.

Painting class/ Portland community College

3D design, University Of Portland, The Self Portrait

Mixed Media/ the Self Portrait/ Portland State university

The Chair Project: Need to be able to sit in it- all materials apply.

University Of Portland 3.d design

The Chair Project/ 3 d design  University Of Portland

2 d design/ depth of field/ Portland State University

Sitka Center For Art And Ecology/ Mixed-Media Idea Generating

Classroom/ mixed media

Classroom/ mixed media

P:ear/ Program, Education Art, Recreation, Self Portrait

P:ear/ Program Education, Art, Recreation, Self portrait

Costa Rica/ Personal Painting And Yoga Retreat

Photo, Tom Keefer

CREATING FROM OUR CORES

Art &Yoga Retreat

Peninsula De Osa, Costa Rica

Availability: 20  spots

Cost: Tuition: $500 + $25 material fee.
$500 deposit.

Meals, accommodations, domestic travel $1,695

Early Registration Discount $200 by 6/31/2013

Accommodations View Link
Registration

Our Hosts: Chirriposa Retreats  with Artist Lauren Mantecon, Yoga Instructor Shelby Kushma and Massage Therapist Cindy Keefer and chef Angus Stephens.

Join us for in depth yoga and painting within a small supportive community in truly magical surroundings. One of the last remaining unspoilt corners of the earth on the Peninsula De Osa.

The Osa Peninsula is where the tropical rainforest and the Corcovado National Park meets the ‘Golfo Dulce’ and the Pacific Ocean. It is home to the largest concentration of animal and plant species outside of the Amazon Rainforest and is listed in National Geographic’s top five naturist destinations. Throughout the week, we will  work on opening  our  chakra channels  through  gentle yoga postures  then  process ourselves through paint with clear open channels. Painting will be individualized to your own wants and needs. Lauren will guide you through the process with idea generating techniques and  daily visualizations for inspiration as you create. Our mediums will be gouche, tempura and watercolor as well as pastel, charcoal and sumi ink. There is no art or yoga experience necessary, just a curious mind. The foundation of this retreat is deep relaxation and creative awakening. Time will be set aside for exploration, hiking, water play or just relax  or enjoy a massage on site.

What People Are Saying About Chirriposa

WHAT YOU GET:

* 2 yoga sessions a day- 2 hours

* 4  1/2 hours a day of art instruction

* 6  nights full  gourmet food and board n the  Peninsula De Osa at:  http://www.iguanalodge.com/

* Domestic Flight from Puerto Jimenez to San Jose, Costa Rica

*5%  staff gratuity 

*1 night in San Jose, Costa Rica

BIOS

Shelby Kushma’s  yoga experience will guide you through opening the body & the energy channels. Through different postures you will support healing and awaking from within.

Cindy Keefer is a bodyworker and artist interested in the mind’s potential to access balance, creativity and power within the physical body. She practices massage therapy in Palos Verdes and exhibits sculpture at the Laguna Gallery of Contemporary Art, Ca.


Cindy will be offering her DeFragging body work and traditional massage while on site. De-Fragging connects one to a renewed vitality and clarity of mind  through the blending of multiple traditional techniques:  mahamarma, myfacial, accupressure, cranio-sacral, and crystal bowl sounding.  Leave feeling relaxed, focused/activated and harmonized.

Spring Newsletter: Change Is In The Air, Workshops And Retreats

Photo By, Scott Mantecon

 Greetings From Southern California,

Happy Spring To All!

I have just spent the last three months in Laguna Beach Cal, near family and participating in an art residency at Seven- Degrees that will last till the beginning of July. Upon arrival I completed a series of works entitled Portals, a study on the seven vibrational frequencies of color in which I exhibited here at the in house gallery.

Laguna Beach

Great adventures and many changes is what the last year has brought me. It has been such a treat to re-connect with colleagues, friends and family after selling my my house in Portland and hitting the road through art residencies, shows and teaching workshops.

For the first time in my life I am actually living like a gypsy. I have surprised and amazed myself with the capacity to adjust, assimilate and adapt from warm to freezing weather, back to warm and to the many variations and life styles that people around me have offered. The flip side to that is feeling like I am teetering on the top of a pointed mountainside peering down a canyon preparing to jump into some unknown abyss.

