Forward!

I am stepping forward on a new project as the first month of 2013 closes.  

The only rules: use only the things I have on hand already - spend no money.   

Tissue lame and other leftovers from previous projects litter my work table.

My design is inspired by a Dover book of medieval graphics. 

Acrylic paints and Stewart Gill glitter paint on cardboard box.

Cardboard cutouts will embellish parts of the work.   

Here is a close up of the front of the creation (far from complete at this point).

 

Hope to complete this project by the end of the week.  I will reveal the finished product the first part of March, after the annual local wearable art show.  What are you making today?

Beads, A Love Affair

Beads have been a part of my life since I was old enough to make things.  Plastic Pop-It beads were the first, a gift from my Mother's Uncle Hans and his wife, Aunt Gladys. 

Eventually I began collecting glittering glass beads from everywhere I traveled.  I love using my beads in the art I make.

Seeds and bugles...

...lustrous iridescence...

...matte and shiny...

...all shapes and sizes.

Some seem to glow from within.  This one reminds me of candy.

You really can't have too many

or ever decide the best way to store them!

 My Mother and I have had many happy hours together making beads and sewing with them.

I love beads!  

Have a visit with The Fairy Yellow Bug Queen and check out some other interpretations of this week's drawing challenge, Beads.

Big Wishes for Tiny Woolf

Happy Birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to YOU!

Intermezzo

'...a composition which fits between other musical or dramatic entities, such as acts of a play or movements of a larger musical work.'

We find ourselves in an intermezzo, watching for 'Winter, Part II' under these mild grey skies of January.

  With the Sailor away, I am grateful for the rainy days rather than snow which involves constant shoveling or bitter cold with its scary ability to freeze my waterline and frost burn the ears of my outdoor cats, William Wallace, Thomas and Mr. Bertram.

I hope you enjoy these scenes from my Sunday afternoon walk on the beach north of my house.

Drawing Challenge: Crown

Crown: graphite and watercolor in 8x6 epsilon

The queen of the Drawing Challenge this week is Stefanie, who has chosen Crown as our subject.  Please drop over and pay homage to the other royalty of the art blog world, who are displaying their crowns at Stefanie's artful blog this weekend.

Fiberactions Challenge Details

Dynaflow color sample 1

Dynaflow color sample 2

Dynaflow color sample 3

Dynaflow color sample 4

Dynaflow color sample 5

My palette

'She Wore Her Rabbit Hat and Felt Confident' - Styrofoam plate print and Dynaflow textile paint on commercial cotton, 8.5" x 5.5"

I never take time to do much pre-planning when it comes to color, no mixing colors in advance, no color studies - but for the latest Fiberactions Challenge, that is exactly what I did.  You can see the two pieces I completed for the Challenge along with the other participants dynamic responses over at the Fiberactions Blog. 

My gelatin printmaking efforts have been making the move to fabric, which makes me glad, as I do so love stitching in addition to printing/painting.

'She Wore Her Rabbit Hat and Felt Confident, II' - intaglio technique gelatin print and Dynaflow textile paint on cotton, 8.5"x5.5"

Snake 88 DC

'Snake 88' pigma pen and prismacolor pencil in 8x6 'epsilon'

As those of you who know my work may understand, snakes are an important symbol of wisdom and power for me.  I enjoyed exploring their graphic possibilities in this drawing challenge brought to us by the talented and engaging Ariane, founder of the Drawing Challenge, of which this is No. 88.  Please make sure you drop over for a visit to more snakes at Ariane's beautiful blog.

Scene, Recently #32

On the Sunday beachwalk, we met Flossy's friend Cedar.

A mild couple of weeks has melted snow away, exposing tiny lichen and mosses atop old pilings.

A tiny shell was dropped in the moss.

Sentinel tree standing tall along the way to the beach.

Flossy and I wish you all a happy mid week. 

Daily Drawing and Gelatin Plates Comparison

'Owl Moon and Orange Cat' pigma pen and prismacolor in 8x6 'epsilon'

'Soul Tree' pigma pen and watercolor pencils in 8x6 'epsilon'

I got curious about how an old-school gelatin plate would print compared to the synthetic version so I cooked up a couple of plates and did a test drive.

The old-school plate has definite advantages in print quality especially in pulling ghost prints, but has to be refrigerated in between printing sessions and deteriorates over time. The Gellliplate is indestructible and seems to produce a crisper print although the ghosts are fainter.  Both the synthetic Gelliplate and the home made kind have secured a place in my studio's bag of tricks.  I am excited to begin printing on cloth soon.

Line It Up

New Year – 2013

Pay attention

Draw every day

Drink lots of water (Flossy strongly advises)

 Read a poet a month – start with William Blake

Laugh a lot

Line my actions up with my thinking

Line my thinking up with my beliefs

Shove God in there (thank you, Colleen)

Got resolutions?