song and dance
Here are the two latest: one is for Deb’s birthday present and the other is made out of leftovers from Deb’s present…
Deb saw the ‘Be Glad’ 16×16 commision and decided she wanted HER favorite Psalm done for her birthday April 25th:
and this one is the leftovers: while making a collage for a friend, little leftover scraps and pieces kept catching my eye. The central body shape was for a jewelry spread in some fashion rag. The are always extras of everything I cut….arms, legs, flowers. She was wanting to dance I guess so I found this quote on the interwebz and learned that Mata Hari was really Dutch and not the double agent I thought she was…back ground paper Life’s Journey K&Co; distress ink, pen, TOMBO markers, black sharpie….
bIG fREE stReeT pArADE
I was not feeling my best after doing taxes and so this turned out sort of rushed and jumbled all together. from flickr:
The Little Cuties Processional was the same day as The Tea Party so not too much effort went into getting all the cuties to show up (most of them chose to DO their taxes and cough up some dough) The baby stroller was part Naturalizer sling back and part BMW and The Old FreakShow That Lived In A Boot came because she was grounded due to the ash flying over her home town in Iceland. There was so little money left over after the tax payment all the commitee could afford for refreshments was jelly sandwiches which many shoved into their faces making quite a picture…or crowabout…
8×10 mixed media collage with images from Nancy B crowabout collage sheet(s) some dover freebies and some assorted mag clippings.
the best part I think is Bjork in a boot…
oh yeah…I have been DENIED by my insurance company an artificial disc replacement due to ‘investigational and experimental’…and the leave coordinator at work explained if I really wanted job protection during the time off for surgery I would have to return to full time duties for the next six weeks….so basically I can work until my arm goes completely numb and continue to take pain meds until I appeal the insurance denial. fun.
I want to live in a BOOT!
time to dream of an exotic place
this is a work in progress…from flickr:
I began with a 12×12 K&Co sheet from the pad that has the ancestry family record tree sheet in it (cover is missing). I then used TPC Studio clear stamps (Christmas Glamour) and stamped the swirly borders (later painted over with white acrylic paint!) I also stamped the chandelier and chain with clear stamp from INKADINKADOO and vintage sepia ink.
Main focal point images model, checkerboard interior and french wall clock placed first.
Model was completely handpainted with a combo of watercolor pencil, acrylic paint, black sharpie, Tombo ABT markers, and the uncooperative WHITE Marvy UCHIDA opaque paint marker. (forgive me, I am biting my tongue as I write this)
I also painted the interior with the same. Clock I left as found. The collage sheet images were hand cut and hand-colored with watercolor pencil, distress ink or PITT pen.
I found some other images from ‘paperscraps’, ‘rubyblossom’, and doverpublications.com. Borders on 12×12 were outlined with both red and black ink.
Finally I used white acrylic paint and a fine brush to add the clouds and swirls.
The 16×16 board had been prepped with one coat gesso and the trim was cut from CIAO BELLA. This is a work in progress. I am prepared to incorporate the center with the outer trim but it’s so late and I am so tired….
I also think that Dirk may be hiding out in one of these exotic places she is dreaming about…I’ll have to await the verdict on that since I think ZiB bailed his lazy ass outta Skankytown jail.
Happy St Patrick’s Day!
paper doll with moveable legs on back ground cardstock from Ciao Bella. legs, face and partial arm from Vogue. body parts painted or embellished with watercolor or pen. used six images from mixiepixies rad sheet for week 70 Collage Play with Crowabout. border bevel by artist on computer. some digital paint programing including the quote from the fabulous French bon vivant and writer, Colette, who sported the en vogue pear shape at the of the turn of the century. Her scandalous bio here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colette
crown embellished with scraps and rhinestones by artist; coffee cup from paperscraps.
size is approximately 10×12
It has a bit of green in it but since she is a coffee drinker you can assume she is on the wagon today….Have a grand day in parade or what ever you do today-and unless you enjoy being pinched you’ll be wearin’ the green, I hope!
my anniversary
one year ago today I made a promise (a delayed new year’s resolution) that I would ‘Create ART Everyday’…I am happy to report that this piece marks 98 on Flickr and over 110 pieces in my portfolio. I think this means I AM creating a new piece every 3 days (some art takes time).
This piece was submitted to Nancy Baumiller’s Collage Play With Crowabout(see her blog here: http://crowabout.blogspot.com/) from week 68′s collage sheet. The central girl figure was originally b&w in a grainy dark early 20th century style. I worked that image with pen and watercolor pencil. Then I added to her dress with other images from the sheet and used legs from an ad found in In Style. I cut & paste all the images to line the border. Background sheet K&Co Life’s Journey-with additional motif’s from other K&Co scraps. (I have tons).
My favorite part is the Japanese paper lanterns (my studio is lit with these in one corner but they are white not multi-colored) I used a FISKARS 1″ circle cutter (the squeeze kind-so EZ!) on a half dozen paper scraps. I then drew the lines on them to give them the circular dimension with PITT pen.
All my images are glued down with TOMBO permanent adhesive. If any peel up due to humidity I seal the corners with some O’Glue. The final step is adding the quote.
The key in the lower right corner inspired me and thus I chose one from www.great-quotes.com about the key to Heaven. (She is not really wearing a dunce cap-but she does have doubts about herself)
Nathaniel Parker Willis’ bio here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Parker_Willis
I am not new to journaling or graffiti text but am challenged by the limited space on a piece-this time I practiced the set-up on a piece of vellum over the spot I want to add the quote. No matter-I still screwed it up and it took FOREVER to finish it….I am in love with my white SAKURA Gelly Roll pen but the damn thing dries out in 30 seconds. I recently bought UCHIDA Marvy Opaque DECO COLOR pens (recommended by the cashier at Art Media) but they only work on magazine glossy paper!! AARGH!
