lightofthemoon

collections

2012-02-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

medical stuff

pocket watches

doll dressers

old toys

numbers and letters

hands

i have always been a collector. when i was small, i collected live pet mice, dead butterflies, plastic breyer horses, and seashells. the collections were just part of who i was, and i took joy from finding a new specimen to add to my cache. none of my early collections have made it this far into my life. the pet mice (they bred fast, and i had over 50 in my parent's basement) met their maker when one night i left the top off their cage. my very happy cat had the feast of a lifetime. ugh. the butterflies went next door to my friend timmy. shells...i think my mom probably got rid of them secretly over time. they just disappeared. breyer horses? my niece ended up with them. by the time they resurfaced, 30 years of girl play had stripped them of most of their ears and small appendages. goodwill was the final recipient.

i still collect today. i like old things, things with wear and tear. i often wonder what makes us collect, and why we are drawn to those things in our collections. my gatherings of items changes a lot. i go through periods of passing on my things, and replacing them with other ones. sometimes i think i have to be crazy to keep all of this stuff, and do a major clean out. often, i wonder if the collecting thing is a outward sign of a mental issue deep within me!! i do know that finding and saving things is definitely something that makes me feel happy. the good news is that most of my things cost little. i am the consummate bargain shopper.

every once in a while, i like to donate a really great former collection item to goodwill. i think about how happy i am when i find a great thing in the heap of donations at the thrift store. and i somehow get a dose of glee thinking about the person who finds my former treasure. it's a kind of payback to the universe.

anyway, the pictures above document some of my current collections. i won't go into long reasons why these things resonate with me, because sometimes i just don't know. but here they are for you to consider.

3 new boxes

2012-02-07T14:31:00.002-07:00

i have been working on a series of 5 assemblage boxes. in an earlier post, i photographed the beginning of one of these, thinking that i would create a print and install an assemblage on top of it in a large frame. but then i got the idea to place the assemblages into a smaller boxes instead. the 5 boxes can then be hung together or stacked into an installation.

here are the boxes i have finished so far. they are 5x7x3 inches.

four point bandage

fractured knee cap

fractured jaw

all of the boxes feature tin (and other metals), cigarette cards with first-aid images, vintage rulers, and vintage game pieces (which are loose and can move around in the interiors). the numbered tacks were for numbering window screens. when they were taken off and stored, the numbered tacks helped you find the correct window. love that!!

they are all protected with plexiglass. sturdy dovetailed boxes are hand made by my fabulous and talented husband!

anthology magazine

2012-02-02T08:08:00.001-07:00

thanks to aphrochic for the photo

i love anthology magazine! it's a shelter magazine which runs quarterly. currently they have just delivered issue number 6. i missed #1 somehow. guess i wasn't paying attention as well as i should have. if you know me well, you know that magazines are one of my favorite things. i got this obsession from my mom. each week at the grocery store she splurged at the checkout and threw 2 or 3 women's magazines in the cart. i remember being so excited about the purchase. mc call's had a page with a besty mc call, a paper doll. and i could barely wait to get my hands on it. i would glue betsy and her outfits to a piece of shirt cardboard my mom stashed away for just this purpose. usually the glue made her a bit wrinkly, but i didn't care. then she would dry, and i could then cut betsy and her wardrobe out. my cutting skills were not the best. i think i cut off the little tabs on the clothes more than once. but it was amazing how one page of a magazine could keep me so occupied and thrilled.

i thought of all of this when i got my new issue of anthology. the cover this time is a paper cut sculpture by an artist named chloe fleury. there is more of her work throughout the magazine. she has even created a little trailer, a film featuring her cover design.

here is the link from vimeo:

http://vimeo.com/35615315

i am so glad that print is not dead. i don't know about you, but turning pages on a computer screen doesn't do it for me. i like the feel of the paper in my hands. and i love to dog ear the pages i love.

one of my favorite magazines of all time was home companion. a couple of years ago it just stopped. i was so bummed, because it was really the only magazine which consistently featured artists and their work spaces. ready made was also a good magazine, but lately (after it was sold) it does not cut the mustard for me. so anthology wins, hands down.

dress, finished!

2012-01-30T20:26:00.001-07:00

i couldn't wait. i had to do the overprint, even though the ink was still tacky. i just could not let that print sit on the table unfinished.

so here it is. the dots (from the last post) went by the wayside. i am not happy with the shadow color on the bow. i think it's too dark. but i guess i'm stuck with it.

it's a bit out of focus, as i took it with my iphone.

12x19 inches.

dress

2012-01-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

i've been working all day. good news is the idea is keeping me thinking of nothing else. bad news is that i am half-way done, and need to let the ink dry to overprint. two days. that's how long it's gonna take. i think i will go nuts in the interim. the paper is taped on the table, and i can't remove it or it will be out of registration when i go to make the overprint. i think i better go make a margarita.

pink man

2012-01-26T17:51:00.002-07:00

this is the print i have been working on for the past two days. i started with a retro background, and then overprinted the male figure with white ink. what i didn't expect was the white in to turn magenta-tinged wherever i used magenta ink in the background. i wasn't sure if it looked too girly at first, but now that i've had a day to digest, i'm liking the effect.

what was most satisfying though, was how the arm and back leg worked. i cut a different stencil for each, and like the dimensionality it created.

this guy is 9x30 inches or so. oh crap. i gotta get it custom framed.

diagram m

flashlight

2012-01-23T16:00:00.001-07:00

i worked on this new print all day. it's about 9x30 inches. i'm liking everything, except i may put in a bit of white in the light beam. it seems just a bit too busy. i'll overprint the white, and the it will take some of the letter jumble away, making it easier on the eyes. the orange was not the best of color choices, i guess. unfortunately it was the first color printed, and you really don't know how it's gonna work until the other colors are put in. i may re-do the whole dang thing in a different color scheme...maybe a red flashlight?

let me know what you think...more white in the light beam, or leave it alone?

i'll post a finished shot once i resolve my dilemma. for now it remains taped to the table so i won't lose registration if i decide to do something else!!

artist statement

2012-01-20T14:03:00.000-07:00

handle with care, 2010

crappity, crap, crap. i have to write an artist statement. this is a hard one for me. i am not into the "deep" stuff as far as statements (or art) go. i make art, i play, i sometimes get a good result. i like objects, people, shapes, patina. i like all that stuff to look nice together. i like color. it's fun to put colors together that look beautiful. for me, it's not about something higher. it's just putting all of the elements together until i get just the right combination. and then i'm done, and ready to do it all over again.

here are things i like to use in my art over and over:

circles--they seem safe and comfortable.

stripes--they just look orderly to me, and i'm a virgo. love order!!

lines--well, i don't know how you'd create something without at least an implied line...do you?

ordinary objects and people-- they are interesting to me. i like the mundane for it's simple beauty.

red--it's happy.

green--it's safe and comfortable, like circles.

blue--i used to hate it, then i forced myself to use it because i hated it. and now i love it.

brown--it's like green only safer and more comfortable.

texture and patina--i love things that are used and have the touch of a person or of mother nature. if it's not there, i try and create it in a believable way.

handwriting--it's almost a lost art. nobody writes letters any more. and pencil? it's just so beautiful! smudgy, sharp or dull depending on the writer, and that shimmer of graphite. wow.

numbers and letters--hmmm. i like to use them as elements, and they usually don't say anything. just elements of design. 3 is a personal favorite. i think because it has circles. i also like X. so strong for such a tiny thing.

the virgin mary--she's an icon. i'm not the religious type, but i have a huge collection of Mary in many forms. she reminds me of my grandmother, who was such a kind woman. she just makes me feel comfortable. like circles. and green.

here is what influences me:

pop culture--sometimes i just drive around and look at stuff. i call it my artistic education. it gets my brain ticking. i look at people, buildings, products in the stores, old stuff, trash, fashion, advertising.

old stuff--back to the patina thing.

magazines--(all types including boring ones like consumer reports). i'm kind of addicted. it's like driving around, only sitting still. and you can bring them in the bathtub.

graphic design--letters, numbers, color combinations, flattening of the picture plane.

artists--oh god. i look at everything i can. how can i even make a list? i could start today, and not finish for days. it's impossible.

i wish i were the kind of person who could take all of this information and make up a gorgeous paragraph or two that turns into an artist statement. i guess i am going to have to do that really soon.

emerging from the plexiglass

2012-01-18T20:37:00.000-07:00

i worked on some prints this week. for every one that i kept, one went in the trash. but it's nice to be back in the swing of things.

here is the one i posted the other day, now finished. for some reason i can't get it to photograph very well. the colors are a lot richer and a lot more blue in real life, and the camera can't catch the patina of the ink layers. anyway, here it is:

it's another image in the diagram series i had started over a year ago.

here is another. this one photographed pretty well!

the smell of ink is in the air

2012-01-16T18:05:00.001-07:00

the brayers are rolling, as are the ideas.

who could this be emerging from the plexiglass?

stay tuned...

showcase

2012-01-15T09:56:00.000-07:00

one of the things we purchased for the shop was a wonderful antique showcase. it was always a centerpiece in the shop, as it was made of beautiful dark wood and had neat details like this brass plate. when we closed the shop, we tried to sell it. i guess nobody was in the market for an antique showcase at that point in time. so i ended up taking it home to store until it could find a new home.

the other day i got a wild hair, and decided to move some furniture around in my living room. i had an inkling that if i tried hard enough, i could find a spot for that gorgeous piece. it took me all day, but i got it to work. in the process, i also installed a wall of new art!

i also found a spot for "chubby" a dressmaker's form that was also used as display at the shop. inside the showcase john and i created a "cabinet of curiosities". here's a closer shot of the interior of the case.

it seems a lot fresher, and even larger in the "new" living room. it's funny because we added lots of stuff, and the result is a more open and functional room! don't forget, you can click on any of these photos for a larger look!

drawers!

