The Claw

I am busy this week getting everything planned for Felt Club! I cant wait to get there, but there is a lot to do in the next 2 weeks. I just finished packaging all of the badges, and should finish the magnets today. I was working on them last night and my hand is stuck in the shape of a claw! I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't straighten my fingers! Yikes! You got to suffer for your craft I suppose!


I am working hard to produce a good variety of work to offer at the Felt Club. As I have mentioned, it is my first Craft Fair and I am looking forward to getting out there, meeting people and participating in such a cool event.I got a fresh shipment yesterday of my 6"x8" canvases. I have been planning lots of fun pieces. I cant wait to get crackin' on those! There are lots of other fun things coming in the next couple of weeks. I can't wait to share them all with you!!!

SPC: Self portrait as Girlfriends

This weeks SPC photo is from the Luau party. These are my super talented girlfriends. I could think of no one better to spend a heat wave with! They are both so creative in totally different mediums. Their discipline and drive inspires me! They are also very batty, and lots of funs in the heat! Thank you girls for all your help on Saturday night! I laughed 'till I cried!

119!!

I don't know what to say. Over the weekend we hosted a Luau themed party for a friends 30th birthday and we had a blast! So much fun!! We spent all day Saturday preparing, skewering, tidying, and SWEATING! Why? Because on this very special occasion the temp. reached 119 degrees here in West Hills, CA. 119 with humidity. Yeah. Party!

WHAT??? I can't even believe that this is possible! When I think about how from the moment I woke up, until 2:30 am, I didn't cool off for a second long enough to even need to put moisturizer on my face(!!!) after a shower or a swim, I am beside myself. For the 50% of invitees who were brave enough to come to the Valley and bare the unruley heat and humidity, the saving grace was the frosted drink machine that was rented to constantly churn out slushy Chi Chi's and Hurricanes. Genius idea on the birthday girls part! Just good thinkin'! When the Flick'r batch is posted, I will link to it. I am sure the pictures are just hilarious!

So now, my good friend is 30, and in almost exactly 6 months, I will be too. I have a lot of work to do before then! I want to have curbed a few bad habits and silly issues. Enter the next decade a little lighter, in a lot of ways. Lots to do. Lots to do. . . . Once the heat takes a break. Too hot to deal now! Better to sit very still and only move my fingers to type!

Illustration Friday: Opposite

This weeks Illustration Friday theme is opposite. This piece is titles Abigail. I fell in love with this image the second I set my eyes upon it at a flea market. I love her lacy collar and very prim expression. The juxtaposition of her against this very racy and provocative background that is so opposite from what she seems to represent is fantastic. Almost like all of her secret desires are being exposed, but she has no idea, because it is all going on behind her. If she turns around, she is going to blush for sure!

"From the hands of . . ."

My work is featured in the Summer 2006 issue of ARTitude Magazine! I am so excited about this feature. The article is called "From the hands of . . . " and it was a really fun interview. I hope you enjoy it!

August Felt Club!!!

OOHHH!! I am soooo excited to announce that I will be selling at the August Felt Club!! This will be my first official craft fair, and I am a little nervous, but I am sure it will be a blast! August will be a big month for the Felt Club as they have teamed up with Toyota and the Yaris to make an even bigger and better event than in the past! There will be 3 crafty classes taught, each by a different crafter with a different specialty. You can read all about the fun goings on in the here. There is going to be free ice cream too!!

There are so many cool vendors scheduled to participate! I will be taking all of my new goodies including pins magnets, bookplates, prints and original works. Plus, a new surprise product is in the works with my good friend Jamey from over at Bath Chick. I am so excited about this new endeavor!! It's gonna be tasty!

(All images courtesy of Felt Club)

Lots of new surprises!

The past week has been hectic. Nutty even! So much going on both in and out of my studio! I am so excited by items I have been able to add to my shop! Here is a little peek!

I was inspired by Kim over at In Craft We Trust (I am particularly fond of her Dont Be An Ass pin set!) to create pins and magnet sets that showcase my art. There are five sets, each with an assortment of imagery, available as a pins to liven up your lapel, or magnets to brighten up you fridge or office! My set live on the black magnetic chalkboard in the kitchen!


