Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White

New Assemblage sculpture created with old sheet music as a theme. Mostly the colors and Jane Russell swimming under water with a knife were the inspirations. The curler, and pink wood, and shell I found combing the beach in Singer Island, FL.

When You are Old by William Butler Yeats

WHEN you are old and gray and full of sleep
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true;
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face.

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead,
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

No, I did not read this poem in my brooding teenage years, or study it in college, was an english major after all. But mostly I was first turned on to it from the the Francis Ford Copella movie "Peggy Sue Got Married." Love this movie, and think all high school teenagers should watch it. Premise being, if you could go back to high school knowing what you know now, what would you do differently. Here is a great still of Peggy Sue with the Bohemian Michael Fitzsimmons, reciter of the Yeats poem.

Stars, Songs, Faces

Gather the stars if you wish it so.
Gather the songs and keep them.
Gather the faces of women.
Gather for keeping
years and years.
And then..........

Loosen your hands,
Let them go and say good-by.
Let the stars and the songs go.
Let the faces and years go.
Loosen your hands,
and say
good-by.

By Carl Sandburg 1920

This is a blank journal I altered, am also finishing
a larger work inspired by the same poem.

Asia Minor

Examples of some Japanese Brush paintings. There are a number of the magnolia and lotus series in various sizes and on different types of wasi paper. More fish and flower paintings will be completed by the end of August, as well as a large panda piece. I studied Japanese Brush painting with Keiko Miyamori at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts for two semesters. She is an outstanding artist and teacher as well. Both the magnolia painting and the bamboo can be found in reproduction at My CafePress store.

Stumbling Through Life With Grace

My tenant this week is 3rd times a charm, aka 3T, owner of the blog "Stumbling Through Life with Grace." 3T is a blogger after my own heart, and age brackett, and has a great blog design. The blog is described as a "Diary of a psychologically, analytical,neurotic, closet Bitch. Musings of a retired bad-girl, who unwittingly stumbled in to life as I know it today. (Material contains bad girl tales,daily life,psycho babble, venting, and some adult content. Mature audiences only."
Her content is really diverse, with quizes and promos as well as photos of herself and fellow blog ladies, one of which is Jade, who I rented from a while back. You can find out what sort of Martini you are, and check out Jade's party of the season, which looks like large fun.

Good Bebble. Also she will be the first tenant to receive a free "Pinky the Watering Troll" magnet as a thank you gift.

My CafePress Store

A Few Items from my new CafePress Store. The light switch cover turned out great, and has a nice enameled look, easy to clean as well. The journal is blank unruled paper. There are many more items for sale, tile coaster, greeting cards, t-shirts, magnets etc. Click to the left at the CafePress Button or on the link of this post. The items are ordered directly from CafePress and they take all forms of creditcards or paypal. The things I ordered looked great, I was really amazed with the quailty of the transfers.

Happy Birthday!

Have a rockin' birthday, hope you eat lots of cake, do some funky dances, get many expensive presents from all your admirers. Yabba Dabba DOOOO!!!!

Air and Angels

This one is for a friend who buried her husband this weekend, peace to you and your family during this time of grief.

Bamboo

Ink on speckled Wasi paper. The chops are both my own designs. Other brush paintings to follow.

The Walt Whitman Bridge

Tis' the season for a patriotic post. Whitman used this quote to discribe Carl Sandberg, "his country absorbs him as affectionately as he has absorbed it." Also it could apply to defining a true american artist of national reputation, Andrew Wyeth comes to mind..... and what a world it would be if politicians tried a little absorbtion and less banner waving.
This is a journal cover that I altered with various bits of paper and scraps of fabric. Really wanted to achieve a sense of humility contrasting with a certain "proud ragedness." Since I scanned it rather than photographing the colors are less vibrant. May do a larger piece with same theme and quote.

