art journaling

when did you last tell your story?

did anyone listen?

did anyone hear?

posting with wwyww, 

what's on your work desk wednesday

posting today with what's on your work desk wednesday

day 7, 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

this challenge is pushing me to explore different styles.

it's quite fun.

who's in charge of the weather

january 7, 2014

expected temperature 82 degrees

southern california

crazy!!

8am, unedited photo taken at redondo beach

not a cloud in sight

...and a peek at my desk this morning and linking with woyww 

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.

stack of eco dyed papers

Sometimes with

the bones of the black

sticks left when the fire

has gone out

yummy lying in the afternoon sun

someone has written

something new

in the ashes of your life.

such wonder

You are not leaving

you are arriving. 

~ David Whyte ~

House of Belonging

posting today with the folks at  woyww

i have written a short tutorial for eco paper dying here

i needed a portfolio for all of the paintings i have 

 done on paper.  for this i used a children's board map book.

it is nice and sturdy while also being large enough

to hold various sizes of papers.

i first sanded the slick finish with a 

block sander to make it easier 

to accept acrylic paint.   you can choose to gesso 

the pages as an alternative.

next, i used wide tape to put two boards together.

finally i punched a hole in the top center

of both boards and strung ribbon through to hold the

portfolio closed.   i now have a colorful place to 

store painted papers and other large pieces of paper.  

today i am posting with woyww, 

what's on your work desk wednesday.

check out to link and visit other creatives

these three panels have been sitting around for a few weeks

for the next step to become apparent.  sometimes it takes a while.

you know how that is, i'm sure.   i started with a little collage,

and that took me to the next step.  it has taught me a few things.

one step at a time,  try not to get ahead of myself,  trust in the process,

you don't have to have all of the answers and most of all enjoy the moment.

hoping your work space gives you joy.

joining with julia dunnit's woyww (what's on your workspace wednesday)

i am continuing to work in a series.  theses are 

little timed sketches on 10 x 10 cradle boards.  

also, i decided to cut this mixed media piece into two parts.  

i thought it was finished but as it hung something seemed off.  

i don't have plans for the the bottom section...yet. 

 one thing at a time.  

i was invited to  participate  this month in  a virtual blog tour 

by katherine jeanne wood.  details to come.

have a lovely 4th.  i would love to hear what 

you are creating. and as always, i 

thank you for visiting today. 

XOXO

also linking this post with 

eva, kristin and all of the linking artists at

paint part friday

and woyww

i love fridays.   kristin and eva have set up a weekly

online party they call paint party friday.  i get to visit 

friends, see what they have been creating and if i am lucky,

they visit me as well.  

this week i have been working on a series.  i first applied

black gesso to boards.

then sketched faces on each.

i am going to paint and do pen work.

for now, i am letting them sit

and enjoy this friday.  

anyone who has never made a mistake

has never tried anything new

albert einstein

i am also sneaking in this post to woyww

WOYWW

Just like at home, I have created a corner in the cozy cottage at Sundance Utah. 

 I cut out more house shapes before i left and am collaging them. 

A wonderful and whimsical artist, Brandy Emerson gave me the book,

Steal Like An Artist.

 I had seen it before but never read this powerful 

and motivating book. I am crossing my fingers that this will post from my ipad.

while i waited for a new printer from amazon

the local copy shop was a temporary work table.

i used copies of faces i have drawn to  collage on to

backgrounds to make  a series of postcards.  

here is one of them.

i have been working on this canvas for a while.  i thought it was done then

realized  there is more.  i am slowly pulling the color and images out.  listening 

for the next step.  trying not to let my impatience get the best of me.   

 

today i caught myself in that familiar loop.... i will do art in my studio

after i get a little exercise, after i buy groceries, after i post on 

my blog and so it goes.   the loop stops here.  i am leaving 

to spend the day in my studio.  

thank you for visiting. i love reading your comments. my son  

was here this past week and i drop everything when that happens.

 so i am behind on blog visits.  my apologies,  for being late 

to respond but i will be there soon.

sharing with what's on your work desk wednesday.  

click the link to see what others are working on?

WOYWW

i am working on a large (for me) abstract,  36" x 48".

it doesn't fit on my desk or easel but it's propped up against the wall

on my actual desk... that's another story.

my printer broke this week so i've been to the print shop 

countless times.  while i was there

i made copies of a few journal pages to use for future collages.

that's it on a wednesday here in sunny southern california.

posting today with WOYWW.  thank you for your warm welcome last week 

on my first posting with the group.

XOXOXO

let me show you what is on my desk today.

there are treasures hiding in corners

   

wrapped within the tissue paper is terry garrett's journal for a round robin.

mail art from jacki long

and from john arbuckle

collage from katie kendrik and a metal stencil

envelope with pizzaz from jacki long

and copies of my journal pages for collage.

i will need to clear some space so i can get to work.

i know that doesn't happen to you :)

today i am linking for the first time with 

what's on your work desk wednesday, (woyww)