I am so lucky...

It isn't everyone in the world who loses a great job and then gets it back again years later... My great job was working in a small hospital with really ethical, compassionate, and fun folks. We lost our funding and closed and life was sad and hard work wise for a few years. But then!!! all my friends from my old job ended up at my new job and well, it's great. Great because no matter how hard I work I'm surrounded by people who love working together. 

And then there are these photos. This is the all girl group, the Exquisettes headed up by none other than our fearless leader D. They preformed last weekend to rave reviews at D.'s annual party. 

It was a fine moment to sit in the grass, watch the performance and think that life is very good to have provided such friends who know how to laugh and be silly and have a good time. And I have the pleasure of working with a bunch of them! How lucky is that... really lucky...

wow... 100 posts

wow... can't believe i have written 100 posts! K. didn't you tell me about some site where you could get your blog made into a book? it sounds kinda fun. Then i could really get my self-indulgency out there. (as if that were a word). 

Red Houses or Insects? You choose...

I wanted to post a photo of my second print from class. I'm mostly pleased with the outcome. I didn't get to attend class yesterday because the state surveyors finally came to my job. Tomorrow, I can't wait to see how the photoemulsion works!

Yikes! It's raining! and I just watered the shrubs... yawn, off to bed, long day tomorrow...

Adopt Me...

Yesterday Monty and I went to the annual Greyhound Picnic and had a super time! Greyhound Pets of America, Northwest is an amazing organization. Not only did we get Monty, the angel dog from them, but connection and friendship with some wonderful people. Along with lots of hounds and their families were 5 ready to adopt greyhounds. This wonderful fellow looks a lot like Monty.

Here is Argus, who is a buddy of Monty's. I call them the bachelor boys as they just kinda hang out together. Argus was sharing his bed with Monty who after about 2 hours of social activity with humans and dogs was pooped out!

And here is Ms. W. in the adoptee pen with the sweetest little girl who was in heaven having her belly rubbed. 

I call myself a greyhound geek with pride... If you like dogs at all, you'd love this event where 20 plus dogs all hang out together with no snarling or growling. (There was a bit of amor though... Monty was quite smitten by a little grey girl hound). The dogs all greet each other like old friends. It's the most amazing thing. And it's really fun to visit with folks because they are all greyhound geeks too!

The cards went over well, sold quite a few and GPA will take the rest and sell them at the rest of their events this summer. 

I went home laid down for an hour and then picked up G. and we went to my friend's annual party at her house in the country. More photos soon on the next post! Today is a quiet Sunday and I'm glad, I'm pretty pooped out from all the partying!

Greyhound Cards!

Tonight L. and I finished making 40 greyhound cards for the benefit picnic this Saturday. GPA (Greyhound Pets of America) Northwest is an organization made up of wonderful volunteers who work very hard to find homes for ex-racer, angel dogs like our Monty. 

J's relief prints of Monty!

My friend L. is a superb artista. I swear her relief print of Monty captures him exactly.

Monty in party hats and flowers.

L.'s watercolored and wildly dressed hounds.

It has been a long and tiring week. The survey folks never showed up at my job. I hope they will come next week as all of us have to keep the place spotless in anticipation of their visit. Everyone has been on edge and worn out. In other ways it's been a great week. I'm liking my silkscreen print I'm making, it's almost done.

Making these cards was such an antidote for all that ails me. L and I laughed a lot, and totally enjoyed "dressing the dogs". We talked about how the process of making things is often more rewarding than the actual product you end up with. 

If there are any of these cards any of you like we are selling them for 4 dollars each (all to benefit GPA). Let me know which one you want and I'll save it for you. 

Thank you L. and G. for all the help with this project!

Our Class Progresses!

I share a table with S. who has a great smile and fed us dried strawberries today. 

Here is T. putting the second color on her print. Blue, then a great tan color.

Yummy pale yellow ink.

My screen full of red ink. 

My print so far. Are they ants? Rockets? Cockroaches? No, just little houses with long legs. These are the first three colors, more to follow.

