art a day

Art blog

Fri, 26 Jan 2007 21:46:35 GMT

Thanks to everyone for reading my art blog, art_a_day. It is now located at my website, which will be fully functional soon, too. Please do watch for updates!

www.sunshinefactory.net/blog

shrine class with Nancy Anderson

Sun, 05 Nov 2006 17:21:45 GMT

Well, it's about time I dusted off this art journal and typed something in. I've been lazy, writing little bits here and there about art stuff in my personal journal, but not really expounding on anything. And definitely not showing enough photos. Of course, I'm also not making enough art, either. I haven't been feeling well and that makes a big difference on how productive I can be.

So, here I go!

Yesterday, i took a class with Nancy Anderson of Boulder. She does a lot of jewelry, metalworking and shrine stuff. She is a BIG fan of found objects. Basically, she's doing what I started doing years ago and then sort of stopped. She does it much better, too. The class was good for me in several ways:

1. I learned how to drill a hole into metal and into wood. Now I know what I want for Christmas.
2. I learned how to metal stamp (harbor freight, here I come!)
3. I learned how to rust things.
4. I re-learned how to find beauty and purpose in the most unassuming of cast-away objects.

I had already had a vision for the shrine I wanted to make in this class. I have been collecting pieces of crap from gramma and grampa's house for years. Old cocktail napkins from their restaurant, gramma's broken old costume jewelry, a paintbrush that I think was grandpa's, all sorts of odditties. I also pulled together things I found elsewhere that reminded me of them. Littlle tiny mirrors, buttons in gold and ivory. Mom scanned a ton of old photos and some of grandma's handwritten recipes and send them to me. It all would make for a very cool and nostalgic pieces (for me). An homage to two of the most important people in my life.

Since I had that all sorted out in my head already, i didn't go in for the heavy rusted look like some of the others were doing. I loved what they were doing, of course, but I already had a mission. Unfortunately I had to wait a long time for the instructor to cut the hole in my door (my only complaint) and I got a pretty late start on really making my shrine come together.

Lately I've been having some serious nostalgia issues. I've also been really thrown off with my fertility "treatment," if you can call it that (a story for another day) and I've been highly emotional, scattered, distracted and out of sorts. So while I was collecting all of these items for class, I cried. I cried a lot. I was worried I would cry all through class, to the point where I didn't really want to go. It wasn't an option, though, considering what I'd paid for the class.

So I went. Nancy had us do the sit-in-a-circle-and-talk thing first, which was nice especially because there were quite a few new faces that day. Well, i tell you, there had to be something in the air because we were all talking about having a rough week, about art teachers who tore us down so much when we were younger that we avoided being creative, close people in our lives who didn't support our creative dreams and who even came out and mocked them. Another woman said that last time she was in fort collins for something was when she had broken her back and she burst into tears. Another woman lost her husband of 30-something years in August. It was amazing to realize I wasn't alone. And most of us were crying by the time that session was over. I was one of the first to speak, so I didn't even share that much. I just felt so much better to know I was not the only one who felt so broken and it would be ok if I cried.

After that session, we had a group collage session where we each started with one 12x12 of scrapbook paper and added some stuff to it, then passed it on to the person on our right. After about half a dozen or so people worked on it, this is what I got back. The original piece of scrapbook paper is here.

Next cool thing is that I sat next to Tana Mitchell and across from Lynda, Linda, Venita and Bev Perina. I tell you, these women are all wacky and unbelievably creative and generous and funny. We had a great time teasing each other, giving each other input, etc. I went to lunch with Tana. She took me to a great mexican place on the north end of town. I thought it was a hole in the wall, but it was nice and clean and homey inside and the food was A. MAZE. ING. I had a burrito smothered with green chile that would knock your socks off. We're talking as good as Sadie's in Albuquerque. I've always liked Tana a lot and she's the first one who really made me feel welcome with that whole art group over there, so I was happy to spend some time with her. We talked a lot about some stuff that's been hard for me and I felt so much better when lunch was over. She even treated. AND I got to have a sopapilla! mmmmmmmmmm sopapilla!

