Little Boy

May 5th of last year, we found out that we were having a boy. Ask anyone who knows me, and they'll tell you how much I wanted a girl. I mean really. Really, really, really wanted a girl. I grew up with 2 sisters and never was around boys growing up, so I know nothing about boys, nor am I too interested in "boy things" like sports, cars, trucks, etc. So it was out of the question that I would have a baby boy.

Well, funny how I had absolutely no say in the whole thing! So when we saw that ultrasound and the technician pointed out what made that blob a definite boy, I was slightly heartbroken. I just could not fathom how I was going to raise a little boy. But, as time wore on, I felt him kicking inside me, and I saw his face once he was born, and slowly my mind began to change. How could I have wanted a girl over this sweet little boy?

And so now I'm completely converted. I can't even imagine if he had been a girl. I can feel such a special relationship building between us that would not be the same as with a girl. Of course this isn't to say that I won't be hoping for a girl next time. After all, if I'm going to have my Mama's Boy, then Jason has a right to have a Daddy's Girl!

All this to tell the story behind this spread I did in his book today....

Cuteness Everywhere I Look!

Well, seems I'm overrun with cuteness the past couple days, which is never a bad thing!

Cute thing #1: A little soft book I made for Riley
I thought it would be a quick project, but it took longer than I thought. However, I'm pleased with the results, and I got to use all kinds of fabric from my fabric stash! As you can see, it's a little picture book about cooking and eating. I also bought some more fabric with pictures of little boys wearing different costumes, with which I'll make another more "boyish" book.

Cute things #2 & #3: Two skirts I bought yesterday
Not much explanation- the first one came from Ross, the second from American Eagle.

Cute things #4: Little tins I bought today
I saw these little tins at Ben Franklin. They're the absolute perfect size for CD's, and they were only $2.44 each, so I bought a few!

The cutest thing of all: Photos I got back of Riley
Please indulge me while I show these photos... Hey, my mom reads, too, so she'll be interested!

Art Raffles

Many of you may know about this, but in case you don't, check out this link for a chance to buy tickets for a series of art raffles. These raffles are to raise money for Sara Hopp's husband, who has a brain tumor. If you aren't familiar with Sara, she owns the website Manto Fev, which is fantastic place to buy collage materials. Sara is great, and her website is even greater- a definite must-have in your "favorites" list for art supplies. Anyway, there are some great prizes offered by some well-known artists, and a chance to help a family in need. The deadline is May 5th. Check it out!

How Can I Not Be Inspired Now?

Yesterday, I decided to spruce up my little studio space. All of my supplies are kept in a walk-in closet in our guest bedroom, but I usually do my work at a little table right outside the closet. The table is something Jason made several years ago out of a solid-core door and some table legs, but it's never been painted or stained. And there is a shelf with some drawers hanging above that was also unfinished. I unfortunately didn't take a "before" photo, but here is an older photo of the area.

So I painted both the table and the shelf. The table is now a sort of lime color with a pale blue-green wash over it. Unfortunately, the pictures don't do it justice! It's really a fun, fresh, springy color. And the shelf is now a dusty purple with rusted handles (I still need to add the labels).

I also decided to make a "memo board" to fit behind the table. I'm always accumulating bits of paper (aren't we all?), and never have a place to store them. Perfect! This was really easy to make, and I just used leftover fabric from the duvet cover I made for our master bedroom.

I then scrounged around the house for some more attractive containers to hold supplies on the table, and put them all on a long metal "tray" that had been sitting in a closet, just waiting for the perfect use!

Finally, I hung some fabric along the bottom of the shelf. There's a light mounted there that is sort of distracting-I need it to work, but it starts to hurt my eyes after a while. So this will shield my eyes from the brightness. The final touch was to add the word "Inspiration" right in the middle, because as the title of this post reads, how can I not be inspired now??

Another...

I usually don't get to do art on the weekends, because we're out running errands, etc. But after a morning of yardwork, it began to rain, so we decided to just stay in for the rest of the afternoon.

And so I did another painting. I'm very pleased with this one- it came a little easier than the last one. Again, it's my face, attached to a bird's body with some sort of cage around the body. Originally I intended to draw a "standard" sort of birdcage, with a flat bottom, but then this shape came to me, and it really felt right. Maybe it's because it's a little less cumbersome of a shape- I just picture this bird (me?) flying around with the cage hanging below, and this shape would allow that more so than a flat-bottomed cage- I guess it's a more aerodynamic shape!

As before though, I'm struggling with this "new" style of art. In my mind, it's completely different and separate from my typical collages, and I'd much prefer if the two could more easily meld with one another. As it is, when I sit down to work, I now have to decide between three different styles- doing a spread in Riley's book (much more of a scrapbooking style), doing a non-Riley collage, or doing a painting. I wish I could just sit down and let what happens happen, and not decide ahead of time what I'll be doing.

