Squirrel Cafe, Danger Reef, Art CampWith Annie and Our Stella

Woman with stuffed shirt, waiting to walk onto ferry.

 ride to San Juan island on a decent day.

Another ferry, going about its daily business.  
 

 

   

Annie picked us up at the ferry landing because she lives too far away for us to have walked-  off we went to Danger Reef-Squirrel Cafe -Art Camp, to stay over night at Annie's . The best holiday I have had since London. Annie and her husband built their house on 3.5 acres, along with a large shop/studio and a vintage  cabin that her father owned. 

This the view of her front yard from the bedroom window. The large enough reef directly in view, easily watched all day every day due to  activity of sea birds, eagles, nesting birds and seals. 

Sunrise. During the night the moon rose and brightened up the island like daylight. This. is Annie's Danger Reef, all day entertainment!
 

Sat with coffee on her deck wrapped in a comfy blanket, watched as an eagle dined on eggs, somebody's children.

Gulls watched over the grown up seals on one side and the  four baby seals on the other, giving moms a break, I suppose.  

Annie's husband, Michael, died not long ago, the house has become hers entirely. 

What a grand life she lives. 

She and Stella fished together on Annie's commercial fishing vessel out of Sitka Alaska when they were young pups.  Sitka is an island community of about 8,500 people, once the capital of Russian Pacific. 

It can only be reached by sea or plane. 

Anyway, that is where they met, and worked and formed a strong bond. 

The house, now hers is pretty much an artists delight- production stations throughout.And that is where we learned , from "Annie's Art Camp". Collage and printing.

We walked her 3.5 acres finding small, interesting,  botanicals that we wanted to print on our collages. I found a feather, likely eagle plumulaceous. I made a stand alone print of it , Used it a second time in a collage, which was too busy. Editing is important in collage. 

We arted all day, learning as we went, 

Annie is a patient , effective and generous  teacher, though I came away with inchoate results, it was rewarding and  SO enjoyable. My attempts are-

         The Feminine. 

Earth marrying itself

More earthy bits- and  Red bird, wearing big boots , in neon light  .

   Sea

 

Those are the only ones I am willing to show because they are not hideous. I have several that are. For printing we used a gel plate, a brayer, and acrylic paint. To affix the lot we used loads of liquid medium. Fascinating day! Annie's world is extraordinary. There are not enough superlatives. 

Annie's stove-

with a clock built in-

Annie's onions -

 

A young Annie on her vessel catching bloody fish!

See you tomorrow!