Aaron Westerberg Workshop – Scottsdale, AZ – Day 2

Aaron Westerberg

Today I want to reflect on yesterday, my travel day and all the things that went right and all the things that did not go so well.

In the positive pile:

My flight on Southwest Airlines was as smooth as butter.   Unlike my last trip to California, this flight left and landed right on time.   Because of the California workshop I promised myself that I would fly Southwest whenever possible.   Southwest is much more reliable than any other airline that I have flown and it does not charge for baggage or to change your reservation.  (Southwest is not paying me to say this, I promise)  An extra day before a workshop also allows me to relax, organize my paint supplies and figure out where the workshop is, how I will get there each day and where the nearest art supply store is in case I need to pick up something during the workshop.

In the, “maybe I want to rethink that” pile:

I stayed  up too late last night.   I was thinking about everything under the sun, but mostly Aaron’s class.  OK, both things I just said are true, but the real reason I couldn’t fall asleep was because I didn’t have my transitional object.  When I was young I needed my favorite stuffed animal or blanky to fall asleep.  Now, Neil, my husband is my blanky that helps me fall asleep.  Because I had so much trouble falling asleep, I didn’t get up until almost noon.  This is not a good way to start this workshop.

My carry on bag was too big.

The Carry On Bag

The carry on bag that I chose for this trip is a short squatty rectangular Swiss Army

Scottsdale Artists’ School

bag.  I should admit that I love and am constantly experimenting with luggage.   I really liked this bag when I bought it last year because it had a lot of zippered pockets.  The problem is that it barely fits under airline seats and leaves zero room for feet or anything else and if God forbid I over pack the bag, it doesn’t fit under the seat at all.  50% of the problem is the bag and 50% of the problem is because I packed too much stuff in the bag.  I am learning that I don’t need everything I bring.  I need to think about what I actually need to pull out of my carry on bag during the flight.   I just made a list of the 6,452 items I brought in my carry on.  Well, maybe I did not bring that many things, but I did bring way too many items that I really did not need to carry on the plane.  After giving it a lot of thought, I have determined that the below list of items I really do need to pack in my carry on bag.
laptop – 1001 reasons to carry it on.

My iPad – I have a great drawing program so I don’t need to bring a sketchbook or pencils.

iPhone – I can’t function without it.

A single charger that has a connection for both my  iPhone and computer – dead electronics are useless.

Glasses – I can’t read a thing without them.

My wallet – I can’t buy a thing without money.

A night gown, undies and a light sundress in case I get stranded. –  This has actually happened to me.

My Garmin GPS – It lets me function like a native as soon as I rent my car.

Grapes, cheese, sliced apples, crackers and a water that I buy in the airport. –  No I am not that healthy.  I always get a chocolate something when I have to make a connecting flight, because the flight food is always horrible.

Headphones – This keeps the other passengers on my row from hating me.

Camera – I take photos of everything.

A little makeup bag with lipstick and small items I may need on the plane, like gum, a pen etc.

A cashmere cardigan sweater. – I get cold a lot on planes and in air conditioned airports.

This is still a lot of stuff, but substantially less than I used to pack in my carry on bag.

Scottsdale, AZ

I ordered art supplies online from Cheap Joes Art Supplies a week and a half before the class and requested that they be delivered directly to the hotel.  When I checked into the hotel, the box of supplies had not yet arrived.  I checked again today and they still are not here.  I called their 800 number and they were closed.  Hmmmmm, this is not good.  I have never ordered from them before.  Fortunately, I packed in my check through luggage a small canvas, a few brushes and a small set of oil paints.  I decided to drive to an art supply store and pick up another canvas, oil and turpentine.  That way I would have enough supplies and canvases for 2 days in case the online order still does not come.

I am in luck!  It turns out Scottsdale has a lot of artists and art supplies.  Who knew?  Oh yea, I just remembered that Scottsdale houses that whole Georgia O’Keeffe and the Stieglitz gang.

To sum up the day:  I reflected, got organized, got unpacked, went sightseeing, went shopping  did a dry run to the school and basically had a fun easy day.  Now I am really ready for the first day of class!

Arizona Art Supply – Great store with very knowledgeable staff.