Do I dare to eat a peach...

Hmm, what is it about a basket full of fresh juicy, fuzzy, aromatic peaches.  Is it because they look like orange furry bums?  Is it the daring act of biting into one, knowing the juice will drip down the chin.  So the above piece is one I worked on in a mixed media workshop at Fleisher, in Philly.  It is made with an assortment of inventory papers made in class and pasted on green matt board.

It has a kind of Eric Carle feel, which I initially did not like because I felt like I stole his ideas... But now, I am ok with it.  Learned from him, went on to express peaches in other ways.

And this one is the peach in the photograph with other decorative papers as a collage on a cigar box top.   If you've ever driven on I 85 south you might recognize my subtle nod to the Gaffney Peach of South Carolina, see it? 

And here is a mixed media on clay board piece in progress.  All of the pieces were inspired from that same photograph I took in Ellijay, Georgia and a love for peaches, of course.

Cherry blossoms

Recently framed this mixed media collage and hung it in my studio. Found a few other paces in the house where it worked well also. Will have to do more of these as I am pleased with this one and working with red back grounds. Currently reading "An Artist of the Floating World" by Kazuo Ishiguro, a novel about a Japanese artist set in postwar Japan. Also experiencing cherry blossoms in real life... A chilly, but welcome spring.

I took a class at the Pennyslvania Academy of Fine Art in Japanese brush painting.  Keiko Miyamori was our instructor and I learned all the traditional strokes for bamboo, plum blossoms, orchids, rocks as well as learning about Japanese paper.   These blossoms I tore from practice paper that I made in class.  The paper for the branches is handmade paper that I purchased at the book, paper scissor event at Th Philadelphia Frre Library.

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Happy year of the snake!

Here is a small collage I made of a joyful Chinese girl. This is part of a series of small "fortune" collages I've been working on each with its own original fortune from a Chinese fortune cookie. Yes, I keep them and have a a little glass house full of them, have been collecting these for years.  This one says, "You will be showered with good fortune."

So below she is hanging with a mask and Russian nesting dolls.  Looks like a happy place to me.

And here is a photo of my glass house of fortunes.  I keep it on a shelf in my studio.

Shrine

I built this water shrine during a hike in Ricketts Glenn State Park. There were a few already built in one area near a waterfall, so I started this one further down. Finding flat rocks and balance are the keys...also patience.

These are made from left over postcards promoting various art shows. Vista print likes to give a zillion postcards if you order an extra zillion for free. So I adhere several and make small works. Sold a number of them at Book, Paper, Scissors at the Free library of Philadelphia this past fall. Have named them Gentle Reminders. Many have a few words, like linger, or endure, swim up stream, as gentile reminders to well, do those things. Easy to forget in the rush of everyday life. They are a variety of media, hand made paper, tissue scraps, acrylic paint, seedlings, strings. Some have dimension others do not. The images you see on this blog are only partials of the work. Some will be on my cafepress site as cards. But that is not really eco friendly, I know...but no animals were harmed in the testing of these products, and we do need something to send to Aunt Zelda after her bunyan operation anyway. So how is the rush of your everyday life?

From Woman and solitude series

“There is no doubt that solitude is a challenge and to maintain balance within it a precarious business. But I must not forget that, for me, being with people or even with one beloved person for any length of time without solitude is even worse. I lose my center. I feel dispersed, scattered, in pieces. I must have time alone in which to mull over my encounter, and to extract its juice, its essence, to understand what has really happened to me as a consequence of it.”
― May Sarton, Journal of a Solitude

This is one in a series of six mixed media pieces created with the motif of women and solitude. By solitude, I mean the type of reflection and coming to one's self without every day distractions and interruptions. Certainly not in a sad or lonely way, but a "contented with one's own being and thoughts" way...for me it is about refueling. Woman are often demanded upon and our time can be so fragmented that many crave some quiet time to do or not do as they please. To be away from the noise, the opinions, the news, the problems and simply think...to sort out all those many thoughts and ideas. For me it is bliss, and even though I love people and enjoy good company, quality alone time is essential to my creativity.
Title is tentatively, "woman cat." Media is gauche, sumi ink, magazine article, graphite, and decorative paper.

