I arrived in Boone, North Carolina on Sunday driving from a night stay in Lexington, KY, through some of the most amazing areas. The colors were perfect but the tropical storm Nate was hitting hard and there were tornado warnings all evening. I however love a good storm and photographing rainy scenes, but I opted out of going around and taking pictures
as the storm Sunday night was howling and everything here is very hilly making me very nervous of driving on a wet stormy street.
Monday morning started out a little wet but soon turned into the most beautiful day and it wasn't just the weather making it a great day.
I drove to Cheap Joe's and as I turned the corner to go into their driveway/parking lot I came across the sign shown below, which welcomed the workshoppers and me, with my name
plastered on the front of the sign. Very welcoming and It only got better and better as the day went on.
I walked in early to set up and nobody was around for a couple of minutes and then Edwina the lady who runs the cheap Joe's workshops greeted me and told me all about the class and classroom.
The Classroom: is probably one of the best set-up for workshops I have ever had the pleasure of working at. If you can think of something that would make
a workshop space great, Cheap Joe's already has it.
Here is a list of things that Cheap Joe's has for their workshops:
- every students get their own art table and chair and you can adjust it to work low or high.
- a young man helped everyone carry in their supplies into class from parking lot
- the workshop area is a huge space with separate demo area and kitchen area
- huge tv screen to show teachers demonstrations and teachings... with
remote adjusting camera
- the biggest art store you can imagine connected to the classroom
- huge lunch for everyone brought into classroom at noon
- Joe Miller personally greets everyone one by one in class before the start of workshop
- everyone in class got a raffle gift of some kind of art supply
- free watercolor water buckets for all students (love this bucket with 2 compartments for water)
- extensive gallery with some amazing paintings from very well
known artists
- super friendly staff to help with any of your needs and wants
All this and it was only the first day
I highly recommend, if you get a chance to take a workshop, to take one at Cheap Joe's. You will not be disappointed. I give Cheap Joe's a 5 star rating for everything!
David