2012-01-10T17:51:00.001-07:00

this cabinet is the coolest thing on the planet. it was painted green by some person very long ago who happened to know just the shade of green i love. this piece was found at a street fair, and i bought it for storage at the shop. when we closed, i had the right of first refusal. so it came home with me, and now lives down the hallway from my studio. i really wish it could fit in the studio, but i will say that it looks pretty terrific where it is.

i spent the other day cutting up some old cards from a "flinch" game to make the numbered tags.

then i decided to put all of my printmaking stuff in the drawers. i figured since the drawers come out, i can carry what i need down the hall to work in the studio. the drawers are kinda small, but perfect for carrying. one drawer is about the size of a ream of computer printer paper.

here's some of my printing stuff:

warm colored inks,

brayers,

masking tape.

there are 27 drawers, so i won't bore you any longer.

funny that i decided to make a printmaking station, and now i have lots of prints to make for the cherry creek arts festival! i think tomorrow is the day i begin. i'm still terrified, but i think making work will help. i also started reading "art & fear" again, and that always makes me feel better. if you are the creative type, it's a wonderful book to read. it always makes me feel like i'm not so crazy.

the adventure begins!!

cherry creek arts festival

2012-01-09T06:42:00.003-07:00

posture

i woke up about 5 times last night, thinking that it HAD to be morning. why all of the restlessness from an ordinarily heavy sleeper? because today is the day that the selected artists for the cherry creek arts festival are announced.

at 5:10 i just had to get up and find my phone. and there it was. the email. saying i got in!! (for printmaking and graphics). i really was stunned. i really didn't expect it. i was ready for the letdown, but instead i got a great big rush of happiness.

ok. so now i'm scared.

if you want to check out their website, click the link below.

http://cherryarts.org/

almost there

2012-01-06T11:46:00.000-07:00

things are looking better, no?

it gets worse before it gets better

2012-01-05T09:13:00.001-07:00

~~it seems like~~ every single surface of my studio is covered with stuff. i think that in moving from the shop to home, my studio was dumped with everything that didn't fit elsewhere. it's a real mess, and is making me crazy. i went to the art supply store earlier this week to pick up some necessities for my imminent creative rush, but i can't even find a place for them in the hoard.

today is clean the studio day.

i am going to clean, put away, and organize until i have open surfaces on which to create.

i don't know about you, but i find it impossible to make art when my space isn't organized. maybe another example of my virgo tendencies. even if i clear the workspace, i can't get past the pile of clutter wherever i have deposited it. my brain concentrates on the disaster waiting to be put in order, and nothing else.

i wish that this blog post was showing some amazing new artwork. i really do. maybe next post will feature the clean space with new work playing center stage versus the tangled heap you see now.

waiting...

2012-01-02T16:44:00.010-07:00

ok. i am officially waiting with bated breath.

i hear if i am in the cherry creek arts festival in 7 more days.

i'm not really thinking it will happen. they had ~~2000~~ 1983
applicants for only ~~280~~ 230
spots.

i've never done a festival.

it's kinda overwhelming.

i'll let you know when i hear the news.

if you are reading this, and it's not january 9th yet, would you please cross your fingers? and toes?

thanks!

clean a room a day

2011-12-28T21:05:00.000-07:00

there is about to be a surplus of artwork in our house. with the closing of the shop this weekend, and the end of the shy rabbit show, i will have a bunch of stuff that needs a home in the casa for a while. john and i were very aware of this issue, so have been working on cleaning a room a day for the transition. we haven't really stuck to the room a day rule, but we have been pretty good about the project.

this was our guest room yesterday.

john decided to install some shelving in the closet to take care of some of the clutter that was stacking up from the move. nothing fancy, just some melamine shelving from the home depot. he installed it on either end of the closet, leaving the center open for a rod. we thought it would be nice for our guests to have a functioning closet when they visit.

he even painted the interior with gloss white, and trimmed it out with white trim.

here is the after. we still have a lot to fit in here from the shop, but i am thinking that it won't be a problem.

ta-da!! all ready for a visitor! it feels so good to be organized!!

(did i ever tell you my favorite store is the container store? heaven! i may have to go spend some cash getting some more organizing tools tomorrow!!)

merry merry!

2011-12-24T18:51:00.000-07:00

happy, happy!

merry, merry!

hope your christmas is wonderful!

spirit of christmas

2011-12-14T13:37:00.001-07:00

my mother was a huge lover of christmas. one of my fondest memories of her was when she would hang the old lead tinsel on the tree after all of the other decorations were present. she hung that tinsel strand by strand. it was perfect. my way of putting on tinsel was throwing a handful at 3 feet away, and seeing where it would land. i am sure my poor mother spent hours re-doing my abomination to her tree.

my mom was not the kind of person who like old things. our tree mostly had newer ornaments. she was very crafty, and we spent a lot of time making things to put on the tree. we painted little plaster shapes, and stuck pins through sequins and fake pearl beads into styrofoam balls. the tree was always beautiful to me, and is still a symbol of my mother at our house.

i inherited my passion for the season from mom, but this year i didn't feel the magic. i don't know what it was, but i felt like i couldn't bear to get out the boxes. it just seemed like too much work, and the thought of putting it all away again overwhelmed me.

two saturdays ago, i came into the shop to work for the day. i had a cloud of non-celebratory funk over my head. as i drove home for the day, the cloud was still over me. but when i hit our street, it vanished. john and ben had put up the christmas lights, and they were sparkling my way into the driveway. and when i got into the house, things were even better. those two had put up the tree, decorated it, hung the stockings and wreaths, and filled the fireplace with pots and pots of red poinsettias.

i burst into tears.

it was one of the nicest things that anyone had ever done for me. as i type the story, i still tear up a bit.

now the house is decorated and cheery. my collections of antique and kitschy christmas items are out for the world to see. and the spirit is back inside me thanks to my son and my husband.

thanks, guys. and thanks, mom.

collecting cigarette cards

2011-12-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

i have been collecting cigarette cards with bizarre imagery for about 10 or 12 years. it all started with a set of chinese swimmers. at that time, you could get a really cool set on ebay for just about nothing. now it's a different story. i look for cards that aren't in complete sets now. or ones that have damage or creases. they are still a bargain, and perfect for me.

another collection of mine is old first aid books and other medical stuff. as you can see, the card in the piece below fits both categories. i am working on 5 pieces for this series. i have the center blocks all done. they are 5x7 blocks of birch plywood, which i have covered with old letters and then various found objects. cut up tins, window marker tacks, tiny nails. under the block, there is a monoprint, an overall pattern. i thought it re-emphasized the text from the tins, and gave a modern twist to the work. the whole deal will be placed in a deep frame. haven't decided if i will just seal the piece or use glass to protect it.

right now, the series is comprised of cards with first aid imagery. but maybe there are more to come.

official announcement

2011-12-09T08:02:00.001-07:00

here it is. the post card we sent out this week, telling our friends that we are officially closing.

we have had some terrific feedback, and lots of compliments about our little place on prince street. please stop in and say goodbye! we will miss you!

please keep in touch!

tomsarmo.com

teresabrookspottery.com

ruthfiege.com

oh, and by the way, all of our vintage items are now 20% off, excluding radios!!

labradeer!

2011-12-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

we are getting revved up for the holidays here at the fweger household. the best part of christmas is that i get to dig the antlers out and put them on our dog, vinny. it always brings joy and hilarity to the house. and i really think he kinda likes those antlers!

the sk3tchbook's closing

2011-12-05T09:14:00.001-07:00

i'm feeling a bit sad today, as i have chosen today to publicly tell my friends and associates that the sk3tchbook! experience is coming to an end. we will be closing our doors at the end of december. it's been a tough couple of weeks, knowing that the decision has been made. now we have to go through the hard task of physically and mentally doing the work to finish the job.

we will be open until the 31st, and will continue to offer affordable art and cool vintage and handmade items. and we will also be selling the fixtures. so if you are in the market for some great gifts this holiday season, or if you need a vintage display case, give us a call or visit!!

i am not one bit regretful about this whole experience. it has taught me a lot of things, including that i am able to make a whole lot of art. it has also helped me and my partners continue our professional journeys as artists. before sk3tchbook, i had never really made art full-time. as an art teacher, i was constantly working on my art, but i could never give it the time it needed to grow. i have found that my work has become more sophisticated, and has multiplied exponentially.

i have also found out what it really means to run a business. it's a lot harder than i expected. and i am tired.

right now my plan is to continue my artistic journey at my home studio. i have spent the last few weeks cleaning it up, and purging unnecessary stuff. as a person who creates art with many objects, i have had to figure out how to store my things efficiently. it's been a big task, but i feel like i am ready.

i have had interest in the baker section of denver as a possible new area for a studio. but right now i think i need a while to regroup, get lots of work done, and see how it feels to work full-time at home. i have not done this since my son was a toddler, and that was at least 15 years ago. i am sure there will be some challenges i have yet to see.

btw, the image above is taken from a website that promotes a very interesting project. i have contemplated participating, but lack of time has won out. maybe it will be something i can do now that i have more minutes at home. click here for more information.

brush is moving again!

2011-12-01T13:46:00.000-07:00

i've had a bit of a dry spell. i think i needed a little break, as i had been going non-stop making art for over 2 years. we decided to have our invitational this holiday season, so there was really no need to push for the winter show. so i made ornaments for the shop, and stopped there.

my husband asked me the other day if i might consider making some art for christmas presents this year. and since it was snowing today i decided to stay in and paint. nothing grand, but it was good to get the brush moving. i decided on a small piece using gouache on black paper.

the first two shots show the work in progress. i draw with graphite on the black paper, and then fill in color on either side of the line, leaving the black showing. it's a really fun process. i will tell you that my eyes are crazy tired when i am done, though. the last step is to erase all of the pencil so it looks finished. i like the almost naive look the slightly undulating black line gives. this one is about 5x5 inches, and took me a couple of hours. i use acrylic gouache, which is like really nice tempera paint. it's really opaque and has a matte finish, which i love.

that's all for now. time to put it in the frame and wrap it for the receiver!!

please join us!!

2011-11-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

new stuff at the shop and on etsy!

