By the way, Lorinda had a great idea to share the individual cards from the inspiration deck exchange we participated in gradually throughout the year.
1/11/13
crisp morning
After a week of rain and low, gray skies, today dawned clear and crisply cold here in Seattle.
By the way, Lorinda had a great idea to share the individual cards from the inspiration deck exchange we participated in gradually throughout the year.
The first two in my deck are these lushly layered cards from Connie @ Connieartz.wordpress.com (left) and MaryJane @ desertdreamstudios.com. Thanks ladies!
By the way, Lorinda had a great idea to share the individual cards from the inspiration deck exchange we participated in gradually throughout the year.
weekly collages
I announced, yes announced with great fanfare, that I was going to tackle a 365 project - ala Hana. I chose collage/mix media pieces. Then I disappeared. Well, that nasty flu caught up with me and put a dent in my plans. But, I'm recovering so thought it time to show you I actually am working on my collages!
Working in my Restraint Journal for quickie collages using inspirational images from magazines or online.
4 MMSA postcards to swap - all mini-collages on painted cardboard pieces so I'm counting them as one.
All these collages are in my restraint journal - I like doing these because I'm playing with white space, colors, composition - but using up whatever happens to be on my worktable, so it's a great scrap activity.
The next four I made on cardboard - I cut up a cookie box into quarters (about 6x6") and challenged myself to use faces/figures in the collages - which I never do. I don't know why I generally don't like figures in my collages but thought I should give it a try since I have a folder of magazine faces. I actually kinda like them and will revisit it again throughout the year - maybe I'll overcome my antipathy.....
Karen, recognize your paper underneath?
This last collage I tried something new - printing on vellum. Sealed it with spray fixative but one coat wasn't enough...when I spread the matte medium over it the colors started to smear on the leaf so I sprayed another layer on the other printed pages. I really like the look of seeing through the leaf and swirl. You'll definitely be seeing more of this.....
Are you tackling 365 of anything? Photos, journal entries, homemade meals? I prefer Hanna's philosophy of the goal is 365, not necessarily daily.....it removes a lot of pressure. I did a photo-a-day for a year a couple years ago and it was occasionally stressful to think of what to photograph and by the end of summer I almost gave up.....but I persevered. This year will be easier without the "daily" in the commitment!
1/8/13
poppy
Inspiration Avenue is back with their weekly themes and this week's is poppies. I'm dragging myself out of my sick bed to join in - I'm not up to attempting to draw anything but I have some photos I've taken that I just love - here's my poppies......
These 15' tall poppies are a spring display at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. They were of some clear acrylic stuff that sparkled in the sun.
Join in - share your poppy story.....
mail art exhibition
I came across this through Pinterest so thought I'd share:
We would like to invite you to participate in an exciting new exhibition and catalog entitled Postage and Handling Included. Here’s the scoop…
The Archives of the Eternal Network intends to exhibit its mail art holdings from the permanent collection and has created a local community initiative. The purpose of this initiative is to serve as an adult and after school arts and communications program for high school students in Pagosa Springs , Colorado
Through the Postage and Handling Included exhibition, students will be taught basic art skills for creating and documenting mail art which will be sent out to mail artists around the world. As responses come back from artists, students will study incoming works and be taught archival and curatorial skills to document and publish the incoming works on the show’s exhibition blog and learn how to create and publish a physical catalog. Students will then participate in the planning, installation and publicizing of the physical exhibition at the Archives of the Eternal Network here in Pagosa Springs.
All contributions to this exhibition will be documented, exhibited, published and become part of the permanent collection of the Archives.
Dates: Exhibition Opens in May 24, 2013
Deadline for participation is April 20th, 2013
Follow the Blog at: http://postageandhandling.blogspot.com/
MAIL CORRESPONDENCE TO:
ARCHIVES OF THE ETERNAL NETWORK
POSTAGE AND HANDLING SHOW
For those of you enjoying the pleasures of mail art, here's an opportunity to become part of a collection and help a school project at the same time. Sounds like win - win to me. There's plenty of time to join in....
1/6/13
a little photography
A few days ago I got out my makeshift lightbox and set up some still life compositions working with some of the things gathered on my beach walks last summer. Then I did a little PSE textural additions.....
The one above has no digital enhancement......this was a fun experiment and I have lots more ideas so I think my photography explorations this year might FOCUS on still life arrangements.
