ANGELS ABOUND!

So many angels

It would seem I have made enough collage angels what with the Sawdust Winter Fantasy ending this weekend, but I have more ideas and materials are all lined up to make more this weekend. Besides, everybody needs an angel and has their own specifics, right?
At any rate, come down to join in the fun, the music, the good food, and the many great artistic possibilities for gift giving. We are open from 10 to 7 both Saturday and Sunday.
And if you need tickets, just let me know.

ROAD TRIP, GLORIOUS ROAD TRIP!!!

There's truly nothing like the open road to foster creative thinking. Maybe it's the freedom of it. Over 3000 miles later my mind is filled with possibilities. With workshops, the Sawdust Art Festival Winter Fantasy, and a new year ahead, what could be better?
I'm looking forward to it all and hope you will join me going forward.

LAUGHING ALL THE WAY

,

Up early and ready to start the annual road trip with daughter Jenna, I saw this "funny" on Jacki Long's blog. So apt, I had to borrow it. (Thanks, Jacki!)
Jenna and I never know quite where we will go on these trips. We pick the first night, which can sometimes set the direction at least, and then off we go, choosing the next day's adventure each night.
This is year three and weather has pushed us all around, just making the decision for first night a couple of days ago. This year, La Verkin, Utah. (The first year we did this was to Surprise, Arizona, which seemed apt, but it's not always easy to be that on target with the first night choice :))
We are packed and ready for another fun trip.

I'll report back in November.
Let the adventure begin. Surprise us!

ANGELS IN MY CORNER

Many of us know that angels come in different forms when we are in times of need.
I am having such a joyfully fun time creating these fun collage angels. It all started with time on my hands. Then, just two magazines off of a rack. Scissors, a piece of deli paper, a variety of small tubes of paint, and a black outlining pen finished up the pieces needed for the project. Watercolor paper was of course needed for the base piece.
Then...let the fun begin!
Now there are 30 completed collage angels. Some of the originals are being framed. Others are prints and/or cards. All will be ready for the Sawdust Festival's Winter Fantasy.
I feel blessed to be able to have so much fun creating art...and angels :)

HOW THE HECK DID IT GET TO BE OCTOBER?

So many angels!

Whatever happened to September? It was that head down and focused approach, I guess, as i was preparing for Sawdust Winter Fantasy and the upcoming workshops and road trip. Somehow, I just missed a lot of the month. 

That said, October has arrived and it is one of my very favorite times here along the coast. I intend to enjoy it. Mornings and evenings cool off and the sounds of birdsong float on the air even as the tree leaves float to the ground. There is a change of pace to enjoy sunsets and the beautiful autumn evening light in the canyons. 

Slowing down a bit now that I have a few things ready to go, I am looking forward to upcoming workshops. (October has room; November is sold out :)) I also eagerly await the upcoming Winter Fantasy and all its magic.

There is time for my grandsons now and I LOVE that. And then there is the annual road trip with daughter Jenna.

All is good as i seize the moments. I've got lots of angels on my side to help out, it seems.

BUSY AS A BEE

With the end of summer, I have been busy as a bee...clearing out my booth, storing work, supplies, and more, and at the same time revving up for the upcoming Winter Fantasy.

Oh, yeah...that bee!

The September workshop was a lot of fun. We played with a variety of backgrounds, which were then used for practicing image transfers, collage, and more.

Some fun student work from Camillia

More fun student work from Catherine

Sample student work from September workshop

There are also more workshops upcoming: Sunday, October 14 and Sunday, November 11 for sure. I have also been approached by a few book clubs that want to set up their own dates for workshops. Looks like the fun is spreading! You'll have to admit that this is a pretty good deal at $65 with all materials supplied, right?

Guess I had better get back to my busy bee self because it is sure a lot of fun!

See you soon!

WINDING DOWN....AND UP

Festival season...and the summer...are winding down. Early morning walks have a slight chill and the light has changed. Clouds are edged with pink and lilac and the colors are reflected in the sea below.

This is one of my favorite times of year, in part because of the possibilities that arise with change. And change is definitely in the air. I am looking forward to what is on the horizon...in my walks and in my life.

Early morn

If you are local and have not yet made it to the art festivals here in Laguna you do have a few days left to do so. The Sawdust Art Festival goes through Sunday, September 2nd and the others are either on the same schedule or just a bit earlier so you had better move to come soon.  The days are getting cooler (at last!) and the evenings are delightful. So I hope to see some of you soon.

DAWDLING ALONG...