2011-11-08T09:33:00.001-07:00

i've been busy assembling for the last few days. i just listed the items above on etsy (click here for a link to my shop), and am going to bring them down to the shop tomorrow for public viewing.

believe it or not, i am completely out of items to make any more game piece boxes, and the crosses aren't looking too good, either. i think over 2 years of making these kinds of assemblages has taken their toll on my inventory of objects. i have been scouring the antique malls, etsy, and ebay for the stuff i need to renew my stash. and it's been quite frustrating, really. i even drove up to fort collins this past weekend (thanks john for the company!xoxo) to see if i might be luckier there. and i came back muy empty-handed. so i guess what i am saying is that if you want a box, better get one now because the larder is looking pretty bare.

im thinking of maybe going to the midwest this spring or summer on a buying trip. i was always lucky with stuff when i lived in iowa and missouri. maybe it's the same deal there? could the world of antiques and junk actually be running out of stuff??

ok. time to get myself out of my PJs and into some sort of working mode. oh, and i guess i still haven't had breakfast!!

snow day!!

2011-11-02T10:57:00.000-06:00

it's hard to believe that one week ago i was walking on the beach, eating dinner outdoors, and jet skiing with the dolphins on the gulf of mexico.

we have had two snow storms already in colorado. we have had almost as much snow this winter as we did the whole of last winter. crazy. the trees still have their leaves, and we lost one big branch on the russian olive in the back yard. i put a yardstick into the pile of snow on our outdoor table, and it said 9 inches. but that was hours ago, and it's still snowing.

my friend jane and i took our dogs to the park to play this morning. her dog, zoe is the blonde, vinny is the tall dark and handsome one. with the ridiculous tail. they had a blast running in circles, joy in every leap and bound. now vinny is fast asleep on his bed as i type.

i do love the snow. it always feels all cozy and warm in the house, and it's so quiet. i think i need to make a hot cup of tea, and then get back to work. i have been making some things to sell in the shop for the holidays. here is a sneak peak at one of the assemblage pieces. more to come!!

junk

2011-10-20T16:05:00.001-06:00

i have been on some junking trips lately. and i have found some good fodder. some of these things were real bargains, and some i had to pay the price for cool. the good news is that i am honing in on some ideas for a new series of boxes. i think (duh) they are going to involve drawers somehow. i don't know if i will do a box within a box, or just let the drawer be the box on its own.

some great news today. i went to the curtis arts and humanities center in greenwood village with teresa. we met with the gallery director there about a show. turns out that teresa and i will have a dual show in may. the center was originally a one-room school house back in the day. there are two rooms on the main floor of the building. teresa will have one room, and i will have another. i will be showing assemblage, teresa pottery. how exciting!!

it's a bit overwhelming, really. so much to think about. i know the time will fly, and the next thing i know, it will be may. so i better start getting the ideas rolling. and assembled!

miserable

2011-10-12T11:26:00.000-06:00

i saw this list today on facebook, it was posted by the jealous curator, one of my favorite blogs. it was originally created as part of the artist's survival kit, by keri smith. click here to a link to the blog post in which it was included. the idea was that you could print out the kit, and use it when you were ready to quit the whole art thing. i know some of you may find this a bit negative, but for me, it truly resonates. a sense of humor is also nice to add while reading!!

enjoy!

pagosa springs sun article!

2011-10-07T16:24:00.000-06:00

beef

check out the article from the pagosa SUN newspaper! yours truly was the featured artist!

yay!

here's the link:

http://www.pagosasun.com/archives/2011/09September/092911/aeshyrabbit.html

sk3tchbook invitational

2011-10-05T09:20:00.001-06:00

we received our announcements for the upcoming show! if you happen to be in the denver area, please mark you calendars for the event! we promise there will be some great art, food, and fun!

you can click on the images to see a larger size!

front of announcement

back of announcement

trek to pagosa springs

2011-10-02T21:00:00.002-06:00

entrance to the show!

denise coffee, marti bledsoe, kathleen isberg, sandy applegate

family photo series

marti bledsoe

gail hershey

we made trek to pagosa springs for the reception to the INK invitational. it was a great trip. we saw some terrific art, and met some great people! great thanks to denise and michael coffee for the wonderful show!! they worked really hard to put together a fabulous collection of prints.

on the way home, we also got to see some spectacular fall colors, and some awesome colorado scenes. they are below for your viewing pleasure!

aspens in wolf creek pass

south fork

la veta pass

on the ground as we walked the dog at la veta pass

what a great weekend!!

thank you pat and sylvia for accompanying us to the show!

handmade brochures

2011-09-27T16:47:00.001-06:00

i spent the day making brochures. my dear friend johnine designed them for me. she sent me the PDF images of the design, and i print them out at home. the booklet is 10 pages in length, and has a cover over the pages. they take a while to put together, but i think look really cool when they are finished. the front cover is created from a collage i made, and the interior has a total of 16 artworks. there are two pages of prints, two of collage, two of assemblage, and two of paintings.

the first step is to print out the pages using really nice paper and cover stock. then i score and fold each page, making a nice crease with a bone folder. then the pages are assembled together in order, and sewn together at the crease. since the interior pages are one-sided, there is a tab left over. i sew this down with a zig zag stitch that shows on the front of the booklet. next, i cut the brochure down to size with a ruler and rotary cutter. finally, i put a coat of matte medium over the stitching to keep it from raveling.

these little booklets now get placed in a translucent envelope, and are closed with a custom sticker with an image of one of my art pieces. they can be addressed and sent as-is, or can be placed in my artist packet with my resume, etc.

johnine is a genius!!

it takes me over 3 hours to make 8 booklets, but somehow it is relaxing to me. i am getting faster now that i know the process a bit better than i did when i started making them.

this particular batch was made to take to pagosa for the upcoming show at shy rabbit. they are to be given to buyers of my work. we will see how it goes. hopefully their creation will bring some good karma my way.

moab, utah

2011-09-26T09:54:00.000-06:00

moab.

it's almost too awesome and huge to capture with any success in photos.

i'm posting a couple for looking, but know that you can't even understand the vastness and the color changes without seeing it in person.

i spent the last four days plein air painting in moab. i have been thinking about the experience since leaving utah. for me, the weekend was about seeing if i still had the passion to paint outdoors. in my twenties, i painted from life or outside for 3 continuous years. and i loved the experience because it really improved my skills and made me focus on learning about light, color, perspective, immediacy, and about a million other things. it also calmed some of my post teen angst.

the days i spent in moab were great. the landscape was enormous, awe inspiring, and almost incomprehensible. but it really didn't turn me on as far as painting goes. i went through the motions, but never felt that i could capture all that awesomeness in my work. it was a huge struggle for me. honestly, the beauty was overwhelming, but i didn't have fun trying to put it on canvas.

don't get me wrong, the trip was way worth it. i saw amazing things, i painted with really nice people, and i had a lot of fun with my friend kelly. and i love mark nelson, our teacher. he is a great, talented, wonderful, laid back, and knowledgeable guy. his paintings are beautiful. i wish i could say that the place and the teaching gave me a newfound energy to pack up my easel and go outdoors once a week. but it didn't.

what i did learn is that i am content to say that plein air painting of the landscape is not on my list of things i am currently passionate about. and that i do still have a passion for making prints, creating collages, and making assemblages. i do still want to paint. just not outdoors, and not of landscapes.

i am happy that i have come to this conclusion. i don't think i have crossed landscapes off the list forever. only for a while. maybe one day i will feel the love again!!

anyway, here are two studies from the weekend.

one last note, if you ever read this, thank you kelly for listening to my banter for all of those days and nights. i am forever grateful to you for letting me vent about my artistic struggles.
thank you, thank you!!

INK invitational at shy rabbit

2011-09-21T20:31:00.000-06:00

here it is! the announcement for the show at shy rabbit!

click here shyrabbit.com

or here http://www.shyrabbit.com/Exhibits.html

i will have 25 pieces in the show, and will be happily attending! yay!

big deep breath

2011-09-20T13:04:00.001-06:00

i've been in florida for the last 6 days. i went down to see my dad and his wife in pensacola, and then moved a couple of hours east to watercolor. watercolor is a planned community on the gulf coast. it has gorgeous beaches, and fantastic views (see above). just the rest and relaxation i needed! i met leslie and my friend debbie for our annual girl's weekend, and we stayed at leslie's house down there. we have known each other since middle school! what a great few days.

thursday i leave for a painting workshop in moab, utah. what a change in scenery! i will post some shots when i get back!!

birthday prezzies!!

2011-09-09T10:23:00.000-06:00

happy birthday, to me! my sweet and thoughtful husband john gave me some wonderful gifts this morning. he is a man after my own heart! this is one of the vintage games he gave me. the other one is called "hickety pickety" and involves hens and eggs. they are a dang riot! i love those old graphics, and i love the funny stuff on the box. "a snappy game" ha!!

i also got some other neat ephemera, including a book on penmanship exercises, and two report cards that belonged to alfred olsen in the 1920's. alfred did make it on to 4th grade after this report, but i don't think his mom and dad were very happy with him on the ride! (click image for a closer look!)

how do i know that john is the man of my dreams? well, because he got everything for under $20, and was happy to tell me! now there is the perfect man for me!

akua inks

2011-09-06T15:23:00.000-06:00

i was at the studio today, and decided to try out my new akua intaglio inks. they are a product that substitutes for oil-based inks, and can be cleaned up with soap and water. i didn't try and get too crazy with my first attempt, so i settled on a quick stripy pattern, then overprinted with white ink.

i kinda like the ink, but it is going to take some getting used to. the consistency is a bit thinner, and they are more transparent than inks i am familiar with. they are nice in that they don't have a strong smell like the oil-based inks, and you can clean them up easily with mostly paper towels. i need a bit more practice, but i think they might work really well for me.

framing madness

2011-08-29T08:10:00.001-06:00

the framing for the show has begun. my guest room is filling up with framed art, ready for its trip to pagosa springs. i will be driving the pieces down, deciding that it will be safer for them than the post office. hopefully nobody will come visit between now and then, because there is really no room at the inn. with a few exceptions, the pieces will have chunky, modern, silver frames. you can see some of the choices above. i have chosen off-white or cream mats for everything. the rest of the cache will be done in about a week. i can't wait to see them!!

