Chickens, Clowns and Classes ...

     I've spent a lot of time this past year, trying to reconnect with the artsy side of me. Like most Moms, when I was busy raising my kids a lot of things had to be put on the back burner and now that Mandy has moved out, I'm sort of playing catch up.

    I've spent a lot of time and energy learning how to create this journal, I knew absolutely nothing about the web when I started here a year ago and I'd had to learn completely by trial and error.

     My digital camera has rekindled my love for photography, there's a lot to be said for the instant gratification that one gets from being able to shoot, download, edit, upload and post from home.

     Taking Photo Shop classes is starting to affect the way I see things, the way I post things. I'm so looking forward to the intermediate classes that start on Thursday!

    Dreamweaver class started tonight, it was so awesome. I have not had the luxury of time needed over the years to take classes, this one is going to be so much different that the Photo Shop class.

    The classes are held at a local High School, it's part of a community enrichment program that the school system here offers at night. Tonight's class was filled with quick, knowledgeable people more my own age, 30's and 40's, as opposed to the delightful beginners in my Photo Shop class who were mostly artsy folks in there 60's &70's. BTW, that's a photo of my school that you see in the collage above.

     The web design class may prove to be a bit of a challenge, it's possible that I may end up having trouble keeping up with the crowd, but not tonight:-) My experience here with journals is paying off and I'm really looking forward to getting familiar with the program.

     In the 2 hours that the class of 18 or so spent together tonight, there were already bonds beginning to be built and ideas being bounced around, I've missed that. We even had an opportunity to discuss the further needs of an advanced class. It looks like we are leaning towards marketing as the next course the instructor may create for us after we complete the basics here! Should be interesting.

     The classes that I am most looking forward to taking part in however, are the ones that will be offered at the face and body painting convention I'll be going to at the end of May. I have never had any real art instruction although in my sister's party decorating business we find ourselves surrounded by creative mediums of every kind. 

     The clown you see above is my friend Karen. She is not in full costume and makeup in that photo but it's the only clown photo I can find of her right now. Karen teaches Clown University, she has helped many of the clowns in this area to get started by teaching them to apply their makeup, create there costumes and personalities and of course, to face paint. If I do decide to take up face painting after the classes, I doubt that I would choose to dress as a clown,  but you've gotta admit ...  those shoes are pretty cool!

     Karen and I work together and we are both going to the convention, I'm so looking forward to the costumes, the paint instruction, the ball and mostly just spending a full 4 days away from home with such a large group of artsy folks.

     Oh yeah, the silly chicken above is a bubblegum egg laying, wind up that I gave to my friend Dave at work yesterday. Dave is Jewish and I thought he might appreciate such a novel little Easter treat, yep the chicken walks around ejecting colorful egg shaped gumballs from his butt ... anyone care for a cackle berry?

                                        *** Coy ***