An Exultation of Larks

Discipline

2009-11-24T15:54:00.000-08:00

I am not a disciplined creator. Had I been God the world would have taken a lot longer than seven days to make.

I am more of a creative frenzy type. This is true with my art and my writing. I get an idea; a word, a phrase or a picture in my mind and jump in and try to stay above water until it's over.
The last few days my writing has been fueled by a migraine and the medication I took to combat it. ( Think Alice in Wonderland meets William Burroughs)

It sometimes actually hurts when I have so many words in my head-neither my pen nor my computer can keep up with my brain. But it is hard to complain when the muse is whispering in your ear.

I wonder though, what would happen if I set aside a certain time each day to write or to make art?
Would the discipline of that also move me to work? Would I sit there fiddling with pens and paper and mod-podge and get nothing accomplished?

What do you do?

The Fine Art of Compromise

2009-11-18T03:26:00.000-08:00

Compromise- b : something intermediate between or blending qualities of two

There is not enough space for me to unpack and have easily accessible all the supplies I like to keep at my fingertips. The space I considered using, ( and believe me, space is limited here) has no electrical outlet and is frighteningly close to the noise of the television.

I need to compromise. I am cleaning a smaller table and placing it in the very small back bedroom, and will choose carefully the supplies I keep at hand. I do prefer things to be just the way I envision them but for now, I have to change my vision.

The use of a small space has me thinking about ACEO's again- small space, small art. So it looks like that is where I will begin. In addition I have several pieces from last year that I should list on Etsy to refuel my shop.

Life, art and loss

2009-11-17T06:26:00.000-08:00

Georgia O'Keeffe, In 1923, she said, "One day seven years ago I found myself saying to myself — I can't live where I want to — I can't go where I want to go — I can't do what I want to — I can't even say what I want to … I decided I was a very stupid fool not to at least paint as I wanted to."

I read this quotation yesterday and it is vibrating within me like a bell ringing in my soul. Why? Because I have allowed myself to be trapped, stuck by the behaviors of someone else. There has been little writing, although that is getting better. I have found excuses to avoid yoga for weeks, and creating art? Not a blessed thing.

My husband is an active alcoholic. He was also diagnosed about 7 years ago with cerebral atrophy. Among the directives he received from his doctor were to eat healthy, take vitamins, exercise and avoid alcohol. For a while before we moved back to the island, he adhered to these directives. Over the past two years he has abandoned them all. And he has embraced alcohol with all the fervor with which he used to hold me. He has resisted all my attempts to get him back to the doctor or otherwise help him.

It is impossible to determine and ultimately, unimportant, which is fueling his behavior; the loss of impulse control from the assault to his brain, or the lethargy that alcohol brings. Regardless of the causes, I am dealing with an enormous loss, and the agony of watching him erase himself. It is the antithesis of creating. It is chaos as well as inertia.

However, it is his chaos and inertia, not mine; a difficult concept to remember on a daily basis.

So, although painting is not my metier, I need to create as I want to. I'd been waiting for something to happen before I unpacked my art supplies after moving them out of what was to be my studio and back into the house. But the change is going to have to be created by me.
I no longer have a viable partner in my life. I cannot wait to find a new place to live, wait until my studio is usable, wait until he discovers what he has lost.

So today, I will go to yoga with a friend. I will unpack at least two boxes of supplies, and I will choose 3 poems to send to a poetry contest. I will be my own cheerleader, although I will forgo the pom-poms. And I will continue to pray for my husband.

good tidings

2009-10-20T05:43:00.000-07:00

http://thesisterhoodofthetravelingcanvas.blogspot.com/

I am so glad that our canvas was used to raise money for this cause.

A pleasant visit for you

2009-07-20T11:21:00.000-07:00

Have you gone over to Girl Gone Thread Wild yet? Do it!

New Work in Progress

2009-07-16T10:29:00.001-07:00

torso

flour, water, and glue

strips of paper

2 layers of papier mache

I forgot the pleasure of working with messy mediums. In fact papier-mache is a very relaxing process. I was outside, the sun was high and hot and I could hear the birds in the marsh behind me. Dipping the paper into the mix, smoothing it out, layering it...Distinctly sensual as my friend Robin stated.
Where is this going? I think it is going to be an art book.

So

2009-07-16T08:45:00.001-07:00

It is obvious that I have not been creating any art recently. But I have not been lying around eating bon-bons.
Throughout January, February and March I completed a manuscript of poetry. One of my poems was selected as an Editor's Choice in the Allen Ginsberg Poetry Contest and will be published.
I've got another manuscript started and several poems out in the wilds in other contests.
I do have lots of ideas for some art projects and hope to get started on one today.

Things to do and people to see

2009-07-14T15:47:00.001-07:00

Go here to see wonderful artists working together to raise money for breast cancer research

here to see what 8 women got up to last year

and in the meantime....

2009-06-24T05:58:00.000-07:00

Still waiting for electric work to start in the shed/studio. In the meantime, I am studying. I want to learn how to make my own books and use my poetry along with my collages to create them.

Inspiration

2009-05-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

I ordered 500 Handmade Books with a gift card I had from Amazon.com. I have been sitting on 3 ideas for altered books for a long time, waiting for them to hatch. And it may be awhile still.
The process of moving to my new studio has been delayed by electrical problems andmy art supplies are packed up and living in limbo.
Nevertheless, picking up this book and opening to any page is a wonderful gift.

