Blog Archives

Dried Flowers

8/29/2021

My husband bought me a beautiful bouquet last week and every day, some of the flowers wilt so I'm taking them out of the vase and pressing them under some books, hoping to preserve them to enjoy over the coming winter.

I have no idea how to do this (I should probably search the internet!) but it seems to be working. I also sprayed them with matte medium to seal them.

I have no idea what I will do with these over the coming months but I always like having a stash of things to work with.

Fall is in the air here in Denver but the smoke from California continues to keep me indoors. As soon as it dissipates, I will take a walk around my nearby park and gather some leaves before the fall to the ground. I know I will need these shapes for some ideas I have of things I want to make in the next couple of months.

What are you collecting?

Art Drop Denver 2021

8/22/2021

I will be dropping 7 hand-made notebooks to celebrate Art Drop Day — Denver.

I've been participating in this day for many years and it always makes me happy to think of people finding my art and realizing it is theirs for FREE.

If you read this blog, you will get a heads up on where and when I will be leaving these beauties. I will drop all 7 in different places in Cheesman Park on Tuesday, September 7th, between 10 and 10:30am.

This event will take place all over the world and artists share their art with strangers on the first Tuesday of every September.

Hope you can snag one!

Inside a Chunky Book

8/14/2021

Yes, I'm still engrossed in making chunky books. I think it's because each page gives me the ability to hone my color and composition skills. Each page is a little work of art.

And, because each page has a different background (solid, patterned, or photos), each page presents a different opportunity for layering and creating.

Because I only showed you the cover two weeks ago, I thought you might enjoy seeing a 2 page spread of the book I'm currently working on.

Enjoy!

Layered Pages

8/8/2021

I love this process.

I learned this from Robyn McClendon. I've been viewing her weekly class this year.

The first layer is random marks with a brush and black waterproof ink. The second is applying gesso through a stencil. and the third is painting over the surface with acrylic paint.

The gesso resists the acrylic paint and gives it the papers wonderful depth.

Tried it with watercolors today and the gesso absorbed the paint -- so not a great result.

I'm using these papers in my artist books and love the result. Will be making more!