31 day Challenge Continued...

Though I didn't "sketch" everyday, I did work through quite a bit during the month of January. 

A lot of it deeply personal, some of it just for fun. Most of it with the idea of expanding on pages. The book I worked in is a very small moleskine type sketchbook with thin pages. I loved the size, but wish I would have put all these in my daily visual journal. I've decided to sew the pages into my visual journal so as not to loose the pages, and to keep them in order of my life. I've come to appreciate the chronological order of my books. I can see where I have been, how my life has changed, the challenges I've faced, how I have grown or how I fight the growth. It is life. 

Day 16: "court ordered"

A very long day, sketched this while waiting for a meeting to start at the courthouse. 

Day 17:
A little bit on the lighter side. fun sketch of my Junker Jane bird that hangs out in my studio

Day 18: 

Sketched while waiting for my daughter to give a make-up presentation to her teacher. Spent the morning conferencing with all her teachers and counselor trying to figure out how to salvage the semester. She has been so ill that I've kept her home for the past three weeks. Ugh!!

Day 21: few days behind... :/
goofing around, not very successful, but what is goofing around for anyway

various inks and acrylics (mostly applied with my fingers)

After sitting with this piece for awhile I decided I do like it after all. Now I'm going to paint some larger versions on wood. 

Day 22: first night of teaching the "Savage Mirror" workshop to a few friends... 

This was the beginning of a demo.

Day 23-
2nd night of teaching my "Savage Mirror" workshop. 

This technique uses water soluble graphite and gloss medium.
I still need to add a bit of text, but I don't know what it will be just yet... waiting for her to tell me.

After much thought this quote resonated:

You get your intuition back when you make space for it, when you stop the chattering of the rational mind. The rational mind doesn’t nourish you. You assume that it gives you the truth, because the rational mind is the golden calf that this culture worships, but this is not true. Rationality squeezes out much that is rich and juicy and fascinating.”

-Anne Lamott

Day 26:
Sneak preview sketch of the piece I am working on tonight... will make it's way to Flying M tomorrow for the annual Valentine for AIDS art auction.

Day 28- 30

 And the finished piece for the silent Art Auction.

"A Wasted Love" ~ with a Bleeding Heart Dove

mixed media ~ acrylic, ink, paper maché, string, old book cover

The art of PLAY retreats

Late last month I traveled over to Seattle and Port Townsend for a 4 day art retreat called "PLAY". I wasn't teaching, I wasn't taking classes/workshops, it was 4 days and 4 nights of uninterrupted studio time. I completed more in those 4 days than I normally do in a month of studio time at home. Here are the pieces I worked on....

"Entangled" 

4"x4"x1.5"

Mixed Media

Painted for the 2012 Valentines For Aides art auction

My first attempt at translating work from my Book of Dreams onto a large canvas. 

"Clarification" 

36"x18"x1.5"

Mixed Media

"What We Leave Behind" ~ from the Book of Dreams journal

First spread in my new visual journal, the view from my seat at Play!! Note all the art supplies piled on the table ;) 

What an amazing experience! And so many beautiful like minded souls, I miss them all.

"for better, for worse"

 "for better, for worse"

8"x8" deep edge canvas

mixed medium - collage, acrylic, image transfer

This is the 4th year I have donated a piece of art to the local Valentine for Aids Silent Art Auction which benefits SNAP (Safety Net For Aids Program). I enjoy coming up with a "Valentine" themed piece of art, I enjoy seeing all the other "valentines" created by local artists, I enjoy knowing that my little piece of art was bid on and bought with love, but this year is a bit different... this year I didn't really want to let it go. It was personal... whispering thoughts from my core...holding symbols, ideals, needs and yearnings... things that the future owner will never know or understand. I will be making another, for me.




The following are past years donated art:

"the hearts wishes"

8"x12" hand-bound photo album

mixed medium 

2007

"fly away home"

4"x5"x2" hand-bound photo album

mixed medium - hand-made paper, letterpress, linocut

2009

"twitterpated"

8"x10"

mixed medium - india ink, watercolor, colored pencil, graphite

2010

Yes, I am aware that I have included birds every year for this event. I haven't figured out exactly what all my personal symbolism is, but having a bird reference in general seems to be abundant in a lot of my personal art.

Valentine’s for Aids ~ Silent Art Auction

 

Twitterpated

graphite, ink, watercolor, colored pencil

8"x10"

Yesterday I nervously submitted my art work for this year's Valentine's for Aids Silent Art Auction. I say nervously because it will be the first time I have submitted a piece that wasn't a handbound book. This will also be the first time I have unleashed a combination of my two different styles of drawing: the very photo realistic pencil drawing & my more whimsical ink/watercolor/colored pencil style that I reserve for my visual journals. I am not sure how it will go over in the Boise area, I can not begin to guess what others are going to like or hate. It might turn out to be a total flop... or someone may even bid on it. I guess I will find out come Wednesday.

This year rather than a book, I decided to draw an image of a concept I have been toying with for a few months. The idea of loving and wanting another without the love being reciprocated or perhaps even acknowledged. Dispite these circumstances, she has a hard time letting go of the harbored feelings she carries so close to her heart.

This is the 3rd time I have participated in the event. The first time was back in 2007. I find it ironic that all three pieces include a black bird. There is just something about the crow and raven that fascinate me, I was once told that the crow was one of my animal totems. Makes perfect sense to me. The redwing black bird has been a favorite of mine since childhood. Everytime I hear one singing and chattering I am immediately transported back to the country fields that surrounded me as a child.Their song holds a great comfort for me.

Hearts Wishes

mixed media, hand bound photo album

2007

  

Fly Away Home

mixed media, hand bound book, hand made paper

2009