In Time For Mother's Day

On the eBay auction block I currently have three original collages that I picked with Mother's Day in mind. The auction ends Saturday. Click on the captions below the images for more information and a direct link to eBay.

"First Love"

"Red Balloon"

"Paisley Bathtub"

This Week's Note Card Post :D

Garden Gate

Back to the Savannah Series. This particular collage incorporates photography as well as zentangle technique. It's all coming together!

"Garden Gate" - 6x6 - Mixed Media Collage

French Daydreams Note Card

OK. So I decided to incorporate a rubber stamp in this note card as well. In truth, it's probably not my favorite note card, but, it has a certain charm. 

Cupcake Note Card

But, of course I made note cards last week. I had a great time making this one. Upon checking out at Michael's a few days prior to its creation, I had to go past the $1.00 bins on my way to the check out counters. Those bins are irresistible! I found cupcake rubber stamps! I bought one for myself and one for my eight-year-old niece, Georgia. 

As you can see, I made it the focal point for this very fun "scrap collage" which has all things in it. I wonder who the unsuspecting recipient of this card will be! :D

Marble Steps

And yet another new addition to the Savannah Series. Graceful, curved steps is such a noteworthy architectural feature in this city.

Savannah Series Continues

Last week I posted the first three collages of my new Savannah series and this week I'm happy to be able to post three more! 

"Pirate House Window" - 5x7 - mixed media collage
The Pirate House is one of the oldest standing buildings in Savannah and contains much history as well as many ghosts.

"Red Lion" - 6x6 - mixed  media collage
Once again, I've featured the proud beast who silently sits in front of the Cotton Exchange and watches everything that happens on Bay Street.

"Factor's Walk" - 6x6 - mixed media collage
This area was the center of commerce back in the day when cotton was king.

A Brand New Crab!

That would be me! A brand new crab.

"A Brand New Crab" - 6x6 - mixed media collage

I'm learning to love repurposing old materials. In this case newspaper, sample paints from Lowes, and cheesecloth. This crab is a little bit more freeform than my previous crabs, too. I think it gives him a little more character.

Below is the paper I made from which I created this guy. 

3 Red Hearts Decorative Gift Box

Had to make a couple more boxes for the upcoming show!

For more information, click here!

Crab Art

"Crab In Red" - 6"x 6" - mixed media collage

One thing I've noticed by doing the art festivals this summer is that when people see my banner, "crabulous fine art" they expect to see crabs. They're not sure if it's paintings of crabs or paintings made with crabs, but they want to see crabs. One gentleman came in, took a quick look around and demanded, "Where are the crabs?!?" I then pointed to my husband and myself and when he saw our name tags he "got" it.

But, I always have at least one piece of crab art available. And since I sold my last piece at the last show, I'm busily making more for the one coming up next weekend. I'm planning on three pieces that will work singly, but also look great all together (and there will be a special price for buying all three).

The crab above is the first of the three. It is not available on Etsy. They will not be available for purchase until the show on Saturday. 

No Spring Chicken

"No Spring Chicken" - 8x10 - Mixed Media Collage

If you believe that the Pottery Barn catalog is the bible for interior designers, then you'll have faith that rustic bird paintings are the "in" thing right now. That may or may not be true, but I was prompted to try one of my own. lol!

Simplicity

"Simplicity" - 8x10 - Mixed Media Collage

One of my fondest memories as a child is spending hours with my mother in JC Penney in the fabric department. Because I was short waisted, long-legged and super abnormally tall for my age, my mother had no choice but to make my clothes for me. She has always had a fine eye for design and color and I have to admit I was delighted in the clothes she made. I can still remember some of the first dresses she made me at the age of 5 and how I felt absolutely beautiful in them. One in particular was a black, sleeveless, summer dress with tiny bouquets of forget-me-nots strewn all over the fabric and shiny, faceted black buttons. I thought that dress was magical!

As I grew older and formed some of my own opinions, I had the best time choosing my own patterns and fabrics and with Mom's help, selecting the notions and/or accessories, such as zippers, belts, lace and buttons. Oh, but especially the buttons!

