Completed my first piece. It seemed like it took me so long to begin and finish it. I searched through all my antique butterfly and flower books looking for the perfect size and color of each image. Scalpel and Xacto blades were used to carefully excise the images. Of course most of the legs and antennae were lost and added later. Thread was added to tether the butterflies--a bit tedious but effective. The background is real cork selected for the rich color and texture. I love the cork and purchase it from fabricfunhouse.com--their selection of color and patterns is amazing.

The tilt of the image requires that the frame must be hung in an unusual direction. The only thing I don't like about this is that the photograph of the artwork can't be cropped--at least I couldn't figure that out how to accomplish this.

This piece is called "Donna Farfalla" Italian for Butterfly Woman. It was juried into the Small Works Exhibition showing at the Graton Gallery for the month of January 21-February 23, 2020. If you are a resident of Sonoma County or the vicinity please visit this exhibition. The works are small but exquisite. I guarantee that you will be pleased you came.

My exhibition has changed to the October 27-December 4, 2020.  Whew gives me a lot more time to create.  As you can see my studio looks like a tornado hit.  Creating is very messy.  I'm working on a hen collage--many small feather parts.

Today I will try to clean the studio a bit (maybe a lot) so I can work more easily.  I lose things on the table all the time.

​I must remember to BREATHE.  

Good Morning,

 I feel like a writer staring at a blank page.  

I'm exhibiting at the Graton Gallery (Graton, CA) the month of May, I have a bit of artist block. I love the Graton because the partner artists are friendly and supportive.  I know what I do well--BIRDS, but as much as I love the details required to create a collaged bird, I want to have a little more fun.  

An artist I admire, Donna Watson, suggested when I attended her workshop in Mendocino that an exhibit must be cohesive.  Could the mixed media/collage be the cohesion?  All my pieces in the twelve foot wall space are going to be collage--is that enough?  We'll see.

My studio is still a mess.  Yes, it might look organized but the drafting table that I work on is cluttered, and that makes it hard to concentrate.  If I waited to have everything in its place, I would never begin.  

So, I will stand at my table and work today.  I must complete at least one piece every two weeks to be prepared.  This is when I wish my studio was downtown and not part of the house--no interruptions.   

Wish me well and stay tuned.