For Creatives...from Ira Glass

He's talking about stories, but this seems true about any creative endeavor...for me, it's photography.




Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

Alligator

from a little online Carla Sonheim tutorial...for Cindy and Pam.

Gus, at night

Photograph.  Watercolor.

More watercolor efforts.  

I really hope to get my camera out this weekend.

Creative Pursuits

After coming home from Inspired! in May, I've been very interested in art journaling.  A key part of the art journaling has been trying various things: making my own journal, testing various supplies I already own such as paints, watercolors, stamps, stencils...some collage, even drawing.

The interwebs have connected me to wonderful artists who post tutorials on their sites or youtube.  One I found was on Carla Sondheim's site...part of the Make It Easy 11 days of tutorials.

So here is my effort.  It's an iPhone picture because my trusty all in one printer doesn't work with my new MacBookPro so can't scan things in.  phhhppppttthhhhpppttt.

Anyway, I haven't had much chance to photograph lately, so I've been cutting, pasting, painting, coloring and staying in touch with my creative side.

In other news, the basil or dill (can't tell which) has [finally] started coming up.  Unfortunately the feral cat feels that part of the flower bed is prime sand box area.  Good thing I started some in pots on the deck.

Inspired!

I was fortunate enough to participate in the last Inspired! Artist Workshop this past week.  Donna Downey arranged this event for the last four years, with around 200 women participating each year.  The community, the atmosphere, the enthusiasm as well as the instructors made it a wonderful experience.  I met several wonderful people, two in particular - hi Brenda and Debbie - who were the icing on the art cake.

Below is a series of photos of the results of the classes I took.

Alisa Burke's class on surface design of fabrics (you can then use the fabric to create apparel, home decor, etc):

Lolly Chessie's class - we took some everyday items - jute, canvas, felt, hot glue- and made an art piece.  Mine doesn't do it justice because I fizzled out during the hot gluing of jute, but you get the idea.  And maybe I'll add the rest of the jute.  Maybe.

Perhaps the most surprising thing I did - a bag from recycled plastic trash.  All you needed was an iron and a sewing machine.  Look out friends, I may be making you some grocery bags for Christmas this year and get rid of all those plastic bags I have in my basement.

A petite doll painting from Suzi Blu's class:

From Trish Seggebruch's encaustic class - and perhaps my favorite result - this was painting with wax a layer at a time and adding texture and pattern along the way.

And finally, the jewelry we decorated and assembled in Becky Nunn's class.  This was great fun.  Although I used my glue water to wet my transfer images (it worked anyway).

It was a great week.

Ahoy, Valentine!

You're the Best!

My stamping left a little to be desired, but I like the banner!

Homemade Valentines

In a fit of creativity, I made some valentines for family and friends using old pages from a German poetry book, watercolors and cardboard. 

I was thinking I could mail them as postcards, but now I think I have to round up some envelopes.  And quickly.