all things paper

collage # 6 in my grid series

2012-01-27T12:19:00.003-05:00

I love the image of the Indian. It's from a Santa Fe Railroad sign that my husband gave me.

Tomorrow I am starting a 3 session doll making class with a very talented art doll maker, Lillian Alberti. It's a beginner course, just where I belong! It's for making a paper clay doll head with a soft body. Really looking forward to it. Her work is amazing and such an inspiration for me. Make sure you take a moment and explore her website and blog!

collage # 5

2012-01-21T15:21:00.003-05:00

We are snowed in today. Not really. I just don't want to deal with it. So today, so I am calling a snow day. :-) We have about 7" and it's still coming down. Perfect day to stay in my studio and make dolls.

here is # 5 in my current series.

collage # 4

2012-01-17T15:14:00.004-05:00

BUG-I-CIDE, 5" x 5"

God knows where I find some of the weird ephemera that I manage to collect. Some is given to me by friends who know I collect trash (my treasures...lol).

I love this "BUG-I-CIDE" gem! I think it is from an ad from an old Life magazine. Anyway- this is # 4 in my new series.

collage # 3

2012-01-15T13:56:00.003-05:00

this is # 3 is my newest series. They are all 5" x 5" and they are meant to be displayed in groups of 3, 6, 9 - what have you. I love the collage process...finding just the **right** piece for the spot, sorting through the mountain of paper in my possession...putting it all together. I never tire of it!

collage # 2

2012-01-12T12:26:00.002-05:00

5" x 5"

mystery

My friend Sue gave me the awesome Mystery Card - remember that game? Mystery Date? I used to love that game when I was a girl. I had to use it in a collage...I love old game pieces- and paper game pieces- all the better! The crow is from an old primer from the 1850's.

new collage series

2012-01-11T10:16:00.003-05:00

I am working on a new series of collages. They are each 5" x 5"x 1/2", made on gallery wrapped canvases. The idea is that they are hung as a group. You can hang them in a group of 3, 6, 9 or as many as you like. Together they make the whole. Of course you could hang only one collage, but I think the interest lies in the group. They are ready to hang as is. I'll be putting these in my etsy shop and/or sending out to a shop in Los Angeles soon. I welcome any feedback on these...the good, the bad and the ugly!

Hope

2012-01-06T00:49:00.003-05:00

Hope - don't we all need hope. Hope for our futures, our kids, our planet. I hope for many things. I hope for good health as I get older. I hope that my kids are happy and attain their goals in life. I hope that I grow old gracefully. To be hopeless is a scary place to be. I hope to never feel hopeless again. This little collage I made reminds me so well...

word for 2012

2012-01-03T09:42:00.003-05:00

Each new year I pick a word. A significant word. A word that represents to me what I want to think about, focus on, think about, remember.

past years words' have been JOURNEY, BE, REACH...

...this years word is CHOICES...

I've been thinking a lot about the choices I've made, good, bad or what have you...they are mine. And as a Brave Girl, I also say about my choices: No Blame, No Shame.

Nuff said.

what is your 2012 word?

mail art

2012-01-01T20:21:00.004-05:00

I made this small collage post card this week. It's just about all I can do at the moment...small slices of time to create small collages. I sent this to Russia via Postcrossing.
As much as I love Christmas and New Year's, I am Looking forward to getting back to my normal routines.

WHAT IF...the world is waiting

2011-12-28T13:59:00.005-05:00

I made this using a film strip and punched out circles. I then framed one of the images of the woman. The base is a paper bag. This was part of an altered paper bag book.

Welcome to the world Gracie!

2011-12-17T00:49:00.006-05:00

My beautiful new granddaughter, Gracie Lynn

born 12/12/11 at 11:11

(rather significant numbers!)

Art doll # 4

art doll # 4, in process

My oldest daughter gave birth on 12/12 (at 11:11!) to Gracie Lynn. She is so cute and has completely stolen my heart! Mother and daughter are coming home tomorrow and I'll be spending a few days with them to help out. I've been at the hospital most days and so my newest doll is not getting too far along...understandable!

I decided to give up the 'realistic' head approach because I was getting way too frustrated. So this doll will be more character - with large painted eyes. I'll work on her as I can, once my daughter is settled into her routine with Gracie and I return home. I collaged the body - I've been thinking about doing this- and used vintage ephemera. Some of it is from a French storybook. I looked up the words with my trusty translation app on my phone and the French words are: The Happy Princess...perfect!!! So that is her name. She is made from paper clay with a wire, Styrofoam and foil armature. I added the ephemera and then mat mod podge over the ephemera.

finally finished

2011-12-09T11:33:00.003-05:00

upstairs for a cup of tea

8" x 10", mixed media

I finally finished this piece, which I started at the end of the summer while away on a crafting weekend with some friends. It sat for a long time until it told me what it needed to be finished. I love how it turned out, especially the colors. Look closely, there is a light in the room on the second floor where tea is being made...

bird series - # 5

2011-11-30T23:24:00.004-05:00

bird # 5

acrylic on vintage dictionary page

I have enjoyed painting an ongoing fun little series of silly bird paintings/collages.

Above is # 5 is the series that I painted today. These started out as post cards, but I didn't mail the originals and now, well, we'll see where it goes.

Here are the first 4 in the series:

All are acrylic on vintage papers or collage. All are about 4" x 6". I really like painting birds. These are all real birds. I have an old Peterson's field guide of American Birds that I use as my reference. I find that I use birds quite a bit in my art. I am sure there is some deep meaning there but at this late time of the night, I have no energy to figure that all out!

sunday painting

2011-11-27T16:17:00.006-05:00

The diamond background is another painting I did and photshopped them together.

I am painting faces...for dolls...the ideas are coming...I want to start my next doll and the idea occurred to me to paint some faces and see 'who' I find. I am drawn to big eyes at the moment, and small noses. I would like this one with the nose close to the eyes...more pixie/elf like, I guess. I am not sure what it is I am going for- it just sort of happens.

I am thinking I would like her better with more red around her eyes...a bit of darkness, I suppose.

She is painted with 'wash & sketch' pencil, acrylic and oil paints.

saturday painting

2011-11-26T16:45:00.004-05:00

I thought this would be a cute doll head.

