If I was a Cobbler....

Did you know?

2012-02-18T01:10:00.000-08:00

"Dow and USDA hope to quietly approve a new genetically engineered seed line that basically swaps RoundUp (glyphosate) out and an even worse weedkiller (2,4-D) in."

Please follow the link to THIS article~

A small watercolor piece

2012-02-18T00:23:00.000-08:00

A small pen, ink, coffee-stain and watercolor piece I finished recently. I was somewhat influenced by medieval woodcuts and the mythology of the Mandrake and it's properties....

A new relief- wood cut

2011-12-07T06:38:00.003-08:00

A new piece for my ETSY store--Birds greeting the morning sun

Sifting through the spiderwebs.....

2011-11-15T04:41:00.005-08:00

It seems like forever since I posted here. Life and the business of it has just...swept me away. This semester has been as usual overwhelming, and I have gotten little done in regard to artwork. I had a small show at a local cafe and have been working on some 1'x1' paintings as well as wood block prints. There are about four weeks left in this semester, and then my schedule will be re-arranged and Ii will have fewer classes to teach...and even though that will mean a bit less cash in my pocket, I am looking forward to it. I plan to print these relief prints and put them on Etsy, I'll keep you posted!

Get your flash drive outta my ..........

2011-07-25T19:43:00.005-07:00

Creativity....
It is a process that develops over time.
In order to be enraptured by creativity, one must learn to slow down, to ruminate, to SEE in a certain kind of almost meditative state.
Seeing with the spirit is not the same as seeing cognitively.
The muse can be shy, and sometimes hard to coax....but when it descends...it does so like the most delicate butterfly upon the top of ones head.
The muse is very quiet, very serene...it is reliant upon a certain type of spiritual conversation...a inward discussion, a psychic intercourse....
One cannot download creativity.
One cannot have the creative spirit inserted into the heart and soul like a machine.
We live in an age of immediate gratification.
I can buy it online, download it and it will amuse and entertain me for hours upon end.
I do not have to make any effort, as "material" will essentially be delivered into the deepest recesses of my mind without any exertion on my part...
This sounds great, until one begins to realize the overall effect of what this does to the soul as well as the mind.
A void is created...a void that can never be satisfied or competed with.
I become a passive receptacle, no longer able to utilize critical thinking skills, no longer able to focus my attention for lengthy periods of time.
My psychic diet becomes one of sound bites and broken sentences.

In my many years of teaching, I have worked with all ages and all levels as well as individuals with disabilities. Over the last two years I have begun to see the blight that is caused by the electronic age we live in.
Students are more distracted than ever before, not able to concentrate for more than a few minutes at a time.
Teaching (for all age groups including the middle-aged student) has become an exhausting attempt at the most flashy presentation, broken up into the most easily digestible, least exerting, mouth-fulls. The recipient desires only to be spoon fed with no expectations of an end result.

This should be terrifying for all of us, this electronic Prozac that numbs the mind and heart.
What will become of us if we continue on in this direction?
It seems we are getting farther and farther away from the importance of truth and introspection.
I long for the day when a world-wide epiphany erupts, which causes each one of us to re-examine what truly matters in this life:-- love, wisdom, creativity, tolerance, spirituality, connection to the earth.....
The evolution of the inner life was never more needed than now......

Lazy Summer days around the house.....

2011-07-17T08:40:00.008-07:00

The heat of the summer brings with it beautiful skies......

Introspective reading.......

Music to enrich the soul......

And contemplative solitude.......

What more could one ask for?

Devastation

2011-05-23T05:32:00.005-07:00

We spend our lives trying to control everything around us....yet, in a moment, all we treasure can be lost.

It is amazing...the fleeting nature of life.....

Image from Denver Post

Is the earth changing, or is it responding to our negative interaction with it.....it all remains to be seen. Storms, earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunami's, perhaps these are wake-up calls for far greater issues that we are not attentive to....our lives are so fast , we listen to those inward voices so infrequently.....I wonder what it will take before we hear..........

Wisdom

2011-05-22T05:24:00.002-07:00

The great teachings unanimously emphasize that all the peace, wisdom, and joy in the universe are already within us; we don't have to gain, develop, or attain them. We're like a child standing in a beautiful park with his eyes shut tight. We don't need to imagine trees, flowers, deer, birds, and sky; we merely need to open our eyes and realize what is already here, who we really are -- as soon as we quit pretending we're small or unholy.

- Bo Lozoff

Little Projects

2011-01-09T06:19:00.007-08:00

I've been working on this little cradled panel (approx. 4"x5"x2")for quite a while, but haven't come to a conclusion about how to finish it. I am not the best craftsman, especially when doing mitered corners, but I think the more I slow down and concentrate on being a perfectionist, the better I'll get at it.

The panel itself is made from plywood and pine 1"x2". Much of the text is taken from an old calendar with passages from the Book of Psalms. The large text reads "If I forget".

The top is a combination of painted images and altered imagery. I plan to add more painted detail, using acrylic and possibly tempera, but also more 3D objects.
I really enjoy combining text with imagery. As a matter of fact, I was just speaking to a painter-friend last night, and we were discussing our LOVE of painting, yet at some point, it gets a bit boring-then comes the need to add what she calls-Minutia, in the form of small detailed areas. For the text, I am not a typographer, so I rely on using text already created and then going back on top with paint to integrate it into the whole.
I used to paint, in my more youthful days, giant physically expressive paintings-4'x8', or even larger-8'x8'. Now, that my life has taken many turns, especially moving from place to place so much, my paintings are much smaller, and therefore more intimate. It seems these tiny paintings take much, much longer than the giant ones.
I'll keep you updated on the progress of this one...............

Good News, Bad News

2010-11-28T07:03:00.002-08:00

Have you ever noticed that, since the advent of 24 hour news beginning in the 1990's, theres NO REAL NEWS? It's mostly fluff and "reality". Apparently because they have sooo many hours to fill, they have to create something to fill the gap. I wonder what the news would be had there never been O.J. Simpson or the Gulf War.....Hmmmmmm....

Artists' books and other things..............

2010-11-25T05:00:00.012-08:00

Fall and Spring are very busy seasons for me as all of my college courses run during these times. Because of this I am usually overwhelmed having to grade papers or prepare lectures.

It's difficult to carve out time to create, but creativity is an imperative thing.

If a creative person is kept from being able to express themselves in creative outlets, many things can occur.....some of which are irritation and exhaustion.

A good analogy is Dr. Phil's "Ball in a swimming pool", where one expends so much energy trying to suppress the ball, to keep it under the water, that one depletes ones self.

So, under any and all circumstances, the creative person must create or risk a sort of spiritual death.

Artist's books are a necessary outlet. They are the equivalent to the sketchbook....with the addition of paint or collage.

They allow small scale expressions of what perhaps one day may be taken to larger scale. They are a good place to sort out issues and roadblocks....as well as to refine ideas held inside your head for far too long.

I also often use these books for sample boards of techniques for my students.

The nice thing about these books is your ability to layer images physically, but, the viewer can deconstruct it simply by turning a page.

I love the ability to make little hidden holes where special objects can be placed. Holes can be made with an X-ACTO knife, a jigsaw or a hole cutter that is attached to your drill.

I like to think about the book before I buy it.....does it have text or images that have meaning or can be recycled to fit my intent?

Texture is a great way to add interest to a book, and joint compound is an ideal technique. The only issue here is patience in waiting for it to dry....if you do not allow it to become bone dry, it will turn into sludge when you go back to paint it.

When you first apply it to the surface, it is very much the consistency of frosting. It's at this time that texture plates or stamps can be pressed into the paste.

The objects can be pulled out about 24 hours later and leave a very nice impression.

Gel medium is then used applied as at least two layers to create a barrier against moisture.

This will also allow a surface conducive to paint applications.

I like to use various acrylic staining as well as ink techniques to give an aged and worn look.

Whatever the outcome of the book is not important...really....

What matters is that you have allowed your inner creative imaginative force to express itself.

I remember reading something a long time ago about Carl Jungs concept of the "shadow".....

In some way the shadow is an expression of the possibilities of your self that you cannot quite embrace.....so they are subdued, and often only viewed remotely in dreams or visions of the dark figure.

What we don't realize is that the dark figure is really only ourselves in full potential, what we could be if we let go.....

The explanation of this is often a bit difficult to understand, but is as if we see the true potential of ourselves expressed as if in an eclipse...in a shadow form....the fear of what we could be too great for us to embrace.....so we see it as an "other" being, dark and threatening, instead of the brilliance of our true being.....

He also states that if we do not allow this creative force of our actual selves to be revealed, it can actually backfire into unpleasant states of being, such as violence or mental illness.....

A very interesting idea......some food for thought for sure.......

I wonder what effect the era we are living in will have on our shadow.....

Food For Thought.......

2010-11-08T18:55:00.004-08:00

Why is it that those who pride themselves on being the most Orthodox or Fundamentalist in their religious ideals seem to be the most hard hearted, judgmental and unforgiving of all creatures?

If we are all made in the image of the divine, isn't it expected that we should embrace one another as a reflection of divinity?

Shouldn't it be instinctual for each of us to accept each person for their individuality and greet each other with honor and respect worthy of celestial realms?

Empathy.....what a word deserving of introspection......

The Radiance of Fall

2010-11-07T05:24:00.005-08:00

Fall: My favorite time of year....

Such a beautiful palette of color; golds, reds, ochres, browns, olives.....

I adore the shift in the angle of light so that the shadows become long and distorted...

I love the beginning of the quiet time, when life slows down and contemplation is renewed...

Such a grand party before the long rest..

when all of life here sleeps and dreams of Spring...

Great Shampoo!

2010-10-24T15:57:00.003-07:00

If you are looking for a really nice "green"shampoo (bar), you should consider JR Liggett's. I have incredibly fine limp hair that I have to wash everyday, and I have tried everything on the market.

This one is really nice for a couple of reasons...one is that it gives my hair a bit of life and fulness that the others don't, and the other reason is that it doesn't contain the fillers of the bottled shampoos. Instead it has ingredients like: Olive and Coconut Oil and Lavendar and Cedarwood oils. The aroma is invigorating. .....

Three headed Salmon?

2010-09-28T20:28:00.002-07:00

A note from Consumers Union:

The FDA may soon approve the sale of genetically engineered salmon in our supermarkets – even though it’s unclear what the long-term effects on humans of eating it will be.

But there’s something even fishier going on. The agency could put this salmon on the market without any special labeling.

Tell the FDA that you want the right to know what’s in your food! The agency is standing on technicalities in the labeling law, when it only has to declare that genetically engineered salmon is ‘materially’ different – and should be labeled as such.

Just go to Consumers Union's petition at http://cu.convio.net/GE-Salmon and add your name to the petition.

Consumers have the right to know what they’re buying – and eating!

Thank you!

Pigments......

2010-09-24T08:09:00.011-07:00

I purchased some wonderful pigments from Dick Blick and decided to try them out.

I thought at first I would make some oil paint, but, then decided to try tempera.

Before the advent/invention of oil paint there was tempera. Most artists worked on panel, as canvas was also a later creation.

The beauty of Tempera is that it is water soluble, but yet it has some characteristics it shares with oil such color intensity and integrity.

If you choose to make your own paint from pigment, be sure that you take a few precautions.

