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.

Friday Gratitude

Friday Gratitude using the letter ~ I ~

inspiration - there is so much inspiration out in the world. Sometimes I don't see it...maybe I don't want to see it. But more and more I see it...and I really do feel it coming to me more in the last year. I am very blessed to receive it and see it all sorts of forms.

Italian food - I really love pasta and just the flavors that come from Italian cooking...olive oil, garlic, basil I think are 3 staples of my cooking. So I am grateful to all the flavorful Italian food I have eaten and hope to eat for a long long time.

identity - I am grateful to know who I am....and not be afraid to acknowledge this is who I am.

integrity - One word that goes to the core of my beliefs. Integrity keeps me going forward and having faith in people and also lets others know I will not let them down and be true.

Internet - Well this one I am thankful for otherwise I wouldn't have been able to be even posting this fine list! I am very thankful for the Internet. I have met some amazing people via the Internet....including Michael so I am grateful for it.

icons - the little 100 x 100 pixel box that I use in each post because I am a visual person. I like to show emotions, likes and interests in a visual way as well as with words.

improvement - Always room for improvement and I am thankful for just growing and moving forward.

imperfect - I am grateful to be imperfect which kind of goes with the above one of improvement. But really why I am listing it is because I don't like things to be perfect. Especially when creating art. I don't measure. I don't want things even and perfect. I want things to just be as is...flawed, messy and beautiful in that.

India ink - I really like what India ink can do on paper. I am thankful for its inspiration, it movement, its feel from harsh to soft.

iconology - The word iconography literally means "image writing." And it something I have always enjoyed. I look at images and try to see their meaning, intent and significance. I especially enjoy looking at the symbols in religious iconology.

ice cream - yum! I am thankful for the cold cream treat! Ben and Jerry's Brownie Fudge is my favorite store bought in a carton. But Cold Stone Creamery is my absolute favorite. And I don't have a favorite mix or flavor I just go with what sounds good in the moment.

(cropped image of an atc - Into the Flesh V.1)

Living with Pain...

I have had several people ask me about living with pain (migraine pain). I usually don't go a week without one. And at times they are cycles where they last from 3 to 10 days. Every thing and every day with a migraine is measured. I wake up and gauge the level of pain...such as today is a 4...okay I might get away with coding or medium level of housework. If today was a 9 I wouldn't be able to get out of bed. And I would need everything quiet and black.(Pain scale)

Let me give an concrete example...lets say if I was to load/unload the dishwasher. I have to measure all the factors that goes into the task and the environment that surrounds it. So the kitchen has a window over the sink that has quite a bit of light coming through it. It also has a skylight and the adjoining dining room has a window too. So the kitchen is fairly lite up, light hurts my migraine and can cause it to spike if I don't watch it closely. Next smells affect me so the fragrance in dishwasher detergent, some foods residue when rinsing off plates and other dishes might bother me, if I need to scour something a little more I use vinegar and baking powder (vinegar is not the most pleasant smell). When I unload and load the dishwasher I then wipe the sink and counters down the smell of what I clean it with can make my migraine worse. I am overly sensitive to smell with a migraine so if the trash has onion peels from the night before so I could be heading to the bathroom after unloading/loading dishwasher because the smell might get to me. Also my strength when I have a migraine is just not full because if to have to really scrub a pan that is causing me to move more....which makes my heart rate up (even a little) and that causes my head to pound more. Bending up and down over the dishwasher - the motion - can aggravate my head too - making it spike. I am sure there are other factors I am missing too that I have to add in.

So I wake in the morning with a migraine I might not be able to do it because of all the things that go into that simple daily task. If I am lucky I might get to do it in stages...unload the top rack and then walk away for a while. A pain level of 3 or 4 in my migraine, I might be able to unload and load all at once but usually I do have to rest after because I do cause it to spike a little and by rest then I can get it back to a 3 or 4. If I start to push too much I can send it over and make it the pain level spike to a 7 quickly and stay that way for the rest of the day.

The thing about this all....that if I didn't do things when it is a 3 or 4 I would NEVER accomplish anything. But I do have to say some days when there have been a string of them back to back, I wonder where is my quality of life? I feel angry that I don't get to do some things because of the migraine. I also feel guilt because I can't accomplish or keep up with some things because of it.

So there it is...I try to live each day the best I can and get the most I can accomplished and pray and hope that the next day I won't have a migraine so that I can do even more.

