Art Journal 2009

For Christmas 2006, my sister Michelle gave me a little suede covered journal. And in it she wrote a little sweet note about using to create. I have wanted to do an art journal in it but it is one of those things I always have thought in my mind "I need to do it everyday" so it stopped me as I knew I would never be able to keep it up everyday. So this year I finally gave myself permission to not create in it everyday. Mostly after reading Visual Chronicles and Living the Creative Life.

So I don't expect to create in it everyday, but I hope to capture either moments that were important to me or just be creative without worrying about the "right away." It is my test ground for things. It is where I can do as little or as much as I want. Whatever I need in the moment to express.

My first entry in it is my favorite as it really represents me right now and of how I have felt at times and especially in turning 40.



Quote that is on the left hand side is from The Mermaid Chair: "I lived molded to the smallest space possible, my days the size of little beads that passed without passion through my fingers. So few people know what they're capable of. At forty (42) I'd never done anything that took my own breath away, and I suppose now that was part of the problem--my chronic inability to astonish myself."

(the book had 42 but I used 40 for me although I am 41)

It is acrylic paint on the background with rubber stamped images to just give it a little more texture (I am all about texture) and beads glued on - and then a mermaid that I had in my stack of ephemera that I painted just every so lightly.

Migraine Cycle

Michael mentioned that he thought I had a bad migraine cycle like the one I have had this week -- last year about the same time. So I went back into my journals and he was right every year for the last 3 years I have had a week long migraine cycle. Although it doesn't make things better, it was nice to at least see the pattern. It is hard because the cycles always pull me down. And so I have to work hard to not let it totally do me in. Living with pain....is a phrase I wish I didn't know.

Cropped image from a painting I did after hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans -- I was really just feeling overwhelmed by the feelings. The canvas was layered with ripped papers and then I used thick paint just letting the brush work over and over and over. Everything was mixed and chaotic....just like the feelings that came from Katrina. I guess I assochiated that with my migraines because I just get so down and overwhelmed by them. I feel like I am going crazy.

Hear Me

This one is how I saw it in my head but in not sure if it is finished...

Hear Me
Mix Media on Canvas
5" x 7"

Altered Book

I have 5 canvas' started. I have 4 altered books going - well 3 altered books and one handmade book. So I have been busy. But I am still fighting some frustration/self-doubts.

But I have been having a lot of fun on prepping this altered book as I am participating in an Altered Book Round Robin. A round robin is where it gets mailed to several people working its way back to original owner/artist. And so then this book will have all different works from different people.

So this is my book for the round robin....

The theme of is Words and Numbers. Eight artists are participating in this round robin.



The cover and then the rest of the book is on my website. Click on each thumbnail to get a bigger view of the book.

A Good Step....

So this past weekend 2 pieces of mine were a part of a juried art exhibit. One of the pieces that I submited I also donated as part of a silent auction for charity. It didn't get their minimum bid on it (and many pieces from the sounds of it didn't get bids) and so they are sending it back to me. But I have already turned around and sold it because I had several people express interest in it.

"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary." ~ Pablo Picasso

"The aim off art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance." ~ Aristotle

Those two quotes come to mind when I think of the other piece I submitted. I created a triptych over a year ago. I knew there was something more that would come of it as they were just small little pieces....meant to be artist trading cards but when I was done with them they were a triptych and meant for something different. They struck a deep cord in me when I made them. I hung on to them. And then the news of this show came up immediatly the triptych came to mind. I knew what it represented when I made it but I couldn't find her name but that came to me at the same time. So I worked on them a little more adding some texture and demension to them and finally framing them.

I remember trying to talk myself out of entering. I thought they won't take any of the pieces. I was so scared but Michael and another friend of mine really encouraged me to just do it! And so I did and 2 of the 3 pieces I submitted were accepted. This really is the first show of its kind that I have participated in. I was very excited and yes it validated me as an artist. I guess I feel I shouldn't need the validation but it is nice...it is nice have at times. The show was this past weekend.

The person that ran the show called me within 10 minutes of the artist reception (which I couldn't be a part of since it was in Arizona) asking me if I was willing to sell the triptych as it was set just as an exhibit not a gallery type showing. She had several people express interest in it, but one of the people really connected with the piece. I said I needed to think about it as the person would be around that weekend if I was okay with selling it. I love sharing my art with others. I love that people want the pieces and that they see things in them that evoke emotions, ideas, dreams and such. The goal of all artists I believe is to sell their work. And I have been selling pieces here and there. But this piece...this was a major piece for me. And so I had make sure I was okay with parting with it plus Michael seemed really pleased with this piece too so I wanted to see if he was okay with parting with it too. He was fine...he knows what selling a piece of such power and energy could mean for me. And that was it....the person connected to it...they felt the energy...they felt the emotions. They felt something by looking at it.....it became theirs. And in the end that person got it. And that pleases me so much!