"clay and paper 4" at shy rabbit

2011-08-25T07:17:00.002-06:00

beef

i am thrilled, flattered, excited, and scared. michael coffee, who taught me a reductive ink process to produce monoprints, was nice enough to include 26 of my works (including the one above) in his annual invitational show. it's going to be at shy rabbit contemporary arts, in pagosa springs, colorado. it's a bit of a drive from denver, but it's certainly worth the trip. michael and his wife denise have carved out a beautiful space there, which shows some amazing art. michael, an architect, has created a gallery from a former auto garage, that is spectacular. they show art by nationally recognized contemporary artists, and also teach printmaking, ceramic, and photoshop classes.

click here for a link to their website, so you can see for yourself

the show opens on october 1st, and will run until november 6th, 2011. if you happen to be in the pagosa springs area, i would love if you would stop by!!

bon iver - holocene

2011-08-20T19:34:00.002-06:00

my husband, john and i met in iceland. way back in 1988. i was teaching there, and he was stationed there in the navy. i came across this video today, and had to share the amazing, austere, surreal landscape with you. we spent many days exploring this rugged and breathtaking country. oh, and i love the music! enjoy!!

no title yet...but another box finished!!

2011-08-15T11:12:00.000-06:00

finished this one last night. i have had the clown knock-down target for at least 5 years. i bought it up in silverton, colorado, at an antique store there. i loved the hand-painted surface, and the patina of wear. at the time i paid $24 for him, the price tag was still attached! i created the monoprint in the background with the same color scheme, and tried to get a whimsical, fun pattern to work with the clown. the roulette wheel was purchased on ebay, it's really old, and is marked "made in england". the front of the box is a loom of some sort, and each sawtooth-shaped spike was hand-cut with a saw. the discs on the front are made from some old poker chips which have paper circles overlapping them. i cut them from a monoprint.

john made the box for me. it's made from oak, and has beautiful dovetailed corners. it measures about 10x15x3 inches. it can hang or sit on the legs i have installed discretely on the bottom of the box.

there is really no story attached to this box, i just loved the pieces individually, and think they look really nice together. sometimes when i create a box, i'm telling a story. and sometimes i just like to play around with combinations of elements.

here's an image of silverton from a 1950's postcard. it still looks exactly the same!

silverton, colorado

"OCD", a new box in progress

2011-08-12T10:01:00.001-06:00

messy studio

OCD

well, it's not quite finished yet, but i am getting close. this is another box that includes cut-up prints and found objects from my collection. i think i am in a red mode. (i am concurrently working on another box with a red color scheme as well.) the title, OCD, reflects the number and label theme. as humans, we are always trying to put things in order. the tags are vintage, and look like they were originally used to identify keys. one says "K's suitcase", another "freezer". the numbers (a personal favorite of mine) show up in a cool old ruler, some metal "numbering tacks" that declare on the package that they are "for marking screens, storm windows, bins. drawers, lockers, etc." the red squares are from some sort of vintage game. i have no idea how to play it. the wooden box, divided in sections was obviously some sort of container for keeping something tidy. lastly, the wooden nurse. she works well with the colors, and she's the perfect size. and she reminds us that there is a very thin line between order, compulsion, and medication. ( i think about that every day when i count the 16 pieces of banana i put into my cereal in the morning. i often tell myself that i'm not OCD, just a virgo.)

speaking of order, the top photo shows my messy studio in action. just yesterday that table was pretty clean. in hours it went to full-on crazy mess. guess my virgo tendencies don't transfer everywhere. the picture below shows it a little less chaotic!

clean studio

engrish funny

2011-08-10T08:26:00.001-06:00

when i am feeling crabby, and reading the news is just too difficult, i often go to this site for a bit of a laugh.

engrishfunny.com

instead of getting crabbier, i tend to laugh out loud. i think i will put this link in my "news & media" bookmark section so that it is handy whenever i need it.

she's no bird brain!!

2011-08-09T15:37:00.001-06:00

i wish i had thought of this. it's created with vintage negatives, sewn together. you can see more of anne lemanski's amazing work at annelemanski.com. i want each and every thing she has created. period.

"mind of the president", a new assemblage box

2011-08-04T11:16:00.000-06:00

finished this one up this morning. how apropos.

i have had this figure of president taft for about 5 or 6 years. i found it in the hall at grandview high school, and left it on my desk for several years, thinking someone would claim it. it was one in a series of president figures made by marx in the 1960's. i guess it was cool to collect presidents at the time!

originally i had this box covered (with an original monoprint) and ready to be assembled with an entirely different interior. then yesterday a customer came in named barb. she had given me some clock parts and an amazing clock case some months back. her visit got me thinking about those parts, and when i got home from work last night, i pulled them out. taft was sitting on the shelf next to me as i worked, and things immediately came together. that's how it is with boxes sometimes. the idea just happens lickity-split. other times i hum and haw and struggle. the original interior was kind of like that. i didn't glue it for a few weeks because it just didn't feel right. now i am glad. i like this one so much better.

the background is also a monoprint, and the sides are an old letter from the 50's. the clock face is from a coo coo clock, i added the rusty gears. taft is standing on a half of an old block, and a composition checker from the 1920's. hopefully this will be one of the pieces in the show in october at shy rabbit. if not, it will be in the shop for sale. its' about 5x7x3".

i could get all political, and try and explain the metaphor here. but i think i can leave that up to you.

new stuff

2011-08-01T10:53:00.001-06:00

sissy and buddy

in the mirror

a couple of new pieces.

first, a print (about 8x10") based on an old photo of my parents from the early 60's. although my parents went by fran & joe at this time, i named the print for their nicknames from younger times. this one is a bit more graphic than the others i have been working on. don't know why, it just turned out that way. i also did the print in a green/orange color scheme, which i like as well.

the second photo shows a new assemblage box (i think it's 8x10x3", but i need to measure to make sure). this is the finished box i was working on in a previous post. i covered the frame with old tickets from a restaurant. i came across two sets of them in different greens, and mixed them up kinda crazy quilt style. inside the box is a "household hint" booklet, taken apart and used for the sides. the back is layered with:

1) a monoprint i made and then overprinted with a floral/star lino block print

2) an old leather-covered compact with a broken mirror. it was given to me by a very nice woman named lucy who has been a great patron of mine

3) a barbie dress i got on ebay. it still has the original barbie tag inside. i didn't use any glue to attach it to the box. instead i sewed it to pieces of stacked foam core, and glued the foam core into place. that way it is removable for anyone who cares to take it out in the future ( but i hope not!!)

4) the broken pieces of the mirror sit in the bottom of the box, loose.

the box is kind of an exploration of womanhood, and the way we, as women, try to balance all of the things in out lives. the broken mirror is a symbol of how sometimes that balance is a bit tricky. part of my boxes are trying to say something, and part of them are about getting the perfect balance of elements. many people don't quite "get" the whole assemblage box thing. a lot of customers come in and want me to put family items together for them. i always tell them i can't do that. making a box is not just the time spent gluing the pieces in. some of the boxes take years of serious collecting to get the right mix. i'm a very picky collector!

instagram

2011-07-29T14:02:00.000-06:00

i have wanted to download the instagram app on my iphone for a while, but it seemed like it kept going on the back burner. i was in the shop today, and decided to finally download and play around with it. wow. how cool is this?

this photo was taken of our window, which is decked out in western glory for littleton's 83rd annual western welcome week. (it's a community celebration that includes a parade on main street, an arts festival, and other wholesome pleasantries). anyway, i liked the juxtaposition of the western guy (who is actually johnny west on his wagon) with the reflection of the modern city in the background. i think i may need to make a few of these!!

anyway, if you have an iphone, it's worth playing around with!!

by the way, festival day is august 20th. we will be setting up our tent out front and will be selling a bunch of vintage stuff...and i think there just may be some great bargains to be found!

the real photo

2011-07-27T20:26:00.000-06:00

this is the photo i based the print on in the previous post. turns out, according to my cousin terry, that i was right. it is bertha's wedding. and this was the family portrait. she got the scoop from the sisters in riverhead, long island today. so strange how it all came together...WOW.

bertha's wedding in sepia

2011-07-26T21:56:00.001-06:00

a new print i worked on all day. it's actually in color, but my camera somehow turned it fluorescent, so i decided to post it in sepia. good news is that i know now that i got my values correct once i took out the color! the real print is in tones of pinks, purples, and blues. and it has a hint of blue-green in the bouquets.

this is based on a photo from a wedding. i'm not sure who is getting married, but i called it "bertha's wedding" because i do know it is one of my grandmother's sisters, and she did have a sister named bertha. this photo is of my great grandparents and their nine children. 8 girls, and one boy.

my grandma is on the far left, in the middle row. her maiden name was eva sobosinski (i hope i spelled that correctly). when i came upon this photo i noticed that there were x's on my great grandparents in pencil. it dawned on me that i have a portrait of them that is highlighted with chalk pastel that is taken from this photo. i think that's why there are x's on them, to identify them to the photographer making the portrait. the last time i saw my grandma she showed me the portrait of her parents, and said she remembered the photographer coming to their farmhouse to take the picture. then she recalled him coming back weeks later with the portrait.

when my grandma died, i couldn't go back east for he funeral. i asked my mom if she might pick up something that belonged to my grandma for me. and she brought me the portrait. it has hung in our house ever since. it has the original frame, which is gold and octagonal. and the glass is bubble-shaped, which i love.

i like to think that grandma directed my mom to bring me that picture since it was literally one of the last things we had a conversation about together. it seems ironic that i found the wedding photo years later, and decided to use it for a print even before i recognized the connection between the photo and the portrait. one more ironic note, i recently got back in touch with two of my cousins. they told me yesterday that they leaving today to visit the remaining 3 sisters in the photo.

i just found out there are 4 remaining sisters:

jo, upper left

ex, upper right

betty, lower left

mary, lower right

okay, so i cheated.