I am still here, sort of

2009-04-04T05:32:00.000-07:00

I am working on a challenge piece for the Melange on Etsy Team, which is to be finished on the 10th. I have two long term altered book projects in mind that so far remain only in my imagination. I have not the had the time to make anything new for my shop and thus have only a couple of supplies listed.
It is getting a teeny bit warmer here everyday and soon I should be able to move out to the shed/ studio.

A work in progress

2009-03-09T08:49:00.001-07:00

Or an exercise in frustration. And I don't know what she is... There is text that says "Bound each to each" on the wood the piece is mounted on...I like it, but have no clue as to how to finish it...

2009-01-30T03:56:00.001-08:00

Technorati Profile

Wait.

2009-01-30T02:29:00.000-08:00

Maybe I changed my mind.... It might be too easy to give up on creating art if I shut this down.
I have been writing these days... poetry and lots of it. It's taking up much of my time. Apparently it's what I need to be doing.
I have been thinking very hard about where I want my art to go; what pieces have brought me the most satisfaction and sense of accomplishment. Once again, I come back to the assemblages. They speak TO me and OF me.
I think it is the taking apart of things and changing them into something else that I find alluring. I think at times they are a bit too inaccessible for others but oh, well.
And books, altered books, speak to me... and call me. I have to start listening.

The beginning

2008-12-05T09:09:00.000-08:00

I was so overwhelmed by the way the shed looks that I couldn't bear to deal with it myself, and even somewhat ashamed to show it to Danny, who will be enhancing it. It is bad.

See what I mean?

Studio and more

2008-12-04T05:05:00.000-08:00

I have been using an ever increasing space in our bedroom for my "studio". It is not as convenient as I had hoped. If my husband goes to bed before me, I can't work on anything and I have always felt a bedroom should be a place of peace, quiet and refuge. Since I often have works in progress on the table, things appear messy which does not contribute to the atmosphere I wish to have upon going to bed.

I have a shed in my back yard with electricity, and I am getting one of those Amish electric fireplace gadgets from my father. Tomorrow I have a man coming over to give me an estimate on organizing and cleaning out the space, including power-washing and possibly painting the interior.

This is one of the gifts I am giving myself this holiday rather than continuing to berate my husband for NOT completing this task, and trying to squeeze it into my schedule and feeling frustrated.

I am also hiring my daughter to clean my house tomorrow to prepare for Christmas.

My presence on Etsy has diminished to near invisibility since September and I have been mourning. I miss the camaraderie, the inspiration and actively dislike my nearly empty shop.

I am going to work on new pieces over the next month or so and am hoping to start with some wonderful items for the New Year. I will no longer try to "make time" for art, but TAKE TIME.

Keeping an art journal

2008-11-21T05:58:00.000-08:00

Or art is not always pretty...

A lot of the artists with I am acquainted online keep art journals... They are beautiful pieces of art in and of themselves. They appear to be well though out and executed. I have kept written journals for years and only recently began adding images, either scribbled or pasted in.

Wednesday night I was in a foul mood. A dangerous mood. A mood where I felt not only capable of but desirous of destruction. If I had left my house, or even my art table, I was certain I would tear my world apart. Getting older has taught me to control those impulses, not to act on them, to work them out in a constructive way. Breaking things never really helps I've found.

I took an old book that I would never read; I bought it for the interesting paper cover, grabbed glue, paint and oil pastels and began to write and scribble and vent.
It was both exhilarating and frightening to express so freely what was on my mind. These are feelings I rarely experience and even more rarely share. Or even acknowledge to myself.

I blasted music and let it all out.

First attempt

2008-11-06T06:33:00.000-08:00

using lutradur....I was inspired by a woman who lives here and dances with abandon
all by herself... She is so free and uninhibited. I am in awe of how she allows her body to move with the music.

I painted the fabric with gold acrylic paint, an airy, abstract figure which appears to be
dancing in the wind. I used Shiva paint sticks, alcohol inks, stamps, beads and recycled silk yarn to add detail.

I sewed the heated fabric to batting and chiffon... I call it Ginny Dances...

Meet Ella

2008-10-16T08:46:00.000-07:00

Ella is the first of my "spoonbabies"- Art dolls made from vintage/antique spoons and ephemera.

What I do when I am stuck in a rut

2008-10-08T06:36:00.000-07:00

After working again these last five weeks, I have been sadly eying my art supplies but feeling no inspiration.

When this happens, I find I can release my muse by making something for people I love.
Trying to fit "Art" in while pondering piles of laundry, shopping and preparing dinners ( why DO we have to eat every single day???, feeding chickens and dogs, sweeping up dog hair, (get the picture?) seems a daunting task.

And so I play instead. Today I made a card to fit inside a plastic key chain case I found in a parking lot, for my middle daughter and an ACEO for the daughter of a friend of mine.

I feel better now.

Losing myself

2008-09-19T15:02:00.000-07:00

In a contest of wills between my body and my mind, these days my body is the clear victor. And I am mourning the loss of my energy, creativity and joy.

