When I rearranged my schedule to fit in a workshop by Donna Watson, I was really wondering whether I had the time. I cancelled two long-standing appointments, clearing two days of commitments in what was already a busy week, gathered supplies, and hoped for the best.

Well, you know how this goes: of COURSE it was worth it! Not only did I gain insight into how an artist I admire builds her body of work, I connected with a new network of fellow creatives.

• Lynn Hanson, our host and my gallerist, added Donna to her roster this year, features her work this month, and encouraged not only the workshop, but my attendance. Thanks, Lynn!
• Sharon Grader, an EDGE participant with Lynn & I, makes such beautiful encaustic art, and worked right beside me. Wonderful to see her again, and to watch her compositions come together.
• Nina O’Neil, another of Lynn’s artists, was behind me, and like me, has a prior technology career.  And what a sense of color!
• Sheri Jacobson was there, and I own one of her pieces! What an honor to not only meet, but work alongside her.
• Meegan McKiernan has a studio near mine in Ballard. I predict artist lunches in the near future.
• Martha Hurst had never collaged before, or so she claims. You wouldn’t have known it from her work.
• Patty McNamee is a familiar face from openings at Lynn’s gallery, and due to her interest in genealogy and French-Canadian relatives, yes, we are indeed distant cousins!
• Diane Fisher came all the way from Santa Fe, where she gets to work on the wonderful gallery-filled Canyon Road. She was delightful, and we all want to go visit her!

That is some serious serendipity! Now, while I go off to ponder the actual content of the workshop, wabi-sabi compositions — and catch up on errands, I’m warmed by the thought of these 8 other artists doing the same thing, and looking forward to bumping into any of them again. Want to join a workshop? Keep an eye on Donna’s future workshops here, and Lynn’s gallery workshops here.