COME WALK WITH ME

Just come along with me...

in peaceful meditation

ENJOY

WOW! WHAT A DAY!

Blues and greys

After a restless, mind-boggling night of mostly no sleep, rising early and heading out into the cool morning air seemed to be the thing to do.

Because of time constraints it was speed walking time, but I just could not resist a few pictures and even a video. The early morning was beyond glorious in blue tones shading to grey.

Before long it was time to head out to the desert for some time with my sister. We went through the items she had pulled out of cupboards and drawers after my mother passed. Identifying old portraits, passing on items so familiar and yet not needed, laughter, sharing stories...it was a pretty full day.

Then, back home to heavy cloud cover and the promise of a storm. Still, I look forward to getting up early again and heading out for yet another wondrous day.

CREATIVITY STEW

Sawdust booth coming along

One might think from the title of this post that I am in a stew about the whole summer festival thing. Let me assure you that is not what this is about at all.

Instead, this stems from these Henry David Thoreau words: If one advances confidently in the direction of their dreams, and endeavors to lead a life which they have imagined, they will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.

So many of us have a plethora of creative ideas, but what is that has some getting results while others do not? I asked myself the questions--Why some and not others? What is the recipe for creativity? 

Aha! A recipe for creativity...perhaps that is what is needed. A simple add and stir and bake kind of thing. Why not? Here goes.....

CREATIVITY STEW

Take 1 dream, any size--stir until a clear vision is formed

5 tsp current reality (start with this amount and add to taste)

1 action (this action may or may not work; be prepared to take another one)

Add a dash of adjustments

Add a splash of learning

1 tsp evaluations

2 dashes adjustments

Stir the above until momentum is achieved for greatest effectiveness

Bake at level of desire until energy is formed and rises

Best served hot

Serves one or many

So, there you have it! This is pretty much the recipe I have been using for at least the past twenty years of doing the Sawdust Art Festival. I will be taking a leave at the end of the summer season this year to leave a space for the next thing to show up. I am pretty sure it will!

ANTICIPATION....

Framed tiles

I have to admit that I am getting really excited about teaching the alcohol ink workshop this Sunday. I have really had a lot of fun trying new ideas and techniques with this very versatile medium. The opportunity to share what has been learned through random experimentation is very titillating. 

I anticipate that everyone attending will be as excited as I am about the joyful play of all of this. 

I am grateful to be able to do something new, especially at this juncture, when the summer festival preparation is usually holding sway over all else. New possibilities abound and I, for one, love it!

Go for it!!

SLOWING IT DOWN

Finally! In creating a new angel to add to the collection I finally slowed enough to remember to document the steps.

Materials ready!

The first step was to gather some magazines and, of course, my trusty scissors. Since this was to be a Valentine angel I knew I would need some great reds. And so I began.

The first pieces are usually the head, arms, and legs. Often, the hair is the very last, but this time a special piece just called out to me.

Now all the pieces are gathered. The wings and several other pieces were found by perusing an art catalog. Time to decide just how to place them.

This is the first placement. As I attach the various pieces some things tend to change, but placing the parts on the watercolor paper to start at least gives me a general idea of where I am going.

The pieces are all adhered now. Sometimes I use glue, sometimes matte medium. If using the medium, I recommend spritzing with a bit of water and using a brayer (I use a brayer to smooth pieces as I go in any case.) 

Now to the final step, which is to outline with a fine pen. I like Faber Castell PITT artist pen SX.

Ta-da!

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING PRECEDE WEEK 2/BLOG 4

Morning after

There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy. 

These words from Robert Louis Stevenson resonate for me on this stormy morning. So very many magnificent things can emanate from this feeling of happiness.

After a night of fantastic thunder and lightning it was still possible to get in a morning walk before more rain appeared. Glorious!!

And what a way to start each day! It is a discipline, yes, but such a rewarding one. I am hoping that this resolution of mine to do two blogs each week, while yet another discipline, can be at least close to as fulfilling. Fingers crossed and working/playing at it!

I THINK I CAN...I THINK I CAN...

Why not?

Week one, Blog number two. So far so good. 
The mail art card to the left seems to express yet another thought on resolutions. Why not resolve to be creative in the year to come? 
There are so very many ways to do "creative," at least I think so. But, going back to the "Success" post, one of the best things is to just do it (Oh, no, not that Nike quote again!)
Seriously, though, creativity, like flying, starts with doing.
Begin, fail, succeed, do it again, begin again, fail, do it,.........
So why not take a class or workshop?
Watch a YouTube video to learn something new and try it? Pick up pen, pencil, paint brush, even crayon and paper and just begin drawing? 
There are myriad ways to "just do it" so why not begin?

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 :)

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.

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!

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!

TINY BUBBLES...LET THEM BEGIN!

Happy New Year (inspired by Jacki Long)

Beginnings and endings...this day into night marks them for so many of us. At this time of year, rather than resolutions, I strive to embrace something, while letting go of something else. There are always possibilities.
What will those things be for 2018? I don't yet know. I DO know that I seek to explore more, to spend more time with family and friends, to say "yes" to more...the list is unending.
Workshops are a place I am already stretching
and hoping for changes. The schedule has only 
just begun to show up.It will start with some 
fun in January creating fun figures in collage and
move in February to an intensive image transfer
session. I hope many of you will join in for the
fun.

Always possibilities

OH, WHAT A DAY!

Evening sky

It was yet another great Mixed Media Playtime workshop. A wonderful group of women. Good food. Champagne and carrot cake. Art questions and solutions. Great conversations. As usual, I was just too engrossed in what was happening to take any photos, but the sunset put the cap on it when we were finished.
A lovely, lovely day! I am soooo fortunate to do what I love.

MOODY MUGGY SUMMER

Mother of Exiles

The Emma Lazarus poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty is a not so gentle reminder of what our country has long cherished. We are a melting pot of cultures and countries that is currently challenged in these troubling times as to how to continue upholding these values while protecting our shores. So it seemed fitting that, as a part of my Celebration of Women series, the Mother of Exiles (as the Statue is called in the full poem) be represented. Come see the complete collection of women at the Sawdust Art Festival until September 3, Booth #202.

AS THE CROW FLIES!

On the road again

Following our hearts, daughter Jenna and I have hit the road for ten days filled with adventure...no plan and no destination involved.  Thus far--a bit over halfway--we have hit on some great spots, some beautiful scenery, invigorating hikes, and more. This is the stuff of creativity. It keeps the juices flowing and opens eyes, heart and mind to the new and different along the way. Off we go again!