the beginning

I started this drawing yesterday...approx 6x8...as my experiment into combining a drawing with collage elements. I'll be posting my progress along the way as well as my feelings and thoughts regarding it. Then at the end...when I'm completely done, I would like to invite you to comment and critique, letting me know if it works or not...what I could of done differently, etc.

So far, not too bad of a start...although I must admit I felt a bit rusty after not drawing for a few weeks. My thoughts are that this is the easy part...the drawing, how I'm going to combine them is a bit daunting. I'm hopeful tho!!

icw

"With A Heartbeat Such As This, Every Moment Is A Thrill" by Mincing Mockingbird

This weeks artist,The Mincing Mockingbird is going to make your day...he is high-larious!! I laughed through his entire shop on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20273154. Oh yeah...and his artwork is wonderful too!!

continuing the dialogue

6x8 drawing of some grafitti in LA

I scanned my bookshelf this morning for my copy of The 12 Secrets. Opened it up to chapter 3 and read...Creativity demands that you trust and stay on the path despite obstacles. I thought..hmmmm...the obstacle must be my inner critic/judge. But digging deeper, I realized that my inner critic was a blessing to me this weekend. I fell into creating some very ordinary collages this weekend even though that nagging voice kept screaming that they were beneath my talents. And it was true. My creativity was waning a bit last week and I didn't honor that, knowing that everything waxes and wanes...that's life. So, last night I pushed myself a bit...started drawing again (after a 3 week break from it) to create a drawing collage. Cross your fingers as I hope this experiment succeeds as I gain my footing to combine these two medias. But, even if it's a total disaster I'm going to trust and stick to the creative path! Never give up!

Mondays meandering

A new graffiti piece...no title yet

I was just over reading Cindy's blog on Mixed Grill Favorites (http://www.lantier.org/), she was writing about The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women: A Portable Mentor by Gail McMeekin. I read that book many years ago...but feeling like I should pick it up again. Cindy spoke about her fears of creating which I could totally relate to, especially as I move into ATC and now larger collages this past weekend. My judge looooves to come out and tell me my work is boring and lacks originality!! I give him voice so I don't swallow his criticisms and give myself stomach aches & anxiety. I try my best to push through it, knowing that all these small pieces I'm doing now are to gain my confidence with design & imagination. It's all a process and a lot of baby steps of trying to move forward to what I really see myself doing...combining my two loves~ drawing & altered/assembled pieces. I know I'm giving myself a break as much as possible while entering the unknown, so I can come out the other end a more creative, innovative artist. It really is a journey!

i candy wednesday...

Jetty Kolobarić

...again!! I love this day! I get to share with you some very talented artists that I find exceptionally creative! I had a hard time picking which piece of work I loved more...but finally choose this one: Papillon Nocturne by JKPhotography on Etsy.com (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5273958) . The textures he/she creates in their photography pieces are what catches my eye first, along with their very moody colors. When I scroll down Jetty Kolobaric's Etsy shop, their body of work takes me back to Wisconsin on a beautiful gloomy winter day...that monotone grayness...it just brings up all kinds of feelings for me.

And I really enjoy reading their process in creating each piece...the descriptions are very interesting to read.

Go over and take a look...I promise you these photopieces will take you far away in thought!

goosebumps...

YEAH!!!! Inauguration day!! I'm sooooooooo excited I keep getting goosebumps! I have NEVER been particularly interested in politics and NEVER watched an inauguration in full before today...this is history for me and for the world. I feel so much emotion and enthusiasm...I feel a flurry of passion for today & anticipating an incredible future!!

I DID IT!

I FINALLY got my little collages photographed...and they came out great! I never gave up...read various articles about photography on the internet and just plain messed around with it until I got it. I've learned more about my camera in the past few weeks then I have in the last five years!! Gulp!Smile!! I also switched out the background to a weathered board I found on the beach in Cambria two summers ago. I really like it so much better than the burgundy velvet cloth I was using...gives it more character.

Anyway....here are a few of my collages.

Lookie...I've been interviewed!!

I just joined my first Etsy team~ Cruelty Free Etsy (something I feel VERY strongly about!) and they interviewed me. Check it out! And always buy cruelty free products (there's great lists on PETA) http://crueltyfreeetsy.blogspot.com/

Rose Bowl float

A friend just sent me a few photos of my daughter & I working hard on the 2009 NAR Rose Bowl float, so I just had to share them! We meticulously laid down all the pine bows on the left side of the float to discover later on that it was completely covered with a blanket of flowers...had we known!!

i candy wednesday

Could it possibly be Wednesday again...did I blink or something!! Anyhoo...here is an artist whos work is just stunningly to me...I LOVE IT!! Her use of images is very intricate...great use of negative space. I can just sit and contemplate all the meaning in her work...there's so much going on.

