Getting ready to move....no art making

Moving is a full time job!

Every ending is a new beginning to something else.

"Beginnings"

5x7 collage

Using Anne Bagby's technique of making 'complicated' papers, I made this collage for a new book I am creating.  It feels so good to be playing with paper again. After my husband died very 

unexpectedly, I felt like I would NEVER create again. Slowly, the Muse has returned and I am, once again, creating. This collage is about my life after his death. New Beginnings. I am just now, after almost 2 years thinking of the future and what is NEXT...

stretching my art muscles

 Face of woman 1 

using Lynn Perella's techniques

 Face of woman 2

using Anne Bagby's techniques

Face of woman 3

using Anne Bagby's techniques

This past weekend I attended a great workshop. I try to go to one a year. This one was fantastic!

The teachers were both amazing artists, Lynn Perella and Anne Bagby.  We all met in Connecticut and spent a wonderful 3 days flinging paint and cutting paper! Can it get better than that?? The workshop was called Marrakesh Destiny. We focused on Moroccan art and design. It was other-worldly, moody and all around amazing.  I met wonderful fellow artists. If you ever get a chance to take a workshop with either of these artists you will love it. I learned a lot and stretched my art muscles, which is always a good thing, Going out of my comfort zone helps me expand my art. It helps me to see my art in a whole new way and wakes up my Muse.  Last night I got out my idea book and the ideas were flowing. I now have a series starting in my idea book. Isn't that the way of art? I feel so blessed to be able to spend my free time as a retiree making my art. Life is good!

art journaling with attitude

attitude

in my art journal

I was on the beach recently and had my lunch. This guy landed and obviously wanted in. So I shared my bread with him. He just stood there, staring with such attitude!  So he is now in my art journal. I sketched him with color pencils and watercolor. 

crafting with shells

I've found lots of shells in my shelling expeditions and this wonderful square box in which to keep them. Now, what to do with them? I love them and may opt to just keep them as a collection and not do any crafting. I think I need to do some Pinterest hunting to see about crafting with shells.  I've been painting them which you can see here, on my other blog. 

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More DIY than crafting these days

I've been hunting down old furniture to refinish with chalk paint. This is a chair I found for $5.00. It started out as black with a red faux leather seat. I'll post the end result when I finish it. I am using Annie Sloan chalk paint, Old White and Duck Egg Blue.  So that's my 'crafting' lately. And no painting (pictures, that is) for now. 

Helping hand...

Today I was rearranging things in my studio and sort of 'rediscovered' a doll I made a few years ago. I was in a doll making phase awhile ago. Looking back on this project, I think I did a fair job on making her hands. I made this hand out of polymer clay that was baked.  This hand is about 1" in length. I tried to make it realistic. Although a bit 'stiff' in that her fingers are too straight, I do like them. They look fairly realistic. Anyway, I thought I would share a close-up of them.  Click on the picture to see them really close up!