Quotes ‘n’ Doodles

Notebook doodles.

I spent some time this morning reading out of a terrific book titled “The Art of the Artist: Theories and Techniques of Art by the Artists Themselves.” Published in 1951 and compiled by drawing instructor Arthur Zaidenberg, it consists of short statements/essays on art by university and Artists League art instructors. Here are a few excerpts that spoke to me:

“[A painter's] ingenuity is excited with the very limitation of the medium.”
— Marion Greenwood

“No matter how you paint, someone else walks in your canvas.
They call it influence.”
— Nahum Tschacbasov

“Why should a painting be easy to understand in a world in which
nothing is easy to understand?”
— Judson Smith

“I think there is only one way for all artists, and that is the indirect way.
The artist must be a creative person and have the attitude of a
creative person; he must find real purpose and pleasure in exploring the
nature of people and things; and he must develop his senses
through contact with sensuous things.”
— Doris Lee

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Have a great day!

Scribble-and-Erase Airplane Drawings

I spent some time scribbling in my sketchbook on the plane ride home from Colorado Saturday. Can you see the bear and the baby owl?

The trip was good. It was wonderful to see the family and important for all of us to say goodbye, I think.

I’ve felt a renewed sense of thankfulness for all the blessings in my life: health, family, friends… a beautiful city to live in, a job I just love, and, of course, Steve. I am grateful.

* * *

I’m trying to change my habits somewhat. Instead of watching TV, I’m replacing that 20 minutes either by reading an article or watching some kind of creative video. Yesterday I watched “Over You,” an animated story about a friendship between a deer and a little ghost girl. Today I watched The Beatles’ last concert ever, the 1969 Rooftop Concert in London. I saw this giraffe video a few weeks ago, and it’s awesome….

Do you have any cool links to share?

A Goodbye

Christi Sonheim, Jill Erbsen, and Liam at the zoo in March.

A few days ago my son’s mom-in-law, Jill Erbsen, died of cancer. She was 55. (Here is the obituary in Salida’s Mountain Mail.)

Jill and I had a unique and special bond: we were both grandmas to little Liam.

Since the kids live in Seattle, I am blessed to see Liam (and now Ethan) on a regular basis. Over the last year and a half, Christi’s parents came out as often as they could from Colorado, often staying at our house. Yet… we would never see them, because, as Jill said once, “We have to get over there to drink up that little boy!”

As grandmothers, we complimented each other.

Jill was a practical, no-nonsense, get-it-done kind of person.

I am a more impractical, nonsensical, lay-on-the-floor kind of person.

Together we were a good “grandma” team.

I still can’t believe that Liam’s “other one grandma” is gone. I will do everything I can to help Liam remember her. Because everyone should have a grandma like Jill.

In Memory of Jill Erbsen

 

On leave this week

I’ve tried twice today to paint a little portrait to go with this post, but I just don’t have it in me.

A close family member passed away suddenly yesterday, and I will be away from my computer most of this week.

Please pray for our family. I will certainly share more when I feel I can.

If you sign up for any classes, it may be several days before I can send the links. Thank you for understanding!

Scrapbooking.com: I’m the profiled artist this month!

I’m so happy to have been asked by the wonderful Judi Kauffman if she could profile me for her monthly article for scrapbooking.com, “Meet the Artist.” She and I talked on the phone for at least two hours and I enjoyed every minute; she wrote a very flattering article and for that, Judi, I think you!

If you want to check it out, it contains about 20 art images documenting my art journey over the past 11 years. There’s also a “blob hunting” video in case you feel the need to draw some blobs today. Click here (and be sure to check out the other great content at scrapbooking.com).

And, here’s another Gelli print. It’s fun to work on these in the “cracks” of my other stuff.

“Dark Night,” acrylic on paper (gel monotype)

Happy Monday!

“Blue Landscape,” acrylic on watercolor paper (Gelli Plate monotype)

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I hope you had a terrific weekend!

Steve and I relaxed unexpectedly on Saturday, even though he had 30 hours of photo re-touching to do. When he told me, I asked, “Today?” He said, “This afternoon.”

And yet… we had lunch. We tried to walk to an estate sale while waiting for Liam to wake up (but gave up). We took Liam to the park, stayed and had dinner with the kids, and generally did nothing but hang out all day.

We sure needed it!

It’s very hard for both of us to take breaks (me more than him); I tend to be within feet of my laptop at all times.

But I’m trying!

