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A special week-long opportunity for artists and makers to learn from master artists while focusing on their personal work. The retreats include Otis College residence hall housing, meals, instruction, guest speakers, bus transportation, and field trip admissions. A reduced fee is available for commuters.

Early Bird Discount through May 21st - $100 off tuition fee!

Please click on titles to register, to review the full course description and costs, and to view additional details including field trips.

Book Arts
 
L.A. BOOK ARTS RETREAT
June 18–June 24, 2017

This program explores book design and materials, content development and image making, printing processes and media integration. Related investigative and exploratory printing and typographic techniques will also be covered. Guest speakers include writer / performance artist Jacqueline Suskin and Carolee Campbell, publisher of Ninja Press in Sherman Oaks, CA.

Lead Instructor: Rebecca Chamlee is a graphic designer, printer, writer, and bookbinder who has published innovatively designed, letterpress printed, and hand-bound limited edition fine press and artists books under the imprint of Pie in the Sky Press since 1986. Her work is in prominent special private collections throughout the U.S. and has been exhibited widely.

Elise Preiss Enamel
 
L.A. MATERIALS & TECHNOLOGIES RETREAT: ENAMELING AND IMAGE TRANSFERS
June 4–June 10, 2017

Enamel is the fusing of a layer of glass to metal, and commercial and custom decals allow the permanent transfer of imagery to an enameled piece in a short time. In this workshop students will transfer images, text, or pattern to enameled surfaces using water slide decals. Students will take home multiple enameled pieces ready to be transformed into wearable ornaments or small objects, and at least two finished pieces will be completed during the workshop.

Lead Instructor: Originally from France, Elise Preiss holds an MFA with an emphasis in metal from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). Her work has increasingly gained recognition and awards including the Distinguished Achievement in Creative Activity Award from CSULB in 2012, and first place in the Jewelry category during Alchemy2, the Enamellist Society conference in Covington, KY.

Meredith Strauss Shibori shawl
 
L.A. MATERIALS & TECHNOLOGIES RETREAT: SHIBORI DYE TECHNIQUES
June 4–June 10, 2017

Shibori is the Japanese art of creating patterns by binding, stitching, folding and twisting fabric during the dyeing process. Students create intricate patterns by using many different resist techniques on both cotton and silk. Permanent colors are achieved through the use of fiber reactive, acid dyes, and synthetic indigo for both vat dyeing and dye painting. With the instruction of textile design artist Meredith Strauss, students complete several scarves with various degrees of complexity. The invited guest speaker is Rebecca Hall, Textile Historian, who will discuss The Art of the Cloth Banner in Buddhist Asia.

Lead Instructor: L.A. based artist Meredith Strauss has 40 years of weaving and dyeing experience. Her large-scale off-loom pieces are placed in numerous corporate and private collections, and she has exhibited internationally. In addition to teaching, most recently in Bangkok, Meredith produces a line of shibori scarves and caftans sold in boutiques in the U.S. and abroad. The most recent exhibition of her work was at the 10th International Shibori Symposium Exhibition in Oaxaca, Mexico in 2016.

Chris Francis
 
L.A. MATERIALS & TECHNOLOGIES RETREAT: SHOE DESIGN
June 4–June 10, 2017

Join L.A. based shoe designer and maker Chris Francis for this introduction to shoemaking. Students will learn how to make shoes by hand, using simple tools and traditional techniques. Workshops focus on the structural mechanics of making women’s high heels from pattern to finish.

Lead Instructor: The shoe designs of Chris Francis bridge both the fashion and art world. Cultural inspiration, humor, color, and a versatile range of materials are all characteristic of Francis’ work as well as strong silhouette, sharp lines, and simplicity. He often describes his creations as wearable art and fashionable architecture. Shoes designed by Francis are worn regularly by celebrities and musicians, and have been featured in publications such as Vogue Magazine, Metropolis, and Ornament Magazine. He has exhibited at Palm Springs Art Museum and Architecture and Design Museum (Los Angeles), and has held solo exhibitions at the Craft and Folk Art Museum and Museum of Art and History (Lancaster).

Kim Troyer painting
 
L.A. FIGURATIVE ARTS RETREAT
June 18–June 24, 2017

This studio workshop provides figurative artists with a special opportunity to refine their skills and develop their conceptual abilities. Through intensive and focused studio work, demonstrations, discussion, and critique, student artists will focus on their own creative work, develop new ideas, and hone their skills.

The Professor SDWS
 
L.A. WATERCOLOR RETREAT
June 4–June 10, 2017

This program provides a Southern California context for watercolorists. Geared for all levels, topics include approaches to landscape, botanicals, figure, portraiture, and contemporary art. Highlights include demonstrations and instruction by Southern California based artists.

Lead Instructor: Students will be expertly guided by Deborah Swan McDonald, an exhibiting fine artist and a juried member of Watercolor West.