Keep working forward

OK I am breathing normal again. It is nice to play off of all the things I started in my week of chaos. Yesterday I worked at a polling place for a local school election. Boring!!! However, good things come from strange places. One of the ladies there uses Adobe Photoshop (a program I just got) and she showed me how to get started on the system. So much better than trying to learn from a 700 page manual. Also with the down time I was able to do a Zentange that I really like.

My Zentangle

Done on a piece of paper from a card I received. Look at Christmas cards and other cards, they often are done on wonderful paper. There are areas of the paper where there is no writing or it is thick enough that the printing does not show. In these cards there are other gorgeous papers that can be recycled.
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I am working on some ATCs for an exchange. Not done yet, but definitely making progress. I need to make 22 of these puppies.

These are all made from scraps and recycled items (an old lab coat, scraps from my machine felted art pieces, pieces from upholstery samples).

I have been working on an ATC workshop. I love working on the pieces but so far have only been working on the bases. I think I am intimidated by the paper. I just am not sure what to put on it. I will figure it out, but right now fabric is easier. But what the heck, by the time I finish the workshop I should be able to sing and dance, stand on my head, and put embellishments on paper, right?

intuitive drawing on watercolor base

stenciled acrylic - acrylic base

stenciled acrylic - acrylic base

acrylic paint on stamp - watercolor over metallic pen for base

acrylic paint on stamp - watercolor over metallic pen for base

pearlized paint on paper towel - torn and applied to base

torn paper applied to base & inked

Lumiere paint on paper towel and applied to base

Lumiere painted paper towel - torn and applied to base - ink stamped

slide holder painted and stenciled

slide holder painted and stenciled

I have not forgotten about my photography. I still am carrying my camera most places I go. I was in the bread store the other day and snapped this picture. I love fresh bread but I don't make my own anymore.

STIMULATION ON OVERDRIVE

It has been awhile since I have had time to sit down and visit my own blog. I had eight days of constant art stimulation. I am so tired but so happy. First. I did take my class with Leanna Light and had a great time. It introduced me to using metal in my art (aside from a little silver smithing I have not really used any).

Leanna on the right - getting us started.

My pieces at a very early stage. I will post them again as they are completed.

Girlfriend Ella, came over and we worked on the Fiber Art Workshop exercises together. It is always a day of giggling and great fun.

FAW(2) Hot glue on foil - then applied to quilt block. This is so shiny!

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Then my friend, Judy, made it down from Colorado. It was so good to see her and her husband. This was the first time in over twenty five years we have had an extended visit without having some outside influence on our time. I was able to introduce her to some of my mixed media passions and she helped me to get over some of my inhibitions regarding watercolor. We both did Zen Tangles for the first time. Her's were great, mine were OK.

I need a finer pen if I am going to work on ATC sizes.

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She fell in love with my felting machine. I think she will be a proud owner of one soon. I got some of my pieces trimed to ATC size. Now I need to embelish them.

The ATC's are a great way for me to use up the trimings of my larger pieces.

Another friend, Lynne, and I started on papercloth awhile ago. I pulled mine out and got the pieces done. I don't know what I am going to make out of it but I think it is kind of fun and funky stuff.

(muslin - matt gel medium - images on paper - matt gel medium - tissue paper - matt gel medium - paint - stamping)

We worked with watercolors a bit. It is just background stuff but I was able to keep my colors clear.

Pieces for my ATC workshop

water color on paper

Acrylic paint on paper towel

Pearlized paint on paper towel

Watercolor on baby wipes

We also started dolls. I have lots of parts that we made. I will show them as they get farther along.

MAKING MYSELF ACCOUNTABLE

I have put myself in the position of having to produce, I joined three groups. The one I talked about last time "Fabric Art Workshop", and "artist trading card workshop" by Bernie Berlin. These each have a weekly exercise so I will post what I do. The other is "creative every day". Theory is to create something everyday, right now the theme is play. I also committed myself to my photography exercise.

(FAW-1) Angelina fibers fused over a stamp.

(FAW-1) Angelina fibers fused, sliced, woven, fused.

(FAW-1) Angelina fibers fused, cut into bits, dropped on a bed of fibers, fused again.

(FAW-1) Shiva paint stick with stencil.

(FAW-1) Shiva paint stick shadowing (the soft black lines).

(FAW-1) Shiva paint stick rubbed over a texture sheet.

Today was our local mixed media group. Good friends, great show and tell, and yummy food. What more can you ask for?

Michelle Jackson is so talented. You might Google her name and see her work and patterns.

Some of you may know the lady on the top left. Elizabeth Dawson made a new quilt for her own bed.

I was looking out my window and realized how seldom I really looked at the bottles on my windowsill. Today's picture.

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I love blue glass.