This summer on Orkney was another successful experience. For the first time, I held one-day workshops for island residents. I have never had a studio so filled with excitement as I did in July. Everyone seemed to be discovering some individual nuance about the white line woodprint technique that would aid them in other types of work.

Here are some of the comments:

"I am going to use this method to create my holiday cards!"

Gloria Wallington discovered many new ideas during her workshop participation.

"This is going to help me simplify my compositions for painting."

"I am creating the view from my bedroom window overlooking the Stromness harbor, for I will miss it when I return to Germany."

"I have created one picture and find that I actually can create three from the one."

The folks that came as part of the Orkney Art Adventure that had been advertised in The Artist Magazine, Scottish Life, Art Times, and Manhattan Living among others, hailed from Calgary, Canada, Maine, Indiana, Oklahoma, Maryland and Manhattan. They all left their Orkney experience, wishing they could have stayed longer. Many have been in contact with me and have continued to work with their woodblocks.

The art exhibition held at the end of August in the studio at Woodwick House was well attended and received. Daisy Green was the last of the summer’s participants who stayed away a few days longer from her home in Maine and was terrific at demonstrating the technique to visitors. Due to her skill at sharing, it has become apparent that a workshop like this might appeal to the younger student as well.

So there may be a workshop next summer where an adult is required to bring along a student. Together they can work to handle the tools and have a shared creative and productive learning experience!