Connecting to My Core reflection

I recently attended a workshop in Chicago on Connecting to your Core and Communicating with clarity presented by Beth Inglish.  The result was that my story is to continue to create art with a purpose of giving to charitable causes.  So far I was able to participate in a fundraising event at St Thomas the Apostle Church in Naperville.  The 2 day art fair allowed me to share 20 percent of my earnings in art sales toward a Haiti mission of education.  This could not have come at a better time since the most recent hurricane damage.  My second opportunity in less than a month is this weekend's silent auction in which I have actually donated 6 pieces toward raisng funds for a local food bank.  Having worked in a senior services capacity during the last 9 years, fighting hunger and homelessness are dear to my heart. This is one of my donations to the silent auction happening tonight at If These Walls Could Talk gallery in Aurora Illinois.  Most bidding will start at $25. I hope through my efforts of creating art someone will benefit.

My OH my, how time flies.  I cannot believe it has been two years since my last post on my Blog.
So much has happened and I never seemed to have enough time to record the art related events, successes etc.

I have finally just retired and am committed to focusing on my art making and art learning and reconnecting with my creativity.

So I will begin by saying that I really am committed to making art that can be used to support a cause that I am passionate about.  In particular, I support the  Greater Illinois Chapter of Alzheimers Association.  Every year for the last 5 years I have participated in Unforgettable ART, live paint event with 40 other artists with a live auction aat the end of 7 hours of painting.

Whenever an opportunity comes up to create art for causes such as this or food pantry fundraisers, I participate.

I continue to be a member (and Vice President) of the Midwest Collage Society and exhibit with the group whenever possible.

This piece called RADIANCE is currently on exhibit at the Wasco Nursery and Garden Center in St Charles, Illinois.

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Snowed in at my mother's home in Philadelphia

I am snowed in.  Mother and I will keep warm and hope that the power  does not go out.

Year 3 for painting live with Unforgettable ART

This is the third year I was one of 50 artists painting from 12 - 7:30 pm on  May 3 to complete a painting for the auction.  It is an event that is exciting, frightening, challenging and in the end gratifying when your art is sold and you are instrumental in helping raise money  for Alzheimers research.

My painting was starting off very poorly in several shades of green, then flora was added. However, my heart wasn't in painting a floral. I felt depressed briefly.  How was I to transform the hideous green monster to something that would be pleasing to the eye.  I really wanted to paint  an abstract.

The deciding moment came when I opted to white wash the whole thing using a rectangular sponge (not a paint brush) and some Titanium Buff.  It allowed me to use physical energy to obliterate the green mess.  The wash allowed some of the base to come through and suddently I could feel that there was potential in the painting.  I risked a little but using some gold paint and before I knew it, the composition was coming along and was much more pleasing to me and even ro some observers who were walking around.  There is nothing like a compliment to give you courage to keep at it.

The end result was a piece I could feel at least somewhat proud of.

Works on small substrates

Lately I have been working small. The bottom piece is currently in a show at the Union Street Gallery.  The whole show is works on small scale, less than 12 X 12.  Small works can make a big impact.  It surprised me.  I keep trying to push myself to painting larger and larger and yet my focus has always been working small.  Perhaps it is because I thing it is risky to work large?? Time to rethink that limiting idea.

So, in addition to my art cards I am building a series of small pieces and am thinking of my next show in 2015.

Several Shows Coming Up

I am in the process of getting my work into some local shows.  Each year I exhibit at the Addison Art Guild shows and all of the Midwest Collage Society Shows.  I currently have 2 collage paintings at Orchard Church on display.  Next month I hope to  participate in the  Earth Day Artifacts Show at the Culturestock book store in Aurora, Illinois.  It takes quite a bit of coordinating, documenting and photographing to be ready when the opportunity presents itself.  My collage painting, Mystery Mandala won an award last fall and is currently at the Orchard Community Church.

Working with scraps.

Shades of Green

I have been sorting through my large stash of papers in search of some good greens.  I am also staining some papers to create unique shades of green.  I will be putting together some art cards for St Patricks Day.  It is always a challenge to come up with a new design.  Yet, it is a meditation.  I focus on the task of combining, sorting  and forget everything else.

Making small compositions

I sometimes have just a few minutes to compose a card.  Looking through the stash of hand made papers and other ephemera I delight in  placing afew together.  When I am pleased with an arrangement, I glue it together and voila, I have a card.  One of a kind. Original and made in USA.
I am most grateful for my facebook friends who saw my work and loved it enough to purchase a few. Thank you and wishing all a Happy Valentine's Day.  Be blessed with LOVE.

Having fun with papers.

I have a large stash of painted papers.  Sorting, selecting, combining, arranging, revising, and gluing when it seems to feel perfect.
I have created 21 cards this week so far.  10 have sold.

Love

I am working in the studio these days creating some art cards suitable for Valentine's Day.  Of course a card with a heart could be sent at any time of the year.  I can think of many: birthdays of special people in your life, anniversaries, weddings, sympathy, etc. or

just because you wish to express your love for anyone.

Solar Power

This is a recent collage painting on canvas. Love working with the many shades of red.