Chasing Down the Muse: October is a month to celebrate

“Celebrate what you want to see more of.”

— Thomas J. Peters

Thirty days hath September — where did those days go? How can it already be October? What happened to September anyway?

On a beautiful morning walk with a cloudless crayon-blue sky overhead, the sea below was clear and inviting with its depths of various azure hues. Birds sang out overhead, mingling with the shouts of people at play on the beach.

The days seemed made for celebration. Celebrate October. Celebrate autumn. Celebrate our beautiful coast. Celebrate nature. Celebrate life.

One such celebration that will arrive “before you can say Jack Robinson” is the two-year anniversary of Laguna’s own Sawdust Studio Art Classes. This collaboration between the Sawdust Art Festival and Laguna Visitors and Conference Bureau has been a bumpy, thrilling ride. The dream is ever-growing and far from fully realized, but, oh baby, it’s come far.

In the beginning, it was a program of ceramics and jewelry classes designed to offer something for visitors to our art community.

For the celebration on Saturday, there are a total of eight classes in various disciplines — ceramics, jewelry making, oil painting and fused glass. It will be a celebration indeed.

The dreams and goals for the program are many and extend far beyond the basic program, for which the coveted Art Star award for collaboration was awarded this past April.

The program just wrapped up a full month of glassblowing classes. Kids’ pottery wheel classes continue through October. November adds digital photography and PhotoShop classes. We have a lot to celebrate.

The basic design of the Sawdust Studio Art Classes is two-hour classes in which students create one-of-a kind pieces of art to wear or share. Utilizing the best of instruction with master artisans, the program is able to accomplish the challenges of the two-hour class. I am constantly amazed by the beautiful, original pieces that come out of these small classes.

Because all tools and materials are provided, it is also a wonderful opportunity to try one’s hand at a new art form without the inherent costs usually associated with that enterprise.

I know it’s beginning to sound a bit like a commercial break here, but, as with most celebrations, sharing is a big part of it. So, if you’re around this Saturday, take a class with us or just come see what we are about. Classes are at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Go to https://www.sawdustartfestival.org/studio-classes for more information.

As the often sage Oprah Winfrey said, “The more you celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” And the mockingbird just outside my window seems to be shouting it out to all. Let the celebrations begin.

CHERRIL DOTY is an artist, writer and director of the Sawdust Studio Art Classes in Laguna Beach. Always fascinated, inspired, and titillated by the beauty and the ever-changing mysteries of life, she can be reached at cherril@cherrildoty.com or by phone at (714) 745-9973.