1/4/13
PAF
I haven't participated in a long time, but Fridays are Photo Art Friday over at Bonnie's Pixel Dust Photo Art and to start the new year she suggested using our 'word-of-the-year' as a starting point. Since I actually chose one of those and drew it, I decided to use it in creating a bit of digital art.
I started by using the cutout from my lettering project and added layer upon layer - bits from my photos and collages and from some scrapbooking elements.....all thrown together, tweaked and manipulated til I came up with this.....don't think it's the best digital thing I've ever done, but I'm a little out of practice - it'll get better!
As I worked on this, the digital manipulation ideas and tools starting returning and I remember how much I enjoy experimenting with it - but oh my goodness, there's just not enough time in the day to do everything I love to do. How to choose? I guess I'll just work on what I feel like doing at the moment and other stuff can wait, right? Collaging and mail art and mixed media exploration will still be there .......
I started by using the cutout from my lettering project and added layer upon layer - bits from my photos and collages and from some scrapbooking elements.....all thrown together, tweaked and manipulated til I came up with this.....don't think it's the best digital thing I've ever done, but I'm a little out of practice - it'll get better!
As I worked on this, the digital manipulation ideas and tools starting returning and I remember how much I enjoy experimenting with it - but oh my goodness, there's just not enough time in the day to do everything I love to do. How to choose? I guess I'll just work on what I feel like doing at the moment and other stuff can wait, right? Collaging and mail art and mixed media exploration will still be there .......
1/3/13
a swap & mail art news
A quick FYI - I just read over at Inspiration Avenue that they're planning the first swap of the year - Tags with Hearts. Any kind of tag -gift, luggage, hang tags or even bookmarks - with a heart in the design....in honor of heart month and Valentines. The early notification gives you a heads up - if you're ready to jump in and flex those creative muscles this early in the year, this is an easy one to get started on. Details will be posted next week so check their site....
More good news - Karen has posted two new MMSA prompts for January so it's time to get your mail art mojo working...... I'm busily working in blue! We'd love to expand the number of participants so if you've ever thought about exchanging a little mail art, this is the perfect time to start. Karen is quick to encourage everyone, beginners or long-time artists, to participate. Join in, your mail box will thank you.
I got my ATC cards for Sandy Hook in the mail to Jessica (In Search of Dessert) - she provided each participant with a quote to use, so while each card is different, front and back, the sentiment is the same. I used some of my own photography on some of the cards.
Here's one more tidbit to share - I've decided to join Hanna in the 365 challenge (commit/try to make/do/create 365 of something of your choice - collages for me) and so has Michelle at Lost Coast Post. She's going to make 365 character drawings! Anyway, she posted a great reflection on tackling a project like this and how to make it more workable. It's worth a read if you're considering a year long commitment to anything.
More good news - Karen has posted two new MMSA prompts for January so it's time to get your mail art mojo working...... I'm busily working in blue! We'd love to expand the number of participants so if you've ever thought about exchanging a little mail art, this is the perfect time to start. Karen is quick to encourage everyone, beginners or long-time artists, to participate. Join in, your mail box will thank you.
I got my ATC cards for Sandy Hook in the mail to Jessica (In Search of Dessert) - she provided each participant with a quote to use, so while each card is different, front and back, the sentiment is the same. I used some of my own photography on some of the cards.
Here's one more tidbit to share - I've decided to join Hanna in the 365 challenge (commit/try to make/do/create 365 of something of your choice - collages for me) and so has Michelle at Lost Coast Post. She's going to make 365 character drawings! Anyway, she posted a great reflection on tackling a project like this and how to make it more workable. It's worth a read if you're considering a year long commitment to anything.
1/2/13
a new year
Happy New Year to everyone! I trust you all celebrated New Years in your own way, quietly watching TV or reading and in bed before midnight (like us), or dinner and drinks with friends, or at a large, busy party. Whichever way you like to ring in the new year, I hope you had fun!
As always, at the start of a new year, we reflect backwards and project forwards. As I read through all the new year postings in the last couple days, I see most of us are in the same boat.....trying to figure out where we are and where we'd like to be during 2013. Once again there are many who are choosing their 'single guiding word' for the year. I'm not sure how helpful that is to me since I'm pretty sure I chose one last year but have no idea what it is.....guess I didn't pay enough attention to my word! :)
This year I'll try again and as I thought about my art and my life over the last couple weeks, the word that kept coming to mind is FOCUS. That's what I need, FOCUS. I need to be able to settle down, work on my art with purpose and attention and FOCUS. I need to have fun and explore, but with FOCUS. So, there you go - my 2013 word.