A few new 6" x 8"s have been added. I hadn't done any of these pieces in a while and really missed the quick turnaround. They are challenging and keep my mind sharp, my exacto dull, and my hands gluey! Love it! I have been toying with the idea of joining the one-a-day artists like Justin Clayton, however, I fear that my head may explode if I take the plunge!






Lastly, I want to thank everyone for the amazing response to my new bookplates! I never anticipated that they would be so well received and I am glad to say that there have been more added to the shop.

Childrens Portraits

These are two commissioned portraits I recently finished of a clients children. They were a blast to do! I love the little girls eyes, so huge and wide! Beautiful! And the little boy on a London Carousel makes me hear music! To do, todotodo dodo do do. (Like at the circus. . . . ) Childrens portraits are always tons of fun because of the parents excitement to get a portrait of their child. It just a great experience!


BTW-There is a really great write up today on Cool Mom Picks all about my commissions. Thank you Liz for the glowing words! I am blushing over here!

SPC: Self portrait as Koi

So I have decided that all of my SPC's this month will be of things and experiences that inspire me for that particular week! I think that this is a fun way to get to share the non-art related adventures we get up to! I mean, that could be me . . . if I was The Incredible Mr. Limpet!

This weekend my husband and I went on a Pond Walk around our area. He is itching to build a pond in our backyard and we saw some amazing water features, as well as incredible homes!

This particular house had an amazing pond and so many fish! Some were HUGE! Just amazing! We were allowed to feed them lettuce and they all clamored over each other to get a nibble. It was totally surreal!

Illustration Friday: Skyline

This weeks Illustration Friday theme is skyline. I just kept thinking about butterflies, swarming in the sky. This piece is 8" x 24". The background paper is gold and shimery and not photographing very well, but I think you can get the jist!

Bookplates Unveiled

One of my new projects has been creating Bookplates featuring my artworks. I love the idea that my work revolves so much on paper and book pages, and I think that it is very appropriate that the pieces should be incorporated in such a way. Books have been an obsession for me for a very long time. You cant design book covers without them being an obsession really.
There are four different sets each featuring different group of works including Women, Men, Children and there is a set of the Etched women pieces. I really like them. I hope they find good use! All are in my Etsy shop.

Gallery and Online Shows

I have added a few links in the sidebar to online and gallery shows that my work is currently in.

The Hollywood Couple, Richard and Betty (pictured above) are currently in the Americana show at the Soke Fine Art gallery in Denver, CO in the Santa Fe Arts District. The show runs all through July.

Issue#2 of NoTxt Magazine features a collection of very cool artists. It takes a minute to load, but the work is very nice!

And finally the Doll Revolt online show is a really eclectic gathering of women artists. The layout is a little confusing at first, with the work divided into galleries that are laid out on a female doll outline. My work is in the Prosthesis category which is on the dolls right arm. This is an interesting collection of works. Be sure to click on the Part 2 link to see the Gilda Radner Cut-out Doll. It is very cute!

SPC: Self portrait as Fireworks

This is such a screwy week!! I just realized it was Wednesday, and I neglected my Self Portrait Challenge. Not good!
This week I am posting images from the fireworks that we watched in Warner Center Park. It was a nice cool evening and the park was full to the brim with kiddies waving glow sticks and the wafting smells of barbeques. There was a huge bandstand with live music, including the Orchesta from Pierce College. On the perimeter were lots of food booths and of course we couldn't enjoy such a day without soft serve ice cream and cotton candy!


To me fireworks are mesmerizing. I love the colors and the trails in the sky from the falling blasts. I look forward each year to the fireworks shows, and this year really made up for the fogged over show that we saw in San Francisco two years ago. I cant remember why, but last year we missed the local display. This year was great! We were sitting underneath huge Pine trees and the shadows on the ground from the bursts were very cool. The pictures captured by my camera are all very dark and abstract. I really like the results! I know I will be feeding off of the inspiration for a little while at least!

Happy 4th!!

Happy 4th of July! We have been having a nice relaxing weekend here even though the heat has been a bit much. The humidity is just so out of place here in So. California that every one seems to be moving a little slower than usual.
I have lots of projects in the works right now and I can't wait to share them! Also, a few new prints have been added to my Etsy shop, including one of the original Agnes.

