MIXED MEDIA WITH MICHELLE ALLEN AND LORI SIEBERT
San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico
February 10-18, 2023
THIS TRIP IS FULL, JOIN THE WAITLIST
This mixed media workshop will be co-taught by two very talented, licensed selling artists, Michelle Allen from Portland, OR, and Lori Siebert from Covington, Kentucky. Whimsical is the commonality in their work and they will share their process and talents in this workshop in the beautiful UNESCO heritage city of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Location
One of our favorite cities to take artists to is San Miguel de Allende, a UNESCO heritage city that has been a home for artists since the 1930s. Cobblestone-lined streets, art galleries, colorful doors that open into mysterious courtyards, alleyways filled with beautiful plantings, centuries-old buildings and, of course, the bells of the pink Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel in the Jardin. You never know what or who you will find in the Jardin, day or night.
In this workshop you will create at least two mixed media panels that will incorporate sculpting, assemblage, collage and painting.
Artful Vessels with Michelle Allen
All your gems and jewels will find a place to rest in the grasp of this functional and curious piece of art. A provided structure will be the springboard to exploring an infusion of mixed media including sculpting materials, bits of metal, your personal found, sentimental & salvaged items, fabric and lots of paint. With a little guidance, just enough boundary and a few new techniques, you will walk away with a completed piece of art and a fun way to showcase your favorite dried flowers. This workshop is suitable for all levels.
Artful Junk Story Birds
Lori started making what she calls “Artful Junk Birds” for an Instagram challenge hosted by the NBC show “Making It.” She went on to make many of these assemblage birds and created an on-line course. For this class, we will be curating our beloved treasures and creating 12” x 12” dimensional bird panels that tell a little story.
Lori Siebert
“It’s so fun to upcycle materials from our stash of “stuff” and transform it into one of a kind art assemblage pieces.”
ITINERARY
Day One, Friday Feb. 10
Artists arrive at Casa de la Noche where we will meet for botanas and a margarita or non-alcoholic beverage, then it is off to bed to dream about your adventure that starts the next morning.
Day Two, Saturday Feb. 11
Breakfast in the courtyard or inside if the weather is a little too cold for you.
9:30 We will begin our workshop in the studio at La Noche. You will love the light that surrounds us in this glass filled studio. Today we will begin with an overview of the week and then class with Michelle. We will break for comida and a quick walking tour to help orient you to this delightful town.
We will return to la Noche and class will continue until 4:30-5. There is free time to relax before we head out to our first group dinner at 6:30.
John Whipple discussing an artist’s painting in the light filled La Noche art studio
Photo by Sean Reagan
Day Three, Sunday Feb. 12
Breakfast in the courtyard then back into the studio with Michelle at 9:30, breaking for comida at 1:00 and finishing the day around 4:30. Free time until dinner this evening at 6:30.
Day Four, Monday, Feb. 13
After breakfast, we will finish our projects with Michelle. Then you will have free time and lunch on your own until we meet at 3:00 back at la Noche. We will walk to our class with one of our favorite San Miguel artists, mojiganga master Hermes Arroyo at his home/studio.
Hermes with just a few of his creations
We will stop for an early dinner on the way back to la Noche. Perhaps you will want to stop at the Jardin to do a little people watching. There may be music, dancing, or a wedding.
There will be a wedding or two, especially the week we will be there.
Day 5, Tuesday Feb. 14
Breakfast and then into the studio at 9:30 to begin our lesson with Lori. We will break for comida around 1:00 then return to the studio after eating.
Lori Siebert
This evening will be a special cooking class with Chef Ana Elena Martinez. I’m sure that chocolate will be involved.
Day 6, Wed. Feb. 15
Breakfast and then in the studio at 9:30 to continue working on our projects with Lori. We will stop for comida then return to the studio. Tonight, dinner is on your own.
Day 7, Thursday Feb. 16
Breakfast and then in the studio at 9:30 to finish projects with Lori. We will stop for comida and the afternoon is free for you to explore SMA.
Day 8, Friday Feb. 17
Breakfast and then in the studio. Lori and Michelle will be available for questions and advice about your art practice. And you have time to finish your projects. Lunch and the rest of the day is free before we meet for our very special dinner celebration this evening at our friend, Chef Paco Cardenas's home.
