Posts

Showing posts from August, 2008

Blog Award

Karin at Beyond Words recently received an I Love Your Blog award, and, as with most awards of this type, passed it along to seven bloggers she wanted to 'tag.' I cracked up when I read her comment about the look of the graphic not quite blending with her style; it doesn't, to say the least. She also expressed gratitude because of the meaning behind it; there are rewards in looking a bit differently at something we might otherwise overlook.  I was one of the lucky recipients tagged by her and I say lucky especially because she is such an amazing artist. When I look at her journal pages I feel the tug of raw emotion that runs like a current beneath the part of me that is currently making art. That's not to say that my work isn't genuine, or a reflection of my style. Just that I'm only skimming the surface, a rock skipping across the river before slowly drifting toward the darker, bottom where the real stuff accumulates. But, that we don't see, unless we'
Image
Pulled in too many directions, kids having trouble adjusting to their new school, the dog is sick, my arthritis flaring.... make for a tentative foundation of courage and strength, faith. A couple of weeks in this state is enough for me - hard to focus on keeping the pets fed and getting dinner made, let alone create the art for the swaps I've committed to... experiment with the techniques I've been putting aside forever, finding a deep, sacred space where I can connect the inner self with the universe, filling journal pages with wild abandon. I found a fabulous blog - an artist who expresses her daily experiences with amazing imagery that is, well, quite enviable. See what you think -  visit Karin at Beyond Words.  I love to dabble with photographs - find it very calming. Not quite the blank slate the painter approaches, tabula rasa, but an inviting image to explore and get lost in; starting with a perfectly lovely flower in shades of pale pinks and soft greens, I've begu

Sisters

Image
Two months ago today, my lovely Aunt Grey (on the left) passed away. A second mother to me, she was also a very close and special sister and friend to my wonderful mother (right), who was the baby sister in a family of five children raised in rural southern Alabama, where my parents, one remaining aunt and a host of relatives and friends are braving tropical storm Fay to attend her interment. I so wish I could be there, but having children in school prevented us from making the trip. A few days after she passed, I needed to channel my grief at the art table, blend it with memory, layer with love and hope and as with all life situations, try to create beauty from pain. I am a member of Paper Imagery Designs had at the time the weekly challenge was black and white, which was how I started the project, though I soon realized my desire to create something to honor the love and kinship that exists in my family.  I have never tried to work in black and white before, aside from photography, a

Nothing Could be Finer than a Friend in Carolina...

Image
To be blessed not once, but twice in the same week is manna from heaven. I won't 'repeat' myself by rehashing my big old pity party, but I've alluded to recent traumas with my kids going to middle school, my illness, my aunt's death, more than I'd care to deal with such a short time span. So, winning a drawing held by Lucy, a fabulous artist in North Carolina, was a double dose of goodness indeed. If you haven't visited Sweet Repeats , go now! Wait, finish reading first. Lucy, Sweet Lucy, truly is the kind of found angel/friend that appears when we are open, eyes and heart, in need or just receptive, to the grace that travels along the universal vibes in bubbles, streams, rays, flickers of hope and goodness.  To receive a package from her is more than a brightness in the day, it shores up a hurting heart, rises up low spirits and reinforces every good thing in life. When I received the prize I was blown away by the fact that, along with the print, which mirr
Image
Kentucky is not known for cactus, or should I say cacti? cactuses? At any rate, there is a guy who lives in a really cool little house with lots of angles and interesting architecture, which abounds in our historic (old) neighborhood. This guy has a very small garden space but a long narrow stretch of grass across the street from his house is his playground. He makes sure the species and blooming cycles provide year round color, interest and fabulous vibes.  I decided to play with this photo, as it really is a green cactus, to enhance the beauty he has already offered. Painting and collaging in Photoshop was my first love, before I discovered the world of mixed media, and I like to go back now and then, to play.  I am ever the novice - if you want to see remarkable photography, visit Elizabeth at  the The Last Door Down the Hall - one look at her banner is evidence of the quality of her work. She also frequently offers free images, many of which I've downloaded for use in projects

A Gift from my Ragamuffin Pal

Image
I don't buy tickets for the lottery, cake walks or raffles - unless it's for charity. I experience at least my fair share of good fortune, but I'm just not one of those 'lucky' people. How does one improve odds? Or is it luck or coincidence anyway... accident or fate? A bit of research reveals beliefs that are as varied as they are fascinating.   There are schools of thought that ponder whether fate can be explained by  mathematical occurrences ;  some believe that every move is guided by the hand of God, driven by fate. Then there is Deepak Chopra's  Synchrodestiny , the magic of connecting with the underlying field of infinite possibilities; the ability to see amazing potential in every moment. If, in fact, we study these convenient occurrences, we can even increase the number and quality of our daily coincidences.   From a mathematical perspective, I had fairly decent odds of winning the Fairy Girl Bird Box, a beautiful creation by Ragamuffin Gal, (she picked
Image
OK Linda, since you've outed me as an unorganized, total mess, here are 'real' photos. Painting backgrounds on puzzle pieces for magnets on one table and finishing up a journal on the other... There is a shop here in Lexington that carries my work, all the vintage switch plates are gone and the button flower bouquets too. And, I have an order for six magnets that is ready to photograph and deliver to another shop. Exciting to put my work out there, anxious to see how it sells...  Linda, is from New Zealand, here visiting with her hubby. She has the same auto-immune illness and we met years ago on the National Psoriasis Foundation message boards. This computer has extended my world in ways I never would have imagined, friends who have psoriatic arthritis, talented and amazing mixed media artists and writers. I never would have thought that I would be fortunate enough to encounter so many authentic, amazing and kindred spirits in blogland. Lucy - I'm going to have to look

Creative Space

Image
A challenge was issued by Paper Imagery Designs, such a fun, inspiring group!, to post photos of our creative spaces. These were taken before it got really messy, I've added 3 sets of rolling drawer bins and you can't see the top of either table, but I post these to encourage myself to clean up my act! Our dog, Leo (Tolstoy:) enjoys the best view - I try to make time to journal and watch the birds at eye level, always helpful to have a different perspective. I've promised myself that I will resume my 'hour a day' minimum in the Altered Attic - it has been way too long!