Purple Iris Woven Throw Pillow

Well, you know I couldn't help myself. 

Woven Throw Pillow

Purple Irises

"Purple Irises" - Enhanced Digital Photo available at Society 6

Tangy Zoodle #110

Tangy Zoodle #110

Playing with a purple Micron pen! And, of course, some new tangle designs.

Peace Butterfly

Wednesday morning, while having breakfast, I decided to take this little butterfly which I recently created and turn her into something useable or wearable. You can find products with her likeness at the following links.

Mugs & stuff

Cool, homey things

All kinds of bags

All styles of T-shirts

After I did that, it was time for lunch. I call that a good morning's work.

Purple Bird Decorative Gift Box

I think there's no explanation needed. Just please enjoy the photos! :)

For more information or to purchase - click here!

Maximum Flight

"Maximum Flight" - 4x12 - Mixed Media CollageAvailable on Etsy

On Monday, May 7, I received a text message that my daughter-in-law was in labor and I hastily packed a bag and drove 90 miles to be there when my grandson, Max, was delivered early the next morning.

When I returned, home (a week later) I saw the piece I was working on when I got the call still lying on my work table and decided to name it in honor of my new grandson.

On the flip side of the emotional coin, before returning home from Maryland, I swung up through Pennsylvania to pick up artwork from the Yellow Springs show. This show has always been very successful for me, so it was a kick in the gut to discover that this year I sold nothing except for one bin piece. After commission and the price of gas to make the 230 mile round trip twice (once to drop off; once to pick up) not to mention the time spent... well it's probably a loss.

In the world of art, nothing is guaranteed and counting your chickens before they hatch is certainly a dangerous proposition. And things go in runs, as well, and I think I've had a very good run there and have certainly enjoyed my experience working with the enthusiastic volunteers at Yellow Springs.

So for now, I'm going to focus on local venues and trying to promote sales in this area. crabulous fine art is getting ready to embark on its first ever season of outdoor shows and festivals, so it will be a whole new adventure.

Flamingo, Party Of One

"Flamingo, Party Of One"Available on Etsy 

Tall, long skinny legs and a style all their own? Well of course I like flamingos!

Jacobean Flowers

"Jacobean Flowers" - 7.5x8.75 - Mixed Media Collage
Available on  Etsy  

Yes, I know. More whimsy. I'm not sure what's bringing this on, but I'm rolling with it. 

When I was a teenager, back in the 70's, I really got into doing needlework. I'd buy kits and make pictures, doorstops, etc. I was really drawn to patterns that were referred to as "Jacobean" as I loved the fantasy-like flowers depicted in them. I got pretty good at crewel work and became a master at French and bullion knots as well as the more pedestrian satin and chain stitches. 

Wanting to create designs of my own, my mother made a muslin smock-top for me that I stitched on as the mood struck. I also had a short, short pair of cut off denims that I also stitched on and practically wore as a uniform for more than one summer. 

Long story short, the flowers I've created in this piece remind me of those needle craft days. The background layer of paper is actually a piece of paper that I made one summer. You can almost always identify paper that I've made because it has glitter in it!

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.

Hydrangea Crabulata

"Hydrangea Crabulata" - 10x10 - Mixed Media Collage

I've done so many paintings of hydrangeas over time that I've run out of names. So, I decided to name my own variety. Of course my special hybrid has seed pearls growing in the flower centers.

Retrospective Part 4

Florals

"Ceramic Birds & Morning Glory Vase" - Pastel - 11x14 - 1998

Ultimately, flowers became my favorite subject matter. My mother has always been an avid gardener and I grew up following her around the yard asking the names of all the flowers and learning the difference between annuals and perennials. I learned to love flowers, but somehow, not gardening. :\  Don't get me wrong. I love to plant flowers, but whether they live or die is up to them.

Anyway, creating images of flowers, in all mediums, is a huge source of joy. Interestingly enough, the flowers in this first image were from my yard (obviously something survived my rather crude gardening methods). I had just made a breakthrough in my handling of pastels and was having a great time with them. What I love most about this painting, though, are the ceramic birds and vase. They had been made by my grandmother almost 40 years earlier. I realize that when she made these she must have been around the same age I am now.

"Nasturtiums II" - Pastel - 16x17 - 1999

The nasturtiums in this second image also came from my yard. Hmmm... maybe I'm a little more into gardening than I realize. I absolutely adore nasturtiums and enjoy representing them in collage, too.

"Blue Vase - Pastel - 11x14 - 2002

This final piece of pansies (also grown by me) was painted as a homework assignment for a pastel workshop I was taking. Fact of the matter is, I never went back after the first session. The instructor was such a flake. Work was never really accomplished in the classroom unless the "energy was right." Most of the time he just talked about painting. I must have gotten something out of it though. This image was made in response to his encouragement to think about composition a little differently and I rather like the way it turned out. 

Mauve Note Card

Another note card. This time using a lavender-ish fiber paper. Actually, it's hard to even call it paper. It's just a lot of fibers loosely woven together. It kind of, sort of reminds me of shredded wheat. Also in this note card is my now infamous "scream" paper. So called because it reminds my friend Denny of Edvard Munch's "The Scream." Once she told me that, I could see it plain as day. As beautiful as the paper is, I will now always associate it with that famous painting.

Planets Aligning At Sunset

"Planets Aligning At Sunset" - 6x6 - Mixed Media Collage

Seriously, if you could see this many planets that close up, you'd have a terrible time with the gravitational force. You wouldn't even notice the sunset. That's why the world needs artists; to create views you couldn't enjoy otherwise. (Lol!)

Left Side

Right Side

Another Note Card

By now some of you probably suspect that I make note cards as another excuse for using glitter glue. You're probably right. ;)

The Key To The Universe As We Know It

"The Key To The Universe As We Know It" - 6x6 - Mixed Media Collage

 Once again, indulging my obsession with skeleton keys!