This workshop is for someone that has worked in clay and still trying to find their personal style.  Many options on ways to work and ways to handle surfaces will be offered.  You bring in the subject and then let us experiment.  The goal is to allow the spirit of the artist to connect with the form by using symbols and metaphors.

This workshop is based on narrative story telling. Using basic hand building techniques, we will coil build a form. This is our shell for your personal language. Working from memory and the imagination, we will address the surface by adding clay, subtracting clay, and carving. The goal is to allow the spirit of the artist to connect with the form by using symbols and metaphors. Surface decoration will be applied on the wet clay before the bisque firing.

This workshop is for anyone that is interested in exploring and expressing nature in clay. We  will be inspired to create sculptural forms (figurative or nonobjective ) by recording ideas from the natural surroundings and from treasures that you have collected in the past.  Demonstrations will include  basic hand building techniques and a painterly approach to the clay surface. 

Working from memory and the imagination, the head will be constructed using coils. Detail information will be shared on facial features. The goal is to build a life size head and two small heads The use of symbols and interesting surface decorations on the wet clay will allow a visual depth on these heads.

Combining the human and the animal imagery, a form will be constructed using basic hand building techniques. We will explore ways of developing personal symbols to allow the piece to have meaning. After construction, the form will be treated with dry clays, slips, and underglazes.

Combining the human and the animal imagery, a form will be constructed using basic hand building techniques. We will explore ways of developing personal symbols to allow the piece to have meaning. After construction, the form will be treated with dry clays, slips, and underglazes.

This workshop is for someone that has worked in clay and still trying to find their personal style. Many options on ways to work and ways to handle surfaces will be offered. You bring in the subject and then let us experiment. The goal is to allow the spirit of the artist to connect with the form by using symbols and metaphors.

This workshop is for anyone that is interested in exploring and expressing nature in clay. We will be inspired to create sculptural forms (figurative or nonobjective )by visiting different areas in Abiquiu and recording ideas from the natural surroundings. Demonstrations will include basic hand building techniques and a painterly approach to the clay surface.

May 22 - 27 The Ceramic Head

Working from memory and the imagination, the head will be constructed using coils. Detail information will be shared on facial features. The goal is to build a life size head and two small heads The use of symbols and interesting surface decorations on the wet clay will allow a visual depth on these heads.

This workshop is based on narrative story telling

Using basic hand building techniques, we will coil build a form. This is our shell for your personal language. Working from memory and the imagination, we will address the surface by adding clay, subtracting clay, and carving. The goal is to allow the spirit of the artist to connect with the form by using symbols and metaphors. Surface decoration will be applied on the wet clay before the bisque firing.

We will visit Plaza Blanca as a resource for your shrine. We will discuss ways on how the figure can be a holding place for sacred relics, a reliquary. Detail demo’s on building the form and facial features will be given. Small clay relics or found objects will be combined with the form. Also surface treatments on unfired clay will be explored.

Working from the imagination, the head and torso will be constructed using coils. We will discuss ways on how the figure can be a holding place for sacred relics, a reliquary. Detail demo’s on building the form and facial features will be given. Also surface treatments on unfired clay will be explored.

The Artful Life Retreat is a new retreat/workshop offering in 2020 - and we hope you will join us as we connect the spirit of art and the soul of this amazing land in northern New Mexico. Two The Artful Life sessions will be held in 2020 - each session will be unique and will allow you to discover your creativity, recharge your soul, spend time in nature, and connect with the history, culture and magical land with like-minded people. Your hosts for both sessions are Carolyn and Tom Calfee, Debra Fritts and Frank Shelton. Carolyn and Tom own and operate Abiquiu Vacation Rentals and The Grand Hacienda Bed & Breakfast - and much of our workshop will take place on their property. You will stay in either a vacation home on the lake or above on a mesa top; in a studio room; or at the luxury bed and breakfast. All lodging options are located in a gated community on Abiquiu Lake…surrounded by the lake, Rio Chama, Ghost Ranch, Cerro Pedernal and the million-year old red rocks. There is a history and energy to this land, and you will explore it first-hand.

Debra and Frank will host walks, clay mediations and daily journaling which will allow new thinking to enter into your life. This exposure to creative thoughts and daily observations will open the “self” to move forward and experience an artful life. Day excursions will include three studio sessions at the home and studio of Debra Fritts and Frank Shelton. Their creative insight, connection, expertise and creative energy will astound you. You will discover that you, too, have the ability to be expressive and creative!

Agendas will be posted soon - but a sneak peak at the schedule https://www.discoverabiquiu.com/theartfullife

This workshop is for someone that has worked in clay and still trying to find their personal style. Many options on ways to work and ways to handle surfaces will be offered. You bring in the subject and then let us experiment. The goal is to allow the spirit of the artist to connect with the form by using symbols and metaphors.

