Here’s where it was four days ago
Here’s where it is now
I think it’s fair to say this piece has been influenced by current world events.
It’s not quite finished – but shouldn’t be too long now.
As always your comments, thoughts, questions and critiques are welcomed.
To finish, here’s Siddy giving you a wee flirt just in case your spirits need a little lift.
Thanks for coming by today, I’m so glad that you did
…..is never wasted. I’ve been spending time in the art room. I have somehow garnered a few new products to play with and they all need places to live. I’ve also completed a bit of fine tuning in making sure my tools are to hand when required and therefore get used. I’m sure we all have versions of what happens when our tools and embellishments are not easily accessed, no matter what our craft might be.
I’ve been taking to heart the need for crafters to use the things in their stashes. Too often we are creatures who gather stuff. And there is so much stuff to gather! Stuff that is pretty, stuff that might be made pretty. Stuff that is useful, stuff that might be useful one day. Stuff we acquired simply because it is our favourite colour. Stuff we got because it feels lovely when we stroke it. Stuff we have bought and never use because we paid good money for it and when we use it it will be gone…. so it sits in a drawer or on a shelf forever.
If you are a maker of things I know you know what I mean!
So now, in my art room, there is a paper crafting supplies area, a bead making supplies area and a miscellaneous supplies area. All fine tuned.
There is also an art supplies area, which tends to spread. Paint of all kinds of viscosities and opacity and colours. Pens that are oil based and permanent some for drawing, some for writing, some for first layers, some for later layers. Pens that are water soluble and can be used like paint but aren’t permanent and require setting in some manner. Crayons that are water soluble and can be used like paint. Water colours that can be used like pens or pencils. Pencils that are water soluble and can be used like water colours……… There is sketching paper, painting paper and card of varying weights. There are painting boards, canvases and a selection of all of these things with works of varying degrees of completeness or hands-up-in-horror-lets-paint-over-this-abomination-fast facing the wall in disgrace.
There is so many supplies that should I churn out a masterpiece every day for the rest of my life there will still hardly be a dent made in the vast supplies my daughters lovingly refer to as their inheritance.
Despite all this, YD, (Youngest Daughter) the Official Photographer went to spend some days with her delightful older sister ED (Eldest Daughter) in Wellington. Of course some time would be spent shopping so I gave her a wee list to investigate the availability of some papers I was interested in finding out if I could afford.
ED was working on one of the days so YD was dropped off in the centre of the city with the list and directions to Gordon Harris. Gordon is one of the best and biggest art supply stores in the country, sadly not located in my part of it. Not content with looking and acquiring knowledge of availability and pricing YD went nuts and purchased examples of paper in large, larger and largest sizings in varying weights and presses. I have to admit to shedding a tear or two when I saw the haul of pure white cotton hot pressed 280 gsm paper that, until now, has been something I can paint on only in my dreams. There is also two sheets of A2 yupo paper. Hallelujah!! A2 is HUGE!! Yupo is the incredibly pricey stuff that I buy from the UK in tiny sheets and make the inky doodles on that adorn the note cards in my little shop. (Here’s the post telling you all about it if you are interested or need a reminder.)
So when I conquer my fear of making a mess on any of these fantastic papers I’ll be painting up some kind of a storm I can tell you!
In the meantime, not prevaricating at all, I turned a sock dryer into a stencil hanger. Here it is sporting half it’s intended load
I’m not a hundred percent sure it’s placement is perfect as I’ve successfully blocked the wall clock and now the only way I know what the time is is when Siddy comes for his bi-hourly game of fetch or to remind me it is treat time.
Here’s the long view of the room, in case you are interested
To the right of the stencil hanger may be glimpsed the ‘Dangler of International Happiness’ which long term readers may recall from two or three years ago being something many of you contributed to and which I stand and rifle through from time to time while thinking of you all fondly.
After all the sorting and sighing was over, I finished a painting in my art journal. Thinking of a particular friend going through hard times, I was inspired by a quote I stumbled upon via You Tube and another artist who had used it in her work. I Googled to find the quotes author and discovered another person doing good in the world whom I had never heard of before. These are the people who should be hogging the headlines in my opinion, but we mostly never hear of them.
I threw all my new products and some old ones as well at this piece and completely over did it, but I learned a lot while experimenting and playing about.
The quote is ‘Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you feel buried, when you’ve actually been planted.’ Christine Caine
Detail
I am pleased with the tears.
And for all you pet lovers out there, an update.
Orlando has been a little less door-phobic since my last post – I thought you might like to know, the attention directed towards his welfare seems to have lifted his spirits somewhat and I have been delighted to see my kitty return to almost his old self…….
He comes inside more readily, stays in longer and cuddles again just like he used to. We thank you for all your kind thoughts and good wishes xo
Thanks for coming by today, I love that you did!
My friend Laurie who blogs at Life on the Bike and Other Fab Things had a birthday recently. It wasn’t one of those ‘significant’ events but still, I felt it was time for me to celebrate this amazing woman.
