looking over journal page after page

i noticed that with relatively few strokes

i could feel emotion in these simple faces.

some basic starts but there is 

an obvious direction even at this point.

and on this last day of september...

what do you think it is that creates feeling?

“the best and most beautiful things in the world 

cannot be seen or even touched. they must be felt with the heart” 

― Helen Keller

Pharrell Williams - Happy (Official Music Video)

'because i'm happy

if you feel like a room without a roof

because i'm happy

if you feel like happiness is the truth

because i'm happy

if you feel like that's what you wanna do....'

pharrell williams lyrics

and for the full monty...

what are these?  many of the acrylics i buy are from nova color.

they come from 4 ounces and up.   nova is a small company based in

los angeles and i like to support them.  the colors are lovely, prices

very competitive and the service is excellent.  they ship almost immediately

after the order is placed but i often wander in the tiny showroom and pick 

up my paints.   think i have almost all of the colors they produce.   they also carry 

textures and mediums.   i buy 2 and 4 ounce squeeze bottles to transfer the paints

into for easier and faster use.   also when i travel to a workshop or work in another

studio i do not have to take the who container.   anything that eases the load and 

readies one to get right to painting is helpful.

i do have to mention that i favor the colors of golden paints as well, 

especially the fluid acrylics.

i have found that this works for me.  do you have any tips or hints that 

help make your creative experience easier?

purely by accident i pushed a button in iPhoto 

and got this.  i think i will use it to evaluate values. 

what do you think?

journal entry

not seeing double...

rather, these are two mono prints. using 

water based inks, i painted the image

then ran a print through the press.

then i repainted a second painting with slightly 

different colors.

looking through a viewfinder and taking 

various portions of the print

there are several different references i can 

use to create other paintings should i wish to.

in this way i am using my own image to create

further pieces.  

it is the beginning of a busy weekend.  

busy doing what you might wonder...

well, in another life i was a passionate knitter.  i could always be 

seen with a pair of knitting needles in my hands.  i loved yarns.  i made it a point

of visiting every yarn store in my city and other cities i visited.   i learned when 

i was 9, taught many many friends to knit, designed my own patterns

was the go to person in many circles when knit problems came up because

i was known as the solver.  after decades of knitting, a few years ago i developed 

tendonitis and can no longer knit.  i have a treasure hold of yarns that i have be unable

to let these yarns go.  today i have started the process of lightening my load,

simplifying, passing on that which does not serve me.   these boxes have been

delivered to a friend and passionate knitter.  there are more boxes yet to come.

feels good.

posting today with paint party friday

hosted by eva and kristen.

on my work top today is a miss-mash of the last few weeks

reflective of my scattered mind.

a life magazine found at the long beach swap meet

dated the year and month i was born.

coveted brushes, a gift from a dear friend

collage fodder

stamps collected from the swap meet 

papers for a black and white collage

some japanese papers and tiny detail brushes

new drill bits to makes holes in a mica piece

and a carved razor holder, just for fun.

now to work creating!

posted with woyww.

click on the link to see what others have on their worktop.

well, after months of  planning a dream trip to france 

and getting as  far as the first leg of the flight, 

the trip was canceled....long story.

so, today i applied the adage, 

'when life gives you lemons,

make lemonade.'  

and  this morning i remembered that my friend

and collage mentor, jacki long was giving a 

workshop.  while the first light of day hadn't 

even peeked, i emailed her to see if i could join in.

she generously said yes.  

i didn't even know what the topic was.

surprise me.  i needed a reprieve.

for a few hours i spent creating mail art

and am sharing it here with you  

and with paint party friday. 

thank you for visiting today.

wishing you a weekend of surprises.

 you never know were   blog hopping will take you.

 i read this blog, tall tales from kansas

which led me to lisa hoffman.  the two friends got together and 

 drew pictures of each in their journals.  

well, lisa mentioned emily sebald.  emily is a swedish singer, artist 

and gallery owner in new york.  of course i then i got distracted with 

thoughts of  being a young swedish up and coming artist.  getting back to 

the blog hopping adventure,  one of her emily's images with  bring red 

in the background stood out cuz i rarely,

well, come to think of it...i have never done a red background.

so  when i met my friend lorraine at the french  market cafe in venice

to journal and also  get into the mood for my upcoming trip

to france.  we decided to do blind contour drawings of 

each other and then color them in.  

my pot of red acrylic was dried out so i used inktense color block crayons

and came as close as i could and just had fun!

linking with the gang  paint party friday

thanks to eva and kristin for the weekly gathering

and paintings #3 and 4 of 29 faces

29 faces number 2

acrylic, pencil, pan pastel, collage

i started late posting with 29 faces and will

post as many as i can.  it's a travel month 

for me.   also, i realize that i had one of the  

iphone  buttons on so the color in these

photos are not true.  i like it though.

the painting is more blue than green.

now off to boil more papers :)

thanks for visiting today.

acrylic, boiled in tea and eucalyptus, first face of the month for 29 faces

1 face

boiled and dyed papers, my latest obsession

1 stack

3 wire hearts

and a cluster of 4

thank you for stopping by and 

have a lovely weekend

XOXO

posting along with kristin and eva and 

all of the other creative folks at paint party friday