Handmade By Jessica

Nachooo!

2012-01-17T15:13:00.000-05:00

I'm right in the middle of packing for yet another move. This makes the third time my family and I have moved in 3 years, so I've become a pro at this gig. I'm not, however, looking forward to the logistical nightmare that is moving a family where one member is an artist (moi) and one is a computer hobbyist (my better half). Oh, and we're both collectors (*cough* not hoarders! *cough*). We're staying in the same area, so it won't be as difficult as our last move when we found a place 2 hours away. Suffice it to say, this blog will be taking a back seat until we're settled into the new place.

Amidst this chaos, I'm still creating. I was in a swap with a woman whose son is a big fan of the movie Nacho Libre. My son and I are, too, so she asked me to create some artwork based on the movie. She gave me free reign. I'm not the world's greatest illustrator, so I knew drawing Nacho himself was out. I decided to explore the food themes in the movie, and came up with the 2 following mixed media pieces. Both works are done on 5"x7" canvas board.

"Get that corn outta' my face!"

"Eagle eggs?! I'm not listenin' to you, you're crazy!"

I'm really happy with how they turned out, and after my initial panic of not knowing exactly what I was going to come up with, I was pleasantly surprised with the direction, and grateful for her helping me to think outside the box a bit. After all was said and done, I realized I should have had the egg opened with the yolk spilling out to add more visual interest, but c'est la vie. Art is like life sometimes, as it can be a learning experience.

I really hope she likes these! They were mailed today, so I've got a few days of nervous waiting to hear back from her.

Thank you, as always, for stopping by! Hope you all have an artful day!

Just a bit o' mail art.

2012-01-08T16:28:00.000-05:00

Life takes many new turns, and for us, it means another move. We're staying in the same area, but want to find a smaller place in the country. I really miss seeing trees out my window instead of a busy road, and being able to have a camp fire at night, and seeing deer in my yard. Suffice it to say, with a move coming up, I'll be posting here less in the next couple of months, but I promise I shall return!

In between the packing up, I have been creative, mostly making mail art. I find that handmade postcards are a nice way to squeeze a little art into a day. Here's a couple recent ones:

Hope all of you are doing well and enjoying a great start to the New Year!

The Pulse!

2012-01-07T17:31:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is Sunday, which means a new installment of Seth Apter's The Pulse. Yours truly will be among the artists featured. Seth puts a lot of time and work into this, so pop over and have a look, please and thank you!

My Etsy!

2011-12-17T15:00:00.000-05:00

Well, I finally did it. I'm very late in posting about this, but back in the summer I finally opened my own Etsy shop. It's a humble little spot on the web I've named Blue Monkey Market. Currently, there are cards listed and some polymer clay ornaments, all made by yours truly, of course. In the future, I hope to offer more, like hand carved rubber stamps, possibly some crocheted items, paper craft kits, other polymer clay doo-dads and what-nots, and more.

I'm running a sale right now. Just enter the coupon code BLUEWINTER to get 15% off your order. I provide fast shipping, too! Many thanks to those that have already placed an order.

Here's a few of the things up for sale right now:

Handmade polymer clay Christmas ornaments.

Handmade cards.

The Pulse: Technique and Tool

2011-11-20T14:06:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to report that I'm one of the featured artists on today's chapter of The Pulse. This time around, Seth asked the participating artists what technique or tool they can't live without. Head on over to read my response, as well as the other artists' responses.

Have an artful day!

My blog on Be@Home

2011-10-13T06:00:00.001-04:00

Just a quick post to share some exciting news. My humble little blog was featured on Be@Home's Best of the Web series yesterday! I was excited to be noticed among all the wonderful and prolific bloggers out there. Go check out their site and see the other bloggers who inspire and entertain!

Why not Halloween?

2011-10-08T06:00:00.002-04:00

Those who know me know that my love to create means I'm always working on some kind of project, and usually several at once. I've found that I feel most inspired and creative during the colder months of the year. Autumn and winter suit me just fine; I'd take cold over hot any day.

Considering this, it's odd that I almost never create anything with a Halloween theme. I enjoy makings things for other holidays, so why not Halloween? This year, a dear online friend mentioned that she loved Halloween and the ensuing crafty endeavours, and for some reason, it sparked something in me to make some Halloween-inspired items. Looking back, I realize it had me thinking outside the box, and getting out of my comfort zone. So I had some fun with traditional Halloween colors and images. These little creations helped me break through the wall that is artist's block, and got me back on track, artistically-speaking.

Witchy Woman ATC

Witchy Woman ATC #2

These artist trading cards may not be masterpieces or artwork on a grand scale, but they're fun to make and trade, and there's not much I let get in the way of my fun.

I'm still right here, giving blood, keeping faith.

2011-09-20T15:40:00.000-04:00

My apologies to my readers for my silence. I am making art, which is always a good thing. It appears the slump has passed, or at least just faded away. There was no big bang, or major revelation that spurred my recent creativity, it just crept back in, silently, as it's done many times in the past. I'm grateful, but wish I had more insight to the workings of my own artistic mind. I'd love a guidebook on how to not fall into a rut again, but I know at some point, I'll feel less than inspired, and the cycle will repeat. For now, though, I am creating.

Lately, my mind is all over the place. Many days, my mind, as well as my heart, is in a secluded spot by Rush Creek, off of Highway 395 in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains of California. It's a familiar place that I've been many times. Nearby, several aspen trees bear the carvings my brothers and I made on past visits. Behind me is a flat-topped hill with 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains. It's so quiet there you can hear the earth breathing.

Other days, I find myself thinking of the high desert of the American southwest. Red rock country. Another home for my heart.

The traveler in me is restless, and has been for a very long time. I yearn for the ocean, canyons, sagebrush, mountains the scope of which Virginia can't touch, endless night skies where the stars burn brighter than you could ever imagine and roads that lead to new, magnificent discoveries that take your breath away. Forever the dreamer, that's me.

I seek to pour this longing into my artwork. Not sure if I'm succeeding yet, but that's never stopped me before.

Mixed media tentacle triptych made for a swap with an online friend and fellow artist.

The state I'm in.

2011-08-11T06:00:00.001-04:00

So, I'm currently ~~working~~ stumbling my way through a bit of a slump. Actually, this "slump" has been off and on for a few months now. I know how to change it, and sometimes I manage to climb over the wall, but I can't seem to tear down the wall, and that's what I really want to do.

Mt. Pilchuck, Washington. Sunset.

Somewhere, amidst the slump, I found myself realizing I was making it even worse by trying to force what cannot be forced. Oh, sure, I can mold any idea into something pliable, but this feels more like barely scratching the surface. I know there's so much more below, but I struggle to reach it.

Beach at Deception Pass.

My brother, who is younger than me but full of wisdom, said to ride it through, let the slump hang around for a bit, let it run its course. Just the idea of that sparked a small something today, and I managed to eek out a couple small works. I also had success the other day when my dear friend Barb advised going into the studio just to play, with no set plan to "make something". And I also know that the best way to cultivate new ideas is just by working, doing something, anything, to get the juices flowing.

Isn't it just lovely to know these things, yet still find yourself staring down the wall? *sigh* Yup.

Another friend mentioned perhaps I was a bit depressed after the big build up to, and then returning from, my trip to Washington. She may be onto something.

The Cascades.

Regardless, here I am. I have the tools to break through, I know how, and I know I'm only making things worse by focusing on it. Yet...here I am. At the same time, I can feel that once I break through this, something amazing awaits on the other side. I'm on the cusp of...something, and that's exciting.

Mt. Pilchuck.

And my trip to Washington? It was amazing, just what I needed. Meeting Barb for the first time "in real life" was...awesome. It just solidified what I already knew to be true, that Barb and I are a lot alike, and that I cherish her presence in my life. Barb doesn't demand anything of you, she allows you to be you, and at the same time she challenges you, in a good way. We laughed, a lot. We watched movies, and laughed some more. We made art. Mostly, we spent time just enjoying being together. We also took a jaunt over the Cascades to meet up with some other online friends, which was a most unforgettable experience. What happens when you get 4 intelligent, creative, funny and unabashed friends together, who have never met in person before, in a random Denny's in the middle of the afternoon? Laughter and many smiles ensue. You might also get a few stares, and your table may be referred to by an employee as "where the party is!" I pretty much just stayed laughing the entire time.

Snoqualmie Falls.

Anyway, I'll keep going the direction I am, working a bit here and there, trying not to worry too much and just letting it flow. And I'll try my best to not beat myself up about it, which is, of course, much easier said than done.

Art journal inspiration.

2011-07-28T13:04:00.000-04:00

I don't yet have a new post ready for my art journaling series, but I'm (slowly) working on that. I thought today I'd share some inspiration for all you art journalers out there. Yesterday I ran across (thanks to the new addiction that is Pinterest) this, a tumblr page dedicated to art journals, collected by Barb. It's a wonderful source to get the creative juices flowing, and to see how others use their journals.

Now, let's talk about what you'd like to see in future art journal posts. In the last several months, I've been regularly checking my stats here (something I rarely, if ever, did before). I've had this blog since 2007, and by and large, the number one post people are reading is my Fearless Art Journaling post on backgrounds. I'm not too surprised, as that post goes in line with a lot of the art journal questions I am asked. I myself find the backgrounds the easiest part - it's the focal point that sometimes does me in. I have some ideas for the series, but I'd like to know if there's anything my readers would like to see. Any questions about art journals you'd like answered? Any techniques you'd like me to cover? Feel free to add your ideas, comments and questions in the comments.

Hope you all have an artful day!

Buried Treasure 2011

2011-07-28T11:22:00.001-04:00

It's time, once again, for Seth Apter's Buried Treasure. To take part, all you need do is repost one or more of your favorite blog entries going back to the beginning of your blog. I believe this is my 3rd time joining in, if memory serves. This time, I'm not going back very far. This post was part of the A-Z Blogging Challenge 2011 that I took part in. Thanks for stopping by!

The following was orginally posted on April 26, 2011. I didn't have to go back very far this time to find a favorite.

Veil (n.) A cover; disguise; a mask; a pretense.

There are many things in this world hidden behind a veil. For a multitude of reasons, often fear, people hide parts of themselves from others. We fear someone may not like what they see and may ridicule or alienate us, and most everyone yearns to feel they belong somewhere. Our own government hides behind pretenses, to keep us uninformed and controllable. That's not conspiracy theory; you're kidding yourself if you think they tell us everything.

i can understand sometimes feeling the need to keep a part of yourself tucked away, safe from mocking and misunderstanding, but more and more i seek to let out those "secrets". i'm finding the release necessary to feel that i'm really presenting myself as who i am, and also necessary towards making strides to becoming the me i am and am meant to be. Often, when we share a hidden part of ourselves, someone else feels the courage to respond with "Me, too!", and instead of feeling alone, you both find common ground and let out a little sigh, thinking, i'm so glad i'm not the only one. By remaining behind the mask, we isolate ourselves. If we are free and open and honest, we make connections.

But let's say you pull aside the veil and someone doesn't like what they see? All you can do is be honest and true to yourself, and if someone has a problem with that, better to find out sooner rather than later.

If more of us let down our guard and shared those things we most fear sharing, i think we'd find we're a lot more alike than we think. We may find common ground with our worst enemies, and maybe, just maybe, a lot more people would feel less like weirdos or freaks or outsiders. A small connection can go a long way towards understanding and compassion, and the world can always use more of both.

Frida, and finding my voice.

2011-07-25T05:00:00.001-04:00

Last week, while visiting my dear friend Barb in Washington state (more about my visit in a future post), we watched the movie Frida. I'd seen it before, but it had been awhile, and this time it struck a chord with me that it hadn't during the first viewing. I had an epiphany of sorts concerning an artist's life and how it affects their work.

Ever since the first time I laid eyes on Frida Kahlo's work, I've been a fan. One of the many things I find very appealing about her paintings is their personal aspect. It struck me during the movie, while ruminating about her life and the obstacles she had to overcome, this is something I should strive for more in my own work. Often, when I don't like a piece, I find it's because it feels contrived and lacks my true voice. Frida's paintings are her paintings; no one else could have painted them, ever. They are true to her, and she allowed so much to be spilled onto the canvas. There are times when I am forcing the work, and struggling. I'd do much better to allow the art to come through. I tend to forget this, and then a wall goes up.

I'm very interested in Frida herself, aside from the artist. She intrigues me. This leads me back to her artwork as my interest in her makes me want to hear what she has to say. Some of the most valuable messages are related through art, maybe especially of the variety without words. Often, the most important things can't be contained with words.

Frida shared herself through her art. We are so lucky to get a glimpse into this other world, a world of deep emotions, secret desires (or not so secret), dreamscapes...nightmares. The meat of it.

Everything I create will have my voice attached in some way, even when I'm "forcing" it; it can't be helped. Because I am the creator, part of me comes through. But I crave more. I often end a day in the studio feeling like I didn't create the art I really wanted to, the art I see in my mind and feel in my heart. Sometimes I tap into it easily, and it just flows, and reaches a point where it feels like the art is making itself. Other times, not so much.

I will not be satisfied until I feel I really allow my voice to speak more often than not. I want to create my art. I want my work to have a personal connection to me, even if veiled and only seen through my eyes. I'm getting closer to this, I can feel it.

Still...the wall has been up. I returned from Washington reinvigorated, refreshed and inspired, yet when I sit down to work, nada. I've turned out a couple small things, stumbling all the way, but it feels like there's something hidden, just beyond, and I can't quite make it out...

This life is a learning process, and so can be creativity. In both, it's important to let go of control (or the illusion of) sometimes and just go along for the ride. Letting go of fear is key if you want to really live, and if you want to realize the potential of the person and artist inside you. (I think I should heed my own advice.)

Coming to you from the left coast.

2011-07-10T21:06:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to do a quick post to say that you can find one of my answers on today's Style File, part of Seth Apter's The Pulse series. Be sure to check out the other artists included today; there is much inspiration to be found!

Also, I'm currently in Washington state visiting my dear friend Barb, and having a wonderful time. I'm thrilled to finally be "live and in person" with her, someone I've known online for 6 years or more. I'm also happy to have a much needed getaway and a shift in perspective. I wish I could take these cooler temperatures home with me...

New edition of Seth Apter's The Pulse!

2011-06-30T12:09:00.000-04:00

I wanted to do a quick post to let you all know about Seth Apter's latest incarnation of The Pulse. This time around over 125 artists contributed to this "online survey in words and pictures" (quoting Seth), and I'm thrilled to be a part of this 5th edition! It begins this coming weekend, with posts on Saturday 7/2, Sunday 7/3 and Monday 7/4. Following this big kick off, The Pulse will be posted every Sunday following.

Seth describes the series this way: The Pulse is a collaborative project that has been part of The Altered Page since January 2008. Its purpose is to "tap into the pulse" of the mixed-media arts community and share with you the "state of the art." This project will introduce you to new artists, help you get to know familiar faces even more, and provide a window into the creative hearts and minds of the talented pool of artists working today.

I have enjoyed the inspiration and insight provided by this series in the past, and being able to participate this time around is the icing on the cake. I invite you to visit Seth's blog and join in on the fun!

Blog break, it seems...

2011-06-28T09:48:00.000-04:00

I had hoped to have a post up yesterday, or even today, but it appears I am needing to take a bit of a break from this series and my blog. The art journaling posts entail quite a bit of work, often taking me a few hours to write up. "Real life" is demanding quite a bit of my attention right now, and I just can't seem to devote as much to my blog. I have a getaway coming up in July, so I shall return after that with new posts.

In the meantime, I encourage you to utilize my previous journal posts and their tips/techniques, as well as search out links on the web for other art journal artists. There's a ton of inspiration out there. Keep playing and experimenting in your journals, and remember, don't fear the mistakes - there are lessons to be found there.

Hope you all have an artful day, and thanks for reading!

Fearless Art Journaling returns on Monday, and...

2011-06-25T06:00:00.000-04:00

Thank you to everyone who has been reading and enjoying my art journal series. I had hoped to have a new post up by now, but alas, this week has been very full. I'll be back on Monday with Part 6, where I'll begin a page and show some of the process.

I want to extend a call for requests. Is there something you'd like to see discussed in a future post in this series? Please share any thoughts on what you'd like to see as this series goes along, as well as any questions, in the comments.

Hope you have an artful day!

Fearless Art Journaling, Part 5: Own It.

2011-06-20T18:35:00.001-04:00

I want to talk today about making your art journal your own. As with most any art form, there is a tendency for artists to jump on the bandwagon, so to speak, and follow the lead of those before them. While being inspired by another's art or learning a technique from someone else to use in your own journal is helpful, outright copying of another's style is not something I am a proponent of. Right now, in the art journal community, I am seeing a lot of the same kinds of pages done over and over. Sometimes your own style and the art you tend to make just happens to be the current trend, and that can't be helped. I'm not saying you should stop what you're doing if your pages look very similar to someone else's, but try not to get caught in the trap of thinking that your pages have to look a certain way to be art.

I hope I'm getting my point across here without being preachy. What I'm basically saying is, make your own art, not someone else's. Getting ideas from other artists is one thing, but don't try to force yourself to recreate someone else's pages. You have your own voice, and your own story to tell, in your own way. And even if you do attempt to copy someone's work, either for practice (as is sometimes done to learn a medium or style) or because you've reached a creative road block, know that your own style can't help but come through anyway. You can't silence the artist in you; even if you try, your voice will find a way to come through.