Eco Arts

In celebration of WORLD ENVIROMENT DAY, Wednesday, June 5th Art4Development launched an international 'eco-arts' project To celebrate World Environment Day. I submitted "Whiter than Rice" to this project and it can be found on page 7 of their down loadable catalogue. To view the entire catalogue click the post title, then the eco' arts icon then the projects link. Will post some work from the catalogue in upcoming weeks. More info about Art4 Development from their website is as follows:

"eco'arts project by Arts For Global Development | Art4Development.Net intends to tackle vital developmental issues with creativity; inform and inspire individuals to take preventive actions; and acknowledge those creative individuals who focus on habitat and environmental challenges. eco'arts consists of an arts project presenting images of artworks / projects / performances created by artists and advocates from around the world; a catalogue listing information on the arts project participants; an online site providing resources about creative projects that address environmental issues; and an educational event in Washington DC commemorating the World Environment Day (WED). WED celebrated each year on June 5th, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances citizen action.
The eco'arts event took place on June 8 at the International Visions Arts Gallery featuring guest speaker, David Waskow who is the International Program Director of the non-profit organization, Friends of the Earth. He emphasized the effects of climate change, global warming and gas consumptions as well as provided guidelines in which participants could implement in protecting the environment. The Arts For Global Development, Inc founder and president Nil Sismanyazici Navaie presented the eco'arts project, talked about the connection between the arts and the environment, and highlighted the importance of taking immediate preventive measures on environmental issues. In addition, the Creator of Postcards from Katrina Project, Tambra Stevenson introduced her project to bring awareness that people in the Gulf Region still need help and hope. The arts project of eco'arts was launched in May 2006 to facilitate an opportunity for individuals / groups (who care about environmental issues; use environmental friendly materials and recycled objects to shape their work; raise awareness on environmental challenges or organize eco-friendly projects) to share their works and ideas. Through the call placed on Art4Development.Net E-Community and supporting online platforms, within 31 days of its launch eco'arts received artwork and art project images from over 60 artists from the US, Canada, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Sierra Leone, Columbia, Angola, Finland, South Africa… The eco'arts mural, suspended from the ceiling, displays images of artworks / projects / performances created by those artists and advocates who shared their work with Art4Development.Net. The mural measures 24 x 48 inches and has two sides. eco'arts, which is a collage of works placed on wood, decorated with acrylic paint, mirrors, ornament, and silk leaves, depicts the connection of humanity and environment, and calls for protective action! The eco'arts event guests were artists, representatives of cultural organizations,
environmental agencies, graduate students, development and social marketing specialists, and more."

Winsome Gunning

Winsome is an Australia Goldcoast artist whose work I have in my own collection. This piece is one from the 90's that I really like for the contrasting seipia flowers with the brightness of the ocean. The blues from the ocean and sky seem to seep into the room flooding the floor with the blue checkered pattern. Click the title of this post to visit Winsome's sight and see her current work which is quite different from this piece.

Where will Pinky Go?

Adventure and a new home await Pinky The Watering Troll. Today starts her auction on EBAY, she will be available for ten days. Say goodbye will be bitter-sweet, but the time has come for her to spread her special magic to someone else...the magic of starting over, of being down and out in a flea market in New Jersey, rescued by a 10 year old and given a new outfit and hairdo, matching pink boa...and then a perfect home to take with you always. She is headed for adventure wide-eyed and happy, and will bring that spirit to whom ever gives her a home. Just click on the word "Pinky" or the title of this post and you will go directly to my auction. Leave any good wishes for her in the comments section of this post.

Outerbanks

The painting at the right is a cottage in Nagshead, NC where our family spent many summers. A big old rambling cottage that was always painted white with red shutters, it had 10 bedrooms and was built in the 30's I believe. The sand is coarse and an orange color and the water is colder, Gulf Stream does not go up that far. Playing under the cottage was one of my favorite things to do as a little girl. One summer I created a Croatan village out of sea oat stems and fishing line. iStanding on the stairs is "Little Mitchel" the lady of the house and the bathing beauty facing sideways is my grandmother back in the day. I never knew Little Mitchell, her step daughter Ruby was my grandmother's good friend and always invited us to stay with her in the summer.

