Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all the wonderful people in blog land!! Yes, I had time to post today because we don't live around any family, so we didn't have to be at 2-3 places at once. It's just me the hubby and the kids. It was a very nice Christmas day, except for being stirred from a deep sleep about 2am this morning from a very excited kid! Needless to say, she never really went back to sleep and is running on empty as I'm posting this. She actually ran out of gas a few hours ago, but is fighting to stay awake. I remember those days soooooooooooo many years ago! The were fun back then when you didn't need as much rest as you do when you get much older. It's amazing and tiring to see Christmas through your childrens eyes!

Anyway, a friend of ours called early this afternoon and asked us to take a look outside on the front porch. I had a sneaky feeling what he had waiting for us. Well, we went and took a peak and found this Santa cookie jar sitting at our door step. Filled with homemade sugar cookies and this sign.
This Santa cookie jar has over ten years of wandering between our households looking for a home. Every year we keep filling it up with cookies and sending it back to them and they in turn send it back to us(no one likes the jar!). Last year we thought he was gone forever because he hadn't made an appearance, but here he stands again! It's been a long time running joke between our families.  It's really turning kind of weird because this friends wife is actually starting to like the jar and so I have to alter him in some way to make him unappealing. No one wanted him for years and now she has a crush on him! When I'm done with him, she just might change her mind. Don't worry! It will be a subtle change!

This doll was created for the recycled materials doll challenge on the Art Doll Only Group that I belong to. The body is made from an metal spice container and the dangling piece is a vintage door knob to a dresser drawer.

Last Art Show of the Season

Eiteljorg Museum In Indianapolis, IN

This is the last show of the year and I'm glad because I seem to have less and less energy and enthusiasm for some of these shows. The attendence was low because some type of basketball playoff going on the same day, so people were at pre-game parties and tailgating parties all afternoon. I should have packed it up and crashed one of those parties.

I did have a few sales and meet some really wonderful people. Let me tell you that it is a small world! I meet a couple at the this art show in Indianapolis, who live not to far from me in the greater Cincinnati area. They just happened to stop in at the museum to kill some time before the woman was flying out to visit some friends in New Mexico. Come to find out that she knows quite a bit about the small town I came from in New Mexico. At one time they were looking to purchase a house there, but decided against it. It was really cool!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I can't believe it is almost December!! The Fall months are just crazy in regards to my kids school. Soooo much homework, 3 Holidays, Science Project, studying for tests, dealing with Etsy, Flickr, and the rest kind of takes the back seat. Hence, my absence from the blog. I haven't learn to balance the new things(my job) in my life yet. Somehow I do make time to create. I mean pockets of time! It'd funny because I actually take pieces I've been working on and hang them up in my work area.

The guys are oblivious to their presence. See, I'm adapting!! Anyway, things are good and I'm where I'm suppose to be in life, so I try to embrace it and move forward.

Just wanted to remind folks that I will be at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, Dec. 3 from 10am-5pm. It is called Winter Market and I think this is my 3rd year of attending. I really love being in the museum setting! This year I will take pictures and post them here.

This is Tulip and she is one of several I having been creating with a board as a background. There is just something about it that is not quite right. It doesn't sit very well with me and I don't know why.

Oh well! I just will keep marching forward and try to work it out some how!

I hope you all have a very wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!!!

Rona and The Mourning Madonna

Rona

Okay, so I haven't been keeping to my word about blogging more frequently, but I have been working on stuff. I had taken a doll making class several years ago and only made one doll in class and that was it. I finally stopped procrastinating and made another doll last week. I was happy with her outcome! I tweaked the original design to fit my needs! I hate stuffing, so instead of stuffing her from head to toe,  I stuffed her from head to below the waist line. You can look up her dress and see that she has no legs.

The head is done with clay and the arms are very long and light aluminum nails used on gutters.

The dress is composed of scrap fabrics, lace, silk and paper. I played around with free motion stitching.

Madonna in Mourning

This is a pencil drawing I finished several months ago. This is an example of the type of art work I use to do many, many years ago until I burned out and moved on.

 Lately, it has been nice to revisit and see if I still had the knack for doing it. I think the spark has been rekindled a little bit by the inspring work of artist on Flickr that I come across. I can see a lot of potential for expanding and stretching beyond the comfort zone with this.

I am still working with the pine needles and hopefully will have some art dolls posted soon.   

Completed Pine Needle Art Doll

"Trudi"

Finally settled on a face for this doll. Pine needles are really great to work with, although they will tickle and prick you at the same time. I went a little over board and bought more needles that have been dyed. The colors are soooo beautiful!!  The shop owner of artgalstudio recommended soaking them first to get them to bend.  I haven't tried that yet because I'm content with experimenting with them dry. I've thought of applying hot bees wax on them to see how they look and how well they hold up.

