Favorite Friday's

It's been a busy week, full of inspiration and fun moments. Seems like every time I turned around there was something new to discover or something old to see in a new way. A few of my favorites I share with you.


1) By far my favorite moment of the week was my son and I getting to meet Steven Cotler, author of the delightful children's book, 'Cheesie Mack is not a Genius or Anything' . Mr Cotler spent a few days in our town, meeting with the middle school kids and taping a segment of the town's Celebrity Readers program for our local access channel. My son's class spent one class period with him on Monday, which thrilled him to no end. On Tuesday we attended the show taping at the library and I had a chance to meet Mr Cotler. He is a really nice guy, easy to talk to and has lead quite the interesting life. He also had some very nice things to say about my boy which obviously made me like him even more!

2) Tuesday nights I usually take my art journal and go sit at this out of the way, hole in the wall bar called  Vincent's. From the location, a seedy part of Worcester, and the exterior you'd never guess what lurks inside. One of the funkiest, feel right at home places with the best acoustic music in town. This past Tuesday I was at my usual table (And yes. It IS mine. People move away from it when they see me walk in, art bag in hand.) listening to the acoustic duo of Scott Ricciuti (who happens to be a good friend) and John Donovan. Scott and John are two thirds of The Friday Farewells. The other third, Michael Thibodeau, was missing that night. They did some great classics by the Beatles and Who along with a bunch of originals. Between the atmosphere, the music and the eclectic photographs and various weird decorations (giant tarantula under glass anyone?) this is definitely an inspiring place for any artist.

3)  The art of Niki de Saint Phalle has always intrigued me. Especially her Tarot garden. It inspired me yet again this week when I stumbled upon her web site while looking for something else entirely. Alas, she passed in 2002 so no more unbelievable sculptural works in the future. But at least I have those from the past to continue to inspire and intrigue. If you aren't familiar with her work do check it out! It's amazing!!!

Journal Pages

   When I work in my journal, which is every single day, I don't necessarily work in order. I jump around from front to back, to middle to front and even from journal to journal. Whichever journal is handy when I feel like working is the one I grab. I also vary what type of journal work I'm doing on any particular day. Some days it's painting pages, others collage and then there are the days I just sit and journal page after page after page.  It may not sound like a method, but it's my method and it works for me.
  If you look through my journals you'll see there is no chronological order in them date wise. But you can pick out themes. Certain things show up in them over and over again.  Today's post showcases three pages that have a theme to them, whether it was intentional or not. Usually it's not. Whatever happens to fall out of my head while I am writing is what ends up on the page.  But by looking at the pages you can clearly see certain things are on my mind a lot.
  In the case of these pages what's on my mind is poverty. Every day I try to remember that 1.4 billion people live below the poverty level of $1.25 per day.  Which makes me ask myself, do I really need that cool, binding system I saw in a magazine? Or to go out to eat instead of cooking tonight? The answer is always no. How can I justify spending money when so many have so little? This keeps me humble, and thrifty and driven to do more. I may not have much money wise or even material wise compared to some. But Icertainly have a whole lot more than the 1.4 billion who have nothing. Think about that the next time you shell out $4 for a cup of coffee (which I refuse to do, ever!). Maybe you'll decide that $4 can be put to better use.

  

Mixed-Media Monday's

  I decided Monday's will be the day to share the mixed-media pieces I started over the past week. Or at least as many of them I can capture with my camera phone (note to self: MUST get new digital camera!)  I am really prolific when it comes to creating so it isn't unusual for me to have 20 or more pieces begun in a week's time. and I tend to leap around a lot, from working on substrate to altering objects, to working in paper mache to....  Well, you get the drift.  I'm convinced I have some sort of ADD that only artists have.


  I've been working on backgrounds for a series of paintings. The substrate size & type varies, but they share a color theme & subject matter. There was a chapter heading in an old book I was tearing text out of that caught my imagination (The good strange and the bad strange) so it's being used in each piece. Being quite strange myself, how could I possibly resist?

Favorite Friday's

  I've decided to showcase my favorite blogs, web sites, books, etc each Friday in what I'm calling Favorite Friday's. Each Friday I'll post the people, places, things and events that I found to be interesting, inspirational and note worthy during the past week.  I hope those of you who take the time to stop by and read my posts will find these things worth hearing about as well!  Feel free to leave a comment and let me know if you enjoyed my first Favorite Fridays post!