Because many pigments are derived from natural sources such as minerals, the may contain ingredients you make not want to ingest or inhale. Therefore it would be advisable for you that you wear gloves to prevent absorption into the skin, as well as a mask of some sort so that you do not inhale the "dust" before it is incorporated into the binder.
All paint is made from pigment, so in it's initial state, it is essentially the same. For each paint, there is a different binder. Aqueous binders allow for use and reconstitution with water, and non-aqueous, such as oil, need a solvent of some sort to thin.

The binder for oil paint is usually linseed, but occasionally people may use walnut or poppy seed or some other kind of oil. For watercolor the binder is usually Gum Arabic, the binder for Gouache is usually also Gum Arabic but contains an inert white that helps it to be more opaque than watercolor.
The binder for true tempera is egg based.

Making paint is a fairly easy process: all you really need is a Muller, a sheet of thick plastic or glass to do the "grinding" on, some small jars to put your product in, your chosen binder, a palette knife and of course-your pigment.

When you are mixing your paint, it is important to think about your binder-pigment ratio. If you put more pigment in than binder, you have a very stiff, opaque paint....like an impasto. If you put too much binder in, you will have a more transparent product that could be used for a glazing technique. For something in between, you probably want a ratio somewhere around 60% binder and 4o% pigment (give or take a few drops of binder).

Place your pigment on the sheet of plastic. Some people like to make a well in the pigment to contain the binder.....

Mix together with your palette knife....

Now take your muller, placing it on the "pile" of binder and pigment, and lightly rotate in a circular motion. The longer you "grind" the solution, the more refined the pigment will become.

Note that you will find the the muller may "adhere" to the plate...this is a normal reaction between the solution and the muller.
Transfer your paint to some small, airtight receptacles.

The blue in the dots as well as the background blue is the tempera. The color of the face as well as the dull blue and red in the foreground are acrylic.

Notice the difference in the intensity of the color between the acrylic and the tempera.
This is a wonderful experiment to try at least once, in order to see the differences between handmade paint and mass produced.

The Creative Process

2010-09-08T05:49:00.006-07:00

I remember as a child the passion I felt for the art-making process.

Whenever I had the chance to break out pencils and paper I would.

It was a passion and a drive.

The sheer joy of imagination coming into being creating things never seen before.

Everything was potential fodder- Nature, dreams, animals, events.....

I particularly loved books. My mother being the hoarder that she was bought every book that crossed her path.

She bought so many that eventually she had my second oldest sisters first husband build an entire room of book shelves.

Those shelves contained any topic you had any interest in: Giant atlases, suede covered history books,antique Bibles, psychology......

My favorite books were the ones with embossed covers. I had learned how to do rubbings and each book had it's own particular texture.

Some were just floral motifs while others were entire scenes.

Of titles I remember- "Watsons" drawing book. I loved it. I was obsessed with the Japanese Ink drawings of horses and cats. I copied them over and over again.

Another book I adored was "Tanglewood Tales". It had original lithographs done by Maxfield Parrish.

Each page was protected by another page of semi transparent paper. It felt like I had uncovered a treasure every time I cracked those pages open. One illustration I remember more than others was "Cadmus Sowing the Seeds of the Dragon". Beautiful juicy reds and blues....only Parrish could have conveyed.....

Simple things can bring great inspiration......................

It Looks Very Interesting....

2010-08-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

A Must See Documentary

2010-08-11T15:38:00.002-07:00

A Very Nice Morning Affirmation...

2010-08-09T05:38:00.001-07:00

Sketch Log July 2010

2010-08-04T07:27:00.003-07:00

I sketched this piece about a month ago. It is approximately 8"x10", pen and pencil on paper.

I may translate this piece into a painting, as I like the possibility of the use of electric color, as well as the upward movement of the "entities".

I enjoy stories, and I like the ability of a picture to convey a story without leaning too heavily on explanatory text.

The story of Jacob's Ladder is an intriguing one.

After running away from his brother Esau, Jacob falls asleep, using a stone as a pillow. While he sleeps, he dreams (or possibly has a vision of) angels (messengers of the Divine), ascending and descending to and from the throne of God.

The presence of God appears at the apex and affirms His existence as the one true God as well as His promise to the people of Israel, that the descendants would be multitudinous, and that the land would belong to them.

There, as always are many interpretations to this story, especially according to Midrash.

Philo possibly saw the angels as a reference to reincarnation.

Some thought maybe the place where the dream took place was the future home of the Temple, therefore the angels were a reference to the prayers and sacrifices of the Jewish People.

Others felt it might have referenced the exile of the Jewish people.

All interesting ideas indeed.

I however really like the viewpoint of Maimonides, who says that the ladder symbolizes two realities: That which is finite and occurs on earth, and that which is infinite and occurs in "the world of heavenly spheres". The angels were thought to be representative of the prophets, who upon receiving enlightenment, transmitted what they understood, to the world.

Personally, I see it as a symbol of the ever present Divine, seen and unseen, at constant work in our individual lives. The angels could just be angels, ever-present and nurturing, or they could also be symbols of those who have gone before us, providing a kind of eternal link with past, present, future and the divine. Each generation evolving spiritually a little further than the last. Each generation solving one more piece of the puzzle of our destiny and purpose.

So Excited!

2010-07-19T06:29:00.007-07:00

I just got this set of dry pigments from Dick Blick!

The colors are so vibrant and luscious.

I always was intrigued about making my own paint....and now I am going to take the challenge.

All paint is made from pigments, the only difference is the binder. The binder for oil paint is usually linseed oil, the binder for Watercolor is usually gum arabic, and the binder for Tempera is usually egg.

I ended up buying all three binders and a Muller to boot!

I love this store!

I can't wait to start mixing the paint, I'll keep you informed of the progress:))

A Regular Alarm Clock!

2010-07-12T12:07:00.002-07:00

We have been in our new place for about three weeks now.

In our last place of residence, April the old lady cat, slept all of the time.

Since we have relocated, something very strange has happened.....she now wakes at the crack of dawn.

That would not be a problem normally except that she has taken it upon herself to wake everyone up also.

Between 6-6:30 AM every morning she starts her ritual. She yowls and meows and jumps on the bed. If that doesn't work, she starts her destructive mode, which she knows is a sure way to make me mad. She'll scratch the carpets walls and furniture so loud that you can hear each claw creating a new texture that was never there before.

Even more recently, she has started to notify me as to when bedtime has arrived. Kitty Alzheimer's maybe....who knows......

"No Impact Man" - Official Trailer [HQ HD]

2010-07-11T19:08:00.000-07:00

Not much to say......

2010-07-07T17:18:00.003-07:00

Writing, like art making can sometimes be a daunting task.

Lately I have found it almost impossible to jot down even the smallest sentence.

It could be that teaching and lecturing have taken some toll on me causing me to feel like I have nothing left to say.

It's possible also that, because my life in the past few months has been lived at such a break-neck speed, I am too overwhelmed at the thought of even attempting to be witty. I dunno.

I feel a bit overwhelmed lately....like life is just speeding by me...and I can't seem to catch up.

When I feel this way, I have a tendency to withdraw into my shell.

I had a thought, or more like a memory today as I was driving, of when I was a child and used to play with snails. I was fascinated by their eyes, and I loved to poke them. Of course nobody likes to be poked in the eye, and if you did it enough, not only would the snail withdraw it's eyes, it would also withdraw it's entire body back into the safety of his shell-home.

So, this is where I have been hiding lately....in my shell home.

The news on the TV upsets me too much. The oil "spill"( it's not a "spill", it's a stinking leak!), the yet unstated true effects and toll it will take upon nature and man. Lost and kidnapped children in a society that seems to be on a path to nowhere, My personal aging process (my god, how can I be 46? When did that happen???), the decay of civility in my own culture........need I say more?

It's like a massive tsunami over taking the shore of my being....sweeping me away....numbing me....causing me to lock away feelings and emotion.....

So, what is the solution to this?

Perhaps stay away from the TV, news and reality shows ( I HATE reality shows!!!)?

Do I even have to find a "solution" to "this"?

Is it simply the ebb and flow of life?

Is it the realization that finally happens when we really "grow up"? Or, is it the over sensitive nature of the artist in me taking everything too seriously?

If this detached emotional numbness is the final result of "being all grown-up", I can say I do not like it....it is not me. Not the true me that I like.

When I am hiding in that warm shell, I look for the little girl that was awe struck by every experience: light, color, sound, texture, smell, all of the senses.......The sweetness of the soft green bed of grass growing under the trees at the beginning of spring, the light cast upon the mountains creating intense shadow,highlight and color, the smell of my mothers cobbler pie, the feeling of fresh cotton sheets on a cold winters night....the lovely weight of the blankets on my body, making me warm.

How do you find your way back home when you have "come of age"?

Where does the path begin?

Darkness

2010-05-21T05:36:00.004-07:00

Yes, another SAD dark and dreary day.
It seems like it has been gloomy for weeks now, but I am really not sure.
It will be yet another rainy sunless day.
On days like this the grayness creeps into your soul, into your bones, and drags you down.
Yuck! I long for sun!

It's all about me!

2010-05-13T04:31:00.004-07:00

Self Portrait at age 46

Pencil and ink on paper

Be Glad Your Nose is on Your Face

by Jack Prelutsky

Be glad your nose is on your face,
not pasted on some other place,
for if it were where it is not,
you might dislike your nose a lot.

Imagine if your precious nose
were sandwiched in between your toes,
that clearly would not be a treat,
for you'd be forced to smell your feet.

Your nose would be a source of dread
were it attached atop your head,
it soon would drive you to despair,
forever tickled by your hair.

Within your ear, your nose would be
an absolute catastrophe,
for when you were obliged to sneeze,
your brain would rattle from the breeze.

Your nose, instead, through thick and thin,
remains between your eyes and chin,
not pasted on some other place--
be glad your nose is on your face!

IF: "Fearless"

2010-05-11T07:14:00.005-07:00

"Tired of the torment of her inner demons, Eloise broke free of her inhibitions and was finally fearless in the face of them all......."

Care and Feeding of your blog: #1

2010-04-21T04:14:00.002-07:00

Make sure to check in with your blog often to see if it's still breathing.

Not making frequent posts could cause it to suffer great setbacks!

If you find yourself too busy to post, set aside at least a minimum of half an hour a week to update, with at least...something:))

May is almost here!

I'm so excited! I will soon have so much more time!

Hooray!

AAAH CHOO!!!!

2010-03-26T06:53:00.004-07:00

Thought I was sooo lucky and that I would make it through the winter without any flu! But I have had a rotten one all week! Sneezing and stomach problems and exhaustion! I am not happy!

I cannot wait for warm and sunny days!

May Day........

2010-03-15T06:12:00.002-07:00

Waiting for May.......

I have been so busy this semester, I have found that I have neglected so much including this blog. The Spring semester ends in May. I can't wait to start up where I've left off. I have been stocking up on jewelry making supplies, Batik supplies, and many new fun tools!

The winter has been long and dark: only a little longer and I can begin anew. Hurray for Spring and summer!

Waiting for spring.....

2010-02-24T20:15:00.001-08:00

"I thank god for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees & for the blue dreams of sky & for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes."
— e.e. Cummings

Quote for today...........

2010-02-06T08:44:00.002-08:00

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

Leo Tolstoy

Them's fight'in words!!!!!

2010-01-31T19:48:00.005-08:00

What do you do when someone steals your shop name?