To give you an idea of the variety art journals out there, I'll share some links to other artists. Feel free to share links to your favorite journal artists in the comments.

John Copeland One of my favorite artists. His own website once showed many of his journal pages, but unless I'm missing something, doesn't seem to now. He is an amazing artist who has been inspiring me for years.

Barron Storey Barron was responsible for getting John Copeland into art journals. Amazing work to be seen here!

Sabrina Ward Harrison I first discovered this artist not long after her first published journal, Spilling Open: The Art of Becoming Yourself, was released. I didn't know anything about her at the time, but after only flipping through a few pages, I bought the book right then.

Traci Bunkers I really enjoy her raw and vivid pages.

Aisling D'Art You may already be familiar with this artist. Lots of info to be found on her site about journaling and other arts.

Amanda Kavanagh A link to her blog where you'll find further links to her sketchbooks and other book arts. On a side note, her blog name is "craftmonkeys", which was one of my ideas for a blog name when I was ready to start my own blog here. I was actually shooting for "craftmonkey", but alas, it was taken here at blogger, and elsewhere on the web.

Margaret Huber

Guylaine Couture

This is just a very small sampling of journal artists out there, but I hope it gives you some idea of how varied art journals can be, as varied as the artists themselves.

To further lessen any fear you may have, how about I share some of my own less-than-successful pages?

This page is a mess, in my eyes. It has no direction at all, no purpose. A page doesn't necessarily need purpose, but this one isn't saying anything especially meaningful to me. What a waste of good, vintage children's book pages! Ok, it's hurting my eyes. Let's move on.

Another doozy. My only goal in making this page was wanting to use crackle medium. Well, I did succeed there, but again, this page isn't saying anything, and it's visually very unappealing to me.

Ay yi yi. Ok, this page is not me, at all. I was playing around with using painted tissue paper, and somehow I channeled whimsy, which is generally not my style. Nothing wrong with whimsy, it's just not me.

Art being relative, there are those that might actually enjoy these pages, and that's fine. But it's my journal, so the audience I'm looking to please is myself. The reason these pages feel "wrong" to me is not as much their visual aspect (though they're not too pleasant to look at) as the fact that they aren't "me". I was trying to create a certain look and missed being true to myself and the artist inside me. These pages do not read authentic to me, because they're not. They're kind of empty and lacking soul.

I hope showing these pages can help you feel better about making mistakes and learning from them. Everyone has "ugly" art hiding somewhere, it's just that most of us don't like to show it off. Maybe we should. Those just starting might feel less intimidated if they knew other artists don't always hit the target.

I feel it very important that I say this, in regards to any kind of art or craft you'd like to pursue (and this can apply to most anything in life, as well): you can. I'm not saying every one of us is going to be the next Van Gogh. What I am saying is you can do this. You can make the art you see in your mind, you can learn the ways others make use of their tools and mediums, and you can take your knowledge and apply it to your own art. It's not difficult; it simply takes time, practice and a willingness to learn.

Make your journals authentic by being you. Let it out. Don't be afraid to get messy and make mistakes. Don't be afraid to make something "ugly" - it can always be reworked or covered entirely. You have to let go of the fear to really get where you want to be. It sounds like a platitude, but it really is true. Fear will hold you back, in so many ways. It's your journal; claim it as such.

Fearless Art Journaling, Part 4: Prompts.

2011-06-17T06:00:00.002-04:00

So far in this series, I've discussed supplies, moving past the blank page, reasons why people keep a journal and getting started with backgrounds. For today's post, I'll share some prompts to get your creative juices flowing and aid in giving your page personal meaning. Is it necessary for a page to have personal meaning? Certainly not. I've created plenty of pages just because I felt like playing with my supplies, or wanted to experiment with a new technique, or just wanted to be creative. Remember, there are no rules! While keeping that in mind, it's also very satisfying to lend a personal aspect to your journal. After all, it's your journal, it's your place to express your thoughts, feelings and ideas, without fear of judgement or concern of whether what you create is "good enough". Let it reflect who you are. Be yourself! Even if you don't want to "spill your guts", these prompts can hopefully give you a place to start on days when you're at a loss of what to journal about. All combined, I hope the posts so far will make you feel more at ease in getting started, or continuing on, for those who've already jumped in.

Art Journal Prompts:

A memory from childhood.
Your favorite place.
Favorite quotes.
The previous night's dream.
A memorable trip or vacation.
The seasons.
What 3:00 am feels like.
Favorite songs, and what they mean to you.
Favorite color(s).
Favorite book(s).
What makes you sad.
What makes you happy.
What gives you strength.
What scares you.
Daydreams.
A special moment from your day.
An important person in your life.
What "home" means to you.
The greatest gift you've ever been given.

Complete these sentences:

I am...
I want...
I miss...
I wish...
I wonder...
I will...
I have...
I can...
I enjoy...
I love...
I remember...
I am proud of myself for...
I dream of someday...
I am happiest when...
I am grateful for...

A journal page can revolve around a list:

Places you'd like to travel to.
Facts about you.
Good friends and why they're special to you.
Jobs you've had.
Pets you've loved.
Favorite foods.
What you love about your life.
What you'd like to change.
Favorite authors.
Favorite movies.
Goals for the future.

Be creative. You can write a response, or draw, paint, collage...you can come at it literally, or go abstract. It's all up to you.

Following my last post, reader Leanne asked, "What do you put in your art journal? Do you write about your day, draw, or just decorate pages?" My answer is all of the above, plus more! My journal is my place to write about the day's or life's events, my diary, my playground, a way to release pent up emotions, a free art space... The list goes on. I write, draw, paint, collage, attach photos and ephemera... I work in different ways, some days just doing a background, other days adding to a previous page or working an entire page in one sitting. Use your own journal in a way that feels natural to you. The key is to express yourself without holding back. No one ever has to see your journal if you so choose. While you may decide to share it with others, your art journal should be for you first.

To give you some concrete examples, I'll take a couple of the prompts and share how I might go about journaling them.

Your favorite place:

I have lots of favorite places, some very specific, like my studio, and some broader, like the American southwest. For this example, I'll go with San Fransisco.

Some things I might include on a page about San Francisco are sketches of the Golden Gate Bridge, photos I took during my time there, postcards, city maps, chopstick wrappers from a meal in a Chinatown restaurant or clippings from local newspapers. I might journal about my favorite ocean side spot in the city, or the concert I saw in Golden Gate Park, or how much I love when the fog rolls in, or how it feels to be in the city at night. Or I may forgo all of this and just paint a picture of the ocean.

The seasons:

For this prompt, I could write about my favorite season, which is autumn, and paint some leaves or make leaf prints, or even attach actual leaves to the pages. Or I could journal about what season it is currently. If it's summer, I could pick flowers and press them between the pages of a heavy book, then after a few days, when they're dry and have flattened out, I could put them on a page using clear tape to protect them. I could sketch the flowers, the trees, or use my own photos. I could write about favorite summertime activities or memories, or summer vacations as a child, or include quotes about summer, though knowing me, I would most likely lament about the crisp autumn air instead, as I've never been fond of the heat.

I'll close this installment by sharing a couple of my pages and how they came to be.

On the above page, I started with my background, not knowing what direction to go in. I added an image transfer, painted, inked, stamped. I was reading The Invisibles at the time, so I added a powerful passage that had stuck with me. This page initially had no direction at all, other than the need to create, and ended up having meaning for me and feels complete.

EDIT: Somehow, I must have deleted my explanation of how the above page came into being...

So, for this page, I started with a background using watercolors and acrylic paint. I added image transfers, including a photo of myself from years ago. On the left side, I glued down a piece of paper my son wrote on while we played board games one night. I added a favorite quote from Annie Dillard, and a little photo I took at a local park.

More often than not, I don't start my pages with any direction in mind; I find direction as I work. Other times I know exactly what I want to do and do it. But for those times when my mind feels empty and I have no inspiration, looking to a prompt can get me moving in the right direction, that direction being following the creative path where it leads.

Fearless Art Journaling, Part 3: Backgrounds.

2011-06-15T06:00:00.036-04:00

Last time, I touched on overcoming the blank page, and today's post goes in line with that. I'm going to give you some easy ways to create interesting backgrounds for your journal pages. Having these techniques at your disposal helps to overcome the fear of knowing where to begin.

I encourage you to search the web or seek out books on art for more techniques. Pick a medium and learn all you can about different ways to use and alter it. There's so much out there, and these are only a few, and only some of my personal favorites. The following techniques can be applied to all kinds of art, not just art journals, and in fact are taken from other sources, like crafts and fine arts.

For these techniques, I'm working on 140 lb. watercolor paper, cut to 3"x5", but of course, you can create these backgrounds directly onto your journal pages. If you decide you want to experiment first on swatches instead of your journal, add the technique info and instructions on the back. These will act as a quick how-to reference, complete with a visual example. If you punch a small hole on the same corner of each swatch, you can join them together with a ring. You could also put them in a file box for easy reference. Do the same with future experiments of your own, and you will soon have a plethora of ideas at the ready, plus you'll have a record of not only what worked, but what didn't.

The first background technique I want to show you is glazing with acrylic paint. This is really easy and yields fantastic results. It's one I use often.

Supplies:

Acrylic paint. Any two (or more) colors (more detail on this below). Any brand; can be craft, student or artist quality paint. I used Liquitex Basics for these samples.
Water.
Paint brush.
Paper towels.

Optional supplies:

Gesso. (I did use gesso for this sample.)
Acrylic medium. Any brand, matte or glossy.
Baby wipes.

If you're not using gesso, begin by brushing your base coat onto the surface. For this first color, it's best to go with a lighter shade, and choose graduating darker colors for the next couple of layers. (You can go dark to light, it just gives a different look, and the top layers of color might get lost in the base color.) Brush on 2 coats of your base color, allowing to dry between coats.

If you're using gesso, begin by brushing it onto your surface. I often like to brush mine going in one direction first, and after letting it dry, brushing in the opposite direction for the second coat. This gives a bit more texture, and mimics the look of canvas. Allow to dry, then brush on 1 coat of your base color.

Once the base coat is completely dry, choose a color for glazing. You want a color that's darker than your base; it can be a color in the same family as your base, or even a contrasting color. Squeeze out a small amount of paint, add a few drops of water and mix. The more water you add, the more easily the paint is wiped off and the less gets left on the page. Depending on the effect I'm going for, I tweak the ratios, but generally, I prefer the consistency of heavy cream. After you do this a few times, you'll be able to compare the differences when using less vs. more water. Paint this mixture onto your surface.

Now take a paper towel and begin wiping off the second coat. Some of the areas may have already begun to dry, as acrylics dry quickly. Wipe away as much or as little as you want. Either dampen the paper towel just a bit or use a baby wipe to remove even more paint. Let dry.

You can add more layers of color if you want, or just stop here. Already, in a few simple steps, you have some interest going on. There's detail and a little texture.

Optional tips:

Better quality paints do have more pigment vs. filler, so they maintain their vibrancy and color better craft paints when watered down. Craft paints will work just fine, though.
Try adding a little fluid acrylic medium to the second coat water/paint mixture for a thicker glaze. More paint will adhere to the page, and by using either matte or glossy medium, you can change the surface's sheen.

For the second background technique, I want to show you one way to apply paint without using a brush. This results in a grungy look and is also easily accomplished.

Supplies:

Acrylic paint. Any brand, quality or color.
Old credit/plastic card. If you don't have an old plastic card laying around, you could also use a piece of cardboard, chip board or similar.

Optional supplies:

Gesso. (Again, I used gesso before applying the paint.)

Squeeze out a small amount of paint. Dip the edge of your card into the paint a couple of times, then drag across your surface. Experiment with more or less paint on your card. Make lines by tapping on paint using the card's edge, or scrape lines into the paint. Allow to dry.

Squeeze out a second color of paint and apply in the same way. This time I picked up less paint with the card.

You can, of course, add more colors or stop at one or two. Remember, no rules!

Here are a few other quick and easy ways to do backgrounds:

Acrylic paint mixed with a little water, then painted onto a gessoed surface. While the paint is still wet, add drops of or spray rubbing alcohol. The wetter the paint, the more the paint wicks away. Since alcohol and paint don't mix, you can create some interesting effects.

Torn book pages were glued onto a gessoed surface, allowed to dry, then painted over with a light wash of white acrylic paint and left to dry. For the final step, I glazed on a wash of acrylic paint and wiped with a paper towel. Experiment with using different papers, like tissue paper, handmade paper or scrapbook paper.

Green and blue watercolors painted onto the surface. While the paint is wet, sprinkle on salt. Experiment with different kinds of salt, from table salt (finer granules) to kosher salt (coarse granules) to rock salt (very coarse granules and small chunks). Allow to dry completely before wiping away the salt.

Watercolor pencils were used to draw basic shapes onto the surface, then water was painted over the entire thing with a brush.

Blue and green soft pastels were colored onto the surface, then blended with a finger. Be sure to apply fixative or sealer before adding more layers or when the page is complete. You can also paint over the surface with fluid acrylic medium. It will blend the colors more as well as add a protective seal.

A rubber stamp was inked with Distress Inks by Ranger, spritzed with water, then stamped onto the surface. By spritzing with water before stamping, it adds a watercolor effect.

These are just some of the many techniques out there for use in creating interesting backgrounds. A good background is a foundation for you to add to, or even to use alone with only some journaling added on top. Try using a combination of these techniques in the same background. Don't be afraid to experiment with your supplies to create new effects! You may discover lots of techniques to add to your arsenal. After all, if your experiments don't work, they can always be covered up, and you're learning what works and what doesn't.

I hope this has helped give you a good place to start. In the next installment, I'll share prompts to get your juices flowing and the ideas brewing, as well as give your page some direction.

As always, share any of your favorite ideas for backgrounds in the comments section. I am always happy to answer questions, too!

Fearless Art Journaling, Part 2: Getting Started.

2011-06-13T06:00:00.044-04:00

Welcome to the second part of my series for those new to art journaling. Thank you to everyone who read and/or commented on Part 1!

I'd like to quickly mention that the supplies listed on my previous post are my favorite supplies, and not at all necessary to jump into the world of art journaling. Many journal artists simply use paper and pencil or pen, and create gorgeous and authentic journals. So don't feel that you simply must run out and buy all the things I mentioned before you can take part. I'd like to stress that you can use whatever supplies you already have on hand and feel comfortable working with. To quote one of my very favorite artists, Lynne Perrella, "It's not what you have, it's how you use it."

I'd also like to repeat reader spinjenny's comment about referring to an art journal as a "visual journal" instead. The word "art" sounds scary to some people, and I can understand that. The notion of what is art can be debated 'til the cows come home, and I'm not going to get into that here. We all have our own ideas about what art is. An art journal, simply put, is a journal with a visual aspect. A journal may only contain writing, while an art or visual journal may contain photos, drawings, bits of paper, etc. I hope this way of looking at it can help you feel less intimidated to join in on the fun.

I'd been keeping these types of journals for years before I ever heard someone refer to them as "art journals". For me, it was a natural progression. I used to filled pages upon pages with words alone, then at some point added bits of ephemera from my life and photos, then later little sketches, until finally the paint and images eclipsed the words. I found myself more and more at a loss for words, mostly because what I wanted to say couldn't be contained by words. Now, there is a lot less writing in my journals and a lot more of the visual nature.

So, let's talk about why someone would want to keep an art journal. There's a multitude of reasons, and I doubt I'll be able to touch on them all, but here's a few that I have found to be true for me and other artists I've talked to or read about.

To keep a record of one's days. This may be one of the most common reasons. As I said, I have kept a journal for years. In the last few years, I've not been as prolific as I once was (I used to journal everyday), and sometimes I regret not recording some of my life's treasured little moments, some now forgotten. A photo or a scrapbook page can yield a record, too, but an art journal is different in that it can be more personal. Photos, say from a trip or vacation, are wonderful, but sitting down with your journal and sketching the scenery, or pasting ticket stubs and other ephemera (or your photos) onto pages and writing about how the scenery makes you feel or about your experiences or activites adds a whole other dimension.
Experimenting with new supplies or techniques. Maybe you just got your first set of soft pastels and are anxious to use them, but not yet ready to commit to a canvas or big art piece. Your journal can be a virtual playground for trying out supplies and hashing out ideas, and these pages can be a jumping off point for future art projects. When I'm feeling less than inspired or in a creative rut, flipping through the pages of my journals helps. I rediscover ideas I want to flesh out more, and sometimes I find myself adding to existing pages that I previously considered finished.
As a means to release emotions and creativity. Art is a lot of things to me, one of them being therapy. I find that the more I explore my creativity, the better I feel. I have suffered with depression since I was 13, and have found art to be, for me, the best way to combat the deep sadness that threatens to overcome me if I allow it. Art fills me with a sense of pride, nurtures my self esteem, abolishes boredom and offers joy and a feeling of accomplishment. Art journaling in particular results in these feelings, as I can be as free as I want to be with no worry of what someone else thinks of it. It's for me, and though I may choose to share my journals with others, I don't have to. No one ever has to see what's between the pages, so allow yourself to express anything and everything, "good" or "bad", happy, sad or angry, with no thought of whether it's "good enough".
Because it's fun! Period.