Oh well, I guess this is typical when your art begins to change. You need to work through the unfamiliarness, not back down, and face the challenge. And as a result, you'll hopefully become a better artist in the end... I hope you readers don't mind hearing about my struggles, and don't view me just as a complainer. Frankly, it's a little scary putting this all out for others to read, because if I chicken out and don't continue down this new path, I'm afraid I'll be viewed as a bit of a coward!

Corners of My Home

So first I'd like to say thank you to all who commented on yesterday's post, encouraging me with the painting. I really have felt lately that my art needed to move in a new direction. Maybe this is what I've been needing. However, it's going to be a real challenge. Like I said yesterday, it's difficult for me to mix both painting and collage. I feel a little uncertain of where to even begin! In a way, it's delving into a completely new artform, which is scary! And I certainly don't want to abandon collage, because I love it so... Well, as always, I'll keep you updated on my progress!

And so, as promised, here is my corner, a day late. This is a newly decorated spot above my art table in our guest room. As you can see, there are a variety of items up here.

First we have two pieces of art. The one on the right is one I did, and the one on the left is from so long ago, I don't even remember where I got it. It's not even an original, just a copy, but I just really like the nurturing pose that the figures are in, so I've always had it displayed.

Then there is an old piece of ceiling tin that I got from a salvage yard. Jason absolutely hates it, so it can't ever be displayed out in our main rooms. Fine with me though, because I can put it in my "studio".

Next are a series porcelain head vases. These come from my grandmother. She unfortunately suffered a stroke last December, and as a result, will have to spend the rest of her life in a nursing home. Just recently, relatives had to go and clean out her apartment and designate what would be saved and what would be sold. She collected head vases, and I was able to acquire this group. They're so sweet, and a great reminder of my grandmother!

The photo is of me as a little girl, and one that I've always liked. The crow figure is one Jason gave me last Christmas. The "1" tile is one I got on Ebay, and to me represents being the firstborn child. And the porcelain woman is one I've had since my childhood, although I can't remember where it came from.

At some point in the near future, I plan to paint the drawers all these are sitting upon, but I'm not sure which color yet... So there you have it, another corner of my home!

A Painting

After looking at Anne Siems' work (thank you, Ulla, for the link!), I was inspired to do some real painting. Her paintings are gorgeous and thought-provoking, and it makes me feel guilty for doing collage instead of painting! I do use paint when I do collage, but it's usually just as a background or to add accents, not to paint the main imagery. And I love the look of pieces that have both collage elements and focal painted elements.

So anyway, here is what I came up with. The face is mine (those of you who know me can tell me whether I've succeeded in doing an accurate representation- I've looked at it for too long to know if it really looks like me or not! I think the eyes are probably too big...). After spending so much time on the face, I didn't feel like trying to do a realistic body, so I cheated and did this "cocoon" sort of body, encased in a wire "cage" with a collaged bird inside. Being a former art therapist, I'm well aware of all the messages my unconscious is probably trying to divulge with this imagery! Do I feel caged? Trapped? Or am I enveloped in a cocoon, on the verge of becoming a butterfly? I prefer not to think about it too much at this point. And, see? There is an opening in the "cage", and the bird is free to fly away, so I take some comfort in that fact!

As is with most of my work, I'm still trying to decide if I like it. I have a real hard time mixing collage with realistic painting. Which is why every time I get an inkling to do some real painting in my work, it's usually a one-time thing, because I struggle so much incorporating it with collage elements. But I did like doing the self-portrait. I used to do self-portraits all the time in college. So maybe I'll continue to play around with that concept...

In case you haven't figured it out, this piece and the piece from yesterday are both in my new tall, skinny journal. Both pieces so far have had my own image in them (yesterday's had a photo). Maybe I'll make that a "rule" for this new journal- each page must have my image. I don't know- maybe, maybe not.

Anyway, this post is too long to include "Corners of My Home", so I'll post that tomorrow!

A Look Into My Madness

I did a piece of art today that took me hours!! Not that most pieces don't take me hours, but this one took me hours just to get that last 5% done! With most of my art, I get the majority of it done, then the last details take about as long as the rest of it did. With this piece, the last details took about three times as long as the rest! I kept thinking I was done, so I'd take photos, then I would agonize over it and decide I wasn't done. So, lucky for you viewers, since I've got the photos, you get to see this process!







First we have a photo of the initial "finished" piece. Pretty nice, but it just felt a little bland to me- it was all just pinks and greens and creams. I felt it needed another color or element to make things pop a little.










So here is what I did. I added the turquoise "frame" around the center image and the little turquoise pieces of decorative tape in a couple spots. By the way, is that not the cutest tape you have ever seen?? It's by a company called "Cram Cream" and I got it here. It's hard to find, but it's so cute, I think it's worth looking for! Anyway, something about this revision just didn't sit well with me- it added too much unnecessary detail and was a little too bright and cutesy.

So here is my final revision. I took off the tape and painted over the turquoise with a toned-down blue-green, as well as adding that color in various spots around the collage. I think it adds the slight "pop" it was needing, without being too bright, and it's not detracting from the details of the main subjects. And it only took me like three hours to get to this point!

