Tag Archives: create

Feb4

Just One More Class!

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Weeks ago I signed up for a short four-hour workshop with Cathy Carey.  Cathy is a working artist, with her paintings in many galleries!  She is known for the way her paintings  sing with color and movement.   Many years ago she offered a one day workshop to “Paint Like Monet!”  I jumped all over that, and was amazed at the results.  This is when I was still painting in watercolor, and hadn’t dabbled in  acrylics,or  learn what they could do!  So when I overheard her tell someone else that she was giving a half day workshop, I hopped right on it!

I have admired Cathy for her use of color, and how she marries opposites together for many years, and now I have the opportunity to learn more from her!

This weekend was the class I signed up for, and I was excited to be there!

What transpired was a fun morning with each artist having their own spin on the same subject.  What I learned were things I already knew, but never put together in this way!  I don’t profess to be anywhere in the same category as Cathy Carey, but you have to start somewhere, right?   Especially since I’m all over the place with my art!   This class, and what Cathy was teaching certainly spoke to me – Big Time!  The pictures of my art reflect the process.  I’m sure you will agree how far I need to go, but the results were fun, and I’m planning to keep working on her technique!  I love color!!!

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I have to admit, since I’m in love with color, I really like the second to the last photo.  The one with all the opposites, before the final color is applied.  To me it’s a lot more exciting, and it sings, to me!

Jan29

Time Once Again To Experiment!

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What Are Your Feelings On This?

This is the perfect time to start experimenting with our art!  Certainly, if I don’t experiment, I won’t grow.  I have a ten pound box of Cotton Linters sitting in my garage, still in its original box, and waiting for me to decide what to do with it.  The Linters were shipped to me many years ago when I was in my paper making phase, and since then it has been given away (still in the original box), and found its way back home (still in the original box)!  I can’t seem to get rid of them!  But for the last year or so, it has been calling to me….

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Cotton Linters, they are the cotton fibers pressed into large sheets of rather soft paper.  It is easily  torn up, and run through the blender.  The pieces  get pulverized to the point of being put on a screen, filtering out the water,  and dried flat – making handmade paper!  (This is the simple version!)

10# of Cotten Linters just waiting for inspiration!

10# of Cotton Linters just waiting for inspiration!

What on earth could it possibly be saying?

I only have vague ideas of what to do with it, but that ten pounds keeps just on the edge of my creative mind.  There isn’t any way I still want to make paper, but  I was thinking of preparing it the same way, and putting it into a mold of some kind to create a raised, molded image to place in a mixed media piece.  I know this sounds vague, it does to me too.  But like I said it seems to be circling the creative mind constantly!  If it can be pulverized in a blender, why can’t it be pressed into something with a shape.  Now I’m thinking if I put Elmer’s Glue with it, i could make some harder shapes.

OMG, just think of the possibilities!

This is how we come up with new ideas that  haven’t been done before, this is how art is created!  Trial and error!

Has anyone tried to do anything like this?  I’d love to hear about it, or your thoughts, and ideas…

I’ll definitely get back to this subject at a later date, but for now, I’m letting it simmer, and marinate up there in the old cabasa!

Jan25

I Believe…

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I Believe…

I believe in many things, but today I’m keeping it to ART!

  • I believe you must believe in yourself!
  • I believe you must live your beliefs!
  • I believe you must choose the people carefully to ask for a critique!
  • I believe we must keep working at our art, and grow!
  • I believe there are no mistakes, only opportunities to be more creative!

Each time I lose steam, and this is one of them, I have trouble getting back into the swing of things.  Usually it’s after the holidays…like now!  Sure there are many things going on in our lives, all our lives, but why is it that some people can shove all things aside, and keep creating, and some of us just can’t seem to get our mojo running?

I sit in front of my computer and... I got nothing!

That’s not like me!  My husband tells me I always have my soapbox dragging behind me, and I’m more than happy to stop, and climb on…  I really hope I’m not all that bad, but given the right prompt, I will, and have…climbed on my soapbox.  Rarely do I drag it out for religion, or politics, those are touchy subjects to many people, and we all have our own opinions!  Isn’t that what makes our country the great country that it is?  So, I try to stay away from those two subjects.

What will you talk about?

