Auditions and UFOs

Oh, Gelli plate, how I love you! For me, the mono-printing process is a joyful exercise in happy accidents and spontaneous discoveries. I prefer that approach over precise and measured planning, although I do have to call on those skills from time to time. 

These dots on dots are all made from Gelli printed scraps. I'm auditioning the square background shapes to see which color I like for a possible quilt of sorts. I don't sew, but I've long been attracted to the world of quilting arts. My quilt will be a paper one, most likely adhered to a wood panel. 

For now, these auditions haven't produced a clear winner.....more tryouts are necessary. I'm adding this one to my "UFO" pile....Un Finished Objects. 

If you have a UFO pile, what's in it? 

The Speed of Life

The artwork shown is a gift for a friend. She is stuck on the couch, recovering from a pedestrian encounter with a pick-up truck. The truck won. She is making the best of her healing time by doing handwork since her ankle is broken. 

She confessed that she rushes a lot - head down, full steam - at break neck speed. This imposed status of "couch potato" is an involuntary mandate to SLOW DOWN and SEE. Gratefully, her artist's eyes are keen and she can appreciate the small gifts that immobility is giving her, like watching the sunlight move across the window pane. 

When we race through life, we miss things. I hope you don't have to get hit by a truck to get the message.....s l o w   d o w n   and  s e e. You will benefit.

Don't Drink and Paint

OK, I admit it.....I have accidentally taken a sip out of my dirty paint water. Eeegads!! And I'm still alive to tell you about it. In the groove of some serious painting mojo, my hand instinctively reached for the glass and took it to my lips. In that instant of recognition, I spit it back out, no harm done. 

I had to take measures to ensure this would not be repeated. My dirty paint water glass is now appropriately labeled with the big red circle with a slash through it, labeled "Drink Not". It will always sit on my right. The mug or glass that I should rightfully drink from are always positioned on my left. 

Sometimes, mistakes make us better. 

Beyond Words has been born!

It has been two years in the making (long gestation, indeed!) and we couldn't be more pleased to present Beyond Words, an interactive show of poetry and visual art. The Poets & Painters group that I belong to has walked a journey together that has stretched us all into new creative places and sometimes scary emotional places. I would venture to say that all births do that. 

The poem "Last Night as I was Sleeping" by Antonio Machado was the inspiration for my artwork, pictured above in the upper right corner. It is an aqueduct made from torn book pages, a favorite medium of mine. Each of us selected a poem for inspiration and we all made artwork (paintings, dolls, and sculptures) inspired by the four poems. We have produced a marvelous show. And, yes, I'm bragging like a proud mom. 

Please come visit the show in the month of May at Casselberry Art House, 127 Quail Pond Circle, Casselberry. They are open Monday to Friday, 10am - 5pm. 

Our closing reception will be Saturday, May 30 from 5 to 7pm. 

A Tree Takes Shape

How many artists does it take to make a tree? In the case of Poets & Painters, it takes four wonderfully different, enthusiastic, creative, talented artists. Add to that humor, patience, collaboration, communication....and a bit more patience and humor!

We four artists (above from left to right, Shari Sherman, Elle O'Dowd, Anne-Marie Colwell, and moi) have embarked on a creative journey that is taking us places we never imagined. And that's a good thing.

Under the name Poets & Painters, we have spent the last year and a half working towards a common goal: to exhibit our individual work collectively, under the title Beyond Words. We are excited to debut this body of work on May 9, 2015 at Casselberry Art House (Florida). More details forthcoming.

So, where is this tree I spoke of? It's a WIP at present. You can see the trunk taking shape in the photo. A right colorful trunk isn't it? Branches will come soon, and some spreading out roots also. Our tree will be center stage and visitors to the show will be invited to add their words, their thoughts and reflections to the branches over head. We have dubbed it the Poetree.

May 9 is fast approaching and our to do list is long. Count on some more sneak peeks as we get closer. I hope you can join me at the journey's end to see what this collaboration brings forth. Onward!

Spring Cleaning and Gelli Piles

It's March and Spring has sprung in my neighborhood...evidenced by higher pollen counts, radiant sunshine and green leaves bursting forth, plus a healthy desire to CLEAN HOUSE....metaphorically and literally. So on this day, I did a bit of both. I sneak rounds of creative play into my list of household chores to break things up.

My newfound Gelli Plate addiction is the perfect antidote to laundry, dusting, and kitchen duty. After a spell of brayering and layering, I have plenty of collage material amassed. This is one pile that I don't mind adding to.....Gelli on!

And here's a sample of what I do with all those painterly bits and pieces: this journal page was inspired by the dictionary entry for a vesper sparrow, a bird who is most active in the evenings. I have been struggling lately with getting into the studio at night, lured by the insidious television and a comfortable chair. So I need all the motivation this little vesper sparrow can lend me.

How do you motivate yourself to march into your studio?

Hurrah, Hurrah for Blah, Blah, Blah

Talking about your art.....does it strike fear in your heart or make your stomach flip flop? For most folks, yes. For me, it certainly helps to be surrounded by lots of smiling faces, as I was on October 11 for the closing day of Dresses: Objects of Art. Five artists shared their inspirations and processes with friends, family, and art lovers.

As an art maker, the circle of creativity is complete when a viewer takes some delight with what you have produced or simply engages in your work for longer than 12 seconds. As a viewer of art, I find that my experience is enriched when I know more about the artist and how they work or what they are trying to express.

So hurrah, hurrah, for all the blah, blah, blah.....and the next time you're at an art show, ask an artist about their work.