2011-07-19T17:13:00.000-06:00

ah, winter!

this is my "plein air" painting for today. ok, i didn't exactly go outside, as you can tell from the subject matter. it was over 90 degrees, and i just couldn't bear it. so instead i found a great snow shot, and worked in the comfort of my air conditioned home. i don't often work from photos, and usually when i do i take some major artistic license. in this case, there were about a million branches, which i edited out to only a few. i figure that at least i practiced!

3 days of printmaking on the schedule for wednesday-friday. i am going to try a painting a day, too.

this one is acrylic, and is 11x14" on canvas panel.

plein air monday

2011-07-18T13:03:00.001-06:00

view from shadows

wires

i sucked it up and stood in the sun for a few hours, dragging painting gear with me. luckily this beautiful place has a handy parking lot and rest room nearby. these are 8x10" studies, each took about 20 or 30 minutes to complete. it felt good to be outside, and it felt good to paint. i have really not painted with any seriousness in about 2 (gulp) years. so here you go. i feel pretty good about them. the third one is not shown...my brain lost all conscious ability after the first two!!

a preview and a good story

2011-07-13T13:08:00.000-06:00

dress box preview

this is a very nice story. it makes me smile every time i think about it!

at our last show, a customer named lucy came in and bought some of my art. she was drawn to it, she said, because of the objects i had used. so we spoke briefly (it was crowded), and she said she would be going out of town for a while, and would be back to pick up her artwork. a few weeks later, no lucy! so i emailed her to remind her i still had the items. she emailed back, and told me when she came to get her stuff, she would like to let me look at some random "things" she had in her possession.

of course, i said "i would LOVE to see your stuff." so lucy came in on a tuesday, and picked up her work, and bought yet another piece. (she is an amazing customer). she then carried in stuff by the armload for me to peruse. my jaw dropped. it was as if some fairy landed on her shoulder who knew my every desire and whispered in her ear what to bring me. everything was wonderful--heavy patina, and in various stages of falling apart. just how i like things. turns out lucy owned an antique store in austin several years back. (did i ever mention that we lived in austin, too? how coincidental!) anyway, the treasures were amazing. here is a short list:

doll/santo hands

old books with leather covers

fashion illustrations from france

a sketchbook from the 1930's from a graphic designer

old dress patterns

old pattern books

cracker jack charms

mirrors

old dog food bags (never used, with great graphics)

old photos and ephemera

i could go on, but you get the gist. wonderful things.

now here is the best part. she just gave it all to me. she said she wanted to pass it on so that someone who understands this sort of thing will use it. of course, i offered to pay her. and she said "no". so my trade will be that i will make her a box when the dust settles in october. and that's that!

are you smiling, too? sometimes the world is a very nice place to be. people do the most amazing things. thank you, lucy!!

ok...so here's a sneak peak at a new box in progress. the background is an original monoprint that has been overprinted with a lino block. the mirror is the part lucy gave me. it's an old compact with a broken mirror. the pieces will sit in the bottom of the box. (obviously you can't see the actual box. john is working on finishing it for me.) i bought the dress off ebay. it's an old barbie dress. i love orange, and so i had to have it. i'll take another shot when it gets closer to being finished!

landscape painting

2011-07-12T08:29:00.000-06:00

yesterday i went and listened to mark nelson, a denver painter. he talked about the landscape, particularly the plein air landscape. i will be spending the next 2 mondays outdoors practicing this technique. plein air is not new to me. i spent 2 summers in DC with high school students, lugging all of our equipment in the 100 degree, 100% humidity. it was certainly a good experience, mostly because i got used to someone looking over my shoulder all day as i painted.

mark is an incredibly talented guy, but his work is not readily visible on the internet. luckily, my friend kelly berger, an aspiring painter herself, sent me a few photos. so here is one to share. i like his simple composition, with the actual "land" minimized into a very small strip. very dramatic, wouldn't you say?

wish me luck. as i said in the last post, i am a bit overwhelmed with the whole idea.

front range sunset by mark nelson

a week of printmaking

2011-07-10T11:52:00.000-06:00

yours, truly

cool cat

i spent almost a week in taos, and much of that time making prints. i would have made even more prints, but ran out of white ink. i wasn't too worried about running out, as there is a fabulous art supply store in taos, and i was sure that finding what i needed was no problem. sadly, the art store has closed in taos. i guess the faltering economy has one more victim.

tomorrow i will begin painting again. i have decided to take some classes with a local (very talented) painter named mark nelson. my friend kelly has been studying with him, and i think she is doing some great stuff. we will paint for 3 mondays in a row, and then go to moab, utah as our culminating activity. in moab, we will paint for 3 days outdoors. i need this. i love to paint, and it was my first love artistically. it taught me so much about drawing, value, color, texture, and having people looking over my shoulder. i haven't really painted seriously for 2 years. other stuff has peaked my interest, and painting has played the "ignored toy in the corner" role. i do need to pick it back up and play again. i just hope that i can still do it. i hope it's like riding a bike or ice skating--a skill you put into muscle memory, and just know how to do once you try again.

if you are so inclined, a little prayer of confidence would be appreciated. i selfishly don't want to suck in front of a whole new group of people.

Signe and Genna Grushovenko

2011-07-02T20:26:00.000-06:00

buff beachgoers

today i went to the cherry creek arts festival with friends tom, linda, teresa, and taylor. we saw some wonderful art. i bought a few pieces, one of which is pictured above, by signe and genna grushovenko. i think it's amazing. genna paints the backgrounds, and the signe paints on top, letting some of the background show through.

true story. a few weeks ago i was at the studio, and was playing around with the notion of using old photos along with the push/pull of an abstracted background. you have seen some of this work on my blog in recent history. anyway, i come home from the studio after working on these prints, and start looking at my various bookmarked blogs. i stumble upon these incredible artists the very next morning, and voila!!! i find someone experimenting with the same idea! of course, our work is very different. i am working in ink with the monoprint technique, and genna and signe are working in oil on masonite, but the push/pull idea is the same.

crazy.

anyway, i saw them at the festival today, and was literally shaking because the work is so beautiful. i am so very lucky to now own a piece of my own. my neighbor jane came by this evening and asked me why their painting spoke to me. i didn't even understand that they couldn't speak to everyone who saw them. but i told jane that the drawing skills are amazing, that the immediacy and confidence in the brushstroke is remarkable, and the understanding of value is incredibly sophisticated.

how serendipitous that this would all come together today. life is always full of happy coincidence, isn't it? yay!!!

number 64

2011-06-29T15:55:00.000-06:00

another print in the "photo wall" series. this is john, as a high school football player (with artistic license). still playing with the idea of abstraction and realism going back and forth.

sk3tchbook!

2011-06-27T08:47:00.002-06:00

some of you have never been to the shop in littleton, so i thought i would share a few shots of the place. the space is pretty small, about 420 square feet. i that space we have a kiln, slab roller, potter's wheel, a big architect's desk for working upon, a cash register, several show cases, and lots of artist supplies. we reallly try to get as much art in there as we can. early on, we put in ledges instead of trying to put nails in the wall for framed work. it works out really nicely. we also did some shelves made from brackets on to which books sit. then work can be placed on the books. it's a nice look, but unfortunately we found teresa's pottery is not steady enough on the books.

anyway, some shots for you to enjoy wherever you are!

and don't forget to click on photos for a larger view.

tom's work in clay

teresa's pottery and radios

the "book" shelves with ruth's work and collage materials for sale

the work table, re-purposed for the moment, as display space

the register, as positioned for our may show

inner turmoil

2011-06-24T09:00:00.000-06:00

i made these collages in a sketchbook as an exercise. the good and bad feelings one has around being a creative person.

there are two of me. the one who doesn't feel like a real artist. the one who doubts. and the other me is the one who celebrates my work, and puts it out for all the world to see. so how does one find the place in between being a bragger, being vulnerable, and being earnest?

marketing oneself as an artist is difficult. it's like putting the inside of yourself on the outside for everyone to set their eyes upon. it's uncomfortable, but at the same time necessary. one moment you feel all vulnerable...will they like it? will they think you suck? and the next moment, you are on top of the world, a cheerleader for your talent and ability to create. maybe that's why there are so many crazy artists out there. they can't find the balance between needing to create art, and needing to market it to pay the bills.

today i am in between. i guess i need to make one more collage to add to the ones above. it should represent the artist who is situated somewhere in the middle of these two states. the calm artist who makes work because it is truly inside, needing to come out. the artist who places her work into the universe, and lets the people decide if it speaks to them enough to want it in their home.

it's on the list. when it's done, i'll let you see....

in the navy

2011-06-20T19:19:00.000-06:00

another print day. i spent forever on this one. in fact, i couldn't figure out why the dog kept coming in and looking at me longingly. then i realized i was almost 2 hours late in feeding him. he hates to come into my studio because of the laminate flooring. i think he feels like he's going to slip or something...or maybe it's that hollow sound? anyway, i got lost in the creative process and worked for hours uninterrupted. it was heaven.

i like the piece so far, but think i will work a bit on the face. it feels a bit unlike the rest of the print, so i will wait a few days for it to dry and then do a little overprinting.

this is based loosely on a photo of my dad in the navy during WWII. i still have that wool jumper, and actually used to wear it sometimes. it looked great with a long grey shirt. maybe i'll dig it out of storage and try it on again! hopefully it still fits. my dad was a very small man back then. in fact, he still is!!

wedding day, 1947

2011-06-16T10:39:00.003-06:00

i had an idea to further expand on the concept of the mug shot prints i have been working on. i thought it might be interesting to open the series up to other photos from other eras. then i could hang them all together in a sort of "installation" that plays on the idea of the photo wall. you know, the kind at your grandma's house. all of the kids, grandkids, cousins, and relatives are up there. it's not hung in a particularly professional fashion. it's a bit off kilter, and the frames don't exactly match. sometimes there are even those collage frames included in the mix.

so here is the new print. it's about 9x12 inches, and is actually based on a photo of my mom and dad on their wedding day. so even if the wall never comes to fruition, at least i spent the last day thinking of them as i re-created their special day in ink on paper.

