One project finished this morning.

This is a tote bag, the "Taxi Tote" in Anna Maria Horner's book, "Seams to Me". I really like how it turned out!
I will be teaching this tote bag next month at the shop where I work.

Next, we have a chair just purchased from a local flea market...wooden but with all finish removed by the weather and it has a bit of rust. I will clean it up and turn it into "art". I will paint it to be in a silent auction for a local charity, "Life Styles". The silent auction is called "A Chair Affair". [see a gallery of chairs here]

I haven't determined what kind of chair....first turquoise paint will cover everything, then we'll see....

The light of a new day comes softly through the window. How will you use this beautiful day?

[Thank you, Gemma, for this rosy pink page in my round robin altered book!]

A bike ride for a great cause....

My brother has taken up bike riding in the last few years. It has become something he really enjoys and pursues!

There is a special ride coming up which will raise money for MS research. The ride is scheduled for September 6th, 2008 at Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas.

I think my brother has already met his goal but all donations will go toward making life better for those with multiple sclerosis, so more money is indeed better! (You can make a dontation on the secure page from the link at "goal".)

*********************************************************

I am a "Sunday painter" today......

Recent sales of my paintings on ETSY and a local gallery have encouraged me to paint some more today. These two watercolors will be for sale soon on ETSY.

Another altered book page..."A FEW GOOD MEN"

As I cut and paste, I look for mostly feminine images...so a lot of these were in the reject or "backside of the clipping". I can identify Hugh Jackman, St. John, Gregory Peck (I confess to adding him on purpose), and a greenman? Seems to me that most of the art and artists I see on blogs is very "girly" and men deserve a bit of time too!

....I left some of the original book text showing...it says, "Bless his heart"....and old saying which basically means they just can't help how they are!

I'm still making altered book pages....





I have learned about some new authors and new blogs while doing "cut and paste" from a pile of last year's magazines!




One author is Ann Hood whose novel, "The Knitting Circle" has just come out in paperback. Read her blog here.


Another of my most beloved authors is Phillip Gulley. A Quaker minister who writes with such peaceful humor, often about the fictional town of Harmony, Indiana. [He has been called the Garrison Keillor of Indiana, I'm not sure I agree, but you get the idea!] His blog about his real life is delightful!




Today is also the day that Oprah begins the new book club book, Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
I decided to jump in and do it along with the on-line club. (Though I resist being involved in anything as "mainstream" as Oprah....like I'm not "mainstream"???? myself?)


I think this book says things I already knew, but I am enjoying it. I like how he explains that we are drawn to the beauty of a flower or a bird because they represent the ethereal or luminescent. Also the innocence of any newborn as they still have the "aura" (my word not his) of having been so recently with the Creator!
[This has made me be less hard on myself for often choosing birds and flowers to include in my artwork...I was afraid it was getting into a trite rut or something.....]

I hope you are all reading something wonderful and uplifting....and maybe something that makes you laugh too!

It's Sunday morning, time to post another painting featuring windows!

This one, "Flowers on the Windowsill" is by Swedish artist, Carl Larsson. He was a contemporary of the Impressionists. His wife Karin was also an artist. They created a lovely home for their family with lots of light and decorative elements. Tourists can still visit the home today in Sundborn, Sweden.

I like the light ,clean, fresh look of his interiors, usually with the family doing domestic tasks. In this watercolor, the knitting lying on the table and child watering flowers help us to appreciate and celebrate the beauty of the "ordinary" day.

Hoping each of you has a beautiful, if "ordinary", day!

On Daisy Lupin's blog, yesterday, was a picture of this painting by Van Gogh. One I don't remember seeing before!

I had to "save" it to spend some time looking at it...so much blue, including indigo, a dull olive green and the large amount of blues (which recede visually) being balanced by the soft buttery yellow daisies. A very soothing painting! (What would be lost if the dark blue/black anemone were not in the bouquet?

I think it serves to sort of "ground" the fluffy lilacs and is definitely a focal point, leading us into the painting.)