I just got a lovely email from somebody in regard to my ETSY shop.

She wanted to let me know that she just opened an ETSY shop too, and has the SAME NAME as mine: MY MAGPIE EYE.

I told her that I had had the name for several years and wasn't about to change it.

She told me she hoped we could be ETSY friends....and I haven't heard from her since. No apology, no guilt feelings.

So...what do you do when someone steals your name?

I'm baffled at such lack of concern......

Staining canvas...ooh what fun!

2010-01-24T08:40:00.011-08:00

I decided to have a little fun.

With my hectic schedule lately, I think I deserve it.

I decided to do a few experiments in what is known as "canvas staining."

I believe that it was Helen Frankenthaler who was the first to use this method.

Acrylic, to begin with, is a very versatile medium. Many people despise it because of it's quick drying time, but once you get the hang of it, it has much to offer.

You can use it in the same way as a watercolor, or do it as a glaze, or an impasto...or even have an effect similar to encaustic.

Most of the time when you work on a canvas, you want some sort of a barrier between it and the paint. Some sort of a primer such as gesso, gel medium, or even rabbit skin glue.

The purpose of a primer is to stop the pigment from seeping into the fibers of the canvas. If one was using oil, this seepage would eventually cause the fibers to break down, and rot.

However, canvas staining with acrylic is possible, because acrylic paint is essentially a liquid plastic with pigment suspended in it, so, you don't have to prime your canvas if you don't want to.
The beauty of staining is that, as the canvas is penetrated by the moisture of water, the pigment, in its purity and pure form is able to impregnate the very fibers of the weave of the canvas.

When you do it this way, you get a wonderful almost seamless spread of the color. When colors meet, they automatically merge to create their own color versions.

If you were to work on a pre-gessoed canvas, the effect might have some similarities, but the end result would be far different because the pigment actually will sit above the fiber, intead of descending down into it.

The only negative to this method? Sagging...but the sagging will cinch back up and tighten itself as soon as it dries.

The benefit of this method? greater intensity and vibrancy in the finished piece without the necessity of lacquered layers to enhance pigmentation brightness.

A Necessary Allegory For Our Time..........

2010-01-22T16:56:00.001-08:00

The Muse comes knocking.....

2010-01-10T18:24:00.021-08:00

My muse never lets up.

This time it insisted I try my hand at making a book.

I have the tendency to save anything I think can be used at another time, not in the sense of a pack-rat, but, because I think we throw way too much "stuff" away that can be reused in a positive manner.

I had a lot of cardboard, and decided it was time to use it.

I had also been on my weekly romp to the library, checking out anything that catches my eye.

I happened on a book about making books. I thought I would start with the most simple kind: an accordion book.

The book suggested that I cut four pieces of binder board to equal size. I decided that that was not enough, so instead I cut 8. I am no mathematician, so, you can image the numbers and calculations, simple as they seem, running amok in my head.

It seems that no matter how well I measure, I am always off....slightly.

I have come to the conclusion that that is something to be admired, the presence of the "hand" in a piece of work. I find it funny that we tend to compare what is acceptable and "good" to what is machine made, and look down upon things that are not "perfect" and slick....

I cut my boards to approximately 3"x5".

I decided to use a "fat quarter" fabric for the cover. I love all of the interesting designs found only in those small samples. The problem with "fat quarters" is that they are square...so in order to fit my very long book, I had to cut my square in half and sew it together again into a long rectangle.

I decided also to make a "tie" by using left over material, sewing it into a "tube" and then sewing that back onto my cover. It was a bit confusing, because I had to sew it together in such a way that I could still fold my fabric and glue it onto the cardboard.

So, heres where my mathematical genius caused a stand off. the book said that I should center two boards on either side of my center line on the cover. OOPS! Too many boards...fabric not long enough! Had to get rid of a board. However....it was still screwy, because of how I had sewn my seam, if I had put one board on top of the seam, there would have been a "lump" and the fabric would not have stuck to the board when I glued it. So, I cut the board in half, and used my clever spacer I cut to separate the pieces properly.

I finally worked out those hideous numbers so that things were working in harmony again. When you get to this point, you need to cut a little slash in the fabric at the center point so that you can fold your fabric as it should be.

You also need to cut the corners at a diagonal, so they fold in a lovely manner.

You need to work quickly from here on so the glue doesn't dry before it makes contact.

Slather both fabric and book, and fold fast!

Next comes the interior paper. I cut a strip of my "Rives" paper, mainly because I have not decided the purpose of my book....is it a display book for previously done small sketches, or is it a sketch book?

I have no idea why the book tells you to cut the interior paper longer and wider than the size of your cardboard form....

Mindlessly I followed directions.....

The paper was too big, so I had to trim it with both my scissors and exacto.

I would have preferred just to have cut it to fit.

I do not own a bone folder, so, instead I used the back of my plastic putty knife to smooth and press the paper onto the binder board and get out all of the air bubbles.

I finished and put weight on the book over night.

By morning it was nice and compressed as it should be.....

I ended with embellishing the cover with several layers of contrasting fabrics, as well as some polymer jewelry experiments from days gone past.

I think it turned out pretty nice for my first try.

Next time, I'll try to measure better (if thats even possible), and also, I think I would have rather done the cover design as an appliqué rather that gluing it.

I'll keep you informed when I do!

Always Becoming........Sculptor Nora Naranjo

2009-12-26T20:19:00.002-08:00

A series of nine episodes from the Smithsonian Institution

The Journey of a Forgotten Rocker......

2009-12-19T07:00:00.010-08:00

I saw this little wooden rocking chair by the side of the road several months ago and picked it up.

As you can see, it was destined for the landfill.

My husband was sure it was trash, but I checked and sure enough all the pieces were there (though a bit warped from being in the weather).

It sat in my studio waiting for it's reincarnation, and originally it was going to be a chair for my old doll.
But I remembered Hanukkah was coming up, and decided to revive it for my son, who is now 6.

I was pretty happy about the lacquer, because most of it was coming off in sheets due to sitting outside for so long, so I really didn't have to work too hard removing layer after layer.

My plan was to finish it myself, but then I remembered that my husband was always reminiscing about his grandfather, who was a carpenter in Morocco.

So, I decided to inspire my husband to finish the job. After a brief stint of procrastination, he took on the challenge.

The most difficult part of the refurbishing was the fact that some of the rungs had warped quite a bit and didn't want to go back into the holes. My husband and I forced them into submission and clamped everything.

We ended up working together on this one, he mostly sanding and gluing, and I mostly filling holes with wood putty and then painting.

The slats of the chair were a tad uncooperative, and sort of looked like crooked teeth, but, I think it adds to the character and story of the life of the chair. Occasionally my son would come into the studio and say: "mommy, I think that chair is my size and perfect for me", But I had him convinced it was only for my old doll and that he was just too big for it. He would hang his head, a bit sad, and go back upstairs......

Imagine his surprise the day we unveiled it and he found out it was actually for him!

His favorite color is green and his favorite animal, the lion (those little gold medallions are actually lion heads).

I think it came out bee-u-tee-ful!

The moral of the story?

Someones trash can be someones treasure....and almost everything can be recycled.

Nothing should really ever be wasted...and nothing really needs to be added to our ever growing landfills!

Now my son has an heirloom to treasure, and my husband has a wonderful memory of giving a handmade gift, truly from the heart.

The holidays don't always have to be about the most expensive gifts and one-upman-ship......do they?

DEEliscious Chickin

2009-12-15T19:49:00.004-08:00

If you like deliscious food and recipes, jump on over to

MY SWEET HAMSA and check out the great menus.

I absolutely love the recipe for chicken and olives!

All about whats on your plate

2009-12-06T14:42:00.002-08:00

This is an important movie, well made and informative.

Happy Thansgiving!!

2009-11-26T08:02:00.005-08:00

A wonderful Thanksgiving to all.
Heres a great Thanksgiving CLIP from the "Martha Stewart Show"
Enjoy!

Abomination of nature!

2009-11-25T19:05:00.002-08:00

I saw this documentary on the Sundance channel. It is shocking! Can anyone own a patent on life? On seeds? Is this what has happened to the bees?

Notes on ageing......

2009-11-21T08:11:00.005-08:00

Absentminded-ness-ness

So.....
I went to the "Y" the other day. I have really taken to weight lifting and also swimming. I finished with swimming and was in the locker room dressing.
I took my watch off and had put it in my little bag where I keep my makeup. I finish my primping and get into the car and drive off.
Three quarters of the way home, I remember that I had not put my watch on.
I say to my husband "Oh No!!! I forgot my watch at the "Y". He says "Look in your bag, you probably put it there".

I tear up my gym bag looking for my watch, but to no avail.
I was really sad because, even though it's not worth more than five bucks, it's got a great spandex-ee wrist band that I absolutely love.

My husband says " Oh well, next time we go back, go to the lost and found, someone surely will turn it in". I condescend, grumbling that I am sure someone took my crummy watch.

So, the day carries on, and eventually I stop obsessing on my lost watch.

However, by late afternoon, something is really bugging me on my left arm. I go to itch the spot and-YOU GUESSED IT! My watch was there all along!!!!!
Apparently I had pushed it WAY up my arm (the reason I love it's spandex-ness-ness) so that it wouldn't get wet whilst I was primping in the mirror at the "Y".

Yes, very scary isn't it!???

A most beautiful and socially relevant music video

2009-11-14T19:44:00.000-08:00

Inspire me Thursday: Tree

2009-11-14T17:13:00.006-08:00

I've been working on this drawing for a couple of days and just finished it!

I'm not sure about it's exact meaning, but I'm sure that in time it will tell me......

I don't have much time these days, so I have been trying to work on smaller sizes so that I don't have tons of unfinished work lying around.

Unfinished work tends to nag me to complete it which stresses me out!

This piece is a sketch...perhaps an initial idea for a painting...but it also seems pretty complete as it is.

I'm not one to use too many kitschy or cutesy symbols....but sometimes the heart is what it is and nothing else can express what it can visually.......

The size is approximately 8"x11"

It's pen and ink with conte crayon and white pastel on Rives paper.

At first I just wanted to use pen and ink alone, but the picture seemed so flat and uninteresting...

I felt that there needed to be enhanced areas in order to pop the focal points and symbolism as well as imply more mass and "sculpted" form.

The tree is very metaphorical and symbolic to me.

Mostly it is a symbol of place and home.

The hand of course a symbol of the self....

Water can have many meanings, but I think in this instance it may allude to change...and purification.....internal or external.

Lucky for me, my finished piece just happened to fit into IMT's topic of "tree".

The existential angst of our times.........

2009-11-07T10:13:00.006-08:00

My rambling soap box oration................

For the last month or so, I have been contemplating ......

Mostly I have been thinking about the state of the world, but primarily the condition of societies in general.

I have been stewing about what I perceive as the dissolution of ethics and values and it's effects on the evolution of our present day population.

Yesterdays news of the massacre in Texas, and afterward the murderous rampage in Florida,before that, the news of the man in Ohio who murdered and buried multiple people around his yard and house,simply underscored my anxieties.

I can only wonder at what is happening to us. It seems the more we move forward, the more we also move backward.

Technology has allowed us to ascend to great heights intellectually, but, I think also that it has undermined us spiritually.

As I think back into my childhood, I remember freer days....and longer summers.....unfettered by fears of child molesters, rapists, murderers and terrorists.