So, let's get started!

Here it is, the dreaded blank page. Just look at all that scary white space! Instead of seeing the blank page this way, I invite you instead to see it as ripe with possibility. There are so many directions we could go, which can be a little scary sometimes, but can also be exciting. "Where do I even start?" You start by just doing it. Having a predetermined idea is wonderful, but that doesn't always happen. In that case, let's just get something on the page, anything, just to do away with the vast white.

That's better! I first spritzed my page with water (so the paint will flow and blend on the page), then added a watercolor wash of blue and yellow. Then I spritzed with water again, just to blend the paint a little more and lessen any brush marks where the paper was a bit drier. If you spritz with water after the watercolor paint has dried, you get little flecks of white, which is a nice effect.

Don't like watercolors or don't have any at your disposal? Use acrylics, either using a watered down wash of color(s), or even right out of the tube. Or forget paint all together and doodle some swirls or random shapes with a pen or marker. Or glue down clippings from magazines or books. Or grab a pencil and do some automatic writing or a favorite quote or song lyrics. The writing doesn't even have to be legible, and can be covered completely with additional layers. The idea here is just to get something on the page to banish the white and the fear it may bring.

If I wanted, I could just write directly on this watercolor wash and call my journal page complete. Personally, I am all about layers and adding depth and details, but there is already some interest here as is, and makes for a perfectly good foundation for journaling. You could also bump it up a bit with some doodles, sketches or rubber stamping and then add your journaling. There are no rules! (You'll hear me say this a lot, I'm sure. It's worth repeating.)

I'd say this installment is long enough, so we'll stop here. I do want to mention that before you begin slathering paint or wet media in your journal, it's a good idea to put a piece of wax or deli paper or something similar between the page you're working on and the next page in your book. This will keep bleed through and the mess of stray media to a minimum. An added bonus is these protective papers end up with some interesting effects all their own and can later be used in collage and other projects.

In Part 3, I'll talk more about different techniques for creating backgrounds. Please feel free to share your own ideas for getting started and overcoming the blank page in the comments section, as well as any questions you may have. I'd also love to hear your reasons for keeping an art journal.

Thanks for stopping by!

Fearless Art Journaling, Part 1: Supplies.

2011-06-10T06:00:00.003-04:00

I am often asked questions about art journaling. Some people seem to harbor a little fear of this medium, and are uncertain of where to start or even how to go about keeping an art journal in the first place. Some of these people are prolific artists already, but mention art journals and they panic a little.

For any readers who feel that way, too, I say this - I hope you're not too attached to that fear, because I aim (and hopefully, will succeed) to wipe it all away. I plan to post several entries related to art journaling, some with tips and techniques, some just sharing pages. My hope is that anyone who is uncertain of where to begin will feel like they have somewhere to start, and can begin their own journey into art journaling, page by page.

An art journal is like a regular journal, only with a visual aspect. This can be through your own drawings, paintings or photographs. You may also want to incorporate rubber stamped images, clip art images, images cut from magazines or books, specialty papers, bits of nature like pressed leaves and flowers or anything that can be attached in some form to your pages. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

I have been a journal keeper for over two decades. I talk more about that here. The evolution of my journaling style has brought me to the art journals I keep today. I can't speak for the experiences of others, but I will share with you my own experiences with this medium in the hopes of getting you over your fears, giving you a jumping off point and showing you how to take the art you already make and put it on the page. And even if you don't consider yourself an artist, or haven't added color to a page since you were a child with your coloring books, know that you can do this, too. It's not difficult and requires no special skills or a background in art. All you really need is a book, a few basic supplies and a willingness to let go of reluctance.

I am not the first to talk about fearless art journaling/art making, nor do I claim to be. This is just a way to share with others what tips I've garnered over the years.

So, let's start with supplies:

Obviously, the first thing you will need is a journal. Give some thought to what mediums you already enjoy using or would like to explore. Do you mainly work in pencil or pen and ink? If so, the book you choose can have drawing paper for its pages, possibly with bleed-proof paper if you're using pens and inks. Are you fond of watercolors or acrylic paints? In this case, you'll want a book with heavier-weight pages; watercolor paper would be a good idea here. For mixed media work (which is my main outlet), you'll find it desirable to have at least 140 lb. watercolor paper pages to help avoid the paper buckling and to withstand the added extra layers. There are some blank books on the market now that say they are specifically made for mixed media - I have not tried them and can't speak on their benefits or drawbacks. If a reader has had experience with these, please feel free to comment. Aside from consideration of paper, your journal can be done in almost any kind of book. It does not need to be a blank book. Some people enjoy using hardcover books from a thrift store or their own bookshelves. This falls along the lines of an altered book, and you can cover all the text with media or leave some words and images peeking through. If you go this route, and plan to add extra layers in the form of paper/collage, or even just paint, I recommend removing some of the existing pages before you begin to help your book lay flatter and close properly. Just use a metal ruler for a guide and cut every other few pages with a hobby (exacto) knife. You don't have to spend a lot of money on your new journal; a regular spiral-bound or composition notebook is very inexpensive and may work fine for you, just keep in mind that if you start adding paints and layers to the pages, you may see some bleed-through and buckling. If you're fine with that, then go for it! You can also make your own book; some artists prefer this because they can add exactly the kinds of papers they prefer, maybe even mixing and matching between watercolor, drawing or copier paper. And having said all this, you can even just work on loose pages, then bind them together in some fashion when you're ready.

A way to make marks. These can be pencils, pens, markers, colored pencils, pastels, crayons, etc. (details below)

The above is all you need to get started if you intend to only write or draw/sketch in your journal. But maybe you're interested in other ways to develop a page. In that case, read on for some of my personal favorite supplies:

(I don't just use the following for art journaling, but for nearly every medium I work in. If you already have art supplies on hand for your other work, then you may not need to buy anything new to start art journaling.)

Gesso. This will prep the page for paint and other media. Gesso provides tooth, lessens the paper's absorbency and gives some strength to the page. I use Liquitex or any of the cheaper brands found in art and craft stores.
Acrylic paint. The paints I use run the gamut from craft acrylics to artist quality brands, but most often I use Liquitex Basics. They are reasonably priced and have a higher pigment load than craft acrylics. Artist quality acrylics are wonderful, and have the highest pigment load of all, but they can be pricey. If you're not on a strict budget, get the artist quality, otherwise, I'd recommend getting the best paints you can afford. Really it comes down to experimenting with different brands and finding what you like best.
Acrylic mediums. The variety and selection of these is wonderful, and they have many uses. Aside from being used in combination with acrylic paints (to change consistency of or extend paint, alter sheen, create texture, etc.), they also have great adhesive qualities, so many collage artists and art journalers use them as a glue. Image transfers are another use. I use fluid matte and gloss mediums often, mostly to thin down my thicker acrylics for washes or to aid in the transparency/translucency of the paint. Regular gel medium is thicker and better as an adhesive than the fluid. It holds some texture, but if you want to break out the big texture guns, go for the extra heavy gel medium (dries clear) or modeling paste (dries opaque). Some amazing effects can be had with this magical stuff, and it can also adhere heavier weight item to your surfaces. There are a multitude of different mediums on the market - some with iridescent qualities, some with ground pumice, some with fibers...the list goes on. Play around, experiment and see what appeals to you for the kind of art you want to make. Oh, and as with most things, I buy whatever is on sale. I have tried Golden, Liquitex, Winsor and Newton and more, and I've had great results with each. Be advised: adding acrylic mediums to your art journal can sometimes cause the pages to become tacky and stick together. I spray with a non-yellowing sealer to help prevent this, though sometimes my pages are still a bit tacky. So far, it hasn't been a major problem or caused pages to tear or not come apart.
Watercolor pencils/paints. I own a few brands, some cheaper, some middle of the road and my very favorites, Inktense pencils by Derwent. I first discovered these last year, and oh my. They really are like ink in a pencil, and they yield bright, rich and vibrant color. They are well worth the price, especially if you're a bargain hunter like me and order them from Dick Blick.
Paint brushes/Palette knives/Sponges. My favorite brushes are white synthetic hair brushes. They're inexpensive, work well and last a long time when well cared for. I find it's better to get those with plastic handles and not wooden. I use sponges to apply inks and paints, and the ones I like best are the yellow kind for household grout work. They don't dry stiff like other kinds of sponges and are easily cleaned, sometimes only requiring a rinse with water.
Soft pastels/oil pastels. Again, get the best quality you can afford. Price, as with paints, dictates pigment load vs. fillers. Some are water soluble, some are not. Finish with a fixative or sealer after applying to your surface, especially when art journaling as they'll rub off as the pages rub together.
Rubber stamps. Need I say more?
Ink. This includes rubber stamping ink as well as acrylic inks. For the former, I recommend a permanent dye-based ink (my favorite all-around black ink is Ranger's Archival), though I've also used water reactive and pigment inks. (If you apply the last two over a gessoed or an acrylic-painted background, you'll have to wait a considerable amount of time for it to dry.) Acrylic inks are akin to very watered down acrylic paints, but with a very high pigment load and for most colors, amazing transparency. They are permanent and can be painted onto the page, used in calligraphy or with fountain pens, watered down and used in spray form or airbrushed, and more. I have only tried the Liquitex Ink! brand, so I can't compare, but I'm very satisfied with those.
Photos/Images. Your own, those cut from magazines or from clip art, etc. A toner-based copy of an image can be used to make image transfers when paired with acrylic mediums, acetone, clear tape or solvent-based blender (clear) markers. There are also techniques using magazine pages to do image transfers. I don't use ink jet printed images for transfers as I have heard they fade quickly.
Sharpie/permanent markers.
Gel pens. I find I use white most often, to journal on top of a dark or black background. My favorite brand so far is Sakura Gelly Roll. It writes on acrylic paint better than other brands I've tried.
Mica powder, embossing powder, fabric, fibers, embellishments, die cuts, ephemera, found objects, stencils, etc. There's nothing to limit what you use in your art journal, aside from your imagination. For practicalities sake, I don't often use big, bulky embellishments on the inner pages (unless seated inside a cut-out), for obvious reasons, and I shy away from oil paints as they take so long to completely dry. Other than that, I try not to limit myself.

I'm probably forgetting a few of the supplies I use, but this is a good start. Feel free to share your favorite art journaling supplies in the comments. For the next post in this series, I'm thinking of just jumping right in on getting a page started. I'll address the "blank page" syndrome and talk more about the whys of art journals, as well as their effects on one's emotional and artistic well-being.

Work in progress.

2011-05-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

Art and life are both works in progress. i enjoy taking the journey, even with the bumps in the road.

Reorganize, rearrange, remember.

2011-05-09T08:00:00.003-04:00

Mixed Media Canvas, made for a swap.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to stop by my blog during the A-Z Challenge; i really appreciate it!

i have been so busy lately reorganizing my studio in preparation of opening an etsy shop. i've needed to do it anyway, but the prospect of opening a shop gave me that final push to just make it happen. i'm nearing the end, though later i may still need to tweak things a little, but my space will be much better utilized now, that's for sure. As i sort through boxes and piles of supplies, i am reminded again just how much one can accumulate after nearly 2 decades of being an artist/crafter. It's a bit overwhelming, but i'm not complaining one bit. Having these supplies makes me feel very grateful, and excited to create future projects.

i'll be back to posting a bit more often soon, but for now, it's back to the studio to get this job completed.

Reflections on the A-Z Blogging Challenge

2011-05-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

i saw tonight (it being May 1 as of this writing) that Arlee Bird over at Tossing It Out has asked that participants of the A-Z Challenge do a reflections post, so i thought i'd play along.

i didn't really have any expectations of the challenge. i first heard about it through my dear friend Barb over at her blog, Black Ink Pad, and thinking that i really ought to write more and keep my blog up to date, i just jumped in without thinking it over much. i told myself i had to stick with it, and i did. i sort of cheated on O and X, but i'm not about to beat myself up over it.

i didn't give much thought to gaining followers, but i'm happy to say i did. i don't strive to have a huge number to display, but it's awesome to know people would want to hear what i have to say. i talk to myself, a lot, so blogging can sometimes feel a bit like that without knowing there's someone on the other side, listening.

Another positive outcome was feeling the old writer in me awaken. That feels very, very good. (i wonder if i'd talk less the more i wrote...hmm. My family might appreciate that.) i originally began this blog as a way to mainly showcase my art projects, but i've enjoyed its evolution. While art is still my main focus here, its also satisfying to delve a little deeper. i hope my readers have enjoyed the journey thus far, and are interested enough to stay to see what's around the corner.

My only disappointment in the challenge is not taking more time to read more of the blogs of other participants, but i plan to try and search out my fellow players more as time allows this week. Many thanks to all who took the time to stop here and read, and to those who chose to follow after doing so.

Will i do it again next year? If i have the time, i just might. But that doesn't mean X will be any easier. Of course, i've got a year to come up with something.

New look...

2011-05-02T02:00:00.000-04:00

i have been meaning to do a bit of remodeling here for a very long time. i'd say it was way overdue. i had a basic idea of what i wanted my blog to look like, but getting there was a bit of a struggle. As i write this, i have just finished tweaking the last bits, and the changes you see took me hours to accomplish. But, with the help of Gimp and my very patient better half, i managed to come up with something i'm pretty happy with. i may change the background and header to match the seasons, or just on a whim, and i think i could improve on this, but it's a good start, and certainly better than the previous (bland) layout.

And now, i'm off for some well deserved sleep.

Z is for Zach.

2011-04-30T11:37:00.000-04:00

This letter may have been the easiest of all, for me. Z is for my creative, intelligent, hilarious and unique son, Zacharius. He is 11, and my only child.

i gave birth to Zach after suffering with a deep depression for 2 years straight. After he came into this world, the fog in my head lifted, and i devoted myself to him completely. He was an observant and very happy baby, though it wasn't long before i saw signs that depression and anxiety seemed to be in his future as well. i guess that's to be expected, considering my own battles.

The road has not always been easy or free of hazards. Being a parent has been the most difficult thing i've ever done. Also the most gratifying, yes, but don't let anyone tell you it's all peaches and cream, because it just isn't. When once my decisions could only harm or benefit me, i must now consider, with every step i take, the impact it will have on him. i wouldn't change any of it, and he has given my life so much joy and laughter and purpose, but there are also dark days when i have no idea what step to take next. It's all worth it, of course, and i am more than grateful to have such an amazing person in my life, and to count that person as my own flesh and blood.

My son: the reader, the comedian, the history buff, the dreamer. i was blessed the day he came into this world, and hope beyond hope i can do right by him. For in the end, being his mom is the most important role i will ever have. i love you beyond all words, Z. You are my heart.

Y is for yesterday.

2011-04-29T08:00:00.002-04:00

How many yesterdays make up a life? So many memories, millions of moments, many forgotten, some treasured, some changed by the mind over time, some burned in, some devestating, some beautiful, some mundane but stick with you, for no apparent reason, some life-changing. It's hard to capture the truth of a moment on film, but sometimes you get lucky.

These are just a few moments i was reliving today while skimming the pages of one of my photo albums. So many yesterdays that brought us to today, this moment. So much to treasure, yesterday, today and tomorrow.

XOXO

2011-04-28T22:41:00.000-04:00

Hugs and kisses, because i am completely stumped with x. i have higher hopes for y. See you tomorrow, then.

W is for Watts.

2011-04-27T15:21:00.000-04:00

Not long ago, my brother pointed me in the direction of Alan Watts, and i'm so glad he did. i'm including a few videos here of some of his speaking engagements. So much of what he says rings very true with me. So, grab a cup of your favorite beverage, sit back and enjoy!

See behind the veil.

2011-04-26T16:48:00.000-04:00

Uncage.

2011-04-25T16:46:00.000-04:00

i'm finding it difficult to type a long post today as carpal tunnel has rendered my left hand useless, so, i'm cheating a bit and just posting some U related art to minimize how much i need to type.

T is for Taj.

2011-04-25T01:36:00.000-04:00

As in Taj Mahal, the musician. He's been one of my very favorite musicians for a long time. My dad has been a fan for 40+ years, and i can remember him playing his albums, as in records, when i was very young. His music weaves its way through most of my days. i've seen him live 3 or 4 times now, and am hoping to be able to again this summer. His live shows are consistently good. Aside from his music, his good looks and deep voice make me melt, oh my... Here are some of my favorite songs of his.

S is for salad.

2011-04-25T00:55:00.000-04:00

i love salad, be it of leafy greens, veggies, pasta or fruit. Lately i've been on this antipasto salad kick - romaine or iceberg lettuce, salami, ham, provolone, parmesan and pickled vegetables (carrots, caulifower, celery...), tossed with my basic vinaigrette. One of the most refreshing salads i know of is my great grandmother's very basic recipe. It's iceberg lettuce, olive oil, red wine vinegar and salt. That's it. So very simple, yet delicious with a loaf of crusty Italian bread and some chicken cutlets. My mom gets a bite of salad and a bite of chicken on the same fork, and i now follow suit. Sometimes the simplest of foods can be the most delicious.

i thought i'd share two recipes today. The first is not my family's; it comes from a place called Mazza's Restaurant and Lounge in Mount Vernon, OH. My aunt worked there years ago and shared the recipe with us. We've been hooked ever since. The second is prefered mostly by my mom and i. If i'm remembering correctly, my Italian-born great grandfather made this salad, or possibly one of my great uncles. Regardless, it's been passed down.

