MERRY XMAS TO ALL !

It's come with a rush and caught me unawares...well almost.

There have been a few signs of the  festive season around the house.

....including the inevitable Xmas tree....

....and I've made a little jewellery for the occasion (sorry about the photo)

...and the odd card, that also doesn't photograph too well.

(it's actually silver, tho' it looks grey)


I guess that's as creative as I get at this time of year. Am pretty good in the kitchen and have been cooking up a storm... and sharing the bounty with lots of great friends.

That's what it's all about isn't it?

I wish you all similar joy, surrounded by family and friends.  May you all enjoy health and happiness in 2015.

When you give, you receive.

The great thing about trading ATCs is that for every one you make you get one in return.  As a result I have a growing collection of mini-art pieces from all over the world....but mostly the USA.

Cathy Calamas (USA) is one of my favourite traders.



An 'eyes' theme resulted in the following:



From Noora Jarvela, Finland.



From Debra Claxton, USA

 

Using postage stamp heads is such fun, and results in some very amusing cards.

From Barb Adams, USA

From Marion Bockelmann, Germany



Two Heads - by Corrine Gilman ,USA



Of course not all are collaged, tho' I'm a bit of a collage 'freak'.

Homage to Jasper Johns by Laura Mahutchin, USA




Beautifully drawn and painted by Debra Claxton, USA

Halloween produced some interesting cards:



From Eileen Kirkban, USA



From Mary Szymanski , USA

These are but a tiny fraction of my gallery of mini-art from all over the globe.  The best part is that I get to correspond with these clever people, and exchange ideas and inspiration.




Blogging is fun....but

You collect so many links and 'friends' when blogging that it seems that you can't keep up.  Truth is.....you CAN'T.  I hope I'm forgiven when I don't comment.  Sometimes I can't even get to read all my favourite blogs. There is SO much to see...and it's all fascinating...but time is short.

I've had a break, but don't think I've been sitting around doing nothing.

In progress:

 

(not a brilliant photo...but you get the idea)

On the easel:

Still thinking about:

ATCs I've traded recently:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...so I'm still having fun!

Remember this?

The 'Forest' painting sat in my library for a month after its last showing.  I was not happy with it at all. Every time I walked by, it whispered to me....."too much green".  Back to the studio it went.

Adding some colour was fun, and certainly an improvement, but I can still see problems with it.

I think I'll keep on working over it until the voice over my shoulder says STOP!

Am loving the many layers so far......

Studio chaos - situation normal

It has been a bone of contention with me that the studio interiors that most people show you on the net are too neat.  Nobody could possible be making art in these orderly spaces. My blogging friend, and well-known New York artist,  Seth Apter agrees.  He's doing a link-up of working studios where real artists are getting stuck into it.  I could only join in this...I had no choice! His links will be posted on 18th (USA) or 19th (Aust.).

This is the view of my studio/workshop as you walk in the door. A = the tall bench. B = where I sit by the window and work.  The arrow pointing behind my easel leads the way to the sink area.

The tall bench has paint and paper storage below, which can occasionally be tidy...but not right now.

Here I am burning the edges of vintage maps to collage into my 'dossier'....one of Seth's projects from the Art Is You Retreat.

The 'sitting' bench is a comfortable well-lit (from the window) place for stamping, etc.  You can see my 'ant' book (another Seth project), and the back page of my dossier, in progress here.

Beside the low bench is a table full of stencils, and image transfers, for use in the current project, and a table with tools....heat gun, glue gun, and sealing wax gun.

Paintings in progress next to a trolley full of paints, mediums, rags etc.

The trolley is next to shelves with various inspirational books and collage materials.

My sink area is usually quite neat in comparison to the rest. Paintings, in various stages, on the floor at right, above are painted papers hanging from a wire.

I try to keep brushes washed and ready to go again. 

Here are some more pics of Seth's projects in progress..... my Ant book, dossier, and 52 card pick-up. ( I promise I'll finish them Seth )

Of course anyone who collages knows what the floor is for.....bits of paper and drying work.  More dossier pages, and two cards.

The absolute mess of collaging! ....but I LOVE it !!!!!!

Naturally my '52 card pickup  project' had to have 'Chaos' on its cover.

front cover



back cover



a selection of cards

the wrapped pack

Check out Seth's cards HERE

I promised you photos, but.....

...who had time?  We hit the ground running.

It was SO well organised by Sallianne and Lovely Linda that we were occupied the whole time.

Me and Sallianne

We met each day at 8.45am for a group discussion, then off to class at 10am.  Morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea were arranged, and included, and class finished at 5 pm.

There were also various things arranged for the evening, but I only went to the Stencil Girl 'play' night where we had the chance to try out various stencils.  Fun.

I chose to spend all four days with Seth Apter, who has been part of my blogging life for years.

Me and Seth

This meant that I was to make a complete reconstructed book, a dossier, and 52 altered playing cards in these four days.  Not bloody likely!  But, as these were technique based workshops, we had plenty of practice at new stuff.

Needless to say all projects made good progress, but at a cost of taking photos.  So, you will just have to wait until I have completed my work for these.

IT"S PLAYTIME !!!!!

Next week I will be attending FOUR days of FABULOUS mixed media workshops with SETH APTER !!!  I've been waiting for this event for months.....and I'm getting nervous.

With my supply list in hand, I keep putting stuff in my bag, and then taking it out. I have so much in my stash it's hard to choose.

We'll be altering books..... the following are Seth's work.

We'll be making a dossier.....a handmade journal for use after the workshop is over. This will require learning some mixed media techniques and simple binding.

Seth Apter

We'll be doing what Seth calls '52 card pick-up'....altering 52 playing cards.

Seth Apter

Is that intimidating... or what!

Don't expect to hear from me for weeks!!!   After this lot I'll be doing plenty of sleeping.  The days will mostly run from about 8.30 am - 10 pm. Up 'til 5pm is workshop, then after 7pm an 'event' of some kind.   Thank heavens it's not far from home....I'll be a zombie on the road.

Eventually you'll see photos.....XXOX