Agnes
Have a happy and safe day. Enjoy the fireworks!

Illustration Friday: Sticky

This weeks Illustration Friday theme is sticky and this kid fits the mold! This piece is titled Peter. He is currently "Colors of Summer" show at the artstream Studios Gallery in New Hampshire. He is just so mischevious! You gotta love him!!

(Don't forget, today is your last chance to save 20% off all items in my Etsy shop! )

"Said and Done" on its way!

So here is a scan of the piece I have submitted to Said and Done. Eventually once all of the submissions are collected this show is going to be traveling. In the meantime you can see the other participants here. They have gotten in a ton of new submissions since my last post. There is a drawing of a squirrel you will love!

2 days to go!!

I can not believe that June is almost over. Time is flying! With the end of June comes the end of my 20% off sale. There are 2 days left to save before my prices are adjusted and the sale ends! I have added a couple of pieces out of the library show, which I took down yesterday. They are larger in scale, including this one, the first May which is 20"x24".

This week Etsy had a huge wave of traffic hit the site when an article was published in Wired Magazine touting the crafters and alchemy aspect of the site. Unfortunately, the Etsy item and shop counters had to be disabled to compensate and save the servers. Point being dont be deceived by the 0's next to the newer items you see on the site. They are not true readings of how often items are being viewed!

Self Portrait Tuesday: Pop Art week 4

I did a lot of playing this month with the pop art theme, and decided that instead of picking one image, that I am going to show 2 and then put Pop Art behind me. These pictures came from 5 or 6 minutes of standing in the house and snapping photos while I whipped my head around. I was trying to get movement, and instead I got trapped in a box!

I love the Self Portrait Challenge and each week have a great time being experimental and playing with my camera. I was going to choose just one, but then what? I'd have an image on reserve? Maybe save it for backup for a week when I am too busy to fulfill the commitment I have made to myself to participate in the SPC each week? No. I dont want to know I have backup! So here you go, two images I had fun creating.


This second one reminds me of the movie The Vanishing which kind of creeps me out!

Gnome Chillin'

I am busy busy today so I just wanted to post this cute pic from the garden. Luckily Mr. Gnome survived the 100+ degrees over the weekend. I'd say he look rather comfortable wouldn't you? Don't know how he does it!


I am in the midst of preparing orders for shipment, silkscreen screen building and bio writing for Whip Up. It was announced on Friday that I will be joining the amazing contributing writers who work so hard to keep Whip Up full of fresh finds, amazing tutorials and any kind of crafty goodness you can imagine. I am really excited and honored to be asked to cover the Paper Arts, Collage and Mixed Media categories. Whip Up is a daily read for me and I was really bowled over when Kathreen, who is also the mastermind behind the weekly Self Portrait Challenge, asked if I would like to participate. I can't wait to get started!

Illustration Friday: Rain

OK-This weeks Illustration Friday theme is just cruel. On the first day of a major heat wave, they assign Rain?? I broke a sweat just taking it outside to photograph it! And I am pretty sure that Karma and I are buddies this week, so I am at a loss!

Now, I realize that I have gone a little dot crazy lately, but I just dont care! (Just you wait until I post my contribution to the Said and Done project!) I love the textures and colors and movement! Will I ever wake up from this Wonka-esque induced trace! We shall see! I am going to glue with wild abandon until either my hole punches break (God forbid!) or I start needing to take Dramamine to work! And even then I may just rely on the old place-one-foot-on-the-floor trick, as if trying to stop the room from spinning after a hard night of drinking, not that I have ever been in such a state. . . . It is Friday and I am feeling frisky! Any fun weekend plans in the cooler parts of the world? Going to be over 100 degrees here, so I think the movies might be a plan!

By the way, I have 40 or so of these old illustration boards from when Graphic design was an actual manual process, before computers. I am going to be doing collages along this line and posting them in my Etsy shop until the are all used and up there. They will be priced in the 25-30 dollar range, so get over and see whats new!

A Little Kitty Indulgence!

You can not tell me this cat does not have just a little itty bitty Devil in him! I was making myself a cup of coffee first thing in the morning, and felt someone watching me! I turned my head to the left and Hello! Creepy!


