In the Name of Art

Shirley Poppies and Wild Grass

The yard is in full bloom and the poppies must like the added warmth because they are a riot of color! All are from seed that are dead-headed through the year and come up the next. Even the the wild grasses at the bottom are volunteers. Last year they jumped the driveway because it's sunnier over there, it tickles me to think about plants scanning sunny spots and "deciding" to move to a better locale!

Butterflies!

I haven't seen this many red admirals since I was 5 and captured them lighting on the street to sun their wings.There must have been dozens of these today! Along with wood bees buzzing around and bullying the butterflies. They didn't pay any attention to me so I got some good shots....the other at the top is a "question mark butterfly. That's new to me!

A Little Christmas Luck and Page 2

Late in December, some Christmas luck picked fresh today after my morning walk. There was snow on these but I couldn't catch that. I'm getting pretty good at spotting these amongst all the 3-leafed varieties.

.....and page 2 from the gifted journal with the paper-bag pages. Dog news and such. The new pups have no respect for our old lady dog, she's the last of the old guard and all her friends at the lake have passed on. 

A Season and the Journal

This week I finished up with some ATCs for the exchange and did way too much printmaking. Going up to the lake I threw the extras into one of my (numerous) collage bags and then looked for a poem in the green journal to suit the visuals. Looking at the riches discarded by trees brought the writing on, that and the season. Writing is not my strong suit and I can't plot to save my soul but the short takes come to me occasionally. This is one of them. 

The open drawer with the ink rolled out. I love printmaking but don't do much of it, lucky for me the love translated into all the materials I need should the impulse strike.

Some of what I was working with. The curled leaf was so beautiful when I picked it up, not the color but the form.

Many prints of an old self-portrait and other parafenalia, then they had to dry so I patched some old jeans.

Was privileged today to see a kingfisher perched just outside my window on the bird feeder. He had a good view of the lake that way and wasn't interested in the seed. Coots and buffle-headed ducks are on the lake today too. I keep my old binoculars close at hand.

Paper bag Pages (More)

Left is from the OCS excursion to Dayton and right is the list and musings for the solo show in Cuyahoga Falls. I'm not certain what to put in the other pages so I may just count ordinary events and use it for that!

At Bare Root, More Reception

First ones there, Katina (she and I have a show coming up next year) and the Queen of Collage, Gretchen. The work at far left that is partially cut off became mine later....it is fabulous!

Pastor Steve and wife Donna before they sped off to Cleveland to see their daughter in a play.

Don Parssison and wife Diane. Don is outgoing president of Artists of Rubber City and the driving force behind The Box Gallery at Summit ArtSpace on the 3rd floor.

Dear friends Sue and Kathy, they didn't get out without buying something.

I probably wouldn't arrange for a solo show very often but my experience with Studio 2091 was so positive I believe I'll plan for another in a couple years! 

Solo Show: At Bare Root

Mom, Pop and me with Amy (gallery owner extordinaire) in the background. 

A view, sort of, of the main wall that I had planned out in July. In the center is my friend Nancy and her guest. 

Some more of the crowd, it's a good thing Karen bought some cookies, I was sorely lacking on the sweet front. Super Aunts Tammy and Pam behind the kids.

I hope to have more shots up later, I'm still walking on air with attendance around 300 in 2 hours, it was a crowd! We were thinking maybe 75. But the food held out and it was good to see all the work up (a first, I've had pieces and parts up but never 40 pieces all at once). 

Huge thanks to Studio 2091 and Amy (who is a force of nature) who made it possible.....I've been so busy with the show I haven't had much time to post, but I hope to do that more frequently now.

Glammerspoofe

Hudson Fine Art and Framing holds a fund raiser each year for The Gathering Place, a cancer support facility in NE Ohio and this is the 2nd year I've donated work. Last year's entry was a collage but this year I decided to enter something entirely different and paint with acrylic. If you follow this blog, occasionally these odd curvy gals show up in my journals, this is the first to be a bona fide painting and go out in public. They're almost too sweet but they are a remnant of how I perceived glamour when I was very young and spent a great deal of time drawing "beautiful ladies".  The concept of Glammerspoofe may also become part of my hanging collage series.....

In the Style File

Seth Apter's blog, The Altered Page is featuring art with statements from artists about their work and I'm part of this week's mix:

 The Altered Page

This blog is a terrific resource for anyone who wants to browse the altered arts, collage and everything else, but be warned, you may find yourself spending a lot of time there!

June is in the Yard

.....and she is having a party to celebrate her entrance! The evidence:

...and this last one isn't so impressive visually but the fragrance of wild honeysuckle fills the backyard! Kinda makes me wish I painted flowers!