Lazy Saturday...messin' around with paints, color pencils. I also was playing with some effects that are on my Galaxy tablet...one called "Paris" that adds an vintage look that I really like.

paper clay doll # 3

2011-11-21T11:22:00.005-05:00

I've had a horrible cold for the last 10 days and so I've been home bound trying to get over it, giving me lots of time to finish my latest doll. Actually she is a mixed media doll: her head, chest and lower legs are paper clay, her arms are polymer clay and her body is stuffed cloth. She does not have a name yet, but her "Title" is "Keeper of my Dreams".

She stands 7.5" tall. And amazingly, she actually stands on her own! I am learning a lot about doll making. I know her face and arms are 'rough' but I am pleased with my progress. Each time is an improvement.

I am thinking that I may make her a little bird cage to hold. Inside the cage I will put a corked bottle that holds my dreams: a physical way she keeps my dreams.

how stinkin' cute are these??

2011-11-16T10:38:00.004-05:00

My granddaughter and I made mini food charms together last week. She is 11, and I think she fell in love with polymer clay. Afterwards, I took her to Hobby Lobby to get her a set of multi-colored polymer clay so she can continue making charms. She made the cake! I added the flowers to the cake, but the whole cake is hers. We both made little platters to hold our 'food'.

back in the saddle again...

2011-11-15T12:02:00.003-05:00

I've been sick with a horrible head cold. You would think by now that the common cold would have been cured by now...anyway...today is the first day I feel human again.

two things I want to share with you. (is anyone there?)

I remade my hands and they are much better. No more gorilla-looking. I get better with each attempt. I baked them once and then added the upper arm. I wanted them skinny and not life like, so they turned out just as I wanted them.

I also wanted to post these adorable paper clay baby bottles I made. I made them as shower decorations for my daughter's baby shower. I LOVE how they turned out! They are about 3.5" tall. Glitter glass is what makes them shine and I made them in the shabby style, as my daughter loves the shabby chic look. The nursery is all shabby chic and she'll put one or two on the dresser for decoration. But no baby will be able to play with or touch- glass glitter can cut!

paper clay doll # 3

2011-11-02T11:34:00.004-05:00

let the mess begin! Creative Chaos...

Gorilla hands will not do! I have to remake them.

Yes, I know her legs do not match in thickness...ah well

It really helps to make a scale drawing to follow.

On to doll # 3 in my paper clay doll making adventure. She is going to be small, about 6.5" inches tall. Her theme - something about time going too fast, middle age, middle passage...the thoughts tumbling around in my head at this moment in time in my own personal journey. Thoughts are marinading and ideas are coming into focus as I make her and she presents herself to me. She will let me know her message...

Her hands I made are WAY TOO LARGE...so I am experimenting with polymer clay and paper clay to see which works better for me to make tiny hands...last night I made hands 4x out of polymer clay and these in the photos above- all still too large and gorilla like...onto to hands # 6- eventually I'll hopefully get to where I can live with them and they won't be so gorilla like!

I made her feet large on purpose. I want them large and she will be wearing ballet slippers. This much I know. The rest, well, like I said...she will tell me...

why do we love things in miniature?

2011-10-24T10:00:00.005-05:00

How stinkin' cute are these?? My friend Sue Milo and I spent yesterday at her house exploring paper clay and polymer clay. We each made a few of these little cuties. All the paper clay stuff is drying and then we need to paint/decorate. Polymer clay is an amazing product. And it is pretty "instant gratification" for those of us who are impatient.

I had the perfect color polymer clay for pumpkins called "Sweet Potato". So now I'll be on a hunt to find it again. My local Michaels doesn't have that color. I was able to mix up a matching batch, but it's so much easier to have the color mixed.

possum recipe

2011-10-23T22:12:00.003-05:00

click to enlarge and read this recipe...yum...

Every now and then I come across odd/weird/ different things in my eternal search of the 'perfect' piece of ephemera for my collages. I recently came across this and it gave me pause. I am a product of suburban NJ, so the idea of cooking something that belongs in the woods or at worst, is what I would call 'road kill'...well...like I said...it gives me pause... nuff said.

more pics of my paper clay mermaid doll

2011-10-20T10:06:00.006-05:00

tail -

made from angelina fiber.

I added in wire along the edge so the fins bend.Once finished,

I added the seed beads.

Colleens technique for charms- love them!!

The hanging beads were given to me by Sue Milo.

she hangs on the wall.

close up of her face.

She holds a shell filled with pearls.

The shell is made from polymer clay.

starfish made from paper and distressed.
Then I added vintage glass glitter.

Her crown is made from polymer clay.
I painted the crown with metallic blues and then added lots of Swarovski crystals.

Several people asked me to post some closeups of my mermaid doll I made, so here they are. This is my second paper clay doll. I am quite happy how she turned out, but I still have a lot of practice to do for better arm, hands, fingers, faces...but that's the fun...learning as I go.

Her body is cloth that I stuffed and attached to the upper body. I created the 'material' by sewing together ribbons and torn fabric into ribbon lengths using free motion sewing, taught to me by Heather. I added in threads and glitter to give it an organic and other-world sort of look. All the colors are in the blue to white family.

Her body from breasts up are paper clay, as are her arms. I made joints using bead end caps, a technique I learned from Colleen. She also taught me this whole doll...sculpting her face, making the crown, making all of the tiny charms. (So if you ever see a class offered by Colleen and want to learn doll making- take that class!!!) Thanks for your interest in her!

gift tags for sale

2011-10-14T13:31:00.004-05:00

I made up bags-o-tags for sale at Bliss Art Gallery in Sugar Loaf. I made them all from my paintings and collages. I love how they turned out, including the packaging. My picture of the Halloween gift tag packaging came out too shakey to post (note to self: use tripod).

collage cards over at etsy

2011-10-11T12:15:00.003-05:00

For a super star woman in your life!

a very sweet sympathy card
or a card for a struggling friend

I've listed several collage cards in my etsy shop. Each card has a 2.5" x 2.5" original collage mounted onto a beautiful creamy white Strathmore deckle edged 5" x 7" card. And each has a matching deckle edged envelope. I love making these little collages- I go through mountains of ephemera to create them, having more fun than should be allowed in the process!

So mosey on over and have a look. They are different than your usual note/greeting cards, And for sure- unique as each is an original collage. They are even suitable for framing.

my first love...

2011-10-09T13:18:00.003-05:00

I was 8 when the British Invasion happened. I vividly remember the excitement of waiting for the Ed Sullivan show to come on to see this new British group that had just invaded the US. I had two older sisters who were 17 and 15, and it was from them, that I learned about the Beatles.

I fell deeply and madly in love with Paul. I remember drawing his name in hearts on our cellar concrete walls with chalk. I boldly expressed my love on those walls, this being my very first real "crush" on a boy. I was smitten for sure.