Mazza's Salad
Serves 2, 3...depends on how hungry you are and what else you're having

1/2 head iceberg lettuce, ripped or chopped into bite-size pieces
3-4 cloves of garlic, minced (more or less to taste, though too much overpowers)
extra virgin olive oil
red wine vinegar
feta, blue or gorgonzola cheese, crumbled, to taste (we prefer feta, i think original recipe uses one of the latter two)
salt

Mince the garlic and place into the olive oil. How much olive oil? i dunno'. i eyeball it. Maybe 1/3 cup? Maybe a little more? Let the garlic and oil sit for 20-30 minutes. Place the lettuce in a big bowl and add the cheese. Pour the oil and garlic over the lettuce and drizzle with red wine vinegar. No, i don't know how much. i just taste and add as necessary (i don't think i should ever write a cookbook...). Sprinkle with salt to taste. Make sure to have some crusty bread on hand to sop up the dressing. Warning: do not plan on much kissing action after eating this, unless both parties partake.

Italian Orange Salad
Serves 1 (because that's the only way i ever make it)

1-2 oranges, separated into segments
1 clove garlic, minced
extra virgin olive oil
oregano
salt

Place the orange segments and garlic in a bowl. Sprinkle with oregano and salt and then drizzle with olive oil. Not much, maybe just a couple tablespoons. Toss and enjoy. This salad is one of those things that sounds like an odd pairing, but for some reason just works.

R is for rain, and ramps.

2011-04-24T16:12:00.000-04:00

Catching up on the A-Z Blogging Challenge, again.

i love rain, except when i'm forced to drive in a downpour, otherwise, bring it on! i love the sound of it on the roof, the smell, the vibrant green after a summer storm... i always find it amusing that even though i devote many hours to art and don't think much of it, on a rainy day i feel like i'm given a free pass to stay inside and create, or maybe curl up with a book and a cup of coffee and let the hours pass by. i harbor no guilt at all for a rainy day spent inside. What's up with that? i shouldn't even be feeling guilt over making art in the first place, but i am human, and also very hard on myself.

Come spring and the rain it brings, one can find a certain little treasure in the forests of the eastern United States, and up into Canada - ramps. Ramps are like a wild leek, but they taste, and smell, like a combination of garlic and onions. They are delicious, but an avid fan will warn you about the smell your kitchen (read "entire house") and yourself will acquire after preparing and eating. My mom always relates the story of my dad eating his fair share of ramps while in season, and how she would make him sleep on the couch for days after. (i wonder if that played a part in their divorce, haha...) Every year, my dad brings me a decent bunch that he's foraged that i add to cooking or freeze to use later when the season has passed. My family eats the meals i prepare using ramps, but they are not big fans of the smell that lingers. My son is, in fact, completely put out by the smell and will vocalize his displeasure over and over.

If you can get ahold of ramps in your area, either by gathering yourself or buying at a market (if you're lucky enough to have a local one carrying them), i encourage you to try them if you haven't yet. Their taste is definitely worth their lasting odor, believe me.

Q.

2011-04-24T02:18:00.001-04:00

Back early from my blog vacation and playing catch up with the A-Z Blogging Challenge.

Q is for quiet, the deepest and most perfect of quiet, as found in the far off pockets of this planet, in the middle of nowheres, where streets, buildings and humans are few or none. i've discovered that breathtakingly beautiful quiet in many places, but the standout was on an empty moutain road in Alaska on the night of a full moon many years ago. Everything was white with snow, save a sky so clear it was as if the black were its own kind of light. Stepping out of our vehicle and into that cold, pristine hush...words cannot truly contain a feeling like that.

There wasn't fear or trepidation in that silence, though it was humbling. Instead, it was ripe to bursting with promise, hope, beauty, breath, life. That silence contained everything, and nothing, and it was absolute perfection. That kind of silence, free of the constant hum of cities and vehicles and televisions and cell phones and airplanes and chatter is hard to find, but it's there if you seek it out. For many of us, quiet like that can feel very far away.

But what if we pulled the memory of that quiet, and the perfect innocent stillness it contained and applied that hope and promise within to this very moment? Like a grounding exercise, a way to bring us back to the present, the here and now, this moment, which is really all we ever have... Just a thought.

Blog vacation...

2011-04-21T00:14:00.000-04:00

i'm currently in the midst of a little getaway, and finding the time to post has been difficult. So, it looks like i may be on a short hiatus until Monday, April 25th. Thanks to my readers and followers, and i'll see you on Monday!

P is for purpose, procrastination and power.

2011-04-19T21:15:00.000-04:00

Well, i guess O was for a day "off", and also for "on the road again". i had a busy day of packing and traveling yesterday and just couldn't squeeze in a blog post. And yes, today's post is late. Eh, such is life.

So, P. P is for purpose. i'm still fumbling through this life, trying to find what i believe, so i can't say with certainty that i necessarily believe we all were born for a purpose, or if it's all just random chaos. Really, for me, it almost doesn't matter. Either way, i'm not about to sit by and do nothing, so i seek out what i can contribute to not only my own life, but also the lives of those i love. i need a goal, a purpose, a project every day, or i'll go crazy. i need purpose, whether that means making art or cooking dinner, or, in looking at the bigger picture, someday teaching art workshops or writing a book. Purpose helps me take that next step. With a goal or deadline in sight, i do my best work. And as far as my greater purpose, some notion of why i was born (random chaos?), i just hope that i make better the lives of those around me, and that i'll be remembered as a kind and true friend, a loving and thoughtful mate and most importantly, a good mom.

Once i realize my purpose, or set a goal, there comes procrastination. Oh, my old friend procrast. Always there, keeping me lulled until the 11th hour when i then meet up with my old friend frenzy and make a mad rush to reach the finish line. i'm really adept at putting things off. As much as i love working on projects, i somehow manage to hem and haw my way there, doing "research" or reading up on new techniques before diving into the actual project itself. i have no idea why i do this; it doesn't make sense. But i'm working on it, sort of. i might work on it tomorrow, or this weekend...

Ok, so i have purpose, i'm working on the procrastination issue, so that means the next step is taking back my power. We give our power away all the time, every day, to each other, to the government, to society's expectations... Hell, sometimes we just refuse to claim it in the first place. i'm not talking about having power over others, i'm talking about the power and energy inside us all, the courage and determination and strength that makes up that part of us that keeps us strong. Claim your power, and try your best, hard as it is, to not give it away. And always use your power for good, that's important.

This is necessary.

2011-04-16T08:00:00.001-04:00

Some things are just necessary. Take my glasses - very important. Without them, my whole world shuts down. Tonight (Friday, as i write this), my 6 or 7 year old frames broke while i was cleaning them. In half. Right between the eyes. My guess is, after so many years, they have become brittle and weakened.

This is when i discovered that the super glue i finally found after searching for 45 minutes (couldn't see, remember) was not so "super". In fact, i'd liken it more to"crazy" glue, as it's in line with the quote about the definition of insanity being doing the same thing over and over, but expecting different results. i tried at least 5 times to make the two pieces adhere, and no go. i then deemed the glue to be a word i won't repeat here and moved on to tape. This did not prove as easy a task as it would at first appear. Apparently, this job is easier if you can see, or if you have at least 3 hands, maybe 4.

And yes, at some point in my frustration, i realized the comical aspect of this entire scenario, but i was pissed, so i didn't laugh. i told myself i could laugh it up when i could see again.

See how necessary? Forget everything else i couldn't do without my glasses, like drive, walk down the street, cook...well, i might be able to cook, but i don't want to set the house on fire, either. But forget all that. Without my glasses, i couldn't even laugh. Of course, i should be blaming the frustration for that, i guess.

Where was i? (This is why people probably hate it when i call. i can't just tell you a brief summary. I want to give every detail, for the full effect.) Yes, necessary. i depend on my glasses every day. The very first thing i do every morning is put them on. They are essential to every part of my life, always there, but kind of in the background. You take them for granted until, like tonight, you lose the use of them. Now what? It's like someone turned the power off. i can see, but it's all fuzzy shapes with no distinction. i can see well enough to move about my house, but not well enough to do much otherwise.

This made me think of other aspects of my life that are necessary but maybe sometimes taken for granted. Obviously food, water, air, shelter. Aside from that, though. What else, having taken it away, would make my world shut down, in an instant like that? The answer is my family, and that includes some dear friends, not just blood. First and foremost would be my son. Take my son out of the picture, and my world would come to a crashing halt.

i try to tell the loved ones in my life how i feel about them as often as i can, but maybe it wouldn't hurt to tell them even more. There are other necessities in my life, but none, that i can see, as important as them. They give me strength, bring me joy, make me laugh, lend a helping hand, give me guidance and advice, and so, so much more. To be content, it is necessary to have them in my life, and the love and true friendship they give.

Oh, and by the way, my glasses are semi-repaired. Presently, they are taped but crooked, so everything looks like it's coming at me; my depth perception is all off. Being unable to drive means i can't attempt a crusade for truly super glue, awesome glue or even super-fantabulous-and-amazing-best-ever-fucking-buy-it-now glue, so i'll have to wait until my better half comes home from work and can assist. When he does, i'll be sure to hug him tight and tell him how much i love him, for he is very, very necessary.

These photos were taken during my walk about my yard this (Friday) morning, prior to my glasses breaking.

M is for Mom.

2011-04-15T10:49:00.053-04:00

Mom, a photo by bluemama on Flickr.
My mom at 10 years old.

i am very close to my mom; we talk on the phone almost every day. Not surprisingly, a lot of who i am is thanks to her. She's an amazing woman - strong, passionate, generous, funny, creative... She built a deck behind her house a couple of years ago - she was 62 at the time. In fact, when my brothers and i were kids, we knew when you heard power tools amping up at 6 am, it wasn't dad, it was mom.

My mom has had her share of challenges in life - one being put into Catholic boarding school at age 8 - but those challenges made her strong, and i don't know anyone who can get one over on my mom. She'll fight tooth and nail for those she loves, too. i remember once, as i was in the midst of chemo at age 15, we went to the mall. i had forgone the wig i had been wearing (it was itchy and uncomfortable, and to me, looked ridiculous) and had decided to no longer hide my baldness. As we walked through the entrance, another customer stopped, turned and blatantly stared at me. My mom reacted instantly by saying, "Why don't you take a picture? It lasts longer."

i had both my parents full support while going through chemo, but as my parents were divorced and i lived with mom at the time, she was the one who took me to every appointment and treatment. She'd brag to the other nurses and patients how strong she thought i was, how i never complained about all the sticking and poking and sickness. (i never thought myself strong at that time, just felt i was doing what i had to; i was sort of in a numbed daze most of the time.) She was the one who took care of my daily needs through all of that, and i can never thank her enough for the selflessness she showed me, when certainly she was going through a difficult time herself, with her oldest child having cancer.

My mom has had many adventures, too. Her and my dad lived in a schoolbus for part of the 60's, moving between San Francisco and Washington state, and before that, sans schoolbus, Alaska. My mom was born in New York City, yet at 18 (sorry if i'm off on the age a little, mom) she moved to Wrangell, Alaska, a very small town at the time where all supplies had to be flown in. She may have been a city girl, but she baked, crocheted, fished, all of it, and wasn't afraid to get dirty.

i greatly admire my mom's strength of will, her refusal to be pushed around, her generous and giving nature, and so much more. At 64, my mom has more life and vibrancy than many 25 year olds i know. And she looks fantastic; i swear, barely a wrinkle, if any. She could easily pass for 45. Good news for me!

Mom, i love you more than i can ever say, but hopefully you know.

L is for language.

2011-04-14T10:50:00.000-04:00

Words can be beautiful. i often talk about crossing over from mostly being a writer to a visual artist, but obviously, as evidenced by my blog, i do still write. For the past several years, i have seen a disturbing trend grow and gain momentum, and it saddens me.

It appears that language is being eroded, word by word, syllable by syllable, and replaced with text speak or the usage of unknowingly innacurate words. i don't claim to be a genius, and i myself could stand to learn many, many more words than i utilise currently, but rarely will you see me throw out an "lol" or an "omg". i don't intend to put down anyone who uses those abbreviations, but when they filter into speech or every bit of writing someone produces, i die a little inside.

Several months ago, i saw a commercial about an effort to save the English language, one word at a time. The movement's members were to each "adopt a word" that they agreed to keep from falling out of use. i'm still not sure if it was a joke or an actual attempt to keep less often used words alive, and i applaud their efforts if it is indeed for real, but i find it concerning that this is even necessary.

Have you seen the movie Idiocracy? The very first time i watched it, ofcourse i laughed, it's funny, but i also felt a little sick at the thought that i could almost see those very things playing out in the real world; i could see the path we're on gradually leading us to a world where everything is a billboard for advertisers (including people's names), where there was an entire channel devoted to videos of men getting kicked in the crotch and where a person's worth is based almost solely on sex appeal. It's far-fetched, i know, but parts of that movie are not so far out of the realm of possibility if things keep going the way they are.

Anyone who watches even a smattering of television anymore can see the dumbing down that is taking place. The clever, quirky and intelligent shows are often canceled, while reality tv - i'm thinking of stuff like The Bachelor and Jersey Shore here - prevails. i've never seen the Jersey Shore, but i don't need to see it to get the idea. i'm not saying i don't watch some less-than-breakthrough television, but when the most popular shows involve cat fights and nearly every scene contains a hot tub, i have cause to be alarmed. Entertainment is one thing - i can watch even the stupidest movie and still be entertained (watch The Room, seriously - it's so bad, it's good, as in, hilarious) - but the ratings that these shows draw in turn makes tv executives continue with the same mind-numbing crap, week after week, until the only thing on is...well, shows focused on a kick in the balls. As the audience, we should demand better. Really, they're only giving us what they think we want, or maybe what they want us to want? Ok, conspiracy theories aside, there would be a signifigant gain by the powers that be in the dumbing down of its citizens. The less informed and intelligent we are, the easier we are to control.

Even more frightening, many people don't read anymore, and don't deem it a priority that their children do. i have always loved a good book, and while the raising of my son, daily chores and even making art means i read less than i used to, i still try to fit a book in when i can. i began reading to my son when he was only a few months old, and while i try not to put any expectations on him, i did hope he would be a book lover, and i'm thrilled to say he is. Sure, he still plays video games and watches tv, but for him, a trip to the library always elicits excitement, and he almost never comes away from the outing with less than a stack of 10 or more books. i never really "baby talked" to him, and that coupled with his love of reading has led to him having a broader vocabulary than most children his age. He'll often toss a "big word" into his every day speach, as if it were nothing. i love that, and it warms this mother's heart. On the flip side, he has relentlessly been made fun of at school for different reasons, one being reading. As the other children played kick ball during recess, he enjoyed sitting under a tree with a good book, and he was teased to the point of feeling embarassed to be seen reading, so he stopped doing it in front of them. And that's really sad. Yes, children tease each other for all kinds of reasons, and yes, he needs to find that place inside him where he feels comfortable being himself, regardless of their reactions, but still, it makes me sad that the other children see reading for enjoyment alone to be weird or questionable behavior.

There is a way to turn the tide. Our technology has made leaps and bounds in just the last 10 years alone, and the internet can be a wonderful tool, but letting the machines think for us can also be dangerous. We can make good use of the internet and television by discovering and learning about other cultures and staying updated on world events, and even by laughing at witty and clever sitcoms, but they can also form a wall between us, until we're all staring into screens instead of into each other's eyes.

Help keep language alive. Go to the library, it's free, and will only cost you time, but it's time very well spent. Encourage your children to read, or read to them. Show them what a truly great story can be. Help them learn about a country or culture they may have never even heard of. Take time yourself to learn a new word every day - make it a personal challenge. And once you learn those words, it's use them or lose them. i'm guilty of that myself; i've forgotten many words i learned long ago, simply because i never applied them to my speech. And if we all do that, if we all forget and don't apply them anymore, what happens to language? Does it become an antiquated notion? Will we be reduced to mumbling lol speak to each other? i, for one, certainly hope not.

Are you going to throw that away?!

2011-04-13T11:51:00.000-04:00

K is for keep. As a mixed media artist, i can find a use for the most random, seemingly unusable items. My family has gotten used to this over the years, and has been enabling me as well, almost always checking with me first before throwing away little scraps of paper or a broken toy or some such tidbit most would toss in the trash and then get it on with their day.

Awhile back, i taught my brother a new word - ephemera. What a great word, not only its meaning, but the sound of saying it. Go on, try it. Ephemera.

ephemera

1: something of no lasting significance —usually used in plural

2 ephemera plural : paper items (as posters, broadsides, and tickets) that were originally meant to be discarded after use but have since become collectibles

Essentially, i keep many things most consider trash. Vintage ephemera is even better, and rarer. i find such beauty in old advertisements, labels from bottles, ticket stubs, and so on, and all these things can be added to my work. In this way, i am reusing items destined for the landfill, and making something more lasting and beautiful out of them. Even the stickers you peel off fruits and veggies are fair game.

A drawer of scraps from past projects, including the transfer from a praying mantis soft block carving i recently did. i'm outgrowing my drawer, and that's after cleaning it out last year and attempting to organize it into a couple binders. Yes, i said i put "trash" in binders; what of it?

