Monday Monday

I had a great weekend!

Saturday we puttered around town in the beautiful Colorado mountain weather; first, breakfast out with Steve, then games of chess (I beat Steve, Wes slaughtered both of us), an evening bbq and generally a fun family time together. There is a lot of humor in my home, thanks to Steve and Wes (and of course me, the necessary “audience”).

Sunday we planned to go for a hike but by the time we got it together thunderstorms were imminent… so Wes and I hung out in my studio… I had a really productive afternoon making a book (see detail above).

Above, a detail from my sketchbook, and below, a row of dots!

(Made with magazine cutouts, and bits of drawn and painted papers)

Have a great week!

New This Week

“Fighting Fish (They’re Married)”
watercolor, collage and ink on paper.
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Once I do a piece I like, I tend to do several more in the same vein… color palette, subject matter, etc. Just exploring the media, seeing where it goes, seeing if I can actually duplicate the feeling or mood of the original, or perhaps a new series will be born. I don’t know if I will do more after this or stop here… we’ll see! 

I’m not sure if I’m finished with this flower one yet. 

I should also confess that I have three or four more watercolor starts on my table that I’m “afraid” to draw on with the ink. For whatever reason I am blocked about them… I’ll push through. I will.

I’ve also realized lately that almost all the artwork I make is very small and essentially studies for larger paintings (paintings that I never get around to doing). Perhaps when I move to Seattle I will have a studio that feels “bigger”, and I’ll do bigger work. Maybe!

On a Whim

On a whim I signed up for this online class. (I also have my book deadline in September, but what the heck!!)

Drawing+Collage

One of the classes I am going to teach at Artfest next year is “Drawing+Collage”. This fish piece is done with the same sensibility… I’m excited about the white ink on top of watercolor and collage!!!

Demo Frog

This frog was a demo piece during an Artfest class last spring… demo pieces rarely “work” (too much pressure, too rushed, I don’t know!), so it was nice to be able to rework this little guy into something that works for me.

7″x5″, Watercolor, ink, pastel and charcoal on watercolor paper.

More Dots, Dog

More Watercolor Transfers on fabric, this time with ballpoint pen added.

I MIGHT be getting over my fear of sketchbooks/art journals. In recent years I’ve started so many journals only to abandon them the minute I ruin a page. More recently I couldn’t work in books at all, I was so blocked. (This was sad for me because I started out 15 years ago making artist books, and so I really do love the book format!)

My solution was to draw on single sheets of 8.5″x11″ cover stock, or 5″x7″ sheets of Fabriano watercolor paper (140#, hot press).  However recently I thought I’d try again, and bought a 9″x12″ spiral bound blank book with watercolor-like paper in it.

It’s working! Somehow, the fact that I can rip out a page if needed (since it’s spiral bound) has freed me up a lot. I’m actually drawing in a book again. Wow!

The above dog is a re-worked “one-liner.”

Thrift Store Paper Run

Wes and I share a love for old office paper. Every few months we walk down to the thrift store specifically to see if they have any new gems. Last week we found at least four more designs to add to our drawing-paper stash.

I also found an old book on Japanese flower arranging… this drawing was inspired by one of the photos and made with a four-color ballpoint pen and white gel pen.

… and this Guinea pig from a pet book from the library…

Both of these drawings were made with “scribbling” in my thoughts… it is one of the assignments in the book (“Scribbly Drawings,” as opposed to “Scribble Drawings,” which is different), and was also assigned to the students in the drawing class last week, so I was inspired to come home and do it myself again. 

The guys are playing chess while I am hogging our one working computer. The good news: Steve’s broken computer may be under warranty, and fixable. Wouldn’t that be grand?!!

Journal+Purse Online Class

Hello! Barbara over at Joggles.com has been kind enough to re-run my “Rags-to-Stitches” online class that I did last fall… In three “lessons” you will receive written instructions/photos on how to make my patchwork journals and purses, AND I will be available in a special forum during those three weeks to answer any questions, etc…. Sign up if you can!!

There are a lot of cool classes this season, so check out the entire list here.

Plus, I’ve promised to propose a NEW online class for the winter lineup. If you have any suggestions as to what kinds of things I do that you think might make a good online class, please let me know!!

Life

We have had an unusually dramatic two weeks.

My husband Steve got into a cycling accident (during the last two laps of his bicycle race 10 days ago), and got a 4-inch gash to the bone on his elbow and lots of road rash. Ambulance ride, Emergency care, an hour with the surgeon, etc. He’s healing fast, though!

Then, Steve’s computer died. It’s at the Mac doctor now, and he has taken my laptop with him on a photography job (the reason I can’t load photos right now). But I have lots to share, since I’m actually DRAWING a lot more now that I don’t have my computer to distract me so much. Hmm.

The house hasn’t sold, and we are resigned to have Wes start school here in Salida rather than in Seattle. Wes is disappointed, but being such a trooper. Things don’t always happen as planned!

I hope you are well. Have a wonderful weekend. Summer is ending soon… always bittersweet. I’m rambling. Sorry!

Home From AU

I have the best job in the world. 

I got home last night from five days at ArtUnraveled… I taught three classes, vended, had the best time driving to and from Colorado and Arizona with the wonderful Jill Berry… the 11-hour drive yesterday just FLEW BY with stories and laughter… thanks Jill!

Today I am unpacking, decompressing, fighting the computer and trying to figure out with Steve what the next step is for our house. I will load AU photos soon!

Thank you to all my wonderful students, Linda Young (the event promoter) and all the teachers and friends there… I am truly blessed.