I still love Paul. I will always love Paul. He was my first love. I hope in Nancy Shevell, his new wife that he has found true love once again.

And may a pox be put on Heather Mills. (sorry, I never liked her)

angel ornament closeup

2011-10-06T14:34:00.003-05:00

"Praise"

click to see better!

This is another Frozen Charlotte angel ornament for the Bliss Art Gallery. They are having the 'Fall Festival' there this coming weekend. Should be BEAUTIFUL weather there. Would make a great day of shopping and being in the beautiful outdoors all at the same time.

Her wings are vintage sheet music coated with a crystal lacquer and then added two colors of blue glitter. They are sturdier than they look! Her skirt is vintage lace.

assembalge doll # 24

2011-10-04T13:18:00.005-05:00

click am image to see up close- details!!

sure doesn't feel like 24 assemblage dolls! This is another Garden Queen, but this time I made her with out a crown and gave her a sun hat for gardening. As nice as a crown is, they dont' really protect from the sun...and we can't be too careful about the sun!

On her hat are hand made polymer clay flowers. She has vintage jewelry as her belt and bling around her neck. I think gardening with your pearls on sends a message, don't you think?

She will be available for purchase at The Bliss Art Gallery in Sugar Loaf, NY starting thiis weekend, or email me if you are interested in her. Her arms and head are antique German doll parts that were rescued out of the ground in Germany. Her body is wood that I have collaged with carefully selected ephemera and papers.

Boofy's Jalapeno Pepper Jelly

2011-10-02T14:12:00.004-05:00

Anyone who has known me for a long, LONG time will know that my childhood nickname is Boofy. My mom gave me the name when I was a baby- it was from "Boofiful Baby". Started as Boof and evolved to Boofy. I have had the name ever since. Somewhere in the late 80's I started introducing myself as Elizabeth, my given name, as I was sort of tired of explaining my name every single time I met someone. My family and old friends still call me Boofy. My newer friends, from the late 80's and on, call me Elizabeth.

This last week I spent a wonderful week on Edisto Island, SC. It was a combo genealogy research and fun-in-the-sun week with my husband, sisters and brother-in-law. My family goes back to the 1600's on Edisto and all over South Carolina and Georgia are kissin' cousins. We chose to go to Edisto as that is where it all began for this particular branch of my family. Edisto is very 'off the beaten track'. To get there you must drive an hour from the main road to the beach on very rural roads with names like Toogodo Road and Jungle Road. Along the main road we saw a fun looking place called Geechie Boy Market and Mill and stopped to have a look. Imagine my surprise when I found "Boofy's Jalapeno Pepper Jelly". My sisters and I were amazed as I have never seen my name on anything, anywhere. Turns out the store owners' Grandmother was named Boofy. When I asked how her grandmother got the name, she told us that it came from "BOOFIFUL BABY"...I nearly fell over! Same name with the same reason for the name! The store owner teared up just thinking about it. Both her and her grandmother are from the area. She was so sweet and gave me the jar of jelly on the house.

Connections - there are connections all over this island! While shopping we met two 'cousins' in stores. Just throw out a family name in the low country and we are bound to find relatives...Baynard, Grimball, Willingham, Lawton...a few of the names. I feel a soul connection to the Carolina Low Country. This latest connection is one more reason why I feel so 'at home' in this exotic, wild and wonderful area of the United States.

crafting weekend

2011-09-20T23:09:00.007-05:00

Sue Milo's dreamy landscape collage

Colleen's cool collage with relief dolls and wings
collages, molds, mermaid doll, and a doll in process- all the different pieces we worked on during our crafting weekend. Great fun!

I spent a wonderful weekend crafting with Sue Milo and Colleen Athens last week. We spent part of our time making collages. I LOVE what Sue and Colleen did with their collages! Sue made a dreamy landscape-ish piece with a wonderful paper clay pressed-in pocket watch. Colleen built up a very cool doll using paper clay and also made wings for another doll on her collage. I made houses, which is funny, because when I started, I was thinking 'faces'...and ended up with houses. I love that about making art- follow what speaks to us...at that moment as I was making my collage, I saw houses and went with it. I am not quite finished with mine. But I did finish my second paper clay doll there...my mermaid...and I love her!

Down the rabbit hole

2011-09-18T18:42:00.004-05:00

I just read a sentence that really sums up how I feel lately..."I've fallen down the rabbit hole of doll making!”

cleaning / organizing / nesting

2011-09-16T21:49:00.002-05:00

The past few months I have really altered my focus to doll making. I am so captured by the whole doll making process - can't seem to get enough of it. And this is a big surprise to me. As a small girl I was not into dolls in a big way, except Barbie. But here I am, a woman of a certain age, playing with dolls! Anyway...my studio was a mess...and I needed to purge and rearrange areas for doll making. It's a work in progress...

...keep an eye on my drink...

2011-09-09T19:38:00.003-05:00

my sweet husband went to the Met's game tonight with a friend and I made eye balls.

I wanted eyes to use in doll making, so I decided to make them out of polymer clay. I used translucent polymer clay and painted them once I baked them. Then I finished them with a shiny gloss to give them a wet look.

Body parts...yesterday heads, today eye balls...I'll say it's really interesting...and I am having fun for sure!

Paper clay 101 - what NOT to do

2011-09-08T10:29:00.003-05:00

I read somewhere that it's OK to bake paper clay in an oven at a low temp to speed drying time. I am not sure if I had to temp too high (200 F) or if I left it too long (35 minutes)...but it didn't work out so well. I would LOVE to hear from any paper clay artists out there who might be able to give me some tips as to what I did wrong!

I am learning a lot

2011-09-06T15:31:00.003-05:00

This is my second paper clay doll. She is a mermaid. (hard to see as I have her hanging on a stand that is also a blue body built into it)

She is not too pretty, but I did learn a lot making her. I like how her lower body and arms turned out. Her face...well, not so much! She is too severe, and not feminine looking. I think I need to make lots of faces and work on getting them to look pretty and feminine. Also- I think she needs eyelashes and maybe even eye makeup; her eyes are too light. And her hands- I need more practice with hands. I used a wigging technique that I've used once before. I think I'll try a different way next time. I am not happy with the results I am getting with this way.

