Making Marks

Silverton Arts Invitational Card Show

I've been playing with the Gocco printer, again! This time I wanted to make designs for greeting cards since I was invited to participate in the Silverton Arts Association Invitational Card Show. My intent was to print some simple images with bold impact. The tree design includes a background that was printed from an "open screen" that I blocked off with tape. I read about how Shu-Ju Wang has used this process and decided to try it. 

I made another print based on a photo I took of a flower. This required three screens to print. Each time I use the Gocco, I learn something. This time I saw how the layers in the petals overlapped and like how they made a subtle third color. I'll see how I can do this intentionally in some other projects.

Simple Isn't Always Easy

I was sorting out some ideas with Melissa the other day after she had taken several classes at the Portland Art and Soul Retreat . We were talking about how many participants wanted to leave workshops with completed projects, but she was more interested in the processes the instructors use to create their art.

This is an on-going discussion of ours. We first noted that Claudine Hellmuth was willing to share her creative process (versus just teaching a technique or project).  Melissa said that Beryl Taylor also seemed to be equally interested in discussing her creative journey.  These folks appear to be in the minority of mixed media teachers. In order to fill classes at events such as Art and Soul, teachers have to follow the foot steps of Bob Ross and lead students through, step-by-step, to a final product.

The leap from following directions to creating personal art seems to be difficult and scary for many people. The process appears so simple - just get out your paints, brushes and canvas. Now apply the paint in an artistic way.  (Oh - maybe that first one didn't turn out so well. Hm.)

One of the issues may be in the lack of education about how to get from point A (follow along, Class) to point B (alone in the studio producing things that make your heart sing). Too few published articles and even blog posts discuss the journey from A to B. We don't see the ugly sketchbook pages or the pieces people gessoed over. It's easy to assume successful artists sit down and make something gallery-worthy every time they try. I have to assume I'm not the only one who has to try a few times!

(By the way, I love Typepad. I love being able to schedule posts to magically appear during times when I know I'll be too busy to post on that day. There are days when technology is wonderful!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Best wishes for a lovely Thanksgiving to all you readers in the US!

(Ok, maybe this post was just to share another wonderful vintage post card.  I love this one because of the fantasy pumpkin carriage and majestic turkey pulling it.)

Scooter is a CockerShnauz?

Since Scooter was found roaming the streets of a small town in Oregon, there's no way to truly identify his mixture of breed. Some people say he looks like a Shnauzer and others think he's just a terrier mix.

We know a few things for sure, including that he has a double coat (with a wiry top coat) and his hair can get really long around his shoulders and rear.  As I was surfing around looking at dog pictures, I found a mix called a CockerShnauz, and this pup looked like Scooter's twin. I think he also looks a lot like a Border Terrier. We'll never really know;  however, I've been known to say that he's a very exclusive breed, a one of a kind!

Colors of Autumn

The campus where I work has truly lovely landscaping that I enjoy every season. The past couple of weeks I've been arriving at work a little early and wandering the grounds to enjoy the colors and patterns of fall.

I think I'm weird. No one else seems to be noticing the brilliant reds, the berries that are exposed as leaves fall, or the tall stands of twigs with just a few leaves hanging on here and there. I'm not sure if Dr. Seuss took over my brain as a child, but I love tree branches with a little tuft of leaves at the end.

The leaves I've collected aren't keeping their colors. I guess my photos will have to be good enough.

Making Time to Mess Around

I have been known to be pretty goal driven. That tendency can be a good thing - I've accomplished many tasks, the biggest of which was earning my doctorate. However, like most strengths, focusing on goals has a down side. I tend to expect results from everything I spend time doing. That works in many facets of life, but not in my art work.

Try as I might, I've not been able to discern what I really want from my artistic efforts. I've had work published, and that satisfaction was short-lived. I taped a segment for a tv show. I joined a cooperative gallery and have been selling my work. I had a newspaper article in the local paper, and still I have this question mark about where I'm going and how I'll get there.

So I think it's time for some messing around. I'd like to work for several months without a specific outcome. To that end, I decided to enroll in an art class at the college. It's a little scary with a big question about if I really have time for it. But I think it's time to just mess around and find the right media and my artistic voice.

I envy people like Luann Udell who has such a clear vision about her inspiration, or the Seesters, Karen and Linda, who are driven by passion to help others make art. I hope I can this kind of clarity.

Windshield Designs

A couple of weeks ago, I was buckled up in the passenger seat (note I didn't take photos while I was driving!), and I noticed the droplets on the windshield. As we got onto the highway and drove faster, the water started to blow off of the glass and left behind these interesting patterns. They got me thinking of quilt patterns such as Lisa Call's and Nancy Crow's work.

Water patterns on the windshield might be a strange blog topic, but I find inspiration just about everywhere. My artistic dilemma is often about what to pursue and what I should leave behind. At this point, I realize I won't be able to do everything that sounds interesting in my artistic life. I'd like to make good choices about how to spend my studio time. I'll let you know how that goes!

Meet My New BFF

Were you expecting a photo of a new doggie? Well, Friends, this is a one-dog house! My new BFF is the Ott-Lite Rechargeable task light. Whether it sounds trite or not, I really didn't know what I was missing working on my desk without task lighting.

I have a floor model Ott light for my work table, and now my doodles will be that much more impressive because I can see so much more detail with my new light where I sit and work. One thing that's super cool about this gadget is that it runs off a rechargeable battery, or it can also run from an electrical outlet.

(As an aside, I know that many blogs are all about the pictures. Every square inch of horizontal space in my office/studio is covered with something! Where do these bloggers find space to lay out such gorgeous photos?)

Embossed & Colored Doodles

My latest embossed pastel work combines the technique I learned last June with the Zentangle notion to create a pleasing synthesis. I see many possibilities with this technique and will continue to explore ideas. I'm working in a small format, so these invite experimentation.

As I was ordering more paper (hot-pressed watercolor) I saw a new type of pastel. I look forward to seeing how these work! The colors are luscious.