The only problem with the need to keep such things is that eventually, you have a lot of it, and it needs a home. This is why, right now, my studio is a bit of a mess. i'm a great organizer, but have yet to tackle this growing mountain of materials and trinkets. i intend to fix this situation sooner rather than later, because as wonderful as it is to have so many materials on hand, it's a nightmare sorting through boxes and drawers and not finding the one thing you're looking for, or even worse, not even knowing what you have in the first place.

See that butterfly on the bottom left? Yeah...i've been toting that around, from one abode to another, for years...but someday, i will need it, i guarantee.

i walk a fine line between "collector" and "hoarder", so i have to be careful. Sometimes i do filter through the piles of stuff and give things away, or sometimes, toss something, if i see that it really can't be used for anything at all, but the latter almost never happens. i always ask myself, Well, what if 5 years from now i'm working on a project and need this very thing? What if nothing else will work for the piece but this? Many items have been saved and never used because i love them so much, no project is good enough for them. It's maybe a little crazy, this need to have but not use, but i'm an artist, so crazy kind of comes with the territory, does it not?

Far be it for me to encourage anyone to start saving every bit of trash they come across - some things are indeed garbage - but think outside the box (har, har) the next time you're holding the empty box your favorite tea comes in. Now wouldn't that make a nice little mini-notebook cover? Or maybe a repurposed greeting card? And if you just can't find a use for it, send it to me, and i'll give it a home.

Just the facts, ma'am.

2011-04-12T12:48:00.000-04:00

i had intended J to be about journals, but i've written about journaling several times, and don't really see the point in repeating myself (though i am very good at it) or boring my readers to tears, so instead, J is for me, Jessica. How about a few random facts about yours truly?

1. i had the great fortune to be able to travel a lot in my teens and early 20's, thanks to my dad's job at United Airlines. By 16 years old, i'd been to nearly every state, including Alaska and Hawaii, and made trips to England and New Zealand. These early-in-life travels helped shape me to be the person i am today, and gave me a perspective i might not have had otherwise.

2. i have driven across the country 4 times, and hope there's another such road trip in my future.

3. i'm a cancer survivor.

4. i graduated from high school, but opted not to attend my graduation. Instead, i asked to work that day, which my employers loved, because much of their help was attending graduation. i kind of regret that decision now...

5. i gave birth to my son without the benefit of any pain medication. i don't recommend it.

6. i met my mate when i was 15 through a pen pal ad in a music magazine. We started as friends, but eventually became involved, and are still going strong today, 18 years later.

7. i love history, and for many years planned to become an archeologist. In high school, i'd go to history class early just so i could talk about the subject with the teacher.

8. My mom chose my name before she even knew she was having a girl - the same happened with my two brothers, and she was right about the sex every time.

9. i have a secret (not a secret now) desire to be a singer, though my abilities aren't proficient in that area. It doesn't stop me from singing all the time, though.

10. i don't know how to swim.

Well, not an exciting post today, but hopefully it gives my readers a little background into me as a person. And now, the studio calls...

I is for idle.

2011-04-11T13:06:00.000-04:00

Those that know me even fairly well know that the word "idle" almost never applies to me; hell, even when i'm sleeping, i'm tossing and turning, or talking in my sleep, or grinding my teeth... The things most people consider the stuff they need to get done so that they are then able to relax are what i do to relax, sort of.

i'm happiest when i have several projects going at once. Making art or gardening or cooking (unless it's a frenzied feast i'm fixing, with hungry people standing around asking, "Is it done yet?") are my meditations, my means of relaxation. i'm a frenzied bundle of energy most days (just ask my family), running around the house doing chores inbetween working in the studio. i do enjoy sitting quietly sometimes, maybe reading a book or watching a movie, but i have this need to accomplish as much as i can in a day. i want to fill my days with as much as possible, maybe because i have this fear that someday i'll look back and cringe at all the time i "wasted". To me, wasting my days is sitting for countless hours in front of the tv. At the end of everyday, i like to see the physical results of my time invested. i want to eat a great meal, or see a stack of handmade cards, ready to mail, or look over a finished canvas. Then, i can try my hand at the kind of relaxing most people do, maybe watch a show with my man or play a game of Rummy as we talk in bed.

i encourage relaxation of almost any kind - our days are hectic and busy, most of the time - but i also encourage action. The feeling of satisfaction you can get from a job well done makes the relaxation even more enjoyable, and having earned that relaxation time makes it all the sweeter.

And now i'm off to run errands, mail some cards, wash dishes and work in the studio.

H is for Henry...

2011-04-09T14:35:00.000-04:00

...Miller, that is. One of my favorite writers. i could talk about him, but i'll just let him speak for himself:

To work a radical transformation all that was required, as we saw it, was to put into practice the simple injunction: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." No beliefs, no worship, no ten commandments, no ceremonials, no churches, no organization of any kind. No waiting for a better government, better laws, better working conditions, better this, better that. Begin this moment, wherever you find yourself, and take no thought of the morrow.

Today is like all other days. There is only today.

Death is not the end of life, much less the goal. It is but another aspect of life. There is nothing but life, even among the dead.

And so, regardless of their heroic behavior, regardless of their sublime motives, I have come to regard such activity as indefensible. Even from the purest of motives one has not the right to "molest" another. The effort to bring a man to God, or to bring him enlightenment, is an act of violation. It is even more reprehensible than to subjugate him bodily. Does not the whole art of living center about the practice of tolerance, of noninterference? Before it is possible to love one another, as we are so often enjoined, it is necessary to respect one another, respect the privacy of the soul.

What we learn, of value, we get indirectly, largely unconsciously. It is too often stressed, in my opinion, that we learn through sorrow and suffering. I do not deny this to be true, but I hold that we also learn, and perhaps more lastingly, through moments of joy, of bliss, of ecstasy. Struggle has its importance, but we tend to overrate it. Harmony, serenity, bliss do not come from struggle but from surrender.

We are getting nowhere, because (metaphysically speaking) there is nowhere to go. We are already there, have been since eternity.

...the real escapist is the man who adapts himself to a world he does not subscribe to.

Here in America, to be "different" is almost tantamount to being a traitor.

This is the only reality there is. If you can get it down on paper, in words, notes, or color, so much the better. The great artists don't even bother to put it down on paper: they live with it silently, they become it.

All of the above excerpts come from his book Stand Still Like the Hummingbird. These were sections i had highlighted when i first read it, back when i was a teenager. i had intended to go through many of his books, quoting my favorite parts, but that may take all day. Really, i encourage everyone reading to search out his books, in particular this one, and also Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch, The Air-Conditioned Nightmare and The Wisdom of the Heart.

Grow.

2011-04-08T08:00:00.001-04:00

As i cleaned the kitchen last night, i thought about words beginning with G. There's green, like in the green glow right after a rain, or like the vibrant green of the English hillsides by the sea, or like chartreuse, one of the greatest colors, with an awesome name. Vermillion's a nice name, too, though...

There's gay rights, something that's always been extremely important to me. Oppression in any form is abhorant to me anyway, and to make that call based on who someone loves? Makes no sense to me at all. i think love between consenting adults in any form should be celebrated. There's enough hate out there.

There's gossamer. Hard to write a post on that. Really, i just like the word. i also love "sycamore". i love how both roll off the tongue. See how my mind works? i follow a path and then forget where i started. It's no wonder i find it more difficult to write than i used to.

i went through many a word, and then came to guilt. Ah, guilt. The gift that keeps on giving. i intended to write about it, to talk about my own guilt, to ruminate on how best to overcome it, but you know what? i don't want to write about that. To write about it feels as heavy as...well, carrying around guilt. So i won't.

Instead, let's talk about gardens. My dad is a gardener, and passed on the know-how and desire to plant, to care for and to reap the rewards of a yearly garden. i have had a garden every year for the past dozen years or so, except for that year we lived in an apartment. Every year i look forward to selecting which vegetables and flowers to plant. i almost always do a fairly small garden. As the main gardener in my household, it's easier to manage.

Dad almost always comes down to help me set up. It's like a ritual. We plan our space, till, add humus and manure as needed. i absolutely adore the actual planting. i treat the plant with care, even talking to it as i place it in the ground. Don't laugh; plants have an energy, too, and my vibrations can affect it. The best feeling is at the end of the day, when you get to sit back with a cold beer and see all your hard work. i even like getting dirty, makes me feel closer to the earth.

After tending, comes the excitement as things start to grow, then bloom, then bear fruit and thrive. Being able to pick much of that night's dinner is very satisfying, not to mention delicious. There's not any tomato in any grocery store i've found that tastes a bit like a tomato picked fresh out of your own garden and eaten straight away.

When the thriving takes over, there's canning to be done. i don't do tons of canning, but the onslaught of cucumbers pretty much requires putting up some pickles, and i might do some salsa when the tomatoes are too many to eat fresh and not rot.

Right now, my yard is overrun with spring perennials. i have never seen so many daffodils in one place, except maybe a public park. My landlord is a super woman, i swear. There's also hyacinths and tulips, and a couple of things i'm unsure of. i don't know yet where the vegetable garden will go; this is our first full summer at this house. Maybe by the storage building, in the side yard? i'll have to get on that, soon. Onion sets are already out. There's work to be done.

Soup's on!

2011-04-07T09:21:00.000-04:00

F is for food, which also makes me think of family, and friends.

We all love food. Have you ever met anyone who says they hate food? "Agh, eating, what a chore..." And for many of us, food is tied in with family get togethers or meeting up with friends for a cookout.

i love to cook. i have Italian heritage from my mother's side, so many of my recipes have been passed down from my great grandmother (henceforth known as just "grandma") to my mom, and then to me. My love of food from other cultures has caused me to try my hand at cooking anything and everything. i started with Chinese cuisine, way back when, and have since tried my hand at Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Caribbean, and the list goes on. So far, Thai food has been some of the hardest to get right, but i'll not give up! When you've lived most of your life in rural areas, you'll find a way to have at your disposal the ethnic foods you so dearly love.

But back to grandma. She came to America from Northern Italy when she was an infant. She lived a lot of her life in New York, and later Florida. She was an amazing person. If she knew my mom was coming to visit (they were very close), she made sure to stock up on my mom's favorites. When she sent mom down to the local bakery to get bread, she always gave her enough money for two loaves, because she knew on the walk home, mom would dive into one of them. Every Sunday morning, she awoke at 6 am to start her red gravy. And yes, it's called "gravy", not sauce. One taste and you'll see why. Everyone loved her cooking.

This reminds me of a funny story. There are so many good stories, but the one i'm thinking of is the time my mom opened grandma's fridge to find two eyes staring back at her. It was a sheep's head, a delicacy. It may have been the only thing my grandma made that my mom wouldn't eat.

Grandma died when i was 7. i can't really bring to mind memories of her from life, but through stories, my mom has given me a wealth of knowledge about who grandma was. To this day, whenever i make her recipes, i think of her. Basil is very much tied up with her memory, especially fresh basil from my garden; grandma grew her own basil for her wonderful meals. No matter the dish, i often feel grandma with me in the kitchen, guiding my hands to create food made with love. i have made many of her recipes for years, but the standout is her red gravy with spaghetti. It has to be simmered for hours, for the flavors to combine properly, so most of the day the house is filled with the smells of garlic, tomatoes and Italian sausage (nevermind that my house almost always smells like garlic). My better half requests it at least a few times a month, and most who try it say it's the best spaghetti they've ever had. That's not a nod to my cooking skills, but to grandma's. It's comfort food, in the truest sense of the word.

My mom is also a great cook, and taught me so much. Getting together and cooking with her is one of the best things i know to do with a day. We laugh, we taste, we fend off the questions of "Is it done yet?". One of the best compliments my mom ever gave me was saying that she thinks i'm the better cook.

Food sustains us, nourishes us, makes us feel warm all over and holds in its smells and flavors countless memories. There are very few foods i don't like, and i swear, you'll never catch me on a low carb diet. For fuck's sake (hey, another "f" word, my favorite swear word, in fact), i have Italian lineage. i mean, pasta and bread, hello? Grandma would roll over in her grave if i stopped eating pasta.

So, today, eat, drink and be merry. Share a bite with a good friend, or get in the kitchen with your family and whip up a feast, or even just an inspired sandwich. Really enjoy the tastes, the smells. Savor each bite, as if it contained within life-giving benefits, because it does, and not just nutritionally speaking, but emotionally, too.

Oh, and as William Shatner said, "Stop and smell the garlic. That's all you have to do."

E is for ebullient, yay!

2011-04-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

This month i am taking part in theA-Z Blogging Challenge.

ebullient

-adjective
1. overflowing with fervor, enthusiasm, or excitement; high-spirited.
2. bubbling up like a boiling liquid.

My friend Barb mentioned this word as a good jumping off point for today's post, and i concur!

So, ebullient. i can definitely relate. There's no denying when something excites me. i let loose with smiles, laughter, and a voice that other moms might refer to as my "outside voice". (Which begs the question, do i even have an inside voice?) And no, i don't have an off switch. In fact, i strongly and deeply feel and show the gamut of emotions, which actually makes my battle with depression sort of make sense.

One thing that always gets my hackles up is when i am in the midst of this joyous overload, and someone says to me, "Calm down." It's almost always said with a slight hint of disgust, as if my display makes them cringe.

First of all, this is me. i only know how to be me. Take me or leave me, i am who i am. Yes, i can be a better me, and i try very hard to do that, but what part of my off the scale excitement hurts another human being? Maybe it irritates you, and that's fine - we can't all like each other - but i have to wonder what makes you pull away a bit? Obviously, you're uncomfortable with this outburst, but why? Is it because you reign yourself in, wanting to go with the flow and not upset the fruit basket? And i suppose you want me to do the same, huh? Um, no.

Secondly ("Do you always number what you say?" What movie is that from? i think i know; tell me if you do.), i believe in living life to the fullest. What's the point otherwise? For me, part of really living is letting myself feel all these emotions, savoring the moments, be they small or enormous. There can be moments of ebullience in every single day. Relish them, because at any time, there can also be moments of hell. This is life. Try not to turn away at the scary parts. Always laugh loudly until it hurts at the funny parts. And bring tissues, too, because you will cry.

Don't be afraid of your emotions, or of showing them. i think you'll find most people, save maybe the "calm-downers", and they are downers, will in turn feel more comfortable showing theirs, and this is just another connection we can make, which is always a very good thing.

The above photos were taken in my yard in early March. My landlord planted crocuses, daffodils, tulips, day lilies, hyacinths and more back when she resided here. In July, when we moved here, these flowers had fallen back and were gone, so we were surprised to be greeted to literally hundreds of perennials popping up all over this spring. And yes, this situation provided fodder for much ebullience.

Dream a little dream...

2011-04-05T15:37:00.000-04:00

This month i am participating in the A-Z Blogging Challenge.

i thought i'd have trouble finding the time to blog every day, save Sunday, for this challenge, but what i'm struggling with more is coming up with what to write. What a surprising turn of events. Anyone who knows me even fairly well knows i love to talk, and am almost never at a loss of what to say.

For some reason, "D" did not come easily. Sure, i thought of plenty of D words, but words beginning with D do not alone make for a good, readable post.

But, there is one very important D word: Dreams. As cheesy or cliche as it may sound, dreams are so important. You have to have dreams. Without your dreams, how would you know what goals you want to work towards? There are plenty of people out there who'd just love to crush your dreams, mostly because they've given up on theirs ever coming true.

i still carry around dreams from years ago, dreams that appear as if they'll never come to fruition. Nothing in my life points to them being a possibility, even in the distant future, but i'll not let them go. Without our dreams, our world would be empty. Without dreams, we'd never have realized manned flight, or the Sistine Chapel's painted ceiling, or even the birth of a nation called America. i know, this sounds like a bad Hallmark card, but the thing is, it's true.

Don't ever let loose your dreams. Don't ever let someone kill your dreams, or tell you you're a fool for dreaming such ridiculous things. Dreams are the mind's playground, and can lead to some amazing, never before heard of discoveries. Without dreams, our days would feel empty, but with them, life is ripe and rich and full, and the fruit is there for the picking, if only you believe.

C is for California.

2011-04-04T16:03:00.000-04:00

This month i am doing the A-Z Blogging Challenge.

When i was 10, after my parents divorced, my dad got a job with United Airlines, working out of their San Francisco terminal. Every summer after that, my brothers and i would fly from Virginia to California and spend at least a month out there. i fell in love immediately.

Our first trip there, my dad took us straight from the airport to downtown San Francisco. We were amazed, to say the least, having only travelled before to places like Florida or Ohio. He took us to Chinatown, and we looked through gift shops and marveled at the carcasses hanging in the restaurant windows. i got my first real taste of Chinese food in the back of a little restaurant there, and it was divine. But nothing could prepare us for the magic of the Pacific.

i love the ocean, but the Pacific really has a hold on my heart. Rather than just miles of sand and hotels like you see at the Atlantic, you'll find cliff faces, succulents by the millions, beaches covered in tiny pebbles, wind and water-eroded caves, seals...and when the fog rolls in, wow... No matter how many times i've stepped out onto the Pacific's shores, it has felt magical. If i close my eyes, i can smell it, and feel the chill wind blow in my hair.