btw, you can click on the image for a closer look if you'd like!

mug shots

2011-06-13T10:27:00.000-06:00

two new monoprints. i am further playing with the concept of yearbook mug shots. maybe my years as a high school yearbook staffer are coming full circle. anyway, these are a bit larger and more detailed than the ones i previously created. these are about 9x12 inches. as you can see, they are similar, but still have some differences. it's kind of like that game you played in the dentist's office, looking at the two almost identical pictures in highlights magazine. (i was always so mad when some kid before me circled the answers!!). can you see the background has come through in different place on each print? which one do you think works better?

nina lindgren, cardboard heaven

2011-06-10T10:15:00.000-06:00

i want to make this. unfortunately, nina lindgren went out and did it first. it's the perfect balance of re-use, texture, and theme for me. i mean, she must have thought it up just to make me happy. first, she used all of that cardboard. and then she assembled it just right. and she made houses. they are just about my favorite subject matter in the world. there is something about roof tops that are especially appealing to me. and look how many she included on my behalf!

here is a link to her site. click here to see it!

so much for focus

2011-06-09T07:51:00.000-06:00

what?, you say? no photo with her blog entry today? that's because every single piece of art i did went in the trash yesterday. i will call it a "cleansing" day, to make it sound like a positive learning experience. but it didn't seem that way. i had to go home and vent to my poor dear husband for an hour, then have a glass of wine, then take a very long walk with the dog and husband to clear it all out. but i feel better today.

this whole artist thing is very exhausting. don't let anyone tell you otherwise, because they are just lying.

ok...on to a better day.

focus, focus

2011-06-06T08:52:00.000-06:00

this is a print i made that is part of a series i am working on that is loosely based on yearbook pictures of 8th graders from 1953. i am experimenting with merging non-objective backgrounds with snippets of the mug shots. the idea is that it is recognizable, but still not completely representational. i am also playing with color schemes and overlapping many layers.

here's another.

the colors are not exactly as they are in person. i can't seem to get the colors right on the scans. these are pretty tiny, only about 3x4 inches. i have been making very large prints, and needed a change in scale to get myself re-motivated. all are oil-based printing ink on 90 lb. watercolor paper.

submission

2011-06-01T07:13:00.000-06:00

shoot out, 12x12x4 inches

this is one of two pieces i will be submitting to the all colorado show. i know i have posted this piece before, but i'm kind of in a strange place as far as work goes. i have 3 new boxes that have never been seen in any venue, but am saving them for a show in october. i have also been working on prints, but am saving them for october as well. i made this box a few months ago, and thought it might be a good fit for submission. john was nice enough to make the actual box. he uses plywood, and then runs it through a dovetail jig to make the joints. these boxes are very strong because of the dovetail joints. i think they could probably survive just about anything. anyway, on this particular box, i used old yard sticks for the trim on the front, and also to line the inside. you can see the usual suspects in my choice of materials...old stuff, objects with numbers, metal things, boxes, toys, and old handwriting. i'm not sure why i am drawn to those particular themes, but they show up over and over in my work. i also like circles, and the outside of this piece is covered in them! they also show up in the old ring toss target.

i read lots of artist statements, and everyone seems so smart, so deep, and so introspective when they write them. writing the artist statement is really tough for me. making art to me is explained simply. i'm not trying to make a huge statement. i like things with age and patina. i like color. i like to put elements together like a puzzle to make things that are beautiful. i choose stuff because it calls to me, not because it is saying anything that is particularly significant in the world. i also like a bit of humor, but not too cutesy. hence, the headless cowboys, taking aim at one another, obviously beyond the point of no return. i call the box "shoot out", but the name is really for identification, not to inspire deeper meaning.

i don't mean to suggest that my work is uncomplicated. i spend hours and hours getting just the right combination of elements. assemblage, i think, is highly misunderstood. many think you just stick stuff together, but it's a lot more difficult than that. the magic word is puzzle. it's a puzzle with no picture on the box top to help you get the pieces in the right order. that's up to the artist to figure out.

taos

2011-05-30T21:53:00.001-06:00

i got back from new mexico today. it is always a constant source of beauty and inspiration. here are a couple of photos (thanks, tina) to let you see some local color. the drive is about 4 and-a-half hours from denver, and i always think it's long. that is, until i get out of pueblo, and the sky opens up my body and soul to another place altogether.

i went to new mexico for the first time about 20 years ago. and the magic has not faded. sometimes i feel like this northeastern white girl should feel like a stranger in a place so far removed from my upbringing. but somehow i feel so at home with the landscape. so i am selfish, and i soak it in.

here you go:

santuario de chimayo

offerings at santuario de chimayo

rancho de chimayo

san geronimo chapel, taos pueblo

cemetery, taos pueblo

question: what do these have in common?

2011-05-19T13:12:00.001-06:00

answer: you can eat them at our show tomorrow!!

if that isn't a reason to come, i don't know what is!!

Show runs May 20-May 28, 2011

Reception: Friday, May 20, 2011, 6:00-9:00 pm

New Works, Good Company, and Twinkies!

Sk3tchbook!

5743 S. Prince Street

Littleton, CO 80120

facebook and beef

2011-05-19T11:42:00.001-06:00

beef

i finally sucked it up and did a facebook page. this is a bit unsettling for me. i am a pretty private person, and putting out all that information for everyone to see is hard. but i figured that since i have websites, a blog, and an etsy shop, it couldn't be so bad. i guess in this day and age if someone wants to find out all about you, they can easily get the info, even if you aren't on facebook. besides, since the end of the world is only 2 days away, my information really doesn't matter, does it? it's been interesting, this facebook thing. it really makes one think about how we are all really connected. my goal with facebook is to renew some lost friendships (some good, some not so good) and to find some great art. oh, and hopefully others will find my art!

i think when you are nearing 50, as i am, something pulls you to bring back the people who made you who you are. and that means welcoming the people you were good to, and making amends to the ones you weren't. i have several in both categories. so if you are one of those people on either side of the line, let me know how you are. i am a pretty nice person now that i have grown up and know how to act (most of the time).

okay, now on to the beef section of this post. above is a new print. it's on a half-sheet of 90 lb. hot pressed watercolor paper. printed using oil-based block printing ink in lots of layers. part of my "diagram" series for the show at shy rabbit in october. would love some feedback. and i can take it if you don't like it!! it's kinda like friendship. you need the good with the not so good to learn how to act.

class of 1954

2011-05-15T13:08:00.002-06:00

i have had a class photo of junior high students from 1954 in my collage material box for a couple of years. recently i unearthed it and started playing with ideas for a new box. i have a vintage orange barbie dress in my collection, and thought that a print involving class pictures from the same era might be a good match-up. at the studio the other day, i started experimenting with the idea. i didn't get a good print for the assemblage box, but i do like the print on its own. now i am working on a whole series of prints based on the idea. i like the play of foreground and background playing a semi equal role. this one has 6 layers of color. yellow, orange, khaki, brown, blue, and white. i am making these small, as i think it would evoke a more "mug shot" look. a group of them together in the same frame might be an interesting display idea. by the way, the scan shows the paper as slightly blue for some reason. it's actually off-white.

finished a new assemblage box!

2011-05-09T13:43:00.000-06:00

i finished this box this am. it's got a lot going on, but i think it works together pretty well. the papers are all hand-printed, and the objects culled from my vast collection. it will hopefully be a piece in the show i have at shy rabbit in october. it's 11x14x2 inches, and can hang on the wall or sit on a ledge or shelf. i haven't thought of a title yet. any ideas?

please come! we'll have twinkies! really!!

2011-05-05T10:42:00.000-06:00

Once again, it is time for our annual May show at Sk3tchbook! This year our theme is "Up Close", and we are all featuring new works that are small and affordable. The idea is that the pieces in the show are chock full of details for you to discover. We will be transforming the shop with fun decorations (hint: we have ordered over 100 magnifying glasses for the occasion), and will be providing an amusing mix of munchies on reception night. We are also celebrating the fact that we have just completed our second year (can you believe it?) as the Sk3tchbook team.

We hope that you are able to make it to the reception on Friday, May 20th from 6-9pm. If not, remember that the show will be up for an extended time period for your enjoyment. (Just remember we are closed on Sundays and Mondays). Once again, we have partnered with several Littleton businesses so that there will be several shops open on reception night.

Please see below for more information about the show, and don't forget to check out our website, sk3tchbook.com for store info, directions, and links to our blogs.

See you soon!

Teresa, Tom. and Ruth

Owl with Sweater Vest by Tom Sarmo

Up Close

New Works to Perceive, Peruse, and Ponder

Show runs May 20-May 28, 2011

Reception: Friday, May 20, 2011, 6:00-9:00 pm

New Works, Good Company, and Twinkies!

Sk3tchbook!

