neldaream

1-31-12

I have been enjoying a class with the inspiring Misty Mawn.  I love the way Misty challenges us to think beyond what we have done in the past. 

Each day is devoted to a different expression of a subject.  Tuesdays are for creative writing.  I have begun writing again!  Last week we explored nature in art.  We were told to write down everything surrounding us at a particular moment, then make a poem from it.  I was enjoying a new CD of Indian flute music and this is the poem that came from that.

In a natural cathedral

an Indian flute sings.

Its clear notes pierce through

walls of green leaves.

A woman sits, long braids flowing,

breathing her life into the reed.

Listen to the call to worship.

Join the choir of sparrows,

squirrels, crickets.

Sing the song of peace.

 

 

Upcoming Book

I just received word from Seth Apter that I will be a contributing artist in his new book, The Pulse of Mixed Media.  I am so thrilled!  I have long admired Seth's work and his blog, The Altered Page.  The book is due to be released by North Light Books on 3/2/12.  You can pre-order it on Amazon, but I'll wait to see if Seth offers any autographed copies.

To find out more about the book go to Seth's blog.

Giant Punchinella

You never know what you will find at GoodWill thrift store.  Today I noticed a stack of these aluminum pans on the shelf.

I imediately thought; "Stencil"!  Doesn't it look like giant punchinella?  I love adding dots to a layered page.  This one should make some terriffic ones.  It would even be good with spray paint.  One of the great things about mixed media art is that you can use anything...and it can come from anywhere, even from GoodWill.

Boogie Down at Full Tilt

I just heard from Seth at The Altered Page that I will be in The Pulse this Sunday, July 3. This part of The Pulse has to do with artistic style.  Sounds like it will be very interesting.  Be sure to have a look.

We are doing the Full Tilt Boogie over here.  This is pretty much how our dining table has looked all week long.  But aren't we having fun.

My ever helpful assistant has been supervising.

Boogie On!

Listen to This Podcast

Today was the first of three days of classes at Art Fest in Port Townsend, WA.  I couldn't go this year, but I have such wonderful memories of the times I have gone.

There is a very enjoyable podcast on Teesha Moore's blog , (the April 1 post) where she talks with Rice Freeman Zachery.  They discuss how Teesha began ArtFest, how to find passion, and creativity in general.  Teesha is one of the most generous people I have ever met.  She is the person who probably has had the biggest influence in starting all the interest in mixed media and journaling that we are enjoying currently. 

I plan to listen to the podcast again.  It was that good.

 

Art Show Fun

We came home from the art show to internet connection problems, so I am just now able to post about it.

Being an emerging artist at the  Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts was an awesome experience.  This festival was exceptional in every way, from the quality of the art to the food to the wonderful volunteers and art patrons.  We could not have asked for a more wonderful experience.  And I even sold some art.  My favorite part was meeting all the wonderful people who came through the booth and the incredible volunteers who worked so hard to make this a fine show.

It was hard to decide how to hang everything without making a major investment in a display system.  We came up with the idea of hanging the paintings on chains from the tent poles.  It worked really well until the wind came up on Sunday.  Still, the system weathered the gusty day very well.

I could not have done it without my two handsome assistants.

My only regret is that we could not have put up a puppy-kissing booth.  We would have come home rich.

On a seperate note, please check out The Altered Page this week to see one of my collections featured in The Pulse, Artist's Collections and Obsessions.  Thanks, Seth!

Little Angels

I painted some angels on watercolor paper to use as ornaments.  When varnished on front and back the paper became durable enough to hang without warping.

Originally I had planned to sell these, but I couldn't keep from futzing with the details so they became too labor intensive. 

That is one of the intriguing things about doing art; we may have an idea of what we want to do, but the end product is always a bit of a surprise.  It's like the piece takes you where it wants to go...and that is one of the best things about doing art.

Visit These Blogs

I just learned today that Seth of The Altered Page will have a book published soon.  It will be similar to his online book, The Pulse.  Seth is issuing a call for art to be used in his book.  This sounds like a very interesting project.  If you would like to be considered as a contributing artist, check it out here.

Also...if you like folk art, check out the give away on PJ Hornberger's blog.  PJ is an internationally known folk artist.  She is generously offering this painting to one lucky commentor on this post.  But hurry on over there 'cause she is drawing the winner on Sunday afternoon.  Don't miss out!

Christmas could be coming to your house early this year.  Now, honestly, don't you think this looks like a Christmas cat?

Eden's Tree

Have you ever worked on a project that made you think, "Will this thing EVER be done?"  That's what I thought this week while working on this set of three paintings.  That tree was soooo tedious.  But, now that it's finished, I am thinking, "Maybe it was worth it, after all."

Don't know if you can tell from the picture, but the backgrounds on all three of these were done with metallic gold paint.  Yes, it's one of my favorite colors.  I just can't get away from it.

The tree was made from my hand painted papers.

The pears were painted on watercolor paper, then glued onto the canvas with gloss gel medium.

The coordinating small pieces are done on 8x8 canvas with acrylic paint and painted book pages.

Finished at last!

Painted Papers Project

It was so nice to have a stack of painted papers waiting for me after vacation.  All the while we were gone, I kept thinking about them.  Today I finished the first of two paintings using the papers as background.  This white with red dots piece was one of my favorites.  It was painted on a piece of junk mail; one of the many political letters we seem to get. 

I have been wanting to paint an angel with a more stylized face so this seemed like the perfect opportunity.  I really enjoyed working on this background.  I am going to explore this further.