I spent long unsupervised lazy afternoons exploring the canyons and hills of my town, wandering alone, with my dog and goat, miles from home, unconcerned about any potential boogie man attacking me from the bushes.

I remember with great fondness my neighbors: nosy Mrs. Stuebe, annoying Mr. Costello, and friendly Mr. Munoz.

These people were the eyes and ears of my neighborhood, keeping us kids in check if we did anything they thought was unacceptable.

It has been said that it takes a community to raise a child, and I truly believe this.

Mr. Stuebe always had her nose in our business, knocking on our front door if we screamed too loud, or yelling through the fence when she thought the chickens hadn't had enough to eat.

These people annoyed me to no end, but I also admired and loved them as...in some way, an extension of my own family, never allowing me to go beyond the limits of civility and common decency, and always holding me accountable for my actions and behavior.

If these cultural expectations were in vogue today, would we still see such heinous crimes as the above mentioned, on the rise?

As I have aged, I have seen this kind of ethic dissipate, and with it's dissipation, I have also seen unspeakable actions against even the most innocent, grow.

Perhaps these horrors did exist in the time of my youth and were sorely under reported, or perhaps, more likely, if they did exist, they were simply few and far between.

There has always been violence from one human to another, but there was also always a counter balance: religion,ethical thinking and moral behavior.

It seems to me, that the more we embrace technology, the more we let go of what is true and valuable.

The more we have, the more we want to obtain.

The more we obtain, the more we detach from one another, and in our gluttony, we become apathetic to so much around us that needs to be remedied.

The industrial revolution, as the technological revolution, was a blessing and a curse.

Rural living and familial dependency and accountability went the way of the horse and buggy and our connectedness to the earth.

We made an exchange for the niceties that came into being and promised us a better way of life.

The promise was a nice place to live, enough food so that we would not be in want and....more time.

Some of these promises came true, but some, like time, actually became more elusive.

In our race to obtain, we lost even more.

I believe that perhaps now is the time to rethink our priorities. Throw out that which is not productive and revive that which is, so that the future will be a place for our children to also have a chance to live freely.

I'm just sayin...........................

Experiment 5,223

2009-10-11T18:38:00.004-07:00

Blurry photo,

yes I know....but my camera has been acting up for quite some time......

This is an experiment I did with silver solder and polymer clay.

For a while I had wanted to use PMC, but was having some difficulty finding it.

I had at the same time found some information on using silver solder to make jewelery.

I had had this polymer pendant hanging around and I thought I would experiment on it.

For not knowing how to solder, I think it came out not bad.

Of course, later I realized that I had the wrong shape of solder tip....it actually needed to be flat rather than pointy.
I covered the entire pendant with silver solder, and ground it down a bit with the grinder on my Dremel tool.

But the fact is that, because I used the wrong tip, it was entirely too lumpy to grind down to a smooth finish.
I also got a little close to the glass with the grinder and caused some scratching on the surface of the image.

Overall, not too bad....once I get a new solder tip I am going to try it again.

Stay tuned:)

Tissue Paper Texture

2009-09-25T13:22:00.001-07:00

This is a small 1'x1' painting done on plywood.

The goal here was to get an aged look using tissue paper,wax and acrylic.

It was my desire to create a piece that looked ancient and worn.......

The first thing that needs to be done is to prime your board. This needs to be done to prevent the absorption of the paint. Ply wood is porous and so needs to have a barrier to absorption.

After painting a minimum of two layers of gesso, you may want to sand in between any other layers of primer applied. This will give a smooth and silky surface to work on.

When the gesso has dried thoroughly, you will transfer your design by pencil onto the surface.

In this case I traced the monkey-people from a previous drawing and then using carbon transfer paper, traced the design onto the surface.

After you have settled with your composition, you may want to go back over it with pencil to darken obscure areas.

I also decided to add a few embellishments such as cloth for the hats.

It seemed that my picture needed something more, so I retraced the monkeys in pencil on tracing paper, then gelled that entire piece down on top of the previous drawing. Using gel medium allows for the utmost in transparency...so both drawings can be seen as one.

Next comes the application of tissue paper. Any kind or color of tissue paper may be used including old pattern paper.

For the trees, twine was cut and then glued along the drawn lines of the trees. After thoroughly drying, tissue paper was applied. Each layer of tissue paper is thoroughly covered, back and front with gel medium for maximum adhesion and maximum coverage. Here tissue was gelled, then crumpled and applied withing the boundaries of the string. At first it may seem difficult as the gel is very sticky and may cause your tissue to become very fragile, but you will eventually get the hang of it.
After each tree is filled in with crumpled tissue paper, you will apply one to two sheets of tissue paper to cover the trees overall.

At this point you may want to go ahead and add certain details that you possibly want to show through the tissue.

I have gone in and added hair ticking with pencil.

Next you will use an application of dry-brush usingTitanium White acrylic. Make sure to use a firm flat bottom bristle brush. Dry your your clean brush thoroughly. Dip only the tip into your acrylic paint. Now use a scrap piece of paper or a paper towel to lightly brush the paint onto. What you need to do is to lightly "grind" your brush in small circular motions in order to remove most of the paint. When it seems like there is primarily only residue left, you know you are ready to apply dry brush to your painting.

In small circular motions begin to cover the surface of your trees and tissue. If it seems that there is no more paint left on the brush, repeat the same process.

You may want to cover the entire surface with dry brush to give a textural yet transparent look.

After you have completely covered your surface with dry brush in white paint, wait for it to dry, then apply a good coat of gel medium. Make sure that you cover the entire surface.

Wait for it to dry well, then you can apply gold using a liquid gold pen. it is very important at this stage that the gel medium is completely dry, or it will destroy your pen.

To create an antiqued look, mix at least three quarters of gel with one quarter of Burnt Umber.

Mix thoroughly. Apply in thin layers over the surface of your picture. You can also choose other colors beside Umber such as blue or ochre and do a transparent layer of each. If there are areas you especially like, feel free to use a tissue to wipe areas of gel away to reveal what is underneath.

It may be a good idea also to put a transparent layer of gel between each layer of tinted gel.

Be sure each layer is at least tacky before applying the next.

Now, apply dry brush again, but this time using Burnt Umber instead of Titanium White.

When this layer is dry, you may want to add details with a sharpie or fine brush.

Lastly is the wax layer. Use an old candle of a neutral color such as an olive green.

Light it and hold the candle at an angle, allowing it to drip onto strategic areas of the painting. As it drips, use the back of an old spoon or else a palette knife to smooth.

Tapered candles work well for this as do small votive candles.

Scrape the surface of the wax to create your desired textures.

Your final layer of paint can be dry brushed on. Use Burnt Sienna as well as Burnt Umber.

Lastly, apply a good coat of high or no gloss medium.

Still workin'

2009-09-22T19:34:00.004-07:00

Still working on this painting..........

Get out of the way old woman!

2009-09-07T07:18:00.007-07:00

I must say, I am pretty taken aback.

A couple of weeks ago I was watching a particular morning TV show.

A segment came on regarding the comeback of Whitney Houston.

It was stated that she was planning on returning to her musical career at the ripe old age of 46.

Now, I was never much of a follower of her genre, but, I always thought she had a lovely voice, especially her ability to reach really difficult notes.

I applaud her attempt to come back and renew her life's path.

The interviewer went on to discuss with the panel all of the issues of reviving ones fizzling career.

What amazed me was the focus, it really wasn't on her career, but rather on her age.

They continually kept saying "well, you know at her age she...."

Well at her age her voice can't compete with younger singers, well, at her age she can't reach the same high notes that she could when she was young, well, at her age she'll never be able to keep up with shows and tours;her voice being so decrepit that she would have to rest in between for at least four days in order to repair vocal exhaustion...., at her age, she has to do a perfect show each night because God-forbid that a "Twitter-er" might be lurking in the audience, recording her hideous performance and then releasing it on the Internet, thus destroying any possibility of a comeback.

On and on this went for around what seemed like fifteen minutes.

Nobody said anything in regard to such blatant age discrimination.

The woman is only 46, shes not 107 and on a respirator.

It amazes me what an obsessive youth culture we have become.

You pass the age of 33, and suddenly you start receiving burial plans , insurance policies and AARP in the mail.

Plenty of people have made or continued on with wonderful careers in so called "mid-life" (who decided exactly what defines mid-life anyway?).

Is it because Madam Houston is a woman, that people feel free to berate her as too old?

No, I am not so sure, I remember when the audiences were so cruel and harsh to Pavarotti in his later career, booing him, simply because his voice cracked during a performance.

No, I think it's equal opportunity age bashing in this country.

I remember watching on a particular music TV station as two hosts berated Ashton Kutcher because "how can he be married to such an old,ugly woman (Demi Moore....when was she ever "old' or "ugly"?).

What happened to the idea that a person is valid for who they are and what they accomplish?!

Why is it necessary to judge a person because of their age or physical appearance?

Doesn't it take your entire life to come into the fullness of who you are?

What happened to the adage "with age comes wisdom?" Or is this simply passe, we are too good for all that philosophical stuff.

When did we start to discard people because we judged them invalid? Has it always been here, or is it just concentrated now with the advent of this age of communication?

All societies peak, become complacent and hedonistic and then decay. Is that what we are seeing now? A society filled with over-running ego and Narcissism that can't tolerate anything outside of the television induced ideas of values,esthetics and beauty that we have all been force fed?

I guess we have become domesticed force fed Foie Gras.....who cares as long as it doesn't affect me directly...right?

Geez!

I guess the best thing is really just to turn the TV off (as well as all other communication devices), live ones own life, and let the wheel of history do it's job.........but that would be complacent...wouldn't it?????

I'm just saying.......................

IF: Caution

2009-08-23T10:14:00.005-07:00

She decided to throw caution to the wind.........................

4"x5" pen and ink on paper sketch with added digital color

IF "IMPATIENCE"

2009-08-12T06:06:00.005-07:00

IF "Impatience"............

I am becoming increasingly impatient with this muse who refuses to perform!

I think it's broken!

Just Puttering Around............

2009-08-07T07:37:00.007-07:00

On days when my painting Muse is nowhere to be found, I like to putter around my studio and experiment.

I happen to love copper. It is more beautiful to me than gold or silver.

I love it's warm reddish tones and it's ability to change and patina over time.....

Quite some time ago I bought a large roll of thin copper sheeting and have been taking bits of it for this and that.

Many years ago I had a most beautiful silver Bedouin "slave' bracelet stamped "Palestine".

I loved that bracelet and thought I would fool around and see if I could at least create something with a similar feel.

I decided to see what would happen if you combined FIMO with copper.

I cut a strip of the copper and put it through my pattern/crimper. After that I cut and shaped two roofing nails to join the copper into one piece. I hammered the nails on my tiny anvil in order to create "heads" that would not allow the copper to slip off.

Earlier I had also made some "marbleized' FIMO beads in a jade tone.

I shaped gold FIMO around the edges to give a clean look and attached some shell buttons.

I liked what emerged, but I am going to experiment more, maybe some wrapping of wire, or even some more beading.

Nonetheless, it was a pleasant diversion.

A New Blue Hamsa!

2009-08-06T06:54:00.010-07:00

I Just finished this Blue Hamsa.

It's now listed in my Etsy store.

It's approximately 6"x8" and mixed media on canvas.