A quail by any other color...

It's just that time of summer I guess....I am dawdling (sometimes it feels more like slogging :)) along through the heat and humidity, hoping to reach the end of festival season intact. 
Creating is my simple solution to keeping the joy in all this. A walk along our local beaches gets the juices flowing and ideas percolating. So...why not a quail of just any old color? Or how about a crow? a raven? a finch? a grackle? The list is endless. The magic words, "Why not?"

OH, MY, THIS HEAT!!

Staying cool

While it's hard to stay cool when all around is heat, somehow it seems the Sawdust Art Festival, and Laguna Beach in general, seem to manage. The breezes continue to flow cool, especially up the canyons.
My yard is filled with birdsong and my Sawdust booth has baby birds chirping for food.  Life goes on and we all just move a bit more slowly to accommodate to the heat.
Entertainment at the festival keeps spirits up and an evening glass of wine helps a bit, too.
If you are anywhere near come on down, cool off,  and enjoy the evenings with us til 10 PM. 
Booth #131 right at the front of the grounds.

CROWS AND CRONES

Counting Crows...#3 of the series

At start of festival season I was sorely tempted to call my display of work "Crows and Crones," but the women weren't all old enough and there seemed not enough crows. It must have been the alliteration that captured my fancy :)
Meanwhile, I think I may have done enough women for now except for the exceptional custom one I can't resist. And on to more of the corvidae family. 
I know not everyone feels the same way I do about these intriguing creatures, but I cannot let that stop me from exploring new and different ways of capturing them. And I am curious to try a scrub jay or two as well since they are family members and reside here in the canyon.
Meanwhile, the little bird couple--some sort of finch, perhaps-- who have built a nest in our booth at the Sawdust Art Festival are sitting on the nest, singing along with the Tavern music.

DEMO...DEMO...DEMO!!!

Play

Sawdust Art Festival time is, among other things, time for demonstrating how one does his or her art. Each artist takes the time to create for the public view. This is one of my favorite things, as it not only fills some of the slack time (after all, twelve hour days are not always busy...and then there's the heat of the past week!)but it allows me to simply play with what is at hand in a small space. 
Some small tubes of acrylic paint. Scraps of watercolor paper. A couple of brushes and pens. A napkin or two. And off I go. It is a pleasurable way to fill my time and my obligation. Double win...maybe even a triple! Voila!

SUM...SUM...SUMMERTIME!

Booth #131--Sawdust Art Festival

It seems just a few days since I announced it was time to get down to it.  Now, because of Fourth of July festivities and excessive heat, it seems a very long time ago. 
As the cool breezes follow the cloud cover in this week I can remember what fun summertime always seems to be no matter how old you are or what activities you are doing. 
So this is your invitation to come to Laguna Beach and join me for good art, good food, good entertainment, and more. Check it all out at www.sawdustartfestival.org for sure.

IT'S TIME!!

Fun new technique

Tomorrow is the first of 66 days of Sawdust Art Festival fun and games. Meanwhile, I have not been able to stop with art play. This new technique, shown to me by one of my students (Is there anything better than learning from your long-time students, after all?) has been an enormous challenge and a lot of fun. I am curious to see where it leads. 
Like the festival season itself, this new technique holds a lot of wonderful possibility.
Come see us if you can and join in the excitement and the fun.

FIRST LOOK

JUST A PEEK

Festival season is oh, so close. The countdown has definitely begun, with just five days until Preview Night, where our invited guests get that first look at what the artists have been up to in the "off" season.
Right now we are all busy with the final details of the booths and the art work itself--getting it all primed and ready for that first look on Tuesday night.
The excitement continues to build. Here's to a magnificent summer season for us all!!

THE EXCITEMENT BUILDS!

Feeling a little crazed

May has gone by quickly. We are solidly into the month of June. All of this means that the excitement is mounting for the opening of the first of Laguna's summer festivals on June 29th. The Sawdust Art Festival will begin the 52nd year on that date.
Like many of the nearly 200 artists I find myself asking if I am ready. Going over what needs to be completed, what ordered, what accoutrements are needed for the finished booth...again and again and again to make sure all is right.
Tick-tock, tick-tock...The great summer days are going to be here sooner than possible to believe. Looking forward to it with a smile in my heart (and a bit of "crazy" in my head.)

TA-DA~!!!!

Forty!