Then, goals. Well, again, not so big on setting a bunch of goals. But I do feel it helps with FOCUS if I have some stated intentions. So, my intentions:
- I intend to improve and expand my collage skills so I'm joining Hanna (iHanna) in her quest for 365 collages produced this year. I'll try for daily, or close to it, but the real goal is to create a body of work, a solid progression, a focus on one primary media. She's encouraging folks to join her - making 365 of something, anything.....drawings, photographs, haiku......whatever your interest.
- I intend to continue with my photography (I love my camera) and figure out how to incorporate my photos in my art - both digital art and collages.
- I intend to practice my lettering skills and work on incorporating lettering in my journaling (my son gave me a set of calligraphy pens for Christmas - yahoo!) - I'm participating in ALAW again this year.
- I intend to be encouraging and encouraged, inspiring and inspired, share my progress and ideas and borrow ideas from others - I intend for this to be a GREAT year!
I now have this hanging over my art table - it will help remind me of what I want to FOCUS on this year! I even left some room to add more if I think I need to redirect my focus.
Of course I still have other artsy things that I want to do and will work on - mail art (love that!), ATCs (going to start participating in swaps this year), Artists Playroom, Inspiration Avenue, and Artsyville challenges (I have to be careful not to over commit on these). Okay, as I read all this stuff I'm thinking - YIKES, I've totally gone overboard; I'll never be able to keep up. I can't do it all. Scale back. But when I look at what I'm willing to NOT do, I can't see one thing. So for now, onward and upward. We'll see what has to give as the year progresses.
Yesterday, day one of the new year, I started with a bang! I worked in my art journal (I'm following Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's plan of at least 10 minutes a day- not necessary to 'finish' a page every day), worked in my restraint journal for my first collage of the year (simple inspirational collages, another iHanna suggestion from last year), and I finished up my inspiration deck for Sandy Hook for Jess over at In Search of Dessert. A great start to my new year.....
How about you? What are your plans, hopes, intentions for this year? I'm so excited to share another year of artistic discovery and sharing, encouragement and support with all of you - people I've come to like, to respect, to admire and people I call friends. Thanks for including me in your group.
By the way, I'm linking to Jenn's Artist Playroom - this week's theme is CELEBRATE. I'm celebrating my intentions for the new year and the FOCUS with which I'm going to manage them! Happy New Year Jenn!
As always, at the start of a new year, we reflect backwards and project forwards. As I read through all the new year postings in the last couple days, I see most of us are in the same boat.....trying to figure out where we are and where we'd like to be during 2013. Once again there are many who are choosing their 'single guiding word' for the year. I'm not sure how helpful that is to me since I'm pretty sure I chose one last year but have no idea what it is.....guess I didn't pay enough attention to my word! :)
This year I'll try again and as I thought about my art and my life over the last couple weeks, the word that kept coming to mind is FOCUS. That's what I need, FOCUS. I need to be able to settle down, work on my art with purpose and attention and FOCUS. I need to have fun and explore, but with FOCUS. So, there you go - my 2013 word.
Then, goals. Well, again, not so big on setting a bunch of goals. But I do feel it helps with FOCUS if I have some stated intentions. So, my intentions:
- I intend to improve and expand my collage skills so I'm joining Hanna (iHanna) in her quest for 365 collages produced this year. I'll try for daily, or close to it, but the real goal is to create a body of work, a solid progression, a focus on one primary media. She's encouraging folks to join her - making 365 of something, anything.....drawings, photographs, haiku......whatever your interest.
- I intend to continue with my photography (I love my camera) and figure out how to incorporate my photos in my art - both digital art and collages.
- I intend to practice my lettering skills and work on incorporating lettering in my journaling (my son gave me a set of calligraphy pens for Christmas - yahoo!) - I'm participating in ALAW again this year.
- I intend to be encouraging and encouraged, inspiring and inspired, share my progress and ideas and borrow ideas from others - I intend for this to be a GREAT year!
Of course I still have other artsy things that I want to do and will work on - mail art (love that!), ATCs (going to start participating in swaps this year), Artists Playroom, Inspiration Avenue, and Artsyville challenges (I have to be careful not to over commit on these). Okay, as I read all this stuff I'm thinking - YIKES, I've totally gone overboard; I'll never be able to keep up. I can't do it all. Scale back. But when I look at what I'm willing to NOT do, I can't see one thing. So for now, onward and upward. We'll see what has to give as the year progresses.
