welcome to my blog!

I post art that reflects my current interests.  I started this  blog with the intent

 to record my art process.   at the time,  I made journals and filled them with 

collage and writing .  then I wanted to learn to paint my own images

instead of one from magazines.  I learned acrylic painting  all along,

I incorporated bits and pieces of paper.  for a while now, I have been 

fascinated  faces.  I have drawn,  painted, collaged distorted faces in 

countless ways experimenting on various mediums.    I don't see this ending!  

recently I have added some figurative work and am excited to see

where this will lead.  I know all of you have moved

through different stages, growing, learning and incorporating new techniques

and mediums.  I love to see  other peoples processes and am grateful for 

the online community and social media for this reason.

I view art inspiration and post daily on instagram.   there I have

found it a friendly and welcoming community.  i also post any

art related thoughts and outings that I may have come across here on this blog.

i hope you enjoy!

my local art center, in palos verdes, california is 

having a charming elementary school children's exhibit 

sponsored by art at your fingertips.

i participated in this program when my son was in school.

artists submit a project based on a concept or artist

and volunteer parents from each school learn the project

and then teach it to students at school

this augments the art or lack of art education

in the schools.

it also gives parents a chance to have hands on experience

in the classroom as well as providing art concepts 

to young children.

my experience was that children

were eager to learn

artists were eager to share and create a project.

on the day i visited the gallery

a classroom was also there.

I had a chance to overhear the teachers ask wonderful questions 

which reviewed the art concept and also made it personal

for the students.  i was very impressed and smiled as

I snuck a listen and took pictures of the art.

on my morning beach walk

only in southern california!

it is a three day holiday weekend here in the united

states.   I hope you have fun plans with loved ones whether

you live here or not!  I am lucky enough to have my son

and his fiancé here so it's an extra special time for me!

thank you for visiting today!

posting with friends at paint party friday

i have een on a week long 

road trip.  hopefully i will have some photos

to show you.

i took a few art supplies  and journals but 

there was so much to see and do,

i did not bring them out.  while i was gone, 

i saw an online  workshop given by carla sonheim and 

lynn whipple on making faces.  it seemed

like it would be right up my alley.  

i couldn't wait to start.

here are the first drawings

with color added.  

oh boy!  i', having fun!

tonight i will be going to the opening of

ca 101, a showing of california artists

 where i have 4 pieces accepted.  if you

are in southern california, stop by.  i'd love 

to see you. 

it's friday so i am 

posting with paint party friday 

i 

i have a new journal.  it's black!  this is the first entry.

i was a little scared of it.  but started with stencils.

then stopped for a long time. i drew in a scene

of the ocean and painted it.  then, painted over it.

now i love my journal and can't wait to play more in it. 

a tiny collaged face.  it fits in my palm. 

happy friday!

sharing with paint party friday!

                                 

teabag

it is the time of year when regular schedules

are thrown off by a flurry of activity 

around the holidays, family, and deadlines.  

there are those thanksgiving dishes

that seems to last for days.

and bittersweet trips to the airport where embraces 

hello and goodbyes take place

and finding the perfect stool for the studio.

at last!

but a little art has been squeezed in

if this looks like a mish mash 

you're right!  these are a number of 'starts.'

i use pieces of watercolor paper for my palate

or a blotters when I paint.  I save them and

randomly cut them up.  eventually,

they may show up in a piece or as mail art.

do you have favorite ways to start 

your art pieces?  

posting with paint party friday

hosted by the lovelies, kristen and eva

i have talked with several friends who

are not inspired and are not working.

what do you do when you lose your mojo?

here are a few from my go to list

go to a workshop

rip and paste

use new colors

read  a novel

take a nap

listen to music

go to a gallery

have lunch with friends

try a new medium

pet a puppy

invite an art friend over and do a project

take a walk

look at your inspiration list 

talk to art friends

hold a baby

look at your inspiration sites

take a break for a few days

declutter your house

touch your supplies 

take a deep breath

yoga

try not to worry

tell a loved one the way you feel about them

write a love letter

paint something ugly

let it go, it will return

have a lovely weekend.

i am attending a three day workshop with

several friends from out of the state and 

old journaling friends i have not seen in too long. 

we will be altering an old passport

adding meaningful ephemera.

i will be adding to my father's childhood passport 

from 1929.   already in the gathering

process feelings have stirred

around memory, childhood, family, loss and love.

i am looking forward to the time 

and will probably not have much time to respond 

on my blog until next week.

XOXOXO

linking with paint party friday

thank you eva and kristen for hosting 

day 3 and 4, 29 faces 

day 3

day 4

i love a challenge and love painting faces

so it is a perfect combination that ayala

has offered a  september 2015

29 faces challenge.   

why don't you join in?

have a lovely weekend and to those

in the united states, happy holiday!

day 2, 29 faces, september 2015

she started out 

in one direction.

in an attempt to 

will her in another,

i learned that

in the choice between

the will and intuition,

yield to truth.

day 1 of 29 faces

i often start a new piece from paper or a canvas

that was perviously used.  it feels familiar and 

friendly to add paint or watercolor to substrate that 

had a previous life.  the other side of this heavy

watercolor paper is turquoise and embossed from the

imprint of rosemary and   bougainvillea from my yard.  

when i turned the the paper around i saw a lovely, soft

bleed through of color.  i added bits and pieces of tea bag

which matched and created the darker edge of her hair.  then

sketched in a soft face with pencil.   i always like a challenge and 

look forward to 28 more faces this month.  click on the link to 

see what other artists create.

journal page, handmade stamps and collage papers

choose your companion wisely when 

traveling through the desert

ink and acrylic

since january i have done a painting a day

through february.  it was so enjoyable that 

i have continued.  i am also taking the amazing and generous

misty mawn's online workshop, art entwined.  i have taken her

workshops for three years now.  she always offers more

than you can wish for and from it a supportive online

community of artists collect to share.

 i will be posting some of the

pieces in the next few weeks.

acrylic a la andy warhol, self portrait

collage using a copy of an original painting

have a lovely weekend.

it is unseasonably warm here 

in southern california.  today in the 90's.

redondo beach, sunset

posting with paint party friday.  thank you 

eva and  kristin who have hosted the party for 4 years today

and to all of the artists who participate by sharing

their beautiful work

faces this week 4-7

29 faces challenge

day 4

day 5

day 6

day 7

these were all re-dos from previously painted 

canvases or on heavy paper.  on paintings 5, 6 and 7.

i am remiss at not having taken before pictures.  

next time i will try to remember before i dig in. 

i am trying a different brush stroke and paint 

application.  i dip my brush into paint on both sides

of the brush and apply the paint quickly, trying 

not to get mud.  the canvas is pretty wet most of the time.

ok...now i'm caught up.

posting today with paint party friday