My body cries out for sleep constantly and I am unable to resist the siren call of my cool blue sheets, the breeze blowing my curtains and the lure of a book.

Several projects sit untouched on my art table and my journal has not been opened for days. Words and ideas have departed. Often migraines leach even more of me away. Almost as soon as words are spoken to me, they are forgotten.

I feel like an unoccupied shell. Form without function.

dolls

2008-09-01T04:59:00.001-07:00

I've been working on paper dolls and thinking of turning them into a little story book.
Long ago my mother took me with her to have some of her dolls repaired. Watching the woman who restored them working has stayed with me and making dolls has been in the back of my mind since then. And writing stories about them seems a natural way to combine my love of words and dolls.

Let me take you over here

2008-08-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

I've got a piece over here at Midlife Bloggers

What fuels your nightmares?

2008-08-21T04:29:00.000-07:00

If there is any artist who could provoke nightmares, Hieronymus Bosch, at first glance would be one. I found myself however, becoming more drawn in, thinking of how his 2D images could be worked into a 3D project. I was also drawn to the debate regarding the "meaning" of his art- was he a heretic proclaiming his disbelief, an ironic portrayer of human nature or a mystic?
His work is so layered, so deep, frightening at times, and then almost whimsical.

This is my shrine/ assemblage inspired by his work- Bosch nightmare No. 72

Me and Oscar

2008-08-16T05:06:00.000-07:00

I grew up in a family of 5 with a couple of pets. I do not recall our family generating as much garbage as the three of us do today. Granted, we had milk delivered, no soda in the house, and we ate altered leftovers until nothing was left. We did not have little plastic bags for sandwiches , we used Tupperware, a thermos and foil ( more than once).

I often feel flabbergasted, embarrassed and overwhelmed by the amount of trash we have. We do not have curbside recycling. I have to sort, store and transport my recyclables to the center. Doesn't driving my car there negate the benefits of recycling? I have thought, very briefly of carrying the bags on my back while biking. Nope, impossible.

However, I am like Oscar the Grouch (perhaps in more ways than one) in that I love trash
( " anything ragged or rotten or rusty"). My girls are accustomed to my picking things out of other people's garbage, plucking things off the street or saving strange stuff. My grandson delights in it though, and he is my fellow traveler in the junk adventures I take. I am teaching him our theme song. He will pick something up somewhere, examine it closely and tell me, "This would be good for an art project!"

I am pleased to pass on this part of myself to him, as my mother did with me. He never knew my mother but I make sure he knows all about her, including my trips with her to auctions, flea markets, garage sales and garbage cans. She died almost 10 years ago and August 20th would be her 67th birthday. I wish she was here to see how her legacy has remained and progressed.

Who is the smarty pants?

2008-08-15T04:19:00.000-07:00

I received lots of great guesses and some very close ones too. But only one person guessed absolutely correctly. That person is..........Kathy of Vintage Snaps and Scraps.
She said it was a sting ray barb and it is! Kathy is one of the lovely and supportive people I chat with on a long running Etsy forum thread. Here is the shop for her art, and here is her shop for amazing ephemera.

Everyone else, thanks so much playing! I will go look for some more strange and wonderful objects so we can do this again soon!

I can name that !

2008-08-11T02:37:00.000-07:00

Can you? identify this object correctly AND you will win

this lovely, little lady. Add a magnet, put her in a stocking or use her as a teeny paperweight. She is created on sea glass, found of course, on the beach here.

I will take guesses from Monday August 11 to Thursday August 14. If more than one of you guesses correctly, I will put the names in a hat...

Metsy Halloween/Fall ACEO Challenge

2008-08-10T02:52:00.000-07:00

Can you hear the clucking?

2008-08-09T06:32:00.000-07:00

No, I didn't buy my chickens yet because I am one. When I quit my job a couple of weeks ago, I gave myself a goal: the week after Pony Penning I would go to the shops in town and ask about consigning my work. Guess what? I didn't do it. I was/ am afraid. I can enumerate several excuses/ reasons for my fear-
1. tourists here are looking for ocean/ bird/ pony related items which I do not have
2. people are not spending as much money on "souvenirs"
3. I stink
4. rejection

I unexpectedly have another week without the grandson and now I have written this down here. What will I do?

Tangled up in Blue

2008-08-07T11:27:00.001-07:00

To paraphrase

2008-08-07T04:49:00.000-07:00

a famous line, I just cleaned my "studio" and I can't do a thing with it. I sorted, separated, bagged, bottled, boxed, filed and labeled everything. And I couldn't do anything. I expected the exhilaration of being able to find everything easily would free me to create wildly. Nope. I just sat there in my own little corner.

back in the saddle

2008-08-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

Getting back into the groove of art work now that I am no longer employed. I listed a few new things today.

I have been avoiding leaving the house this week as much as possible because it is Pony Penning time and it is hard to back out of my driveway and not hit a horse, or a bicycler or a scooter.

It took me over an hour to take pictures, edit pictures and list 5 items on Etsy today. Is that a good reason for not having vacuumed the stairs?

Pony Swim Sale!!!!!

2008-07-28T20:49:00.000-07:00

Today *Monday* July 28 through *Friday* August 1st, choose any item in my shop with more than 100 views and receive 10% off AND free shipping. It's simple; choose the piece(s) you want, email or convo me and I will send a revised invoice or Reserve the piece for you with the sale price!