Portals

The "not knowing"of the future has been the real challenge.Embracing the unknown with a leap of faith and excitement as opposed to anxiety and fear. So what next? A re-connected circle again casting a semi oval net. California to the Northwest, The Rockies, then back to the Southwest. A grand experiment searching out a place to settle and call home. I want to thank all you amazing folks out there that opened themselves and gave me opportunities to continue work and flourish. 

The Muir Beach workshop last summer hosted by ceramist and friend Laura Lovitt was a success, so we will be doing another Sep 14-15th, 2013.

Taos, NM

Last August brought a solo show at Teri Sund’s IMOGEN GALLERY entitled “Passages”. You can still view available works in the gallery and on the website.  Also, if in the area of Astoria do check out the work of painter Diane Kingzett who will be having a show opening in May.

 After teaching a week long workshop at Canada's Hollyhock Learning and Retreat Center I traversed along towards the east  teaching Fall workshops at The  Sun Valley Center For The Arts and The Ah Ha School in Telluride,Colorado. I so loved the beauty and serenity of mountains and land that Colorado offered. I made my way back down into the Southwest spending a few weeks in Taos then dropping new work off at the The William And Joseph Gallery on canyon road in Santa Fe before heading on west to
 family and friends in Southern California.

While traveling I had the opportunity to visit many different studios of working colleagues. Being witness to such diverse styles provoked intrigue into how we make work influenced by the regions we live in with the changing landscapes, social barometers and economic climates that often dictate a fascinating line between high craft and fine art. I have compiled a list below of people I found to be of inspiration.

studio work, Laguna Beach

Antonio Arrelenas Taos, NM

Jill Rounds, Taos, NM

Abby Salsbury, Taos, NM

Kate Cartwright, Taos, NM

Blair Saxon Hill Portland, Or

Joe Thurston Portland, Or

Diane Kingzett Portland, Or

Darren Orange Astoria, Oregon

Elizabeth Barnes Vancouver, Canada

Stacy Phillips Salt Lake City, Utah

Aiko Morioka, Bay Area, Cal

Leslie Allen  Bay Area, Cal

Laura Lovitt Bay Area, Cal

Georgette Osserman Bay Area, Cal

Scott and Naomi Schoenherr, Laugna Beach, Cal

Robert Weatherford, Telluride, Co

Amy Schilling Telluride, Co

Upcoming Workshops And Retreats

If you are in Laguna Beach late May early June and interested in a weekend or series of weekend workshops that will jump start your visual vocabulary through idea generating techniques come join our 

paint and mixed-media workshop.  PROCESS YOUR MATERIALS FROM THE GROUND UP

I am especially excited to be offering a Art & Yoga Retreat in January, 2014 on the Peninsula De Osa in 
Costa Rica. Our hosts will be ChirriposaRetreats, Artist Lauren Mantecon, Yoga Instructor Shelby Kushma and Massage Therapist Cindy Keefer. The Oso Peninsula is listed in National Geographic's top five naturist destinations.
There will be some amazing food prepared by chef  Angus Stephens.

Book Coming Soon:" Creating From Our Cores, All We Are And Can Be"  

You can Purchase CD  here:  Creating From The Core. Four meditative visualizations for centering and inspiring the creative process.

I am offering four week   E-Mail Correspondence Courses  where you work at your own pace visiting or revisiting materials, ideas and visualizations through pod casts all available to ignite your imagination!

 Join 

Lauren's Art, Retreat, Workshops  FACEBOOK 

Workshops At A Glance

May- June, 2013, Weekend Series Workshops,  Laguna Beach Workshops, Laguna Beach, Cal

July, 16-19th, 2013, Sitka Center For Art And Ecology, Cascade Head, Oregon

August, 8th-12th, 2013, Ah Ha School For The Arts, Telluride, Colorado

August, 19-22, 2013, Art Association Of Jackson Hole, Jackson Hole, Wyoming

September  15-16th, 2013, Muir Beach Workshop,  Muir Beach, Cal 

January 18th-25th, 2014,  Costa Rica, Art & Yoga Retreat,  Peninsula De Osa, Costa Rica

March 20-24th, 2014  Art AND YOGA, New Orleans-  New Orleans Workshop
with  Robin Rosemond