Learning lots

Most of my coasters lately have some of the type showing through, and my paint application is getting looser. Not better, just different.

The numbers are from a kit I got when I got married. You were supposed to stick them on gifts to keep track of them! Mind you this was 39 years ago and I kept them all that time!

How did I know to save this stuff? 

My theory is that my "stuff" was saved to track my life and to reconcile the disparate parts in the only way I know how, through art. I wonder Dean, if music is the same for you?

Cardboard Family

It's 5:55 am and I'm catching up. I've cleaned the pantry, flea combed the dog, and cleaned out a couple drawers. Not sleeping well? Yep.

I feel like I'm learning in leaps and bounds. 

Here are a few things I'm finding out:

1. YouTube has great instructional videos. I'm currently watching those on printmaking, trying to re-orient myself to the processes.

2. I make the same mistakes over and over in my big paintings. I may be beginning to "get it".

3. I love the color of cardboard. Can I translate that into a painting?

Now I'm starting to yawn, going to go back to bed. Everyone have a good weekend. I'm going to see the last Twilight movie with my BFF.

Trying something old to get started...

I've been wanting to start printmaking again, but feel like I don't know how. It's been a couple years since I worked with the press.

 

We saw the art exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum, all women's work. 

There was one piece that was pages from a notebook, all simple drawings. 

 

This is probably the easiest way to make a print.... ink up the plate, put a piece of paper face down on the inked surface and draw. When you peel off the paper the lines show and a bunch of misc. ink also.

 

I like her  a lot. 

Did I mention I printed these on some old stationary and pages of a learn shorthand notebook?

Alice, you still there?

Linda? you too? 

I miss you both.

Now I am Sixty!

I went on a little trip with Ginger for my 60th birthday and we had such a good time!

Three nights in Portland and then 2 nights in Seattle.

It was rainy and dark early and very wintery, but all the lights in the city were beautiful.

 

We went to Powell's twice. I love wandering around on all the different floors.

These globes were made from recycled paper and looked great.

 

There is something so inspiring seeing what creative people make.

This tree was made of paint by number strips, and decorated with little paint by number paintings. 

Portland is full of wonderful shops where everything is handmade.

And then we got to Seattle and had such a great time with Kristin and Tom and Cathie and David and Scott. David surprised me with the most delicious caramels I had ever eaten. 

We saw the show at the Seattle Art Museum, and ate YUMMY food.

 Then on the way home we stopped in Portland and went to Crafty Wonderland which was full of zillions of booths of handmade things and amazing artists.

I got to meet a friend Michele Maule face to face. We had only corresponded via our blogs and Etsy. It was so amazing.

 

So, I got very inspired which is a great 60th birthday present!

yes...

My friend Susan gave me her mother's high school annual. I cannot cut it up. It is a treasure of images and ideas. I love this woman and imagine her in many ways... with her companion and under scrutiny in case she was "different". 

Happy Monday.

Having Fun, pretty much...

I'm experimenting with a combo of magazine faces, then collage, then drawing with ink, and then paint. It's really fun. And I'm working on cardboard so it's not precious. It's about process.

My latest self-deprecating voice is now telling me that I am working too slowly, that I have had the studio for 7 months now and I haven't gotten enough done. I am rolling my eyes because I just got rid of the "who do you think you are" voice and now a new one clamors for my attention. Believing in oneself and self confidence is an ongoing project. 

Hope everyone is well and happy!

I'm in this show at the Jacobs gallery!

Please come to the opening: Friday, Nov. 30th at the Jacobs Gallery. It would be great to see you. 

My painting in the above card is in the third row, second from the right, the man holding his hat. I made 12 small paintings for this show.

It's nice to be in a show...