Doll making is a real learning experience for me and I am loving it! I'll get better with each one. My first was very basic. This one was a little more involved with her arms.

selling my assemblage dolls in a new gallery

2011-08-30T22:23:00.003-05:00

There is a new co-op gallery that just opened in Sugar Loaf, NY. I'll be selling my assemblage dolls there this fall. The gallery is called Bliss. The gallery is in Romer's Alley, a group of stores right in the middle of Sugar Loaf. The gallery is # 11 on in the map below.

If you are ever in the Hudson Valley, stop by Sugar Loaf- it's a artist town that was settled in the 1700's. The artists live there and have their shops there as well. It's eclectic and funky and a great way to spend a Sunday. There is a great restaurant there called the Barnsider for lunch. You'll drive past horse farms to get there, a really pretty drive! (click map below to see the whole map)

mail art

2011-08-17T10:06:00.004-05:00

A turtle for Anny

This post card is going to Belarus. In her postcrossing profile she mentioned she loves turtles. so I made her a turtle collage.

mail art

2011-08-15T10:46:00.003-05:00

I sent out 5 post cards on postcrossing. This is one was fun to make. I hope it went thru the mail well and arrived intact! I love the whole idea of postcrossing- check it out- it's a fun little hobby.

Illustration Friday - Imperfect

2011-08-06T23:02:00.006-05:00

Embrace Imperfection

collage

What I am working on fit in (*ahem*) PERFECTLY with this weeks word: IMPERFECT over at Illustration Friday. I am working on a series of collage people. Not sure why; it's where the muse has taken me.

I drew the hand and the face in pencil and then made a collage using them and stamped/painted deli paper. The result is an imperfect image of a man - the proportions are all wrong, but that is what I like about this image...and we are all imperfect beings, are we not?

Embrace imperfection.

drawing a face for a collage

2011-08-02T22:32:00.002-05:00

I plan on making several collages of men for a small series, so i needed some man faces...I did two last night. I made them dark and brooding. I'll add color and more of the body as I go along in the collage, at least that's the plan!

Zen + tangle = calming effect

2011-07-27T10:16:00.004-05:00

I've been away all month down in South Carolina helping my husband put his mom into assisted living and then breaking down her entire house, selling car and placing her cat...a huge undertaking and we are finished and home now...whew!

I haven't been able to do any real artwork since we got home. Not sure why...I feel a little shell shocked and I am not sure why. But the other day Zentangle jumped into my head...and so I sat down and did this- it's about the only thing I could muster up. I found it calming + relaxing to do this. Maybe that is the point? I'll have to read more about it and what it's all about.

journal page

2011-07-16T23:48:00.003-05:00

Tonight I made a journal page. It's about the only thing I am able to do at the moment, as I do not have any art supplies except my journal and markers.

busy busy busy!

2011-07-12T23:03:00.003-05:00

Life is what happens while we are making other plans...that is my current mantra. First we were on vacation and so I was away at the beach for a week. Now I am helping my MIL move into her new assisted living place and breaking down her home...a huge undertaking! A house filled from a life well lived...break it all down, sell it, give it away. It's a big job and one that currently has my full attention, so no art making for the near future...

...have a great summer...hope to back in my studio soon....

a little bit of heaven...

2011-07-01T17:38:00.004-05:00

our workspace...look familiar??

Colleen pressing polymer clay into rubber to make mermaid scales

a view of the bay from the living room...beautiful!!

dolls hanging and tools of the trade

Susan heating up her amazing gravy and meatballs...yum

I had the opportunity to spend a wonderful and fun four days with five other doll makers last week...and we had a blast! We spent the entire time making a mermaid paper clay doll. We also had some side trips for food and craft runs to Michael's and to a local bead shop.

I am a newbie to paper clay...just learning how to make paper clay dolls, so I was in heaven being around a group of such talented doll makers, Colleen, Susan, Heather, Tery and Heidi.

I also showed the ladies how to make my assemblage dolls. I was blown away by how they each put their own spin on the dolls- totally amazing!

Illustration Friday - Midsummer Night

2011-06-24T17:50:00.004-05:00

Midsummer Night

6" x 8", acrylic

Bon fires are a Midsummer Night tradition all over the world and have been for thousands of years. I painted this in honor of Midsummer Night (and for IF), which is tonight according to some calendars. I imagine this to be an English country side somewhere a long, long time ago. The fires were to protect from the spirits thought to be present on this night.

So Happy Midsummer Night to all!

product comparison

2011-06-24T15:07:00.005-05:00

Product comparison:

Triple Thick

Mod Podge Dimensional Magic

3D Crystal Laquer by Sakura

Ranger's Glossy Accents

I have four different 'shiny glaze' products for adding dimension and shine to mixed media, polymer clay, paper...what have you. The stuff is great for filling bottle caps, sealing paper to scrabble tiles, making polymer clay shine...all kinds of neat ideas. I decided to see if they appear different. I've used them all, just not at the same time. So I put a blob (technical term) of each on a white piece of paper and let them all dry overnight. And the verdict is....(drum roll).......they all appear to be exactly the same.

I kinda thought that would happen, but I wanted to see for myself.

my first paperclay doll all dressed

2011-06-24T11:27:00.005-05:00

I am pleased with my first attempt to make a paper clay doll. I made a little dress for her. It's a simple dress- I realized that I really couldn't make a set-in sleeve or even a raglan sleeve on the dress because my doll doesn't have shoulders. So I made a simple dress with a halter like feature that holds up the dress. I used two fabrics for her dress- the under slip is vintage lace that I tea dyed. The dress is a pink brocade/lace like material that I also tea dyed. I then added tiny mauve pink seed beads to give her a little bling.

This weekend I am getting together with a group of doll artists for a weekend of doll crafting. Can't wait!! One doll artist will be teaching us how to make a mermaid armature paper clay doll and I'll also be showing the group how I make my assemblage dolls. Should be a wonderful crafting time!

I'll take lots of pictures to post.

best seller at my etsy shop...

2011-06-19T16:23:00.003-05:00

This little item has become a 'bestseller' over at my etsy site. Over the years I have managed to collect a ridiculous number of old book for my collage work. I mean ridiculous...so I decided to put together 10 pages and sell them as ephemera packs.

Well, they really sell. I always put a nice variety of pages in the set...french text from an 1801 book, German text from the 1900's, algebra page from the 1850's...all the way up to the 70's with a wonderful sewing book I have. I make them in sets, usually of 5 or 6, and each set is identical. I also add a little pretty on each, usually with a bit of glitter.

I really enjoy selling these, wondering how they will be used. This is the last one of my current series, 1 - 4 have already sold. I'll soon be making a new set for sale.