There are more dolls to come!! I've started one that is done with black needles and the full length of the needles are intact. The art doll above has had her needles trimmed.



WIP - Pine Needles

This is one of the pieces I've been experimenting on with pine needles. I came across an artist at  one of the art shows last month and she was a basket weaver and she used these very long pine needles. Being originally from the Southwest, I had never seen such long needles. Their length ranges anywhere from 14"-16" long. So, I talked her into selling me a bundle and now I'm just thrilled to be working with them.  I also order some that have been dyed different colors, so I anxiously wait for their delivery.

String of Hearts

"String of Hearts"

I just finished up the last of two art shows I had two weekends in a row. The first show was the Loveland Art Show in Loveland, Oh. and it was the weekend before and this past weekend was Art Affaire at the Promont Museum in Milford, OH.

I have to say both art shows were pretty nice. Meet a lot of new people and was revisited by past customers. Both shows were a first for me and I plan on trying to apply for both again next year. They are juried shows, so there is no guarantee of getting in every year.

I don't know about some of you, but these shows just tire me out! I don't know how some of these artist who travel around the country from art show to art show do it!!! 

 I'm trying to keep the art shows I participate in local, except for a couple at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis IN.

Anyway, it's time to get back into the studio and posting on my blog. I found out that I can only focus on a few things at a time and so I put my blog on the back burner.

Angel Oddity?

"Angel Oddity"

Lifes been very hectic and so I have neglected my blog. I am still creating and Angel Oddity is my latest piece. Can anyone take a guess as to why I named this Angel Oddity? Go ahead and give it your best guess!

Anyway, I have two shows coming up in the next few weeks and trying to find time to create pieces for them is VERY challenging!

Pendelton Art Center Final Friday Studio Tours

I was invited by artist Joanne Honschopp to be guest artist at her studio at The Pendelton Art Center in Cincinnati August 28, from 6-10pm. Her studio 804B is located on the 8th floor.

The Pendelton Art Center is home to over 200 artists and studio walks are open to the public the last Friday of every month, so if your in town please stop in to say hello and to have some wine and crackers. That's right, 8 floors of art, wine, & finger foods.

"Landmark Tribute"

by Joanne Honschopp

"Over The Top"

by Joanne Honshopp

Sprite - Plaster Art Doll

I've been toying with the idea of adding some type of silk on her, but it never seems to make it on her body. She is not connected permanently, except for the arms. I keep switching faces to see which one works best, but I keep coming back to the one she has on.

 I really like the texture on the plaster.  I try to stay away from using too much color, because I still strive for a more simplistic look. I don't always succeed, but I do try!

Plaster Onie and Sir Paul McCartney

Sir Paul McCartney was in town for one hell of a show! This the massive stage that took over a week to set up non-stop work. I had heard that it took about 30 trucks to haul it here.

People seem to be coming in from everywhere.

This is one of two lighting towers  that has 4 people manning it.

I would say we had some good seats and with those huge screens flanking the main stage, there really wasn't a bad seat anywhere. He did one wardrobe change and that was taking off his red blazer in between songs. He must of switched playing different stringed instruments about 8-10 times and that didn't included several types of pianos as well! 

He serenated us for 3 hrs straight and gave tribute to some of his fellow Beatle bandmates. It is hard to believe that this man is 69 years old!!! He was up on stage with the energy of 20 year old! 

The hubby is a major Beatles fan and that's why I was along for the ride. I've always listened to his music on the radio, but when he began to sing his songs, it's amazing how many great songs he has written. He is quite an artist and legend, and this will probably be his last time performing in this country.

I've been experimenting with making some ornies with plaster and loving all the marks and textures. 

New Plaster Work

I finally have some more work to share with you in regards to the on-line plaster class I took earlier in the month.

The piece above has about three layers of plaster with some carving, stenciling, and painting. I would get it to a certain point and then try to push it even further. There is an emotional roller coaster creating these pieces. The end result is that you can go on forever changing it just when you feel that it looks like crap. I was there several times!!

This piece has several layers as well. I worked more with just creating different marks and textures.

The hubby had a stack of these round wooden disks that are 1/4" thick and I really liked working with it! Again, this piece has several layers.

I need to live with this around the house to see how I feel about it. I kept wipping until there was more white showing, but believe it or not, I'm all about color. My goal is to keep things simple and toned down.

This dress is about 15" tall and 5"wide.  I had to walk away from this for a short time to figure out where I wanted to go with it. Things are coming to mind, so hopefully I will work with it this weekend.

The piece is 2-D and made from wire, paper, and plaster. The lower part of wire dress is all done by hand.

