Jill Berry Blog

living the creative life

Oh hi! to Ojai and spring off to Springfield

Posted on April 26, 2008 - Filed Under Uncategorized

September 24-28, 2008 I wander off to California to teach at a new venue called Artful Living, which is a victorian house on a quaint street near a beautiful B&B in a cutie pie of a town called Ojai (I am normally not much for cute, but I make an exception here). Ojai is outside of Santa Barbara, which is north of Los Angeles. I grew up in Orange County, raised by the only Democrat within many miles, and we vacationed in Ojai in 1964, when I was seven. Coincidentally Mary Poppins was released that summer, and I saw it at the Ojai theatre seven times. I also sailed high on my uncle’s broad shoulders off the diving board of the community pool and saw the entire world, and my life, pass by quickly. Those are my memories of Ojai. Oh yes, and the apple cider, and the cuteness. It appears that cuteness remains a strong selling point for Ojai. Leslie A. Westbrook from the SF Chronicle describes it well: “Ojai excels as an oasis of tranquility. Rural setting for ‘Shangri-La” offers peace, ‘pink moments.” I’m pretty excited about the pink moments, I think you see one here. 

In Ojai we will be doing two days of painting paper with everything but the kitchen sink. Then we will transition into Artists’ books for three more days. In three days you can make one book, or lots of books. I seem to always veer in the “lots” direction since art and being surrounded by artists energizes me. So, if you come, be tanned, rested and ready.I am teaching a similar class in Springfield, Illinois at the Prairie Art Alliance also in September 12-14. In this case it is three days, and eight books plus painting up a storm. This is a very impressive place that began as a Women’s Art Alliance. They have everything there in the way of outreach, exhibits and workshops. And of course, Springfield is the home of Abraham Lincoln, so while Ojai will win for cute and pink, Springfield wins for presidential relevance and red white and blue.    

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