I found out that it sold for sure last night as the exhibit just went through the weekend and I was flying. I am happy that someone that really connected with the piece has it.

The piece is a little graphic...and people can be taken aback by it so I am happy to hear that so many liked it and connected to it.

We didn't have a chance to photograph them hanging all side by side before I had to ship it so I only have these photos...click the image to see a bigger version.


































Section 2257
Each is 6" x 6"
Mix Media

Tap the Maidens

8 x 10 - Mix Media - January 2007

click on image to see a larger view.

I really had fun doing this one. It was inspired by the music on the sheet on the piece.

4 x 4

Saturday Pear
June 2006
4" x 4"
Mix Media on Cardboard

ABC's

Where's the Rest of the Alphabet?
June 2006
4" x 4"
Mixed Media on Cardboard

Jealous of the Voices - Altered Altoid Tin

front


inside spread


concept: basically it is all the things a person might hear in his/her head that seem like a dream. Thus they are the voices in your head. Inside right has sequin glued on the base...some just odds and end sequin and then some purple bats. Along the sides which you can't see are bar codes and pieces from magazine articles and beads. There are stars, puzzle pieces, a clock, blocks, and a game piece that is a man with a gun. Inside left number 4 and scraps from the dictionary, a stamped image of a flower, the word dream, and stars.

Her Path - Altered Altoid Tin

front


inside spread


close up of the right side

UnEarth - Altered Altoid Tin

front


inside spread


inside left - closeup


inside right - closeup

concept: I have this new mold I am playing with and the first batch came out really rough. And when I looked at them I thought they looked like something you would discover at an archeological dig. And so the concept came that...that this box is something that is dug up...unearthed. So the piece on the front and the piece on the inside right bottom are pieces of that mold that I painted with a couple different browns here and there but mostly left in its rough stages.

Calendar - May through August

Pictures from a calendar I made for some dear friends....



May Flower...I have several of those paper dolls. And I love them...the colors, their costumes, their whimsical quality and I wanted to use one for the calendar so May...came to mind when I saw the one holding a flower. I also did the calendar part different doing the days of the week down the side instead of the top.












June just all cut out from junk mail and magazines. And then a quote from Jack Kerouac.














I did July during a hard time so I think it came out a little emotionally raw...lots of red and antiquing glaze. I did the collage before I decided what month it would be and then saw the flag and well of course made it July...very cliche of me. It is made from a lot of different collage bits -- magazine, collage packs, found paper and then the measuring tape ribbon.













August is really kind of boring...but the stamp image is beautiful - just really hard to see. It is hard to find a paper and ink to make it stand out enough. I did the image on gold tissue with bronze ink. Because the image has oriental flair I added a fortune about fishing that I got at restaurant once.


Here is January through April's.

Eight

I have been having an artist block. I have 3 pieces that are started that are gifts for people and I just have been stalled on them for so long. Finally today I allowed myself to just play and this is what came out. I also put gesso on several tins, cds, canvas' and cardboard. I also got a few first and second layers done on several pieces. And even added some to one of the pieces I was stall on so all in all it was a good day.

Here is the piece I finished today....

Eight
5" x 7"
Mix Media

Trove

This is a piece I did back in November but every time I have taken a picture of it...all you saw black. So I finally got it under some light.


Trove
4" x 6"
Mix Media

Mix Media Mosaic

This is named after the people I made it for....it is a mosaic that all the pieces remind me of them. It is a mix media on canvas - 8" x 10"

Under the Red Moon

I did this piece back in November....but just had not got around to posting pictures of it. I did a few others pieces too but the photographs I took of them turned out horrible. So only this one...for now.

Under the Red Moon
November 2005
Mix Media on Canvas
4" x 6"

Calendar - January through April

I made a Calendar for some friends for Christmas....

Here is several pictures of it....click on images to see a bigger view....

Dreamer of Dreams

I made this for Michael for his birthday. I am not happy with how it turned out but he loves it. I tried to incorporate too much. Left bottom side is my hand...I did a print of it then painted layers over it. The heart in the middle is how it came out when I pressed my hand into the canvas...had the natural heart shape there. I included a piece of music. Some of the lyrics on it fit us. And then I wrote out also a piece from the Willy Wonka movie that we both like..."We are the music makers. We are the dreamer of dreams." I have the word dream on the piece a few times. I have a English to French dictionary piece that is translating the word journey. It is an important word for us. There is a king and queen playing card that painted over and then did a moon and heart over each one. Clock, starts, patterns...all parts of this piece too.

Pears

Pears
4x6
Mixed Media Collage on Canvas
November 2005

(click on image to see a bigger size of it)

Dream 58

Dream 58
6 x 8
Mix Media Collage on Paper
November 2005


(click on picture to see a bigger view of it)