YOU KNOW IT'S SUMMER WHEN...

 

...the festival season in Laguna Beach begins. And this is the week! Preview nights for Sawdust Art Festival, Art-A-Fair and the Pageant of the Masters make for a busy week.

Planning has taken place often for months as readiness varies among individuals. I found myself oddly blessed to be house-bound with Covid, which gave me many hours of art play in March/April that I might not otherwise have had. I wasn't sick...just kept getting positive tests so, with nothing better to do I played and played. And of course my crow friends showed up often in that play.

If you're around be sure to come see me at the Sawdust at Gallery Wall 11. 

RESOLUTIONS ANYONE?

A slow start to this new year for me in the creative realm. Ideas are there...execution kinda all over the place. Still, thanks to a couple of orders for cards from long-time clients the juices have begun to flow. I am grateful.

A writing workshop that had some hope for a jumpstart there was not what was hoped for. Interesting, but just not the thing that would do it. Will keep trying.

So what prompts are YOU using to get going creatively as we enter into 2021 with some hopes and some disappointments?
 

WHAT A MESS!!

Wandered down to the studio this morning. Gads! What a mess! For months now most of the work has been small pieces that I can do in my office so things have really piled up here.

It's anyone's guess when things will return to normalcy enough to host even socially distanced workshops safely so, in the meantime, my goal is to keep the space "ready." Guess I should get to it.

I've been daydreaming possibilities and hope you all are too. Soon. Soon. Soon. Please.

HO HO HO!!!!

 It's that time of year, covid or not, and so the hours are busy with making holiday cards to send. They are definitely a bit irreverent this time around, but levity seems needed of late.

Hoping all of you are staying well, staying home as needed, and choosing joy whenever possible.

SOMETHING TO LOVE

 

Faye

There seems always to be such a great deal to love about Sunday Studio Workshops...even in these difficult times. Women coming together to create in a playful, joy-filled way warms my heart. And this group on the past Sunday was all that and more.

Pre-covid we added potluck into the mix and I have to admit that was even better as recipes were exchanged and exclamations were pronounced over certain flavors. Grazing would go on throughout the five hours and, often, a bottle of wine would be shared at some point.

Still, even without the potluck, the camaraderie was present and art play was plentiful as postcards were created by all. (We strive to do our very best to save the postal service.)

Not sure when another Sunday Studio Workshop will be possible even with the careful social distancing, but I am ever-hopeful it can be soon. Meantime, take care of yourselves and wear those masks.

Rhonda

Joelle

Camillia

Jen

Great work, all of you!!

Oh, happy blustery days!! A new, civil president has blown in on the horizon.

And, Sunday's second Studio Workshop during Covid is happening with another intrepid group. Social distancing, masks, etc and lots of fun creating mixed media pieces for four full hours.

Got the idea for split images from artist John Arbuckle who got it from someone else and am hoping that students will have as much fun with it as I have these past few tense days.
 

TA-DA! AT LAST A GET TOGETHER FOR ART PLAY

 Well, it took a bit of planning and schedule changing here and there, but at last an invited group of friends who had been deemed "safe" were able to get together at an acceptable social distance for creative time. It was awesome and seemed oh, so necessary. In an abundance of caution two of the planned participants stayed home after coming up with congestion and a fever, so we were just five. This made it exceptionally easy to stay six or more feet apart. We talked books, politics, state of the world, climate, and more and just generally had a great time.

Each participant had an array of pre-cut watercolor postcards, a selection of magazines, five paint colors, glue sticks, brayers, and more to work with.

Whimsy followed.

    GOOD FUN!!!

DAY 10 THE FINAL DAY OF BITS AND PIECES AND FULL OF FLOWERS

For the final day of the self-challenge here is a flurry of flowers. Now it is time to finalize prep for an upcoming workshop where we will do nothing but create postcards to send. (Well, we will also laugh and talk a lot after not seeing each other for such a long time. 😀)

 

DAY 9 AMERICA

America...VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

 This card had me thinking of standing up tall. Enough said, I hope. Bits and pieces.

ANOTHER STUDENT EXAMPLE ON DAY 8 OF BITS AND PIECES

 

Student Nadine had some fun with her bits and pieces in this piece of postal art. Intriguing, I think.

DAY 7 CALLS FOR A CHANGE

On Day #7 it seemed there was a need for an even bigger shift. Still bits and pieces, but student Katherine did this one. She did alcohol ink background in her favorite colors 😊 and then added the bits and pieces before outlining areas in white opaque pen. What do you think? I think it's a lot of fun. Maybe more student work is to follow. Seems like a good idea since they are some of the best.

 

BITS AND PIECES #5

 

This card, while similar to previous ones, has some differences as well. Can you spot them?

When beginning this set of posts of postcards there was really no direction, and probably still isn't, but the fun continues. The hope is that you are enjoying the outcome even a little bit. No question that I am.

More to come, of course :)

DAY 4 OF BITS AND PIECES

 

Scraps and a few pen markings...why not?

SERIOUSLY??

Guess I need to begin today's blog by making an apology for any strangeness. Google has really changed the entire way one posts and I find it really strange. It's all kind of a mess (somewhat like the pile of pieces on my workspace today.) Like the strangeness of the smoke-filled air has an effect on many of this is that is unsettling (like we need anything more to be unsettling in these troubling times) the strangeness of the new format is kind of pushing my buttons.

I'm sure that eventually I will get some kind of a handle on this and just like learning to live with issues of Covid-19, there will be ways not only to survive but to thrive . In the meantime, though, I've just gotta say, "Seriously?"

 

A WILD STAB AT SANITY?

It starts with a walk along the water

My wild stab at sanity during these ongoing and often very trying times begins the day with a walk. These strolls generally take place along the shore somewhere here in Laguna. Just the sounds of water and shorebirds are almost enough in their own right. Then, to dip one's toes in the refreshing foam at water's edge.... What a great start to a day!

Produce

Home and before showering, the hours are spent in the garden. I have always claimed to have a brown thumb, but I guess if given enough time on our hands anyone (even I) can do this.

Card making

Many evenings are spent in art play, often producing an abundance of postcards to send to my grandson and to my friends and former students and clients.This can be such a relaxing time and sending postcards is my wild stab at helping USPS survive.




Sanity achieved? Not always sure, but at least feels like time well spent.
What are you doing to stay sane?

WHAT'S MISSING?

The view that saves each day

Moving past the five month mark on Covid-19 now, much of life as we knew it "before" is missing.

I miss seeing the smiles I at least hope are behind those masks.

I miss hugs.

I miss seeing friends and the long, leisurely conversations.

I miss ease.

I miss planning for this year's road trip with Jenna.

I miss teaching and the camaraderie of the wonderful students laughing and sharing and creating together.

I miss all this and more, yet...
There is much to appreciate as well. 

More time for longer walks with my plus one friend, Catharine, and the joy of those deep conversations.

Ever greater appreciation of time spent with family.

Good, caring neighbors

More time to explore books and good writing.

The joy of producing dinner from my own garden.

Thinking, not on the fly, but with a greater depth, about all things in this crazy world.

And more...and always, always, always cool breezes and birdsong to enjoy.