Today, I hope to finish the shrine, or at least have it close to finished. I have lots of gramma's beads to glue in. i think it will be a blast.

Also, last night, i finished packaging my first set of greeting cards for selling online. I have a couple of extraneous ones to package and then I'll be setting up shop! I'm quite excited.

my Art Unraveled projects

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 00:57:06 GMT

So, I'm finally posting all of my AU stuff.

First, are my ATCs.

Then, my Woven Watercolor Wonders:
#1
#2
#3 (still awaiting completion)

And lastly, my drawing of a sickly cactus.

The journaling stuff is highly personal, so just believe me when I say it's fabulous. :)

good work!

Sun, 06 Aug 2006 21:42:35 GMT

Here's the piece I finished in class yesterday:

And I've finished making my trades for AU, save for the necklace stringing, magnet gluing and putting my mark on the back.

Lynne Perella workshop

Sun, 06 Aug 2006 04:21:38 GMT

If you ever have the opportunity to do so, I beg you to make sure you attend a workshop taught by Lynne Perella. I took her class "Wabi-Sabi - Art & Imperfection" today at the Artist's Nook and ... Well, WOW, is all I can say.

Here's a description of the class from her website:

In this process-driven class, we will explore imperfection, deteriorated
surfaces, and unexpected raw beauty, while doing large experimental
mixed-media works of art. Rough textures, deconstructed collages, heavily-
layered surfaces.....These are examples of Art with an unselfconscious
beauty and narrative quality. We will explore low-tech ideas for
creating rich layered surfaces, and we will share a full day of exploration
and self discovery.

We played with gesso, texture, paint, collage and pretty much anything else that turned us on. I was amazed at how Lynne found a way to not take anything for granted, how there is beauty to marvel at in a scrap of paper that one might otherwise discard. And she was funny and encouraging and impressive and a great teacher.

I am exhausted. It was a long day of arting, of thinking, of pouring myself out on this fabulous paper. Tomorrow I'll take a photo and put it up. I amazed myself and I can't wait to take what I learned and apply it elsewhere...to my assemblages, altered books and my journal. I feel the tide is turning and I am even more stoked to go to Art Unraveled in a couple of weeks.

collage 6/17/06

Tue, 20 Jun 2006 21:00:11 GMT

10x10 canvas with pieces of lattice nailed to the sides to create a frame/shadowbox.

I'm in an art show!

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 00:55:28 GMT

For the months of June and July, the local art store is displaying the works of local artists. So I signed up! It's very exciting as it's my first show. (The one in the middle is mine.)

encaustic wax and brads

Sun, 07 May 2006 17:35:05 GMT

Yesterday, I took a day-long class with Bev Brazelton called "The Waxy Buildup" and it was about learning to use encaustic wax and doing collage with it.

Oh. My. God. What a great instructor. What a great great class. I had dabbled once with a set of encaustic wax and also with melting crayons, but now that I know what to do? The possibilities are limitless.

Here are a few things I did in the class:

7x10.5" encaustic wax and collage paper

11x14.5" encaustic wax, collage paper and images, magazine images

I'm going to frame them this week, although I think the blue one can use something still.

This morning I woke up thinking about organizing my brads an eyelets. How weird.

I know I haven't been updating here. I think I've just been too scattered to discipline myself to do so. I have made quite a few cards this week and I journaled a couple of times. Nothing to write home about, but I did it. My new tactic is to keep a stash of supplies upstairs under the coffee table and to make stuff while we watch tv. I particularly like the "if it's not here, don't go downstairs for it" method of creating, forcing me to use what I have right at my fingertips.

I've also been thinking about revamping my website and I'd like to have it ready by the end of May, as in June I'll be part of an exhibit at the local art store. yay!

my april article in Scrapbooking.com Magazine

Sat, 29 Apr 2006 13:30:07 GMT

Image Transfers

(xposted in my personal journal)

some cards

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 22:14:35 GMT

needed birthday cards, and even though they were all late, I stamped them, dammit! :)

here's one for my aunt's husband. He's a cowboy, you know. for real.

and this one is for my client/friend. I don't know why my scanner scans so dark sometimes.

and this one was for another friend.

