Eye TtV

Once again... I love this technique (how many times have I said that!?). Here is this week's gourmet favorite! Susan continues to make this class fun! I thought texture layers were fun... now there's the "faux" TtV. I even love the term TtV which stands for Through the Viewfinder. It's like looking at the world through rose colored glasses. If you love your PSE- I highly recommend Susan Tuttle's Visual Poetry class!!! You can see the Visual Poetry link here... http://web.me.com/hgtuttle3rd/VPPublic/Welcome.html

eNjoy!

This is one of my favorite signs along Highway 99! I would love to buy this sign and put it at the end of my driveway!! Mom's Motel is always open and I love having my kids around!!!

If you have someone special who is battling breast cancer, you know how life-altering it can be!!! Take a look at Pam Carriker's print shop and blog at: http://thebagladysart.blogspot.com/. She is offering this beautiful print titled Beauty in Strength to help raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. What a fantanstic way to own a beautiful piece of art and support an amazing cause! Pam is an amazing, giving artist and this is her tribute to someone special in her life that is battling breast cancer.

Here is another favorite! I love the colors in this altered photo! Seattle is the perfect place to take pictures. I diffused the lighting in this and then grunged it up ( I love the texture goodies and can't stop using them!!). I highly recommend Susan Tuttle's online class- what fun and so easy to follow!

I've been having fun in my photoshop class with Susan Tuttle. This is a photo I took on a trip to Seattle. I believe it's from Astoria, Oregon. I used the blending modes and added texture to enhance the color. I also applied a Gaussian Blur to the photo. I love the colors and the look!

Having a great time with Susan Tuttle's Visual Poetry class!!! Here is one of my musings. She has a great class that is so easy to follow and she offers all kinds of fun "sides" (like the Art Bar and texture goodies). I hope you get the chance to take her class!! Her BLOG is a favorite of mine!

Witchy Woman

I love it when the seasons go from summer to fall...

Where I live, we mainly have two seasons: winter and summer. I can't wait for that one leaf to turn red and delight in the color that fall brings. Our trees often go from green to brown very quickly and we don't get the profusion of colors offered to other areas of the country. However, some tree varieties offer a show.

One of the things I love about Halloween is that it signifies a change for me. I have been able to count on this holiday as the turn of seasons! I know with certainty that if I can make it until Halloween... I've made it through another hot California summer!

The other thing I love about Halloween is the ability of individuals to use their creativity to be something/someone else- if only for a day. I love the traditions, the apples, and the fun!

Here's to fall.... it's almost here!!!

My 5 Favorite Things

Photo Study... I've been taking pictures since I was in high school. I used my dad's old minolta. My dad passed away when I was 11 so his camera was special to me. I loved to photograph, develop the film and print in the high school dark room.

However, I am late digital photography bloomer. I still prefer to do things by hand (often using my hands to paint, sand and crackle photos). I recently got a new camera and I have enjoyed delving in to the world of photography again.

Here is a "think sheet" photo I did with paint, wax, heat and some adobe enhancement... it was fun to try some new things. This piece is my thinking/possibility piece and will find a place in my art journal.

HOLD ME UP- Sometimes I feel as if my little wings are flapping so fast just to stay still and not slip backwards. We can't do it alone... we need others to "hold us up". We also take turns holding each other up. Sometimes it's our turn to step up and help another. Here's my version of LIFE and holding each other. It's done with tons of layers (which created many difficulties for me in the picture). It"s sealed with a soft layer of beeswax (i love the dream-like quality this creates) to signify the layers of life we all go through... It reminds me of the song- He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother (or sister :)...

Twirl

I just got back from Oregon where I took a class with Lisa Kaus. I've always admired Lisa's work so I was very excited to get to work with her in her studio. I loved the techniques that Lisa taught us and I was inspired to bring "play" into my own work. I finished the two pieces that Lisa designed and tonight completed this piece. My dear friend Suzy has a mom that is turning 80!!! I've never met Suzy's mom but feel as if I know her through Suzy. They are throwing her a big birthday bash "Suzy style" (Suzy, by the way is one of the best chefs I know! :). Here is my tribute to 80 year Jeanne Palmie who is turning 80. It was inspired by this picture of her which adorned her birthday party invitations and it's done up a la Lisa Kaus!!!