Fragile Industries

Many apologies to my tenant this week as I am late with introductions...caught a nasty cold from me better half. Fragile Industries is a varied and dynamic site with posts about exciting assemblage/altered art work as well as website issues and philosophy...a post with Talking Heads song Once in a Life Time. Ironically this song was running through my brain all day to day. Was also very intrigued with book selections, esp CS Lewis' C.S. Lewis: "The Weight of Glory"
"I am trying to rip open THE INCONSOLABLE SECRET in each one of you -- the secret which hurts so much that you take your revenge on it by calling it names like Nostalgia and Romanticism and Adolescence." There is much too this blog and I am sure to go back many times. And so should the rest of you.

Hollow Tree

A small painting on board that I did in Landscape class, for some reason my instructor really liked it. Product did not actually coincide with my vision, but it does have a bit of a zing on some level. The perspective is looking down into this hollow tree that has a triangular hole in the back where bright light comes through. Was quite tough to paint as a subject, for me anyway. My paintings will also get more color bang if I switch from Winton student grade paint to Windsor and Newton professional...or so I am told. I added the frame and border, makes me like the painting a bit more. Maybe I will go back and paint it again another day, did learn a bit from this one.

Buffalo Gals

This is a journal, I altered the cover, but the inside is blank. The photo is my grandmother's aunt Liza...the pretty one of the 5 Sykes aunts that she was so fond of. As a military wife she was able to travel the world, living for many years in the Philipines, and is buried in Arlington cemetary. I have a number of photos of these sisters from the early 1900's as the older brother was a photographer. My grandmother us to say that family was not especially wealthy or poor, but they were "good livers." Seems we should all aspire to be such.
Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed sang "Buffalo Gals" coming home from the school dance in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life." t An appropriate journal for a Buffalo Gal to record events leading up to and after dancing by the light of de moon.

Mama Makes Stuff

My tenant this week is a Florida artist, "Fidget." Her site features her work, guest artists, as well as tips and how toos. A very expressive first Altered book is a must see and there is a link to her gallery as well. She is very supportive of the visual arts and crafts of her fellow moms out there, and wants to feature them in her blog. Creating is great therapy especially at a time in your life when demands are high...I started painting and creating when my kids were toddlers and it was the best thing I ever did. Keep it up!

A Bit Chilli Tonight

Indeed. So here are some chilies in a bottle that I painted in a class on light and shadow in Still Life. Spent a great deal of time on the background before I even began painting the objects, three hours. Then next class painted the rest, did a raspberry glaze over the table that the chilies were on. The box behind the bottle was one of those gold godiva chocolate boxes. Hope to take a class on glazing over the summer. Tomorrow is landscape painting class, it is very rainy here though and we may have to meet in an alternative in door space. My canvas is stretched and brushes are cleaned, must remember to take a real break at lunch tomorrow and not try and paint the whole time.

Philadelphia from Bartram Gardens

A close value painting I did in Landscape painting class. From a distance and with a soft and fertile landscape spread before it our city of "Brotherly Love" appears welcoming and still obtuse. So far I have only been able to paint it from a distance and feel a strong compulsion to include urban elements in all the landscapes. Capturing light is the most gratifying experience, although when I do finally get it, it is almost by mistake. So far the wind has been the most biggest obstacle in painting "en plein air." Oh, and a wet black lab that ran by and licked my painting of the inside of a hollow tree.

Happy Birthday Mom!

My mother was born 66 years ago today. She was and educator and an accomplished water-color artist who lived most of her life in a small town in Eastern North Carolina. More than that she was so kind and compassionate, that most people she knew loved her dearly. Her spirit was joyful and she loved to sing and dance, especially tap-dance and filled the air with delightful energy. She always helped women going through difficult times, and was never judgemental of anyone or there situation. Through her actions she taught me never to listen to gossip and to give everyone, no matter what their circumstances, a chance. Our home growing up was full of friends who were always stopping by, she cherished her friendships so much.
On Christmas eve of 2003 my mother died very peacefully in her home surrounded by family and friends of breast cancer. Every year on her birthday I plant some white iris and have birthday cake, chocolate with white icing...her favorite, with my family. We watch some videos of her and dance around the livingroom...we did that growing up. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her, but on April 29th I hope to always celebrate her birthday and her spirit....there are no others like her.