And this one! As long as just the tip of his nose is in the sun, he is a happy camper! He is my angel! We call him Charlie, 'cause he's brown. ;)

Brad Rickerby

I normally reserve my Etsy reviews for Creative Swoon, but I can barley contain myself. Sunday night I was clicking around Etsy and on the home page I found this watercolor painting among the featured pieces. It is STUNNING. The artists name is Brad Rickerby and he is the nicest man on the planet! I visited his studio in LA today to was blown away by the work in person! These photos are good, but still they do not convey the depth of color and movement in these works. The one above is huge, 30 inches wide, and this one below is 22.5. My husband and I have been going back and forth with what the pieces remind us of. The one above, to me, is like an ice storm in Winter. The colors shinning as if through prisms of icicles and I think of wind chimes and rustling leaves.


Tom, my husband, says that this piece reminds him of his summers on Long Island when he would walk to the beach. He sees the moment just before cresting the sand banks and seeing the water at sunset.

I can't even begin to understand how Brad does these beautiful pieces, and I dont think I want to know! Then all the magic would be gone! I just want to stare! I am now the proud owner of 3, yes 3, of Brads works! I cant wait to get them framed and figure out where they will be hanging! I will post pictures when they are all situated!

Heat 2
The colors go where they want. You talk to them, you tell them the plan, you cajole, flatter and plead. You think you have come to a meeting of the minds. You apply them. And - The colors go where they want. It's best not to corral them. It's hopeless anyway. Best just to make soft suggestions and watch with childlike glee as they intermix and mingle.-from Brads description of his process

You wouldn't believe how affordable these works are if I told you, so just click over to his store, Brads Visions, and take a look for yourselves. I swear you will not be disappointed! You actually wont believe your eyes! I am talking about an 18" x 24" ORIGINAL starting at $30.00. Fine art and so affordable, you'll end up with a collection in no time! ;)

Glen

(All images courtesy of Brad Rickerby)

My First Lightbox

This is my first lightbox! It is done, on a super deep 2 3/8" canvas and all lit up! Assembly required using power tools, which I really enjoy! I know it sounds ridiculous, but I love being a smidge handy and being able to drill a hole or hang something properly on the wall using an anchor or finding a stud. I tease my husband that before he came along I was the handy one in the house no matter who my roommate was! Now I am second chair, so I have to find ways to prove I was once able to do these things myself! (He still doesn't believe me!)
This piece, Paul, is up on Etsy. Check it out there!

Self Portrait Tuesday: Pop Art week 3

I feel like this image is very indicative of what's going on in my head this week. I am slow and feel heavy in my shoulders, if that makes any sense. I feel pulled and a little unclear, dark and caught off guard. I am tired but surprisingly inspired. I am glad this is a new week and it has started off well with a nice day, lunch with a friend, a few new ideas I am very excited to execute. I am looking forward to planning a vacation, going to one of my favorite places and seeing good friends.

You can see other Pop Art SPC's here.

Found Magazine

You know those random pieces of paper you find in the grocery cart, or in a parking lot? In my case, I find old scraps stuck in books or in stacks of old papers at a flea market. Now all of these treasures have a home!! Found Magazine R-O-C-K-S!!! I love it so much I added it to my bloglines so that almost everyday I get a treat.
I recently found this note and it is the most poignant I have come across in my digging to date. So generous and tender, but with an air of mystery. I have submitted it and maybe one day when I click on the bloglines link I will see it out there, living a new life on the web!

Here is a sampling: (Be sure to read the explainations!)

The Feng Shui Was Not Right

Thank You For Saying Yes

Leave Me Be

Last Warning

Your Breath Stinks

Whip Up Whiplash Challenge is back!

This week is all about introducing yourself, your blog and your style. So here goes: I am a mixed media collage portrait artist and I live in Los Angeles, in the Valley, so I favor words like awesome, rad and . . . no just kidding. (I haven't said rad since my first job in NY when I dropped the R-bomb and it got so silent I swear I heard a cricket!) I do however say awesome, and as often as possible! I am a newlywed and we are quickly approaching our 1 year anniversary in August. We have 2 cats, Charlie (Mine) and Lewis (his) who are a constant source of, shall we say, entertainment. I love to garden and knit and cook. My chocolate chip cookies are famous in these parts. 'nuff said!