(xposted to _srs)

artwork for the wedding

Mon, 20 Mar 2006 23:40:57 GMT

Fake Cake

Closeup of Fake Cake

Favors 1

Favors 2

Favors 3

a marathon!

Mon, 13 Mar 2006 00:52:56 GMT

Today, I'd say I did about 5 hours of work on assorted art projects. Tim helped by making the bases for the favors.

Finished the Fake Cake, Devin's flower basket (although I may add rhinestones later when I have time because I love rhinestones), the guest book.

I started my next article for Scrapbooking.com and thought about upcoming articles. That stuff is drying.

the two pages in the RR I'm in are drying.
So are my other two wedding projects.

but now, I'm pooped, and the smell of rubber is making me sick to my stomach. how weird is that.

accomplishment

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 23:49:39 GMT

Today I took my first step toward getting over the fear of the rotary tool I bought in 1999...

...by using it.

Thank you, countess_shell!

today I've been working on wedding stuff that will also go toward my June article in Scrapbooking.com. Yesterday, I started on the guest book and it's almost done! Today, the fake cake and another two items to be disclosed later.

tags I"ve been working on randomly, when I find time

Sun, 12 Feb 2006 19:06:18 GMT

formica tags, collaged, stamped and embellished with gold leafing and rhinestones. whee!

and here are some photos from yesterday

Sun, 29 Jan 2006 18:22:12 GMT

crazy art marathon

Sun, 29 Jan 2006 02:12:30 GMT

Today, I...

- collaged EIGHT formica tags, which will be turned into magnets or hanging things.

- made 3 cards

- experimented with a technique I saw in a magazine and the finished product will probably become a card

I am ever so proud of myself right now.
scans to come. everything must dry now.

birthday card

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 14:36:09 GMT

did this card last night for my brother-in-law.
also, last night, I cleaned up my area a little, I finished one project for my article and worked on another. (eta: that strip down the left is supposed to be copper. weird.)

groundwork

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 05:26:32 GMT

covered 15 formica tags with assorted mulberry and japanese papers. Will do collages on them this weekend.

I did it anderale! I did it!

Thu, 12 Jan 2006 06:29:49 GMT

Tonight I worked more on an AB cover (photos will be in the march issue of SBC) and made two cards from my fabulous gift from fran -- the dec. 2005 kit from self-addressed.com, my new favorite place. these will be birthday cards for my siblings. note to self: need to make more for dad and brother-in-law, too.

finally finished the AB!

Thu, 15 Dec 2005 21:54:26 GMT

this was a yearlong project -- an altered book for my friend for christmas. It celebrates 20 years of friendship. AB for Alli

art! gifts!

Tue, 13 Dec 2005 18:00:42 GMT

I've finished two canvases for christmas gifts. They make me very happy.

gift for Chuck

gift for Aunt Barbara

the final tally.

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:29:55 GMT

ok, so I didn't finish the AB. And I never finished the three canvases on which I did great backgrounds. But I think those great backgrounds rock. And count.

so....

two 16x20 canvases - backgrounded
one 12x16 art board - backgrounded

gives me 832 more inches.

2,031 / 3,000
(67.7%)

(xposted to artbytheinch)

more AB pages

Mon, 28 Nov 2005 00:26:59 GMT

Did two 10x8.25 altered book spreads today. I'm determined to finish this AB this week (it's a Christmas gift) and if I'm lucky, it will be done before the end of the month so I can actually meet my goal.

1,199 / 3,000
(40.0%)

(xposted to artbytheinch)

paper fabric session at mhba

Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:33:52 GMT

Yesterday, I attended the Mile High Book Arts meeting and we made paper fabric, a la the instructions in the first issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissors. I did two, which will probably end up being book covers, but I'm not totally sure yet.

One piece was 14x17 and the other was 16x8.25, for a total of 370 inches.

1,034 / 3,000
(34.5%)

(xposted to artbytheinch)

even more arty inches

Wed, 16 Nov 2005 03:37:41 GMT

one more spread in AB.

664 / 3,000
(22.1%)

(xposted to artbytheinch)