Crafting get togethers are great!

2011-06-14T09:35:00.007-05:00

Yesterday I was not feeling the love. I never really woke up and was dragging my butt. I almost didn't go to Susan's house for our craft get together. But I dragged myself out and it was great! I am so glad I went! We worked on tiny charms for our mermaid dolls. Susan has about 4,367 punches. (I am not kidding.) One of them is of this cute starfish, two different sizes of seahorses and rubber stamp scallop shells. Since we are all currently working on a mermaid doll, we made these ocean themed tiny charms for our mermaids.

Only in retirement do I have the luxury of time to spend an entire day making 8 charms...lol
We made them out of paper - Sue punched out back-to-back pairs on textured wallpaper. On the starfish we stuffed it to give it some dimension. Then we added ink to color and age them. Then came Triple Thick and glass glitter. Once that dried we added UV resin and popped them under a UV light for a time to harden.

For the scallop shells we used polymer clay and shined them up with Perfect Pearls and baked them. I made 4 and I will attach them to make pairs and add a pearl inside each one.

I envision the charms will be added to my mermaid's body or hang them on ribbons and such.

my new favorite rubber stamp

2011-06-12T14:10:00.005-05:00

Every time I see this stamp I crack up. I can see using this card for a birthday, engagement, or 'hello' card.

It just makes me laugh.

I bought it from Lost Coast Designs .

painted my first paper clay doll

2011-06-08T12:57:00.006-05:00

she doesn't look dirty in real life- just in the picture.

not sure why!

I am loving this paper clay! I finished painting my first doll. I decided to put a crackle glaze as the final coat to give her a vintage look. I really like how she came out. Now to dress her. I am thinking of a shabby angel look. So that means WINGS! Hmmm....so many choices....I've never made wings for a doll before. I think I see some serious YouTube searching in my immediate future looking for ways to make doll wings. Isn't the Internet great that way? Think of it and some one has a 'how to' on You Tube. What did we do before the Internet?

Her hair is natural Tibetan lamb. I bought a pelt of it and snip off small bits and glued them onto her head as a wig. Again, my first time doing this. But I am happy how she is turning out.

And on another note- my doll buddies and I are starting mermaids...mine will be cloth and clay. I've started on the cloth- I made the cloth using strips of ripped, torn and dyed ribbon, yarn and such to make a very shabby piece of cloth- I love how it turned out. I'll post it soon. Yesterday I met with them and Heather gave me a lesson on free motion sewing/quilting. I've done a tiny bit, but she gave me her best ideas- like layering fabrics that are sheer and with some glitz and then free motion over it- the final piece is so cool! Each fabric adds something and the finished piece is the 'best' from each- to make one luscious piece of fabric!

Art Doll play date and Show-n-tell

2011-06-06T20:10:00.007-05:00

Online, I recently "met" a local (to me) art doll maker, Lillian Alberti, and today we met at her house for a wonderful 'doll play date'. Another doll maker, Colleen Colquhoun from NJ also came and we shared our art dolls, tea, yummy goodies and laughter. It was so nice to meet a local art doll maker! Colleen I've met before, and it was one of those small world things that Lillian and I both knew her. But, the art doll world is, I am finding out, a little small.

Anyway, the dolls that Lillian and Colleen make are AMAZING! I am a new to clay doll making and it is SO inspiring to see such beautiful work. I've posted some pictures of the day and the fantastic dolls. I hope you are as inspired as I am from these dolls! Pictures just do not do them justice!

Colleen, Lillian and me

Lillian's "Little Bo Peep"

And Bo Peeps lost sheep (who hides in her skirt!)

Colleen's paper charms for her dolls

Colleen's Rabbit Doll

Colleen's Rabbit Art Doll

paper clay art doll

2011-06-02T20:14:00.002-05:00

This is my first paper clay art doll. I decided to make a character doll, not a realistic doll. I've finished her parts and painted them all with about 7 coats of flesh colored paint. Next I'll paint her face, add a finish of crackle to give her a vintage look and then add her hair. So far so good! I am really loving doll making! Bringing a lump of clay to life- there is a sense of satisfaction in this.

Last night I woke up at 3 am with my head spinning. I had so many ideas flashing in my head for future dolls, that I had to get up and write them down in my idea journal so I don't forget them. I can't wait to make them all!

well, she's not pretty, but she is my first!

2011-05-29T13:54:00.003-05:00

My first painted doll head...not pretty and her face looks dirty. I learned a lot from her.

I tried painting her face with a few coats of Golden's acrylics and then after 3 coats, I then blushed her with chalk pastels and a brush. Then I painted her eyes and lips. I finished her with triple thick gloss on eyes and lips, for a shiny look. I need to put some protective coating on the rest of her- not sure what to use...mat medium?? If anyone has answers, I'd love to hear them!

doll head

2011-05-25T21:22:00.005-05:00

Well, this is a doll sculpture I am happy with. It looks human and that's good! Early on she really looked like a he. I was going for a female head. She looks a little angular and male. Next time I'll work on that. I used Super sculpt living doll clay and I really like it. It sculpts well and holds the shape.

Primo Sculpey

2011-05-23T09:02:00.004-05:00

I am not a big fan of Primo Sculpey for doll heads. That much I have learned. After using this product for 10 or so heads, I find it too elastic. The heads do not stay round. They look pretty bad at this point!

I've not fired a single doll head- just make, smoosh and remake. Practice, practice, practice. Next, I am trying Super Sculpey Living Doll clay. I bought a small sample to try it. I think that is my first goal- to find a polymer clay that works for me. Each is different. I'll use Primo clay for non-doll projects. Onto my next attempts with this new clay!

Each day is an adventure in learning and I am a bit obsessed at the moment.

I have to be willing to be a bad doll maker...

2011-05-21T23:03:00.005-05:00

in order to become a good doll maker...

I've been messing around with polymer clay and doll head sculpting. It's not pretty. I have no idea what I am doing...but I want to learn! I also want to try paper clay. I started with paper clay- made two lower legs with feet. Not terrible, but beginner level for sure. And isn't that appropriate??? I AM A BEGINNER. But you see, I want to wake up and be an EXPERT. Sadly, it doesn't work that way, at least, not for me...

