Back in the Saddle Again

Finally, I'm going to start blogging again. Its been a virtual lifetime since my last post, so now that my life is on a new path, I'd like to get back to my art. My sister Charlene and I have decided to try using Etsy as a venue for showcasing our work together. I'll post a link as soon as we have the shop up and running. We'll call ourselves Suite Nirvana after the lovey art studio that I work in, up in the coastal redwoods of Carmel Valley. I'll post photos of that spot later as well. In the meantime, here's the first group of objects that we completed together. They're wooden cubes with wires attached, that we've painted decoupaged and finished. The papers are adorable, we found them at a local craft shop, and spent a couple of days playing with them, and sharing our ideas, then made about a half dozen. We also decorated some metal tin containers I had left from another project. I'll post photos of both. It feels so good to be back on track, and settled enough to focus on art once again.

A new journal

This Journal was created using a standard composition book. I modified both outside covers and inside panels with collage art. This is the front. I uses a combination of digital images, altered, distressed, and painted cardstock papers, ephemera, stamps, inks, and doily scraps. I finished with a white gel pen.

Like a Bird

I have finally created a new piece. My muse has run away from home, but I decided to create something without her. This piece is based on a Leonard Cohen song. The first few lines go like this:
Like a bird
on the wire
Like a drunk
In the midnight choir
I have tried
In my way
To be free

This song has been rattling around in my head forever. This is mostly collage, some distressed painted board, stamps, ink, rub-ons, and embellishments. In my enthusiasm, I created this piece to be about 9x12, but my scanner is about 8x11.5 so I couldn't scan the entire piece. But, oh, well, you get the idea. I'm just thrilled to be creating again.

sweet dreams

and glad awakenings be thine

This is a piece I created for a dear friend's birthday. He is going through a rather transformational year. I'm not sure if he is awakening from a deep sleep or if he has fallen into a trace lately. Happy birthday, dreamer.

On a Roman Holiday

I will be away from the country and my studio for a month while I travel through Italy. Hopefully I will return fresh and inspired by the many muses who dwell in that beautiful country.

Aurora

A Journal Spread for an Art Garage project entitled Magikal women. I'm feeling rather dreamy and romanitic at the moment , and my art is reflecting this.

This Is SO You

This ATC is for a swap I did via my Paper Traders group. The card is supposed to exemplify your typical style. My art just reflects my mood and attitude at the time of creation, and the day I made these I was thinking Spring and new beginnings.

Le Reputation de Teint

This art spread is for Keron's Paper Trader Journal entitled Le Reputation de Teint

These are her instructions:

Go to your local paint store, pick a colour chip you like the name of and use it as the inspiration for subject of the page. The PAINT chip needs to be included, with its name on it.

I happened to have these paint chips lying about, having saved them from a bedroom remodel I did last year, and since they are a favorite combination of mine, the spread was a delight to compose. This woman is one of Leonardo's, I love the subtle but rich colors in her face, and the absolute symmetry of her features.