Wednesday, October 31, 2007

ooooo...

and a Happy, spooky, shivery, sugar-filled Halloween to you!


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Monday, October 29, 2007

Treasures, Etsy style

Today I happened to be in the right place at the right time and I scored myself an Etsy treasury! For those of you unfamiliar with Etsy, the treasury is a section of the site where people can "curate" their own display of pieces, usually the work of other Etsy sellers. To be honest, I am not exactly certain why this is so darned popular, but the fact remains that it is, and that it is very difficult to become a curator. This is because it is only possible to get one when there are less than 222 in all. When the amount hits that special number, anyone who happens to be around can click in and win!

I am suspicious that part of the draw of having a treasury is the feeling of accomplishment at having managed to get one.

That said, it was fun to find a selection of items out of the vast inventories on the site. My theme was dusty pink, and I found a wide variety of items that fit in that color scheme - you can have a look here!

I also posted another little felted lady in my shop. She is a flower child, I think, with a penchant for running barefoot through clover fields. She is also a dancer, light on her feet and fond of pirouettes.


You can find more pictures and a description of this tiny dancer here.

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Sunday, October 28, 2007

The littlest witch


This little lady was just posted to my shop. You may remember her from this post a little while ago, but now she has explored a little out of doors, and she is ready to travel further to a new home!


To see more, visit her in my shop!

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Friday, October 26, 2007

October gold

In October there is treasure in Vermont. Gold and copper fall from the trees and drift across the grass. The mountains glow.


I laugh at the leaf-peepers, but honestly, they come to see a magnificent show!

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Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Organization! Oh Joy!

I am feeling great today because I had a terrific lunch with C, then successfully ran errands, went for a nice long walk along the lake with the pup, and now I get to organize my fabrics! The stash has been piled up for so long, I forget what I even have. Every so often I paw through and pull out my favorites of the day, which end up creating their own stacks elsewhere until they are shoved aside in a continous, unorganized cycle. But I've had enough! Not to mention, Ramona has discovered the joys of chewing on stuffing materials, and I am somewhat afraid my fabrics will be her next victims. So today bins were purchased, and now I am off to sort and fold and tidy. Its all pretty exciting.


This drawing has nothing whatsoever to do with anything, but I don't like to leave you pictureless!

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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Drawings and Sketchings and Playing in Photoshop

These are two copies of one of my drawings, scanned and minimally messed with in Photoshop. Nothing fancy, just a little color. What I think is neat is how different they look with the different color schemes.


I would like to do some serious color theory studying, one of these days when I have nothing else to accomplish. Along with my serious dive into graphic design theory and how to effectively illustrate and how to make the perfect chocolate cake. Why must I have so many interests?


People think artists live an easy life, playing with paint and doodling in ink. Any serious artist can tell you it is sometimes closer to a curse, this overwhelming drive to create against all odds.

Ay me. Do I sound a little scattered? Its been a long day. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to show you some little people who have recently come to stay with me...

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Sunday, October 21, 2007

ok, so I'm addicted to Etsy...

I'm not going to lie. I have been spending waaaay too much time lately perusing the pages of Etsy.com. I'm not quite sure why, even. I guess it is just that there are so many talented people all gathered together, and they are real! I especially like the forums, getting the inside scoop on the artists and artisans. Fun. And time consuming.

If this is going to work for me, I need to get off the internet and get working on items to post and, ideally, sell! I have a couple little needle felted dolls who will make an appearance once they are clothed and presentable. And some embroidery. And possibly some drawings... I have lots of in-progress projects going on, but no pictures of them at the moment.

In lieu of my own photos, have a look at some of the totally beautiful things I came across in blind obedience to my addiction:

>>>exquisite simplicity
>>>brilliant!
>>>so clean and modern
>>>adorable, in a kinda creepy way
>>>lovely, as are all the rest of her pieces

Now I will move away from the computer... maybe there is time for a bit of my own creativity before sleeping!

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Friday, October 19, 2007

Oh what a beautiful day!

or is it another manifestation of global warming?


I would imagine the fight to curb global warming and climate change would have a lot more momentum if the short term effects were not so wonderfully appealing! Here it is, in Northern Vermont, the middle of October and - what, 65-70 degrees? It feels wrong, terribly wrong, but oh so horribly fine!

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Thursday, October 18, 2007

Ghosts and Ghouls


Its a bit funny, considering how much I love costume and dressing up and all, how much I always disliked Halloween. Even as a child, I felt strange doing the rounds, beggin complete strangers for candy. Of course, I loved the candy. So I always did it. But it seemed somewhat rude.

I always had funny costumes, maybe I was just a strange child. One of my favorites (I think it appeared more than once) was a "bow girl" - a costume invented by my mom in which I covered my dress with little safety pin bows, which I then handed out to people. So random.



Anyway, this year, I plan to join in the "Bloglandia" Halloween celebration - no begging involved! You can join in the fun as well - go here to learn all about it!

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Tuesday, October 16, 2007

What a mess!

I took a stab at drip painting last night. Or perhaps, in my case, "squirt and dribble painting" would be a better way of describing it. I had an brilliant idea and visions of nicely dripped figures, but as you can see, things didn't go exactly as planned.


The "brilliant" idea was to thin some acrylic paint with liquid enamel, put it in a plastic bag, and squirt it out like frosting. Thinking it over, this technique might work great on a large canvas (I will have to try it and report back), but on the small surfaces I was using, it was all just rather silly. And messy.