So am I done?? I'm still not sure, but at this point, I'm so sick of messing with it, I'm at least done for tonight! People often ask me how I get depth and a layered look to my collages. Well, there you go! I constantly add things on top of other things, paint over stuff, pull things off, etc. until I'm happy with the way things look. It's not really intentional, but it results in a nice weathered, layered look that can't be "faked".

I hope you enjoyed this foray into my creative process- you're lucky you only got the really revised version, because watching it in person would drive you absolutely crazy! (Here's an idea of what you'd see- me standing back and looking at it, walking away for a minute, going back and looking again, bringing it into the bathroom and looking at it in the mirror (a GREAT way to get a different perspective on a piece), making a minor change, walking away for another minute, going back and looking again,....-well, you get the idea-anyway, it would drive you crazy!)

Beautiful Days in Seattle...

It's been gorgeous the past few days in Seattle! Riley and I have been spending some time outside, enjoying the sun while Daddy's at work... Not much else to share, but thought this photo was cute!

Long Overdue Book Finished

When Tara and I were out over the weekend, we were talking about how we never seem to finish art journals that we're working on. One prime example is my wedding journal, which was started in 2003. I sort of ran out of steam with one page and the cover to go probably a year or so ago. I've always felt bad that I left it unfinished, so today, I decided to do it! It was a little difficult, because my style has changed since then, and I didn't want to do something that looked out of place. I don't feel like it's my best work by far, but I like it, and I'm just so happy that it's now finished! One check off the art list! If you'd like to see the book in its entirety, take a look at my PictureTrail site.

Art For Sale

I've put a few more pieces of older art up for sale on my website if anyone's interested...

Book Sale!

My friend, Tara Ross, and I went to a "Friends of the Library" used book sale today. All books were a dollar or less! It was a madhouse and fairly picked-over (we should have gone last night for the preview sale...), but I found a few fun things. One is a children's dictionary with all kinds of good words and illustrations, and another has fantastic drawings of children's calisthenics!! The "Ring-A-Ring" one I mostly bought just for the cover, another I really only bought for a couple specific images inside, and yet another I only bought because I loved the endpapers so much! But for a dollar a piece, I guess I couldn't go wrong! Regardless, it was a fun trip out, and a chance to spend some time away from the house.

Also, last night I finished the final piece for my end of the collaborative. I just need to bind everything into a book and send it off to Pam! I'm extremely happy with this page- everything just seemed to work color-wise and composition-wise. Maybe when I get the project back, I'll have to frame this one for Riley's room...

While I was out with Tara, I picked up a sketchbook that is long and narrow (we took a side trip to Daniel Smith). It's 6" x 13 1/2". I really like the proportions. I think I'll start a new journal for myself (not about Riley) in it- I've missed doing "me" art. It's spiral bound, which I'm not crazy about, but I'll deal with it! I'll post photos once I've done something in it.

Studio Friday- Sparkles

This week's topic of Shine/Sparkles was very timely! Just yesterday, I created this. Don't ask me why, since I've still got a collaborative deadline to meet by the end of the month. But when inspiration strikes, I guess you've got to go with it!

My studio is in our guest bedroom, and there's an awkward wall over the side of the bed that I've never been happy with. I had this multiple frame "ladder"(which is meant to be stood on the floor) with no place to go, and a wall that needed something, and some brand new german glass glitter that was begging to be used, so here're the results! I'm not entirely pleased with my glittering job- I realize that I should have used colored paper or at least painted the paper before glittering, as some of the white is showing through, but oh well...

Sisters Corner

This week's corner is in our guest bedroom. It's a spot on top of a bookshelf with photos of my two sisters and me. The one on the left is from my younger sister, Katie's, wedding. This was the first taken of the bunch. It came out so cute that when my wedding came a couple years later, we duplicated the pose but with me in the middle-the second frame over. The tall narrow frame has photos of the three of use from when we were little. And the frame on the far right is from last Christmas. We had family portraits taken, so we did a shot of the three of us together again. Hopefully, there will be another one in the future of my youngest sister, Julia's, wedding, to complete the set!

Although I live far away from them- both live in sunny Florida with me in the opposite corner of the country, in Seattle- we are all still very close. They are two of my best friends! I hope to live closer to them someday so that we can all be together again. But until then, I have this little corner to remind me of them!

Snippets of ATC's

One of the deadlines that's been looming for me is for an Artist Trading Card book by Bernie Berlin. I need to produce four different cards, each with an assigned technique. I'm so used to just letting my art "happen", meaning that I don't plan ahead the techniques or images, but instead I just work intuitively, using whatever seems appropriate once the piece starts to take shape. So having to do art that specifically addresses different techniques was a little hard, because I sort of had to think backwards. But they're small pieces, so that made it a little easier. I don't think I should show the whole cards since they'll potentially be in the book, but I think it would be okay if I just showed little snippets. So here's what I've worked on the past couple days...