inchies

I had some fun today making "inchies". These are one inch square artworks (I just learned this myself--thought I should try it out). I did a series of six abstract collages. I can see that these could be kind of addicting.

home again

I'm back from a wonderful, relaxing week spent with inspirational people. I had fun doing my daily artwork in a little sketchbook that I made just for the trip. Not overwhelmed by too many pages! Here are a few selections......

twofer

As I'm working regularly in one journal I've discovered a couple preferences (I won't call them rules--rememeber NO RULES!). I find that I like the facing pages in spreads to have some sort of relationship to each other, whether it is spatial, color, or subject. I'm also enjoying when a process like stitching and some types of painting effect the other side of the page. Sometimes I just cover it up, but its fun to use it--a kind of 'twofer". I stitched around these bone prints (yup, my dog's old marrow bones!) and got a bonus design on the other side of the page.

hosta

A few warm days have finally melted most of the snow and last years garden is emerging from underneath. I collected some tissue-thin hosta leaves and glued them down, thinking I might paint over them but I like the natural color with a bit of winter dirt mixed in.

boxes

I was trying to "spruce up" an old page of sketches for a stenciling project, and for the heck of it, I stitched around all the squares. It didn't show up much on that page, but the reverse page was alot of fun--all those little boxes to fill!

paper chase

I've found that I don't really get cooking on a project until I have a good amount of chaos surrounding me. But even my tolerance for clutter was tested today and I spent the afternoon sorting a huge pile of paper and collage "stuff" that I have collected. I now have a virtual rainbow of clear folders each with its own color of paper stacked neatly on my work table. Lovely to look at but will I be able to work under such tidy conditions?

true dedication

I attended a meeting of a journal group at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts tonight. We watched a film about the photographer Peter Beard, the original "scrapbooker". He kept journals during his time in Africa filled with sketches, photos and lots of ephemera, including snake and animal skins, and apparently lots of blood. We laughed about adding that idea to our own journals. When I got home I(accidentally) put my hand down on a little piece of glass on the counter and, of course, had to quickly wipe the blood into my sketchbook! Now that is dedication to art.

oatmeal bread

I'm wondering why a disproportionate number of my daily sketches are of breakfast......am I just a morning person? Is breakfast food more visually appealing? Maybe it's just that I take the time in the morning before I get into the busy-ness of the day.

saturday breakfast

I had some fun messing around with breakfast "debris" this morning, and trying out some stenciling.

serenity

I bought a book on Picasso at a second hand book store recently. This painting "Woman with Mandolin" called out to me to be a collage. The simplicity of the shapes and colors give it a calmness and serenity that I love.

mirror

I have a wooden hand mirror with broken glass. I've decided to replace the glass with a self-portrait done in mosaic. I'd rather look at that than the real thing anyway! Today I worked on a few ideas.

blue feet

I enjoyed yesterday's limited palette and used it as a starting point today. Did some collaging with no destination in mind, and here is where I ended up.

shades of grey

The dough I was making had to rest for 20 minutes. Limited time, limited palette (three colors) and a painting that matched the day--variations on a theme of grey.

Happy 50th

So, Barbie and I are both 50. That's just a bit depressing. I mean look at that figure and skin! And the stylish wardrobe and sports cars. But I console myself knowing that I ran a marathon this year and there is NO WAY that girl is doing that with those feet!

Holly

I spent some time sketching and thinking about our cat Holly today. She is nearly eighteen years old and has used way more than her alloted nine lives. She put up with four children, three dogs and a few unruly neighbor cats with nary a complaint. She has earned her retirement.

'nuff said

His Personal Items

That is the title of a small article in the paper today about Ghandi's personal possesions being put up for auction. There was a picture of his sandals, watch and glasses. Later in the day, I found an old postcard of Ghandi that we bought years ago tucked in the back of a book. Seemed like a nudge that I needed to pay attention to.

the need for speed

Maybe in a backlash against trying too hard yesterday, I felt the need to paint fast and loose and mess the page up a little. Very satisfying!

blackberries

A small box of blackberries in winter--such a luxury. And good ones at that. I didn't eat them all
in one setting, hoping to do a quick watercolor of a few. Several attempts later it occured to me that they taste better than they look!

Marching On

A new month. Marching forward--made me think of boots.