collages

i have been
having fun
with mixed media collage.
there is
just something about
mixing a bunch of
random items together
to make
something beautiful.
i love adding
the sketches on vellum
as the focal point.
i could do this forever.

a tulip

i finished 

another painting.

this was one of 

the canvases

that was started 

last year -

with the bloom true course.

it's not really 

'bloom true' style.

but, it is a lot of layers

and i am figured out 

my own style.

which is the point

of painting - 

after all.

i of course -

like it.

even the 

hot pink parts.

a love peek

i am working on
a little set of paintings.
my hairdresser -
who used to
come to my home -
has now built
a little shop
in her backyard -
and her walls are bare.
she asked me
if i'd be interested
in adding some color
to her space.
i didn't answer right away
because i
second guessed,
& worried,
& told myself i wasn't good enough,
& i didn't want to disappoint.
but,
i decided to do it anyway.
i am doing 12 -
6x6 canvases
brightly colored
in a love theme.
they are still a
work in progress.
hopefully next time
i will post
a picture of them
hanging on her wall.

to juniper

i don't know
if she has received it yet -
but here is
what i sent out for
my first sweet post
in april.
to juniper -
in malta.

a washi bag, stamped tag, sticker, stamped feather & hand printed fabric swatch

an envelope stamp, stamped trees, twine, tea and an origami dress

hand stamped image, scrap paper, embroidered bird & an old stamp

a mixed media piece

an art-o-mat

my art-y friend anthea
told me about
art-o-mat.
it is
an organization
that converts
old cigarette machines -
to dispense art!
how cool is that?
so while we were in vegas
koen and i went on a walk
to check it out.
the website
says there are 8 machines
in the cosmopolitan hotel -
i wish i'd had
more time to find them all -
but maybe it was for the best -
i would have bought
a piece from each of them
probably.
check out their website
to see if there is one near you -
or if you'd like to submit
some art for the machines.
i am thinking about it.

this is art by mike filippello

and by kelli busch

a lesson

with all the making

that i have been doing -

sometimes,

i make things 

that i'm not 

entirely happy with.

it makes me feel like 

i've wasted my time.
sometimes,
the great idea
in my head -
does not
translate well in real life.
these i am not pleased with...

 

i thought 

i had a great

idea for a print design,

but, no.

i am changing 

my attitude though.

i am learning 

from mistakes - 

and embracing that -

and i know 

what not to do next time.
i am also
learning to laugh at myself.
what do you do
when you 'mess' something up?

a bit more carving

once again -
i am having
more carving fun.

a pear

another piece of art.
i like this one -
but,
i'm not sure
about the colors.

a park

just a few moments
in the park.
we walked together
by the creek.
we collected some stones
to keep in our pockets -
and we threw some into the water.
we chatted.
he made some new friends -
and played on the playground.
while i sat with the dog -
and sketched.

a girl in the rain

another painting.

my favorite part 

is the collaged papers,

and the depth

of the layered background.

saige helped me 

with the color choices.

i am loving 

this painting thing.

a girls night

last weekend
a bunch of my
best girls.
went out to paint ceramics.
i had done this before,
but never came away
with anything useful.
so, i wanted to go -
to be with the girls,
and to spend some
time with saige.
but, wasn't super excited.
i'm glad i went -
i found a great sushi plate to paint.
and saige did a bowl.
i figured out a pattern to do -
right away.
(no creative block)
even more exciting -
that saige seemed to really enjoy herself.
(no creative block for her either) -
and she did an amazing job -
and everyone said so.
it is a wonderful thing to see -
her confidence building.
here is our creations before firing....

 

and after.

a carving

i am starting to get 

the hang of this block carving.

also, i have signed up
to do a workshop next week at opus.
i'm excited to learn more.