Speaking of art....I just played around and posted a video montage of my paintings from last summer here!

Take a peek!

An original sketch from my last post.....

can this become a painting?




My painting process.... very intuitive....the sketch is a general idea.

I have a rich blue background painted with acrylic on canvas (16X 20).

Now to sketch/paint with more acrylics and brushes. I make the tree on the right,which will have apples, and some further away, wispy trees on the left with the sun/moon, whichever...inthe upper left........

the women are vaguely indicated at this point....and the chicken too...



I begin to develope the tree..shapelier branches and leaves appear now! grass and foliage are springing up around their feet, the women's shapes are filling in...

As I paint, I try to stay loose and move over the entire canvas...not become hung up on any one area....

Using acrylics on canvas is very different from the free "go with the flow" approach I have for watercolor. The texture of the canvas makes it difficult for me to make smooth outline edges on the shapes in my painting...I'll need patience, and a small fine brush loaded with paint.

I think this series of decorative, illustration-like paintings is similar to art seen in some children's picture books...it is a new style for me and I'm not at all sure where I am going with it....I'll paint and post more tomorrow....at least I got some apples on the tree today!

"Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird..."


I made it out of the house this evening to attend an Artist's Reception! (one of my favorite things to do)

[Reception for Alice Lynn Greenwood at 6 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall Gallery, 224 N. East Ave. in Fayetteville.]
Greenwood, paints with gouache, which gives deep, rich color to her work....her art is like a journal into a spiritual quest..(I guess most real artists do that, intentionally or not...think of Frida Kahlo!)

There were many pieces to enjoy...one about St. Brigid's cross...which of course goes back to legends about a Celtic goddess! Totem animals, and symbolism from women's spirituality show up often. In addition to paintings, there were some collage pieces and wonderful "altars". These were not just rectangular shadow boxes, but some had interesting animal shapes...The Whale Rider ....
She also does commissioned portraits of people and their beloved pets....the art show is called, "All Creatures Great and Small".
I bought this small framed print of the blackbird with a broken heart in it's beak. "Sacre Couer" (Sacred Heart) by Alice Lynn, 2001.


On the way home just now, I spotted a blackbird coming towards me across a lawn! Wow!

I know I bought the right piece for me!


Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the world
----old hymn (Cat Stevens made it very popular!)

Animal Allies


(taken from "By Oak, Ash, & Thorn" by D.J. Conway)

Nearly all shamanic cultures believe in Animal Allies or helpers. These creatures have the appearance and many of the characteristics and behaviour patterns of ordinary animals, birds, and fish, but they can communicate with the shaman. Sometimes these animals become protectors and guides for the shaman, both while she/he is journeying in the Otherworlds and in the physical realm.

The Celts believed in individual Animal Allies or helpers, as shown by their legends, but they also had clan animals. Many of the Celtic clan names reflected this. Among the Native Americans these would be called totem animals. The Celtic clans had banners on which were displayed the picture or symbol of their clan animal, as with the banners of the Fianna. Individual devices were painted on shields and sometimes tattooed on the body. This may well be the origin of the heraldic devices that became so popular in later times.

Clan animals, like the individual Animal Allies, choose you; you do not choose them. The ancient shamanic way of finding an Animal Ally was to go on a journey to the Otherworld. There, the shaman watched it carefully; when she/he saw an animal, bird, fish, or other creature three or more times during the journey, the shaman knew she/he had been accepted by that creature. Although a shaman usually has one very important Animal Ally who is a close companion and protector during journeying, it is common to have several others who help with certain kinds of problems.


Blackbird (Druid-dhubh, Lon Dubh): Legend says that the birds of Rhiannon are three blackbirds, which sit and sing in the World Tree of the Otherworlds. Their singing puts the listener in to a sleep or trance which enables her/him to go to the Otherworlds. It was said to impart mystic secrets.

Look what just came in the mail!!!!

A surprise from Robyn in New South Wales....with beads, lace and vintage fabric. Charming! She is ready to be hung in my studio.