I was with two doll artists last week and saw their BEAUTIFUL dolls...man, was I inspired...I decided right then that I want to make a doll- from start to finish- the sculpting, the painting, the costume...all of it...that is what is so appealing to me about dolls...it's all in one- designing, sculpting, painting, sewing...all-in-one.

so, over this weekend I have sculpted no less than 10 heads. The beauty of polymer clay...just squish it up and start over. That's one reason I like polymer clay better than paper clay. Paper clay is a one shot deal and it's a little pricey. But I like the look of paper clay...what's a doll maker to do? I'll practice on the polymer clay and then try both. My doll heads are pathetic at this stage...but I'll keep going. That's how we do this, no?

One decision- eyes or no eyes? Do I add glass eyes, make my own eyes or sculpt eyes? The bigger questions in life...

One cool thing- You Tube- I just put in searches and can watch how other doll artists make their heads.

Grapes on Black

2011-05-16T10:45:00.004-05:00

I find painting black backgrounds not so easy. The richness is hard to achieve. Each of the grapes have about 5 or so layers of glazing to build up the shadows. Painted on hot pressed Fabrinao 140# paper.

fantasy painting

2011-05-12T10:10:00.000-05:00

painting with out photoshop

painting with a photoshop edge

Having a lot of fun just painting without any idea in mind - I made last night until the wee hours (my husband says I hang from the rafters at night...I really paint).

After I scanned in my painting I brought it into Photoshop and added a scratchy border to make it look older. Not sure I like the effect, but here it is. Would love feedback- which do you perfer?

what do you do all day??

2011-05-09T23:10:00.005-05:00

click to enlarge

Now that I am retired, some people have asked me, "What do you do all day?". Well...besides sighing because I no longer am a part of the corporate rat maze, I draw... a lot. Drawing is one of those things that will only improve with practice. And practice takes time. Just like learning to play an instrument and running scales over and over again...same thing.

Time is now a commodity I actually have and I choose to use a large part of it to improve my drawing skills. I generally draw everyday now, which is a real treat for me. Some of my drawing is akin to doodling, as there is no composition and some pages are a little more thought out.

I love to draw woodsy, flowery, fairy, Fae, make believe but-not-too-cutesy. So I've been drawing frogs (with crowns), flowers, mushrooms, leaves... things that would be in a fairy setting. My long term, bigger picture is that I want to do some Fae, woodsy, flowery, fairy watercolor paintings. So, to that end, I am drawing, drawing, drawing.

A Mother's Life - Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-06T15:55:00.003-05:00

Happy Mother's Day! Boy isn't this the truth!?! This is an ATC I made a few years ago.

For all the Mothers

2011-05-05T21:39:00.003-05:00

A child is born

collage on paper bag

5" x 5"

Dream Big

2011-05-03T19:12:00.003-05:00

Dream Big

8" x 10" mixed media collage

I've always admired Kelly Rea Roberts and if you go back to Issue # 15 of Cloth Paper Scissors, (Nov/Dec 2007), on page 72 she has an article about how she makes her collages. So I made this with a nod to Kelly- very much in her style. I am pleased at how it came out. I learned a great technique from the article...one she learned from someone else...and that's how we all learn. Now I want to take her article and make more of this kind of art, but with my own spin on it.

She did it anyway...

2011-04-29T17:51:00.004-05:00

she did it anyway

8" x 10" mixed media collage

What is your "she did it anyway" story?
We are all Brave Girls!

she felt guilty but took care of herself anyway
she felt angry but she loved them anyway
she felt tired but she took care of them anyway
she was so scared her mother would die but she took care of her anyway

the list is endless if I really think about it...

new collage

2011-04-26T11:00:00.002-05:00

Grow a Friend

5" x 7" canvas

I've just finished an order and I love how they turned out. The order was for three of the same...all three are the same, but each is hand made, so each is unique. And the saying is one of my favorites- "It takes a long time to grow a friend"

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T11:03:00.003-05:00

Have a Glorious Easter!

Brave Girls - Soul Restoration

2011-04-15T09:06:00.004-05:00

I am taking a wonderful online class called Soul Restoration over at the Brave Girls Club...what a gift this online class is...I've been up until 2-3 am making collages and painting and feeling the love...

See you in a few weeks- I may post on and off, but not as much as I usually do...peace be with you...

Garden Queen assemblage art doll

2011-04-07T15:46:00.006-05:00

For all the lovely women who love to garden...wouldn't this be a nice gift to give you your mom if she loves to garden? She is my newest doll in my Narrative Doll Series.

I've decorated her with all kinds of flowers made from paper, clay and sequins. Her crown is hand made of polymer clay. She wears vintage pearls. Her head and arms are antique German doll parts that were rescued from the grounds of an abandoned doll factory in Germany. I buy the doll parts from the guys who dig them up! She stands just shy of 6" including her crown.

If you are interested in purchasing her, please email me. I'll be putting this doll in a local store for sale for Mother's Day, but if you would like her, let me know!

Click each picture twice to see each up close- look for the tiny flowers!

it's true...

2011-04-06T18:58:00.002-05:00

The older I get, the more truth I see in this!! This is an ATC I made. I really like the rusty old look and feel of this piece.

another Droid Drawing

2011-03-31T22:51:00.004-05:00

Mr. Rooster

Droid Phone Drawing

click to enlarge

I downloaded the Sketch Book App on my Droid phone and it is pretty amazing. I drew this rooster on my phone using the .99 cent software. I am pleased with it over all. The software has layers, choice of pens and brushes and of course, colors. All drawing done with my finger.

little things

2011-03-30T10:02:00.002-05:00

paper flowers

polymer clay flowers polymer clay birds with resin

What is it about tiny? I love tiny. Mini-anything and you've got me...

I got together with my art friends on Monday and Heather showed us how to make these cute paper flowers. We then moved onto polymer clay flowers. The birds I made finished off with UV resin and super tiny silver beads.

I'll eventually use these charms in my assemblage dolls or in a collage. I love making 'parts'. I will make a bunch and put them in a jar and then some day they will be the *perfect* thing I need for a piece.

shrine to childhood

2011-03-22T15:55:00.004-05:00

shrine to childhood

click twice to enlarge

"A child's ability to endure just about anything stems from their ignorance of alternatives."

she loves rusty things

2011-03-21T11:33:00.003-05:00

SHRINE TO RUST

alterd match box

click to enlarge

Last night at 1am I made this. The muse just made me. I was thinking about what it is that I really love in altered art...and it's rusty old forgotten junk...so this is my tiny "Shrine to Rust". I used tiny doo dads that I save (I have no idea why I save this stuff...I just do). Of course after I finished this one I had 5 more in my head to make, but it was, afterall, 2 am by then, so sleep prevailed. I see a whole series of shrines.

altered art paper doll

2011-03-20T19:45:00.004-05:00

click to enlarge

This is my sample doll I made for a workshop I held for the wonderful art teachers in the Liberty School District this week. I used a playing card for her body, so she is altered art as well as mixed media and a collage. She is a complex person, like all of us are.