Visit me at my shop!

Beauty Walks a Razors Edge

2008-07-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

It has been ages since I have made any ACEO's. I am working on two unusual art dolls and each area requires a lot of drying time. Rather than vacuum or do laundry I worked on this piece inspired by Shelter from the Storm by Bob Dylan and missing my middle daughter who can't take a break from college classes and work until August.

2008-07-27T04:15:00.000-07:00

I have discovered in the past few years that I am not as smart or quick as I used to be ( or thought I was). It's a rather dispiriting revelation as I spent an enormous amount of time being proud of my brain and we all know, pride goeth before a fall.
I also have a tendency to give people far too many chances to prove that my loyalty to them is not misplaced.

From now on, I am going to carry a hammer in my bag to hit myself in the head with. Better yet, I will listen when my body, heart and soul scream at me.

This summer has been a trial. I have been miserable every hour I spent at work, miserable every hour I thought about work. I had been promised an alternate position last year and again at the beginning of the season. It materialized alright, for my the girlfriend of my boss. I tried everyday to make the best of it ( we need summer money to make it through the winter here), I prayed to lose my resentment and anger. I swallowed venomous retorts at mass quantities of what I can only call, nicely, crap, until I could do it not one minute longer. In order to save my health, my sanity, my marriage, on Thursday, just prior to bringing my youngest back to NY, I quit. No notice. I had some qualms about it because this is one of the busiest times of the summer, Pony Swim week.

If my boss had had the decency to simply TELL me what was happening I could have lived with it. But I felt lied to, undervalued and taken advantage of.

I started my trip to NY sobbing, not a safe way to drive. When the sobs began to subside, I was filled with a sense of calm and rightness. Not the kind of vengeful righteousness that often accompanies that feeling, but a sense that I had made the right decision. I felt the cool breeze of a window opening. I was flooded with ideas to move along in my life. An ecstatic feeling; very unusual for a woman who has dealt with depression for 30 years. If you want to read some more about what helped me feel this way read this.

I have plans now. Some of which involve overcoming enormous fears. I am going to be kind to myself this week while the island teems with tourists whose rooms I do not have to clean. But next week, watch out!

Dreaming

2008-07-23T05:05:00.001-07:00

I dreamed last night that a tidal wave crashed over the beach washing away all my possessions. When it subsided, my women friends and I scoured the beach to retrieve what we could.
Does it mean I am overwhelmed, and need to lose what is not important? Well, I know that is true.
I believe it may indicate a deep longing for total immersion in my art. Time stretching out as far as the sea for me to work, not alone, but with other artists and experts.
The less time I spend on art, the more disconnected I feel and the more difficult it is to be present for those who depend on me.

Calling all mixed media artists

2008-07-18T03:47:00.000-07:00

My post on hoarding, er, collecting has led to the question of how to store all the ephemera one has. I have two large plastic (ick) carrying thingies where I put all my paint, glue, inks, stamps, etc. I have several more plastic covered containers for stuff, a wicker suitcase for fabric, a large antique wooden object with lots of little nooks filled with jars of beads, and what-not...paper I have in a large canvas file folder holder.
It works to a degree. I like to see everything I have, and the way it is, I cannot. I have a generally good idea of my inventory but it feels too scattered. I have thought about dividing things by color or category abut am not sure how to go about it or if it would work for me.
How do you store your collection, supplies, ephemera?

Hoarding

2008-07-12T06:18:00.000-07:00

Hoarding is a polite word for being a pack rat. I would never call myself the latter disparaging term. But I may just be fooling myself.
I have a large amount of ephemera, what others may call crap. Isn't ephemera a much more beautiful word?
I don't always know what the item will be used for, but when I see something, a book, a broken piece of jewelry, vintage fabric, a pretty rock in the yard, I pick it up and put it in my pocket.
Because nearly all my work incorporates some form of found objects ( objet trouve if you want to be fancy) I have a valid reason for keeping it.
However, there are two problems with this, space being the most obvious. It does take up quite a bit of room. As my "studio" still remains a corner of my bedroom, this is beginning to be a problem. I haven't moved out to the pretty shed because we have still not solved the electrical problems there and it is very, very hot.
The other problem which is more worrisome to me is that sometimes something becomes so precious to me, I can't bear to use it. And there the object sits.... waiting for me to become inspired, connect and disconnect simultaneously.

what's new

2008-06-25T05:02:00.001-07:00

Despite the lack of posting, I have still been working on things and have several pieces completed, but not yet listed. Things are very slow on Etsy right now so I have not felt any sense of urgency to do so.

Here are a couple of things I've done recently. I see both sides of my personality in these pieces, one so dark and the others frivolous and light. I have been somewhat unhappy with everything I've completed, feeling as though I've added too much or not enough. That sounds like my life in general. I am thinking that assemblage is my favored medium, I am usually more pleased with those pieces than with any others. I have yet to sell any of those- as I have said before, the pieces I love best tend to sit in my shop.

I this piece I used an old wicker pocketbook handle given to me by my friend Robin, the cover of an antique math book, a bird skull and various other ephemera. I enjoyed making it.