The composition is a mixture of collage, painting and applied decorative stones and glass.
I've added a tiny bee on top of the blessing grotto.

(The little grotto was made from trimmed copper foil.)

The combination of both lapis lazuli and turquoise colors gives it a "jewel like" feel.

I have also encrusted the Hamsa itself with glass seed beads, a metal "Star of David" and bits of shell.
The surface texture has been built up with layers of acrylic paint and lacquer as well as applied glass fragments and postal stamps.
Lastly, I thought it needed a bit of a frame to show it all off.............

A Day in Egypt

2009-08-04T14:09:00.015-07:00

We went on a trip to Egypt the other day (Via the children's Museum of Indianapolis).

A wonderful time was had by all of us.

After exiting the plane in Cairo, we entered the most lively street scene.

There were places filled with wonderful breads,vegetables and spices.

Emmylouche found a shop with beautiful and frilly dolls, and I found the most interesting tonics (something made from snake oil and herbs).

Gabbylou made a bracelet from silver at a specialty art store.

We wandered the streets and came upon some very odd ruins, somehow this giant face had fallen into the streets.

Nobody could tell us who it was or how it had gotten there.

The authorities came and shooed us away.....mumbling something about desecration of ancient artifacts...

Another street we found was lined with temple guardians, of course we felt compelled to ride them away into the desert.

For some reason however, they wouldn't budge!

As the heat of the day wore on, we found ourselves tired and needing a rest...

How convenient that there was a willing donkey to sit on nearby!

I felt that it was time to have a change of wardrobe, so we each picked out a different outfit.

Suddenly, from out of nowhere, Gabbylou was carried away by a Nile Crocodile.

We ran as fast as we could to catch up, only to find that he had been delivered to the spice market.
Here we all sampled fresh cumin and Cardamon seeds.

Everything smelled divine.

Daddy was famished, so we went to a small restaurant.

We were served Shawarma,Pita bread,Hummus and Green tea.

Emmylouch loved the tea pot...

But Gabbylou just loved pouring tea!

If you ever get the chance to visit Indianapolis, you might want to visit the Children's Museum.

It is really one of the best and most interactive children's museums in the world.

Deeeliscious!

2009-07-27T19:23:00.004-07:00

Don't these look yummy?

I just made them the other day.

They are an banana nut muffin based on a "Starbucks" style recipe.

I just added a few blueberries for extra flavor.

The kids really loved them!

IF: Idle

2009-07-25T19:31:00.010-07:00

“Sit in reverie, and watch the changing color of the waves that break upon the idle seashore of the mind”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

This is a page from my altered sketchbook in response to this weeks challenge of IF's "Idle".

I thought it would be more difficult to come up with an idea than it actually was.

I mulled over all of the things my mind happens to do when I allow it to remain idle...and I thought about my favorite places to just mentally vegetate.

As you might have guessed it, nature is one of those places.

Growing up, and still today, I love to simply sit quietly in a garden space and absorb all that goes on around me.

It soothes the soul and calms the mind.

I have had quite an interest lately in special fabrics, and have been cutting out a lot of patterns.

From these I have a few bags of trash: fragments of fabric as well as from the pattern tissue.

I haven't worked in this particular sketchbook in a while because, honestly, it's a lot of work. I have to prepare each page before I do anything on it.

I put a thick ground of black gesso on each page, then let it dry, and repeat quite a few times.

It seems to take a long time to dry, and I ran out of patience a long time ago.

So, normally I try to prepare pages days in advance of doing anything.

I love spontaneity and when the pages are ready, I am enabled to approach them in that manner.

Here, my first layer was of course text, and on top of that I gelled the pattern tissue...it's nice because it has a lot of random printing on it.

Next I took my lovely brown fabric and placed it here and there as a border.

I have quite a bit of watercolors left over from demos in my classes, I cut one of these up for the face and the tree as well as the eye. I think they work with the fabric well.

I like the idea of the little window there, and I wanted it to be able to open and close with the cotton string coming out of it.

I don't use any template or pattern for my figures, I like them to come intuitively from my imagination.

All of these forms have symbolism for me...the tree, it's roots, the red string, the door or window, and of course the eye.

I really enjoy juxtaposing the different elements and textures together...who knows, maybe this idea will end up in one of my paintings?

IF: Tango

2009-07-19T17:41:00.009-07:00

I love Tango music, but my all time favorite song is Paolo Conte's "Blue Tango".

The nicest version can be heard here.

It absolutely takes me away to wonderful places and memories when I hear it!

My mind travels to Cyprus where my husband and I stayed for a week just before we were married...very romantic indeed!

When I created this, I was thinking more of the day to day emotional tango couples dance with one another.

This is a mixed media piece on canvas, approximately 8"x10".

The first layer is a toned book page, and the second layer is the drawing done on tissue for transparency.

After being thoroughly gelled over, I applied color with sharpies and also pencil.

Then I went back in again to enhance detail with pencil and pen.

On the edges I applied melted candle wax and then toned that with a green ink.

I also applied a red cotton string to the mouth.

Finally, I did more hatching and cross hatching with ball point pen and added a few choice words from Kahlil Gibran.

Viva la Revolucion!

2009-07-19T09:20:00.007-07:00

You know, every once in a while I go on a hunt to see what galleries are reviewing work, or which sites are doing a slide registry.

Ever so often, I submit a portfolio and wait for an answer, sometimes it is good and sometimes it is depressing.

Last night I ran across a site that seemed interesting enough, not a really great site, just a registry of artists who also teach.

It said that if a person was interested in joining to contact and find out the process, and then to submit my work.

Simple enough, right? I expected to fill a form and submit examples, right?

Sounds fair enough.

You call for entries, I submit my work, you review it in earnest and then you let me know if it is a fit.

Well, I thought that was the way it worked, until this morning....

I recieved a letter stating that my work was not a fit.

I wondered how I could have been judged inferior so quickly...so I check my google analytics....no one had even visited my site for the past couple of days.....so I checked my stat counter on my blog and saw a few visits.

I thought surely the reviewer of my work must have been confused, must have viewed my blog instead of my website and thought that my blog was my body of work.

I have never responded to one of these "dimissal" letters before, I only chalked it up to the life of the artist and our many rejections....However, because, thanks to modern tools,I could see that my site had not even been visited..I felt more than compelled to search out and understand this "mentality".

Here is the conversation as extracted from my emails:

Q. Hello,

I would like to join ***, how do I go about doing that?

Jean Benabou

A. Good morning Jean,

I looked at you web site and your work is very nice, but it is not what I am looking for. I wish you success in your future art endeavors. Thanks for contacting me, *******

Q. Hello *******,

thank you for your quick response in regard to my question.I wonder if you could indulge me....what is it about my work that does not interest you.....I am just curious.....Is is not up to par? Is the style too different? Is it unprofessional? Is it too mundane.....?

It is often that I get a non specific rejection such as this.

I would really appreciate it if you would enlighten me so that I may use this knowledge for my future work.

Regards,Jean

Q. Hi *******,

I also wanted to let you know my website is; www.jeanbenabou.com

My blog is; If I was a cobbler and is not representative of my work.

A. Hello Jean,

I usually do not respond because artists take is personally and get angry and then retaliate with mean words. I often wonder when I say no, if these artists respond to a gallery owner the same way when they are rejected.

The reason I do not want to list you is because your photography is fuzzy. It is difficult to see detail. Also, it is difficult to get away from the music. If you can put in a turn off button so the viewer can eliminate that, in my opinion it would be better. I see many web sites and I have little time to go through stuff other than the work and the resume and I don't want to be held back. Artists make the assumption that if they like the music or the intro then the viewer will to. On the positive side I really like your imagery and ideas and I was immediately attracted to that. Your work is different and I always look for that in the artists I list. Hope this helps, *******

Q. Hello *******,

Thank you again for your quick reply and for clarifying your selection process.

I am not angry in any capacity, but am instead astounded that an artists life work could be dismissed in a matter of seconds simply because of a sound.

I am also curious if you even ventured to the meat of my portfolio.

The curious thing is, is that I have no music on my site, only the sound of birds...had you ventured to the actual portfolio, you would have seen or rather heard that there is no "music" from that point on.

In regard to the fuzziness and lack of detail, what you saw was a transition from slide to slide...it takes approximately three seconds for the blurriness to become sharp.The photographs are extremely well defined and there is no blurriness...so, I am just curious how many seconds you viewed my work for.

Lastly, yes, I would have spoken to a gallery owner in the same manner, because, even though my work is not acceptable to your standards, it is still good work...and as an artist it amazes me how those in the "upper echelon" treat those who are not a member of their "stable".

My question to you is: Would you allow someone to simply dismiss your life's work after having viewed it for no more than three seconds? Or would you be amazed and astounded at the callousness of the individual, and feel compelled to find out "why"?

I only sent you a letter to ask you how to join...I was not even given a chance to submit my work before you dismissed me.

So, yes, I am thoroughly amazed...and I sit in wonder if this is the common practice in the modern gallery system.

I am simply taken aback if it is..............

Sincerely,

Jean Benabou

I am bewildered, I wonder if this is now the common practice among those who run galleries and other arts organizations.

I am apparently more naieve than I thought I was, thinking that everyone gave my work a good once-over of at least a minimum of five minutes.

I have long been at odds with the gallery world and how it treats artists like second class citizens, but this is a run of the mill organization...apparently this form of rudeness and artist abuse is trickle-down and commonplace.

I have to say, the cat really got my tounge on this one....

It's time for a revolution in the art world, I really think that we need to stand up in defense of ourselves and no longer allow others to treat us with such disrespect.

Artists! Stand up for your rights for at least the minimum of common decency!

Perhaps we need to find a new and better way to represent our work and no longer believe that the only acceptable form of representation is through a gallery.

Perhaps we need to begin to believe that the age of the elitist gallery "system" needs to come to an end, and stop patronizing these institutions.

Perhaps collectors also need to do the same thing......

Family night project 4,032: Soap, as you like it!

2009-07-10T07:03:00.012-07:00

Another "family night" project: Soap Making!

I had an impossible time trying to find supplies. I went to the usual JoAnn's Fabric and Michael's, and they both said they really don't carry those supplies any more.

Luckily, I had a few old supplies left over. Mostly just glycerin soaps.

I had a recipe for this "jelly roll" style, but not enough ingredients.

Many years ago when I had my lovely goats, I used to make "goats Milk Soap" with Ivory.

I've not used the glycerin stuff much.

So, we decided to improvise and combine the ivory with the glycerin.

Don't do that....it doesn't work too well.

Both soaps have individual characteristics and textures and do not merge together as you would expect them to do.

BUT! We had what we had, and went ahead anyway.

To start, you are supposed to microwave the glycerin soap 'til it melts. we did, and it was lovely, like golden honey.

So logically, one would conclude that you cut up the Ivory and microwave it too...right?

Well, like I said, it's been about 15-20 years since I made my own soaps, so I have forgotten some details...like Ivory soap needs a bit of moisture added to it when you are melting it.

So, we put it into the microwave, cut into nice chunks...and then watched it as it expanded, and then expanded some more. It sort of looked like a strange shaving cream....until it was done.....

We took it out of the microwave and it was a kind of strangely expanded powdery substance.

Don't microwave ivory soap dry, unless you want to have fun with a scientific experiment.

So, again, we had what we had, and I was determined for this soap to submit to my will.

I mixed some water with the ivory and forced it back into the microwave for a couple of minutes.

