Cat Toys

While the Christmas tree was up in our house, The Cats found that low-hanging ornaments made great play-things.  When the tree disappeared, they went back to fighting each other.  

Bert and William Wallace ready to fight

 We decided they needed a toy of their own, and I created the Squidoctopus.

Squidoctopus

 

 

 

 The Squidoctopus is enormously popular...

Thomas relaxes with Squiddy-boy

William Wallace acting like a kitten with the Squidoctopus

cat toy designs - watercolor and pigma pen in 6x8 sketchbook

 

...I plan to make some more cat toys someday soon. 

And the winner is...

Thanks to all who left a comment on my first give away post last week.  The prize will be going to blogger and artist extraordinaire, Zom.  Thanks as well to all of you, new readers and long-time friends, who follow Flossy and I as we trudge the art trail. 

 

Today was extremely cold here again (it's January in Alaska, right?), but in my studio things were cookin'.   I started two new pieces, and bubbled with ideas for more.  It was one of those getting happily lost in the process days.  I am using a commercial batik for one and a commercial quilter's cotton for the base of the other, and applying textile paints with my rubber stamps as well as stencils, screen prints and brushes - creating chaos which I am bringing my own version of order to.  I will stitch this work eventually.

 

Here's a random picture of my work table mid-day.

I want to recommend a smashing read, 'A Game of Thrones'.  I just started the book but find myself thinking about the characters - and the world the author has created - when I am not reading.  What are you reading this month?

Daily Drawing

pigma pen, watercolor and gouche in 9x6 sketchbook

pigma pen and watercolor in 9x6 sketchbook

pigma pen and watercolor in 9x6 sketchbook

Recently I am enjoying using watercolor in my daily drawings, usually putting down the color first and then responding to those forms with my pen.  Doing anything different with your work today?

Don't miss out on our first-ever Give-away.  Leave a comment on the January 12 post - I am drawing the winner tomorrow.

Anchorage

I spent the past few days up here in Anchorage, Alaska attending an arts and culture conference put on by our State Arts Council.

A moose browses on bark right next to a busy street.

The theme of the conference was building creative communities.  Outstanding presenters included Ben Cameron of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Milenko Matanovic of the Pomegranate Center, and Carole Coletta of ArtPlace.  You have to check these organizations out.  There is so much hope for a better world through co-operation and collaboration in the arts!

Anchorage, -7 degrees F (-22 C) at 4pm

Big icicles hung from the eaves of this house.

There was lots of information about how artists have been collaborating with others in their communities to create gathering spaces; about the changing role of artists and how that can bring positive change to our aching world.

 

I met artist friends both old and new in the workshops.  It was a great conference. 

 

I fly home tomorrow, full of inspiration and fired up to get back in the studio.  Hope you are having a good weekend.

Give Away – Our First!

We at Flying Dog Studio (Flossy and I) want to include our Bloggish friends in celebrating our second Bloggiversary by having a little give away – our first-ever!  

Flossy hopes you will comment.

Here’s how it will work: leave us a comment on this post telling us what keeps you coming back to visit us.  Or you can just say hello.  Next week – January 19 – I will do a random number draw and the commenter with the winning number will receive in the mail…

...this little image I made with cotton fabric, procion dye and acrylic paint.  It’s mounted on mat board, all ready to frame or hang like it is.  The piece is about 6x8 inches, and the title is ‘Intercession’.

Thank you to our readers, followers, neighbors and friends in Blogland and beyond – here’s to another year of widened horizons!