There's so much to California, specifically Northern California, that i love. The redwood forests, Highway 1, San francisco and Marin County, Big Sur, Mount Shasta, Mono Lake, Death Valley, the food, like strawberries that taste like they should and just-picked brussel sprouts, bought at a stand right by the ocean. i have lived there on and off a few times over the years, the last time being in 2003. We left because of the high cost of living, but rarely does a day go by that i don't think of it, and miss it like hell. It will always be a part of me, another home.

B here now...

2011-04-02T08:00:00.002-04:00

This month i am doing the A-Z Blogging Challenge.

B. Well, B makes me think of many things, and it's hard to choose only one to go with, so i won't.

B is for books. i love to read, and used to devour a good book in a few days. Family life and making art eats up a lot more of my reading time these days, but i still try to squeeze a book or two in when i can. i love all kinds of books; if it's a great story, i'll read it, true or imagined. As far as authors, there are so many... Joseph Campbell, Tom Robbins, Barbara Kingsolver, Clive Barker, Douglas Adams, Roger Zelazny, Louis L'Amour, Richard Brautigan, Anais Nin, Rumi, Henry Miller...oh, i can't just pass over Henry like that. Although i had been writing long before i read his work, Henry Miller made me yearn to be a writer. More than that... He made me yearn to really live, taught me to look at the world in a different, but wonderful, way. Books have the power to make you laugh, weep, understand... They can be life-changing. Books. Are. Necessary.

And, brothers. i've got two of them, both younger than me, both awesome people that i'm grateful to have in my life. They make me laugh, a lot. They stand up for me. They are there when i need them, as i am for them. One of my brothers is having a birthday today, and as i am reminded, once again, of how quickly the time goes by, i am thankful my family and i are close, and that we've spent the years that have passed so far together.

The letter B can't help but make me think of my friend Barb Black. i mean, the letter B begins her first and last name, and i sometimes call her just B. She is anything but "just B", though, let me tell you.

Barb and i met several years ago on the internet. We've only talked on the phone once, but she is one of my closest friends in the world. i remember when i first saw her posts in a forum we were both members of. i was completely new to forums at all, and as i read through the threads, Barb always stood out. She was hilarious, first of all, and i am drawn to those with a great sense of humor. She also showed intelligence and an open-mind, and i remember thinking, i want to know her, but i'm new here, and why would she want to talk to me? Eventually, we did start talking, and over the years, a deep friendship developed.

She is an amazing person. i have a great deal of respect for her honesty, her candor, her raw nature, her generosity, her wisdom, and ofcourse, her stellar sense of humor. i am extremely fortunate to have her in my life, and to share as a part of hers. i really wouldn't want to imagine a life where i didn't call her a true friend, for that is certainly what she is, and those you hold onto, tightly. Ofcourse, if they're a true friend, they hold back.

A is for Art.

2011-04-01T08:00:00.002-04:00

So, at the 11th hour, i signed on to be a part of the A-Z Blogging Challenge, which begins today. i first got wind of this through my very good friend Barb, who is also taking part. i've needed to give my blog a little more attention anyway, and this is as good a means as any. Here's to hoping i can find the time to keep up with this, but i hate to not follow through on a commitment, so, yeah. Motivation.

And we begin, ofcourse with A. i think we all see where this is going. It's the reason i started this blog, it's the thing i feel a deep, unexplainable passion for. Some days, it's the light in the dark, and the thing that fills the void, the hole that empties and must always be refilled.

It's art.

i've been making art since i was little, just like everyone. As children, we may not have even indentified it as art; we just did it because we enjoyed it, it felt good. If mom wanted to put it on the fridge, great, a little validation is nice. But we did it regardless. And we didn't stress over whether it was "good enough" or not. We also didn't question if we could draw a tree or a dog - ofcourse we could! We could hold a pencil, right? And we knew what trees and dogs looked like, so, that's all we needed to produce a drawing.

But at some point, someone probably said it wasn't any good, so we put it aside for the more practical things in life. Let's all hurry to get on the wheel! Get up, shower, breakfast, go to work, take a lunch break, back to work, go home, eat dinner, watch tv, go to bed, rinse, repeat. Well, i didn't set it aside, and i never was any good at running the wheel. i stumbled often and fell off into the bedding...and then i went to sleep. Oh sure, there was a time art wasn't in the forefront as much as it is now, but i always enjoyed making things, creating something beautiful out of scraps of paper and paints, and i always had creative ideas for projects, usually several at once.

i don't care one little bit if anyone thinks my art is good or not, well, let me rephrase that. It feels great when something i make cheers someone, or brightens their day, or possibly makes them think. But, even if no one ever liked a single thing i made, i'd still be making art. i have to. i have no choice. It's in there too deep, has its hooks in and is not ever letting go. It defines me, in many ways. i used to write, a lot, but not so much anymore. i have a harder time these days finding the words to convey my meaning, but with art, it flows. i can say so much more in that medium than with words, and it's because the things i really want to say don't have any words. They are feelings, they are things to do with magic.

Like every human alive on this planet, the universe has thrown some challenges my way over the years. We all have setbacks or tragedies come our way, and we all struggle with something. For me, the one thread weaving its way through the good and bad times, through every part of my life, is depression. i've had that nasty monkey on my back since i was 13. Only once did i try medication, and that didn't last long. Mostly, i just tried to manage it on my own. It improved when my son was born, though sometimes it would still pop up at my doorstep, reminding me, "Hey, i haven't gone away. You know one misstep, one or two really bad days in a row, and i'll have a hold on you again." Then one day, after art had become a more dominant part of my life, i realized that i actually felt good, really good, content even. i paid attention and found that if i didn't create something (even a garden, or a well-made meal can be art) on a regular basis, i was more irritable and unhappy. i realized art was not only a fun way to express myself, it was also a form of therapy. i can now live a happy, full life, with depression, and without medication, thanks to art. Plus, i get to tell my story. Everyone has a story, and it deserves to be heard. We are all kicking around on this rock, trying to find our place, and the least we can do is share our visions of this world and each other with each other.

i ask that you not be afraid. If you want to make art, make it. Don't let anyone stop you. And even if you think your skills are lacking, just enjoy the process. The cool thing is, the more you do it, the "better" you get. You will find your style, your voice, because you can't not find it. It's yours, it's unique to you, and it's in there, just waiting to be heard. So, tell your story, because no one else could truly tell it but you.

Awe.

2011-03-25T01:01:00.000-04:00

That's the state i've been in all day, awe. i should be in bed right now, and instead i find myself wanting to share a little of my personal life here, on this blog i mostly keep to art-related topics. i am a private, rather solitary person, always have been, and though i'm more than open with my close friends, i also tend to go within sometimes.

So, awe. Some friends of mine, wonderful, thoughtful and giving people that they are, got together and did an amazing thing for me. i've never met any of them in person; we speak strictly online or on the phone, and most of them i only met a few months ago. There's no need to go into details, but without my knowledge, they all joined forces to give me a very precious gift. Actually, they gave me two very precious gifts. Aside from physical gain, they also shook up my world, in a good way. i feel...overwhelmed by their kindness and their generosity, but mostly, and this is the thing that makes me burst into tears just to think of it, they found me to be worthy of such kindness. i am still, hours later, in humbled disbelief. This will stay with me for a long, long time to come. It is a deep reminder, amidst all the negativity thrown at us everyday, that people can amaze you, that life can amaze you, that at any moment, someone can offer you something without seeking anything in return, just so that you can have an easier go of it. i am more than grateful, especially for having even met them in the first place.

(Thank you, guys. i love you.)

Altered Book Round Robin

2011-03-16T08:42:00.000-04:00

i'm still here! i want to update my blog more often, really i do, but it just seems to be put on the back burner over and over. However, i'm mostly not here because i'm busy making art, so i don't feel the least bit guilty...ok, maybe a little.

i have ideas brewing for a post about fearless art journaling - not an original concept, but i want to offer tips and suggestions of my own to those who don't know where to start with the medium. i actually have a good chunk of the post already written up, just need to find time to finish it. i may use the post as a jumping off point for a swap on swapbot, so any followers here from sb who may be interested, be on the lookout for that!

So, how about some new art?

i joined an altered book round robin over at flickr, and that has been a lot of fun. If you'd like to see what our group is doing, check it out here. i am going to share here my own work, but there's great work to be seen by the other players over at our flickr group.

This is my book:

Front cover.

Inside cover/first page.

Second page/layout.

Third and last of my layouts.

The book is now being worked in by the other players. i chose this theme as a result of missing San Francisco. i haven't been able to get back since we left in 2003, and it eats at me. That place sticks with you, that's for sure.

Thanks for stopping by, and hopefully, i'll be back to post again before too long...

Pocket ATC

2011-01-19T18:50:00.000-05:00

Hello, to those of you still reading my not up-to-date blog. The holidays had me on my toes, and it seems things haven't slowed down much since. i am still regularly making art, but finding the time to post it or write about it has been difficult. Here's a little snippet for today. This was for a swap entitled "Interactive ATC: Pocket". i love how it turned out, and my partner was very happy, so it's all good.

These are the tags i made to slide in the pocket.

i love the softness of the colors, and a French vintage theme is always fun.

i hope to update this more, but you know how these things go...

Resolute.

2010-12-27T09:00:00.002-05:00

i never make New Year's resolutions. Maybe i made a few a long time ago, i don't remember, but i just don't do it. i think it's because i strive (without always succeeding) to work on myself and set goals on a regular basis, not based on a date on a calendar. A fresh start can happen anytime, as necessary.

Having said that, i was thinking of resolutions today, and how most often, people's resolutions fall into similar categories:

* weight loss/diet/health
* job-related/financial success and well-being
* personal emotional improvement/changing bad habits
* personal goals for "more" - do more, make more, travel more, etc.

i'm sure there's more, but these were the ones i had in mind. i'd like to point out that i cheer for someone anytime they are trying to improve themselves or better their lives - we are all works in progress. But if i made resolutions, i asked myself, What would they be?

For one, weight loss is not on that list, though clinically, i am overweight, and according to textbooks, possibly "obese" (rolls eyes). Sure, i could stand to lose some weight. i'd probably have more energy (pity on those that know me and know i'm borderline hyper sometimes as it is). i'd find more clothes that fit well and i'd feel better wearing them. i'd probably have more spring in my step and a bit of a self-esteem boost. All good things.

But i know my body. i may be over my "ideal" size, but that size is not a 6, or 8. Or even a 10. As one of my friends said a long time ago, i'm "buxom". i have curves and i will not apologize. i also have a great love of preparing and eating delicious foods, foods my grandmother made, laden with carbs. i have Italian heritage - it would be akin to sacrilege to not partake of pasta. But the key, for me, is i love a variety of foods. A salad of fresh greens is high on the list of favorites, but so is mac and cheese. i love fruits and vegetables, but also most anything pork. i think moderation and variety are ideal. Plus, i make a lot of food homemade, and even if it's loaded with butter, at least there's none of those pesky preservatives or artificial colors and flavors.

So, weight loss would not be on my list. As far as financially, i'd love to have more money. Ofcourse i would! But i have a roof over my head, a fantastic art studio, and though my car is on its way out, there's little else i could ask for. A bigger travel budget would be nice... But i'm good.

Bad habits? Oh, yes. i have a few...and i'll take those one at a time, but they wouldn't really be on my list.

What would be on my list? First and foremost, being a better mom. Parenting is a learning process, and sometimes i joke that i'll have got it halfway figured out, maybe, by the time my son is 18. i want to be the mom my son needs me to be.

Second, pulling out the art that i know is inside me. As creative as i am on a daily basis, i always feel like there's much left unsaid, or unpainted/collaged/created. i may never get it all out, but i damn sure am going to try!

Third, being a kinder, more thoughtful, better person. Try to reign in anger, or expectation, or judgement. Be more self-aware of my effect on others and alter my actions to bring joy and gratitude and not disappointment or hurt.

And fourth, seek to find the joy in everyday, to always see the magic, even in the darkest fog (magic in itself), to live with passion and without restraint (except where it may hurt others), to enjoy this too brief life to the fullest.

i'm going to bundle that list together into one word - resolute. My resolution is to be resolute in who i am, what i believe, what i know to be right and what i hope to achieve in my life.

Thanks for listening. And happy new year's!

Hello, Mojo.

2010-11-17T08:30:00.001-05:00

It seems that just the act of writing out my frustration here helped release the block i was feeling. It could also be looming deadlines that did it, or both. Whatever it was, hallelujah! i'm back in the flow.

Mostly i've been working on swaps, but also some Christmas cards for my mom, and an altered book for a round robin group i'm in on flickr. Generally, i feel most inspired in the fall/winter. i'm not sure exactly why...something about the cold. And even more so if it's overcast or raining or snowing. There's magic in making a hot cup of coffee on a late afternoon in the midst of winter, and walking into my studio ready to play.

And when it gets colder, i drink a lot more coffee. That evening cup is my favorite - that's when it tastes the best to me. Why does it taste better than in the morning? i've always wondered that.

Lately i've been making lots of ATCs, or Artist Trading Cards. It's been fun doing these little works of art, and many of the ideas put forth there will eventually be put onto canvas. i have an idea for a large piece to hang on the wall based on the ATC below.

i made this for a swap based on the Paleolithic era. i could have hand-drawn the images rather than carve, but i liked the idea of having these as little stamps. The title of the ATC is pretty obvious - "Cave Wall". Hey, sometimes you just gotta' tell it like it is, no muss, no fuss.

i love texture, and i love acrylic mediums. Here i used Liquitex Flexible Modeling Paste. i've only touched the surface of what it can do. Apparently, due to its flexible nature, i can use it on fabric. Oh, imagine the possibilities!

Ancient fish carving and wallowing in the mire

2010-11-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

i have been working lately, but things are moving slowly. i don't know what's wrong with my creativity, but it's as if i can't count on my muses, as if i've lost some of my mojo. Artistically, 2010 was a full year for me, laden with discovery about myself as an artist, my style and my process. There was a distinct point in the spring where the ideas were pouring out of me, and i remember thinking, This is it! This is my voice! i may never be without an idea again! And really, right now, it's not a lack of ideas that's the problem, it's the implementation of said ideas. i sit down to work and everything feels wrong. i struggle with things that should be easy. i find myself stepping away from my studio after only a few minutes, and finding some other outlet, but this is eating up precious time i could be creating!

i am frustrated because i can't find the source of my frustration. i am struggling and i don't know why...

But, like i said, i am working. Every few days or maybe once a week i manage to create something i feel good or even great about, something i'm proud of, but this is not the norm unfortunately.

i know this is a phase. i know this too shall pass, but right now that doesn't make me feel much better.

These images show one of the few projects that wasn't a struggle recently. i carved the fish image (a depiction of ancient Mexican art) for an ATC swap with the theme of "ancient". This stamp is one of my favorite carvings that i've done to date. i have ideas for a series of carvings with a similar theme.

Included in each partners' swap (there were 2 partners total) was the ATC featured in the first two photos, the bookmark you see in photo one (i love how that turned out - has a batik feel to it) and the card shown above. For the card, i used my Liquitex inks and they did the job quite nicely.

So, for now, i'm going to keep plowing through. i've been here before, in the artistic muck, and i'll be here again. i will break out of this, i just hope it happens soon.

Celebrate snail mail!

2010-10-28T08:00:00.008-04:00

Wow, almost a month since my last post. Didn't i mention something a few posts ago about wanting to update this more often? Yeah. And the main reason i've been MIA? Swap-bot.

i used to swap a couple of years ago on other forums, but my artistic journey led me towards discovering new mediums and finding my own voice, and making art mostly for me. But, i missed swapping, for so many reasons - the anticipation of getting something fun in the mail, meeting other artists and crafters, finding inspiration and having a goal to work towards. i almost always work better with a goal, and that creativity spills into other artwork, and i am inspired more than i am not. i hate feeling blocked, almost as much as i hate boredom. On a side note, i've not felt bored in years. i remember as a teenager not liking to feel bored and seeing it as a waste of what precious little time we have on this planet. For as long as i can remember, my problem hasn't been having nothing to do, it's been not having enough time in a single day to act on all the things i want to do. Anyone who knows me fairly well, knows i always have an art project (or 10) in the works. Add to that a love of cooking and baking, reading, gardening, writing and the daily demands of housework and who has time to be bored? i don't accept boredom; life's too short.

So, i've been swapping, and having a lot of fun. And i'm thinking more about an etsy shop. The only thing stopping me from opening right now is not having a name. i want a name that's me, that's interesting and reflects the fact that i will be selling everything from handmade greeting cards to polymer clay jewelry to handmade blank journals. Oh, and it should be easy to spell and pronounce - that's important! Some people recommend finding a focus for your shop, but i don't see how i could limit myself to one or two items. There's so much i enjoy doing. See? Boredom can't live here. It wouldn't have breathing space.

Page after page.

2010-10-01T08:30:00.001-04:00

The journal has always been there. It is a constant, and has been since i was maybe 9 years old. Early on, it was the written word only, page after page in spiral notebooks, the same type of notebook i used for class. Later i added doodles or the occasional photograph, pasted in with rubber cement, which by the way is terrible for posterity. Photos and ephemera fall out of those old journals where i exclusively used rubber cement. (Live and learn.) Then i stopped using notebooks and gravitated towards hard cover, decorated journals. Sometimes i make my own books. Doodles and photos evolved into painted and collaged pages. Soon anything i could glue or attach to my journal was fair game.

