What do you do when your very best good buddy HAS to cancel her attendance at the Lewistown Watercolor Workshop? 

Why, you put on your thinking-cap, and you create 'Flat Nancy'.

Due to ill health, Nancy Cane Beelman, past President and Ex Officio Board Member, had to cancel a trip she had been looking forward to for an entire year. Kris Shaw and Vicky Campbell were in denial, and JUST COULDN'T
deal with her absence, so they got some cardboard, newsprint, and markers, and came up with a two-dimensional version of their favorite artist/friend.
It was life-sized, and they used a photocopy of a snapshot of Ms. Beelman to create a life-sized face. Flat Nancy was clad in her favorite elastic-waisted denim pants (the ones Nancy ALWAYS wears to workshops), and a nifty backpack (manila envelope) completed her smart ensemble.

'Flat Nancy ' was quite a hit at the workshop, and she was included in ALL the usual activities:  the mixer/social, painting, lunch, pajama party (complete with pillow fight), a shower, AND the all important banquet.
People at the Yogo Inn were familiar with 'Flat Nancy' by the end of the weekend, as they observed her being carried all over the motel and workshop during the festivities.

Each artist in attendance had an opportunity to autograph 'Flat Nancy' before her road trip back to Missoula, where she was presented to Ms.Beelman by her good friend, Vickie Johnson, as a fond remembrance from all her artist friends who missed her attendance at Gordon's Zuelke's Lewistown Workshop.  We have many snapshots to commerate our wonderful weekend with 'Flat Nancy'.  It was nice having her there, but nothing could ever compare to spending the weekend with the One and Only, Original Nancy Beelman.  I think that 'Flat Nancy' was a wonderful experience and remembrance for Ms.Nancy, as well as for her artist friends at the workshop.