Wednesday, December 31, 2008

As Night Falls...

As night falls on 2008...



I remember the positives...



and the negatives...



the highs...



and the lows...



the moments of contemplation...



and moments of pain...



feeling calm...



and feeling alive...



climbing to new heights...



and being heard...



taking a chance...



and realizing the sky is the limit...



and throughout it all...



Wishing you all a happy, healthy and creative 2009. May every dream come true!

Monday, December 29, 2008

Observations on Observations


My class with Danny Gregory has come to an end. I learned so much about drawing and visual journaling...but more importantly, I learned about observation. Observing details about everyday matters as a way to be in the moment and live life just a little more fully.

Our last class was the most challenging for me. We broke into groups of three for a "portrait party." I had to draw a portrait of the classmate to my left. Three times. Once in my journal. Once in the third person's journal. And once in the model's journal. Well...I definitely improved from portrait one to portrait three, supporting Danny's point that the best way to learn to draw is to draw! However, as a means of protecting the innocent (e.g., the model), I am not posting the drawings. After all, it is the process not the outcome which is important!!

Danny spent some time in our last class sharing some of his thoughts about the process. A few of my favorites: "surprise yourself...do what you can't...love mistakes...never complain...never explain...express yourself." Thanks Danny!






This piece has gone through several versions in several blog posts and although I originally thought it was not yet complete, after more observation I now feel that it is. Observations.

Available in my Etsy Shop. Click images to enlarge.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Solstice Sunset


I have made one more set of small mixed media artworks inspired by the solstice. Each piece includes at least one found metal object. This will be the last of the series. All pieces (except the above image) are available in my Etsy shop.









Ingredients: watercolor paper, acrylic paint, walnut ink, dye ink, calligraphy ink, dry transfer, altered paper, found metal objects, wire, eyelets, brads. sizes range from 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" to 4 1/4" x 3 3/4". click images to enlarge.

Available for purchase in The Altered Page on Etsy.

All pieces sold. Thank you!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Solstice Sunrise

Continuing my Solstice Series, these pieces all include found metal objects. Some are also made with found papers. I decided it was time to use more of my finds rather than just watch the piles grow and grow. Inspired by the Solstice, these pieces represent to me the beauty of winter, transitions from darkness to light, and the natural evolution of time. The first three posted are available for purchase in my Etsy shop. The last three were made to complete a blog project from one year ago and will be winding their way to three people, who I hope will be happily surprised.









Ingredients: watercolor paper, acrylic paint, watercolor paint, dye ink, calligraphy ink, dry transfer, altered paper, found paper, found metal objects, wire, eyelets. sizes range from 3 31/2" x 2 1/4" to 3 3/4" x 2 3/4". click images to enlarge.

All pieces sold. Thank you!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Solstice Series

Today marks the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, one of two times each year that the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator. Today the sun shines directly over the tropic of Capricorn. The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. For me it represents a sense of change and renewal. And I know that as the days slowly get longer, the sun will begin to linger and the darkness of night arrives later and later.

Wanting to celebrate the occasion, I have made five small artworks inspired by the solstice.







Ingredients: watercolor paper, acrylic paint, watercolor paint, dye ink, calligraphy ink, dry transfer, altered paper, found paper, found metal objects, wire, eyelets. sizes range from 3 3/4" x 2 1/2" to 4 1/4" x 3 3/4". click images to enlarge.

Available for purchase in The Altered Page on Etsy.

All pieces sold. thank you!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Digital Art???

Does this qualify as digital art...


or just what permanently appears on your monitor when you drop your laptop on the floor?

Back to our regularly scheduled programming. The following mixed media painting from October 2008 has been added to my Etsy shop.


Ingredients: watercolor paper, acrylic paint, crackle paint, rubon letters, dry transfer, pigment ink, dye ink, wax pastels, metallic marker, graphite pencil, book board. 9 3/4" x 4 1/4". click to enlarge.

Sold. Thank You!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Travel Journal: New Mexico

It has been two months since my trip to New Mexico and I have recently been busy reliving the memories of that adventure. I have spent the last few weeks completing my travel journal. I have posted all the spreads from this journal below. I have also included a close-up of each color journal page. Click on the images to enlarge. To see larger versions of some of the black & white pages (text was pixelated in the photos) please click here and here to see previous postings. I hope you enjoy going on this journey through my journal with me!