Sunday, February 28, 2010

Feb 28th Art Journal - Endless Possibilities

Endless Posibilities - that's what is out there for us. Try new things and never say no (unless it's illegal!)
"Lucky breaks seem to happen to people who make things happen"  - Chuck Campbell

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Feb 25rd Art Journal ~ The Chance of Rain

I AM THE CHANCE OF RAIN  ~  Art Journals are a place where I can keep the things I want to remember, like the verse from the Switchfoot song. I'm the only one who was moved by these words, or the only one that I know of, so I've recorded it in this journal to remember.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Feb 22, 2010 Bird Head Mask ~ B&W

Another Black & White Mask drawing. Where do these ideas come from - do I really want to know?

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Feb 20, 2010 Hare Head Mask Drawing ~ B&W

We're not snowed in anymore - but I still can't use my studio!!!! The AWESOME SNOWBLOWER has taken up temporary residence in the garage . . . and my studio is in the garage. It is soooooooo Cold in there . . . and I can't use the gas heater because of the gas cans for the snowblower . . . so I can't work in there for more that 20 minutes. Still - I HAVE TO MAKE ART! Drawing it is! Pen & Ink and Colored Pencils.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Feb 19th Atlered Book ~ Art Journal

THREE BLIND MICE  This journal page was an exercise in leaving the already printed words unpainted and part of the message. I covered the words, "Thre Blind Mice" with a post-it and painted the rest of the page. When you remove the post-it, the printed words become part of the art.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Feb 16th Art Journal

Some days everything is perfect - the creativity muse is there, I can find all my supplies, the phone doen't ring, etc - but on those other days, when nothing works out the way you planned - and we've all been there - this journal page is for that day!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Feb 12, 2010 Art Journal ~ Altered Book

I worked with a lovely woman named Irene a few years back. She passed away unexpectedly - what a shock.
My last memory of her was the story she told of how she met her husband, and how well they danced together - she danced through the store as if she were in the arms of her husband . . . what a memory!
on this journal page I used angels.
See how personal these pages can be.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Feb10 - More Snow Snow Snow Snow

More Snow on top of the 30 inches we already have. I don't know how you all in upstate New York or Norway or the North Pole can stand living with snow every day. I prefer two or three weeks between the downfalls. I can't even work in my studio - which is located in the garage - a very cold garage - now inhabited by the awesome snowblower! So - I have been drawing with ink and colored pencils, here in the toasty  warm house -
dreaming of SPRING!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Feb 9.2010 Art Journal & Paste Paper

I dug out one of my old journals for a little inspiration and nostagic meandering. I used a quote from a Harry Potter book on this page from 2005 - lots of fabulous stuff in the "Potter" books. I glued some squares of left over paste paper I had made. Paste paper is gobs of fun but you need a whole day for uninterrupted pasting and lots of room to spread out for the drying. That's why I saved these pasted gems in my journal, I might never paste paper again! 

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Snowed in Saturday

SNOWED IT and loving it!!
I don't have to go anywhere, not that I could if I wanted to. Everything is so bright and clean - in the front yard - the back yard has yellow snow!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Feb 4, 2010 Art Journal


Feb 4th       One of my 2010 goals is to create an Art Journal. I've done this before using the "Altered Book" format. I love Altered Books - lots of paste and paint and ephemera (found junk). And for all you book lovers, I use books that are going to be trashed anyway - just give them a new life! There really is no market for altered books, so I am only doing them for myself just for the fun of it. I use all my left over paint and paper that doesn't have a home, but I can't bare to part with it. And the most fun - I use it as a repository for the words and phrases that have no other place to say what they have to say.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Feb 3 ~ Creativity is Limitless

Feb 3rd  ~  Creativity is Limitless



. . . “Your gift is limitless . . . the Universe is at your disposal . . . you just have to be open to possibility and the Law of Attraction”


Without realizing it, I have been changing my art to work within the limitations of my body. I discovered Abstract or Non-Representational Art when I took an experimental water-media class. I don’t have to worry about the teeny realistic details I can no longer see, or the discomfort of holding a pen for hours, or standing at the easel until my knees are the size of grapefruits! I mix it up – a little abstract, a little realism, I stand and sit, I paint with a sponge and glue with my fingers!

The gift will always be here.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Feb 2 Groundhog Day in PA!!

ANOTHER 6 WEEKS OF WINTER !!
So - today is Groundhog Day - a regulare holiday in Pennsylvania. Tens of thousands of people travel to Punxsutawney before the sunrises. They have to park miles away and take shuttles into town. And from what I understand, the average Joe can't even get near enough to see if Phil can see his shadow. Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his warm burrow at about 7:30 am to greet the tens of thousands of people who have made the trek to Gobbler's Knob, outside of Punxsutawney, PA. If he sees his shadow, be prepared for six more weeks of winter weather. If there is no shadow to be found, then spring is just around the corner!

Monday, February 1, 2010

Feb 1, 2010 ~ Is Creativity Temporary?

Feb 1st
Is Creativity temporary?



I’m reading the “AFFLUENT ARTIST” and this question was asked . . . “What if your gift has an expiration date? . . . What if you are only given the gift temporarily? . . . How many painters became famous only after they died?”


How timely – I have been wondering this myself. It all started when I decided to make the bunny in the attached photo. I needed a model for some illustrations, and rather then buy one, I decided to make it. The bunny is no stranger; I made his sister 15 years ago, and still had the pattern and the material for him (you know how we artists like to save things forever).


So, I made the bunny – sew sew sew! I did not do this poor bunny any justice – his arms are upside down, that's only one of the problems. You would think it was the first time I had ever applied thread to fabric! But I do know how to sew; I’ve been sewing for 50 years! But in those 50 years, my eyes now require trifocals and my fingers ache from the arthritis and my back demands frequent breaks.


Back to the original question – I don’t think the gift is temporary – but I do believe our tools – our body – has an expiration date. I have to use my gift within the limitations of my poor ole’ bones.


2022

   Merry Christmas