Emmett's Crabulous Christmas

Mixed Media Collage  8x10   (NFS!)

Just in time for Christmas and on the eve of Emmett's first year anniversary since we adopted him, I've finally finished this year's Christmas card. Of course it was something I planned to do in August; however...

Season's Greetings!

Holly Lane Studio

This is where it happens; when it happens; if it happens...

Yes, I know it's small, much smaller than my previous studio; but extremely efficient. And it's above ground and has a window!!!

The last eight months have been difficult. I've adjusted to a huge change in life by taking on a full time job outside my studio. I'm starting to learn balance. (My new crock pot helps!) And I'm learning to treat my art as my second job. The short days are not conducive to creativity; they're more conducive to hibernation.

However; I have deadlines! I have at least two and maybe three shows this spring... all at the same time!!! Deadlines are good; very good! 

The Ones That Get Away

"Fog" -  Mixed Media Collage - 4x6

I'm often asked if it makes me sad when I sell one of my pieces of artwork. The answer to that is "no"! In fact, I'm very, very happy!!!

Every once in awhile though, there will be one that I'm either just as happy when it doesn't sell or a little nostalgic when it does. Fog (from which I've designed the current blog banner) is one of those pieces.

Fog came about when I was asked by my gallery rep to make a bunch of small, unframed collages to sell at a reasonable price. They ended up being some of my most successful pieces. Out of the series, Fog was my favorite. Its cool tones were very different from the warm tones I normally use. And I just loved the little spot of gold leaf in the middle of the fossil leaf. Oddly enough, it didn't sell for a long time and I was secretly delighted. I was planning on how I was going to frame it and where I was going to hang it. And just when I made up my mind to retrieve it permanently from the gallery, I was told it sold. Ahh, mixed feelings indeed.

More Secrets

 

I'm having so much fun with this current project and cannot wait until I can show images in their entirety. The original images are representational, but the "slices" I'm showing appear to be abstract. These two "slices" are from the same mixed media collage image.

Shhhh!

Detail of ???  Mixed Media Collage (OK, well mostly paper)

I'm working on a collaborative project and due to contract restrictions I cannot share the images on my blog... but surely just a slice of an image wouldn't hurt. I'm so excited about this!

Lewes Craft Fair

Lewes Craft Fair on the grounds of the Lewes Historical Society

Another sunny Saturday and another great art show. The grounds of the Lewes Historical Society (in Lewes, Delaware) is home to the Lewes Craft Fair twice a year... July and October. Yesterday was the October show and the weather couldn't have been more conducive to strolling the grounds and taking in the sights, sounds and smells that typify this show.

Three of my friends are regular exhibitors at this show and I always enjoy catching up with them whenever they're in town. 

Susan scored an excellent booth location just inside one of the gates

The fabulous and talented Susan Amadio

More of Susan's beautiful artwork: Amadio Artworks

The Bitter Creek Bluegrass Band performing at the Craft Fair. I'm a sucker for good bluegrass music and their sweet and soulful sounds can be heard all over the grounds.

This is Buster. People aren't the only art lovers at this show... or could it be the fragrant fumes from the bar-b-que pit that attracts the canines?

More canine fair goers.

Sue Eyet, artist and proprietor of Studio 432 in Perryville, MD, displays her wares under this colorful pagoda. Those are also her wind chimes in the foreground. Studio 432

Another view of Sue's booth

The booth of Maggie Creshkoff of Backlog Pottery

A close-up of Maggie's critters.

Birthday Card for Cindy!

Today brought an unexpected surprise. The storefront next door to the one where I work in the Rehoboth Mall is undergoing extensive renovation. It's being transformed from a 4-plex movie theater into a 24 hour gym. Today's renovation project involved using front loaders which expelled copious quantities of diesel fumes into the mall, making it impossible for humans to safely work/shop/exist within the area. So my boss called me up and told me to stay home. 

I didn't have to think twice about how I wanted to spend my day and I headed straight for the studio to work and play. Since my daughter-in-law's birthday is Sunday, I started my session by creating a birthday card for her. Usually I just print out an image of one of my collages and glue it to a Strathmore metallic deckled edge blank greeting card, but today I had time to make an original collage featuring Cindy's favorite colors.  What a great way to begin a studio session. And Cindy, if you're reading this; surprise!

From there I moved onto a larger ongoing project that I hope to share with you all at a later date. But for now, the birthday card is enough.

Have a good weekend everyone!