A Dream Come True: Type Camp

Ever since I took a summer book arts workshop at Penland School of Crafts in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, I've been a huge proponent of art camps. It works like this: you go to some incredibly beautiful—often times remote—location, stay in a charming cabin, eat healthy food prepared by someone else, and take workshops in the media of your choice during the day. There is usually lots of studio time and blissfully quiet down time to contemplate the beauty of nature when one is not working in the studio (although, strangely, inspiration comes easy at art camp, so studio time fills a good portion of the day and night).

Little Iain and I accompanied Jeff to Anderson Ranch when Iain was a mere three months old. Even though I wasn't taking a workshop, it was fantastic to soak up some of the positive vibe at Anderson Ranch, which is one of the swankier art camps around.

However, just when I thought I knew about all the good art camps, I stumbled upon the ultimate camp for graphic designers: Type Camp on spectacular Galiano Island in British Columbia. I'm thinking summer of 2009: a family vacation in the gorgeous B.C. wilderness (posh cabins are as wild as I get) with mommy geeking out on type for a week. A dream come true.

Iain's First Trip to Art Camp, 2005: near Anderson Ranch, Snowmass, Colorado