Dance in the Light of the Moon...

2011-03-18T14:33:00.006-05:00

click image twice to see up close- so pretty!

Still playing and experimenting today and I made this ATC. I wish you could see how glittery and shiny this is! The picture just doesn't do it justice.

I used the Faux Lace Technique I learned a couple of years ago at a stamp convention by Susan Pickering Rothamel. I made the tape extra lacy for this ATC. It uses her product, "Great Tape" and it is great! The moon is painted using mica powder mixed into an acrylic paint.

playing with RUBBA...

2011-03-18T12:33:00.005-05:00

click to see details

It all began with rubber stamping...and ten years later and I still love stamping! I've gotten away from making greeting cards over the years as I moved into paintings, mixed media collage and assemblage. But I always come back to my first love, rubber stamping. To send a hand made greeting card makes the message extra special.

I love layers in my cards. This one begins with the card itself, which I sponged on ink and then stamped with Versamark and added mica powder. I then added a layer of gold Hanko paper. I distressed the edges of my next layer, the purple. The top layer I embossed with gold embossing powder. The stamped grape image I painted with watered down mica paint.

Hospice assemblage doll

2011-03-13T18:36:00.003-05:00

Recently Ulster Orange Co. Hospice contacted me and asked that I create a special doll for them. Having used Hospice with my mom when she became terminally ill fifteen years ago, I was honored to make this doll. Working with input from their marketing director, here is the final doll. It will help to raise money at their annual fundraising gala. And for that, I am happy!

more teeny tiny...

2011-03-08T11:56:00.003-05:00

can you say OCD? Not really.

I am making teeny tiny flowers for my altered dolls. I'll use them in the crowns most likely. I am enchanted with the tininess of these! I can see why people spend massive amounts of time making tiny model train villages, mini doll houses and the like. There is just something very wonderful with teeny tiny objects!

doodling on my driod

2011-03-04T19:48:00.005-05:00

droid doodle

This is another "how cool is that?" post. I downloaded AutoCad's Sketch Book Mobile app for my HTC smart phone. Now I can doodle away my time when ever I want, without paper and pencil. I use my finger and draw directly on my screen.

This is a stoop in Savannah Ga. The photo is on my phone and I used it as my reference to draw this drawing using nothing but my finger and my phone. Technology can be an amazing thing...and this is pretty amazing. Once I was finished, I was able to send it to flickr and then post on my blog...again...how cool is that??

mini doll charms

2011-03-02T12:21:00.003-05:00

click image to really see them!

How cute are these?!? On Monday I had the pleasure of getting together with several fabulous mixed media artists for an art 'play date'. I had a blast making these teeny tiny polymer clay charms.

The very talented and giving doll artist Colleen Athens showed us how to make these. Once we cured them, we then coated with UV resin and I dropped in tiny watch parts and tiny rhinestones...like I said. I'll add jump rings and such and use them to hang on my assemblage dolls...How cute are these?!?

Scrabble Queen - new art assemblage doll

2011-02-26T12:46:00.003-05:00

Here is my newest doll. The idea came from one of my sisters. I play online scrabble with two of my sisters. We each live in different parts of the country, but through the magic of pogo.com, we are able to play scrabble together. How cool is that? Anyway, ond day my sister emailed me and said I should make a Scrabble Queen and here she is.

I'm offering her for sale in my etsy shop. If you go there you can see more images of her (front, sides and back and a beautiful closeup of her face and crown.

What is REAL?

2011-02-24T00:15:00.002-05:00

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

Brave Girls

2011-02-23T13:43:00.003-05:00

I have the honor of one of my bird collages published on the Brave Girls "Daily Truth" email. You can see it here...

a little rubber, paper and soldering

2011-02-21T13:11:00.002-05:00

I made these soldered charms using stamped images on paper. They remind me of spring...which can't come soon enough...we just got another 6" of snow last night. But soon, there will be tulips, birds and bees...THINK SPRING!

Assemblage Doll - BEST FRIEND

2011-02-16T09:18:00.003-05:00

Best Friend

I've listed a new doll in my etsy shop. She is called Best Friend. I often say, what would we do without our girlfriends? I for one would be lost without them! And I think we all have a Best Friend (or two). I enjoyed making her very much. So stroll (read: click) on over to my shop and look at the pretty pictures!

My first fruit tart

2011-02-12T23:50:00.002-05:00

Another baking adventure!

This one was a fresh fruit tart. It reminded me of late spring when berries come in season...it must be late spring somewhere because my local Stop & Shop had beautiful berries on sale yesterday. The second I saw those berries I knew it was tart time! The only fruit tart I ever had before this one was at Disney world a few years ago. Back then I told myself I would make one some day. Well, today was that day. We really enjoyed it!

There are 10 WW points per serving - not terrible, but enough that I have to plan for them!

Winter Weary

2011-02-12T12:54:00.002-05:00

After watching Pam Carriker's newest video about self portraits, I used her technique to draw this image. She is one of those goth/heroin fashion models, and to me, she looks very tired and weary...and that is exactly how I feel about winter- weary and tired. So, this is not a self portrait in the strict sense, but this is a portrait of my feelings about this 2011 winter of winters. Spring can't come soon enough...

ruling pen experiment

2011-02-10T21:21:00.003-05:00

I've been having difficulty with writing in white in my art journals. My white sharpie pens start to leak, the oil pastels ruin my micro pens...nothing seemed to work well...so I started thinking about how I could do this better. That's when I remembered my old ruling pens. I watered down some fluid white titanium Golden's paint and it worked really well! In this picture the white paint is still wet so it looks a little shiny here. Anyway...if you are having the same problems with your art journaling- get yourself an old fashioned inking pen. I found a place here to buy them.