5743 S. Prince Street

Littleton, CO 80120

Willow, Susan Montague Watercolors, The Pink Attic Cat,

and many other shops will also remain open late for this special evening

unfurled

2011-05-03T09:07:00.000-06:00

parasols 1

here you go.

parasols

2011-05-02T16:24:00.003-06:00

new collage idea. kinda evolved from the garden theme i was pondering. i spent the morning painting various papers in purple/plum/orange/yellow-green. i am excited! i'll post the results when they come to fruition. or should i say unfurl? inspiration from lots of places...the drink umbrellas i glued in an old sketchbook, sea urchins, coral formation from a book john gave me on geology, and of course circles. circles show up in my work over and over and over.

riding on the circus train

2011-05-01T08:29:00.000-06:00

high elements

through the hoop

two new collages. both are 5x7 on board, and are matted up to 11x14. they are framed in black gallery frames. the images are from a 50's book called "circus time". the illustrations are hilarious! background is collaged from various vintage ephemera including a sleeve from a 45 record that came from eastern europe. the maze is from a kid's puzzle book.

i am finding that i really like to use canvas board for these. it's sturdy, and comes in standard sizes. and you can either pop them in a frame as is, or matt them up in a bigger frame for more drama.

we are busily working on the decorations for the show on may 20th. the show is called "up close", and we purchased over a hundred magnifying glasses that we will hang and place all over the shop. and if you haven't heard, the party fare will be twinkies. yes, twinkies. don't worry, though. we won't be deep frying them.

ok. that's all for now. gotta go do some spring garden work. we have recently replaced all of the concrete pavers in our yard with real boulders. it's looking really nice. we are slowly working on contouring the beds so they have a more natural look. i seriously love gardening. this didn't happen until i was over 40. my younger self was too busy and hyper for gardening. now it's my zen time. nothing like getting your hands in the dirt. in the warm months, my favorite thing to do is pour a glass of wine after dinner and take a loop around the gardens to check on the plants. they are kinda like children. john and i move from plant to plant and survey their growth and development. it really makes us smile.

i have some ideas for the next set of collages. hint: garden theme. not too literal, though.

another bird box

2011-04-25T12:59:00.000-06:00

this picture is a little fuzzy. i took it with my phone. that's because it's a work in progress. eventually the whole mess will fit into a frame. as of now, i am glueing it all together in hopes that it will not be too deep for the frame i have planned. by eye, it seems like it will work, but it's hard to set it all up loosely and truly know. the glueing on these assemblage pieces takes forever. you have to do a bit at a time, make sure it's all secure, and then add pieces slowly. i have tried all types of glue, but have finally settled on super heavy gel medium. it's nice because it remains flexible when dry, but is really gooey when wet. it kinda suctions things together in a way. i have tried all kinds of jewelers glues and epoxies, but this stuff is the best for me. the added bonus is that it's archival, so i don't have to worry about it yellowing things over time. the only bad part is that it takes overnight to let each section dry.

this piece is one that i am working on for the show in pagosa springs at shy rabbit in october. it's a print show, and i plan to show actual prints in frames plus a series of assemblages that have prints as part of them. so far this is #3 in the assemblage category, and all of them feature a print which has been cut, sewn, and placed in or on a metal box of some sort. i have also used encaustic wax to cover the print, giving it a different spin on surface, and providing a depth a regular print doesn't have.

ok...these are some of the objects in the piece: vintage wooden game pieces from various games, old casters, a kodak filter case made of bakelite, an old wooden box, a vintage "bird" block, a brass box, hard rubber/plastic numbers, and a vintage plastic bird cage toy with a brass bell.

i plan to work on collecting the background materials and the paper to cover the frame. but i don't want to get too far ahead of myself before i know if the frame is going to work. two more boxes in the pipeline. one with a vintage barbie dress, and one with a really awesome clown-shaped carnival knock down pin. (the kind you throw balls at).

last one

2011-04-22T10:39:00.000-06:00

precipitation

this is the last collage in the series i just finished. it's 5x7 inches, and will be sold framed in a black wood frame. it was created on masonite, and it is sealed with archival varnish that contains UV protection. these collages are created with lots of layers. the very bottom is a letter from 1948 which has been watercolored. there is also gouache, acrylic, vintage paper, more watercolor, and finally sealer to protect it. they each take about 3 hours, not including collecting the materials and framing.

i have decided when i am a millionaire i will hire out my framing. i really don't like to frame stuff. it's funny, because one of my first jobs out of college was as a framer. luckily it only lasted about 4 months, and then i started teaching. the good news is that that 4 months gave me the skills to do it myself now. it does save me a ton of money, and allows me to price my work more affordably. so i shouldn't complain.

i was thinking about all of the jobs i have had in my life. i think every single one has helped me in some way. i can't imagine those who stay at the same job for 30 years. here's a list of the jobs i've had:

1. handbag salesperson/DC area

2. camp counsellor/Maine

3. administrative assistant for advertising department/London

4. picture framer/DC area

5. elementary art teacher/public school/DC area

6. waitress/DC area

7. high school art teacher/public school/DC area

8. elementary teacher/overseas public school/Iceland and Japan

9. waitress/California

10. elementary/middle school art teacher/private school/California

11. pizza chef/Texas

12. quick-to-fix chef/Texas

13. craft co-op participator/Maryland

14. assistant to a realtor/Iowa

15. sandwich maker/Iowa

16. elementary art teacher/Colorado

17. middle school art teacher/Colorado

18. high school art teacher/Colorado

19. gallery owner/artist/Colorado

hmmm.

eager to know

2011-04-18T19:39:00.001-06:00

eager to know

another in the series. one more coming soon.

collage, collage

2011-04-13T14:06:00.002-06:00

rollerskates

ice cream man

letter to texas

a couple of new collages for the show at sk3tchbook! on may 20th. two more to come in this series. they are 5x7 inches.
they are all collaged on to an old letter (and its envelope) from 1948. it was sent to belchville, texas. belchville...what a name!

hands are moving

2011-04-07T18:38:00.001-06:00

i have been making art all day. i was listening to an artist i admire yesterday, and she said that in order to make good art, you have to move your hands. every single day. i'm not sure this monoprint is good art, but i will say that i had a lot of fun creating it. i think i might cut it up and use a piece or two in another way. i learned some cool techniques that i wouldn't have ever tried had i spent my day on something else. i'm really glad that i got my hands moving.

collage blocks

2011-04-04T20:59:00.000-06:00

i just listed these little collage blocks and the collages in my last post in my etsy shop. the figures are pages from my sketchbook that i have cut out and collaged on 3x4.5" birch plywood blocks. they could easily be perched on a ledge or hung with the attached hardware. i am liking the new style of artwork without a frame. they seem a bit more modern. wonder what they will be saying in 30 years?

"those dang artists from the 10's, they always were making stuff on those dang wood blocks!"

speaking of a blast from the past, today i was in anthropologie looking the place over to see what was new in the field of display. and guess what they have hanging from the ceiling? macrame pieces! i keep seeing macrame these days. as installations, as decor, as art pieces. who would have ever thought that would be cool again? guess i better start practicing my knots!

bandages

2011-03-25T20:24:00.001-06:00

bandage of head

bandage of hand

bandage of eye

anatomy

these are some new collages in the series that i started a few weeks ago. i am using old first-aid and home medical books plus an old coloring book (already colored by a child way back then). they are pretty small, only 2.5x3.5 inches, but will be mounted on a 5x7 inch background, and then framed 11x14. they are going to be part of the new show at sk3tchbook! on may 20th. we are having a show called "up close". the idea is the work is very small (and affordable), and we are providing magnifiers to let the attendees look at the details. if you want to come, let us know, and we will send you an invitation! the reception is from 6-9 on the 20th, and the show will run for a whole week.

by the way i scanned these instead of photographing, so they look a bit pixel-y. in real life, there isn't that moray-like pattern on the images.

new prints

2011-03-23T16:39:00.001-06:00

illustrated man

posture

these are two new prints. they are about 12x20 inches. these are some of the examples of the letter/number/diagram series i'm working on. you can click on them for a bigger view.

paper & clay 4

2011-03-21T08:38:00.000-06:00

this is the image from "paper & clay 3" at shy rabbit in pagosa springs, colorado. i have been lucky enough to get an invitation for the 2011 show, paper & clay 4, which will be from oct 1-nov 6th. this is huge for me, as i have been trying my hand at monoprinting for the last year and a half. i took three classes at shy rabbit, and have loved this process, created by d.michael coffee. what i love about this type of printing is that it really works well with the kind of work i already do. it's a process in which i can use what i know about collage, painting, color, layering, texture, surface, and patina. and i have been also incorporating the prints into assemblage pieces. i will be meeting online with michael to show him my progress. i wish i could go down there each time i need to, but it's a 12 hour round-trip, so i think virtual meetings might serve me better.

i have been making a bunch of prints experimenting with two themes, one being letters an numbers as design elements. the other theme is "the diagram". i have been perusing old medical and fitness books for ideas. who knows exactly where this will go. sometimes the first pieces of an idea look very different from the last ones. i am hoping that i can keep a consistent string to keep everything looking like it belongs in the series. sometimes this is my downfall...i get too excited about so many ideas, and the pieces don't feel unified. so wish me luck. i will be posting some of the prints as i go, so any feedback will be appreciated!!

hermes

2011-03-20T20:51:00.000-06:00

as you can imagine, art making has been interrupted for a while. i haven't been able to concentrate very well, thinking about jack. i decided to post this collage i created a few weeks ago. when it was done, i named the collage "hermes", after the guy who helped the deceased find their way to the afterlife. the images are cut from an old first-aid book. the feet on the left are tied with a bandage, and the ones on the right have been untied. (it was actually the other way around in the book). anyway, to me the untying symbolizes freedom from restraint. and the bandages look like wings to me. (hermes wears shoes with wings). anyway, i posted the collage because it was kind of strange the way it related to a story from our trip to lander, wyoming for jack's funeral.

the morning after the funeral, chia (who is my husband's nephew's wife) saw a rainbow. she said in her religion that the rainbow was a symbol that jack was making his ascension, and that he had found his way to the heavens. it was only today that i realized that i had included a rainbow image in my collage. so i guess that for me, the collage has told it's story. jack was freed from the body he could not move, and he found his way to a new place.

rest in peace, jack.

jack

2011-03-09T07:09:00.000-07:00

jack weger, 1921-2011

we lost john's dad, jack early this morning. we are all so sad. he was such a kind soul.

if you can hear us, jack, you will know how much you are loved, and how much we will miss you.

new assemblage box

2011-03-06T13:00:00.002-07:00

this is my new assemblage box. it's called "x", for obvious reasons. i found the hands at the local antique mall. the letter has been hanging around with me for several years, waiting for its place. the orange "halo" is actually a roll of elastic. i got it at the pink attic cat in littleton. i told amy, the owner, that i needed something round and orange. and she had just the thing. the print is attached to an old mint tin. it has been covered with a thin layer of encaustic wax. this is the second in a series. i am working on others as well. i don't think i can sell it yet. i need to save it for a print show in the fall.

on a very serious side note, things are pretty solemn around here. my husband's dad, who is 90, had a stroke on wednesday. john and his siblings are in wyoming with him. if anyone is so inclined, a little prayer would be appreciated. we just want the best for him, whatever that may be.

we love you, jack.