I’ll talk of art at the drop of a hat!  It doesn’t have to be a fancy hat, any old hat will do…..  I love hearing other artists talk of technique, better yet, watching them work.  We can learn so much from each other, maybe even creating a spin-off of something we have seen somewhere else.  I still find creating a bit intimidating at times, especially if I’m over saturated with art.  For example, I became fascinated  with Pinetrest many months ago.  I couldn’t believe how much inspiration I got from that site.  It pushed me to create many things  I hadn’t thought of, and I haven’t seen anywhere else.  But somewhere along the line, I felt like I was on overload and had to back off!  It almost zapped  my creative energy.  So I rarely go onto that website prior to painting.  If I have any ideas at all, I stay away!

Here’s what I just finished!

Tuesday morning, I went to the Escondido Municipal Gallery to participate in the “Artful Inches Fundraiser.”   Several artists donate their time to do a little painting on a portion of about 40 feet of watercolor paper that has been hung on the wall.  Over a period of three weeks,  artists come and go, leaving their  painting somewhere on the paper. Eventually the paper is all filled in, and the fundraiser begins!

Next month on February 9th, there will be a reception, the public will be able to purchase a section of the painting with the help of their selected size of matting. The prices vary depending on the size of the mat!   Last year was the First Annual Fundraiser, and it was a huge success!  The money supports the annual Student Art Show in April and participating teachers.

When I went in to paint, I hadn’t any idea what I would do, but I found myself alone to do it!  The room was empty, no one was painting on Tuesday morning except me!   So I was able to spread out and jump in!  This felt oddly freeing, being able to have such a huge space to paint without interruptions.  The picture above is what I created…..It just popped out of me – Journal Style!

  • I believe we should never compare ourselves to another artists!
  • I believe each of us is unique!
  • I also believe artists are incredibly fragile, even if we don’t think so!
  • I believe each day we have to work at stomping back our ego!
  • I believe I love what I do, and want us all to love what they do also!
  • I believe we are all connected and we need to share our creative energy!
  • I believe that my small group of close Artsie Fartsie girls are of significant importance in my life!
Jan21

Just Around The Corner

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Just when I thought I was out of the woods, it hit me…

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Every year I make special Valentine cards, or ATC’s for my four grandkids and send them.  They are made with much love, and each one  is different.  The kids love getting them in the mail, and they are  always saved in a special place when Valentine’s Day is over.  I thought about this project maybe three weeks ago, just about the time I was crashing from exhaustion due to the holidays. I thought I had plenty of time!  And that was the last time I thought about Valentines!  Until now!

Now I’m thinking – “Why did I wait so long, it’s just around the corner?”  Not one thought until today!  So today is sketching, and thinking of exactly what I want to create.  After sketching a few simple Valentines, and what I might want to do, the ideas started rolling through my mind.  I think something different might be appreciated, so the hearts will hang three together, one below the other.  Maybe my pasta machine will magically appear!  I could roll some clay, cut out hearts of all sizes, and bake them.  Or, maybe I could make them out of felt , or wax paper with something pressed  between two heart-shaped  pieces.  The last two choices are pretty simple and take practically zero time to make.  But if the pasta machine comes willingly from its hiding place, that might be more fun.  Decorating the edges, writing messages in the centers of the hearts, it could be fun!  I have included some pictures of past valentines for you to see.  Maybe they will kick-start your ideas, or email me your valentines, and I’ll put them up on the next post!

Sometimes the simple things get me going…

These are all simple solutions for creating a Valentine surprise, but it’s funny how something so simple can awaken your muse, and start everything flowing again.  Especially since I feel frozen in time this winter!  I’m not going to lie, every winter I feel the cold, and dampness, and all I really want to do is curl up, and watch a movie – or in this case watch Season 1 and 2 of Downton Abby!  I am officially addicted to this series, and aside from it being really good, I couldn’t even tell you what pulls me in!

So Here It is…

If anyone out there plans to create something for Valentine’s Day, it’s a great time to start!   My sketch is made, but my ideas continue rolling in, and all that has to happen now is the pasta machine needs to find its way to my art table….

Dear Pasta Machine,  I promise to spit shine you when you get here!

Jan8

Fake It ‘Till You Make It!

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WordPress has many helpful posts that enable a blogger like myself to see their evil ways. At the beginning of December, my intention was to catch up on all the changes, and helpful tips WordPress had to teach me. I’ve seen my evil ways…and now I want to change them! Well, it probably will happen […]

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