This itinerary may change due to weather, new opportunities or the whim of the group.
Artist Michelle Allen - self portrait
Lori Siebert with one of her winged creations
COVID
You must be vaccinated in order to attend this workshop and you will need to take a rapid test at least two days prior to the workshop. Your card and negative test will need to be shown to Bellissima Art Escapes in order to join the workshop. Thank you for your cooperation and for considering your fellow artists.
This Escape Includes
8 nights accommodation, double occupancy at Casa de la Noche
beautiful studio to create in
aiport pickup/drop off at designated time at Leon airport
five days of workshops with Michelle and Lori
all meals except for two lunches and one dinner
Special class with local mojigangas master (the large puppets)
farewell celebration
two cooking classes
private Facebook page
new art tribe
Price: $3,500, limited to 12 people based on double occupancy. A limited number of single rooms are available for an additional $500.
A $1,000 non refundable deposit is due upon registration with the final payment due September 30, 2022
Price does not include airfare to/from Mexico
Airport: Leon International Airport, Guanajuato, Mexico. Code: BJX United's Flight 2183 is a direct flight from Houston that leaves at 12:26 p.m. and arrives in Guanajuato at 2:42 pm. We will have a driver pick you up and deliver you to the hotel which will take about 1.5 hours. Return: We will leave at 9 a.m. on February 18 for the 12:50 pm United flight 1072 to Houston.
Casa de la Noche, a former bordello is owned by Barbara Poole, also an artist who supports the arts in San Miguel de Allende. Her beautifully renovated B&B is five minutes from the Jardin.
There are little niches everywhere in SMA
We will Provide
paint
Liquitex Matte Gel Medium or Mod Podge
sponge brushes
paint brushes
craft glue
plastic gloves
wire cutters
tin
Student Supply List
Scissors
Apron
Ephemera - bits of paper, blocks, buttons, see class samples*
Two 12” x 12” and two 8” x 8” wood panels
Tube of E-6000
One package of DAS air dry clay
*Embellishment Suggestions - These are just ideas. You do not need to collect all of this.
Option for bird tail feathers:
popsicle sticks
toothpicks
old ruler
old paintbrushes
pencils
wooden clothes pins
wooden skewers
Options for Embellishments
ribbons
cording or fibers
wintage ephemnera from books, letters, etc.
old jewelry
fabrics
embroidery pieces
embroidery thread
buttons, beads, brads
key, nails, wire
silk or paper flowers
rhinestones
dried flowers
paper clips
Chef Paco Cardenas
Tonight we will say farewell and those leaving tomorrow morning there will be a van departing at 7:30 a.m.
Kathie, Paco and Ana Elena.
Michelle Allen has never found anything completely flawless in this life and yet there is beauty everywhere she turns. She loves the imperfect, slightly eccentric, witty quality of the world she sees around her. It’s the unpredictability of even the most mundane things that she tries to recreate in her art. Often, if something seems too perfect, she will skew it towards the unrealistic to capture the essence of a whim. Although most of the pieces she designs are practical, her hope is that her art will never become so serious that she betrays the uniqueness that inspires her.
Michelle was the sole artist in charge of design and production of Allen Designs Studio with products sold through retailers throughout the United States, and Europe and Australia. For more than 25 years, Michelle created whimsical home products through her company. Her company recently was acquired by Enesco where she will continue to develop her brand.
When asked to define her artistic style, Lori Siebert says that likes to be a bit of a chameleon. Constantly experimenting with different styles and mediums feeds her insatiable curiosity. She has a very whimsical design sense and loves to play with color to give each collection its own personality. Her firm, Olika Studios, has developed branding and design programs for Target, Bath & Body Works, Nickelodeon and Universal Studios.
Lori has been licensing her art for more than 15 years to several manufactures in the gift and home decor industry including Demdaco, Creative Co-op, and Studio M. Lang. Her licensed products have been sold through many key retailers and small gift shops through the US and Canada. She is a content creator for Bloom TV Networks where she shares DIY videos focused on flowers. One of her greatest honors is being an ambassador for Gudrun Sjoden, her favorite fashion and home textile designer.