I blog to learn and share and occasionally to vent. Sometimes I dont get to post as often as I would like. I read many many blogs and am amazed by the generous nature and support offered by the onlie craft community! I especially admire the group of women business owners who share tales of balancing home and kids and their love of their crafts. They are a true inspiration!


Lately I have been working to expand my art and develop my style beyond my comfort zone. I am currently working on a couple different projects, one of which is creating t-shirts that are loosly based on my art and style. What do you think?? Constructive criticism is always welcome! I love comments!

Colors of Summer

I wanted to post about the opening of the "Colors of Summer" show at the artstream Studios Gallery in Rochester, NH earlier, but time has gotten away from me! It is going on right now, this very minute! If you are in the area, or will be anytime from now to Sept. 6th, then pop in and see some incredible work! Dont miss the Ron Fountain sculptures and the Claudine Hellmuth collages! The Mitchell Rosenzweig paintings are captivating! All of the work is amazing!


Here are a couple shots of my work on the walls from the gallery's album. More photos can be seen here, and watch for opening news and show upadates at Susan Schwake-Larochelle's blog Art Esprit. (She is one of the amazing artisans behind artstream!)



I am honored and excited to part of the show! Now go, check out some art!

(All images courtesy of artstream)

Postsecret

Have you ever heard of this blog, Postsecret? It is a project where people admit secrets and fears, anything they haven't ever said out loud, by creating a postcard and mailing it in. Some of these confessions are so raw and haunting. Some make you smile. And some, well, they make your heart hurt. It is emotional and powerful. Words cannot describe.

There are 2 exhibits currently touring the country with thousands of postcards on display. One of them opens June 17th, tomorrow, in Reading, PA at the Reading Public Museum. I'd go! I am sure that in person, this is an amazing experience. Just looking at the online version is gut wrenching.

A book has been compiled. You can on buy it on Amazon.

(Warning: Some of the material is not approriate for younger eyes. Image courtesy of Postsecret)

Projekt 30 July Jurying

You know you love clicking through the array of talented artists that enter the Projekt30 monthly competitions. Well, lucky you! It's that time of the month! (Oi!)
From the 15th to the 30th jurying will be open to everyone and anyone! Click here to be dazzled!

Self Portrait Tuesday: Pop Art week 2

One of my favorite additions to my everyday life in the past 10 years, outside of my husband and finding my way through my art, is the digital camera. I love love love the freedom!! You dont have to snap off a roll, take it to be developed and then maybe, a few days later, you get a shot that you might like. The immediate gratification that is granted from the soft click of my Cyber-shot is priceless! I can be a fool, be careless and experimental. And if it sucks, DELETE! And if the lights not right, or its blurry, I get a second chance! Priceless!

My husband had me take pictures of the Elephant Ear plants his parents sent us to include in our Fathers Day card to his dad. While I was completeing my task I decided to have some fun! It was 8:30 am, the sun still low in the sky, and my shadow was so huge and tall it intrigued me. (This was before coffee. . . .) I then played around with the hues and filters in Photoshop.

This excersise every week really gets me to play and have fun. I get pulled away from the lists on my desk to just experiment, a word I use a lot, and I really like the freedom! Thank you to all of the people who participate and stop by to check out my pic for the week! I love seeing all the different imagery you all come up with, and the pieces of yourself that you choose to share!

To see more SPC Pop Art, click here.

Said and Done

On Saturday my print arrived from the Said and Done collaborative project. I have been eagerly anticipating its arrival, and it is finally here!

Said and Done is a project begun by the students at the Alberta College of Art and Design (A.C.A.D.). Silkscreen prints are sent to artists who apply and are accepted to participate. The prints are 7" x 11" and are silkscreened with different backgrounds. The one I received is pictured above. There are no limits to what can be done to each individual print. It is up to each artist to leave their mark. I will post a quick shot of the finished piece as I package it up once I am done. Once all the pieces are complete and received back by A.C.A.D a show will tour around.
Click here to see the work all ready received back by A.C.A.D. You'll really like seeing the work of the other artists. The different styles and array of approaches is quite dizzying!! I especially like the Ephraim Chui, Scott Radnidge, Porous Walker, and Ian Francis pieces.

What's your favorite???