These started out as tiny tin bird houses that I found at the flea market, painted in a country fashion. I covered them with gesso and started to work. After painting them, I covered one with sand and one with mica flakes, coating them both with spray adhesive. I used driftwood, handmade paper, yarn and broken china pieces to decorate them...

Art + Kids = Fun

2008-06-13T08:29:00.000-07:00

Today I packed up some odds and ends from my stash and headed over the the elementary school ( the LAST DAY!!) to my grandson's pre- k class to make ACEO's. What a blast! And quite likely the most well behaved group of children I have EVER seen. They shared, they complimented each other, they concentrated on what they were doing. I'll post more pictures tomorrow....

My team members Yart Sale Items

2008-06-11T03:14:00.000-07:00

I belong to two teams over at Etsy : Wild Wise Witty Grandmamas and Metsy- the team for mixed media artists- several members from each team are participants in the Yart Sale beginning today and running through the 20th.
Why is this so great? No gas required for terrific finds at Yart sale prices!
For more sellers got to Etsy
search in the areas you are interested in ( supplies, handmade, vintage, etc) and type in yart !

http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=tag_title&search_query=yart+%26+metsy+team

http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=tag_title&search_query=yart+%26+wwwg+team

More Yart Sale Information

2008-06-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

Hey, check out some of the Etsy shops participating in the YART Sale here at Ya Gotta Yart!

Joining in a YART Sale!

2008-06-09T05:59:00.000-07:00

I am prepping today for the YART sale this week on Etsy- come on in and see what everyone has. Search listing with the YART tag!

Touch the Puppet Head or Flea Market Finds

2008-05-26T04:35:00.000-07:00

I need the help of antique sellers here. I found this family of marionettes at the flea market yesterday. The bodies and clothes are very roughly made but the heads look as though they were once very fine. The contrast between the workmanship of the bodies and heads is startling.

The heads could be porcelain and feel solid, no light like composition heads.

It appears they were once painted but that is long gone, or at least most of it.

There is very little damage to the faces except for Mama Puppet. Papa Puppet looks like Freud.

Anyone have any ideas about age, provenance?

pollyanna speaks

2008-05-22T03:51:00.000-07:00

My inner goody-two-shoes has whispered in my ear. She has managed to find a silver lining in the "little time to create dilemma".
Being able only to work on a project in fits and bursts allows me to take my time. Funny that when I had a lot of time, I tended to rush through things.
Now, I patiently lay down a layer and stop. I find I enjoy coming back and listening to what the project has to say the next time I sit down with it.

Works in Progress

2008-05-20T05:39:00.000-07:00

the above is called shine a light; you can only see the tip of a pull chain from a broken lamp- layers and layers of fabric, paper, paint,ink, stain.....
She came from the cover an antique book- again layers and layers of stuff with altered paper, and a heart engraved very faintly with the name Luella.

I I took a picture of my niece and "cartooned" it

I printed it on handmade paper and an in the process of gussying it up

Flea Market Finds

2008-05-19T05:21:00.000-07:00

The book above has beautiful line drawings!
Great cover, text and pictures!

I hope to alter her into a muse or spirit doll.
I know I'll find a place for this orphan earring.
Does this qualify as steampunk ephemera?

Does anyone remember this kind of plastic doll clothing?

A Field Trip

2008-05-16T03:46:00.000-07:00

Today my oldest daughter and I are visiting my grandson's pre-k classroom to show them some of my art made from found and recycled objects. I hope I can take some pictures!

Frustrated

2008-05-13T04:17:00.000-07:00

I have several unfinished projects sitting on my work table. I have to yet to complete the overhaul of my shop. Work is sucking the life out of me and along with the trip to NY to pick up my daughter I have no energy to create. But the desire is riding my shoulder and whispering in my ear.
I must remember to have patience. And to put myself in the background a bit, without painting myself out of the picture completely. Balance. I need it.

Revamping

2008-05-04T05:25:00.000-07:00

In an attempt to gain control of SOMETHING in my life I embarked upon a complete overhaul of my Etsy shop. The imminent arrival of my daughter, going back to work and dealing with a 5 year old have taken a toll on me and this is my solution.

I deactivated everything, downloaded Picasa and began taking pictures. I have 2 other photo editing programs, Kodak and HP. They do not compare to the ease of use and the features available with Picasa. I still long for Photoshop but this is a good interim alternative.

Pricing is a hot topic on the Etsy forums. Many artists are offended by others underpricing their work, feeling it is unfair to the Etsy community as a whole. Some buyers even feel a low price indicates a less than wonderful item.

I know that I priced to sell and sometimes too low to be fair to myself. I also listed things I was not in love with. ( This despite the reality that what I really love and worked long and hard on has not sold.)
In addition my using recycled and found objects led me to under price, after all I didn't pay for it.

I still have to deal with offering clear shipping prices for international buyers. I have asked buyers to "convo" me ( an Etsy term for in-house communication that I actually hate, only because I am weird and don't like abbreviations) for prices but that seems to be a turn-off.

The sun is not consistently out this morning, so picture taking may have to wait. Maybe I will have time to actuall work on some projects!

oddity

2008-04-30T05:58:00.000-07:00

I am a hermit. My father was one too. He lived and died alone on his houseboat. I could do that; rocking gently in the ocean breeze in my hammock.
But now I am feeling very disconnected from the world. Not quite a full blown depressive episode but very low. I am still working on art projects, but not listing; reading the forum discussions on Etsy but rarely participating. I am uncomfortable in my skin.

