Wanna make art? Ya gotta feed yourself!

Check out that feast....for the eyes, the tastebuds, and the spirit. This was the place setting for my dinner among artist friends at Camp Wannamakeart in the piney woods of Wekiva State Park, Florida. I was swooning! Still am. 

April 22 - 24 was a weekend of marvelous camaraderie, exceptional meals, and the deft and delightful guidance of our instructor, Jennifer Mercede. 

Hosted by Debbie Helton of The Craft Shack Studio this was an ideal getaway experience to re-charge my creative batteries and fill the well of inspiration. 

I am grateful to belong to an art tribe that knows the importance of retreating from the world every now and then. Even when it's right in our own back yard. 

How do you replenish your creative spirit? 

Knock, knock. Who's there?

You never know where inspiration will show itself....knock, knock. Who's there? Your muse, that's who. 

This spiky leaf stencil was inspired by the oddest of muses: a box of Kleenex. What others might have discarded to the re-cycle pile, I was happy to capture and cart off to my art room for closer inspection. I delighted in morphing the organic shape on the tissue box into a streamlined version of the curvy leaf that appeared.

So, keep your eyes peeled for inspiration anywhere....in the pantry, on the roadside, at your library, in your car. You never know.....it only takes a little muse-infused vision to make it happen. Invite your eyes to the party. 

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!