I love this saying ," Where flowers bloom so does hope"
This beautiful piece was sent to me by Denise, my challenge partner.
It is so unusual because the canvas is covered with plaster, then cracked,
and painted. As shown here, she used the compliments red and green, with black and white.
It is fun to meet new artist from all over the world and see how they are using their creativity.
These journals measure 31/2 inches by 7 inches. They are perfect to write favorite quotes,
or those very special happenings that you want to remember. They would even be good for those profound statements that the kids come up with. I gave our daughters and daughter-in-laws one for Mother's Day. My daughter said that she wrote what she did on Mother's Day that year, and every year thereafter. It will be a little treasure for her daughter in years to come. I covered heavy mat board with various collage and oriental papers, made pages out of rice paper with a vellum tab, and embellished the front. They are all different, and fun to make. You do need one of those fancy punches to make the holes, or you could drill a hole with your Dremel. I used the punch.
This is the artwork I mailed out to Denise in NJ. The challenge was sponsored by Louise Gale .
We were to use 2 complimentary colors, plus black and white if needed, and it had to have something to do with blooms, leaves, etc.
I chose Quinacrodome Violet and Lemon yellow. I knew that could make a pretty green.
I tried my hand at "negative painting", which was fun, and I think it turned out pretty nice.
Denise was pleased with her gift. I am looking forward to receiving mine.
This is one of the encaustic pieces that I took to the "Mixed Messages" show.
It is actually a love letter from my husband that I had kept in a trunk.
After melting the wax on a warming tray, I then laid the letter on it. The wax soaked right into the paper. When it was dry I folded it carefully and tied it with a ribbon that had been dipped in wax also, and added a feather. It is mounted on a canvas board that had been collaged and waxed, and then all was mounted on a painted board. I think the wax adds to the mystique, and it was a little different than my usual creations.
Our" Mixed Messages" show last night was a lot of fun, and enjoyed by many. We had face painting for Mardi Gras, beads, and love messages on the napkins, and love letters placed around Artisan's Gallery.
The "wall of messages" was inspired by a show at The Blanton Museum in Austin; we drew, painted, and wrote on old book pages and music sheets. There were shrines, collage pieces, and funky jewelry inspired by "Steampunk".
Several months ago artists here in town were ask to submit art that depicted our city, for a banner project.
Many of these were chosen to be made into canvas banners that hung all around the downtown area for a few months. After they were taken down, the Arts and Culture Board presented them to a brand new school that will be used as a high school next year. We were invited to view the new school, and the hanging banners. I think it looks great, and such a good idea. My banner, above, is all about the many ducks that live over on the banks of the San Gabriel River. When we go to visit, they always look like they are having a parade. It is a collage, and if one of them looks like a pineapple, it's because it was, before it became a duck!
This morning started out well. Did my usual routine, had my oatmeal, gathered my art supplies and took
off down the freeway 35 miles to go to a workshop. Well, I was the only one there; I knew it was Tues. the 15th, however it is Tues. March 15th. I feel like this Picasso lady, kind of confused. When I got home, I cleaned the house, so I did not waste the day. My firend Dixie gave me a New Orleans Jazz CD. It
was a great way to swiffer through the house! I try to find something good about every day, and I succeeded once again.
Not everyone celebrates their engagement anniversary, but we do; I guess because it is the day before Valentine's Day, it is easy to remember. My hubby fixed a wonderful steak dinner, potato and salad; wine of course, and chocolate covered strawberries! The cold has left Texas for awhile and it made for a delightful day to be outside.
I am still making art for the "Mixed Messages" show this Thursday at Artisans Gallery.
My mind has gone in several directions, but finally decided to take jewelry and a few encaustic pieces.
This piece of jewelry can be a pendant or a pin. More to come.
The day started out making Valentine cards; then on to encaustics for a "Mixed Messages" show.
It was too cold outside in the garage, so I melted the wax in the kitchen. The whole house smells like a bee hive.
My desk is full of old papers that I wanted to dip in wax; I got a little carried away. The old sheet music looks especially nice, and I even dipped old love letters.
Finally get to use all those thing- a- ma- jigs, and watchamacallits I've been saving for years. Remember the old clip on shoe ornaments? Actually they are once again in vogue, but mine are vintage, shall we say. Also have some huge earrings from the 60s. Funny, they are back in style also. It is fun to combine the new and the old, and come up with something different. This is the first necklace that I made; some are small and some large, but this is still my favorite. More to come
I have tried several different transfer methods. This tree transfer was several coats of gel medium.
I prefer the quick easy method . :>) Is there such a thing? Today I tried some words with just one coat of gel medium with limited success.
The challenge at The Three Muses for this week is Black & White. I decided to post the one that I completed yesterday. I did the artwork a while back on 300# paper. It is acrylic and collage, again using the hand stamped collage papers. I have adhered it to a canvas with gel medium, after I painted a border around the canvas. I am happy with the result, however I need to put a protective coat of acrylic varnish over it.
We woke up to a winter wonderland! I know people in Chicago and Minnesota would love to have our snow, but hey, this is Texas; it is not supposed to snow here. I put on my leopard rain boots with my robe, and went out to pick up the newspaper. That is the only cold weather gear I have. It is noon and the sun has come out, so Frosty the snowman is melting. I hope that is it for the year. I'm glad I got to wear my new boots anyway!!
Not me, but a very dear friend, Sue Nosler Gray, is published in the January, Palette Magazine produced by Christopher Schink and William Lawrence. That is quite an honor, and I am so excited for her. If you have the magazine, take a look on page 8, or visit her website. She sure knows how to paint those abstracts!
I told you I likes challenges, so here is my desk. I almost forgot that it was Wednesday! Didn't have to work too hard for this one. I have been busy making jewelry all week. It is too cold to go out, so perfect time to get ready for a couple of shows.
A friend ask me today about the calendar challenge I had talked about here on the blog on Jan 6th.I know now that my art was not one of the ones chosen to be considered for the 2012 calendar, so I guess I can show my entry. I like it, but I guess it wasn't right for their purposes. I used a syringe filled with masking fluid to draw the houses and then used watercolor inside the lines. I love the look, but you have to realize that you can't get it perfect using masking fluid; it comes out in blobs when you least expect it, and you can't just wipe it off!! It is a fun process though.
I have a 2011 calendar from Cloth, Paper, Scissors, and I enjoy the colorful art pieces each month. Challenges are a good way to do something a little different; they usually have a deadline, and have certain rules that you must follow. It is a good discipline for me.
