WHY NOT TRY?

It occurred to me the other day out of nowhere (but perhaps the meandering mind just does that sometimes) that 2020 is pretty much a year of limbo for most of us who are being careful and trying to avoid exposure to the coronavirus that seems to be running amok. So the year just doesn't really count then, right? 

With a birthday coming up it seemed a good time to just forego it and have it happen in 2021 then. What a great plan! Save the year for use another time. Hmmmm. Just a thought from that fertile and meandering mind inside my head, but we could certainly try it. 

So no birthday for me this year folks. Check back in 2021 for an update.

Only problem is I wasn't quite quick enough on the draw with this thought and friend Catharine had already gotten this thoughtful and fun gift. Maybe we can just call it a pandemic gift instead of a birthday gift. What do you think?

 

WHAT'S COMING?

Even as end of year thoughts and questions are being pondered in regard to what this next decade might bring, I find myself happily picking up previous unfinished pieces to work on.

This piece just wasn't working for some reason and then, as it languished, I somehow spilled alcohol inks on it. DRAT! So I merely set it aside to be dealt with later. Well, I guess later has come because I find myself longing to now complete this.

What does this mean for future work? Hmm. More to ponder, I suppose.

Meanwhile, back to playful creating!

WHO WOULD IT BE?

Who?

Normally, I prefer to use my own images for this blog, but this one seemed to call out to me.  Perhaps it will to you as well.

Having created a space post-festival season to see what will show up, I have found myself spending many hours each day simply clearing out my spaces and ridding myself of long-saved yet unused pieces. Still unsure what will show up, I nevertheless move forward with the clear image that whatever it is will be pretty wonderful.

So what do I answer to the question of who? After a good deal of thought and with the creating space in mind, it suddenly came to me that I would need to sit down with myself. Who knows better what might lie ahead and who better to manifest?

So who would you choose to sit with for that precious hour?

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!

RESOLUTION AND BLOGGING

I resolve over and over to do more with this blog. Sometimes, I have a bit of success, but more often not.

Resolutions bring success and failure

This year let's see if perhaps by doing more and perhaps even failing more at creating what I want to within the blog I can actually achieve some form of success.

Some bloggers are able to write a blog daily. Dare I even reach for that with my past level of non-achievement? It would certainly more than double my rate of failure, that's for sure. Too big a push? Definitely, a leap of faith. Am I ready? Willing?

Each year I choose to embrace some factor and let go of another. This year what I have chosen is too daunting to even breathe aloud quite yet. Does a blogging challenge fit into it somehow? It absolutely could. And, yet, I hesitate....
(Pause while thinking this through...) (But is that any way to leap?) (Nah, but...)

OK. (The pause entailed transferring laundry from washer to dryer and folding what was in the dryer. Am I any more clear? LOL!!)

Still...what the heck...here goes: I resolve to more than double the output of this blog by writing two blogs each week for the coming year (oh, the naysaying voices at work in my head...hahaha.)

Here I go...one down and only mid-week! Hope you will join me in the journey.

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!

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!!

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.

FRESH STARTS

Footprints in the sand

Each day I have started to write a post for this blog lately has ended with one word--"delete." I just could not get out of my own way I guess. Frustrated by many of the things not going my way, I managed to miss all those things that were good. 
I am blessed to be able to do the work that I love. I am grateful to live in this beautiful place where I can walk on the beach each day and see things above and below me that are purely wonderful.
So get off it, Cherril.  Move on and make a fresh start with this new week stretching out ahead.
Play! Let the joy rise up to the surface.

CHALLENGES AND GROWTH

Thematic

Ah, the challenges of preparing to do a summer-long festival!  They are many.  Some are more challenging; some more routine. All lead to areas of growth and, hopefully, a WOW presentation.
For me, the routine ones get in the way of creative play and the big challenge there is to stay in a zone like the One A Days provided. 
Perhaps I'm kidding myself; perhaps waiting for that Calvin and Hobbes moment of inspiration--last minute panic. At any rate, taking a short road trip to re-open that creative place that is just at the edge of things. Santa Barbara here I come!