Greetings all! Last week was a glorious, beautiful, perfect week and I just have to gush about it for a second. Jenny invited me to spend the week with her at Bear Creek Camp in Northern PA for a very special, never-before-held Artist Retreat. I am so thankful I was able to make it work. Let me tell you all about it.

There was a small but mighty number of us creative folks – about eight total. The Artist Retreat overlapped with the summer camp’s family camp week. At first it felt weird to be at the camp during a dedicated family week when my own family was back home, but our small creative community quickly became what felt much like a family all in itself.

One other thing, Jenny and I really became one with the perspiration this week, seeking out shade at any opportunity, plunging our feet into cool creek water, standing in front of the two box fans in our toasty cabin. By the end of the week, we were finally able to sleep with covers over us.

Each morning our very own Artist Retreat-dedicated counselor (Cali) ferried us out to different sites around camp for a few quiet hours of painting/sketching/writing/photography. Most chose watercolor. I tried it for the first time (why not?) but decided to put down the brush and pick up the pen instead. I wrote some poetry this week of which I am quite proud.

On Day One we traveled to the old grounds of the ice house. Streamside, some artists set up their easels and painted the waterscape. I found a small spot for my chair and admired the sunlight filtering through the trees and shining on this bed of ferns. I attempted to paint this scene (which you will NOT get to see) and quickly learned that watercolor is a lot harder than it looks.

On Day Two Cali took us to the lake and I set up camp in front of this arresting dead tree jutting out of the water. I again attempted watercolor, taking cues from the more accomplished painters around me. I decided to focus on the micro instead of the macro. Rather than paint the whole scene, I focused on the curves and colors of the tree. I wanted my brushstrokes to become smoother and the color to have more shading and variation. This is my very brief study of the tree. The one on the right is my second attempt. I can see some growth in it.

On Day Three we journeyed down Election Trail to a spot where the creek luxuriously snakes around the bend and where you can find the perfect place to dip your toes in the water (if you are willing to trek through waist high ferns and grass). Jenny and I did just that and, after checking for hitchhikers (a.k.a. ticks) we really sunk in to this spot. It was perfect. On this day I ditched the paint brush and went back to the pen and journal. I was smitten with this spot and how all of my senses were engaged, so I went with that feeling and wrote about it.

Here are some of my observations that I don't want to forget from Day Three's location:

The playful motion of the water over and around rocks in the stream bed.
The journey through the tall grass and ferns, the hot sun, and the unsure footing to get to this spot; this perfect, cooling spot.
The peace that exists in the song of moving water. The relief of cool water on tired soles and in between my toes.
The carpet of ferns, lush and bright, sun filtering through the fronds, lining the bank in green.
The stream bed rocks smooth under feet, the slick mosaic of rounded shapes and soft edges, the blend of the subtle grays, browns, and reds.
No room for any other sound but moving water.

Our last outing on Day Four took us to what turned out to be my favorite spot of them all. We went to Hemlock Site. Here I set up my chair at the start of a meandering footpath through feathery ferns. You could hear the creek running and the birds singing in the trees. I turned to the journal again here and wrote a piece that I adore at the moment.

Artist Retreat was a magical, restorative week. Jenny and I bonded, we connected with fellow creative folks, and we left energized to foster this feeling of wonder and creativity in our daily lives. I feel like I have so many ideas swimming around in my head just waiting to be plucked out, like lobsters plinking around in a tank. The opportunities for collaboration that came out of this week are similarly exciting and I hope to be able to share some of that here.

Until next time!

-Andie