Artist Residency Testimonials
“It's really been a lovely stay @souwester this week in Southern Washington. I have found myself forest bathing, taking hikes, strolls and meanderings with Lila and working away creating at the kitchen table of my vintage trailer. The theme in the past days I have found has been "Finish what you started." So I finished up four playful mixed media works that were begun in 2017 and finished up the drawing "Fish & Bread" that is for yet another wood engraving - I'd been working on this drawing on and off since January.””
“I spent the majority of my time sketching and photographing the peninsula, then returning to my enchanting trailer to paint formal compositions based on the sketches, photos, and my experience in that place.
My process and materials allowed me to capture characteristics that are unique to the peninsula. I was enamored by reflections in the wet sand; mist and fog blurring the horizon line; and the marshy fringes of the bay at low tide.”
What was the most memorable part of your residency?
“Immersed in nature sketching directly from the landscape. Studying the reflection of a gull in the water.”
— Karla Hambelton
“I spent time creating intentions for the residency even before I arrived. I wanted to bring forth a relaxed and slow-paced feeling, as my day to day life is very full with my day job, responsibilities as a mother and trying to maintain an art practice in the mix. Getting settled into my cabin, I created a routine for my days that would open myself creatively and create the rhythms I was looking for. I did some journaling and tarot card work to set my creative intentions for each day, spent time in the sauna and took walks down by the beach. I made time for creating my usual watercolor paintings to prime myself for exploring fabric paints on stitching cloth. As I started my fabric paintings I was excited to see my vision emerge and even more encouraged as I started to add the stitching parts. These works will take many months to complete, but my time at Sou'Wester was a great foundation for that work. The artistic environment, and being around other artists in their process was the ideal place to experiment and see what would come forth.”
What was the most memorable part of your residency?
"The feeling of being out in the sauna garden with the birds singing and the sunshine coming through the trees. The sauna was a big part of my artistic process and reminded me of time I spent traveling in Finland last spring.”
— Megan Roseman
“Thank you @souwester @souwesterarts for creating a beautiful residency environment. I'm very grateful for the time and space to rest, recover, and get into the flow... thank you.”
“Some cropped & filtered moments from artist residencies at @souwesterarts last year.
Spent so much of the year writing here. And taking Willow for hours-long walks on the beach, finding movies we loved as kids on VHS, listening to cool/ weird old records, and making mac & cheese on the little camp stoves.”
“Checking in from #writingretreat in Southwest Washington. This is my second time staying at the @souwester for an artist residency, and I'm already thinking about the next trip!
10/10, would recommend.”
“Remembering how to look and play here during my @souwesterarts residency. Not taking any bit of it for granted.”
“One of my favorite weeks of the year - when we get to escape up to Long Beach, Washington in August for the Washington International Kite Festival with our friends Megan & Jesse.
We stay at the @souwester - and this year we booked The JCPenny as our humble home for the week. Swipe through to check out how cute it was! We had lots of space to entertain in the front and play dominos or toss the pig. We also booked the private sauna/wellness garden for an hour each day to unwind and relax”
“I spent last week at @souwester for an artist residency and I'm missing it already. I spent the grey rainy days sleeping, reading, sketching, drinking coffee on a balcony, laying out a book, laying on my yoga mat, and learning to coil-build vessels. It was dreamy and healing.
Gratitude to @souwester, @ilwacoartworks, & @t.stefanski for the time/space/inspiration”
“Time at @souwester to create and move to a different rhythm has been such an important aspect of my creative process the past few years. Cleared my mind with time in the cedar sauna, cups of tea, and listening to old records. In the busy rush of many of my days, there isn't room to just sit and let my mind wander. But here I make space for staring at pretty flowers, watching waves roll onto the sand and listening to birds chirping as I gaze at the light shining through the leaf canopy. Such precious, sweet moments.”
“Finished a residency at @souwester, WA. An amazing time and wonderful people there! Plein air painted everyday, exploring different flora and light. Thanks for the amazing opportunity!
“This Artist Residency at Sou'Wester Lodge in Seaview, WA, has been restorative and productive for me in all the ways. I booked the Red Room, which is the perfect atmosphere for writing. I have not only met but exceeded my writing goal for the week, and I have taken daily walks by the sea as well. The staff are friendly and helpful, and every object here has been carefully curated. I have had some great seafood meals in town, from casual to upscale, and I've had a chance to get to know this ecosystem a bit better, with its moss on trees, strange bird calls, and dewey sunlight. I'm in love, and I would definitely return here for another residency. I cannot recommend this experience enough!”
— Irene