I found her shop on Etsy.com: Glamgill45, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5085440.

This past weekend I spent an awful lot of time photographing my little collages. To my frustration none of them turned out...ugh!! I'm perplexed as to my next step. I used both my camera and my daughters brand new canon. I think I need to get a camera that has a micro lense on it for extreme close ups because every card is blurred, as you can see. Well....I guess the learning continues!

On a better note, I did paint the three mini easels I bought, and I REALLY like them...I think I will buy unpainted frames and paint them the same way. And I discovered a cute little shop in Tujunga that sells scrapbook making supplies...that's where I got the decorative tacks to put on the easels.

Tomorrow I'll share one of my newest drawings in my graffiti series.

needing help

Hi Everyone,

In a wayyyy earlier post this fall I told you how my addiction to ATC's started, with a class I took with Bernie Berlin. Well, Bernie also runs A Place To Bark...a non-profit animal shelter and adoption center. It looks like they just finished a building to shelter all the wonderful animals waiting for adoption, but they are still in need of funds. Animals are extremely dear to me, as you know and I always want to help out when I can...if everyone just gives a little they can raise the money they need. Please take a moment to read what Bernie wrote about this new building:

America's Giving Challenge, The Zoline Foundation & private donations gave us the wings to fly this year & expand our rescue efforts.
We were able to begin building our shelter this year 2008.
The building is built but we are still in need of about 15k to 25k to fully finish the grounds.
Most needed now, is a heating/cooling unit so we can begin working on finishing the inside. Baby steps towards the future, we'll do the best we can with what we have!!

"A Place To Bark" sits on 20 acres, dedicated to saving animals in need.
The euthanasia rate here at our local animal controls is 98%.
We have 4000 sq ft of outdoor kenneling. The indoor building is much needed to shelter these dogs in the winter, so they are not all in my house:)

We have a very successful adoption program with humane societies in other parts of the country. This year "2008" we have rescued 502 dogs & cats.

Location: Outside of Nashville Tennessee


Any amount you can give will be greatly appreciated! Thank you sooooo much!!

I candy Wednesday

There are sooooooo many talented artists out there in the universe that I thought on Wednesdays I'd start sharing some of my favorites with you. I found this artist (Gothicrow) on Etsy.com.... http://www.etsy.com/profile.php?user_id=5151388. What I relish about this particular piece (and many of her other pieces): the lighting, that it's monochromatic...which you know I LOVE!!, I also have an affection for worn/dilapidated buildings, the placement/design of the crows in this photo...whether that was by happenstance or photoshopped...it's great. Just the whole feeling of it...haunting is the best word I can use to discribe it. Beautiful work!! I may have to buy Star Bright...love that one too!!

Funny, funny book....

This book was recommended on one of the blogs I follow. I looked it up on Amazon and after reading a few excerpts from her book (french fries & wanted poster) I knew I had to buy it. It was such an entertaining and fun read...probably because so much of what she wrote I've either thought or experienced but never verbalized! On the train to San Diego last weekend, every time I snickered my boyfriend would look over to see what I was chuckling about....this is the passage he remembered the most.

Q-tip
Inserting a Q-tip deep into your ear is a great, undiscussed pleasure.

Come on...is that not true!!!

Tah Dah.....

As promised, here are two of my new little art cards. Yes, I had issues with photographing them yesterday...was in a hurray as I only had an hour before my nephew's birthday party began. I thought heck, this will be a piece of cake....wrong. So, will have to work on it this weekend. Bad photo and all, still was excited to get some of these up on my blog.

HaPpY nEw YeAr!!!

Wanting to wish every one an abundant, fun and flourishing New Year!! I believe that 2009 promises to be a very compelling year...full of positive changes and deeper meaning...I'm ready to dream it and then let it happen!

On Monday I am going to start revealing some of my new art work... little bites of art, as I like to call them! I will be opening a new Etsy shop very soon, where I will be selling them and eventually adding solder jewelry to the mix in late February. Keep staying tuned in to see all the new thing I plan on doing here in my blog and in both Etsy stores.

Thanks so much for a wonderful 2008 and let's celebrate the start of a new year and make 2009 the best year ever!!

I leave you with this quote:

Within the seed of your desire is everything necessary for it to blossom to fulfillment. And Law of Attraction is the engine that does the work. Your work is just to give it a fertile growing place in order to expand --- Abraham
Excerpted from the workshop in Albuquerque, NM on Sunday, May 9th, 1999