I love visiting Linda and Tom at the After Midnight Art Ranch.  Their customized art retreats feature great food, amazing vistas and fabulous new friends.  The ranch is a perfect place to go and PLAY, relax, have fun.

Did you know you can customize your own retreat... What art form interests you?  I bet they teach it at the After Midnight Art Ranch!  Contact Linda to personalize an art retreat week created just for you... invite your friends to join or make new ones there.  Workshop enrollment is limited by design and you will be delighted with the one-on-one attention you receive.

When I arrived on Tuesday afternoon, the guest artists were in the middle of paper making activities.  Blenders whirling, water swishing, screens flashing, couch sheets, and ultimately the book press!  Papers were dried overnight and released to their owners the following day -- Ooh la la!

Wednesday we had a metal embossing marathon.  Copper bookmarks, “torched” of course!  Origami folds, handmade tassels and Pewter embellished concertina books.  Thank you Ann, Ann(e), Arlene and Sue for your enthusiasm and willingness to try your hand at Repujado, the fine art of Metal Embossing.  Your finished pieces are gorgeous and I know they will be enjoyed for many years to come.

Thursday was a bonus treat for me because Terry and Annette Medaris had arrived to teach Terry’s unique style of blending colored pencils.  Terry’s artwork is bright and colorful.  He designs his own rubber stamps and retails an amazing array of coloring books, bookmarks, magnets, etc.  I think his use of color is absolutely delicious.  Click HERE to see for yourself!

Speaking of delicious, I have to mention Tom!  Oops - not that Tom isn’t delicious, but his meals certainly are.  I hear there might even be an After Midnight Art Ranch cookbook in the works.  YUM.  Thank you Tom for feeding us all AND catering to our diet restrictions and chocolate addictions <wink>.

Friday, I waved goodbye to my new friends as they headed over to visit the After Midnight Art Ranch onsite store.  They were going to do a little shopping and then head out for a day of exploring; destinations to include nearby Patagonia, the Empire Ranch, a really cool and artsy junk yard, the Day of the Dead Museum, lunch at Viaggio Italiano, then on to Tubac and Buffalo Gals.  I wish I could have stayed another day and played on... sigh...

Photos courtesy of Arlene.  Thank you!