(Okay one friend that I was discussing this post with asked me if I had ever heard of the spoon theory. I never had so she sent me a link. It does an excellent job describing it...I am thankful I don't live with something more than migraines...although they suck I know I could be worse off.)

(cropped image - ATC - Lost)

passing this on....

A Fat Girl Rant....

Friday Gratitude (on Saturday)

We had some hard news this week...of friends lossing loved ones. A friend lost his father this week and then we got a call last night and a friend lost her baby who was about 14 months old. We have lots of friends losing family lately. Michael has become one of the people they call first because of his memorial videos just are so touching. So although it is a hard time right now I still wanted to give thanks...for family and friends....they are blessings...each in their own way gives so much to me and I am very grateful.

(cropped image of Time)

Freebies!

Ten Two Studio does a give away for several holidays throughout the year. She has one going right now for St. Patrick's Day. They are free printable images to use in ATC's, artist sketch books and whatnot. Go check them out!

Friday Gratitude

1. Enjoying so many good books lately!
2. The weather being so nice that we have our windows open
3. Aveeno lotion - as my skin feels so dry right now and the lotion makes me feel not so itchy.
4. Casino Royale comes out next week on DVD!
5. Being able to design a new design for Michael's business website so that we can get that up properly.
6. Michael and I work really well as a team with web design
7. Stromboli that I made for dinner this week was oh so good!
8. Mail love!
9. a cup of tea...or a few cups

(crop of an atc - from a themed swap - Into the Flesh)

Graphic Art

The beginning of this month seems to be all graphic art. I have been doing some web design. As well as just playing with photoshop lots. The other day I made up some sample banners for Michael's site. We just kind of slapped something together to have something there. But never got around to actually designing him a nice site. So it is something we hope to be able to get to soon. Anyway, I played with photoshop the other day and came up with some really nice layers to make it look like almost handmade textured paper. I combined that with his photography. He said he loved all of them and will have a hard time choosing so I guess they came out pretty good!

Just a commentary....

* I am a dork.....cute and lovable though according to what Michael says but he does get a chuckle that I get into commentaries. I love listening to the commentary...when they provide them on movies - televisions shows. Michael bought Angel season 4 and 5 (yes we are going backwards but that is when Michael got hooked on Angel so thus season 4 and 5 first). And I am listening to the commentary on season 5 first episode and Joss is so GREAT! Anyway the little tidbits you get from commentary are just so great!

* A little tidbits I learned from commentary season 5 first episode - Joss is a Dixie Chick fan and he put had Fred putting that poster up in her office not only because of the political upset they caused but also because he is a huge fan of theirs. He also saw a photograph in that CD booklet that was of a sign that said "we are changing the way we do business." And he felt Fred was worried she wasn't going to be living up to department head that she was weak and not strong. And Joss thought Dixie Chicks are strong and basically so is Fred and so that would be coming out in season 5.


We ran some errands the other day and then ran into Tuesday Morning. We hadn't been in there in quite awhile. And we ended up buying a few things. When I moved and then moved again I got rid of lots of things like plates, silverware and glasses because those are really things to me that can be replaced easily. A well loved cookie sheet not so easy to replace so I kept things like that but didn't keep some dishes. When I moved in with Michael, him being a bachelor for quite a while he had mis-matched plates and silverware but GLASSES oh my! He had every size and full sets (more then one set on some) of juice, double old fashioned, tumblers, one other size that I think is for like a mixed drink maybe a highball or collins, several different types of wine glasses and then cordial, margarita, champagne, and a couple beer mugs. So we don't ever look at glasses because there are more then enough in this house. Today though of course I spotted on the back of the shelf that had that hand-blown glass feel. A set of 6 - all different colors. And showed them to Michael and he liked them too. He said, "more glasses?" So I am going to get ride of one set for this set.

lately...

• I have been suffering from a pretty big migraine cycle. It finally spiked to the point where Michael and I both thought he might be taking me to the ER the other night. Luckily I got it under control but since then it kind of knocked me on my butt. Yesterday it was still lingering and then today I just felt out of it and tired. So hopefully tomorrow I will feel more like myself. I have housework, website work, and art all piling up.


• We watched Mirrormask tonight. I really enjoyed it, but I liked Dave McKean's art before I saw the movie so I was pretty sure I would like the movie.


