Will you join me in Italy? A new retreat style workshop is on the books for 2026.
I am so thrilled to partner with Italiana Tours for a paper centered retreat in Urbino, Italy. Piero Pagliardini and I collaborated to create a fabulously interesting week for both paper lovers and their companions.
This immersive retreat-style workshop is designed to guide participants through a transformative creative journey, facilitating an opening of the heart-sense and intuitive awareness. Through discussions and demonstrations, you will discover innovative ways to allow the inherent qualities, textures, and characteristics of various materials to naturally guide the creative process and take the lead in developing unique compositions.
All the details are at the link in my bio.
#artworkshops #papersculpture #papersculptureworkshop
#artworkshopitaly #karenolsonphotography
Recently took a paper dye class from @plants_and_color with @studioslowlane
which, by the way, was wonderful!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge Jacqui.
This is my first trial on paper with natural dye from @maiwa_naturaldyes
Have to say I am in love with chestnut on hanji and also the tannin blend. Each paper takes the dye so differently.
I imagine these as book pages. Excitedly brainstorming.
#naturaldye #creativeprocess
Playing with paper lace today. I made this lace almost two years ago. Little by little pieces have become sculptures. It’s always a bit of a quandary until all of a sudden it works.
#papersculpture #paperlace #karenolsonphotography #studioday
My new photographic print series ‘Cultivating the Heart Sense’ is complete. A direct link to the series of 14 images and artist statement is in my bio.
Curating work for a series is always an interesting process.It is important that every one can stand on its own yet talks to the others in the group. One must be completely unattached to individual pieces.
That being said, I think this image, ‘Equilibrium,’ is my favorite.
Research on the topic of cultivating the heart sense continues. A short paper for my harvest project for Forest Therapy Guide certification is in the works.
#cultivatingtheheartsense #karenolsonphotography #mainephotographer #maineartist #fineartphotography
Yūgen
Meaning: A Japanese concept describing a deep awareness or something subtly profound.
Wall sculpture, pigment print on kozo paper, beeswax, handmade embossed abaca paper, washi paper, earth pigments, pva, handmade gampi cord
#papersculpture #wallsculpture #karenolsonphotography
Words for today.
Reconnect with your wild side!
Together, we can build a beautiful partnership with nature, discovering fresh ways to weave our personal stories together with the natural world. When we open our hearts to this journey, something truly wonderful happens — we create a beautiful dance between ourselves and nature. A harmonic relationship begins to emerge.
Join me this September at Fiber College for Touchstone Retreat!
https://makersguildmaine.org/fiber-college/touchstones-workshops/paper-making-2/
#papermaking #papersculpture #karenolsonphotography #fibercollege #maineartworkshop #touchstoneretreats2025
Subtle patterns - a slight shift in focus.
#sheholdsourstories #papersculpture #karenolsonphotography
A new series is on the table! Going to take a bit of work to get the printing just right but I have narrowed it down to 14 images.
These works are composites of captured hand painted works and intimate landscape photography.
‘Cultivating the Heart Sense’ - Project statement coming soon.
#karenolsonphotography #fineartphotography
I have something exciting to share! For the last few months I have been training with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides. It has been a fascinating journey that has very much informed…well everything!!
I have reached the point where I am ready to begin guiding forest therapy walks. I am offering two group walks and 2 individual walks in a virtual setting which will help fulfill my certification requirements. These walks will be free of charge with the request of written feedback.
Forest therapy helps people reconnect and form meaningful relationships with themselves, their communities, and nature through guided experiences. It is a relational practice characterized by a heart centered approach. This approach awakens our understanding of the inherent ability to be present in our bodies and connect with our intuition and imagination.
If you are keen to do join me, please see the link in my bio “Guided Forest Therapy Walks” or visit the link below.
https://www.karenolsonphotography.com/guided-forest-therapy-walks
The page will give you all the details. Two individual walks are offered on a first come first serve basis. You may schedule a walk at your convenience. The group walks are on February 3rd and 7th.
I would love it if you could make time to help me practice this important work.