It is strange when the people you speak to most are those you have never met, and you communicate only on the computer. It is like living in a dream world, surreal and somewhat discomfiting.

I want to be sitting somewhere with a flesh and blood friend, sipping our drink of choice and talking about our lives.

Finally

2008-04-25T06:02:00.000-07:00

I do try to be flexible. I do! But going back to "real work" has forced me to change the time I have to work on anything art related. Now I have to work at night, after baby boy has gone to sleep. I forced myself to clean up my corner and got going as soon as it was done. I was able to answer an ACEO Bounty Challenge on Etsy. As a response to the challenge to create a card with found objects, I made her:

at least someone is creating

2008-04-24T04:48:00.000-07:00

I have not had any time to work on any art pieces since before the Earth Day Celebration. In fact I have yet to unpack or organize my studio with my new supplies. This morning, with a 2 hour fog delay, my grandson stayed in his room and created a mixed media piece with found objects.

What I love best about it, is that he drew it first and created the piece from the template!

Earth Day Celebration

2008-04-21T05:24:00.000-07:00

The Earth Day Celebration was a lot of fun. The weather was fabulous and the place was filled with hippies both young and old. Music, games, information about the environment, painted garbage cans up for Silent Auction, artisan bread, clams and oysters, flea market goodies and art!

I got a lot of good feedback but not a lot of sales, although my fear that I would sell NOTHING did not come to pass.

I thought I would tell you what I did right and wrong and what the festival coordinators could have done better.

My mistakes-
1. NO tent- a) I burned to a crisp, b) I looked forlorn and as my mother-in-law said "unprofessional"

2. I did not have enough range of height on my table to better display items

3. I did not make a sign

What I did right-
1. smile and talk to people
2. give discounts to other artists
3. visit other artists booths
4. encourage people to take business cards to drive them to Etsy
5. I had a variety of things priced from .50 to $50.00

One thing would have made the whole event better- if it was marketed as more of an art show rather than a flea market. There was also nobody to greet artists and show them to their designated spot. That left me next to 2 empty places where other artists did not show up, so there was an unattractive gap between myself and two other people's tables.
Taking an item from each artist and displaying them on a table with the artist's name and selling raffle tickets would be another good way to drive people to tables....

My tables
Lots of big paintings!
We were right on the water!
Cool recycled toys for the kids
Music made from recycled materials!

Earth Day Celebration Countdown

2008-04-16T04:43:00.000-07:00

I am behind on my to-do list. I've gotten a price list put together, business cards ready, some with magnets on the back. Bags, price tags, give-aways- done.
I have not put together my display or packed my items for sale. I'm hoping the water is not on at work and I don't have to go in today.

Flea Market Fun

2008-04-08T04:36:00.000-07:00

I love flea markets, yard sales, auctions and garbage picking. They provide me with most of my art supplies and lot of the stuff in my house. And, I must confess, a new love. I have not told my husband yet, but the main reason I got to the flea market in Md. is Ray.

Ray has the largest collection of books I have ever seen. And I only see what he has to sell. He has garages full.

Vintage, antique, foreign, text, every type. And he is far too reasonable in his prices. And sweet.

And funny. With a great smile. He is old enough to be my grandfather so perhaps Michael will not be too jealous.

I have a mystery love there too. There is a booth that has never been manned, any time I've gone there. A woman who sells her baked goods takes care of the business I do with this seller.

Most of his stock isn't priced. I often skulk out to my car feeling like I have stolen something.

Saturday, after buying my books and chatting up Ray, I bought a bunch of large vintage photographs at mystery man's booth.

I have only used one of them to make anything. The ones above are listed in my etsy shop. they are BIG and I have been working small.

Here is one I finished.

Thank You, Isadora

2008-04-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

Oh thank heaven for her. She picked me right up off the floor and out of my slump. I have to say that I am in love with her. I had an enormous amount of fun making her. I call her Isadora Goes Her Own Way. I sewed, painted, stamped, cut, pasted, s trung and wrapped all manner of things on her. The weirdest thing may be her shoes.. I pulled the eyes out of a Madame Alexander doll and snipped off pieces, using what was left as her stylish footwear.

At Long Last- A Winner

2008-04-02T04:56:00.000-07:00

So sorry for the delay. It has been a bit mad here.

Diane Clancy you are the winner! I will be painting vines and celebrating the earth on the surfboard... Can you come visit and help me? Choose your ACEO and I will get it right out to you!
Thanks to all who participated!

Summer Writer/ Winter Artist

2008-04-01T11:48:00.000-07:00

I believe I am in the midst of a change, the beginning of a metamorphosis.

My winter self is quiet and moves slowly, thinking in images, cocooning. I rarely write. My journal lies untouched, waiting for the words to come.
And so I create; cards, boxes, building things out of scraps. I used to have to pull myself out of this in the winter because words were my life. My income was based upon teaching language to children, reassuring their parents and working with other professionals. This winter, being here, I could let my caterpillar creep about quietly, doing as she pleased.

