Silks and Taffetas

I watercolored with watercolor brush and pan paints on a photocopy of my original sketches in my journal. I haven't gotten up the nerve to actually color the original. I don't particularly like the application on the left side -- it might be my inexperience. Then again the paper is very thin, so that probably doesn't help. The right side turned out more to my liking but the color is so light, it looks washed out. I'm still thinking about what to do on the original. Of course I could use something besides watercolor - since the paper isn't the greatest to receive watercolor. I will post when I have finished the original.

Who?

This was a fun collage - inspired by Lynne Perella. I'm sure nobody will notice. Lots and lots of layers of paint and images. I had bent some wire into a figure 8 "swirl". I had it on my work table and kept trying to figure out where to use it. I thought I might use it on a card, but it just wasn't appropriate for the cards I made (besides I haven't made many cards recently). Then it just seemed perfect to go over his mask.

Bird Talk

I started this with an image of wild birds and then got the idea to cut out my own bird from newspaper. I glued that to the support. I then used the negative left from cutting out the bird and made two more impressions. I added the sheet music to indicate birds singing (talking). There are lots of layers of acrylic paint on this. I wanted to use my label maker to add the words "Bird Talk" but thought about it and decided to leave it. It's hard to know when you're done. But I'd rather err on the underdone side. I must have my mind on birds as we just purchased outdoor cages and about 14 parakeets. I love watching their antics. They are little clowns. I also love their chattering. It just makes me feel happy.

GloryDays 2

Okay, it's finished I think. I added borders, a packing tape transfer, some text and a rubber stamp over her eye. I think that's enough. The altered pic on the right side is of two of my recruiters getting awards for their sales.

"Bad Drawings"

Sometimes I get anxious looking at a blank page in my journal. But then I think of the quote (don't know who said it) that went something like "Give yourself permission to make bad drawings". After all, it's just a cheap journal. There are days when the ideas flow so well, and then there are those days when I go to my supplies, close my eyes and pick three things to work with. It does make me use things that are sitting on my supply shelf. Journaling can be like cooking. I have a whole box of recipes, recipes on the itnernet, cookbooks, a pantry full of food and I cook the same things over and over. I have so many inspirational books for art. That is my primary source for ideas. Teesha Moore said to look at magazines upside down, so that your brain cannot see the symbols. That makes for better images and paper backgrounds to use in my journaling. On this page I used a photo I took and altered in Photoshop. I punched some flowers out of that photo. I then used the "negative" of the punches, a bit of watercolor crayon and covered over some drawings I did not like.

Crisis

Some musings that don't matter to anyone. I saw this quote posted on a company's "billboard" seen from one of our local freeways. They always have really cool quotes.

Memorial Day

A little late to be adding this since Memorial Day came and went. But I never do anything in the correct order, so why start now. On this one I used watercolors, rubber stamp and a transparency of a drawing I did of found things in nature.

Malia

Tada!!!! I finished my paper collage of my granddaughter Malia. Malia is a ball of energy. She came out of the womb screaming and wiggling, and she is still screaming and wiggling at 8 years of age. From the time she awakes (early) until 9 or 10pm, she is constantly on the move. And then suddenly, she just drops and is sound asleep. I would give anything to have that energy!!!! She is funny, creative and, of course because she is my grand, very smart. She is a terrific sales person and a bit lazy. If she can "con" someone else into doing her work, she will. She's very good with math, but when playing Yahtzee, she asked for a calculator. My husband told her she would need to figure out the scores in her head or no Yahtzee. Amazingly she did it and very quickly. Her birthday is the 28th, and I plan to give her this collage. I'm not sure that she will think it's so great, but I think she will appreciate it when she is older. I remember some gifts I received in my younger years. My parents had some intellectual friends who always gave me books. An example -- a book on the life of Albert Schweitzer. I was not at all excited about it. I was 10 at the time. I thought it was a totally boring gift!!

Shirley

This collage was done at home after Jacki's class. I have a red-headed friend named Shirley. Her hair is curly, so I used this tissue paper with roses. I also added (what else) glitter! This can be as laborious or as quick and easy as you prefer. It's much better to just put the paper on the canvas and not worry. If you don't like it you can just collage over it. In fact this is a canvas board that I had done an acrylic painting on. I hated the painting, so I collaged over it. Remember, there are no mistakes -- just some art is better than other art.

Jodi

I did this in Jacki Long's "Rip Roaring Collage" class. Just rip papers and glue them on a canvas. She was featured in Somerset Studio's March/April issue. This was such a fun class. It is so freeing not to be worrying about making something look pretty or perfect. She uses only paper on her work and a tiny bit of glaze. I, of course, had to add glitter to mine when I got home. Why? Because I love anything shiny, metallic, or glittery!!!