As I ready work for the upcoming Sawdust Art Festival here in Laguna Beach, I am thrilled to have completed these forty small mixed media pieces--just a bit of the large amount of work that needs to be ready to hang by Preview Night (June 26.)
I have had an enormous amount of joy in creating these little pieces. They will become a part of year two of the Celebration of Women series. I hope the people who visit this summer will share some of the good feeling that I have had in the creation of these and all the other pieces.
Moving on to a couple more larger pieces now!

I ALWAYS WANTED TO SAY THAT

A little collage perhaps

"Due to popular demand...." Yup! I always wanted to say that. So, at the request of a few students at the workshop last Sunday, on Tuesday I sent out an email to a few former students to see what interest I could scare up for a June workshop.
Well, scare some up I did. Today, the workshop showed as FULL. Since there will not be another studio workshop until fall due to my participation in the summer's Sawdust Art Festival, this is it for a while. I'm excited to do another one, especially so close to festival start!!

WHO NEEDS SUN?

So who needs the sun to come out when there are such wonders as this little fella perching in the studio and a great group of new and old students showing up to play on a cloudy Sunday?
The food was delicious. The energy was high. There was no hesitation to experiment. New students outnumbered the returning and were encouraged by same (which I love!)
Everyone drew a name and will send a piece of their creative mail art to that person (What a treat to receive, always!)



On the way to completion we make quite a mess, but end up with lots of play, an abundance of experimentation, and bellies filled with yummy food...not to mention spirits filled with the many joys of the day.

Yes, we do make a mess!

AH, PICASSO!

A couple of handfuls of pure fun

All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once (s)he grows up.__Pablo Picasso

The kid in me loves the play of these new and extremely fun images of women. The idea that all of these wild women exist somewhere in my mind makes me giggle and sometimes even laugh aloud.
Going for 40 of them!

WHAT MOOD IS THAT?

Spring flowers bloom

What mood is that? Hobbes asks Calvin while discussing creativity and inspiration in a cartoon by the great Bill Watterson. Calvin's reply, Last-minute panic is probably recognizable by many of us who play in creative fields. 
It's not that ideas and possibilities do not abound, but somehow getting to the nitty-gritty often awaits that last minute crush.
Recently, after completing eight collage pieces for a set for Amy Poehler's upcoming production for Netflix of Wine Country, I found myself unable to focus on just one creative area. I was all over the place. Perhaps this was in part a direct effect of the intense pressure to complete the eight pieces. Last-minute panic had been the rule.
So now do I have to wait until another last-minute time? 
Gee! I hope not. 
Plodding on will continue until some brilliance shines through. Maybe I'll even get another film gig.  Wouldn't that be great?

JUST FUN JOURNALING

Ready to mail

Ever since friend Cindy got me started on this Round Robin Journaling thing, I have found that most of the time, even if stressed for time, it is a truly pleasurable activity.
This month I was pretty sure my theme was going to somehow be around butterflies as I was seeing so many as flowers bloomed with the advent of spring. But that was just not what showed up when I opened the journal and began playing. 
Blue-footed boobies of all things! Or Sula Nebouxii to be precise. What hilarious creatures! They don't even look real. So they were just perfect for the rest of my theme--no butterflies, but what the heck!
I can't wait to see what shows up next month.
And, btw,look up these colorful creatures--they are pretty interesting.

TRY, TRY, TRY AND TRY AGAIN

confused? maybe

I'm not sure just what my attraction to faces, especially those of women, is but my drawing hand just keeps playing with them. Perhaps it is about the issue of success and failure. I'm drawn to the relationship between them as well.
In the continued drawing of face after face after face, playing with small changes to see the result, I find I feel like young Gerald Hodges (and if you don't know his story you should!)
He is quoted as saying about joining his high school swim team when he could not even swim: I felt like if I couldn't handle not being good at something, then how could I consider myself a successful person?
Well said, young man. We can all learn from you.

TOOTING YOUR OWN HORN

In spite of having read Brag, The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn by Peggy Klaus, as a dyed-in-the-wool introvert I still struggle with the tooting. Still, I am excited and proud of a recent achievement. 
I was contacted by a set decorator at Paramount Studios and asked if it would be possible to create several pieces for an upcoming film. After many back and forth conversations about just what they needed, the big question came--could I create eight 12 x 18 fun figure collage pieces in 10-14 days?
Taking on the challenge, I immediately said that I could...and went searching for the parts and pieces. Cutting and sometimes enlarging followed, along with creating backgrounds and layout.
With the piece shown here I first found the wine-colored blazer. Add a skirt made of inverted spike leaves, plant stalks for legs, duck feet and I was on a roll.
Other pieces used images of pencils, flowers, crow feet, super enlarged vinyl record grooves and more to create pieces that were more than a little bit "off." In the process, I giggled a lot and frequently laughed aloud as things came together. Not my usual mode of work, this was really a lot of fun as well as being a huge "outside the box" push.
While my fun and challenge are now a thing of the past, I find I am looking forward to the film, which is only now in production.  It is Amy Poehler's directorial debut for Netflix, Wine Country, and has writers and a cast of pals from SNL, including Tina Fey. 
I'll toot my horn now, because, after all, it is Hollywood...perhaps the eight pieces will be onscreen for five seconds or even not at all. Still, what a great coup for me. Toot! Toot!