Women in Solitude Series

“I have to be alone very often. I'd be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment. That's how I refuel.”
― Audrey Hepburn

From a series women in solitary moments done in my mixed media workshop at Fleischer.

Postal art cards from the Valentine's Grinch.

Images of my postal art project made in a mixed media workshop at Fleischer Art Memorial in Philadelphia. An inspiring and informative experience and one that keeps my fuss budget tendencies at bay. Oh, and learned a few truly "magical" techniques from the instructor. Yes, I love art class.

But what I do not love is Valentine's Day, well not since the 4th grade. As a single woman you long for the red roses, the romance, chocolate. But once you have the boyfriend/lover you get some sloppy/sentimental Hallmark card, pick up carnations at the grocery store, or they just plan forget about it. A little thought, like an original poem...even a bad poem "your breath smells like rotten cantalope in the morning"...is better than a little red teddy bear. But mostly I hate Valentines Day because it ignores the dark and prickly side of human intimacy. Doris Betts called it "The sharp tooth of love." And even though I am the Valentine's grinch I still expect some small token of affection on THAT day, which makes me feel like a hypocrite. Sigh... So this year I decided to re-frame my valentine's day narrative, turn it around, go off script, or as a writer friend once said, "Shoot your sweet little darlings." That said, yes I made some cards with hearts on them, damn it.

So since these pieces were made to mail and then arrive at some lucky person's home I posted instructions on facebook that the first 10 people to send me their address would receive one. Note to self next time check messages sooner. At any rate, there were 15 addresses and I am a "giver" so could refuse no one. Hard to be a "giver" in a taker wins all world. But this was a most beneficial exercise for me -work fast and be productive. Also no little miss fuss budget. And the extra's I sent to some woman friends...the ones who notice when you're trudging through some inner muck and love you anyway...or have your back even when you're stupid.

Fish and Flower

Felt a little sad when this piece sold a few weeks ago and I miss it hanging in my studio. Sumi ink on thick thai paper collage with pieces of lace, fabric and bamboo layered with rice paste. There is something quiet and contemplative about it. Anyway, winter is a good time to work on brush painting so I am setting up a spot in the new studio to get back to it.

"Southern Cross"

Layers of Decorative blue paper over red with window of ship masts. Have also been studying glazes with oil paints on board. Fascinating process.

"Lady Sings the Blues" wins honorable mention in MCGOPA Fall Juried Show

2010 Juried Fall Show

November 13, 2010 - December 11, 2010

Juror: Edna Davis, Owner of Tyme Gallery

ARTISTS’ RECEPTION

When: Saturday, November 13 , 2010

Where: MCGOPA at SPP Galleries

Inquirer Building on Rt. 23 between

Rts. 320 (Swedeland Road) and 202 in

Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Time: 5 - 7 PM

This assemblage piece has received an honorable mention in the fall show and will be awarded at the reception on Saturday November 13th 5-7pm. "Life with Coffee Spoon" was also selected for this show.

Splendid Silent Sun

The outside of an altered book I am working on using decorative paper, a poem my Whitman and plates from a book on the Sistine Chapel. All are coated in encaustic wax, which is a pretty new process for me.

Chair for WCA "A Seat at the Table" Fringe Festival

8/30 More sewing and a few other changes to "White Stains" today.

Today I added the skirt and decided on an appropriate name, "White Stains." The name is from a collection of erotica by Anais Ninn but in this case appropriate for a chair of white at a dinner table. What an extra burden is placed on women to keep their garments "white" and stain free, by being careful or a good laundress. The right cowgirl boot is turned outward, suggesting toe tapping or an eagerness
to dance.



This piece is not quite finished but getting close. The event is next Friday and my goal is to finish by the weekend. It is comprised of a $5.00 chair from Goodwill painted white, cowgirl boots, a white jacket, the sleeve from a bridal gown found in a dumpster, a diaper, pantaloons from a doll and various laces as well as a tampon string. The trappings of females, what adorns us, or protects us, or gets us moving and up from the seated position. Was going to call it "Wing and Roots and Cowgirl Boots" but not sure about including the wings and that title is a bit too cutesy. Will possibly but tool around the seat as well, you know for dancing.

