What I've Been Up To This Year--Creatively Speaking

 It's been a while since I've been here, but I'm always in my art studio every day--just neglecting my blog. I'm more active on my Facebook and Instagram pages, but I feel that I need to re-visit my blog here since it was my first venture on the web and I've met many online friends because of it.  I'll never stop blogging, just not as much.

So, what have I been up to--I've been playing with paint and collage and some assemblage (finding lots of great flea market finds too!)

I started out the year painting (my first love) with mainly acrylics and painting some of my favorite things (or animals in this case)...horses, giraffes, and elephants...in a whimsy style way...

They all ended up in barnwood frames that I collaged my painted papers on to like this giraffe--

I took that giraffe and put her on a cigar box--

didn't stop there--

I always enjoy making these boxes!

And this time of year, I will usually make some circus assemblages--here's just a couple of what I made--

When I make these I try to use mostly items that I find at flea markets, thrift stores, yard sales, etc (sometimes gifted to me too!) I'm always amazed at what I can find--it's definitely a 'treasure' hunt and you know the saying--"one man's treasure is another man's junk"--some people probably wonder why I get so excited when I find these things--but I know just where they are going to end up :-)

Some of my favorite finds from this year....SO FAR....

I can never pass up old cameras or photos.  Half the fun of making assemblage art, for me, is looking for my 'supplies'

So I've been busy with my little treasures (getting ready for my BIG show in October)--and here's a couple--

I call this one--Bird Watching

His and Hers

So, this is just a sampling of what I've been doing--I love what I do and so happy that I can do this every day.  I hope you can find the time to do what makes you happy--makes all the difference!

Till next time.....

Filling my Etsy Shop

 It's been a long time since I've posted here--getting back to a bit of normal around here and enjoying it, so needless to say,  I've been very busy and active in a good way.  I've still been making art and playing in my journal.  I post on Facebook just about every day, but I've really neglected my blog here.  I'm hoping to get back into it now that the winter (the dark days) is fast approaching.

But I do have to say that my favorite season is happening right now, and around here Fall lasts for about 3 weeks before the cold comes in, so I'm enjoying it as long as it sticks around and it has been more than usual this year.  Love the brisk air, the changing of the leaves, the specialty foods! and everything else that comes along with this season.

And I'm winding down from all my preparations from my gigantic show that I had in October--it was amazing--the people that came and supported all of us artists was overwhelming!

I've had time now for myself and was able to add items in my Etsy shop   plus make some new Christmas items for it.  Here's a sampling of what you can find there:

And also I've added my Christmas cards--can be purchased individually or  as a set:

You can find everything HERE

I hope to be back soon with new art and what I've been up to--hope you all are getting back to a normal life after this last crazy year we've had and enjoy the holidays that are coming up!

February-- Art Playing Discoveries, Lifebook 2021, and More Etsy

 I've been doing a lot of playing in February and cleaning and sorting--not much else to do in this part of the country--too cold!  So every time I go to de-clutter and 'clean' I end up stopping and making art, because I find little things that I've forgotten about and then discover that I can put them together to make some art pieces--like these--

I've also been discovering new art supplies again--this time--Stabilo CarbOthello pastel pencils.  I've always loved the look that you get from chalk pastels but not the mess--these eliminate a lot of that mess, but you get the same result as a hard pastel--

 they blend beautifully too--love them!

 And another new discovery--the artist Jenny Manno--I first found her when I took a small online class from her and realized how much I loved her style, and then found out she had a Facebook group  called Next JENeration Art (with lots of prompts) which anyone can join and also a great you tube channel--every Tuesday she puts up a video sharing different art supplies and demonstrations--she focuses mainly on quirky portraits, but just learning about the supplies alone are very generous on her part.  Here's one (out of the many prompts on her Facebook group page) that I tried--

I made her with mainly the CarbOthellos--lots of fun art playing in Jenny's group!

And still loving Lifebook 2021--such a supportive and talented  community there--really happy with my latest portrait from Tam's (Willowing) lesson--

and another lesson about celebrating yourself--I put my own variation on it, but the message is still there--

Meanwhile back in my Etsy Shop I've been adding more art.  I 've decided to cut down on the number of art shows that I used to do (not sure what this year will bring anyway) and focus on more online business.  I  really do enjoy getting out there and meeting like-minded people at shows and fellow artists, but I don't enjoy the setting up and tearing down of a display and huge tent that's only been up for 2 days, not to mention about worrying if the weather will be bad.  I'm rambling here, so let me just show you what I've been up to this month for Etsy (remember--I've been trying to declutter my art room and house :-)

I've been having lots of fun!  You can find these HERE.  Hope to see you next month when Spring (hopefully) will be in the air!!

  

My Art Retreat in September

 I  prepared  for it  all  year,  and  in a  second, it  seems, it's  over, and  it  was  so  much  fun  and especially  needed  this  year!  There were  a  total  of  6  of  us, and  the  just  the  right  number  for  a  comfortable  working  distance  from each  other,  with  this  year's  weird  circumstances.

and  the  best  part  were  all of  these art supplies   together  and  being  able  to   play  for  3  days (leaving all of our other outside problems at the door)--

This year was all about faux encaustic and polymer clay.  I became interested in polymer clay when I saw that I could use it as an element in my mixed media art pieces, and I wanted to show the versatility of this very forgiving medium.  Here are the results of the class--

The best part about this is how their creavity took over and helped them express themselves.  I  showed  them  the techniques  and  told them to stand  our of their own way, and that's what they did.   

This  retreat went way  too  fast  that's for sure--can't  wait  till next year!

 

July Art --Plus Summer

This  year  summer  has  been  a  bit  different  than usual--goes  without  saying,  but  I  have  to  say  I  have  been  enjoying  it.  I'm  always so  busy  and  not  taking  advantage  of   this  great  time  of  year  to  just  relax,  so  I  am  appreciating  that.   First  off,  I  went  blueberry  picking  with  my  daughter  and  grandson--something  I've never  had  time  to do  before,  and  this  is  now  a  weekly  thing-

  -

Beautiful  and  delicious!

So  here's  what  I  did with  some  of  them--

First  time  I've  ever  made  these--turned  out  wonderful!

So  besides  visiting  the  beach,  the  only  thing  I've  done  this  summer  are  a  few  antique  stores  and  just  one  flea  market  (which  I  miss  the  most),  but  I  found  some  great  treasures,  and  they  helped  me  make  some  fun  art.   When  I  make  these  shadowbox/assemblage  pieces  I  first  like  to  gather.....

and  then  put  it  together,  finding  even  more  to  add  to  the  story  as  I  go--

I  had  some  Shirley  Temple  books  for  at  least  a  year  now,  just  waiting....

and  then  recently  I  found  Shirley  Temple--

This  piece  basically  put  itself  together  once  I  found  Shirley  :-)

And more  fun  in  my  journal (I'm  getting  lots  of  inspiration  from  Pinterest!)--I'm  committed  now  to  fill this  entire  journal  up  and  even  make  a  cover  for  it--something  I've  never  done  before...

And  lots  of  new  art,  most  of  which  is  now  in  my  Etsy Shop.   This  year  is  definitely  different  than  any  other  year  as  far  as  selling  my  art  and  I  appreciate  all  of  the  support  I  am  getting  through  my  Etsy  sales,  but  I  sure  do  miss  getting  out  there  and  talking  to  avid  art  lovers  and  fellow  artists  at  my  different  shows.

Here is  just  some  of  my  art  you  can  find  in  my  shop--

And  back  to  Summer--we  grew  tomatoes  this  year,  and  they're  on  their  way!