Today, still no survey team from the state. Tomorrow? Hopefully I'll get to go to class and put another color on. Tomorrow night L. and I are going to work on the greyhound cards. Fun!

Beautiful Silkscreen Prints from Etsy

I bought these prints from Sophia the artist who's Etsy shop is named Icebear. (www.icebear.etsy.com). I love her work. It's delicate and thoughtful and tells a story. They  are beautifully printed. I love spending my allowance for art.

Today, the state surveyors didn't come to my job so I got to go to my silkscreen class. I had a great time and took lots of photos. My work does not seem delicate, or have fine lines at all. I have to find out how Sophia did this. Silkscreen has grabbed my interest. Last night I had fun watching "how to silkscreen" videos on U-tube. More soon, photos asap.

The Weekend

This photo was taken in A's beautiful garden... I don't know how anyone manages to work 5 days a week and only have a Saturday and Sunday to do all the important things in life. I know the answer to the 5 day work week: not much art, and no staying up til midnight surfing the art internet and listening to music videos! I get so wound up with too much work. Everything gets so small and so personal, and I forget the bigger world. I forget that there are wonderful things to see and do. Hopefully, after our hospital moves August 10th G. and I can have a taste of the bigger world with a few trips... to Portland and ???

So, today we went out for coffee and then began the last big hurdle of our move: cleaning and organizing the garage. Ugh! We made a big dent, but again, it's really the letting go and getting rid of routine that has to happen. I took a biggie nap in the afternoon, and then we were back at it in the cool of evening. More tomorrow. Clean, sort, toss. 

Mange?!?

Not sure if you can see the result of my first attempt to use the clippers on Simon. Bichons are dogs that must be groomed. Their poodle hairdos grow and grow and grow and poor Simon's had become unmanageable. G and I were reluctant to take him to the groomers because of our last experience his neck strain and the resulting zillion dollar vet bill. 

So, ok we can do this! Right? Well, while G was doing a great job with the scissors on his little face I set in with the clippers and managed to shave him bald in various places. oops! Wow, those clippers are fast. It's really fun though, and I can't wait to try again. Not sure if I can talk G. into it. At least Simon is a lot cooler and hair does grow back.

I'm working too much because the new hospital is getting ready to open. I'm making greyhound cards that are homemade art pieces for the greyhound benefit, so if you want one let me know! G is upstairs napping, I'm watering our beautiful shrub bed and all is going pretty well. 

Silkscreen Class!

Our second assignment in my silkscreen class started with picking a word from the zip-lock bag the teacher passed among the students. My word was "game". Once we had our word we did an exercise where we wrote all the words associated with the given word, and then from these words, words associated with them and on and on resulting in the map-like diagram above. Why? Idea generation. I just liked making all the word connections and putting it in my book and making parts of it in color. My new print is made up of 9 "tiles" like in a game of dominoes. Pattern and multiples. Now if I can only get it to register!

My class is great. The teacher is good, good people, and I like the process a lot. More photos soon. 

Making Greyhound Art

It was good that Kristin gave me a talking to because of course all I needed was to get started on my project and then it all just started evolving.  L came over and we sat outside (hot) and drew pictures of Monty. Here he is posing for me. 

Then we transferred our pictures to soft-cut blocks and carved out these likenesses of Mr. Montero. L's is the view of Monty's head. She totally captured his "look". We inked up the blocks in some nice water-based ink and made some fun proofs on this sheet of glittery, pink, flower paper. This week I'll print a bunch and then we'll make lots and lots of cards, embellished with who knows what? 

It was really fun to do this project with L. This is my simple image. Viewed from some angles Monty looks more like a sheep than a greyhound. But I like it and it makes me want to do more. Tomorrow is my silkscreen class, can't wait to get started again with a new print. 

Boring Blog?

Hmmnnn, I fear my blog has become boring. Not enough art, thought, ideas and too many family photos? I do like this photo of A's mayo jar. The little blob on the rim adds interest to an otherwise serene scene...

Ok, art process. I fall apart when there is an art "request" made of me. Some people seem to work best when an idea presents itself and that idea generates the work. It starts out in the head and struggles to manifest itself in two or three dimensions.

