Mountain Stream

This is a detail shot from a piece that I have been working on/struggling with for several months. In the background is a piece of cloth that I painted, and I think it is very effective to convey water rushing down in a mountain stream. On the surface are three-dimensional tree trunks. I like the imagery so far, but representational art is always something I struggle to complete. For now, I am stymied, and the piece remains on my design wall for further contemplation. Maybe I need some stitched branches or snippets of leaves......

The Journey is the Reward

For me, this is what it's all about. Taking time to enjoy the process of creating artwork. Taking time to appreciate the little things in my day, relishing my life.

Zeke and I enjoy walking together several times a day. We walk through the neighborhood park or around the lake. It is quiet and serene, and there are always little things to notice and appreciate. This morning we found this nest --- abandoned from last year, but who knows what it will hold this year.

Don't Settle

This morning's collage is very appropriate considering how I am spending my time these days. I started out painting walls, which led to another redecorating splurge --- all because, if I think I can make it look better, I feel compelled to do it. The good news is that I love the look of the newly redecorated rooms; the bad news is that the weather is in the 60's here, and I haven't been outside playing in the gardens.

Spring

Spring is just around the corner! Even though I don't have any shoots emerging in the garden, my feathered friends are returning. This week I have seen cardinals, doves, and finches at the feeder instead of just the usual snowbirds. These are my spring favorites, mostly because they all nest in the yard, and we get to see the young ones at the feeder later in the year. Gardening season can't be far away!

Take Charge

This morning's collage is a great reminder to take charge of your artistic career --- set goals, prioritize those goals, and start on the steps to achieve them. It is equally important to limit those distractions that sidetrack you from reaching your goals.

Too many artists start out accepting every exhibition proposal that is sent to them. For me, it is important to spend my studio time making art that is meaningful to me, not art that fits an upcoming exhibition. So, I've learned to "take charge" and say no if the exhibition doesn't fit my goals. It is actually quite liberating!

Tranquility

Can you tell that I have my upcoming vacation on my mind? 8 days relaxing at the beach, soaking up the sun and sand and surf. Sure sounds like tranquility to me!

New Toy

Photos of Zeke with his new haircut and his new toy. The toy is a stuffed canvas roll, and Zeke loves it! It is hilarious to watch him prance around with it in his mouth, because the toy is almost as big as him.

Urban Landscapes

Urban Landscapes #12
8.75"h x 6"w

Yesterday I finished the other new series of collages that I have been working on. These collages were inspired by photographs that I've taken of downtown areas in two cities. I love the look of mixing the hard and soft lines in the photographs, as well as the hard and soft surfaces of the photographs versus the cloth elements. Click here to see the entire series.

No

This morning's collage includes cloth, found papers, acrylic paint, pigment ink and a piece of metal. The white was stamped using corrugated cardboard; the gold was stamped using a plastic canvas circle; the lettering was screened from a page in my great grandmother's autograph book.

New Series

I have been busy in the studio, even though I have only posted small morning collages recently. I have been pasting and painting and printing on two new collage series. The first series is titled "Numbers", and one of the collages is posted above. To see the entire series, please click here. These were created for the International Collage Exhibition & Exchange, but I do plan to add additional numbers to the series.

Magic

Discover the magic --- the magic of a sunrise, the magic of a child's laughter, the magic of a cardinal's song, the magic of friendship, the magic of artwork that turns out just like your vision.