Since the education of children and the visual arts were so important to her I have set up an memorial challenge with Donors Choose to contribute money to several art related programs in underfunded schools in eastern North Carolina. Clicking the button at the top of the page will take you directly to the program where you can make your donations.

Bridesmaid Revisited

This"altered doll" is entered in the Art Dolls competition in Houston. She is made from a seed pod, wooden vase, cabinet handle, scrap cloth, some tissue paper from a Christmas present and other bits and pieces. She looks like she is forever walking down an aisle, head bowed dress flowing. Only 16inches high she attracts lots of attention, probably upstaging the "bride." Personally, I preferred the role of bridesmaid to bride, and the role of wedding quest even more. Perhaps that will be my next doll, the wedding quest accompanied by Ancient Mariner. A Special Thank You to my husband for taking these and many more photos!

THE WINNER IS.................

JILL! Really hard choosing from all
those excellent entries. Basically I
wrote everyone's name on individual
pieces of paper, folded them,
put them in a coffe mug and
picked out Jill's. So there she is in virtual top drawer form.
Cheers to you all and thanks again.

Assemblage Portraits Contest!

Here is my first virtual assemblage portrait. "Once I was a queen, now merely a threadneck" She was made with various cut and paste from Printshop and some of my own art. Soo, how about a contest. Go to your top drawer and describe some of the junk or treasures inside, maybe even a few details about you or your stuff...PG rated if you please. After a random number of people have commented on this post or e-mailed me I will randomly pick someone's entry and make a portrait of you out of your virtual stuff. You can post it on your website if you like. If you are simply mad about the whole idea we can talk about creating an actual portrait of you from your real stuff, or some close facsimile stuff and you can hang it in your office, or at home, or give it to your mum for mothers day. So start your pilfering.

Turtles, Volcanos, and Masks

Never ceases to amaze me what people want on their drums. Have many orders for these, must be spring fever or something. Have not had a call to do any dancing ladies, tropical fish or flamingoes, which are typically my favorites. Not sure about this big yellow mask on the drum, he is new and a bit unnerving. Hopefully will photograph more of the assemblage works later in the week.

This little guys is having a grand time. Wish I was swimming in the sea.

Welcome to Winsome Gunning my new tenant.

From down under, an Australian acrylic painter dedicated to the Creative Spirit. Really beautiful pieces of art as well as art exercises and spiritual points to contemplate.
"The paintings I produce are about working from the creative spirit within. At different times themes emerge which I feel drawn to develop but always my work is about discovering this spirit and listening to its promptings. It is a daily walk to keep myself clear of the blocks which stop me connecting to this creative flow."
Her site is a nice place to visit as well and some of her paintings are available for purchase through the ebay store.

New Drums

Parrots and Kool Katz are going out today. One to Florida and the other to California. The cat drum was a custom order to paint a yellow drum with black cats. So this is what I came up with. I kind of like it even though it took a very long time. Perhaps I will do a painting of it as well. There are more drums to paint so off I go.
Clicking on the title of this post will take you to the ebay site we have to sell the drums. Have had a few requests of late.

Ms Hopewell Hand

The Hopewell hand is made of mica and
found in Ohio in a Hopewell Indian burial site.
For me the hand represents healing, or the
laying on of hands. Ms Hopewell hand
brings health and well being to anyone
fortunate enough to have her in their home.
Originally she was a cutting board that
I covered with Thai paper. I made her a
lovely shaw out of a vest I wore in the
'80s and her head is from a brass picture
frame that I put a collage face made
with bits of colored paper. Her "hand"
is water color paper cut in
the exact shape of the hopewell hand...
she has a heart of "gold."

Blues and Golds

Still Magnolia

Japanese ink brush painting on bamboo paper. Completed in 2003.