My journal can be whatever i want it to be. i can share it with everyone or no one. i can be as open and honest as i want. i can be fully me.

Currently i'm working between two journals, one a Hand Book and the other a Strathmore Field Watercolor Sketch Book. The former doesn't have a single blank page left, so now i'm adding bits and pieces to pages, painting over pages i don't like and journaling on completed pages. The Watercolor Sketch Book is newer and has several blank pages left, though maybe not for long...

When once my journals contained pages and pages of mostly words with little artwork, the opposite is now the norm. It's harder these days to find the words, but the visual pours out onto the pages. What i want to say these days i can't find words to express, so i let the art speak for me.

i need this - a place to make art just for me, a place to record the moments in life that may be forgotten a few years from now. i find peace between these covers.

Reclaiming the magic.

2010-09-28T08:30:00.001-04:00

Remember when you were young and you felt the world was full of possibility? You hadn't yet been jaded or had your heart broken or saw what horrors people could inflict upon one another. Your entire life lay out before you, brimming with potential. There existed a certain feeling inside you, hard to describe, but it was there. You heard a favorite song or read a wonderful book and you could feel it. You could sense it in the change of seasons, smell it in the air when summer turned to autumn. It's a feeling that's hard to pin down with language, but i refer to it as magic. That's how it felt, as if there were magic all around me, inside me, and anything was possible.

i lived with this feeling up into my early 20's, and then one day i realized i had lost it. i struggled with depression for a long time, and wondered if the path i had chosen (or had chosen me) was the right one. i adore my family, but i worried all i would ever be was a wife, a mom, a housekeeper. Being a mom is a great joy in my life and something i cherish, but i feared i had put aside my own dreams to raise a family. i had aspirations to be a travel photographer, an archeologist, a writer. i didn't want to be famous (i don't like the spotlight on me), i just wanted to act on my passions and make them into a career. i wanted to see the world and discover different cultures, meet new people, take amazing photographs, write the stories that were in my head. i doubted that these dreams would ever come to fruition, and i felt trapped.

And then one day, i was working on a piece; i don't even remember what it was, but everything was flowing just right, i was in the zone and i felt giddy. And it hit me, here it is, here's the magic, it's back! It was there all along really, in my son's laugh, in the winter sunrise, in my true love's face when he smiled at me that certain way, in the first blossoms of spring...it was all around me, i just wasn't paying attention. But art helped me see it again, feel it again. Some days it's only a low hum underneath the daily obstacles in life - the bill paying, housework, grocery shopping - and other days it's a chorus. The quickest way to tap into it, for me, is through art. In art i can create my own playground, fulfill my own dreams, craft my own little bits of magic. It can be whatever i mold it to be, whatever i dream up. And it's always there, waiting for me to fulfill its potential. Art is part therapy for me; without it i would be lost.

i think we are all trying to reclaim the magic we felt as a child. We do a lot of what we do just to have that feeling again, to feel free and excited about what's to come, what lay ahead, to feel like anything is possible and all our dreams will come true. So today i urge you to tap into that magic - make art, or listen to a song you loved when you were young, or re-read a favorite book, or go outside and watch the clouds, or sit down with your child and fingerpaint, or take a leisurely drive down a road you've never been on. Because what is life without magic, without joy? Open yourself up to the magic and i promise you'll see the world in a whole new way. And if you already have, hold tight; don't let anyone or anything steal that feeling from you. Keep it going and spread it around. Because the world could use a lot more magic.

The greeting card as art...

2010-09-27T08:00:00.001-04:00

i went through a period a couple of years ago where nearly all i made were cards. i just got hooked, and plus they allowed me to brighten other peoples' days with a minimal investment in postage. i think the biggest plus is they can be a quick and easy way to make art. i say "can be" because they have that potential, but if you're like me, you sometimes spend way too long trying to perfect your creation.

i still enjoy making cards, and have sold more of those than anything else i've made. i have pretty much become my mom's lifetime card supplier, which is fine with me!

So here's a card i made the other day. i love how it turned out, though halfway through i almost scrapped the whole thing because i hit a wall. i'm glad i saw it through to the end.

Thanks for visiting! i wish everyone an inspired day.

Kenilworth Castle collage

2010-09-21T08:00:00.005-04:00

i love so many different types of arts and crafts, but probably my favorite format is mixed media. i love the layers, texture and depth i can achieve in this realm. A few months ago i played around with the following, a mixed media piece on watercolor paper. i used acrylics, matte medium, extra heavy gel medium, watercolor pencils, ink, photocopy transfers, stamps, crackle glaze...and more. i didn't have a strict idea in mind when i began, just wanted to play and see what came of it.

Have an artful day!

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

2010-09-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

For as long as i can remember, i've loved cemetaries. My dad used to find this to be a bit creepy and felt it cause for concern about the state of my psyche. He asked me about it one day, and after he saw it from my perspective, he realized he needn't have worried. Cemetaries feel like peaceful, beautiful places to me. They're so quiet, and are little pockets away from the rest of the world where time seems to stand still. There are also many oppurtunities for some wonderful photos, and rubbings. The best ones are the oldest ones, where some of the headstones' markings are barely distinguishable after decades of wear, or others lay broken and cracked. i am also drawn to the stones showing an unusual single family name; one of the best i ever found was "Dancer", that's it, just that word, that surname, carved on an unassuming grey slab. Beautiful.

i have pictures of cemetaries from all over. Here are some shots from earlier in the summer, end of June or so. They were taken in Staunton, Virginia, at a cemetary whose name escapes me right now.

i was told this spot is one of the most haunted places in Virginia.

For more pictures of this cemetary, visit my flickr page.

Monday mornin' you sure look fine...

2010-09-13T08:30:00.000-04:00

i just wanted to show another card today, one i made a few months back.

i colored the pear with Inktense pencils and then did a water wash (i love the vibrancy and inky quality of these pencils!). To the stars i added Stickles glitter glue for a little punch.

Have an artful day!

Rest In Peace, Staci.

2010-09-12T08:00:00.001-04:00

Not long ago, we lost a precious member of our family, Paul's little sister, Staci. She was born with Cerebral Palsy and spent her life unable to speak or eat without a feeding tube, but she was full of life and personality, for sure! She was 33.

There's not a card in the world that could even barely ease the suffering of a mother who's lost her child, but i made Paul's mom a card anyway to at least let her know we were here for her.

Thanks for visiting.

GPP Street Team: Crusade No.44

2010-09-10T12:47:00.001-04:00

i've been a fan of Michelle Ward's artwork for a while now, and probably many of you have heard of her monthly creative challenges over at her GPP Street Team blog. i've been lurking over there for a couple of years now, and even did a few challenges but have never posted my results; today i finally am!

This month's crusade, Crusade No. 44, is called "In a Scrape" and the challenge is to apply paint to the page using only a credit card or similar tool. No brushes allowed. i love applying paint this way and have used this technique many times. i took on the option of adding techniques from Crusade No. 25 - The Properties of Gesso , and here are my results.

i started by scraping gesso onto one page, then after it dried i scraped on acrylic craft paint. i sprayed the page with water and wiped and dabbed with a paper towel.

For the 2nd page in this layout i gessoed a foam stamp and stamped onto the page, then scraped on paint and again sprayed with water and wiped to leave a resist. The wiping left a "glow" around the stamped images that i really like.

Back to page one - more scraping on paint in different colors, then a last scraping of gesso.

Here's a close-up where you can see that i scratched into the gesso with the edge of the credit card.

The second page (close-up) received more scraping with my chosen colors and a layer of scraped gesso as well. The stamped images are now only peeking through these layers.

Here's how page 2 ended up. i attached a mask of letters (by Tim Holtz) and scraped paint over that, then outlined the word with a Sharpie pen.

This was a fun challenge and i'd like to take on more of these and, hopefully, actually post my results more often. These crusades are open to everyone, so stop by her GPP Street team blog and join in!

Thanks for looking, and have an artful day!

SILHOUETTE MACHINE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2010-08-25T11:28:00.001-04:00

When i saw a friend had posted a link to this on FB, i knew i had to enter (Thanks, Lisa!). i have never bought a die-cut machine - it always irritated me that i was limited to pricey cartridges. i have been waiting for a machine like the Silhouette, at a price within my budget. If you're not familiar with this, it can cut ANYTHING that you have on your computer - any image, any font, any size. Imagine what you could do with this!

Click on the link below to read about it and enter to win one for yourself!

SILHOUETTE MACHINE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2010-08-23T09:30:00.002-04:00

A lot has been going on in my life lately. The biggest change has been moving to a new area. This is a refreshing new path for us as previously we'd lived in the county i'd lived in on and off since i was 7. While i consider that area one of many homes (most of my family still lives there), it had grown stale and confining for me. We're making a new start here and we're all very excited.

Artistically, a lot has been happening, too, as i've talked about in recent posts. i can feel my voice coming closer to the surface every day, and sometimes the ideas come so quickly i barely have time to write them down before another pops up. i'm exploring new media and growing more sure of my abilities to manipulate that media to tell my story.

Our recent move is opening oppurtunities for us, one being the availability of high speed internet. For the past 7 years, we've lived in rural areas where the only options were dial-up or satellite internet. The former is, ofcourse, extremely limiting and the latter costs too much. Now we finally have high speed at home, and now i can finally do something i've wanted to do for awhile now - try to sell my wares online. To start with, i want to open a shop on etsy. i know the biggest challenge will be getting noticed, as there's so many wonderful artists out there. i've never been published in a magazine and i usually fly under the radar, so i'll have to try to get out there in some way. i'll always make art, whether or not anyone likes it or is willing to buy it, but i wouldn't turn down compensation for something i love to do and devote so much of my time to (happily!).

i'm excited, and maybe a little nervous, about this new turn in my life, but the change is a good one.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you all have an artful day!

Chipboard Book Collaboration.

2010-07-31T22:07:00.002-04:00

Not long ago i proposed a collaboration to my super-talented friend Barb - i had some chipboard books i picked up at Michael's for a quarter a piece and my idea was that we'd each start one, then swap books and finish what the other had begun. There were no rules aside from each of us doing 2 completed pages, 2 half-completed pages and one page left blank before sending the book to the other person. They could be done in any media and with any theme. Barb's book, in which she's already done her part and sent to me, is called The Wee Book of Big Imagination and it's awesome! Once i've done my part in that book i'll post it here, with Barb's permission.

The book i started (and have since sent to Barb for completion) is called Home Is Where the Art Is. This was a phrase i kept thinking about, and i love house imagery, so it seemed like a good theme. Following are photos of my book, pre-Barb magic.

The above page was based on a previous collage that i posted here a little while ago. Barb liked that collage, and it fit perfectly into my theme, so i did another version here. This is my favorite version yet!

This project has been a blast so far, and i look forward to working on something else with Barb in the future.

i used lots of different supplies here and won't list them all, but mostly it was acrylic paints and mediums, watercolor pencils (Inktense by Derwent, my new favorites!), toner photocopy transfers, stamps and ink.

Thanks for stopping by, and have an artful day!

"Buried Treasure" post...

2010-07-17T15:20:00.000-04:00

This is a re-post for inclusion in Seth Apter's Buried Treasure 2010. To be a part of this, just re-post one of your favorite blog entries, then email Seth to let him know when you've posted. He'll add your name to the list of participants.

This post was originally published on 6/30/2007:

Cards are little creations i can generally finish in a short amount of time, and that helps when you have a young son to take care of, not to mention all the housework, gardening, etc. that needs to be done. When i have more time to play, i love to pull out my polymer clay. Following are some things i made over a year ago during a spree of poly-creating. These have been posted elsewhere on the internet in the past, so some of you have already seen them.
This is a glass container, with lid, that i covered in poly slices.

i love to make beads! My mom calls these "Miami Vice" beads. :)

These are my favorite! They're loosely based on a design i found in a book. On the left is a pendant.

More beads...

Nautical star beads!

i made these with the intention of selling them, and while i still plan to, i have yet to let go of most of them. They're not difficult to make, just very time-consuming, and after spending all that time with them i become very attached and find it hard to let go! i have an entire plastic shoe-box full of bags of poly beads, and i really need to start seriously considering selling them. i'm thinking of putting them up on ebay or maybe etsy. Does anyone have experience with etsy? Would i have better luck there than ebay? If anyone has advice on this, i'd love to hear!

Thanks for visiting my blog. Have a wonderful day!

Blog candy winner!

2010-07-09T17:23:00.000-04:00

Hello, all! Sorry i'm a day late with the post - couldn't get to this yesterday.

Anyway, i'm shocked by how few people entered the contest. Must be some kind of record for the fewest blog candy entries ever!

So, without further ado, i had my son pick a random number and the winner is Sydnii! Congrats, Sydnii! Email me your address and i'll get your stamps out to you. You'll find my email addy on my profile page here at blogger. Be sure to put "stamp candy" in the subject line. Thanks!

Have a great day everyone!

More stamp carving

2010-07-02T18:45:00.000-04:00

i thought i'd post some pictures of other stamps i've carved for whoever's interested.

i didn't have any bird egg stamps, so i thought this was a good choice for carving. This is carved on a white eraser again, image is my own drawing.

These were fun to do! The paisley one at the top is a design from a tea box. The middle is just distressed stripes i sketched out. The bottom is a clip art image. All are carved on erasers.

This is one of my favorites! i was so happy that it turned out so well! This is another clip art image, and the block is the MasterCarve by Staedtler. (Dana - the poppies are on the other side! i'll get a pic of those up soon.)

Well, as always, thanks for looking! Hope everyone has an artful day!

Stamp Carving Tutorial + Blog Candy.

2010-07-01T15:10:00.002-04:00

Spurred on by interest from my friend Dana over at Kismet, Art, Life, i decided to post a little tutorial on stamp carving. (Thanks so much for your support, D!) i'll also be offering what i'm pretty sure is my first ever blog candy! More on that at the end of this post.

i've been interested in stamp carving for a few years now, but didn't attempt it myself until February of this year. i was initially pretty intimidated by the prospect, but found it to be a lot easier than i thought even after only my first carving. If you've been interested, too, but wary of your abilities after seeing the amazing examples on the web (check out etsy.com for some stunning little masterpieces!), i urge you to put aside fear and give it a try. i assure you, you can do this! It's not as difficult as you might imagine, and mistakes can often be corrected. Plus, even the most rudimentary carvings with imperfections somehow turn out looking pretty cool. Another bonus - you can get started carving with a small investment of funds.

I'm by no means a master carver, but after scouring the web for tips, checking out a book on the subject at my local library and carving nearly 60 stamps so far, i feel that i can share enough to get you started.

First, supplies:

Starting at the top left and moving clockwise:

* Lino Cutter. Mine's the Speedball Lino Cutter Set, No. 1. i got it for about $7 at Dick Blick. It comes with one handle and 5 blades, and the blades can be stored inside the handle. The blades you'll use most often are the V-shaped cutter #1 and the U-shaped gouge #5.

* Carving medium. i recommend starting with the plastic, white polymer erasers (white block shown here) you can find at most big box or office supply stores. i use the Pentel brand. They're cheap and cut like butter. The pink erasers crumble too easily for my tastes. Other mediums shown here are Blick Blue "Easy-to-cut" block (the big blue-grey piece on the bottom), Blick brand E-Z Cut Printing block (the beige one) and a very rubbery, smooth block (smaller grey piece) that i can't recall the brand name. i know i got it at Blick, too. Not shown is one of my favorites, MasterCarve by Staedtler. It's consistent and produces clean lines and is favored by many carvers. i haven't tried the "Easy-to-cut" block yet, so i can't speak for its attributes, but the beige "E-Z Cut" is ok, kind of crumbly and not great for detail, but a good choice for simple designs. Some people use linoleum, but it's more for block printing than stamping, and i've heard it begins to break down after a year, so i've shied away from it. Most carving blocks are thick enough that you can carve on both sides and even the edges if you choose.

*Ink for stamping your carving.

*Image for carving. Trace you image onto vellum or tracing paper with a 4B pencil. You will transfer your image by rubbing the tracing (penciled side against the block) onto the block with a bone folder or spoon. There are other means of transferring, such as acetone and by using a Chartpak (solvent-based) blender marker, but i've had mixed results this way. Plus, some blocks react negatively to solvents and acetone. You can do a web search for these other transfer methods to see which you prefer.

So, let's get started!

Begin by laying your pencil tracing onto the block, in this case a white polymer eraser. Holding the tracing steady, rub over the backside with a bone folder or spoon until the image transfers. Try not to move it as you rub or it will smudge! This is a clip art image, but you can use any image you like - your own drawings, images from coloring books or magazines, whatever. Start with something simple for your first try, something with few details.

Here's the result. Now you have clean guidelines for carving. Try to avoid rubbing your hand across it as you carve, at least as much as possible, to avoid smudging. You could also trace over your lines with a Sharpie for added security.

Insert the V-cutter #1 into your cutter handle. This is the blade you'll use for cutting your main outlines. Start with the outside edge, holding the cutter like a pencil and moving it forward. Let the blade do the work - you don't have to push hard or force it. Just follow your lines and cut. When you reach a curve, move the block rather than the cutter. It's easier and saves your wrist some discomfort. The biggest tip i can give you is to make shallow cuts. You can always go back later and refine, but you don't want to cut too deeply to begin with and ruin your carving. After you finish the outside edge, move into the center lines, the veins of the leaf. Be careful in tight corners! It's better to cut away too little than too much. When reaching tight spaces, lift the blade up slightly as you cut to remove just a hair of the material. And watch the placement of your fingers! You don't want to carve those, too!

i've finished my outlining. Now i'm ready to cut away the excess along the outside edges as well as inside the veins.

