ALL WORK AND NO PLAY...

I kinda like it when "work" is all play. Somehow crows always do that for me. This time it was adding color to the crow prints. Once started, I was totally mesmerized. WAAAAY too much fun!

So the fun attribute satisfied, I moved on to (well, of course!) more fun.

I'll keep you posted.

OH, WHAT FUN IT IS...!

Robyn, her angel, and angel's dog-angel

Robyn's daughter, Kelsey, scheduled this fun Sawdust Art Class with me as a surprise. Nine of Robyn's friends and family shared a fun evening creating, eating, laughing, and simply enjoying.

They were a really diverse-seeming and enjoyable group. Gotta say I love teaching these classes anyway, but this was a really special group.

Next class of Whimsical Collage Angels is December 14th at the Sawdust Art Festival.

Anyone can join in the fun.




FUN! FUN! FUN! 

Some of the angels created

GOBBLE GOBBLE...IT'S COMING

It's all coming sooooo fast. Can't believe it's Saturday already.

Spent a fun afternoon with daughter Jenna making fused glass ornaments with artist Maggie Spencer. J had mentioned several times wanting a "special" ornament. We had even stopped at Christmas specialty stores on several of our past road trips...with no luck. So I thought...maybe making her own.

Don't know if the result will be what she was after, but it was a lot of fun and a bit zany. So, we shall see.
Meanwhile, hope you all will be surrounded by your family, unlike the turkey shown :)

SO MUCH MORE

Recycled mailing envelope for art journal

Being a part of a round robin art journal is full of surprises and more often than not some pretty good art as well.

The panda mailing envelope was sent by Cindy to Marla who then recycled it with a splash of paint and sent on to me. Inside the nearly finished cycle of entries I found many wonderful and inspiring journal pieces. From the simple to the complex each two-page spread offers up a piece of the artist who makes the contribution to what will become a completed keepsake journal.

While all of us are leading busy lives and once a month is often enough to work on one of these journals as they travel around, I sometimes find myself wishing the mailbox were filled with more.

If you've never done one of these round robin experiences, perhaps you should consider it now as fall opens up to new possibilities. It is not only fun to receive and to see others' artwork, but a great opportunity to try your hand at new techniques in this simple format. You might just be surprised at what shows up.

CHILD'S PLAY

Serious work

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood. (Fred Rogers)

Well, the afternoon at ReDiscover in LA with grandson Felix sure felt like child's play to me.

Loose, free, uninhibited, joyful...this was my experience. But, clearly, Felix was taking this as serious learning.

Felix walked into this great center with great intent. He knew just what he wanted to start with--making a water container from plastic cups. He wanted a lid that opened and shuffled around in the craft room until he found the parts her thought would work. And they did!

Meanwhile, i just played quietly at his side kind of wondering who was the "child" here.

When water container was finished (and it was very well done) Felix moved on to making a chassis from binder clips and other office supplies. Then came goggles made from plastic egg cartons. Last, he took to making a small succulent planter from a cork and a few other strange things.

Some of the fun and the work

I had a wonderful time watching him, filled with joy, but Mr. Rogers was correct in his assessment--this was definitely serious learning! I may have been playing, but this young man was not.

HONORED GUESTS

I have often remembered my friend Olivia saying something about, when creating, ask Madame Mistake to sit down beside you. So, when I saw this lovely quote in a book the other day, I was reminded.

Today, we will be playing (and inviting Madame Mistake as an honored guest) in another Sunday Studio Workshop here in my studio.  It may be cold, but things will warm up fast with the energy, fun, laughter, stories, and more as nine women create and create and create.

I am going to try to remember, amidst the fun, to take some pictures of their creations to post later this week. Fingers crossed.

PLAYTIME DONE...FOR NOW!

As I said last time, a big oops for forgetting to outline and show the step by step on this one. But here is the verbal step by step: I first chose a magazine image of a dark skinned woman, tore it out roughly. Next, after lightly sanding the image, I applied a light coat of white gesso.

Then, though she had beautiful eyes and lips and perfect eyebrows, I took the liberty of choosing some new ones for her. The black collar pieces and green succulents backed by text pieces for hair...a few flowers and leaves and some rosy cheeks almost complete things.

The very last touch...a few words from the great Mary Oliver. TA-DA! Just a whole lot of fun in preparation for Sunday's workshop.

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

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.

TRICKS AND TREATS AND JUST PLAIN FUN!

From just a few of the techniques learned

Sunday's workshop was just full of fun techniques, many of which turned into Halloween fun in honor of the season.
We played with backgrounds, adhering materials, skins, image transfers and more while munching on good food...and treats (Nadine's pumpkin cookies were a big hit!)
We spoke of many things--upcoming trips, tests, book clubs, and lots more while getting to know each other in the midst of all the creative energy. 
What a full and wonderful day! I'm always grateful and happy that I have this opportunity for teaching...and play!

FUN! FUN! FUN!

I had to laugh aloud this morning when I read my horoscope for the day:  There are people who are daunted by pressures of "having fun," unsure exactly how such a thing should be accomplished.  These people need you.
I guess we all want to feel needed, especially as life's changes take place through the years. 
Well, I'm here.  Wanna have some creative fun? (This feels a little like "for a good time, call....") I'm always up for it, whether it is through the scheduled mixed media workshops (see right column under "Pages") or unscheduled creative play time in the studio.  I'm your gal! (I guess "for a good time, call..." wasn't so far off after all, now that I think on it.

PLAYING AROUND

Playing around in the studio while cleaning, I came across these funny fellows and just imagined the conversation they might have. Thinking that I will probably use this in my next newsletter to go out next week...kinda cuz why not, right?

Just couldn't help myself

IT FEELS LIKE SPRING...IS IT?

The days are getting warmer again.  The herons at Dana Point Harbor are building their nests.  Hummingbirds flit about everywhere.  The sound of cooing doves mingles with the rattle of baby crows and the hammering woodpeckers and the shriek of the scrub jay.  Perhaps it is spring. 
Where did the winter go? I think maybe it was spent making plans--more workshops, the summer Sawdust Art Festival, travel plans.... And through it all, the creation of some fun art journal pages.  What a great way to try out techniques and combinations!

Today's journal pages...FUN!