So if any of my readers know of a good white pen-please let me know
The central part of this piece was done in the traditional cut&paste format. Then I imported to my photo/collage creator and added the zetti strips from my “You Can Play Too” and the pink circles from Nancy’s Week 47 collage sheet. I painted the background black. I tweaked the contrast and saturation only a wee bit. And now it is DONE! Total time: 14 hours!
This year has bought me much joy along with much pain from a pinched nerve in my neck (still seeking treatment). Art has given me a chance to focus on something other than the pain and also to keep me away from the cookie jar which my doctor warned will send me into full blown diabetes if I don’t quit sugar! It has worked! My numbers have all dropped and I’m feeling less *puffy*. I still have sugar once in a while but I am conscious of the effect it has-it KNOCKS me OUT!
The other benefit from being creative is knowing I am using my talent to make others HAPPY! Sometimes I even get a few dollars for my work but it is not so much the income as the joy of being lost in my work; it is an escape from fear and anxiety that brings me the most satisfaction. Also added benefit-my home is beginning to look like an ART GALLERY!!
One more thing, joining www.Flickr.com has introduced me to a world of new friends and incredible artists whom I’ve been reading about in Somerset Studio or Juxtapoz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juxtapoz) and getting feedback from them is like a drug. My view count is currently 8,394!!!
Having my own website is possible thru the kindness and generosity of my brother John (www.jebswebs.com) . Without his incredible support and phenomenal technical wizardry I would be one sad puppy (sitting on a wet newspaper). He is also my strongest booster in regards to making my ART a commercial success…I owe him a gazillion thanks and big hugs!!
Now as I did one year ago today: a snapshot of my desk currently~
where: studio
when: Sunday Feb 28 1:30 pm
Listening to: “Diplomat’s Son” Vampire Weekend
on my desk right now: tombo roller, Ranger distress ink, FISKARS circle punch, FISKARS 12″ paper trimmer, UCHIDA, PITT, SHARPIE, SAKURA pens, Kimberly watercolor pencils, pencil carousel, electric and old skool pencil sharpener, Running Press “Friendship” mini book, cut-out parrot bird from dover book, red, white & gold GLITTEREX glitter, crystal geyser water bottle, coffee cup, and current art work “Key To Heaven”
mood: energetic, happy
recent creations: key to heaven, altered magazine (W), ‘be glad
inspirations: fashion layout from W, new desk from Deb & Jeff (belonged to Lois B)
My life depends on creating art…and a sunny day!
be glad
Here is a commissioned work for a client who is deeply moved by Psalm 118:24. I recall seeing some crazy pictures in our family bible as a little kid, but not like this! This photo was taken under spot lights but there is a glare from the 6 coats of varathene sealant; it looks way better in person.
Here is a scanned portioned:
It is a big hit with my scripture loving friends. I have an idea for a series…Psalms and Proverbs are pretty cool.
Snookie As Charlotte Bronte
12×12 mixed media collage; background newsprint K&Co Life’s Journey, border cut out pieces from graphic cardstock pad K&Co “Greenhouse” by Carolyn Gavin and then embellished with PITT pen. zetti strips and doodles pen and white acrylic paint by artist, fashion models/body parts from Marie Claire, Vogue, Elle, etc. Charlotte Bronte central figure from black & white image courtesy of New York Public Library Digital Images which was then hand colored with watercolors and pen. Various litho graphics dover.com/ entire piece painted with acrylic wash. Inspiration from Flickr artist ‘artvisionary’ http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/a/artvisionary/
Detailed work is absolutely entrancing and for me a way to unwind…
I am not exactly a fan of MTV”s ‘Jersey Shore” but there is a really hilarious character named ‘Snookie” who is about 5’2 with chubby thighs and a bumpit. She is getting a lot of press due to her Jersey inbred sub-intelligence. She seems to run on feelings rather than logic-hence the comic value here with the Bronte quote.
Now about Bronte…born in 1816 the third of six children in Thorton, Yorkshire. A gifted writer she wrote under a male psuedonym in order to be published. Along with her sister, Emily, wrote poems and stories, the most famous of which, Jane Eyre, made her a celebrity in 1847 when she was at last able to reveal her true identity. Her life mirrored much of the story in Jane Eyre of tragic love affairs, family members hooked on opiates, and the grim reality of life in the 19th century which meant your life would most likely end due to TB or something that today is completely preventable.
Single until her mid 30′s she finally wed her father’s curate, Arthur Bell Nicholls. Sadly, she died while pregnant along with the couples first child in 1855 less than a year after her marriage. Researchers argue over the cause of death: Hyperemesis gravidarum (extreme morning sickness) or TB or typhoid! She was 38 years old.
napolean’s fantasy
4×8 altered postcard. K&Co backgrounds, dover.com clip art. various body parts from magazines. per wikipedia: maria letiza, napolean’s mom was obsessed with cleanliness bathing 8 of 13 surviving children every week as opposed to once a month as was the custom during the 18th century.
text: a letter between me and my mother. napolean is thinking:”is it almost bath time yet?”
rebirth journal page
work in progress…original here;—>
after scanning and photoshop, added atlantic city boardwalk and removed backround and some text which says i’m bored etc…this is a mosaic of a photo-all but the far right side of her face has been replaced with paper that was treated with ranger distress ink and pencil. magazine paper always scans with funky lines on it. this is a work in progress.
girl moon