1) A blog I started reading this week Printmaking without a Press has given me much inspiration! Her work is full of color, texture and life.  The artist, Linda Germain, has some classes coming up on printmaking that I am hoping to attend. Just need to check the funds first and see if they, and my schedule, will allow me to go.  Do check her out even if you aren't a print maker. Her work is fabulous eye-candy!


2) Paris Daily Photo: I've been following this blog for a few years now. What can I say? I love Paris. Especially the patisseries and the Luxembourg Gardens, where you can hear the bells of Notre Dame ringing so sweet and clear while strolling past the amazing trees and original statue of Liberty. Amazing.

3) The Willard Clock Museum in North Grafton, MA is less than 10 minutes from my house. The grounds are peaceful, beautiful and a great place to sit with my art journal and let my thoughts flow. Inside is an amazing collection of early clocks. yes, clocks. They are created with attention to detail, outstanding craftsmanship that use to be standard in manufacturing anything and are a feast for the eyes. If you ever get out to Central Mass,this is a must see. In the meantime, peruse the web site! On a side note, my Mom use to work for descendants of the Willard family. they had an original Willard clock in their home. Mom says it was beautiful and the family was darned nice too!

4) I had to take my son to the doctor's yesterday. His pediatrician is located in what is called Med City. Inside there is the most beautiful atrium, with flowing waterfalls, sloped ramps for walking, bright light from the tinted glass ceilings and abundant windows, and plants (both real and fake, but decent fake ones) that give a gentle, relaxed atmosphere. We always take time to stroll around, throwing coins into the pools below the falls, either before or after his appointment.One of these days I'm going to take my art journal, grab a cup of Joe from the Dunkin Donuts and just sit, listening to the falls and let inspiration wash over me. As far as medical centers go, they built this one right.

Thanks Mom!

Sending this stamped & colored card off to my mom today. Inside I thanked her for putting up with me, The Problem Child, for so many years. Having a child who is exactly like me (Goddess help us!) has made me appreciate Mom that much more. How many of you out there have created a work of art,whether it be a card, a journal page, painting or mixed-media piece, to honor and thank the one who raised you? I'd love to see your works and read your thoughts on this!

New Books!

I've been wanting this book for ages, but have been cash poor. Lucky for me interweave just had a huge sale! Bagged this book for the bargain price of $13.77 and also got the new,  e~mag Collage in Color, which is FABULOUS! Love having eye~candy inspiration.  The video vault is simply great, and the articles are inspiring. Art at the Speed of Life offers loads of inspiration for organizing your creative time, project ideas, and lush color photos.  I especially like the ideas for organizing supplies, a never ending battle with my limited space, and keeping focused to produce more art.

Who out there has organizational tips they'd like to share? I'd love to hear how you manage to find time & space to create while juggling"real life" responsibilities.

Skull Block Print

I've been doing quite a bit of block printing recently. As usual, skulls end up being the main subject. On the left is my carved lino & on the right is one of the prints, done using multiple colors.  This is only the third lino block I've ever carved and I'm actually pretty thrilled with the results.  My all time favorite Art Mag, Cloth, Paper, Scissors is having a block print challenge right now. I think I'll send in one of these prints and see if it ends up gracing the pages of the magazine. Wish me luck!

A shout out to Raine  (aka: Glinda!) for the GREAT wicked Witch card she sent me last week.  Love you!!!  We MUST have an art play date soon!!!

Sugar Skull Completed

Finally finished the papier mache Sugar Skull I was working on. I love the Mexican folk art look of the piece! One of these days I'll make it to Oxana, Mexico for the Dia de los Muertos celebration. Until then I'll keep on making my own sugar skulls and skeletons. Actually, even after I go to Oxana I'll make my own. Somehow I just know making skulls and skeletons won't be something I'll ever give up!

This is a photo of it before being painted: unpainted

Skeleton Painting

Yet another skull has appeared in my art work. My hubby has taken to calling our home The Skull Factory because skulls & skeletons are absolutely everywhere!

Skeleton Bride & Groom

One of my latest creations here at The Skull Factory! Created by lopping off the heads of a cake topper & substituting skull heads, caulk, paint & webbing spray.  I'm creating a little shrine to house them and am also working on an entire mariachi band of skeletons.  In my world you can never have too many skulls and happy skeletons about...