I, work better with a set of "rules" like my dice rolling project where the action was determined randomly. Then the content slowly revealed, (or didn't) reveal itself. So when the dice said use an ink wash to make a mark I gleefully do just that. No idea here, no content just yet. 

I have been asked to make some "art" for the greyhound benefit in two weeks. EEKK! I have no idea... L is coming to help me tomorrow. We are going to make cards, thank heaven for this assist.

Does anyone relate to this? Do you make art from the inside out or the outside in?

Do you know what you are doing before you start or do you start not having a clue?

I have a feeling it all leads to the same place, but how?

Please advise as Della is on vacation and can't help right now.

Waiting for the Parade

My wonderful K. and T. with Jasper waiting for the parade

Here we are in Yachats last weekend watching the La De Dah Parade. It is a parade with no entry fees, and no sign ups. The locals gather at the community center and entertain us all with their homemade floats, umbrella drill team, and kids and parents. 

It's Friday night here in Eugene. I have vowed to have alone time all weekend while G. is at work during the day. I want to work in the yard, and make some art for the Greyhound picnic benefit. I want to rest and read and get my voice back which has almost disappeared after teaching 6 hours yesterday. I want to make some scones and get all ready for my silkscreen class on Monday. 

Hope everyone is planning a satisfying weekend.

More Yachats on the 4th of July

Everything is a benefit at the La De Dah Parade. Here are the ladies selling raffle tix for the Humane Society. 

Dogs abound. That's Simon on the left with two new Bichon buddies. 

I can't seem to get much to download onto my blog. I have a lot of great photos, but was only able to get these two onto the post. It's ok... I did a lot of watering and pruning in the cool of the evening waiting for the computer to work. 

I'm really tired from work. Can't wait to sleep a long time this nice balmy night. 

Costal Pleasures

Fourth of July in Yachats, Oregon is a lot of fun. After watching the La Dee Dah parade and eating barbeque sandwiches with blueberry BBQ sauce we retired to the deli to eat pie and watch the waves roll in. This was the best chocolate pie ever... yum. 

And of course there was shopping at the ever dusty, junky, antique mall. Despite how I say I don't like to go in there I usually find something that catches my fancy. This time it was this nice plastic pear. She is quite the cheerful addition to my studio shelf. 

More soon on a great weekend with K. and T. It was so fun...

Blue ink today...

We are printing in mostly primary colors, no mixing... My print is on top and who knows where it's going... right now it looks like a strange dog who encountered space creatures. Plus, I am COVERED with blue ink. This is by far the messiest printmaking I have done. Today I had enough sense to bring old clothes to change into! T's print is looking great, white ink layered over blue.

Our teacher and T. chatting about silkscreen technique.

And... here is the best part! Adjacent to our classroom is the aviation lab where they teach mechanics and plane flying. No one is there in the summer and I wandered in to use the restroom and here is this United jet model hanging from the ceiling. It's about 15 feet long and full of little fake people and the sides are open as if there was some scary air disaster mid flight. 

This class is a stretch. It's hard to get up so early, work in the am and then leave at noon, run to the bus and have class all afternoon. T. has been wonderful, giving me a ride after class to my car. But, it's totally worth it and really fun to do this. I love finally learning this. I could do this at home, but maybe in the backyard, way too inky, messy for the studio.

Tomorrow we are off to the coast for the 4th to meet up with K. and T. Almost their one year anniversary of getting married at the beach house. 

Grass

Monty lies in the grass and groans with pleasure. Simon patrols the yard and barks at anyone that walks by. This is dog bliss. My summer happiness has to do with watching the plants in the yard grow, watering them and weeding. Tending, I like to tend. The grass pollen has gotten better and I can spend more time outside. These are the outside doors to my studio, so even when I'm inside I look out at all that green.

It has been a way too busy time though, mostly because of work. My days are full because i am determined to attend my silkscreen class. Much teaching and much doing. 

I need to figure out what art I'm going to make for the greyhound picnic. It's important. The greyhound association really needs the help this year. 

I hope you are lying in the grass all you can.