Second Life

Here it is in its second life. I decided I would like yellow instead of the turquoise, added some images and a gel transfer of my contemplative woman. I still don't like it. It doesn't have any life. Images are too disparate. It's back to the think tank for some more R & D. Generally my collages take on a life of their own, so I'm waiting for this one to go in some direction. Stay tuned for Third Life.

Now What??

I'm not that excited about this after adding more papers and some acrylic. I could gesso over the whole thing and start over, or I could gesso over part of it, or I could just add some more papers. Not sure what I want to do at this point. So I'll just ponder on it and let my muse decide. The nice thing about a collage though is you can just keep adding and painting and then adding and more painting......

Third Panel

I'm beginning the third panel in my series of "graffiti" collages. This is a 7 x 13 panel of cardboard. I applied a layer of white gesso and marked a swirl in it while still wet. Then came a wash of acrylic. I then applied two pieces of paper -- the map and a scrap from a photocopy of another collage, and finally a large piece of a beautiful paper napkin. I will add some more scraps and post the next step in the next couple days.

Green Tea

This graffiti collage is so much fun. I like the fact that it doesn't need to look perfect. My favorite thing is to slap some paint on the surface and hunt for images to incorporate. I just got some Sumi ink and some oil based Sharpie paint pens.....new toys to play with. Both dry with a glossy finish which I like for a lot of my work. I sprinkled in some glitter (just a wee bit) to finish it. Now I'm going to do another panel. I will post above the first step. But meanwhile.....

Quick Collage

Traci Bautista was in town last weekend, and I was able to take a mini class from her. She is promoting her new product called Collage Pauge. I wondered what the difference was and why it might be better than Golden or Liquitex mediums. It gives a smoother surface - almost no brush marks. Also comes in matte, gloss and another one has a bit of glitter in it. I always love her classes and I think it's because she uses the vivid colors I love. I also love the graffiti look. It was fun and you can see the result of just a 1 hour class.

Thank you Trudi from Two Dresses Studio for the Kreativ Blog Award

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award - You will love Trudi's blog - Two Dresses Studio -- so creative and fun.

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog (and it's okay to brag).

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.

• I'm married to a much younger guy
• I, too, survived a firewalk
• I'm retired from the recruiting business
• Oh, wow, I love anything lemon (yes, better than chocolate)!
• I once worked at the Mint Casino in Las Vegas
• I hate shopping unless I have to buy art supplies and then mostly online
• I'm a sucker for animals -- I would rescue every one of them if I could

5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers

6. Post links to the 7 blogs your nominate.

Sharon's Art from the Heart

Artistically Designed Diversions - Jennifer

Sparkle Seahorse Smiling - Denise

Every Life Has a Story - Roben-Marie

Michi Rhymes with Peachy

Janeys Journey

Expression Studio - Gail

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.

From this...............

To This.....

To This

She Sells Sea Shells

Had my one-to-one class at the Apple store and I was lucky to have a tech who knows Photoshop. He showed me how to blend two images together. I was thrilled. I came home and immediately did it so I wouldn't forget. It still took a bit of doing, but I finally made it happen. I think I'll play around a bit more with this. He told me to save all my edits in Photoshop mode, so I can continue to make changes. I had to go on line after I could not upload it to my blog (of course it doesn't recognize the Photoshop format) to find out how to save as a .jpg image without losing my original Photoshop image. These are really small things for an experienced image editor but for me, the neophyte, it's like learning to drive. I have to think about every step and why I get the result I get and what to do to get the result I want. I get so excited when I finally "get it".

Companion Little Woman Finished

My "finished" piece? Because it is a 12 x 12 it does not fit on my scanner, so the picture is not as sharp as I would like. I'm not delighted with this one. I tried working with Shiva Painstiks for the first time. I should have experimented with them before working on a canvas. I find the consistency thicker than acrylic and therefore not as precise. I'm sure I just need to practice in my journal to get a more spreadable consistency. Also my charcoal pencil did not work over oil, so I wasn't able to get the definition with that last application of charcoal pencil. Lessons, lessons........

Companion Little Woman

This is a second in my Little Women canvas series. I intended to post the first layer and then post successive layers, but got involved and went on to the second and third layers. I'll post now and then continue with the progression. So far, first layer consists of various papers, second layer I brayered with different colors of paint and inked around the edges. Third layer I drew in the figure and painted the base for her skin.

First Little Woman Canvas

Since it's been a while, I thought I better post the first of the series. This is my first Little Woman collaged on canvas. After reading Kelly Rae Roberts' book
"Taking Flight", I was inspired to try her step by step instructions. After the companion canvas, though, I want to find my own style with these portraits.

