Delmar #11

Delmar #11
approximately 9" x 6"
canvas, Chinese paper, gesso, medium, acrylic paint, screenprinting ink, hand stitching

Delmar #10

Delmar #10
approximately 9" x 6"
canvas, Chinese paper, gesso, medium, acrylic paint, screenprinting ink, hand stitching

Delmar #9

Delmar #9
approximately 9.75" x 6"
canvas, Chinese paper, gesso, medium, acrylic paint, screenprinting ink, hand stitching

Delmar #8

Delmar #8
9.75" x 6"
canvas, Chinese paper, gesso, medium, acrylic paint, screenprinting ink, hand stitching

Delmar #7

Delmar #7
approximately 9.75" x 6"
canvas, Chinese paper, gesso, medium, acrylic paint, screenprinting ink, hand stitching

Delmar #6

Delmar #6
9.75" x 6"
canvas, Chinese paper, gesso, medium, acrylic paint, hand stitching

I am really enjoying finishing off one of these each morning. The simple hand stitching is forcing me to think about line and color, and I love the interest that the stitching adds.

Delmar #5

Delmar #5
approximately 9.75" x 5.5"
canvas, Chinese paper, gesso, medium, acrylic paint, hand stitching

Delmar #4

Delmar #4
approximately 9.5" x 5.5"
canvas, Chinese paper, gesso, medium, acrylic paint, hand stitching

This is the first piece in a little bit larger size. The text is from a note about walking along the shoreline with Dad.

Dilemma --- Do You Have An Opinion?

This is a 20" square canvas that I have been painting and collaging on for some time now. I finally feel like the design is done on it. Now comes the dilemma. Should I leave it as is in these neutral tones or should I add some color?

MIA

I know I've been missing in action on this blog for over a week, but it's all been for a good reason. One week ago I left for St. Louis to take a paper & cloth collage workshop with Fran Skiles. It was one of the best workshops I have ever taken, and the techniques I learned will solve some dilemmas that I have had with my recent studio work. Below are some samples of the work I did in the workshop.

text in my newest favorite font, stitching with perle cotton, gesso, acrylic paint & ink

photo taken in a local warehouse, more of the text, gesso, acrylic paint & ink

same photo taken in a local warehouse, more of the text plus some alphabet text, stitching with perle cotton, gesso, acrylic paint & ink

same photo taken in a local warehouse, more of the alphabet text, stitching with perle cotton, gesso, acrylic paint & ink, additional layer of canvas

West Bottoms Watercolor

West Bottoms
9.5"h x 4"w
SOLD

A while back, Mary Buek posted some photographs on her blog that she took at West Bottoms in Kansas City. I was really taken with one of the photographs and decided to render a portion of it in watercolor. Now I am anxious to go to West Bottoms (with Mary) and take my own photographs for inspiration.

It's The Little Things

dragonfly photo taken in LaGrange, TX

Although I don't usually play along with online blog tags, yesterday I read one that listed things (not people) that pleased her. It made me stop and think about my list, and I decided to share it with you today.

Here are some of the things that I enjoy and appreciate, in no particular order:
1. small surprises, like dragonflies and postcards from friends
2. the sound of ocean waves, especially when coupled with a seagull's cry and the feel of sand between my toes
3. sunrise and sunset walks
4. puppy kisses
5. a strong cup of coffee in the morning and a smooth glass of merlot in the evening
6. old fashioned values --- peace and harmony, honesty and loyalty, integrity and trust
7. jazz music
8. the freedom to create art all day every day
9. a soft, gentle rain

What's on your list of things that make you happy?

Carrot Top Yarns

Here are the results from my dye bath of carrot tops. The top skein is a 50/50 wool/silk blend, and the bottom skein is 100% Icelandic wool (it's not really felted even though it looks like that in this photo). I'm thrilled with the color! Thank goodness there are tons of carrots left in the garden, so I will have plenty of tops for more dyeing.

And speaking of the garden --- this is what my kitchen counter looks like almost every day now. I have canned and frozen tomatoes; I have made bruschetta, tomato juice, and salsa; I have eaten them sliced as a side dish, chunked on salads, and sliced on sandwichs; and yet they are still ripening faster and faster. Thank goodness for Freecycle, where I have given away bags of tomatoes to elderly people on fixed incomes with no gardens. They are loving the fresh tomatoes, and we are glad that the fruit isn't being wasted.