Squirrel!

Like most creatives, I'm easily distracted.  I'm 'supposed' to be working on Tracy Verdugo's Abstract Mojo course, and I am - truly.

But each month I pull an art prompt from the stash (some of which I've created, some suggested by other artists, and some from Tracy.  The one for March was the latter, a request that we choose three disparate shapes and  and draw them in different sizes, layering as desired, to create an abstract.   I used a background 'in progress' piece to start and chose a necklace, a slotted spoon and a mask for the shapes.

I wanted some more punch in the shapes, so I added a yellow highlighter to all the masks, a green highlighter to the necklace, and a blue one to the spoon.

The desire to move the background into the back had me adding grey to those areas, and while I can see progress, I'd like to push it back even more.  That would be great, but - squirrel!

I received an email from Ali Manning at Vintage Page Designs to let me know that she is participating in this year's 6h Annual Sketchbook Revival, and her segment features a free tutorial for an upcycled Traveler's Journal.  So of course, I had to start one right away.  I headed down to Gleaner's (our local upcycling place extraordinaire) to purchase a book or two.  For $1 each, I found four of them, three of which are of a size that will host a project that has been sitting on one of my tables for months  years for lack of knowledge.

After removing the book block in the first one, I've added the not-yet-dried fabric to the spine, and enhanced it with my crystalline paper over part of the gorgeous endpapers on the inside cover.

I'm not certain how Thoreau would feel about the situation, but rest assured, the rest of the book will be used as well.  His writing is exquisite and will make lovely additions to collages.  I'm just so enamoured of the stunning end papers I could eat them.

Meanwhile, the in-progress abstracted floral sits on another table, waiting for some extreme help!

And a birthday card had to be created for a gym buddy - he is the most dedicated fitness guru I know, having worked out for over 50 years.  It's hard to imagine he's turning 76 - he looks well over 20 years younger.

And another table holds a host of in-progress pieces that require further extensive enhancements or more experimentation.  Truly, who could have a better life than an artist?  It's hard to imagine!

Now I'd better get back to the - oh, SQUIRREL!!!

Oh, the colour...

...at this time of the year is truly amazing, and I've been trying to remember for days to take my phone along when going walkabout.  Thank goodness I did, because I captured a smidgeon of that colour for you.

And just in case you think I've totally neglected the studio, this shot will show that's not the case.  It occurred to me this week that it's less than two months to Christmas, so card-making was surely required.  It's full on now and the chaos is explosive.  How will I find time to clear a table for pumpkin decorating tomorrow?  I've promised John that we could drip wax crayons with abandon, but it's obvious there's no space for it!!

I guess I'd better go make some room.  Have a great week, and Happy Halloween!  

Happy Easter on this Good Friday...

With the moisture in the air outside (read morning rain/hail), it's a good thing to be playing in the studio.  I've been making a card for a special milestone birthday from Gelli prints.  Luckily, Bill doesn't follow my blog, so I can post it even though it's just going in the mail today!

Bill loves country, so the boot was a perfect choice for him.  And I can blame the whole thing on Alice, his wife, who is a good friend, a fabulous artist and a card-maker extraordinaire. She's the one who taught me the joy of receiving a hand-crafted card in the mail.  

I started with a boot line drawing from the net, sized to fit the card,

and cut out a Gelli print outline with a craft knife.

I can use the cut-out for a mask the next time I need a good kick....whoops, I mean a boot.

Choosing a complementary Gelli print on a thin mulberry paper,

 I cut out the boot base and 'frilly' stuff (don't tell Bill I said that), with small sharp scizzors.

As you can see, I'm very tidy when I work.

After adding some inked lines, it's ready to glue on to the card.  Do you like it better on the cool ultramarine Gelli print,

 or the warm blue/green cardstock?

I went with the first choice, 'cause Bill is such a cool guy!  Happy birthday, Bill, and an extravaganza of many more more to come!