#foresttherapywalks #relationalforesttherapy #natureconnection
I’ve been making boxes. Contemplating containers. I am pretty sure something needs to go inside but I am not at all sure what.
#wildpapers #papercontainers #contemplation
Touchstone Retreat is open for registration!
Super excited for this year’s workshop with the theme “Connect With Your Wild Side!”
During our retreat, we will harvest sustainable plants from the edges of the landscape and from the garden for art-making. We will learn to make paper from these materials and discover how to determine whether a plant is suitable for making strong paper. Using our wet sheets and pulp, we will learn to sculpt, emboss, cast, and incorporate natural fibers to create three-dimensional works of art. Many techniques for sculpting dry papers will be explored. Dyes and pigments will be on hand to color your paper. A selection of commercially available fibers and Japanese papers will also be available to add to your creations or to digitally print if you desire.
Looking forward to seeing you Searsport, Maine, September 3-7, 2025
Link to register in bio
https://makersguildmaine.org/fiber-college/touchstones-workshops/paper-making-2/
Scenes from last year’s retreat captured by @capturedbyshobiec and yours truly.
#touchstoneretreats2025 #papersculpture #papermaking #maineartworkshop #karenolsonphotography #fibercollege #fiberworkshop
Studio update - Continuing to work on ‘She Holds Our Stories.’ The breath and concept of this project keeps evolving. Simple forms with complex texture seems to be the majority of what is coming up.
In the meantime, a new project is taking precedence and requires my complete attention. This is the first time I find myself working on two projects at the same , each with their complex thought process and back story. It’s a good thing it is winter and I have a little quiet space for a few weeks.
Something to note for mentoring sessions. I will be taking a studio break for travel from the end of February to late March. Booking is currently available until February 20th.
#sheholdsourstories #karenolsonphotography #handmadepaper #papersculpture
Registration will be opening soon for this year’s Touchstone Retreat at Fiber College in Searsport, Maine. The focus this September will be handmade paper and sculpture from plants. We will be foraging and working with plants from the garden and the landscape. I am so excited to share this process with you! It will be a truly restorative and grounding experience.
Wild tending is a beautiful thing!!
The dates are September 3rd to 7th. Get on the list for the newsletter to be the first to know.
Hint: Last year’s workshop sold out in a week.
#maineartworkshop #papermakingworkshop #papersculpture #papermaking #fiberart #fiberworkshopMaine #touchstoneretreats2025 #fibercollege
Three notes to self at the top of my to do list.
What is my adventure for today?
Self coach rather than self judge.
How can I introduce a sense of playfullness in my work today?
This idea of playfullness always shows up when I get out the pigments, the inks, and my new playful partner Kakishibu (Japanese persimmon dye). First play date with the dye and an experiment with Shinto on handmade paper was very successful.
Playfullness is my word for 2025. Going to try and remember to pull in this concept when life feels a bit heavy.
What do you think of when you hear this word?
Instead of a 2024 recap I thought I would offer up a funky sculpture montage. Because, you know, life can be a bit funky sometimes.
It was a great exercise, trying to make sense of random wet sculpted hosta paper. The dried pieces were very dense and hard. In the end I found interlocking pieces that fit perfectly together. A little addition of shredded prints and there you have it!
Sometimes it’s great to make something that makes no sense at all!
#papersculpture #itmakesnosense #funkyart
Caught in a daydream of impatiens and pine.
#paperlace #papersculture #karenolsonphotography
Knee deep in black water and cattails. Good thing I have my mud boots on! Foraging for fibers for next years Touch Stone Retreat @fibercollege
Happening next September, registration opens soon. This year we’ll take a deeper dive into papermaking with plants and using those fibers for sculpture.
#touchstoneretreats #papermakingwithplants #papermakingworkshop #maineartretreat
My favorites so far of the Himalayan Balsam Lace sculptures. Calling these “Family Portraits” no’s 1,2, and 3.
“Sensory experiences facilitate a heart-centered connection where we realize that we are intrinsically a part of the life all around us. We have chemistry together! We are family!”
#sheholdsourstories #karenolsonphotography #papersculpture
