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When I started learning to use watercolor as a medium, I was totally intimidated by facing a blank white page. I quickly realized that I needed to be able to "draw" before I could "paint".

Looking back at my early paintings, I saw that my perspective was off, my colors were muddy, and while some of my efforts were OK, many should be thrown into the trash. (Which I did!)

But I love using watercolor. So what to do?

First, I realized I am an abstract artist, not a realist artist. That relieved me of having to master drawing before painting. What I loved about watercolor was the mixing of paints and the intuitive application of color.

But then, there was that blank white paper to deal with.

To solve that problem, I began using pre-printed card stock as my substrate. It didn't matter the design since I would be altering the surface with my own hand and the original design would never be shown.

Here are several small works of art made this way. And I love them. They were fun to make because there was no pressure. So I encourage all of you to spend a couple of hours creating this way to see what you can make.

Here's how I did this: I found some pre-printed card stock and cut it into the shape and size I wanted. I randomly applied gesso to the surface, not covering everything, and let it dry. Then I painted over the whole surface with water color. I added some gold watercolor just because.

More importantly, I had a wonderful creative day!

Collaging has always been a challenge for me but I recently created an artist book that used many of the photographs I've taken over the years of textures in nature.
I loved the finished pages and then, took photos of each collaged page and used these to collage into a new artist book.
As you can tell, this process is infinite.
And all mine.
Think about how you can repurpose your own art into new expressions.

I've always had a hard time making an art journal. Mostly because my mind is always thinking of new ideas. But it is 2021 and I am going to try again.
Here is one of the pages I made this week. Using CitraSolv on National Geographic pages and then embossing over them, I liked the result!

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Needle Book

1/3/2021

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I spent a couple of days making an old-fashioned needle book. I had a lot of fun combining decorative stitches, lace, canvas, fabrics, fleece, charms, and of course needles and pins! So satisfying!

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New Obsession

12/28/2020

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My mother, grandmother and great-grandmother were all knitters.

I took up knitting when I was 9 or 10, wanting to knit a sweater for my mother. I chose pink mohair yarn. You can imagine how that went!

Got back into knitting when I was 20, knitting an Irish fisherman's sweater for my boyfriend. As soon as I finished it (took 2 years!) we broke up. Haven't knitted since then.

Then, my beloved sister-in-law decided to start a new company -- knitting hats. 401 Handknits
https://www.401handknits.com/

She was receiving tons of orders for her hats so I thought I might be of some help!

I asked her to send me a pattern, bought some yarn and needles and started knitting again. Here's my first hat in process. I'm loving the feeling of holding the yarn and multi-tasking when watching the news. BUT, following a pattern is so different from how I make art these days.

So, my first attempt at hat-making is full of mistakes. But I don't really care. As I always say, it's about the process, not the outcome.

But my sister-in-law would certainly not agree. My initial idea of making hats for her to sell on her website isn't viable but I'm REALLY enjoying knitting again. Wonder what I will do with all the mistake-filled hats I will make. Probably donate them to charity.

New Year's Resolutions are coming up. Instead of focusing on exercising more, losing weight, etc., think about taking up a new adventure. Like knitting!

Happy New Year!

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Small Weights

12/17/2020

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When working with collages or books, you often need to weight down papers. I have 4 bricks, covered with paper that I've been using for years but I needed some smaller weights for a project I'm working on.

I tried to find exactly what I wanted on a variety of websites, but was unsuccessful. So, I decided to make my own.

I needed something heavy and ended up buying some metal slingshot balls. They were perfect! I decided to insert two flexible cardboard sheets measuring 4" x 3.5" before filling the pillow just to make sure no "dimples" appeared because of using the balls.

So, here is my pattern: 2 pieces of canvas, cut 5.5" x 5". 500 3/8" slingshot balls (divided into two piles). Sew around the edges, leaving and opening to insert the cardboard & balls. Close up with machine stitching.

Here's a link to the slingshot balls I purchased
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PPW5H1D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

As an aside, I always wonder who Amazon thinks I am. I buy baby wipes to remove make-up and ink from my Gelli plate, (I have no children), rust protection for guns to use to lubricate an outside metal table (I don't own a gun) and now slingshot balls for making weights (I don't own a slingshot, nor would I know how to aim one!)

This makes me happy. I like having a complicated algorithm!

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Butcher Paper

12/12/2020

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I found a new substrate that i LOVE! Butcher paper.

I have always been frustrated with standard paper sizes because I want to use longer, wider sizes than are available. I have now found my go-to paper. Butcher paper!

It comes in rolls and is 17" wide and very economical. It has no coating and is strong. Perfect for my printing using acrylic ink on a gel plate. It doesn't rip or stick to the plate.

Here is my first effort creating a background for some Elizabeth's stencils I purchased from Joggles. Watch this photo if you want to know how I was inspired.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6IZHfmJBEA&t=1211s

My process is obviously different from Elizabeth's but I loved her introducing me to butcher paper!

Here's where I got mine.....(No, I'm not an affiliate -- just sharing what works for me. Actually, I would just go to your local butcher store and ask for a few yards to play with!)

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V3MSH2J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Tis the Season.....

12/6/2020

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The view from my balcony every December is spectacular. That's because I live next to the Denver Botanic Gardens and they put on an outdoor light exhibit called "Blossoms of Light" every year.

One of the reasons I love it is because they use every color of the color wheel. I find restricting my palette to analogous colors so boring. Even though it's a sure-fire way to create something pleasing to the eye, I prefer to surprise myself by combining colors that are not supposed to go together. Sometimes, I make "mud" but mostly, my non-traditional combos make me smile.

The experience of walking through tall trees of light versus seeing them from 12 stories above, are totally different experiences. Both are worth seeing and reminds ourselves that different points of view are valuable. I'm hopeful that 2021 will start creating opportunities where different points of view will lead to discussions, not divisiveness.

After 8 months of "staying at home" I too, am exhausted. But perhaps we should all feel hopeful that we can return to a normal life, once we all get the coming vaccine.

Be well. Stay healthy. And wear your mask!

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Entering an Exhibition

11/28/2020

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Over the past 12 years, I have entered more than 100 exhibit opportunities. I got into about 50% of them as a fiber artist and loved seeing my work out there.
Now, having changed my medium to mixed media and book arts several years ago, I have just entered my first competition to be included in Pandemonium — an exhibition being managed and judged by Alicia Bailey, a well-known book artist here in Colorado.
I don't know if I will be accepted but if not, I will continue to look for opportunities to have my book art displayed in other exhibits.
Exhibiting my fiber art led to many exciting opportunities and it took several years to "get noticed". I think this will be the same for me in this new medium so I will have patience and know that working hard always brings results!
Meanwhile, I just love making books and journals, in lots of different formats. For me, it's about the process, not the end result!

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Thanksgiving 2020

11/22/2020

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Every thanksgiving, I think about my grandparents who owned a turkey farm in Hanover, NH. My family spent many years at the farm and I actually worked in the "factory" preparing the birds for packaging and distribution.
They were "gentleman" farmers and donated all of their profits to Dartmouth College.
I remember as a young child, visiting the turkey cages and yelling "gobble, gobble, gobble" and having them gobble me back.
2020 is a totally different Thanksgiving year. My husband and I will celebrate together in our apartment. No need to feed 30 people that was our family tradition. We will be sharing a turkey and all the sides with neighbors instead. And that feels good.
We are planning on zooming with our family on the East coast and in Dallas.
We are looking forward to 2021 when, perhaps, we will have tamed this virus and can once again smile at one another.
I wish you all a safe and healthy Thanksgiving.

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