Yesterday, day one of the new year, I started with a bang! I worked in my art journal (I'm following Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's plan of at least 10 minutes a day- not necessary to 'finish' a page every day), worked in my restraint journal for my first collage of the year (simple inspirational collages, another iHanna suggestion from last year), and I finished up my inspiration deck for Sandy Hook for Jess over at In Search of Dessert. A great start to my new year.....
365collage #1 in Restraint Journal; tissue paper, my painted paper scrap, burlap, inspirational image
How about you? What are your plans, hopes, intentions for this year? I'm so excited to share another year of artistic discovery and sharing, encouragement and support with all of you - people I've come to like, to respect, to admire and people I call friends. Thanks for including me in your group.
By the way, I'm linking to Jenn's Artist Playroom - this week's theme is CELEBRATE. I'm celebrating my intentions for the new year and the FOCUS with which I'm going to manage them! Happy New Year Jenn!
12/28/12
inspiration deck
A little while ago I showed pics of the inspiration deck I received from the swap hosted by Jess at In Search of Dessert. Now I needed a place to keep them handy and enjoy a new card each week. I've taken to saving every small box of every size cuz you never know when you're going to need to decorate a small box, right?! What do you know, I have two jewelry gift boxes that were the perfect ATC/inspiration deck size!
I'll keep one on my desk next to my computer to keep me creatively motivated......
Choosing the next card in the box each week to inspire me - don't they just fit beautifully?
I even have a place holder thanks to my swap with April Cole (thanks!) - reminding me to 'bravely make her believe'!
Since I had two of the boxes, I decorated the other and it will be the home of my ATC card collection (now only two from Jessica Sporn) that will grow this year as I participate in swaps..... I'd been avoiding ATCs for some reason....now I can see how versatile and fun they are to make so I'm in.....I'll use it as my art warm up activity!
Let me know if you want to swap ATCs - I'm busy making a supply so I'll be ready to trade. I'll share some pics soon.
[ED: Already I'm forgetting to put my name on the photos so I made myself delete and reload all the photos - if I do that enough, eventually I'll make it a habit, right?]
I'll keep one on my desk next to my computer to keep me creatively motivated......
Since I had two of the boxes, I decorated the other and it will be the home of my ATC card collection (now only two from Jessica Sporn) that will grow this year as I participate in swaps..... I'd been avoiding ATCs for some reason....now I can see how versatile and fun they are to make so I'm in.....I'll use it as my art warm up activity!
[ED: Already I'm forgetting to put my name on the photos so I made myself delete and reload all the photos - if I do that enough, eventually I'll make it a habit, right?]
12/26/12
wrapping up ALAW
I hope you've all had a simply marvelous Christmas and Boxing Day. I hope you've found time to be with friends and/or family, people you love and who love you. I hope you've found time to be quiet and time to be joyous. I hope you now find some time to take a deep breath, relax, and reflect on what 2013 will bring.
I had a most excellent Christmas - our boys came over, stayed the night and we played games, drank and ate, played some more games, talked and put our feet up and talked some more - oh yeah, and played some more games and ate and drank some more......did I mention we love games of all types? It was one of my favorite Christmases ever! Here's my family on Christmas morning:
I have found some time to be creative - a moment here and there. I've been working on my ALAW (a letter a week) project, my second alphabet. Here's the last of the letters I've written on my pockets (these haven't been cut apart and folded yet). Then I'm adding photos that I've taken of flowers beginning with each letter to fill the pockets. Next step is to figure out the book format I want to tackle.
I had a most excellent Christmas - our boys came over, stayed the night and we played games, drank and ate, played some more games, talked and put our feet up and talked some more - oh yeah, and played some more games and ate and drank some more......did I mention we love games of all types? It was one of my favorite Christmases ever! Here's my family on Christmas morning:
I have found some time to be creative - a moment here and there. I've been working on my ALAW (a letter a week) project, my second alphabet. Here's the last of the letters I've written on my pockets (these haven't been cut apart and folded yet). Then I'm adding photos that I've taken of flowers beginning with each letter to fill the pockets. Next step is to figure out the book format I want to tackle.
I certainly like how some of these letters turned out more than others - even after practicing a whole page of each before moving to the pocket - the texture of the paper is different and the pen reacts differently, but I didn't have enough of the pocket paper to practice on it.....so I figured it out.
Here's a few of the flower photos that will go in the pockets - they are 5x2.25"
Hopefully I'll get the book started in the next few days.....Now it's time to turn my mind to what I want to tackle for my first alphabet in 2013.....hmmm.....
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