Cleaning out the closet

One year I painted up a storm for several months, turning out at least one painting a day. It was a foggy winter and it was the one way I could get some good color in my life. Here are some old photos of the paintings, many of which were sold at the La Selva Art Show. Some were given as gifts to friends and relatives, and others are probably still in the studio. LOL I'll excavate the back corner one day and see what's buried there.

Stitching up a storm

Here are more stitched faces. Some are on colored and patterned paper. Not as easy to see the stitching, but still interesting. Some with captions cut out of a magazine. I think captions add a lot. I like words. Oops! I looked back and found I had already scanned and posted most of these. This time I'll put them in the binder where I'm keeping them, and I won't be fooled again. LOL I've got too much stuff here.

Stitched Faces

It's a rainy day, so I pulled out some face cards to stitch on. These are views of the backs. The stitching is done from the other side. These are done on my old sewing machine without a drop feed, so it is a slow procedure to stitch them, with lots of starts and stops. At least these I did not do with one continuous row of stitches. It makes them a bit cleaner looking, but in a way maybe not quite as interesting...??? I'm not sure yet. The dyes on the paper were done previously with distress inks.

A rose is a rose

Naming paintings is always a tricky business. For the show at the Senior Center, I entered two works. We had to turn in the paperwork early and I had not really decided which ones to enter. I thought the Life is a Circus piece would be good to hang there, and the other piece .... hmmm.....
So I filled out the form with 1. Life is a Circus and 2. To be determined.

When I got to see the tags they made, my second piece, which was really named On With The Dance - now had the title "Life is a Circus To be Determined". Huh? Okay, works for me. It actually is a good name for it. Certainly an interesting name, very thought provoking, isn't it? Anyhow, it gave me a giggle and I though it might give you one too. I guess sometimes they name themselves. lol

I decided not to hang the original Circus piece, so the other piece was simply called Mixed Media on it's card (It's really "Blithe Spirit" - shown here). Note to self. Make up your mind and stick to it before you turn in paperwork. Makes life easier for everyone.

Word for the Day

Destinesia

It means starting for somewhere and forgetting where you are going. Of course it's not a real word - but perhaps it should be.

here are a couple old pieces of altered art to illustrate the word.

carved stamps

I'm getting ready to make a book for each of my grandsons Nathan and Douglas, who are both graduating from high school in May. Nathan loves the color green, is into trees. That sets the background for his book. Douglas is mechanically inclined and loves fishing and boating on the lake near his home in Nevada. That will be the background for his book.

I started carving some stamps for Nathans' book this week. Trees of course. And some cute little silhouettes of his face as a young child. I had two good photos to work from. I'm so glad I shot him from the side a couple times. I don't have any side views of DJ (Douglas). But when it comes to carving stamps, I have a couple ideas for his book as well.

Happy Mail Days

Here are a few of the post cards and mail art I've received lately. Aren't they fun ones?

There was a time not long ago when if you clicked on a photo, it would give you it's file title. It doesn't seem to work that way now, so even though I put artists name in the title, it no longer shows, so here is the list of artists. Stamped envelope is from Joanna Taylor, red first class man from Jennie Hinchcliff, zen shamrocks from Debbie Reid, Irish toast from Sally Peters, Clover makes you happy from Nancy Sadoyama, pot of gold from Trina Nelson, vase of flowers is from Linda McAllister. Thanks ladies. I love getting your cards. And I love sharing them on the blog so more people can enjoy them.

BTW 2500 post cards arrived yesterday, it was the order for the Spring Art Show. I love the idea that so many people will have some of my art in their hands and maybe on their refrigerator doors. We'll be mailing in a couple weeks.