WHAT SIGNALS SPRING?

In the Pink!

In California we certainly do not have the groundhog (not that he is really so reliable anyway) so what does signal Spring to us?
Is it the sparkle like diamonds on the ocean's blue-green waters? Is it the brisk breeze on a clear sunny day? Is it the call of baby crows in the trees? The chirping of myriad birds everywhere? Or is it the blossoming buds on ornamental fruit trees? The sound of laughter in the streets?
For me, probably all of the above are signals. What about you--what signals Spring to you?

SPRINGING FORWARD IN JOY

Words to live by

Weary from days of heavy activity--projects for film and other art pieces, workshops, classes, and much more-- I came across this piece I had completed in an earlier workshop in January. At the time, it seemed a good thing to embrace for the new year.
It seems that I have carefully thought about what I say yes to, so how the heck did I get to such busy days recently? 
The joy of challenge? Perhaps.
I guess the big question is if I have felt compelled to say yes to these things. I don't think so. Definitely challenged, but not compelled in any way. In fact, the challenges really were a lot of fun to take on. Just more joys of living.
And here we are in the first day of spring...the busy time! Let the fun begin!

WOW! ABUNDANCE!

Crazy bits and pieces

Cowabunga! (That's what I thought of when I wrote the title for this piece.) What an apt word somehow.It denotes the excitement of wonderful things coming your way.The abundance just keeps on coming and I love it.
Up early. Mind racing. Can't sleep. A good kind of crazy energy.
The Fun Figures workshop has magically resulted in a job doing art work for a movie set. Who would have thought, right?
The drawings have become a wonderful series of varietal women each with her own special story.
Workshops are full. And magic happens at every one of them, filling my heart and my soul with joy.
And, for today, I am off to a full day of basking in literature at the Literary Women of Long Beach luncheon with wondrous stories of writing and inspiration.
What's not to like?

WHAT A DAY! WHAT A LIFE!

Just call me June

The day began sunny and a bit brisk so I headed out for a long walk along the coast. An hour into it, I was the one who was brisk...(ly) walking because the wind had picked up and the dark low clouds had moved onshore. Then, just two or three blocks short of my destination, the clouds let loose and I got soaked. It was oddly invigorating, though, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Now, just a few short hours later, it is again bright and sunny. You've gotta love California weather!
On this glorious weekend I find myself filled with the joys of the walk and finishing taxes and getting back to art play. Got some new brush pens and love the depth of colors, though struggling a bit with them. Still....as is said, "the play is the thing."
I am truly blessed to be able to live this life!

AH, SWEET SUCCESS!

Inkjet image transfer

What a great workshop we had yesterday. We focused on image transfers--what makes a good one, how to do magazine, laser, and inkjet transfers successfully.  It was amazing, as everyone just kept getting successful transfers--no failures. The pervasive joy of success was sure fun to hear and see and experience.
Why don't you join in for one of these fun workshops? They are taught in my home studio, all materials are provided, and the cost is only $65 for five hours of just plain fun. Everyone contributes to this as well as to the table filled with great food and sometimes even wine.

WEDNESDAY'S WORK...OR IS IT PLAY?

Wednesday

How can this possibly be called work?
I am having a ball with the playful graffiti look of these backgrounds and the crazy ladies that show up. Each one seems to have such a different history to tell, if only she could. But it is left to our imaginations and we sure have plenty of room there to roam, eh?

KEEPING IT GOING

A SLIGHT SHIFT

So... trying to keep this series going and going and going...changing, shifting, experimenting, taking some risks. This one moving into a bit messier look on purpose. Repurposing old canvases by gessoing over.Combining painting, drawing, and collage.Going for a slightly graffiti-esque look. All cuz why not? It's fun!!!

WORK IN PROGRESS--A SLIGHT SHIFT

Hey, Red!

