Making Marks

Small Animal Toys

Recently I was reading somewhere in the blogosphere about collections. What do you collect? I couldn't think of anything very interesting that I seek out and collect. I have a large variety of Golden Mediums and Grounds, but half of the people I know have that! I have a bunch of Keen shoes, but that seems too practical to  count as a true collection. My fabric stash is a little embarassing, but it doesn't hold a candle to quilters I know. . .

Then it dawned on me. I have small toy-type animals tucked away in a drawer. Several of them may have been created for use by children; I have a few wooden chickens and such. I think most of them are just decorative items such as these little gems. These cast iron, bright red animals make me smile just thinking about them. I am fascinated with using ordinary imagery and objects in art and craft projects.

What is it about your collection that draws you in?

Personal Style

I've noticed that my personal style is often focused solely on my art ventures. The rest of my life can seem, well, drab in comparison. The walls in our house are the same beige as when we moved in, and I rarely spend time on home decorating activities. I've also been buying clothes that are a similar style for years. My "uniform" is a knit skirt (or, for variety, denim) and a t-shirt twin set. I have minor variations with jeans-style jackets or crew neck sweaters. My shoes are mostly Keens - comfortable and a little funky.

A few months ago I got bored. It will take a while to shift my wardrobe, but I'm doing it a little at a time. These boots are one magnificent addition to my shoe wardrobe. They make me happy just looking at them! To make them even better, Michael bought them for me as a Valentine present and they were 50% off! Now I need more red to wear with them.

Three Wishes

Are we having fun, yet? Here's my fairy princess ready to grant three art-related wishes. What would they be?

One is a real art studio (sink included) with great storage. I avoid trying some new things out because my current work space is also my home office with beige carpet. (Ok, really it's beige with a few funky paint dots and some misc. coloring from when I've tried to do things I shouldn't have done in a room with beige carpet.)

Another is instant knowledge of Photoshop. I keep trying to decide if I need this program, and the answer is often "yes, but". The big but is how long it would take me to learn how to do the things I want to do.

My final wish is to live next door to a great art college. I do love where we live (in a small town that's at least an hour's drive from a good museum), and I'd like to be able to take classes in a convenient location. Right now the distance is an issue. I keep trying to remind myself that many great artists worked in semi-isolation with success.

What are your wishes?

Birds

Since the weather has been warming up this spring, I'm hearing and seeing more birds. I love them! They're so cheerful and interesting. We have several feeders on our back deck that attract everything from hummingbirds to flickers. When we are lucky, a robin nests in a small crook near a window so we can see her with little chicks in the spring.

I've decided to start drawing birds to see if I can make something I'd be proud to share or use in my art. So far I have made some progress. . . but not enough to post a drawing, yet.

We saw this African Crane at a hotel where we went to dinner in Hawaii (back in December). It reminds me that there's almost no way to draw a bird "wrong" as long as it has the basic bird features. (I found this same principle to hold true for fish, too.)

We also saw these bright cardinals along the beach. At first I thought I was imagining how bright their heads were, but then I got some pictures. They confirm that these little guys are as cheerful as I thought!

Spring Break

I love this gateway image. The Washington Long Beach Peninsula has several of these gateways to the beach along pathways. When I took the picture, I imagined using photo software (or regular old scissors) to cut out inside the gateway and put some funky image inside. So far it hasn't happened except in my imagination!

We will spend a couple of days on the Peninsula during spring break. I hope to draw a little bit in between other activities. The beach is a continual source of inspiration for me. From shell bits to sea birds to patterns in waves and sand, the beach is full of things that catch my attention.

As an aside, the Long Beach Peninsula has been accreting sand for several decades. The jetties built to protect the mouth of the Columbia River (boat passages) have redirected wave patterns so that sand has been accumulating on the peninsula, particularly the southern end. The place where this picture was taken probably was close to the high tide mark approximately 50 years ago. Since then dunes have been created, and in some places there are pine forests where there was ocean less than 60 years ago.

More Spring

These small daffodils are my favorite spring flower. The cheery, tiny blossoms seem to lift my mood wherever I see them - the store, the neighbor's yard, or at work.

Oregon's spring is unpredictable. Today it was sun-shining during a shower. The temperatures vary between highs in the upper 40's and the low 60's. But the little daffodils remind me that summer (and days filled with bright yellow sunshine) is around the corner.

Spring Surprises

The daily walk with Scooter has helped me to see lovely surprises as the seasons change. The daffodils caught my eye today. In this yard, I love their brightness juxtaposed with the bare tree.

One of the other things I've been noticing is layering and depth. (Yes, this comment is on the heels of an article about my lack of depth perception!) As I really look at landscapes, I see the more interesting ones are layered with a foreground, middle ground and background. Many of you may be thinking, "Um. . . what's the news here?" However, I've been working on such design-oriented, flat projects that having engaging items in each part of a composition is a revelation.

This leads me to my next project. I will be experimenting with oil pastels and some of the pattern designs I have used in chalk pastels to create abstract landscapes. I hope to have some images to share soon!

Eyesight and Artistic Perspective

I went in for an eye check late in 2007, and the doctor performed many different vision checks. One of them involved testing 3-D perception, and it turns out I'm not very good with this. (One of the ironies is that I also test high on spatial abilities tests.) The vision test got me thinking about my art preferences.  I tend to like flat-looking images with patterns. I've never enjoyed making sculptural objects. I do work in depth sometimes, but it's layering objects to be seen from one angle.

Thinking about visual perception and creating art also reminded me about Monet and other artists whose use of colors became brighter as they aged. I was told in art history class that the theory is that Monet's visioned worsened, and he may have thought he was using the same colors all along. With phenomenon in mind, I wonder what my work looks like to other people.

Regarding this image - I've been looking for a good photo opportunity of wintered Queen's Anne Lace, and I finally got it! I love the skeleton look of the once-full flower head.

Spring is here!

I've started noticing the first signs of spring - a few crocuses in bloom, the first blossoms on a tree, and daffodils shooting out of the ground. The weather has been warmer and the sun has come up earlier in the mornings. I appreciate that! I don't have to take the flashlight when I walk Scooter in the mornings.

Last year I took a photo of a cherry blossom tree and I turned it into a Gocco print (left). I'm hoping to capture more spring images this year to experiment more with the Gocco machine.

Washi Love

I love paper. One of my favorites is washi paper from Japan. Many of these designs are based on silk kimono patterns and are highlighted with touches of gold and silver ink. Like fabric, most washi paper can be viewed from any angle - the prints are non-directional.

This ume blossom (plum flower) design caught my eye in part because of the interesting color combination. I would not typically choose a bright orange to pair with a dusty pink and maroon. However, I do think the colors work together. Japanese design does that for me - I see new combinations and ways of viewing nature. As I considered the color combination, I remembered I had another piece of wahi with a similar pallette.

I wonder if this is a faddish combination or if I just never noticed it in the past.