I have 5 art projects in progress now, each of which is awaiting my attention. I can't seem to do anything with them.
I wake up with words tumbling about my head like a dictionary torn into strips. My dreams are snips and scraps of poetry. I talk far too much to the librarian, the clerk at the grocery store and the nurse at the doctor's office. I want people and company and sun and connections.

I think the metaphor is apt, as long as you place no greater value on the butterfly than the caterpillar.

progress

2008-03-30T08:12:00.000-07:00

This is what the second painting turned into

and the winner of the contest will be announced tomorrow- running late.. again

fears, boundaries and having fun

2008-03-28T07:53:00.000-07:00

I am not a painter. But I adore painting, walls, furniture, on my mixed media pieces. However, it is never the focal point.

Is it knowing my limits, what I am good at, or being safe? This has been a year of facing fears and expanding boundaries - moving, taking on the care of my grandson, getting married, learning to kayak, and really working on my art.

I admit that none of those things were done without a lot of thought on my part. I am an over thinker. And I like to be good at things.

When I was in elementary school, I did some drawings based on illustrations from a children's book. The figures had no mouth. My teacher left me a comment, "Cute, but finish the faces". I am fairly certain I showed no more drawings to that woman. Today I would probably have been sent to the guidance counselor to explore what I couldn't say.

Some of the figures in recent pieces have their mouths closed with wire or string. Maybe I should have gone to the counselor. I think it is a part of my upbringing- Children should be seen and not heard- Don't talk to anyone about what goes on in our family- Don't embarrass us-

Imagination was not encouraged. And so I did what I was good at, kept my mouth closed and my imagination limited to stories and poetry for my eyes only.

I don't have to perfect anymore, happy is good. So those are some pictures of works in progress where painting, at least for now is the focal point. Not finished? Who knows? Will they ever see the light of day aside from right here, right now. Don't care. I had fun.

A New Contest

2008-03-24T03:05:00.000-07:00

My husband found this old surfboard under the shed this weekend. We both think it would be cool to use it as part of my display at the Earth Day Celebration on April 19. But how?

Well, that is the contest. YOU tell me what to do with it! ( Don't say wash it, because I plan on doing that.)

So give me your best ideas. We will pick one from a hat on Thursday March 27 and announce the winner on Saturday March 29. I will use your display at the event and you can choose any ACEO from my shop as your prize. In addition, if you are an artist from Etsy, I will feature your work here.

Mixing it up with Marion Barnett

2008-03-21T04:38:00.000-07:00

Marion Barnett is a Scottish artist of astonishing breadth and depth. I feel unequal to the task of writing about her, in large part because she has done so far much more eloquently than I could hope to. Additionally she is a talent that should be sipped slowly like a fine single malt scotch, relishing every drop.
I urge you to sit down and look at each and every piece she has created. There is something for lovers of every genre of art. She paints, creates stunning art and totem dolls, textile art, hand-dyed cloth, encaustic art, altered books and on and on.

She has a strong presence on the web, and I am certain, that in person, she is just as compelling.

She is one of the many woman I have "met" on Etsy that I wish I could visit with in person.

Visit her blogs Artmixter and Artmixter's Emporium. On the latter she offers work for sale, from mintd, as well as in her Etsy shops, artmixter and purely painting.

I am so pleased that Marion agreed to be featured. As with all artist's I write about, the works shown are hers and hers alone, not to be reproduced. Fortunately you can own a piece yourself in all price ranges. Start with an ACEO, you won't stop there.

Sit back, grab a cup of whatever you please and drink her in.

I want to tell you a story

2008-03-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

When I began working with this little guy he was only slightly older than 2. Last week he turned 7. I haven't seen him in over a year, but will be visiting him next week.

He faced an enormous amount of challenges, not the least of which was his diagnosis of autism.

Any time I think of him, I smile, even though he was among my more challenging children. I clearly recall the day he began to use language we had not taught him. He picked up a bowl of beads and said, "Sparkly!" After that, adjectives fairly flew out of his brain.

I haven't fallen in love with every child I've worked with, but when I list them, this guy is near the very top. He means as much to me as my own children and my grandson.

For a long time, he was terrified of bugs, so I began to read to him about them, draw them, and finally we looked at and touched them. I think his mother believes I created a monster. I am simply proud that he conquered a fear, and began an interest that threatens to become life-long.

To commemorate that , I made this today:

I took a picture I had of him which I digitally altered to look like a cartoon. I printed it on handmade paper, and then began adding details with gouache, acrylics, vintage bug images and text, paint pens and glitter. I am going to frame it and give it to his family when I see them.

I'm still standing

2008-03-19T08:43:00.000-07:00

I have been laid a bit low by some recurring migraines and busy covering my grandson with ivy dry due to an early season bout of poison ivy.

I do promise a Featured Artist on Friday and perhaps even another contest, because I had so much fun with the last one..

I have been working a little and yesterday finished this piece which is my new favorite.

And the winner is.....

2008-03-14T06:50:00.000-07:00

Mary Rogers of Mary Rogers Art. She came the closest to a correct answer with her guess of a sea sponge... It really is petrified oysters! Mary, pick your prize and email me or convo me on Etsy so I can get your address.

I am going to try to work on the featured artist piece today but I am late getting started because of the book fair and grandparents day. We got a great mini art kit with canvases the size of ACEO's!