Assemblage piece looking for just the right verse

"Slant of Light" was stalled in the studio until I started experimenting with encaustic medium which seemed to bring it together in a more cohesive way. Still undecided if I should use the Emily Dickinson quote on the piece or not. The orange wire on the left acts as the disconnected observer leaning into the seasons without experiencing them. Satisfied with the way the piece looks wet.

And the next version. Decided to add a larger, more interesting leaf and kept the Emily Dickinson poem. Also coated the cathedral with glass coat which makes the image appear wet. Not done yet, as I still have to attach the actual poem, oh and that stem to the lotus pod. So there will be a version 4 coming and maybe more still if I opt for having this puppy framed. Might call it "Slant of light" or "Winter Afternoons."




This is the more recent version, but have not settled on the winter quote...strongly leaning toward Emily Dickinson. Thrilled to receive two new sample adhesives that I used on this one as well, so it is down to three pieces to adhere and a title. "Yes Paste" is my favorite so far. There are a few minor details: I am thinking of adding, four thin sticks and a piece of faded wire. Also not sure how to handle the quote, either as a transfer or layers of torn wasi paper coated with rice paste.



Finishing is often the hardest part, for me anyway with just about anything.






This base relief piece is simpler than more recent works. The four seasons are represented by the lotus blossom, leafless tree, leaf, and shell... yet they are seasons remembered in winter and indoors primarily. Comfortably stark, I think. The right scrap of poetry is out there waiting to be found and attached.... only I have not come across it yet. Suggestions by readers are always welcome. No name for this one yet either.

It is about 80 percent attached, always challenging for many reasons. The dried lotus blossom at the top right corner has presented some problems as to the proper adhesive. A thicker batch of rice flour paste might do the trick. Then there's the shell and leaf, *sigh.*

One friend suggested this:

There's a certain Slant of light, Winter Afternoons-- That oppresses, like the Heft Of Cathedral Tunes--

Emily Dickinson

Another Good one

Thus in the winter stands the lonely tree, Nor knows what birds have vanished one by one, Yet knows its boughs more silent than before

- Edna St Vincent Millay

Undone

I. Undone is done at last. It seemed to need space between the separate boxes and looks better as a base relief mounted on a wall. The addition of the chess tournament in the city and the chess pieces carries the black/white repetition from the left box to the right and thematically recalls the game board motif. The "angels" on the right are flat, pointing or looking off in other directions as the photograph depicts the men playing chess. The dimensional woman on the left is compartmentalized, secular, and rustic in comparison. Also she does not have the proper game pieces to play.




II. Inside this former silver chest with a mixture of doll parts, a Korean mask, dominoes, metal leaves, checker board, and images of saints

III. This one is not quite finished, but pretty close. Still looking for a few chess pieces that are the right size

and shape. The "sinner and the saints" was another possible title, but undone is more fitting.

New Work

Comprised of a various broken glass, ceramics, torn netting, a yellow feather, a pod, a belt buckle and loosely arranged on wooden grid. The circular object in the back ground is made from men's ties. The fortune at upper right hand square says, "Your dearest dream is coming true."

Life with coffee spoon

The inspiration for this came from an old copy of Hints from Heloise. She writes about all the letters she has received from who women not using their really good dishes, linens, etc for the family and only saving them for guests, "who is more important and loved than your family."

From there I started pulling together various items that merge when two people unite. Some that are precious, others that represent dreams, like the car trip to Switzerland, a piece of the good sterling, and the music to a special song. Also included is a sumi ink painting of poppies I did as a study for another painting. Many of these pieces, incomplete, broken, ripped or tattered, but come together to reveal two lives intertwined.

My cousin has a great deal of china and crystal stem wear inherited from various relatives or bought for a song at an estate sale. She uses it every day, drinks diet coke out of very elegant wine goblets, in a very non-pretentious way. It is one of the many things I find endearing about her, why not use it for yourself and your family for heavens sake. She also recently obtained a goat named Sally for the farm.

So further down are a few shots of "Life with Coffee Spoon" actually hanging up over the mantle in a home. Have also done a few of these as commissions for couples about to get married and a few on anniversaries. Enjoyable, I mostly like to hear their stories....

Recent Illustrations

These are two illustrations for a songbook I did recently. I haven't painted in a while and boy was it a struggle. Have a few ideas for a childrens book based on some of this...but really must work out those artistic kinks before hand.

From the Six Women Six Perspectives Opening