Much better. It was...well sort of...cooperating now.

Now, back when I microwaved the glycerin, we were supposed to color it with food coloring and then pour it into a piece of aluminium foil that was shaped into a rectangle.

So, we did. I personally wanted a nice subtle color. My daughter wanted purple, my son wanted green.

The competition began, and, as you can see, the end result was something that looked like lime Jello gone bad.
The first layer, was the Ivory soap, the second layer, the glycerin soap.

After this, you are supposed to roll the whole congealed mass into a kind of roll.

If you have ever heard of the old adage: "oil and water don't mix", the same is true for glycerin and Ivory.

Glycerin is very cooperative, and at times almost rubbery.

Ivory is very firm and board like as it congeals.

Nonetheless, we forced the two, (the lovely purple Ivory cracking as it went along), into what resembled a decaying jelly roll.

After allowing the whole shebang to cool for a while, one is supposed to conveniently slice the mass into cute little rolls.

As you can see here, they came out okay (about 50% came out okay, they rest had Ivory crumbling out of the glycerin roll).

A lovely gift to give to friends and neighbors!

The moral of this story? Experimenting is fun? Follow the recipe as it is stated? Two soaps are better than one?

Most of all, enjoy yourself, even if you make a mess!

Lucky

2009-07-08T20:05:00.003-07:00

This is Mazal. His name means "luck".

He is one of two Chiuahua brothers.

He has been with us since he was a month old...now he is two.

I named him Mazal because, according to my sister who helped deliver him, he was still born.

She gave him "mouth to mouth" resussitation and revived him. Later on, he also had an accident with a water bowl, and she revived him then too.

When I told her we were going to name him Mazal, she thought it was a bad idea, because every dog she had ever known whose name was "lucky", ended in a bad way.

I have never owned a Chihuahua before. I have only had large dogs, so it has taken a while to get used to the behavior of these two.

They are very loving, yet incredibly aggressive toward strangers.

They are very brave in the face of even the biggest dog, but very cowardly and trembling at the smallest noise.

They are full of energy and playfullness, but have hours of "down time" where they just sleep.

Most of all, they are cuddly and loyal...and really too cute!

A dream..............

2009-06-28T07:37:00.005-07:00

Hieronymus Bosch
Garden of Earthly Delights
( outer wings depicting the third day of creation)

I dreamt about my father last night.
I was somewhere, in a room, and I saw him.
He looked clean and tidy, and was sitting there...perhaps a little younger (he was 90 when he died), possibly in his 50's.
I was amazed. Someone came up to me and said: "whats wrong with you?" And I said:"My father died six months ago....no, wait, it was almost two years ago, but he's not dead, he's there in the other room...and he's alive and fine".
I think this is maybe the second time I dreamt this dream, but this time it was a little different, it seemed stronger, as the figure of my father was very...clear. His image was sharp and his aura was very...clean, crisp....especially in his clothing and stature.....he was also quite a bit younger.
He only sits there for me to observe, he never says anything nor does this form acknowledge me. I am only to observe, to see that strangely he is alive and well.
I have always been an interpreter of dreams, I never let my dreams go without trying to figure out their meaning....but these dreams seem to simply be what they are, a vision of my father, and that he is fine.
It makes one wonder if the mind strives to create something that it understands, because death is unfathomable....so, my mind recreates my father in an idealized form to try to quell my sadness of his passing.
Or, is it something more simple and less cerebral; is it simply the soul of my father, reaching out to me to let me know that indeed he is fine, and he is "clean", that whatever unresolved issues he had in this life are now resolved and his "self" is now clear and unfettered.
It's a strange thing, that, in life, my thoughts were only sometimes focused on my father...but since his death, there is not a day that at some point, my thoughts retrace a memory of him, or that for a fleeting second my mind touches on him.
What is "that"?
I myself have no answer....but many beliefs say that if ones loved one is remembered, that memory is the vehicle of a kind of immortality....at least, in this world.

IF: "Worn"

2009-06-26T09:53:00.013-07:00

I just finished this piece and was waiting for a proper category, and "worn" was it!
It is a mixed media on plywood, approximately 12"x12".

The base of the painting is a texture made with layers of tissue.
I wanted really to give an impression of an old relic, something that had decayed over time.
Certain areas are emphasized with texture where others are more subdued with darker color.

The paint is primarily acrylic, though mixed with watercolor washes throughout.

I added a lot of line quality with pencil and permanent inks.
The texture is done with a layered combination of tissue paper and wax.

I wanted just a small emphasis on color so that I could maintain a sense of something aged and faded, so the hats are a cotton printed fabric.

To keep the picture from fading out so much I brightened each figure with white and metallic gold , then went back on top with ink hatching.

The subject matter was derived from some very old Persian miniatures I had seen a while back.

Happy Fathers Day!

2009-06-21T07:24:00.002-07:00

" It doesn't matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was"
Anne Sexton

A most delicious smackeral!

2009-06-20T06:13:00.006-07:00

I simply adore lentils and rice! Don't you?
Majadarah (Mujadarah), is it's other name.
You cook the lentils separate from the rice (some recipes add them in the same pot, but you have more control of the texture if you cook them separately), then put them together when you are ready to eat them. I season the rice only with a little salt, sometimes you might add some Turmeric.
To the lentils I add only salt and a little Cumin, but ever so often I also include a little soup mix to infuse more body to the flavor.
Most commonly you top them with a lovely crown of onions ( cooked until caramelized) , fresh tomatoes, and a sprinkling of fresh parsley (or you could add cilantro if you like).
I happen to love raw onions (my husband loves me all the more for this trait), some sliced fried eggplant, lettuce, a little hot sauce around the edges (normally you would have Harrissa ).
And lovingly top the whole thing with a bit of Hummus.
I LOVE IT!!!!
I know for some of you purists, I may have added a bit much, but you must admit, it looks ( and tastes) delectable!
This is all you need for a great lunch....you may however wish to include an ice cold beer........

G-R-A-Y

2009-06-18T06:24:00.002-07:00

Gray,gray,gray!
AND rainy too!
Thunder clapping...lightning striking........
Where is the sun??? And the sky?
Monotony is what it is!
I long for some light!

IF "UNFOLD"

2009-06-14T10:30:00.012-07:00

If a rich man

is what you mean to be. Then
forget the autumn evening too

Takarai Kikaku (1661-1707)

Original Version

I have been working on this piece many months. It started out as pastel on Rives paper but ended up as mixed media. The size is approximately 30"x36".
It seemed to fit this weeks subject pretty well.
I approached the subject in an intuitive manner, really just putting marks on the paper allowing the imagery and content to arise by itself. Somehow, it evolved into a form very reminiscent of a Buddha figure.
I liked the face pretty well for a long time, but it seemed that something was missing.
I was quite happy with the background which was a combination of pastel, acrylic and watercolor.
Over time, I also felt that the crown was too hokey, so I trimmed it.

Finished Version

AsI thought about it, I felt that I wanted to add a sense of time in the texture of the primary figure, however, I didn't want to compromise all of the pastel work that I was happy with.

I settled on the idea of adding a white tissue paper over the surface, which would unify the pastel color as well as obscure some of the areas I wasn't happy with.

The problem of adding tissue to pastel is a little complex as the tissue must be added with gel medium and gel medium should be spread on the surface for application. If you do that to pastel, of course you drag the pigment and it begins to blend.

My solution was to coat the very fragile tissue with gel first, and then gently apply it to the pastel surface.

As the application progressed I saw it was obscuring my imagery too much, so I allowed the tissue to dry to a certain extent, and then I began to rub or pull off sections, and reapply other sections...and pull them off after they almost completely dried.

In the end, I put washes of very diluted watercolor on the surface of the unprimed tissue. Because the tissue is very porous, it allowed for a nice spread and diffusion of the color.
I think I am done.
I think..............
Yep, I'm pretty sure!

A grand find!

2009-06-13T07:17:00.002-07:00

Fifty molds!
A lot of figurines and dolls and even cups and spoons.
The lady that gave them to me said she had too many and wanted to share.
I can't wait to get started on them and see what I can produce.
What a lucky find!

Something Eye-opening!

2009-06-12T07:11:00.007-07:00

The other day I ran across this map.
The most astonishing part is that, when you compare one state to another, the majority of hate groups exist in California! Even more astonishing is that, on another version of this map, a massive amount of these groups were near the San Diego area (which is where I just moved from), this map however has them spread pretty evenly throughout the state.
My assumption had been that most of these groups existed outside of California, in particular regions....really an eye opener!
If this map disturbs you, and you would like to do something about it, click here.

BIG STORM!!

2009-06-11T10:22:00.005-07:00

Welcome to my flooded dungeon/studio!

Last night, around 4AM there was a really BIG STORM!
Lightening, thunder and copious amounts of rain. This lightening was the kind that strikes and burns down houses, very scary!.
The kids somehow were still asleep.
I got up, went down stairs and turned on the TV, sure enough there was a tornado warning... but, there was no listing of which county.
The dogs were terrified.
One ran upstairs and hid under the bed (actually he's way too fat to run upstairs...).
Finally the tornado warning turned into a flood warning and I went back to bed.
I had really bad dreams, something about my husband and I being pulled over by the police for no reason and they were harassing my husband....and my son had to be picked up from school....just a rambling stressful dream....

Every time it rains like this my dungeon floods.
There is a little room in the back there behind the table which you can't see, but it is the culprit! It fills with water every time and then oozes down under the table to the other side of the room where the drain is.
Luckily I recently purchased a shop vac so my husband was nice enough to vacuum all of the stinky water.
I loooong for a studio that is ground level, and FULL of light. sigh...............................

Wonderfully goofy!

2009-05-26T05:23:00.005-07:00

If you haven't already viewed her videos, you really ought to.
NancyToday is an absolute lunatic in the most wonderful way.
Her short movies delve into every subject you can imagine, from soap making to weaving and much more.
Though she is a goofy vibrant and colorful character, her information is pertinent and useful...and really fun to watch.

I'm late, I'm late for a very important date

2009-05-24T18:55:00.008-07:00

Yes, I know...I am a little slow.
And, I am sure you have already seen this movie.
But, I am very slow to getting around to doing things sometimes.

Years ago...many years ago I used to read works by G.G. Marquez...and I really enjoyed them.
I have never been much of a fiction reader (stick in the mud that I am), but, I was compelled to read these books because of the lovely quality of the writing; they employ such beautiful and floral language.

So.....I recently got the movie version of the book from the library.
The first ten minutes I thought "oh brother another mushy romantic film...yawn".....
But something enticed me to continue watching, and I can say, I am not sorry.
I have not read the book, so, I have no idea how close the script is to it, but the story of this movie was lovely.
It was really almost like a perfect painting, everything was paid attention to, no detail left out.
The story of each character is woven like a intricate tapestry, from early life, to the end.
It not only focuses on how the two main characters affect each others lives, but how they affect everyone else's lives around them.
If you haven't already seen this film, or read the book, I think you might enjoy it!

IF "Cracked"

2009-05-23T05:14:00.008-07:00

Poor bunny, too much harassment from his inner critic has pushed him over the edge.......

This is a piece I have been working on for months and just recently finished. I think it is a perfect fit for this weeks topic.
It's approximately 18"x24" on Ingres paper.
It is a mixed media piece combining collage, watercolor, acrylic and pencil.