• Made yummy breakfast burritos this past week. (just like these.)
  

Friday Gratitude

Doing a letter today....H...

Heart - Heart...so many ways I am grateful for heart...heart of giving and receiving love and warmth and caring. My favorite quote is about following your path with heart and it is how I try to live my life. Times I have wanted to stomp my feet and get mad or am confused and unsure of what to do....I slow down and listen to my heart and it usually guides me clear and sure.

Health - I have migraines. I am not in the best of health but I am thankful for my health. I am thankful for living and breathing and enjoying each day.

Hope - It is a beautiful word with beautiful meaning. A wish for fulfillment of something...I have hope for many things in my life and my art has been my main reason for hope right now. Hopeful of where I am going with it.

Handmade - I love things that are handmade. I am grateful for the time and craft people put into homemade items. Like my slipper socks that my friend made....they are loved muchly.

Homemaking - Okay I am odd I like homemaking. I like making our home nice. I like the art of keeping a house. I like the zen to it.

Humor - I love to laugh...who doesn't...and so good humor is important. Michael has a great sense of humor and we laugh quite a bit.

Hugs - Hugs are good. I am grateful for hugs and the people that give me hugs!

Hands - I have a thing for hands and maybe it is the artist in me to notice other artists hands. They are so beautiful. I also am grateful for my hands....drawing, cutting, creating.

(crop of a design I did in college - Hand)

Frustration

It bothers me when I have so much creativity just swirling around but no time to create. I have captured some ideas with a few notes or quick sketches to help me out when I do have a block and don't know what to create or just when time to get to them. But it still frustrates me.

just a quick update

I have been busy with some art. Not as much as I would like though. I did some altered altoid tins/shrines (which I just realized I never uploaded to my website other then 2 of them on the forsale page but none under art). And then some magnets. I also am starting to alter a book for a round robin I am going to participate in.

This month was spent baking quite a bit which is a creative process for me also. I mailed out cookies to bunches of friends. It made them all very happy so that was good. (link is to my cooking blog that has pictures and recipes.)

Book Review....

I got a gift certificate for my birthday to Amazon and ended up buying a few art books. One was Claudien Hellmuth's Collage Discovery. Really most of the time I am not impressed by how-to-books in the collage or altered art sphere because they all seem to be a show case for art instead of really a how-to book. I like artist show case books too because not only are they usually incredible just to browse through with a cup of tea but they also are usually very inspiring. So when I see a book that says it is a technique book - I usually I am a little sceptical. But Collage Discovery is really a how-to book! This is hands down the one of best book I have seen on this subject. I probably own about 4/5 collage artist type books. Collage Discovery has good techniques, good instructions, good photographs to go along with the instruction and is just in general offers clear, helpful, practical advice for collage artists.

If you don't believe yourself to be an artist or creative, but would like to create I really urge you to pick up this book as I feel you would find practical, easy, straight-forward ideas to spark ideas in creating.

Things I have always wanted to learn how to do or had problems with when following other instructions, she explains in just a way that I got and now am able to do because of her clear instructions and techniques. Things I have dreamed about or seen in my head can now reach the canvas and paper because I have valuable insight on how to make it happen. This book has helped me as an artist and it has been exciting to see the transformation to my art as well as my process in creating.

Area Event...

If you are in the Grand Junction area....and want to pick up some good quality art for great prices make sure to check out this event....

5:30 p.m.-10 p.m.
The Art Center
1803 N 7th Street
Grand Junction, CO 81501

Admission: $20/person

Over 145 pieces of fine art, ceramics, Persian rugs, Russian Impressionists, and collectibles will be auctioned in a fund raiser for The Art Center's exhibition and education programs. Silent Auction from 5:30-6:45pm. Live auction starts at 7pm. Cash bar, hors d'ouevres.

Phone: 970-243-7337
http://www.gjartcenter.org

Michael and I each have works in it. He has his Barbwire I and II and I have Tap the Maidens.

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.

Set of 4 Magnets

This is a set I gave a very good friend who inspires me in more ways then I can name or put words to it.

Collaged Magnets

Good thing or Bad thing...??

Is it a good thing or a bad thing that I got so caught up in painting that I almost took a drink of the water I rinse my brushes off with? Instead of my diet coke sitting on the other end of the table?

Thank goodness...I caught myself before I actually drank...not sure acrylic paint is really "good" for a person.

Going back to work!