A winner ( sort of)

2008-03-13T16:22:00.000-07:00

Nobody guessed correctly, but what contest would be complete without one? I made an executive decision. After look over all the responses, there was only one that was close.
So, tomorrow before I tell you all about the Friday Featured Artist, I will tell you who it is!

A contest! A New ACEO! An Announcement!

2008-03-10T21:16:00.000-07:00

Can you figure out what this is? Take your time...the contest will run until Thursday March 13 at 6 PM. If there are multiple correct answers we will choose among them by picking the name from a hat, or a bowl, or something similar.

The prize? Choose any ACEO from my shop... Is that good? *

The new aceo was made by my almost 5 year old grandson for his Grandpa Michael.

And last but not least, come back for a new featured artist on Friday!

Collaborator

2008-03-10T13:17:00.000-07:00

Some time ago on my other blog I showed some of a book I have been working on for a couple of years now. It began when my grandson was having bad dreams. I wanted it to have the illusion of texture and so began to make collages on the pages opposite the text. I am not happy with some ( many) of them. I cannot draw. So what I need is a collaborator. At first I thought I would try to find an illustrator, but then I would lose the look I've been envisioning.
Today it struck me. I need a mixed-media collage artist who can draw. Maybe one of you fabulous people from etsy who could illustrate the book with your work.
Let me know. Maybe it will so amazing we could publish it....

Belinda Hall Australian Artist

2008-03-07T06:08:00.000-08:00

Today I would like to introduce you to Belinda Hall, an eclectic artist from Australia. I have had the pleasure of " meeting " her on the forums on Etsy. She is one of a number of artists participating in two long running threads regarding ACEO's.

That is NOT all Belinda creates but let me show you. First, this beautiful water lily ACEO.

Belinda's work includes recycled materials, photography, knitting, knotting, crochet, and much more.. I would love to see her studio!

When you visit her etsy shop you will know that she is passionate about animals. She custom makes dog leads, horse ropes and webbing equipment.

But she doesn't just sell. In order to support her passion she donates to charities to protect animals, including the Mountain Gorilla. Read this :

"Amongst the tranquil setting high in the mountains of the Congo a family resides. The head of the family is regally silverhaired, quite like most learned leaders of the world, they all have soft brown eyes that seem to hold mysterious secrets and see into your heart. Their expression peaceful and a wonder to behold, especially when you learn of the trauma they are currently enduring. That of the wars between men of differing views.Of whom do I speak you may ask ...The Mountain Gorilla Family ...lead by a magnificent mature Silverback male. I think of the one family who have lost so many members recently ...but there are more families in danger and I want to help.This auction is to raise funds for these magnificent creatures and the men who 'live' to see that they do too!!!I am donating 100% of the final sale price of this item to the Wildlife Direct Gorilla Program so please keep your eyes open for listings carrying the 'WDGP'."

If you would like to participate in this go to her shop!

Belinda is always up for a trade. This is a great way to add to your ACEO collection and get the thrill of sending YOUR artwork across the world.

Check out her PIF listings. PIF stands for pay-it forward. Sellers offer art for a minimal price ( usually .20 and shipping costs) and ask only that you offer listings in your store under the PIF category. Build up some good karma, folks!

Thank you, Belinda for agreeing to be featured here! Come back again. I have two more wonderous artists to tell you about AND a contest coming up!

Is THIS art?

2008-03-06T04:48:00.000-08:00

My husband and grandson found this skull yesterday. Today I am bleaching it.

New ACEO's

2008-03-05T08:35:00.000-08:00

i cannot stop making these.

Mourning 1 & 2

2008-03-03T05:48:00.001-08:00

I worked on 2 new ACEO's this weekend- both created on discarded linoleum.

Initially I didn't like the colors in no. 1 because they looked like camouflage colors. Then I realized that it was appropriate in light of the number of people dying in Iraq. The second is more of a global mourning- I really shouldn't watch the news. The world appears full of rampant cruelty.

These are more abstract work than I typically do but I find I really like them.

so far

2008-03-02T06:06:00.000-08:00

So far in my etsy shop I have made 9 sales. One of my items has been sent to the UK!

the majority of the sales have been my vintage supplies of paper goods.

I have been in 4 treasuries chosen by some very talented people and that is exciting.

Is my art work too primitive and not what most people are looking for? Maybe.. but I am having fun so I will keep going...

And it was all yellow

2008-02-29T07:50:00.000-08:00

Upstairs the sun is pouring through my windows. It made me think of my friend Robin, in the dark tundra of upstate NY. I made this ACEO to express my NEED for sun.

It is 140 lb. watercolor paper mounted on a playing card. I gessoed, painted, layered with tissue and handmade paper, yarn left from my "sunshine in a bag" blanket made by Robin, images of leaves from a vintage children's book.

It is available on my etsy shop.

Make Art Not Beds

2008-02-28T11:34:00.000-08:00

During winter here, I am unemployed. I have been able to work consistently on my art projects and have begun to sell on Etsy. Here's my shop. I have been working mainly on ACEO cards.

They measure 3.5" x 2.5" and are wildly varied in terms of content and materials.

Most of mine are mini collages. This is one I made today. I feel this way a lot, but I still clean my house...