Cherril Doty
Saturday, May 27, 2023
WHY IS IT ALWAYS SUCH A SURPRISE?
Thursday, May 11, 2023
AN APPRECIATION
some art from 5/7 workshop |
Lots going on as spring sets in and summer approaches way too fast.
Even while creating new pieces for the summer festival season I took time to check the calendar and have set dates for workshops through the end of the year. These workshops so feed my own soul that they just have to happen 💓
It does not escape me that I am super fortunate to have regular students who are wonderful and super gracious with new students. There are so many instances in life when the "regulars" are perhaps act a bit proprietary when newbies show up. The welcoming attitude of our regulars is a blessing indeed.
Thursday, April 27, 2023
FINDING TIME
With all that the spring months bring--art inventory, new art, framing, designing space, teaching,etc--there still needs to be time to create something to include in each month's round robin journal.
For April I had some ideas all drawn out that included bird drawings.... As can be seen here that is not what ultimately showed up (no surprise really...this is often what transpires.)
Nothing is glued down and the words aren't here yet, but, heck, it's not due til next week. I will manage to get it done....and the inventory and the artwork and and and.........
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
SOMETIMES SERENDIPITY...
So much fun at this past weekend's mixed media workshop. Five hours of creative energy, laughter, good food, shared stories and more. These workshops sure do feed my soul. Guess I'll have to just keep doing them.
The pieces pictured here are not both from the workshop. I was digging around in a box of 'fodder' and discovered the piece shown on the bottom that I had done about four years ago. I had completely forgotten about the process to do this, but as we played and explored on Sunday the techniques came back bit by bit. I was able to pull off the one shown at top and a couple of others. Think I'll have to keep playing and exploring the ways to go with this as it's a whole lot of fun.
Thursday, March 9, 2023
MY, OH MY, WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY...
The song has always brought a smile to my face and joy to my heart, lightening my step on what could be a challenging day as well as lifting me higher on good days. So to find that it is getting such a bad rep from its association with the film "Song of the South" makes me sad.
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah was my first "favorite song" at a very young age. I would listen to the record over and over and even today often find myself humming the tune. It feels kind of like having a BFF who is a bit less than wholesome and yet you love them just the same.
Please, world, don't throw this "baby out with the bath water." It just seems like this is carrying things a mile too far. I wish the "happiest place on earth" had chosen to see the joy in the song rather than its political downside of things.
Just sayin'!
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
LEMONS TO LEMONADE?
Something about this image calms my cluttered mind. It is tranquil in so many ways. The first of several vintage pieces I've been working on, I just keep returning to gaze on it for some reason.
Sure, the recent storms have been rattling my cage--high winds, heavy rain, and more keep me cooped up and restless. And yet....So many others have it so much worse. Who am I to complain? So I turn to focusing on some of what brings me joy...yes, creating. It never fails.
Color, texture, image....all of it softens the edges of the restlessness.
What do you do when things are our of whack, when life seems to bring lemons?
Saturday, February 11, 2023
ROUND AND ROUND WE GO
Have you ever taken part in a Round Robin Journal? If not, I highly recommend it.
Some years back a former student--Cindy-- invited me to join a group in which she was participating. What a treat! You start with creating a book using watercolor paper. You need half as many 8 x 11 sheets as there are participants. Fold each sheet in half, poke some holes in the fold, insert binding thread and off you go.
Using a variety of mixed media techniques each person creates cover art before sending on to the next person on the list. Once a month you get a journal to create and experiment in and at the end of the time you have a journal to keep with a variety of art techniques to enjoy.
Sound like fun? Give it a try!