sketchbooks

2011-03-04T06:45:00.001-07:00

these are some of my past sketchbooks. i am posting them to remind me that i haven't been very good about producing them for a while. it used to be that i worked in my sketchbook every single day. and now i can't remember the last time i did more than jot down some quick ideas. we just got a shipment of recycled sketchbooks in the shop at sk3tchbook! they are from ecojot, a canadian company, and have nice kraft paper covers. i think while i am at the store today i will start one. i usually have the policy that i start one on a date, and must end it one year later. that way, it stays at least a little fresh. i don't allow myself to work on it after the one year mark, and that keeps me from over thinking an changing stuff too much. a little more authentic.

we also changed out the floor plan at the shop. now tom has a space to work on watercolors. it looks really nice. i always like to do a floor move. it makes everything seem all new and different. i used to do this with my room growing up. and it was so cool to sleep in that new room for the first few weeks. maybe i need to not only work on sketchbooks. maybe i need to also move the furniture around in my house. shake things up a bit, get the groove on.

diagram w

2011-02-27T14:09:00.000-07:00

i worked at the shop two days in a row. and while i was there i created some prints. these are big, on hot-pressed watercolor paper that is about 14x22 inches. i am still playing around with letters and numbers. this new set of prints is adding the diagram to the mix. this one has 5 layers of ink. i wanted it to look a bit naive, so i hope i was able to get that look. i also did one that's a diagram of a dress from an old dry cleaning ticket. it's pictured below. funny how that light blue keeps showing up in my work. don't know why, but it's definitely been creeping into most things i've been creating lately.

new print on etsy

2011-02-21T20:46:00.001-07:00

i listed this print on etsy today. i made it in the studio at sk3tchbook a few weeks ago. it was kind of fun, as a woman came in and watched me working on it for at least 30 minutes. that's the kind of thing we are always hoping for at sk3tchbook. people coming in and watching us create, asking us questions, and enjoying the process of art. it was a great day.

the print is 9x12, and is mounted on cradled hardboard, which is painted black. the process is long and almost unexplainable, but basically you layer oil-based printing ink over and over to create the print. the images of the bottles are created with cut paper, which blocks the ink where it is placed. the lines are done last, by scratching through the layers to expose the ink underneath. they are monoprints, as you can only do one at a time, and the paper cut outs aren't reusable because they get covered with ink.

i was in a retro kind of mood when i started this print. i had been looking at various catalogs, and it seems that bottles in retro shapes are all the rage. i'm not sure why i chose turquoise, it's not usually a color i work with. who knows, really!

i worked on two more prints on saturday at the studio. it was a big zero in the creative department. i threw both of them in the trash on the way home. they were terrible. i tried to print on primed canvas and black paper. at least i know i don't have to make those mistakes twice. oh well, live and learn!!

1930's inspired color scheme

2011-02-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

i think i have collage on the brain. i got up at 5:30, and started this right after my first cup of coffee. the dog is looking at me with hope in his eyes. he knows he should have had his morning walk by now. it's after 8 now, so i guess i should go get my shoes on.

this collage was made with a children's book from the 1930's. i love the colors. and the patterns have a really contemporary feel. just goes to show you that what is old is new again.

collage day

2011-02-16T16:57:00.003-07:00

health and happiness

i woke up tired as tired this morning. my brain was not functioning, and i couldn't wake up. i decided if i sat down on any soft surface, i would be done for the day. so i decided to make collages. i finished two, this one and another that i am going to use as the artwork for my artist packet.

this one is constructed from pages of books, mostly first aid books and home medical volumes. i also threw in some images from children's readers for some color.

it's 5x7 inches. i'm thinking instead of selling it i might put it in the bathroom, matted up to 11x14 or 16x20. of course i need to go buy a frame, as usual. that size seems to disappear around here. i have a collection of vintage first aid stuff in the guest bathroom--old glass doctor's jars, a metal first aid sign, and several tin first aid kits. i think it might just work.

glam lady lamp

2011-02-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

i have had this lamp in the shop at sk3tchbook! for a while. i think she is amazing. she used to be in our bedroom, but was just a bit too feminine for john. i wanted to put her in my studio, but counter space is very very precious in there, so i opted for overhead lighting. today i added her to my etsy shop. i am hoping someone in the world will see her an recognize her glamness!! she is ceramic, maybe porcelain. she has gloved hands and pink (yes, pink!) hair in an up do. i made her skirt with embroidered linen fabric. underneath is the original crinoline she came with. her original skirt is long gone. over her head is a squarish cloth shade with a crystal finial. she works great. one bulb in the shade, and one in her skirt. i usually don't light her skirt...just cautious. the wiring is original but seems sound. for extra protection, some people may consider re-wiring.

new web site!!

2011-02-09T16:23:00.000-07:00

i spent about 4 hours today making a web site. i chose fat cow to do my hosting. it's not perfect yet, but i think i did a pretty nice job for a non-techie. so if you get the chance, give it a visit. and don't forget to let me know what you think, good or bad. (i can take it).

anyway, click here for the link. and if you aren't the clicking type, you can type it in. luckily i have a weird last name, so nobody else had claimed ruthfiege.com!!

shoot out

2011-02-07T07:18:00.000-07:00

this is my new assemblage box. it's called "shoot out". lots of cool junk and ephemera. i still have to install the plexi to keep everything safe. then it will be ready to post on sk3tchbook.com. it's 12x12x3 inches. i used lots of rulers in this one. can you see how fancy i'm getting with my 45 degree angle cuts? just call me bob villa.

good news/bad news

2011-02-06T08:27:00.002-07:00

the bad news? my class with lynn perella was cancelled this week in taos. i was really looking forward to a week-long retreat with other collage artists. dang. it seems like the weather in west texas screwed up the transmission of natural gas in the pipeline to new mexico. so most of northern new mexico has had no gas since thursday. (today is sunday). this is just awful, because most people depend on gas to heat their homes. i am hoping that the end of this happens very soon. we truly don't know when the gas will go back on. so i'm saying a little prayer for the people there.

the other bad news is that my dear husband is sitting in our house in taos with no heat. he left on friday, and is still waiting for the gas. i guess they finally turned off the meter late last night (saturday), and hopefully they will be around sometime today or tomorrow to turn it back on. they say that everything must first be turned off, then the pressure in the lines need to be restored, and then they have to once again go house to house and re-light the gas. with over 30,000 people in need of these steps, it's gonna take a long time.

the good news? our pipes were saved by my hero from being frozen. he has space heaters in the bathrooms and laundry room keeping it warm. he's a bit chilly in the larger living spaces, but he has an electric blanket, and has figured out to heat water in the coffee pot to wash with. he says he's bored silly, can't really leave the house because if he does he might miss the gas workers. and if you aren't there when they come, they tag your house and then you have to make an appointment to get a re-light. i know everyone is trying their very best, but it's a gargantuan mess.

the other good news? well, you can see it in the photo above. my most recent junk trip. i went to the antique mall and found all of this for under $20. i am feeling quite proud. i don't exactly know what i will do with all of these treasures, but they will show up somewhere in the near future.

collage, collage

2011-02-03T11:10:00.001-07:00

i've been putting together some collage packs at the shop. i'm trying to get some really good stuff in each pack. and i'm selling them for $3. so far, i have sold a bunch. seems like people know they are getting a deal.

i guess this has put me into the collage mood. i am waiting for my prints to come back from my shy rabbit class. i am working on a series of assemblages which include prints. so i'm kinda stuck until i get them in the mail. anyway, in my spare waiting time, i am working on some little collages that include a figure in watercolor. watercolor is not my medium, but i cleaned out the closet in my studio and found my watercolor palette. so it inspired me to practice, which i need badly.

each little collage will be backed by the cover of an old book from my collection. i think i might float them in a small shadow box. or maybe they can hang directly on the wall? either way, here they are in progress. photos from my phone, so please understand the not so great quality. i'm at the shop today and don't have the big camera!

betty bauer

i have to wear a coat

tag dress

2011-01-28T10:43:00.002-07:00

(the story of this dress is on my last post, below. if you can't tell, the whole dress is made from tags.)

well, i think i'm done. it's got it's issues. i can tell you one thing after sewing this dress. it is NOT easy to work with tags. this thing is, they are of different weights and thicknesses. and so the fabric doesn't act normally. you will see that one sleeve isn't as puffy, and that there are some lumps and bumps. but the good news is...

I DID IT!!

it's kind of a lesson in process versus product. if i made a second dress, i would do a better job. because i learned from the first one. it's a good lesson for all of us. and i think i am pretty satisfied with the result.

now back to prints.

sneak preview

2011-01-27T12:48:00.001-07:00

i hate tags in my clothing, and am always having my husband cut them out. they are itchy. especially on my fair and sensitive skin (he sarcastically calls me a delicate flower). after removal, i kept feeling badly about just pitching them in the trash. so i got this idea that i would simply save them to make into a dress. it seemed like a funny idea, take the part i hate, and re-use it to make something else. what i didn't foresee is that many of the clothing companies started silk-screening the labels right in! good for my skin, bad for my dress. so i started telling everyone to save the tags for me. and people did for a while. and then the jar of tags in my studio sat for a while, gaining only a few tags here and there.

yesterday i was in the studio and saw that jar. and i said to myself, it's now or never. i am sick of looking at that jar of tags!! so i spent all day making my dress. now, i hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it looks pretty definite that i will never be actually wearing my dress. unfortunately the amount of tags only merited a baby dress. it's sized for a one year old. it was either a tiny dress, or none at all.

so here is a sneak peak. it took ALL DAY and i'm not even close to being finished. but when i am, i will post the entire garment right here. so stay tuned!!

new etsy shop!

2011-01-17T22:29:00.001-07:00

i am so HAPPY! i finally got around to opening my etsy shop!! i have been meaning to do it forever, but just never sat down and did it. you know, it wasn't too bad. it took me a few hours, and i'm not quite done, but it was pretty easy. my banner is a bit blurry, but oh well. it will do for a while. i'm not quite the computer whiz, and the GIMP program they said was "so easy" for creating banners wasn't so easy for me.