Sometimes the paint went where I intended, at other times it shot out unexpectedly in the opposite direction. My kitchen resembled the scene of a horrible accident, but I did have a fun time and that was really the point afterall.



After the red paint, I added drops of India ink with an eyedropper. More mess, more fun.

I have some other projects in the works... more on them later!

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Monday, October 15, 2007

Autumn colors

My yard is somewhat overrun with squirrels, horrible little beasts! They managed to erase the entire bed of beans I planted, as well as the carrots, and tried their best with the cucumbers and tomatos, although the scarcity of the former, and my vigilance on the latter, thwarted the thieves a bit.


Being something of a color addict, I enjoy looking at tomatos. The red of a fresh, homegrown tomato seems to emanate summer light. They glow.


The apples aren't my own, but once I start photographing food I usually get a little carried away.

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Saturday, October 13, 2007

What to do?

So I have this doll's head, made quite some time ago and still in need of a body. It has travelled with me from Toronto to Vermont, and has not made any progress. The head is made with a wire armature, covered in fabric which was then gessoed and painted. It sits on bare wire shoulders and has a small soft cloth torso.


Perhaps it can become an interesting puppet? I just don't know, but I always feel guilty leaving half finished dolls lying around, especially when they have faces. I know I would be frustrated in their situation!

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Friday, October 12, 2007

Fresh Basil!

I picked my basil plants clean a couple days ago. It has been unseasonably warm here, but at some point reality is bound to return and the frosts will come - this is Vermont after all! So no more fresh basil. It is now nicely dried and crushed in a jar in my pantry. I think I will be set for quite a while!


It makes me feel good to dry things. Like I am honestly settling in for the winter, although at this point all I have is dried basil and dried carrots. They probably wouldn't last me long in dire need, but its a gesture..



(and I also posted a new painting in my etsy shop - have a look?)

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Monday, October 8, 2007

I'm putting up my shingle...

Isn't that what it's called, when you open up shop?

Today I finally placed some items for sale on Etsy. I signed up in - May? I think? - and it has taken me this long to overcome the mental block of putting my stuff out there. I think I subscribe to the philosophy, albeit involuntarily, that as long as things are not tried, there is always the possibility that they will work. Conversely, there is no chance that they will not work, which I think is more to the point. But of course that means that there is also no opportunity that they will work, so I am attempting to overcome that way of thinking and jump right in!


The first jump is five paintings, listed this afternoon. I realize that fine art, and especially paintings such as these, might not be the biggest sellers on Etsy, geared as it is towards jewelry and other more crafty items. I plan to list some other things soon, dolls and bags and the like. I would love if you would have a look, and I would really love feedback on the whole affair (especially from those experienced in the ways of Etsy)!

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Sunday, October 7, 2007

Inspiration

This is my grandmother. I just re-discovered these pictures, compiled onto a cd by a thoughtful uncle a few years back and nealy lost due to disc deterioration. There are pictures of all the family members, uncles, aunts, cousins, great aunts and uncles and grandparents - it is really wonderful. But my favorite by far, and the reason I am so glad that I managed to salvage the images before they were gone for good, are the pictures of my mother's mother.


Gwen, I called her Nini, was a farm girl from Wisconsin who grew up to be an artist, a mother, and a real lady. She was fashionable in her own special way - often ahead of her time. She was a painter and a silversmith - her jewelry designs are bold and modern and would probably be sought after if she had ever sold any. As it is, the women in her family treasure her pieces. I receieved one for my graduation gift from my mother and it is one of the most cherished items I own.


Nini died right before I graduated from high school. Since then, there have been so many times I wished she could know what I am doing. I think that she would appreciate the work I am doing, and be proud of her influence on my artistic life. Looking at these pictures, especially the later ones, I wish that I could have known her as a person, instead of only as my grandmother. I wish I could know her thoughts on subjects with which I am now grappling - I feel that we would have had a similar outlook, except that she would have the wisdom and experience of many years beyond me.

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Thursday, October 4, 2007

Other People's Work

These are two websites I recently completed, and of which I am rather proud. Of course, it helps that the artists to whom they belong are incredibly talented, have a look and see for yourself...




*** Warning: A Bit of Shameless Self-promotion Coming Up ***

If you are looking to have a website, drop me an email. I work through Studio STK, where we build affordable websites for artists and small businesses. We also do promotional material design. I love a challenge and I love the design process and I love working with people's artwork. You don't even have to live around here - that's what the web is for, right?

*** that's all ***

Have a lovely Thursday!

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Monday, October 1, 2007

A beautiful painter

I just received my copy of ArtNews in the mail, and learned that the painter Elizabeth Murray has died. Now, I didn't actually know who Elizabeth Murray was - my recognition of the names of modern artists is embarrassingly limited, I mean, there are just so many of them! But after reading the page about her in the magazine, I went looking online, and I am just so enthralled with her work!

In reading a bit more about Murray, I came across this quote: ..."deep down, most artists are on the edge of feeling that what they do is absolutely meaningless - and that's the fun of it" (original article here). It is so reassuring to hear that, coming from a professional artist who has gained worldwide recognition for her work. Reassuring in that my own periodic sense of this meaninglessness is validated, and encouraging in that Murray found it to be a source of joy.

I think that this takes a different way of perceiving reality than do most other aspects of life - a desire for fulfillment on another level and an ability to let go of, perhaps unconscious, restrictions and limitations. It inspires me to think in this way.

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