Inspirations from Books

I like to read a wide range of books and while reading a small book "Dime-Store Alchemy - The Art of Joseph Cornell" by Charles Simic I was mesmerised by the wonderful vignettes from memories. I hope to be able to construct an assemblage after reflecting on the words of Charles Simic.

Not always easy to create during pre Christmas frenzy

It is just 13 days before Christmas and there is so much to do. When can an artist dash away for a little time to create? I am trying very hard to make some progress in already started pieces. Soon I will show a piece just complete which will go into the Baker Dozen I am committed to enter this year. Got to run......

Article of Faith

Collage painting 4" X 6" sold in New Zealand

My first International sale

Last week I found out that my Article of Faith collage which is in the traveling show of Human Artifakts (currently in New Zealand) has sold. I was so excited with this new. Recently I have been evaluation my year in art making. I have taken some major leaps with numerous group exhibits and shows. My dear friend, mentor and inspiration, Laura Lein Svencner has been encouraging me to keep at it. So I owe her a big thanks for even encouraging me to be in the Human Artifakts show. I have had a great year of creativity. I hope next year is as good since I will be looking for other employment to bring in some more income for the family. But on an artistic note, I have been pursuing some spiritually inspired themes in my work. At a recent exhibit I had another similar collage that spoke to a woman and that sold also.

I Love This Dance Piece

This is just a detail of a collage I have been agonizing over for over two years. It has been incubating in my mind's eye. I have tried all sorts of combinations onto a less than wonderful monoprint. In the spring I felt that I was getting closer. Then fear paralized me and I was unable to commit to finishing it. I stared and studied and fretted and wondered and stared some more. Finally in September I gained the courage I needed to glue together the pieces. I was feeling victorious. And so here it is. i am confident it is in its completed stage. WHEW. Now I love it. But do I love it too much to let it go into the world to a new home? That is a good question. I will find out soon.

Refuge: My most recently completed collage

Life is Fast Forward

The last few weeks I have been working hard to complete as many pieces as I can for my upcoming exhibit at St. Thomas the Apostle's Ninth annual fine arts exhibit. Each year I participate. Last year I was not able to be there because my husband surprised me with a trip to Paris. I am not complaining. So this year I am trying to make the best of the show. Post cards have been sent for the most part. Last minute fine tuning of some pieces and finally getting everything framed and ready to show. I will include some notecards for those unable to afford my larger pieces. I hope this is a success. I have been getting my artwork out into various venues. There are 5 pieces in Bloomingdale Museum. There are another 4 at Hinsdale Public Library and soon there will be several at various Art Leagues in the western suburbs of Chicago. All this distribution of artwork requires carefull planning and organization. But it is exciting.

Just a small piece

Sometimes you feel as an artist you need to get some closure. I am one who has so many paintings started or in process. They are emerging from their incubation stages. Some are so close to being finished they are begging for completion. Then the artist come along and freaks out that she might kill the precious piece. So today I had only a smigdet of time. I needed to complete something. Recently I purchased these lovely little 5 X 5 frames. They accomodate only a small 4X 4 piece of work. Then I found just the right mini-easel for the frames. They make a great miniature. The best part of it is the satisfaction of completing a piece that is easy to frame and the presentation is complete. Today I completed two of these. They are ready to be displayed at my next exhibit and sale at St. Thomas in November. I feel a definite sense of accomplishment.
I present to you: "Emerging Angel".

Another Print altered by collage

I have always enjoyed making collograph plates and then printing them. This is a section of a collagraphy I printed about 5 years ago and I now found a way to recycle it into a collage. I am really enjoying altering past arworks as I begin to take some of my work to a new level. This one is a 4 X 6 postcard size and I called it "Winter Moon."

