Ornaments, Plaques and Pins

Last year I collected slate removed for renovations on the roof at my historic church in downtown. Depending on the size and weight of the pieces, I made them into pins, tree decorations or plaques that could be hung on the wall or set on a small easel. It was a popular gift item in my studio/shop.

I still have some left, so I am back at it again this year. Almost all of them start with a print from one of my handmade blocks in white acrylic paint. Then I begin adding color. You may recognize the biggest one as the cheese tree and mice block print that I used for my new cards two posts ago. I'll add ribbon to the ornaments, pin backs to the pins and leather thongs to the plaques (or saw tooth hangers.) I usually have to borrow a drill with a masonry bit from a buddy, but I may have to invest in my own this year. I think I wore out my welcome last year!!

Howdy to my newest followers. Thanks so much for joining me on my artistic rambles.

WIP, No Longer

Detail, Huge Cupcake Painting, mixed media with acrylic

Detail, Huge Cupcake Painting, mixed media with acrylic

Complete Finished work

I wanted to show the detail photos because now you can see nearly the right color when I zoomed in on the huge cherry. When I step back, I get a light bloom on it. Sigh.

All that's left is to sign it------and give it a better title--any ideas?

I've been working on getting holiday items planned out and assembled in my little workshop in anticipation of the hordes (it is to be hoped) of holiday shoppers out looking for that special hand crafted item. I'll be doing most of my shopping right out the front door of my studio at LibertyTown in the gift emporium--so convenient. And, I'll be giving things that are like no other items my friends and family will receive made by people I also consider to be my friends and family. Can't get better than that!

Speaking of good things....the anniversary of my first blog post just passed on November 4. What a cool adventure this has been, and what interesting, creative, inspirational folks I have met through this medium. Thanks so much to all of you who post and comment through blogging. You have enriched my life immeasurably.

Back to Work

I've been battling the sinus infection from hell, but I believe I'm finally on the mend and back at work.

I've been especially working on some new holiday cards and have a couple of versions to show today. I also plan to finish the big cupcake painting from some posts ago before our opening this First Friday at LibertyTown. If you are in the Fredericksburg area this Friday, we've got a party goin' on from 5-9.

On a more serious note, love and good wishes go out to Dan Finnegan, boss and mentor and friend, as he goes in for surgery this Friday.

Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink, 4 x 4, collage and acrylic

This one might be fun really huge.

I'm looking forward to another day communing with torn pieces of paper and kooky birds.

See you when I surface!

Makeover or Take 2

Common Loon, 8 x 10, acrylic and collage

I'm refurbishing canvases again, painting over the uninspired efforts of earlier days , trying for something new and more interesting. Before I began this painting, I had covered the old canvas with a mixture of collage papers, but left the spirals in the lower right corner from the previous work.

Aline brought in a cool book she got for her recent birthday. It is a book of many birds of North America with a picture and something written about each, and then you can press a button on the side to hear their calls. We had a particularly good time listening to the common loon who makes a haunting, almost howling-wolf kind of sound. Good for this time of year. It brought people from all over the front of the building wondering what kind of creature was loose at LibertyTown!

I'm heading up to Alexandria tomorrow to bring home LibertyTown's contributions to From There to Here show which closes tomorrow in the Target Gallery at the Torpedo Factory. I'm pleased that one of my works sold. It was not the one I thought would sell, either, so that's nice.

He Takes After Your Side of the Family, 10 x 10, mixed media with collage, aluminum cans, acrylic

Quiet, But Working

I've been working on those map-covered canvases I showed you all last post. I'll be showing them over the next few days. This one is called Looking for Bourbon St. and is acrylic on a 5 x 7 canvas, collaged with a portion of a street map of New Orleans. There is a fold in the map that I couldn't smooth out as much as I wanted, and you can see it in the photo in a more exaggerated way than in real life.

The paintings I have just completed are of real birds, painted in my slightly-less-than-real style. The next round will be my fantastical flighted creatures. I plan to reserve at least some of them for the small works show at LibertyTown every December. I think everything must be under 11 x 14. No problem. I love working small.

Then I must begin getting serious--well, as serious as I ever am--about my next show which is in a groovy local restaurant with enormous walls and high ceilings. My house is full of boxes of canvas I've ordered to be ready for where ever my whimsy takes me!

Lost in New Orleans

Ack! Too much time has gone by since my last post (sounds like I'm in the confessional!)

I have been busy hanging a portrait show at LibertyTown, which is fabulous. Check it out on LibertyTown's Facebook page.

Above is Lost in New Orleans, 6 x 6, collage and acrylic. I finished this earlier this week, so I actually have something productive to show!



I have invested in tons of small canvases and wooden shadow boxes and spent yesterday collaging them with maps. I plan a series of bird portraits in a non-traditional style, if you can believe it of me.

Happy creating, everyone!