 

 

 

New Book: Creative Photography Lab by Steve Sonheim

I’ve kept kind of quiet about this project, but it’s time to begin talking about it! Last year my husband, Steve, and I collaborated on a new book: “Creative Photography Lab.” It’s being published by Quarry Books and is due out August 1st! (It’s mostly Steve’s book, but includes 6 mixed-media photography projects by me.)

I’m mentioning it now because tomorrow (Sunday, May 26, 2013) Steve and I are going to be interviewed on Rebecca E. Parsons’ “Artistically Speaking Talk Show” at 6:30pm EST (3:30pm PST). Steve and I will be talking about the creative process, making photographs that are uniquely YOURS, technical tips and tricks, and more!

Tune in if you can by clicking this link!

(And I’ll be talking more about the book soon here at the blog. Yay Steve!)

True Craziness

Giraffes with Their Birds” in the style of Adolf Wolfli.
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Nothing new to report, except that I was having a mini “panic” attack this morning because of all the things I need to do. By the time I walked from the car to the office, though, I felt much better because I thought of a new book idea and am excited to put it into motion.

So… basically I was stressed about the things I  need to do and became LESS stressed when I added a huge project on top of everything.

I’m truly crazy.

 

 

Homeward Bound

I’ve spent the last few days in Santa Barbara, CA visiting my mom… we had a great visit and even went to the zoo one of the days:

When I get home it will be chaos as I finish the last-minute preparations for the Gelli class. Here is one of my favorite prints so far:

In the class I won’t be teaching exactly HOW to make the above, as I don’t know/remember myself!

But I CAN show my process and what I’m thinking as I do these types of prints and, then, when combined your own tastes and sensibilities, you will create prints that are uniquely yours.

I can’t wait to see the work that will come from this class — my favorite part of online teaching!

Repeating Three Online Classes in May-June

Hi!

I re-run past online classes about once per year. Besides the new Gelli Plate Printmaking  class starting Monday, I am repeating three older classes in the weeks immediately following:

Junk Mail Artist’s Book • May 27-31
Watercolor Transfer Paintings • June 3-7
Cereal Box Paper Dolls • June 10-14

All class purchases are good for participants living in a single household and is up and available to you “forever.” Hope to see you there!

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Junk Mail Artist’s Book
One-Week Intensive Class • $35
NEXT CLASS: May 27-31, 2013

This is a mixed-media-junkie’s dream project! Junk mail combined with gesso, watercolor, a little swirly technique here, some packing tape there, creates beautiful and complicated textures that you can use as backgrounds for any mixed media projects you currently have going.

In this class we’ll use our pages to create an irregularly shaped book. Then, we’ll DRAW! You will begin a drawing on one spread, with the goal of having each image connect to and work with the images from other spreads. The drawing exercises throughout the week will build up to you being able to see more creatively and embrace the “puzzle” nature of this beautiful artist’s book.

Take this class if you love textures, layers, and everything mixed media. This one is just FUN!

Just $35… SIGN UP HERE!

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Watercolor Transfer Paintings
One-Week Intensive Class • $35
NEXT CLASS: June 3-7, 32013

In this class we’ll experiment with this easy and quick technique that creates some of the loveliest watercolor textures I’ve seen… if you love the intricate patterns found in a single rock, for example, you will love this class.

Using only t-shirt transfer paper and watercolors, we’ll first just play with brush techniques, working in layers and experimenting with fabric. (Watercolor on fabric? Yes!!) Later in the week we will add other media to the mix: charcoal, ballpoint pen, and pastel to add even more texture and depth to these unique paintings. And use cut and torn bits and pieces of the painted transfers to create fun and unique pieces of art. We’ll also work with “plates” to create multi-layered paintings.

Just $35… SIGN UP HERE!

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Cereal Box Paper Dolls
One-Week Intensive Class • $35
NEXT CLASS: June 10-14, 32013

“What did you do as a child that made the hours pass like minutes?
Here is the key to your earthly pursuits.” — Carl Jung

It’s fun to play with paper dolls! (It’s even more fun to see grown men play with paper dolls, which happened in our household recently.)

In this class you will create set of stand-up paper dolls and a unique, interactive artist book using cereal boxes as your substrate. Your paper dolls will fit into the pockets of the folded book structure, which becomes the backdrop for your characters when folded out. Fun!

On the last day you will receive tips and tricks for photographing your 3D project by Guest Teacher Steve Sonheim.

Just $35… SIGN UP HERE!