Assemblage Art Doll Tuttie

Since finishing up my on-line plaster class, I had some time to work on Tuttie.

She came together for me quite quickly!! I love when that happens, but it's not often!

I'm still experimenting with the plaster and nothing to post yet.

I can't believe summer break is almost over for the kids!!!!!!!!!!! Where on earth did the summer go? They will be back in school in 4wks and then we will be up to our you know what in homework! From an adults point of view, school the second time around is very interesting.

 It's funny because we started our kids this past year to start writing up note cards to study from for tests. I mean that's how we learned to study in college and it works like a charm for them at this age.

I'm sure it will another interesting  and challenging year for all of us!

Problem with Blogger!

Just wanted to let fellow artist blogging friends know that I have been visiting your awesome blogs, but have not been able to post a comment on anyones blog for a couple of months now! Luckily I can still post and reply on my own blog. There is some kind of glitch in Blogger. I have reported it but no answer yet!

Plaster Class Assemblage Project Complete!!

Angel Mine

Our class ends tomorrow and my goal was to complete one piece of art and I did with one day to spare!! Love, love the class! It is just amazing in what you can create with plaster. The book, "Plaster Studio:Mixed Media Techniques for Painting, Casting and Carving," for this class is worth buying if you don't want to pay for the class.

Need to make more time to play!

Mixed Media Art Doll - Carolina

I was messing with Photoshop this evening and came out with this x-ray looking image of my art doll. I thought it looked pretty cool and wanted to share it with you.

This is what Carolina actually looks like. The front of the doll is a wire dress with silk fibers and wire. The wire dress is like a cage.

On-Line Plaster Studio

I've been inactive on my blog for a while due to my return to the work force. The company that layed me off several years ago came knocking on my door earlier this month looking to rehire me, so how can one say no to a job offer! It's been a bit of a challenge to restructure my life around a job and getting the kids taken care of as well. I am a truss designer and have been for well over 12 years. I really like what I do and I am glad to be back!

Now all need to do is start creating art again! I have been, but very slowly.

Hopefully to jump start the creative flow, I am in the middle of an on-line Plaster Class hosted by Stephanie Lee and Judy Wise. There is so much info. to take in and I am behind, but they have generously given us over a month past the last class to revisit blog site.

I hope to have something created from this class to post this coming week! 

Angel of Royalty and Totem

"Angel of Royalty"

I had these done a few weeks back, but I get into this mood of not wanting to photograph or posting them. I have this thing where I like to live with the pieces I make for a while before I part with them. I usually will have anywhere from 3-5 new pieces hanging on walls throughout the house. I rotate them constantly from room to room. It's my way of examing and critiquing my own work. The hubster just looks at me and shakes his head!

"Totem"

Lani

I found some black mohair off of a coat I bought at a rumage sale a few years ago and wondered if I would ever use it? It just sat and sat, until this past week. I like the way it works well with this art doll. The legs are a file and a very long drill bit. 

My Origins with Mixed Media Art Dolls

As a child, I have always been drawn towards Native American Indian Art. It started with acrylic painting on canvas and burlap adhered to a board. I was also very much into doing portraits. The passion has always been there. 

While visiting a state fair back in my late twenties, I came across an Indian display and was inspired to create my first art doll and from there it has just evolved.  

I meet this incredible beader at an re-enactment village several years back and took a beading class from her. I don't bead anymore. It's been a long time since I created this piece. This kind of beading is priceless and have kept this doll to pass on to my daughters.

Revisiting 2007

"Moments"

The mixed media quilt above was based on a drawing my oldest daughter created. I just loved her figures and was inspired to sew and glue! The material used for the figures are scrap pieces of leather.

"Journey 2"

It's been a while and I can't quite remember what inspired this piece. Again I have used scrap pieces of leather, various hides, fabrics, wire, beads and found objects.

"Dancing Deities"

Dancing Deities was inspired by one of my collagraphs.

BTW I wanted to thank you for the comments posted in my previous post! Somehow Blogger messed up and none of the comments appeared on my blog but I did receive them through my e-mail.

Angel B1

Angel B1

I had taken an online quilt class months ago and was introduced to weaving with fabric. Very cool technique and I tried it with some of my left over collagraph prints and vintage papers. That is what the angels wings are made from. Her body is a domino.

This past weekend was The Duveneck Art show down in Covington and the turn out was great. You couldn't ask for a more beautiful day!!!!!!!!!!!!! I met a lot of people and some were collectors of my work!

 I really enjoy meeting people who own my work! Oh! Yeah! I did take 1st place in the sculpture catergory, so that was exciting. I've been doing this show for the past 3-4 years and this year was the best.