Insert the U-gouge #5 into the cutter handle and begin cutting away the excess. Again, make shallow cuts and let the blade do the work. You can see here that i've already cut away the inside along the veins. i used the V-cutter #1 for this because the U-gouge wouldn't have fit into such small areas. You can also see where i made some mistakes, but that's ok! It adds a rustic look, and we're not seeking perfection here.

After you've removed the bulk of the excess, test your carving by stamping onto scrap paper. Here's where you can see how much more to cut away. Some people prefer to leave the visible cutting lines for aesthetics. It will look like a woodcut. The choice is yours.

i've now cleaned it up and here's my finished product. Now, wasn't that easy?

If i wanted, i could now carve an image on the other side. Keep in mind that bending these erasers could break them, and often ink-staining will occur, but as with manufactured stamps this will not affect the stamped image. Clean your stamps with soap and water or stamp cleaner.

Here's a photo of the first stamp i ever carved. It's an image of a feather from the book Rubber Stamp Carving: Techniques, Designs and Projects by LuAnn Udell. i'm sure there's lots of books on the subject, but this is the only one i found at my local library, and it helped a lot. The author leads you through projects of increasing difficulty, but all are easily accomplished with a little practice.

i encourage you to try carving for yourself. It's simpler than you think, affordable and very satisfying. If you love rubber stamps, you'll adore having your own carved images to stamp.

Feel free to ask any questions you might have. i can't promise to have all the answers, but i'll try my best to help!

Tips:

*Keep your cuts shallow!

*Let the blades do the work; they're very sharp and will cut your block with gentle pressure.

*When carving text, be sure to carve them backwards/reversed so that they stamp correctly.

*Keep a little notebook or journal for stamping your carved images. Add dates, where you found the image and what carving medium you used. This will prove beneficial for future reference and to find which medium you prefer. Plus, you have a reference for what you've already carved.

*An image carved too close to the edge of a block may not stamp those outside lines. Keep the carving a little bit away from the edge.

*Carving blocks can be cut down to size or even cut around the image to avoid waste or provide a more cleanly-stamped image.

*Store your stamps in a box or little drawer and they should last years.

Now onto the blog candy! By commenting on this post, you'll be entered to win some of my own carved stamps. i'm trying to drum up my readership, so if you post a link to this post on your own blog, i'll enter you twice. Be sure to let me know that you've posted a link! Contest ends on Wednesday, July 7th at midnight. i'll draw a number on Thursday, July 8th and post the winner here sometime that day. i still don't have the net at home, so is something unforeseen happens and i can't post a winner then, i'll do it as soon after that date as possible. Good luck!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope this tutorial has helped anyone curious about carving their own stamps. Have a great day!

i need your help!

2010-05-12T08:30:00.001-04:00

Have a look at the collage below and tell me, should i add more or leave it as is? i just don't feel right with it in its current state, but i'm not sure if i should add something.

Thanks for looking! Any feedback appreciated!

Christmas in May!

2010-05-10T09:00:00.001-04:00

Finally, here are the tags i did for Tim Holtz's "12 Tags of Christmas - 2009". To see Tim's tags, go here. i didn't stray far from his designs, and discovered the challenge was in trying to pull off what he'd done with few of the same supplies. i had fun with them and ended up using them as ornaments on our tree.

As for ingredients, i wouldn't even know where to start! If you wanna know something specific, just ask and i'll try to help!

i just love the smell of ink in the morning...

2010-05-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

Hello, everyone! Today i've got a card to show, one i did a couple weeks ago. Sorry the photo's a little fuzzy, something to do with the scan, and i don't have the card with me for a redo. This card was the result of just wanting to use my new stamps! i heat-embossed the images on the black cardstock, then stamped the calligraphy block on white cardstock. i added color using acrylic paints mixed with Pearl-Ex powders. The black and white center tile is the center of the stamp, cut-out and covered with a clear epoxy sticker. The letter "R" was printed from the computer. Why "R"? Just because it looked good!

Ingredients: CS - stash, Papertrey Ink; stamps - Writing Set by Clearly Impressed; ink - Versamark, Ranger Archival; acrylic paint/gloss medium; Pearl-Ex powders; white embossing powder; clear epoxy sticker; pop-dots.

As always, thanks for stopping by! Have an artful day!

One idea yields 3 pieces...

2010-05-05T08:30:00.003-04:00

Before my current creative block kicked in, i was able to put together the following pieces a few weeks ago. The idea began with a journal page that i then applied to a card (center photo), and finally two ATC's (bottom photo).

This color palette is one of my favorites. i started with some patterned paper with bottles on it (i love bottles, especially old ones) that i traced over with a pen. This makes it look hand-drawn (a little trick i like to use). i then added layers of ink and, in the case of the journal, acrylic paint. To highlight the labels on the jars and to add the water inside, i used watercolors. The card has an acrylic paint/crackle frame.

These were lots of fun to make, and i love how the idea carried from a journal page and fit itself to various incarnations.

Ingredients: CS - stash; PP - My Mind's Eye (?); stamps - Fresh Flower Elements and Writing Set by Clearly Impressed, Tim Holtz's Ultimate Grunge by Stamper's Anonymous, Messy Dates by Autumn Leaves; ink - Ranger Distress Inks, Ranger Archival, Colorbox Pigment; acrylic paint; crackle medium; watercolor paint.

Thanks for stopping by!

New mediums + creative block = frustration!

2010-05-03T15:23:00.001-04:00

Hi all! i don't know how many readers i have left since the long hiatus... i'm trying to rectify the situation, though.

i never did post my "12 Tags of Christmas", will have to get to that, hopefully before next x-mas.

Since my last posts, a lot's changed for me artistically. For quite a few years, i made mostly cards, and while i'm sure i always will - i love it as a small format to try ideas and for instant (almost) gratification - lately i've been playing mostly in my journal and working on mixed media collage pieces. Also, after years of tossing ideas around, i'm finally starting work on some shadowboxes/assemblages.

i've also found some new mediums in the past several months, one being stamp carving. i was always intimidated by it, but once i got started i saw how easy it was to get good results and i was hooked! i carved almost 50 stamps - some big, most small - in a month or so.

Another new medium was one i was curious about for awhile, but only now have delved into - beeswax for collage/mixed media work! So far i've only played with it a little, but i'm already excited about the possibilities.

And yet, even with all these new outlets, i am smack in the throes of a creative block. The funny thing is, i usually have tons of ideas, too many ideas and not enough time. Ofcourse, many artists say the best thing for a block is to just work! Just start playing with materials and let things happen. i might also mine my idea notebook for old ideas that i never started.

So, today i have a tag to show. It's not anything fantastic; it was my first experiment with beeswax. i knew i wanted to seal some dried leaves or flowers in the wax so that's what i went with. i added color (red) by melting a Crayola crayon into the mix.

Ingredients: Manila tag - Office max; stamps - Writing Set by Clearly Impressed (Stampington & Co.), alphabet by Studio G, Swirls, V.1 by Autumn Leaves; ink - Versafine; red Crayola crayon; pressed flower petals; beeswax; walnut ink.

Well, thanks for looking! i hope to be posting more regularly - it helps to motivate me past my block, and i miss sharing with other artists.

Hope you all have an awesome day!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T12:50:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas, everyone! After the holidays and when things have settled down i'll be updating. i was following Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas (only have 2 left to complete!) and will post pictures of my own creations.

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

2009-11-26T14:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Fun Foam Stamps with the Frugal Crafter!

2009-10-24T09:15:00.000-04:00

The Frugal Crafter is back with a tip that some of you may already know about but i only recently discovered. We all love our rubber and clear stamps, but it's nice to find cheaper ways to make a consistent impression. Today i'd like to share with you a way to use fun foam to make stamps. i'd heard about this a few months ago but wasn't sure about the details until i found a great book at my local library. It's a huge volume simply called Stamp!; the authors are listed on the back page as Sharilyn Miller and Becky Auth and it was published by Quarry. i might have the second author's name wrong, and the book's at home (and i'm not) so i can't sneak a peek to verify. i've looked online and can't find this book, though there's one called Stamp Art that looks like it has some of the same projects...hmm. Anyway, the one i have is HUGE and filled with awesome ideas on how to make impressions aside from the usual stamps, as well as techniques and projects. It's like a stamper's bible! i highly reccomend it!

So, on to the fun foam stamps. First, find something to make an impression with, something textured. Leaves and branches can work as long as they're thick and defined. i tried a fern and it just wasn't thick enough for the foam to mold around it. i'm still playing with this, so i can let you know more results later, but i've had success with 2 items so far - a fat little sun bead and a piece of drywall tape (mesh screen might work even better!). Have your item at the ready as you heat a piece of fun foam with your heat (embossing) tool for 30-45 seconds. Then, quickly press the foam onto the item and hold it there for a bit, smushing all over. Sometimes, depending on the item you're using, you might have better results pushing the item onto the foam instead. If you don't like how it turned out, just reheat the foam and try again. You can even use rubber stamps to make a negative of your original rubber stamp.

Here's the sun bead, the foam stamps i made using it and the impressions they left when inked up. They're by no means perfect, but hey, i love the distressed look! To stamp, i just use masking tape to temporarily adhere the foam to an acrylic block. If you find a better way, please let me know!

Here's the drywall tape stamp with the tape and the image. i redid this one 3-4 times, reheating and repressing and this was the best i could do. i think if the item you use has good, deep impressions you'll have much better luck. Also, i think thicker foam might work better, but i used what i had, which was just the stuff you buy in sheets at Wal-mart or any craft store.

So, there you have it! Try it out, see what works for you and let me know your own results! i'd love to see what you guys can come up with!

Thanks, as always, for visiting, and have an artful day!

A little snippet from my art journal...

2009-10-23T09:41:00.001-04:00

Just a piece of a recent page from my AJ. The photo is of my son when he was very young, maybe about 2. i always loved that picture.

Thanks for looking! Have a great day!

Christmas will be here too soon...

2009-10-22T08:35:00.002-04:00

...so i started making cards about a month ago. i hope i can afford the postage this year! Might have to scale back my list...

This card was a lot of fun to make. i started with navy blue CS and stamped the branches with white pigment ink. Then i splattered some white paint on top. i punched the edge, added the ribbon and then added the main image on top. i love this little tree stamp!

Ingredients: CS-stash; stamps-can't remember the set name, but it's by Inkadinkado, the branch is from Leafy Silhouettes by...? oops, can't remember...; ink-Colorbox chalk, Pallette Hybrid, Colorbox pigment, Ranger Archival; ribbon-Michael's; Sharpie; star brad-Jo-Ann's; white acrylic paint.

Thanks for stopping by everyone!

Halloween made with glitter and salt...

2009-10-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

Another Halloween card! Amazing, considering i used to never make them.

i also never use glitter on a card (i like glitter glue more) because it's so messy, but i had this black glitter and just went for it. It's a chunky glitter, not fine enough, so it didn't work as well as i'd hoped. Still, i think it came out ok. i might give this one to my son.

The background was made using one of my favorite techniques. It's normally something you'd do using watercolors or watered-down acrylics, but i used Distress Inks - i rubbed them on the paper and then sprayed it with water. No matter the medium, make sure it's wet on the paper and then sprinkle salt over it. i find kosher salt and rock salt work best, but try table salt, too. What happens is the salt absorbs some of the color and leaves some neat effects. Try it! Just wait until it's completely dry before you rub the salt way.

Ingredients: CS-stash; stamps-Autumn Foliage by Inkadinkado, grass from Tree Time (?) by Inkadinkado, alphas by Studio G; ink-Ranger Distress, Ranger Archival, Colorbox pigment (white); Elmer's glue; black glitter; dimensional adhesive; Stickles; pop-dots; orange marker.

Thanks for visiting! Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Just a little Autumn card...

2009-10-20T09:30:00.000-04:00

This is my favorite time of year, and has been for as long as i can remember. i made this card a week or so ago and i like the artsy, rustic feel of it. i used UTEE, and in some places the UTEE spread and stuck and caused a sort of splatter pattern. i didn't intend it, but i like the outcome!

i started by sponging Distress Ink on white cardstock, then embossing with UTEE. Next, i sponged on Versafine Onyx Black and Distress Broken China, with the UTEE acting as a resist.

i used pop-dots to adhere this panel to a background stamped with bleach first, then Versamark, and added Pearl-Ex powder in Antique Gold. Pretty basic, but as colorful as Autumn in all its glory!

Ingredients: CS-stash; stamps-Leafy Silhouettes by...?, words by Studio G; ink-Ranger Distress, Versafine, Versamark; Pearl-Ex; bleach; UTEE; pop-dots.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a lovely day!

Let this caged bird fly...

2009-10-19T09:30:00.000-04:00

This is a collage i did recently. i started by painting 140 lb. watercolor paper with antique white acrylic paint. Then i masked off certain areas - the birdcage and the swirls at the bottom - using artists' masking fluid. The next step was to rub on some Distress Ink and add some stamping (flowers, dots, leaves). i then removed some of the masking fluid and stamped the birds flying out of the cage; i wanted some to remain in the cage and some outside. i next removed all the masking fluid, added more stamping, rubbed on a light coat of antique white acrylic paint, added some Stickles to the birds and called it done. Oh, and i outlined the birdcage with a Sharpie. i think that's it... :) Sounds like it all happened quickly but it was actually a process that took a few days and i stumbled a bit along the way. The flowers i was unhappy with, but after buffing a little with acrylic paint that seemed to help.

Thanks so much to anyone who stops by. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think! i can accept criticism. ;)

Happy Halloween...almost...

2009-10-17T08:00:00.002-04:00

Happy Saturday! Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Here's another of my attempts at a Halloween card. i liked this card up until i added the birds at the end. Ofcourse i once again used Distress Inks in the background. i really love all that those inks can accomplish.

Thanks for looking!

Ingredients: CS-stash, glossy cardstock by Ranger; stamps-Winter Trees (i think), can't remember who makes it, Rummage Alphabet by Making Memories, bird from Maison Frames by Inkadinkado, french script from Travel Time by Inkadinkado; ink-Ranger Distress, Ranger Archival; brads-Jo-Ann's; Stickles; pop-dots.

2009-10-16T18:36:00.005-04:00

Hi, everyone! Hope you're all having a good day. Just one card to share; i made it a few months ago. The first photo shows it with the envelope.
This is a pretty basic card, using glossy paper and alcohol inks as a background, but i like how it came out. You can almost never go wrong with AI's.

Ingredients: CS-Bazzill, stash; stamps-Cosmos Collage (i think that's the name) by Lost Coast Designs; ink-Ranger Alcohol Inks, Ranger Archival; copper acrylic paint; eyelets-American Crafts, MM; star embellishment-unknown.

2009-10-03T11:15:00.000-04:00

...another page from my art journal.

Embrace Happiness.

2009-10-02T09:30:00.000-04:00

i think maybe i have an obsession with Distress Inks, but hey, there could be worse things. For this card i did a resist with clear embossing powder before adding my ink. A basic layout and a quick card to put together, but fun nonetheless.

Ingredients: CS-Colorbok, stash; stamps-clock Tim Holtz Life's Possibilities Stamper's Anonymous, bird Studio G, square bird Inkadinkado, sentiment Papertrey Ink; ink-Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Colorbox, Ranger Archival; embossing powder-Stampendous; brad-MM; ribbon-Offray; Stickles; pop-dots.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Art Journal Pages.

2009-09-30T08:30:00.000-04:00

One of my very favorite things to do as an artist is to build layers. It takes time, and i love every second! Sometimes i get so carried away that there's nothing left of some of the previous layers. i really love the look of painting/smudging white on the final layer to soften and conceal some areas.

Thanks for looking! Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Art=Freedom.

2009-09-29T10:00:00.000-04:00

Just a reminder that when you sit down to create, don't be afraid. Your art can be anything you want it to be. And if you don't like what you've made, it can always be cut up and pasted into a collage. Or recycled. Or hidden away, never to be seen again. No matter what, you'll learn something from your mistakes, and often mistakes turn into happy accidents or the discovery of a new technique. Just relax and play and you can't go wrong. Time spent making art is never time wasted.

Not your average Halloween card...

2009-09-28T08:00:00.002-04:00

i make cards for all kinds of occasions, but for some reason i rarely make any for Halloween. Recently, though, i've been inspired by non-traditional and vintage Halloween images from back issues of Somerset Studio and RubberStampMadness. i'm realizing that Halloween cards don't always need to be cute or covered with pumpkins and ghosts. This card came from that recent revelation.
i love playing with Distress Inks, so this card was a blast to make.

Ingredients: CS/paper-Colorbok, stash, watercolor paper; stamps-Square Face Frame HamptonArt, sun unknown, swirls/star from "Chocolate Chalet" Cloud 9 Design, star "Loves Me, Loves Me Not" Technique Tuesday, text "Distress Background" Limited Edition, Be Magical unknown; ink-Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Ranger Archival; star brad-Jo-Ann Scrap Essentials; Stickles; pop-dots.

Have a magical and inspiring day!