Sketching, sketching, and more sketching. Really having fun with this (Isn't that what it's all about?)
A slight shift in format allowed Red to show up and she and I are having some fun. 
Would love to hear some feedback on this crazy series...anybody?
It has all opened up so many new possibilities for me. And, are these ladies all in my head? I don't know. I keep encountering them AFTER I've drawn them. Not sure at all what that means.
Meanwhile, "back to the drawing board," as they say...cuz it's where the fun is.

IF WISHES WERE HORSES...

Five days ten sketches

If wishes were horses, then I would be riding right on down to the Laguna Craft Guild bright and early tomorrow morning to set up for sales. But, alas, a bug has gotten me and I am down suddenly with cough, fever, and sneezy, runny nose. Nope, no fun at all!
Still, the bright light in all this is the continued joy I feel when playing with these fun sketches of women. They all just make me smile. And, when I look at them, I cannot help but here a story. I thought of including these stories with the sketches, but then thought perhaps other folks might see a different story. What do you think? Let me know. I am interested to hear what you think.
Meanwhile, I think i will go have another cup of tea and lie down again.

TRIFECTA

Can you hear their stories?

Not even sure one should be allowed to have so much fun!! These three damsels--and their stories--showed up as I played around yesterday with pens, pencils, watercolors, and collage pieces. 
I am convinced from watching young children and how they approach art that this whole "play" approach is the way to go.
And for now...I am having a ball!

THE FUN CONTINUES

FRONT SIDE

 Starting sometime between the second and third week of the Mixed Media Journaling workshop I took at Art Supply Warehouse's Catalyst I started doing faces using a variety of materials. Each one had to be done in about 2-3 minutes (definitely less than five) and just be as playful and experimental as possible. The first of these was done in marker and collaged. Because the paper was thin, the key points showed through on the back side so I thought "what the heck, why not?" and just played with it. Fun, huh?

BACK SIDE

FINAL CHECK-IN

Tissue papers

On the final day of the four-week Mixed Media Journaling class at Art Supply Warehouse's Catalyst classroom we were all over the place with projects for present and future use. I think my fave was creating these fun tissue papers for future use in collage, although it looks like I was kinda stuck in my palette of colors. My other favorite project we played with was creating a face by painting with a brayer.  Talk about free, with no expectation of outcome! All in all, it was a great class for me to take for any number of reasons not least of which is that learning--any learning--can only be of benefit.

Brayer painting

FUN FIGURES WORKSHOP FUN!

It was a real hoot! Playtime reigned, with grownup wine at the end to celebrate our success at just letting go and showing up.

Cherril/Faith

Jackie/Cherril

Katherine

Camellia

What fun we had in this latest workshop. I wish you all could have been part of the giggles and explosive laughter that showed up along with the fun creative energy.

Nadine/Joelle

Look at the way these two keep your eye involved in these pieces.

CHECKING BACK IN

Just one more spread of play

I said in an earlier post that I would check back in with how the four-week Mixed Media Journaling class was going.
This two-page spread is from week three and the play continues.
One of the things I have noticed is that though I generally work pretty quickly, I am even going at a more rapid pace in this workshop setting. Not really sure why, but there it is. Also, not yet sure of the end results and how I feel about them, but I really like the way it "feels" to move that quickly.
Jacki keeps referring to me as a graffiti artist. Maybe that's about the speed? Guess I need to find myself a bridge or some train car to do graffiti on--tee-hee.
One more week to go. Again, I will keep you all posted.

MOVING ALONG

Bits and pieces

The cleaning and clearing has gone so well that, with trash cans and recycle bins all full to the brim, I thought to play with some ideas for the collage workshop I am teaching next Sunday.

First try

Not really happy with this first try, I moved on to the next possibility...

A little more sassy?

Not sure yet this is it, but will keep playing.  To see the finished product and to play with ideas yourself, why not come to the workshop, or as I call it the Playshop, on Sunday? It is from 11 to 4 and all materials are provided for $65.

I KNOW...WHAT??

Only the beginning

Yeah, yeah, I know...it's finally raining outside and it's the dead of winter and...why have I zealously begun spring cleaning? I can hardly move around my office at this point and it seems to be only the beginning as each move creates more moves and more mess. 
No resolution sparked this; it just showed up with this morning's rain. Why? Who knows. But now I am in full throttle on this.
Lots of art fodder will either go in the trash or, if you have need of specifics please let me know and I can set aside for you.
This is crazy, but back to it!!! Inspiration awaits at the bottom of all these piles I am sure.