Sharon's 100th Post

Everyone, trot yourselves over to Shardon Exclusives blog for her first give-away in honor of her 100th post and 1-year birthday. She has beautiful Victorian works of art that will make you melt.  Her beaded jewelry is to die for!

The Pulse

I just received my copy of The Pulse compiled and bound by Seth Apter of The Altered Page. So wonderful to read all the replies to his questionnaire of 100 plus artists. Thanks, Seth for such a huge accomplishment!!

Map Face

Adding drawing to my daily.

Another Daily

Another sit in front of the TV mini collage.  It's a great way

to use scraps -- you know, all those little pieces

of paper or ephemera you couldn't bear to part with.  Maybe it was something about the texture or the color, but you just could

not toss them in the trash!!

And this one needed something to pull it together....

Daily 5 x 4

When I complained to my artist friend, Jacki, that I didn't have enough time to spend with my art, she said she couldn't go a day without making at least a small (4 x 4) collage of torn paper. She says she does them in front of the tv. So, I thought, "Well, any fool can do that". And I immediately put together some supplies -- glue stick, magazines, newspaper paper, wrapping paper, etc. That's it!! So here are my firsts ones. I think the top one needs something else to bring it all together, but I must remember this is just practice. Usually I fall asleep in front of the tv. This kept me awake but I still couldn't tell you what the tv was about. That means tv is a waste of time!!

Stencil Fun

For all of you who purchased Tim Holtz' mask, you can remove the negative from sticky back. You probably already knew this. I did not realize this until I saw Irene's blog. In removing the negative, I did lose a couple pieces because it is really sticky, but it's just another way to use this fun design. I sprinkled a little baby powder on strategic spots so I could work with it a little easier. You can try the "stick it to your clothing first" trick to remove some of the tack. I just love scrolls and swirls. Oh, and anything metallic, and glitter!!!

This is What I've Been Up To

My choice from my various attempts for the class ATC swap.  You can see the first "prototypes" below.  I also found the soap webbing is better on glossy cardstock.  The soap webbing is easy to do.  In a small container mix 2T water, 1/4C fabric paint, 1T clear dish liquid.  Using a drinking straw placed straight down into the container blow slowly and pass strips of cardstock over the bubbles as they rise to the top of the container.  It's easier to use strips.  I sprayed over the dried finished product with a mister for a second color.  I added a bit of glitter glue for the eyes and colored around the edges with a contrasting pigment ink.

Maybe this is better?

Let's see then, how about the discus -- colors are too boring....

This was my first idea - nope, the koi is too big for the ATC. 

The soap webbing looks good.

Inchies on Canvas

The almost finished product.  I wanted to display

all the inchies, and what better way than 

to mount the individual "canvases" on a larger

canvas.  The black squares are waiting for 

the ones made by people who were not at class last time.

I will post the finished canvas as soon as 

I receive the final works of art. Be sure to click on the image to 

see more detail in these little minis.

Why?

Why don't I post more often???  That is the question.  Some of us are very prolific and others not so much.  I've given it a lot of thought, and for me I've decided it's because I think I must wait until I have something "worthy" of posting.  What determines "worthy".  Is it because I'm concerned about how others will view and respond?  I mean I like my share of comments as well as the next person.  But when I think about it, it's really more important that I make marks on the page, so to speak, for myself -- not so much for others or for the praise or criticism I'll get from peers.  There are so many days that I get involved and don't make my art.  And why is that?  Because, truly, I love doing it.  I used to think I would do so much more art after I retired and I had lots of free time.  This is not true.  I just have more things to fill up my time, and art gets put on the back burner more than I'd like.  

I sincerely like trying all the new techniques and I devour tutorials on other blogs.  But what is my style?  After 10 years of doing this, I still don't think I have a style.  Do I need a style?  Why can't I just do what I see and like in the various publications and on others' blogs?    Can you tell I've had a couple glasses of wine??     Yep, DH and I had appetizers and wine at one of our favorite restaurants.  I don't want to sermonize on this subject, I just question my motivation.  I remember when I started going to the gym some years ago.  I told my son that I just didn't have the time to go to the gym every day or every other day.  He told me, "Mom, it's a lifestyle -- you have to make it a part of your day".  I think the same might apply to my art.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox now.  I need to commit to make it a lifestyle.  And, I need to post what I do, whether or not I think others will like it.  It's 8pm, do you know where your style is?