IF "Contagious"

2009-05-18T06:11:00.006-07:00

Edwina tried in vain to inoculate herself against the contagious, yet unattainable expectations of her society................

I have been thinking a lot lately about television and how it influences our daily thought processes.
Ideas are indeed contagious and become embedded in our psyche.
Television has helped to alter our thinking and to skew our aesthetic and moral compass.
Concepts about beauty and status have really become phantasmagorical and unachievable...
yet, perversely we strive to fulfill ideals which were never ours, ideas which were subtly woven into our brains.
Television as well as other forms of technology have actually become our "Soma" and we have become so complacent and comfortable that we make little effort to awaken from our cozy and safe nest.

Once upon a time we were much more active and involved. We were well rounded so to speak. We gardened and interacted with our neighbors and family, we read actual books and listened to music. We canned and cleaned and picnicked, and had fun not involving electronic devices.
We sat at tables and played board games, and ate meals, face to face.

It seems now society is becoming more unplugged. Relationships are more difficult to make face to face, skills are being lost in the arena of interaction and language.
Games are played on the computer, relationships are "made" online.....

Viva la revolution! I think this month I will unplug! I plan to start with cable television. I want to experiment and see what happens. Will I have more time? Will I be "present" with my family? Will I become more creative? Will my spiritual side re-awaken given the ability to have moments of silence? Will my thinking become more clear?
Or, will it be a negative experience....will I have too much time on my hands, too many silent gaps, and will unresolved issues covered by constant white noise have nothing to hold them back and begin to rise to the surface?
It remains to be seen.
Very curious indeed!

FINALLY!

2009-05-12T16:57:00.002-07:00

I am FINISHED!!!! Yeah!
Finals week is now OVER!
I was feeling buggy!
It was very exhausting, so many papers! So many grades!
I am now able to begin giving attention to this blog again!
Yay!

IF "Theater"

2009-04-26T18:58:00.007-07:00

This is a piece I have been working on that I thought would be just right for this weeks IF "Theater".
It is an acrylic/collage on canvas. Approximately 18"x24".
I thought I would just go a little crazy with this one and throw everything that entered my mind into it.

Some of the collage materials include chocolate wrappers, floral prints, buttons, stone and fabric.
I think they're having a conversation about something, but I'm not sure what it is......
The bird figure seems a bit magical to me...or perhaps she is a spirit?

A New Book

2009-04-17T16:30:00.004-07:00

This is a new book I am reading, and so far I am loving it!
The author is writing about our consumerist society and how it has changed our way of thinking as well as our moral logic.
She speaks a great deal about how each of us can participate in changing the current tide and return in some way to our roots.
She suggests that we have lived under a sort of delusion of the "need"of goods and products, and that, in actuality it is creating a greater financial burden as well as an ecological one.
Many of her ideas are terribly radical....such as wearing clothing until it wears out and then actually mending it, growing backyard gardens and possibly establishing cottage industries.
She actually suggests we can live a life that is fulfilled, in simplicity and interconnectedness, without the need of massive amounts of stuff!
Shes out of her mind!
She is really a woman after my own heart!

IF "Fleeting"

2009-04-14T11:48:00.005-07:00

Sailing down the river of life, Hieronymus knew he must take precaution with the fleeting nature of time.......

A stroll in spring

2009-04-14T05:24:00.004-07:00

Another year......

2009-04-13T14:34:00.004-07:00

Another year...another Passover......
This year, however was even more special than others past....

This year my kids were old enough to really begin to participate and somewhat understand the story of the Exodus, it's metaphors and it's application to their own lives.
This year we understood and appreciated how "lucky" we really are to have each other and the memories we share together.

The economy has made things difficult for everyone...and I think often of how my father suffered during the Great depression ....as a child..... during holidays and festive seasons...and I really feel blessed to be able to share this joy and abundance with my own family.....

IF "Talisman"

2009-04-05T16:28:00.004-07:00

Mumphrey knew of the great power that lay within the golden Piranha, the question was... how to extract it!

Illustration Friday: "POISE"

2009-03-30T16:40:00.006-08:00

This is my illustration for "poise".
It is 8.5"x11", acrylic on canvas.
I thought long and hard and landed on the idea of a sort of Buddah-esque henna hand poised over the landscape.

"GHOST" Inspire Me Thursday

2009-03-27T05:52:00.009-08:00

Here is my interpretation of Inspire Me Thursday's theme "GHOST".

I used to be a very avid photographer, and so still have many of my old photos which I often utilize as artistic fodder. This one happens to be a photo-montage of my grandmother when she was very young, combined with a really beautiful house that I wanted to live in as a child.
I manipulated the image in Photoshop, adding other figures and detail.
The original centered composition was a little too static for me, so I added other elements to allow the visual weight to be a tad more flowing.

When I contemplate the word "ghost", it conjures up many associations.....
A ghost can be a haunting thought from the past...a memory of someone loved or cared for, or the residue of experience which resides in a physical space....

The word "ghost" can also be interpreted as the disembodied persona of one who has passed from this life into the next, but somehow remains in the realm of the physical.
However, for me, it is impossible to interpret it in such a straightforward way.
Connections to the past are incredibly strong and we seem to be inextricably bound eternally with those that came before us...each life imprinting something profound onto the life that follows.....

The lives of my great-grandparents impacting the lives of my grandparents who molded the lives of my parents, who helped to form my thoughts and ideas, which will affect my children's lives...and so on and so forth.
Complex, isn't it?

Subtract

2009-03-25T12:59:00.005-08:00

Here is my submission to Illustration Friday for the topic "Subtract".
This was a really difficult one for me...it took quite a few days for something to come to mind...but this is what I came up with.
It is a pen and ink on paper with colors digitally added.
This is some kind of odd "proboscis" monkey in the middle of the forest. I have no real idea what he is doing as he hasn't told me yet. I think perhaps he is either adding or subtracting small clay birds from the pulley and string. What he does after that is purely a mystery to which only he has the answer.
Peculiar, isn't he?

Dreaming...........

2009-03-19T03:56:00.007-08:00

Odilon Redon: "Walking Among the Flowers"

I've been dreaming quite a bit about my grandmother lately. Not exactly about her, but she is lately present somewhere in my dreams.
It's a little odd because we were never close. She always most preferred my older sisters to me, so, because of that I found great pleasure in trying to creatively torment her.

When I was in third grade, we moved to the old Victorian house, where we lived until the late 1980's.
From third grade on, my grandmother lived with us, off and on....until high school.
She lived independently after that for quite a few years, but then returned home to live with my parents until her death.
When I was about 7, my room was directly above hers. Because the house was very old, it had had radiators for heat, which my parents pulled out, thus leaving golf ball size holes in the floor.
That particular hole in my floor was directly over my grandmothers bed...indeed, strategically over her pillow.
Our ceilings were 12' high....and my grandmother adored reading romance novels. This worked together to allow me to stealthfully and quietly lower small toys tied to thread, down upon her head.
I would lie in wait for her, watching her through the hole, waiting for her to get comfortable on her bed with her love story. When I thought she was sufficiently absorbed, I would begin my guerrilla assault.
I would pick the most ugly rubbery toy, tie the thread to it, silently stuff it through the holes of the floor, and s-l-o-w-l-y lower it until it would land, ever so lightly, on her head.

She ALWAYS thought it was a bug, she would swat and swat at it, until after about the fifth swat, she would catch on and look up with angry eyes, yelling: "Jeannie! What are you doing! You stop that! I'm going to tell your father!".
Oh my god! It was the most hilarious thing. There never was a time that it wasn't completely hilarious!
Needless to say, after many months of great pleasure of torment, my father finally heeded my grandmothers request and filled the hole.
What a terribly sad day. But it will forever stick in my memory as one of lifes great thrills.

So, returning to my dream....my grandmother has been peeking into my dreams since around the time of the death of my father.
In this recent dream, she was a combination of herself and my mother.
I was somewhere in some house, where boxes were stacked to the ceiling (my mother in real life has the severe disease of pack-rat-itus).
I was looking frantically for my mother/grandmother, on the verge of hysteria...crying....but I was lost in this maze of boxes.
Finally I broke through to a small room, that was oddly clear of junk.
The carpet was a strange color of green.
On the ground I saw the outline of my mother/grandmother. It was as if she had died many years before. Nothing was left of her, not even bones. Only an outline remained. A combination of lint...and dust bunnies...creating the exact contour of where she had once lay.
Strange...yes.

I like to spend hours trying to figure out what these "visions" mean.
I am sure they are messages just waiting for interpretation.
Perhaps this one is trying to tell me not to allow my grandmothers memory to fade into oblivion, while at the same time...it is attempting to remind me that my mother still is living, and I should not neglect her in her old age.....I dunno...it's just a guess.

Perhaps those long past, living on that "other side" come into your mind to give you a tongue lashing and lecture the same way they did in life?
Or maybe it is simply your conscience doing it's job in the wee hours of the morning.
Or it could be that mysterious white floating angelic form giving you guidance....
Who knows...
Do you?

Illustration Friday- "Legendary"

2009-03-13T05:00:00.004-08:00

This is my submission for Illustration Fridays topic of "Legendary".
It's approximately 4"x8", pen and ink with colored pencil on paper.
I love Hamsas, and I am constantly thinking of different ways of portraying this "all seeing" eye.
I imagine that it would be quite legendary to see a sight like this. Don't you agree?
But also, I imagine this as a strangely comforting presence...surveying the world, keeping order and imparting wisdom where ignorance prevails.

Illustration Friday, "breezy"

2009-03-01T16:45:00.004-08:00

This is 5.5"x8.5", pen on paper.
An illustration for "breezy"...........
I wanted something calm...a little meditative......
I also wanted the linear quality to add to the feeling of the flow of "breeze", and to reflect some qualities of a zen-like garden.

Inspire me Thursday "SILVER "

2009-02-21T12:59:00.006-08:00

Well, this is the first time I have ever participated in Inspire me Thursday.
The topic is "silver".

It sounds easy, but really, what do you think about when you think about silver?
Jewelery? Coins?

What kept coming into my mind was that old song- "by the light...of the silvery moon...I want to spoon...with my honey....etc, etc...

I decided to allow whatever came into my mind to be presented on the paper....sort of "flow of consciousness".

This is actually a page in an altered book I am working on.
Most of the figures here...actually all of the figures here are cut forms from paper, applied to the page which has been gessoed black.
I painted each one and added details, layer upon layer(I like layers...so complicated and yet intriguing).
The paint is acrylic with details applied with gel pen.

If I'm really daring, perhaps next week I will try "Illustration Friday".

Blah!

2009-02-14T07:53:00.006-08:00

Well...
I have been sick for about three days now...and....I can say I do not like it.
I am freezing and my head is so stuffed and I can't breathe....waaah!!
So I am slowed down considerably.

However, BEFORE this act of cruel fate happened to me I did manage to see a very interesting Japanese movie call "WOOL 100%%".

In the past few years I have started to avoid standard and popular movies. They are so predictable and boring. The same recipe over and over again. I am always looking for something a little unusual. Sometimes I win and sometimes I lose.
This time I lucked out. This movie really entices you. It is so strange and beguiling. It is about these two old sisters who live together in the house of their long past mother. They are pack rats, and the house is all but covered by all of their junk. They obsessively collect and catalog every item they find. One day they come across a weird doll and some yarn...the yarn is connected to a young girl, who they take home and begin to take care of.