In this five day workshop, we will explore beautiful Abiquiu and the natural surroundings by building clay markers (Debra) and by using mixed media on paper (Stacy). First a coiled form will be constructed. Stacy will guide everyone to respond to the landscape, not in a traditional manner but by embracing lines, shapes, colors and forms in nature. Golden paints, mediums and gels as well as various drawing materials will be used. This information will also be related to the clay form by using slips, underglazes, and etching into the surface. Observation and awareness will be the resource for creating a clay marker and several paintings on paper.

In this workshop, we will work solid and with coils to express an interesting figurative form. This form should have a personal connection with you. Do research and bring images of interesting seated figures. Think about symbolism and metaphor. The surface will be treated before the bisque firing with engobes and underglazes.

Combining the human and the animal imagery, a form will be constructed using basic hand building techniques. We will explore ways of developing personal symbols to allow the piece to have meaning. After construction, the form will be treated with dry clays, engobes, and underglazes.

The Artful Life Retreat is a new retreat/workshop offering in 2020 - and we hope you will join us as we connect the spirit of art and the soul of this amazing land in northern New Mexico. Two The Artful Life sessions will be held in 2020 - each session will be unique and will allow you to discover your creativity, recharge your soul, spend time in nature, and connect with the history, culture and magical land with like-minded people. Your hosts for both sessions are Carolyn and Tom Calfee, Debra Fritts and Frank Shelton. Carolyn and Tom own and operate Abiquiu Vacation Rentals and The Grand Hacienda Bed & Breakfast - and much of our workshop will take place on their property. You will stay in either a vacation home on the lake or above on a mesa top; in a studio room; or at the luxury bed and breakfast. All lodging options are located in a gated community on Abiquiu Lake…surrounded by the lake, Rio Chama, Ghost Ranch, Cerro Pedernal and the million-year old red rocks. There is a history and energy to this land, and you will explore it first-hand.

Debra and Frank will host walks, clay mediations and daily journaling which will allow new thinking to enter into your life. This exposure to creative thoughts and daily observations will open the “self” to move forward and experience an artful life. Day excursions will include three studio sessions at the home and studio of Debra Fritts and Frank Shelton. Their creative insight, connection, expertise and creative energy will astound you. You will discover that you, too, have the ability to be expressive and creative!

Agendas will be posted soon - but a sneak peak at the schedule https://www.discoverabiquiu.com/theartfullife

This workshop is a collaboration of two artists, Debra Fritts and Frank Shelton, sharing their love of combining materials for art making. Humans and animals have always inhabited the earth. We will explore the possibilities of this human/animal relationship in clay and mixed media.

A clay head will be constructed with an emphasis on facial features and the spiritual connection with an animal.

A second piece will be constructed combining the human figure and animal with mixed-media including paper, fabric, paints and plaster.

The participant can chose to either combine these two pieces or keep them separate.

To register visit Bellissima Art Escapes.

Working from memory and the imagination, the head will be constructed using coils. Detail information will be shared on facial features. The goal is to build several heads, life size or larger than life and a few smaller ones. The use of symbols and interesting surface decorations will allow a different visual depth in these heads. Underglazes, engobes, and mark making will be used on the unfired clay.

Combining human and animal images, a head will be constructed using basic hand building techniques with detail information on facial features. We will explore ways of developing person symbols to allow the piece to have meaning and metaphor. The clay surface will be treated with dry clays, engobes and underglazes before the piece dries and before a bisque firing.

With consideration of the festivities for the Day of the Dead, this workshop will stress the importance of the figure as a shrine.  The seated figure will be constructed using hand building techniques and small clay relics or found objects will be combined with the figure. The history of this Mexican celebration of life will inform us with special attention to color and pattern on these figurative shrines.  Daily exercises will inspire ideas for the clay relics.  Surfaces will be explored using mark making, engobes and underglazes.

Using basic hand building techniques, we will explore ways to express the figure in an expressive way.  Working from memory and the imagination, the head and the torso will be constructed using coils. The goal is to allow the spirit of the artist to connect with the form by using symbols and metaphors.

Working from memory and the imagination, the head and the torso will be constructed using coils, making basic shells. Time to play and allow your voice to speak. Surfaces will be treated on wet clay. The goal is to allow the spirit of the artist to connect with the form by using symbols and metaphors.

Working from the imagination, the head and torso will be constructed using coils.  We will discuss ways on how the figure can be a holding place for sacred relics, a reliquary. Detail demo’s on building the form and facial features will be given.  Also surface treatments on unfired clay will be explored.

Combining the human and the animal images, a form will be constructed using basic hand building techniques.  We will explore ways of developing personal symbols to allow the piece to have meaning and metaphor. After construction, the surfaces will be treated with dry clays, engobes and underglazes. Demos include construction techniques and a painterly approach to the wet surface.