Inking pens were used in drafting once upon a time...along with a ruler to make wonderful inked lines. I have one that I purchased from Jonathan Talbot and I have another one that was my father's when he was in college, as part of a set. He went to collage when they used a slide ruler. to do the calculations..which I have no idea how to use.

fantasy drawing

2011-02-08T00:20:00.008-05:00

click to make large

As we watched TV tonight, I drew what I am calling fairy lights in my sketch book. I was imagining what kinds of lights might be in a fairy world in the woods. I was thinking of globes that glow in the night like stars or lightening bugs. Fairy need lighting too, don't they? I guess I've been in the fairy world in my head for a few days now. I wonder if this is my way of escaping all of this snow...

fantasy watercolor

2011-02-07T10:52:00.006-05:00

a peek in the forest

watercolor and pan pastel on 140# paper

(click to see large)

This is a fantasy watercolor. By that I mean I made it up in my head. I love the fairy paintings of make believe places and this is a glance into such a world. This weekend was a pajama weekend. I pretty much spent the entire weekend in my pj's painting. This is the result. I love the Chinese lantern plants and I knew that would be the focus of this little painting.

I painted it in my Strathmore watercolor art journal I bought for an online art journaling workshop of which I am participating. I wasn't sure how this paper would be, as the entire book cost me less than the usual sheet of Arches watercolor paper I buy. But I have to say I really was impress with the paper. It held up well. I even scrubbed a couple of areas to give it a test and it held up well. No tiny spit balls (what usually happens with cheap watercolor paper!)

I also love those round flat dollar plants- I don't know the name of them, but I think they will be in my next art journal painting.

I'm leavin' on a jet plane...

2011-02-06T12:08:00.003-05:00

....I wish! I am sooo sick of winter and snow and ice and cold. Calgon take me away! (am I showing my age with that last statement?) I've been dreaming of warm, sunny places which made me think of my Travel Queen assemblage doll. She is packing up and gettin' out of Dodge...lucky girl...

my baking adventure continues...

2011-02-02T15:47:00.005-05:00

click to enlarge and pretend you can smell it!

Today I made my first Apple Gelette. Wow! Is this ever delicious...not as sweet as an apple pie. And because it cooked at a high heat, the bottom was crisp and flaky, not doughy. It was very easy, and made the whole house smell divine. It only uses one crust, not two, so less heavy too. All in all, this is one of my favorites so far in my new adventure called: "I want to learn how to bake".

A galette is a free form pastry. They can be savory or sweet. I am thinking that almond paste added to this would be really extraordinary.

If anyone would like the recipe, leave a comment and I'll email it to you.

another watercolor cookie painting

2011-02-01T00:35:00.003-05:00

I painted this last year for Valentine's Day. I enjoy painting in the realism style. This is a watercolor painted on 140# hot press paper. I am selling prints of this in my etsy shop for Valentine's Day.

Tomorrow more snow is coming and I am thinking of doing some baking since I will be house bound. What should I bake?

old journal page

2011-01-27T19:52:00.005-05:00

Histories of ages past

Unenlightened shadows cast

Down through all eternity

The crying of humanity.

'Tis then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man

Comes singing songs of love,

Then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man

Comes singing songs of love.

This is an old journal page I did a few years back, based on an old song that I loved when I was a kid- The Hurdy Gurdy Man by Donovan. (yes, I am old). I brought the scanned page into PS to alter it a bit. I 'defocused' parts so the center figure is now the focal point. That's the amazing thing about PS- you can make those kinds of changes on the fly. This page is about childhood behaviors of mine during a hard time in my life as a small child.

Art journaling class # 1 is complete

2011-01-25T00:02:00.003-05:00

click to enlarge

closeup that i liked

I've had great fun over at the Strathmore online visual journal workshop that was taught by Pam Carriker. Here are my final 3 spreads. The class was 4 weeks long and I really feel like a learned some great art journaling techniques. There is open enrollment, so head on over if you want to join! There are two more classes and both are free!

Week 1 we made collages of our own artwork using black and white photo copies. Week 2 we added color to the pages with oil pastels and paints. Week 3 we punched it all up and added depth. And this week, week 4, we added our journaling.

Valentine Sugar Cookie Painting

2011-01-23T22:09:00.005-05:00

I am selling prints of one of my sugar cookie paintings in time for Valentine's Day.

Give a sugar cookie to your Sweetheart! Click here to read more about the print, FREE US SHIPPING and how to purchase this sweet painting.

balmy weather, warm winds, sunshine...

2011-01-20T19:12:00.003-05:00

I am sooo over winter and it's only January 20th. I have been day dreaming about warm places with palm trees and swaying warm winds...ah well...one can dream....

I took this picture several years ago in South Carolina, on the way to Fripp Island. I think this is on Hunting State Island or St. Helena's Island. Anyway...it's warmer than here... and we are expecting 6-8" of snow over night....great....

Spring can't come soon enough. Dream on...

Frozen Charlotte altered image

2011-01-19T21:35:00.003-05:00

Using a free online photo image editing, I altered this photo to give the software a test run. Subtle little things, like blurring here and focusing here...vignette, sepia tone. How does photo shop compete with this? If I had to buy photo shop (my job purchased PS for me), I think I would opt for this program, as long as I was not doing print work- 4-color process or spot color on a printing press...then photo shop is the choice for sure. But for web and home printing--- this is a pretty amazing program! Check it out here.

journal pages from workshop

2011-01-18T00:54:00.002-05:00

progression of pages

layers, layers...its all about layers.

not sure about the circles.

this one is my favorite

I am have a lot of fun at the online Strathmore Journal Workshop. We are into week three now. Starting with black and white copies of our own artwork, we first laid it out. Then we added color. Next came layers. I really like this whole process! It's fun to re-work your own artwork into something new. Next week we add text - the actual journaling on the page.

Strathmore Visual Journal Workshop, week 2

2011-01-13T11:42:00.003-05:00

first week- collage using B&W photo copies of my artwork.

Week 2- COLOR! This week I tried using my Caran D'Ache neocolor wax crayons instead of oil pastels, like the first one. The color just wasn't what I wanted, so I added some color photo copies of my art work and of a dolls head. Better. I like the results of the oil pastels better...live and learn!

If you have never participated in an art online workshop, I encourage you to do so! Not only do I learn great new techniques, but I also make lots of connections with other mixed media types. Great fun! You can still sign up here for this one.

Pan Pastel painting of pears on a plate...

2011-01-11T12:13:00.005-05:00

I like that alliteration...a pan pastel painting of pears on a plate...
I am loving these Pan Pastels! This drawing was great fun for me. I love painting pears. Pears are sexy if you ask me. Somewhere I read that pears remind us of the human form.

Anyway...the pear on the left looked like a heart or a butt to me. I loved this pear, so I had to paint it before I ate it :)

I also learned that I need a darker pastel colors for my backgrounds and shadows as I just could not get mine dark enough. So I've ordered a black pan pastel to add to my darks.