It is one of those movies that is so well written that you have no idea where it is heading.
But, I will say...that this movie is about confronting and resolving issues from your past.
The cinematography is very nice, with a lot of attention paid to mood, color and light as well as composition.
The animation is 2d and is beautifully strategically placed.
I have never had an interest in Japanese cinema, but this movie certainly re-ignites my curiosity.
If you have a chance to see it, I think you won't be dissapointed!

So now....I am returning to my bed...with a cup of tea and a fuzzy blanket.
I am then going to turn the TV on to a "creative" channel (gardening,crafts or cooking), and vegetate for the remainder of the day..................
Have a wonderful Valentines day and a spectacular weekend!

I feel pretty!

2009-02-08T06:57:00.010-08:00

I wanted to have more intimate family time....so I created a calendar that gives us a family activity every night of the week. The kids and I made little cards to pull out of a bowl and schedule on the calendar.
This is a photo of me on Makeover Madness Night.
My children said "mommie, we want to make you pretty". I was so naive...I actually fell for it. It all started out so good. They put the wig on and started to apply the make-up. Somewhere in all of this it went Terribly Wrong!
They got bored with pretty mommy and decided to make Pirate Mommy!
Am I scary? Argh!!!!!!
Don't you find me strangely alluring??
I especially like the camera angle! It really exemplifies my beauty!
Amazing how make up can totally transform the way you look!
Well.....um........
So...changing the subject drastically!
I finished another book. The author is Julia Camron...she is well known for her book THE ARTISTS WAY.
LETTERS TO A YOUNG ARTIST is really pleasant to read and also uplifting. It is written as letters from of older more seasoned artist writing to a younger artist having difficulties with issues of creativity. The older artist is a little harsh at times, but as an artist, I think sometimes you need to be prodded into waking up and functioning. There are a lot of critics who didn't like her book because of that.
When I graduated in 1987 with my Bachelors in fine art, I was sooooo unprepared to enter the art world.
I expected that EVERYONE would be beating down my door, hungry to buy my work.
Imagine my surprise when that never happened!
I would have loved it if I had had a mentor. Because...over time, the rejections become more and more painful and difficult to bear.
You have to develop a thick skin and a desire to create even if no one wants your work, the same way Van Gogh continued on with great productivity and insight in the face of un-acceptance and lack of financial success. If he did not have the strength of his brother with his constant flow of letters, I am sure he would have ended his life even earlier than he did.......
The only thing critical I have to say is that I think I would have enjoyed it more had I been able to see "letters" from both the older and younger artist. Nonetheless, it was a great read!

All of our snow melted yesterday! I have mixed feelings. Firstly, I like the snow because it is so clean looking and invigorating....and the kids really love being out in it. However...it does have it's drawbacks......
Like trying to shovel out a 70' driveway so you can take your children to school or go to work. Don't like it...simply don't like it! Also....I can tell you it is no picnic trying to pick up little doggie "cigars" that have frozen solidly to the snow. Nope...don't like that either!
I am happy to have a little respit and see the sun. But NOW it is all muddy outside! Yuck!

One last thing before I go......I received an email from Advocates for the Arts stating that Funding for the arts is being cut out from the new Stimulus Bill.
It's not only arts but park beautification and highway beautification....among many other things. If you feel compelled....then you should write your State Representative. Go to the Americans for the Arts website and they have a form letter, etc. for you to send. it takes only about two minutes to do.
When you think of arts funding it affects everything...art centers, after school programs, department of parks and recreation programs for children...the list goes on.
I am in no way a political person, but we seem to be consistently trimming away everything art related in this country...and what is a country without its arts?

Strange winds blowing through my mind...............

2009-02-03T08:30:00.012-08:00

Spooky, No?

Okay.....so......
I have never been one to tout Carl Jung's ideas about the Collective Unconscious....though I have always thought it interesting.
I have also always been fascinated by studies about psychic abilities in humans as well as animals.
But this....very odd and fascinating.

A few weeks ago I did this picture (above).
It is a photo-montage done in photoshop with some of the pictures I have taken here in Indiana since we arrived.
During this time I noticed that I also have had some traffic on my blog from all over but also from Israel.
I actually lived in Israel for a few years, but mostly in Tel Aviv. I was quite a homebody, and never traveled much to see the countryside......I really just went to work and came home everyday....and after my daughter was born, I really never got out much.

Well, my husband decided to see where a particular city that I saw frequently on my blog was in Israel.
There is a little village called Beit Zeit....
So he went and as he was scrolling he found and artist there....named Ran Morin.
Now...I have never ever been to Beit Zeit...I have never heard of Ran Morin and NEVER seen his work.
Remote telepathy????
Spooky I say!
But Look! He does all of this work dealing with suspended trees. These are not paintings! These are sculptures! This one was finished in 1991.

Apparently, a lot of his work deals with trying to be rooted in and un-rooted life. Thats amazing, because so much of my work deals with the same/similar issues: Where is home? What does "home" mean? How can you define "home" in an unstable future?

Don't you think there is a very spooky resemblance between my picture and his sculptures?
I just think that is so weird and interesting!
Another artist I can relate to! So Wonderful!
Michaelangelo felt that the life of the image was in the stone waiting to be revealed, and he simply was the mechanism that revealed it......
I really think this has something to say about Jungs theory that we all dip into a reservoir of inspiration and experience....

My New Website

2009-02-01T12:47:00.004-08:00

My website has finally been updated!!
The webmaster (my husband) has done such a fantastic job! It's exactly what I wanted and shows the work off so much more! Please visit and tell me what you think!

Apples and Vino, one more study

2009-01-29T08:49:00.011-08:00

I have to be honest with you......
Doing studies of fruit are not terribly thrilling for me.....
But like exercise to maintain tone in your body, exercise in the artistic arena is equally important.
I enjoy the fact that in doing them I improve my awareness and skills.....but....frankly, I have to slap myself awake sometimes.
I tend to do a lot of studies as examples for my students to follow......
This particular one is done in acrylic. I used the palette knife on the closest apple to provide some texture.
Other areas were done with various sizes of firm, flat,stiff, brushes.
The palette here was made up mostly of earth tones: Sienna, Umber, white, Cadmium red, and also a little ultra marine blue.
Part of my process is glazing, but also I do a great deal of dry brush for blending. Glazing with acrylic paint is done by using gels.
I tell my students that initially you really need to obliterate the white of the canvas instead of working from one side to the other. When you rid your canvas of the white, not only do you rid yourself of an intimidating, screaming white surface, but you also bring the entire composition into the beginning of a cohesive unity.

One thing to remember in painting also is that, like sculpture, painting is a process...often repetitive....and your completed project may take a little longer than you expected.
Attention has to be given especially to light quality as well as value, before worrying about color.
Visual balance is also extremely important.
One has to be careful not to place subject matter exactly in the center, instead it needs to be offset somewhat to create a flow of eye movement. If subject matter is too centralized, the picture will become static and one dimensional. When that happens, the picture can then become uninteresting.

Finally, it's important to leave room for change in the composition. Here you see I decided to add a wine bottle as well as the patterned curtains in the background.You don't have to be a slave to your original idea. If you find that what you are doing is boring you to death, bring in some visually pleasing elements to your negative space. Doing this could mean bringing fresh life into something that would otherwise remain dull and uninteresting.

Knitting Companions

2009-01-28T07:16:00.010-08:00

I found a really nice knitting book at the library a while back. For those of you who have basic knitting knowledge, this one is for you!
I love the idea of knitting...of making a garment entirely from one single thread!
However, I am not sure what I do is truly knitting. I know that I do make something from the needles and yarn....something akin to knitting...but I am positive that it isn't the right final product.
Never having seen a real knitter knit something, I am in the dark about the most basic knit and purl stitches. I also have a problem with severe numbness in my hands, a problem that I developed when I was pregnant with my son more than five years ago, which slows my progress greatly.
In the mid 1980's I attended California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland California. It was a FANTASTIC school! So many different people from so many varied backgrounds. I was majoring in sculpture then, and my room mate was a weaver.
It was during this time that I met a film major from Tennessee who loved the BBC series Dr. Who.
In every chapter of the series, Dr. Who wore an infinitely long knitted scarf.
My friend, also was a humongous fan of Little shop of Horrors as well as Ghost busters. She was one of those people who would go to the theater dressed as the character, and even act out the parts as the movie played.
Anyhow, back to the scarf....as I said, she loved Dr. Who and had to have that scarf!
Everyday I found her in the dorm TV room knitting the fantastically long scarf...it must have been five feet long or longer.
Intrigued by the sight, I asked her to impart her magical knitting knowledge to me......and....that's actually how I learned to knit.
But apparently I learned incorrectly as I seem to only have one stitch....no matter how I vary it...it all comes out the same. Not in beautiful neat little orderly "V" shaped rows...but more like...maybe repetitive "U" shapes. I am so defeated about this! How can something so easy looking be so complicated?
I have gone on YOU-TUBE, I have watched videos, I have read books.
In excitement and numb hands I begin my wizardly stitches....only to see after the first row...that they look exactly like the stitches I did much earlier.
So sad....such woe...
So, I ask you: "How will I ever make a doggie sweater, footsies or a cozy winter cap?". My world is so incomplete......"sigh".........

Don't open that closet!

2009-01-25T07:43:00.004-08:00

Just a crazy little sketch I did last night.....
Sometimes it is very hard to paint or do any artwork at all....especially if your mood supersedes your creativity. So...it's really imperative that you keep a sketch book and try to make entry's in it everyday.
It allows you to some extent to unplug from your usual work and just mess around and be free without your inner critic haunting you. It also allows you to access your muse in a consistent manner, but without the heaviness of the expectation of doing something fantastic.
Most of the time when I utilize my sketchbook, I make plans for paintings that I will at some point execute. However there are times I just want to be free and connect with that part of me that doesn't give a damn and just wants to make something...anything......and sometimes just to make myself laugh.
So, once in a while I come up with these little monsters or demons. They are kind of a subconscious personification of all of my worries and anxieties. But in drawing them, I turn them into something humorous instead of dreadful.
A few years ago my daughter began to have some annoying and scary dreams and I wanted to give her a concrete way to overcome her fears...so we sat down and came up with an idea based on Native American dream Catchers. Before bed she would draw all of her fears in her sketchbook...giving them shape and form and substance, after that she would draw her good monsters or beings that had powers over the fearful ones. She would draw out entire scenarios of the good beings overcoming the bad ones. She is 10 now, and to this day, she continues to do this.
As adults we often have events in our life that are difficult to digest. Financial problems, deaths, moves...whatever....most of the time we keep these inside of us, trying to mute them and just deal with them. I suggest the remedy of a sketchbook....sometimes it is exactly the medicine you need.

Muerto!

2009-01-24T10:37:00.003-08:00

I am so sad......
My laptop is on the fritz......
I am so distraught......
The screen is just......black.......
Apparently I have to replace the entire screen. The range is between 150.00 to 200.00. That's a lot of kesef baybee! Where am I gonna get that kinda cabbage man!?
So...to my utter dismay, I am forced to use this old klunkety computer....WITHOUT all of my laptop files....oh...the sadness......
Yes, I know, I should be thankful that I have at least one little tool for my window to the world....
But it's simply not the same.....
Woe is me.......it's like riding the bus compared to driving your own car. No fun I say!