Old prints become new

I have always kept my less than successful prints because I once had a very respected teacher, Rebecca Moore who told me: "never throw any of your art away." So recently I have been taking some print-making classes and I have been rummaging through some of my old stash. Looking at the old stash has allowed me to see some of my work with new eyes. Now with my newly acquired skills as a collage artist I can see potential where I did not see it previously. So here is an example of a print that became a 4 X 6 postcard size finished piece which will hang at a show in Bloomingdale during November and December. The theme for it is cool blue and my title for this piece is "Blue Dreams."

How long does it take?

So often an artist hears the question: How long did it take you to paint/create that work? This little 4 X 6 took about a year to complete. How is that possible? At least three times I felt stuck and unable to complete the piece to my satisfaction. An artist converses with the art. The dialogue goes on and on until the artist has the final word: YOU ARE DONE. The feeling is great. But the satisfaction seems is so much richer when the struggle was greater.

This week has been a whirlwind of activity. The Annie Morgan workshop I organized for our Midwest Collage Society has been a wealth of information. I learned some techniques of transfering images that I had not tried before. Working with other artists in a workshop allows one to learn not only from the teacher but also from the other participants. My artwork is sure to go to another level after this intense workshop. Between working in printmaking and mixed media I am forging ahed with new ideas and experiences. In a few weeks I will be sharing some of my new skills with a group of senior high school students. This should be lots of fun. In the meantime I am frantically pracising some of the techniques before they go stale. Many pieces going at the same time. No finished piece yet to display.....

My Fascinations

I have always been fascinated with the flight of birds and with sunrises and sunsets. There is something so incredibly amazing about the lighting of the open skies when the sun sets or when it rises. During a recent vacation in Florida I was able to observe the flight of pelicans against the rising sun every morning over a four week period. The fascination never dwindled. I strongly believe and have read narrative accounts to that, which say that the artist is influenced by his/her environment. My art is influenced by my environment in themes and in palette. In the fall I usually begin to use the warm colors of yellows, oranges and reds. By winter I may be moving to the cool blues.

I am dreaming in collage.

I have just begun writing a journal in preparation for my class in collage and mixed media with Annie Morgan. In my first page of lists that interest me or inspire me to create I included "articles of faith." I have been working on a series called Articles of Faith. This piece has been a work in progress for about a year. First came the background ( a part of an unsuccessful painting) and then came the image which I was not ready to commit to the piece. Finally I was ready. Then there was problem with composition: Not enough contrast. This morning it was solved in my opinion. So here it is world.

My goal to complete at least one 4X6 postcard size collage piece is going well. This weekend I completed 4 pieces. This piece entitled Alone at Dusk reminds me of the skeletal trees I encounter in our local forest preserve when I go for a walk. These trees speak to me like ghosts. They had a good life. Now they are just a skeleton. I love trees because they are so majestic. Old friends that stand loyally awaiting those who pass by. They wish to be noticed. But how many folks take notice of their surroundings?

Studio Inventory

After reorganizing my studio for about 2 weeks, I suddenly came to the realization that I have way too many projects on the go. I need to start focusing on getting some work completed. Many projects are on the verge of completion. Perhaps I get terrified when the last little bit needs to be adhered with some adhesive. Worries such as will I ruin it? Is it good enough? And so on and so on. These are paralyzing moments that stop me from going ahead and just getting it done. What's the harm in a bad piece of art work? Maybe I will like it down the road and maybe I will have to destroy it. So today I finished two pieces. So be it.

Recent Commissioned Art

I was reorganizing my mail and found a lovely thank you note from the recipient of this original collage painting. The work was commissioned by my dear friend Marsha and given to Monica in honor of her Confirmation. Monica is a wonderful teen who is musiacian and kind and spiritual young lady. It was my honor to create this very personal piece.

Sunrise in Florida

This is the sight I miss every morning while living in Illinois. Lauderdale by the Sea does have the best sunrises.

Excited to be blogging

This is the first day of me being a blogger. I have arrived.

Friday, Sept. 1 2006 New Beginnings