Breathe

6" x 6" x 1.5" Acrylic/Collage on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

This collage is a rescue of a canvas that I was trying to do something else with.  I had textured the canvas with gesso (actually 2 of them - they were supposed to be a set) and painted.  But, they just didn't turn out the way I wanted them to, so I gessoed over the paint and started over!

I glued down hand painted tissue paper, and then tore other papers to use for the palm tree.  Then, I added some paint here and there - and there you go!  It's different than what I've been doing, but it was fun!  And, while I love all the texture, it's hard to get the collage to glue down!  But, it gives it kind of a 3-D look!

Jack Rabbit

6" x 6" Acrylic/Collage on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Here is Jack Rabbit - best friend of Peter Cottontail!  He's another image on the same napkin.  Thought it very fitting for Easter.

In other news - I had a little critter in the house for a couple of days last week.  First saw him on the fireplace mantle (Penny was pacing down below and was seriously on point!) - first I thought it was a mouse, then I saw the tail - and decided that it was a baby squirrel.  How he got into the house is still a mystery.  I went to find a box to hopefully get him into, and he disappeared!

Next morning, Penny went into extreme hunting mode, and had him cornered again in the sunroom!  Poor Baby!  So, I shut the doors and opened the door to the pool deck, and finally he ran out.  From there, I was able to get him to run out the door to the great outdoors!  But, while I was watching him, I decided that he really wasn't a squirrel - but a chipmunk!  Cutest thing in the world - but I'm so glad that he didn't die in my house!

Living in the woods is so charming!  (Tongue in cheek)

Word Verification Update

Since I turned off the word verification, I've been notified by email that I've gotten some questionable comments on some of my earlier posts (2010).  One had a link to nude photos!  But, when I go to the post, the comments are not there?!  So, I'm not sure what harm they can do to me.  I guess I'll find out someday! 

Does anyone have any ideas about this?

Peter Cottontail

6" x 6" Acrylic/Collage on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Played again in the studio today!  Fun collage with another darling napkin!  While things were drying, I sat down with one of my Somerset Studio magazines (Sep/Oct 2011 to be exact) - and found this cool article by Quinn McDonald entitled "Experiencing Creality".

It seems that T.J. Goerlitz, an American artist living in Germany came up with the term "Creality".  In short, it means that Creality is the distance between a concept and an outcome.  It usually happens when our creative idea falls short once we start trying to make it to reality.  She explains, "Either my ideas are too idealistic or my skills are too remedial to achieve my desired result.  Both reasons put the blame on my own shoulders.  Of course, if the outcome is better than anticipated, it becomes a happy accident, and some mysterious fate gets the credit."

Sound familiar?  I don't know about you, but I'm finding that I live in a constant state of Creality!! I'm just excited to know that there is word for it!

Word Verification

We've been having some discussion about Word Verification when we comment on others' blogs.  I thought I had mine turned off, but thanks to Barbra Joan, I was wrong!  I've noticed that Blogger likes to make changes a lot - so I guess from now on, I better check my settings from time to time.

I've always hated that word verification process.  I know that it supposedly stops spam, but I also know that it stops people from commenting on your blog -- lesser of two evils?  And, let's face it -- it's becoming harder and harder to figure out the correct letters or numbers in those crazy boxes.

So, at least for right now, I'M WORD VERIFICATION FREE!!!  Please comment on my blog!!

Ok, now I'm getting crazy!  I went back to Settings, and discovered that word verification was back on!  So, I changed it (AGAIN) to NO, got completely off the internet, went back and it was back to YES!  GRRRRR - would someone please comment, and let me know if it is off or on?

Freedom!

6" x 6" x 1.5" Acrylic/Collage on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Oooh, it felt so good to be back in the studio today!  This is another little collage piece for Etsy.  It's always so interesting how these pieces evolve.  This particular one wasn't supposed to be a collage -- I had intended to paint some abstracts, but the muse said, "No!".

The images used on this collage are from a set of napkins that I purchased last week -- isn't it sweet?

I love using napkins in collage - especially if the background is white (or close to it).  That way the background disappears, and becomes transparent.  So cool!

Quick Update

I can't believe that it's been two weeks since my last post!  But, I've been busy making things for my Etsy shop - like these bookmarks.  And, we had company this week - so lots of running around and shopping!

Today was a recovery day ... I could barely get myself out of bed!  I really want to get a new collage piece going, but just couldn't do it today.  Maybe tomorrow.  Hang in there with me!

Rainy, Dark and Dreary

 And, that has been what today is all about!  So, you ask, what have you been doing all day?

Well, of course, I started the day the way I always do -- checking my stuff on Etsy and playing Castleville on Facebook!

I stuck my head outside and decided that Barney & I would not be going for a walk, so I got to keep my PJ's on all morning!

Poor Penny wanted to go out all day -- but the rain just kept on coming!

 So, I spent most of the morning curled up on the sofa, watching HGTV and Lifetime Movies, and working on my crocheted scarf.

Then, I had my usual lunch, and caught up on some magazine and book reading!

Unfortunately, I never made it to the sewing machine or the studio!

WOW!  Interesting stuff, huh?  That's what a rainy day will do to you!

Yesterday was a Good Day!

So, the first good thing that happened was I went to the mailbox, and found a package from my good friend, Gretchen (who lives in Houston).  She had collected these wonderful papers for me from a friend of hers who does origami.  How cool is this!

Then, last night, I went to another Friday Night Painting Party put on by Carlynne and Kelli (aka Hershberger/Huff).  We learned how to make  altered books!  For this book, I decided to do a theme based on my journey of living in 6 different states - the first one being Kansas, where I was raised, got married and gave birth twice.

This book was a children's board book, but there are many other ways to use other kinds of books.  So, when I get this one finished, I just might do another one with more texture, and not so much collage.  We'll see.

Just Dance

8" x 10" Collage on Multi-Media Art Board



This is the piece I was demonstrating yesterday in class.  And, of course, I'm not too happy with it, but it was fun to continue the little series that I have going on with birds and words.

I'm thinking of collaging on all the multi-media boards that I have - on both sides - and then making a little book of them.  Just punch some holes in the sides and add some rings.