I gave it my best shot, but sewing has just never come easily for me; therefore, my mother continued to make my clothes for me clear through high school, even though by that time I could generally wear off-the-rack fashions. The dresses she made for me were always prettier than anything you could buy.

Given the opportunity, I just had to purchase used clothing patterns when I discovered, with the help of a friend, a supply of them at Goodwill when I was visiting my hometown recently. Oh the memories! So don't be surprised if this is not the only pattern piece I make.

Masking Tape Series #1

Once again, a series of canvases that all began nearly the same, but had completely different endings!

It began with the new magenta paint I love so much. And when it dried, I added some strips of masking tape.

Next I painted over everything, tape and all, in cerulean blue. And added some more masking tape.

Then I painted over all that in Titan Buff.

Then the masking tape came off and I had a very linear look.

So I squiggled on a few more colors that I like.

I took a home made stamp and smashed up the squiggles a little bit.

Looking through my lace papers, I decided I wanted to use Ogura lace.

Ogura lace is wrapped around the canvas.

And with a couple more steps it becomes "Goldfinch" - 8x10 - Mixed Media Collage. Can be purchased on Etsy.

The Earth's Crust As It Appeared On Thursday

"The Earth's Crust As It Appeared On Thursday" - 11x14 - Mixed Media Collage

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

Every once in awhile you begin a composition that just defies you. It refuses to cooperate and end up looking lovely. I set out to create a collage depicting terracotta pots filled with nasturtiums. It's a favorite subject of mine and one I haven't done in a long while. At the end of the day it was such a mess that in order to prevent myself from fooling with it any longer I covered it with a layer of paint. The next morning, I realized that a layer of paint wasn't enough and I proceeded to smear modeling paste and coarse pumice gel all over it, too. And then I started sticking things in it. It's way over the top for me, but somehow immensely, personally satisfying. And yes, I did it on a Thursday!

Yes! I'm Working!

It's been so long since I've posted anything, I thought I'd better submit proof that I'm actually working. Don't have a finished product to show, but here are snippets from today's studio session.

Crabs

"Crabs" - 8x8 - Mixed Media Collage
Click Here to Purchase on Etsy

It was time for another crab image. After all...

More Scrap Collages

You know very well that I love making abstract collages from my paper scraps. They come in handy in so many ways later on. They're good for backgrounds, they're good for subject matter, they're just fun! And making them is akin to therapy. I just let my mind wander and subconsciously focus on color. I've made these two this week to use in two different art pieces which are currently under construction.

New Beginnings

8x8 Canvas - ready for more fun!

By now I know you know just how excited I am by the prospect of a blank canvas. This morning I had three of them. I laid out a palette of paints in my favorite shades of blue and turquoise (with some purple thrown in for good measure) and just started covering canvases and any other blank sheets of paper I could get my hands on. I have no idea, yet, what my subject matter will be on any of them. That's part of the fun. Waiting to see what the paint will suggest to me. 

A blank canvas represents a new adventure, a new journey; no passport required. Just a suspension of belief and a sureness that you can make magic.

After I finished covering canvases, I spread the paint over the palette paper and added tiny blue star confetti. I will one day use this in a collage.

The Paisley Bathtub

"The Paisley Bathtub" - 5x7 - Mixed Media Collage

I think this has to be my favorite "bathing beauty" to date. If I could have a paisley claw foot tub, don't you know, I absolutely would! And most definitely a head wrap to match.

Retrospective Part 5

Collage

"Geisha" - Collage - 9x12 - 2007

Since this is the final day at Mom's this is the last part of this particular Retrospective series; although it could go on much, much further. I swear, it's like being in the Kristeena Crabb Museum of Art! 

I began to dabble in collage during the summer of 2001. After creating about a dozen pieces and exhibiting them in a well received show, I went back and forth between collage and pastel until mid 2004 when I took up collage exclusively. In fact, I no longer even own any soft pastels.

"The Long Rainy Day" - Collage - 6x15 - 2008