Heart in my Hand

I found this lovely photo of a little girl holding a heart. What are the chances??? Sometimes I feel things so deeply- I feel as if I hold my heart in my hand!! Very few people know this about me but I have a tendancy to be dramatic and feel things deeply. I connect with myself by listening to music, reading and creating. My journal is also a safe haven... because I'm a dreamer... What makes your heart beat?? What makes your heart sing? Find peace and enjoyment in whatever that is...

One thing I love to do in my collages is create depth through cut outs. I love my Dremmel!! I cut holes and windows in my pieces. I like to bring in a seperate element that connects and adds dimension...

Worthy to Shine

I've been trying to teach myself how to paint portraits to incorporate into my collages with the help of a couple of artists. I was inspired by the new DJ Pettitt article in this month's Sommerset so I spent some studio time today trying to work it out. I've also been inspired by Pam Carriker and Kelly Rae Roberts' book Taking Flight (see my favorites for links). Here's what I came up with!! It was fun and challenging!! eNjoy my practicing :)!

I love the way the bird is whispering to her and I imagine he is telling her that she is the light and she is worthy to shine!!! Happy summer!!

In the Moment...

Life is so fast sometimes we forget to live in the moment... If we stop long enough for the quiet to fill us... we emerge refreshed, recharged and renewed. I hope you all have a chance to reconnect with yourself away from home and work and the daily stress of LIFE. eNjoy!

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A cuppa art

How fun is this??? Starbucks has a mug you can put your own design on. It comes with a white pen and you can bake it on to make it permanent or if you're like me you can change it when you want to. I put my current favorite quote on here.

I've discovered a web site by Itkupilli that I just love. She is an artist that really defines "Disneyland on the web"!!! She has free stuff for blogs (see my background) and she offers tips on digital collage. In addition, she sells her art and designs on etsy. It is a fun site to visit and admire... ENJOY! http://blo64rt.blogspot.com/

More ZNE Work!

This piece was completed recently at another ZNE Workshop with Brandie Butcher-Isley. She brought great photos to share and this is from her stock. It's one of my favorites because it was simple and I like the fact that she's carrying her soul in her lunchbox. Brandie taught me how to make trees. She uses them alot in her work and I have enjoyed incorporationg them into my pieces. She has a touching new piece of work called "How Am I Supposed to Breathe". You can view this piece on her web site @ http://www.littlepiecesofart.com/. She was so inspiring during her workshop and I learned alot from her.

Art Night: A celebration of creativity!

I wanted to send a thank you to my friends for participating in "Art Night". We have gotten together 3 times now for art and conversation. It has been so fun to share my studio and to share my love and passion for art. So THANK YOU!!!!!!! Next time I'm getting my camera out!!!

Here is a recent piece that I created with Anna Corba's beeswax collage class at the ZNE convention at the end of April. This is the second class I've taken with Anna and I love her gentle spirit. I took a workshop with her a couple of years ago in Utah at the first (and only) Woman Create event (a wonderful event!). I appreciate Anna's perspective on organization and her approach to keeping a piece simple. I am starting a new "keep it simple" art journal since I have a tendancy to have a lot going on in my art. I love the beeswax finish on these pieces and I added to my knowledge bank in this beloved medium (It's amazing what I missed the first time! I learned so much at this workshop! :). I loved being able to work with her again. She has a very gentle spirit and it certainly comes through in her art.

The Journal Thing!!!!

I've been taking Pam Carriker's journal workshop on creative workshops @ http://creativeworkshops.ning.com/ . Gail has some wonderful offerings and Pam teaches 2 ongoing classes about journaling. She is a beautiful, giving artist and I have enjoyed the classes so much that I am now addicted to journaling!!! Really!!! I am up at all hours of the night doodling away with my little mighty brite lite (while my husband snores)!!! I have started around 10 journals over the years and I never really keep it up. However, my current journal is almost done and it's only been a couple of weeks! Here are a couple of my pages from my current journal. What I like most is the freedom to try new things! I get an idea and get to play with it in my journal. ALso- take a look at Pam's blog and be inspired http://thebagladysart.blogspot.com/ !

La Belle WInery

La Belle is a great winery located in Terra Bella, CA. My current favorite wines are:

Jugfest Red & Guadalupe Zin. They ship anywhere!!!