I took a wonderful online class from Melinda Tidwell on creating collage abstracts.  I've taken previous classes but this one was the first I've taken where the instruction really helped me create a few I am proud of.  I will probably still work on them to improve by creating "movement" and more color.  

Hope you enjoy.  
PLEASE STAY SAFE--THESE ARE SCARY TIMES.
Elbow bump and virtual hug.
​

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.  

Many artists have doubts--I am one of those artists. I thought only friends and fellow artists visited my website. I gave out my card at exhibitions never really expecting people to go and look at my art online. And I NEVER thought that complete strangers would ever find MY website while browsing. There are millions and millions of choices out there--why would I stand out?

Well, I'm thinking...some people must get lost online and just find me by accident. AND THEY DID.

Today, I finally checked out my site. An author was preparing to publish a book and wanted me to submit photos of my art.  I didn't reply so I would not be part of her book.  I looked on Amazon to see what books she has written...and they are absolutely exquisite.  Oh well...

 If I'm going to have a website, the least I can do is keep up with it and respond to interested parties.

One of many lessons I've learned today is: Don't be surprised! My website isn't invisible--some may visit and have something to say about my work.

It's been a long time since I have "journaled."  And it's been some time since I have done art--what I consider real art.  I've almost finished a new bird, a Nuthatch, but what I would I'm saving time for   are a few pieces for the Healdsburg Center For The Arts Holiday Gift Gallery.  I'll share some of my more fun, wackier creative pieces--my serving trays with antique portrait photos.  Giving discarded personages new lives is one of my favorite projects.  When I have a few more completed I will have my webmaster add them to my gallery.  Past trays are hanging in the my website gallery already.  Check them out.

Well, life is scary sometimes.  After a sleep test and other procedures, I had quite a scare.  My pulmonologist suspected I had lymphoma.  As I've gotten older I always wonder what is going to "get" me--more specifically, what is gonna kill me.  Sounds gruesome I suppose but although I try not to read obituaries, I'm always wondering what others are dying of especially those close to my age.  It should be a requirement to include why the deceased died.  I could make a list of all the things I do not want to catch or contract.  I'm just not ready to leave this world--especially my grandchildren.  
         Don't have lymphoma thank goodness but more tests to follow.  And now I am a proud user of a Cpap.  It hasn't made me smarter but I'm not snoring.  

It was so exciting to be invited to exhibit my art at the Cloverdale Arts Gallery, but it comes with lots of hard work.  

I've exhibited my photography but collage is so much more work.  Because I love doing many forms of collage I realized that I had to have a cohesive exhibit--one basic subject matter and somewhat the same "style."  How many pieces would I need?  Ten feet worth!  Well, I figured about 8 pieces maybe.  Eight pieces of what?
I thought... birds, I love birds and always have...except jays.  I can do multiple birds, birds of prey would be good...hummers and maybe a flower or two for color.  What I didn't realize is how much detail birds actually have...feathers, wings, and the eyes... And I use maps, very old maps, storybook images, etchings, ledger pages, Citrasolv paper--so color, shade and shape would make up those details.  The process of completing a bird was much more complex and sometimes more tedious than I could have imagined. When all my pieces were done and the exhibit opening arrived I was a bit anxious.  Would people like my art? Would they realize how difficult it is to create a bird with so much detail? Would anyone come to the opening?

I was so pleased that my friends and family joined me at the opening evening.  The support was so gratifying.  The compliments were reassuring.  It was a grand event.  
My Great Horned Owls seem to be most popular, but I don't think that I really want to be known as "the bird collage artist."  

Here it is 3/15/18 and I realized that I never completed this blog entry.  That just shows me how inattentive I am to this blog process.  

Just so you know how the exhibition went, I sold three of my pieces--one was a Great Horned Owl I I decided because there were two couples that gave me such wonderful compliments about the  sold owl that I created another--and it was sold the day after I hung it.  I understand why the Great Horned owls are so popular.  These owls are so strong and expressive, and their coloring is so beautiful that their strong presence was easily represented in my art.  They are beautiful birds!!!  And my Kingfisher was purchased on "take down" day.  

I am so very grateful to those who purchased my art and supported me through my first collage exhibition. It is so exciting to have my creations out in the world.  It's kind of like being proud of your children and knowing that you live on through them.  I spent a great deal of time creating the three pieces I sold--much thought, many cut pieces and lots of insuring that the paper was secure to its substrate.  Using veneer made that a little more difficult, but all in all it was a most satisfying experience.

My thanks to the gallery, fellow artists, and the opportunity I was given to share.

I have an exhibit in November but because I have photos of my work due mid-September, I have been very busy making art.  The summer has been busy.  My husband and puppies have been pretty much ignored while I prepared.  I did have a visit with my daughter, my website guru (her husband) and my two adorable grandchildren--it was absolutely wonderful.  The conversations I have with my granddaughter are priceless and oh so "deep."  My goodness, how did I live without grandkids.  I miss my "distant" grand boys but hope to visit soon.  My husband visited the boys and I was very envious when he discussed their activities and how much they have grown.  I really feel like I'm missing so much.

As I mentioned before, I attended a WABI SABI workshop taught by Donna Watson at a beautiful venue--The Mendocino Art Center.  She suggested that I have cohesive/related works for the exhibit so I decided to paper paint birds.  It required much for time than I had expected, but I am very pleased with the results.  I will add to the exhibition in a few "free form" pieces--more imagination than realism.

My favorite creations are creating new lives for those photographed in my antique cabinet photos.  
Google Sketchbook Project (I suppose I should share the link, but do not know how.) I think you will enjoy them.   The images are usually very formal and a bit stiff.  In the Victorian period parents often took photographs of their deceased children, and although a bit strange by today's standards, it might be the only visible memory they had of their children.  Remember, they lost many more children than we do now.  I give these photos new and imaginary lives.  Thereby they live on.

This is one of my exhibition pieces.  Hope you enjoy it.  It is titled "Lay Lillie Lay."  Lillie is my imaginary hen that celebrates each day by laying a different colored egg.  

I would suspect most artists want others to enjoy their art--someone, maybe anyone.  I feel that insecurity, of course I'm insecure about a lot of other things too.  Oh well...  I've been told by art instructors that an artist creates because they must express themselves, and it's not necessary that others like their work.  I think that is BS.  What artist would want to stand next to their art at an exhibit and hear viewers say something derogatory about their work?  Or even worse walk by  quickly averting their eyes so as not to convey their disinterest in your creation.  

In November I will exhibit my art at the Cloverdale Art Alliance.  I will stand there with a very dry mouth, trying to smile, and hoping that someone will say, "I love your work."  So you see, it is wonderful that my friends and family encourage me. It will help me become more confident and sure of myself.  
​Thank you.