I met her via another mutual friend, the delightful Boomedeadda who noted on her blog when Laurie had sustained horrific injuries when her bike was crashed into by a car. It took pretty much two years for Laurie to rebuild her body and her life after this event – but one of the wonderful things that came out of the whole awful thing was that a lovely friendship built up and grew. Laurie was one of the bloggers I flew to the US to meet up with two years ago.
Let me tell you just a little about this woman and why her painting looks as it does. Laurie is a full time, sought after Nurse Practitioner. Her patients adore her and rely on her. Her work is demanding, with long hours and high standards of professionalism to adhere to. Despite this, being aware there is a dearth of women in politics in the US, two years ago Laurie ran for her State Legislature on the Democratic ticket, in an area that historically voted Republican and male. She narrowly missed out on winning. (She now actively supports the latest, male, candidate in his bid.)
An active member of her local community over many years Laurie’s dedication and pride in her town and the surrounding areas was palpable when I visited. She takes an active part in the ‘Ride of Silence’ every year. A thoughtful and touching tribute to those who have lost their lives in cycling accidents and a punchy reminder to everyone else of how quickly these events happen, how devastating they are for family and friends and how often these avoidable accidents occur.
Despite her active civic and political life Laurie has a huge circle of friends, a busy ‘things to do’ schedule that leaves me gasping for breath and needing a cup of tea and a wee lie down just hearing about AND a big red truck and a big red motor bike – a Harley Davidson no less.
This tiny, feisty, beautiful brunette drives or rides about with her camera and takes fabulous photos wherever she goes. And then, when she has a moment she blogs about her rides, drives, trips and adventures. She is positive, upbeat, cute, funny, capable, energetic and motivated – she’s pretty jolly amazing really!
Laurie makes a difference – She works hard, knows how to play and enjoy herself and cares about her community, her family, her many friends and her country.
And this is what I wanted to hint at in her painting – she’s a Woman Who Can – and she does!!
If you haven’t met her yet, pop on over and say hello, tell her I sent you if you like – I know you’ll love her, just like I do.
This is a mixed media painting on 300 gsm media paper, size A3.
Thanks for coming by today, I love that you did!
It is done – and what a marathon! I have to thank you, my dearly beloved regular and loyal readers – or in this case, viewers – who came by with so many thoughts and guesses and questions and who inspired me to tweak a little here and adapt a little there until the final version appeared.
So here we go folks, for the last time let’s recap and see where it did end up
Phase 1
Phase II
Phase III
Phase IV
Phase V
We Are All Made Of Stardust
Detail pics
I always knew it was going to be a dream catcher drifting in the wind. I did not know until you interacted with me that it would become a dream catcher drifting through the cosmos, gathering stardust and starlight. Carl Sagan’s words came to me as I began the final work on the many little galaxies and universes scattered about:
“The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff.”
― Carl Sagan – Cosmos
And having mentioned Mr Sagan, how can we not end without going there, to his Pale Blue Dot
Thanks for coming by today, I love that you did!
Here we go folks, I just know you’re wondering where we are at with this. Here’s Phase V – I wasn’t happy for the longest time with what happened and I forgot to take photos so you have this to go one with. It’s nearly there …….
Phase 1
Phase II
Phase III
Phase IV
Phase V
Can you see where it’s going now?
Maybe, perhaps, some of you might have a vague memory of this page from my art journal last year – this was the piece that inspired this latest experiment
Phase VI, the final phase is almost ready to show.
Thanks for coming by today, I love that you did!
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Phase IV
Introducing a bit of glimmer with a metallic paint – can you see the shine? It changes in different light situations.
What will happen next do you suppose?
Thanks for coming by today, I love that you did!
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Oh my heavens! What do you think, have we arrived at the ugly stage?
Please feel free to share any thoughts you have 🙂
Thanks for coming by today, I love that you did!
Hello my friends! Just for Kerry who became a bit concerned by his prolonged absence, the header features my lovely Orlando who has been usurped from his position of star of this blog by the cute, bouncy and camera ready Siddy. Orlando doesn’t like cameras very much, he believes they are out to steal his soul and acts accordingly. He is however in good health and spirits and spends a lot of time curled up by Siddy or stealing Siddy’s favourite spot (my knee) or Siddy’s second favourite spot (beside me in my big chair) and generally causing Siddy reasons for consternation. All is well in Orlando’s world. ❤
So, on with the business at hand. We are looking at the progress of a painting – who knows what will happen!
Just to refresh your memory, in the last post you saw this
Now here is Phase II
Where is this going? Any thoughts?
Phase III is maybe a couple of days away, see you then.
Thanks for coming by today, I love that you did!
Heavens, I’m in catch-up mode again! Time flew by with ED here for a week, YD on three weeks break and needing daily visits by Siddy, which were mostly fitted in soon after the morning walk and second breakfast so that he arrived for elevenses …….. Then there was our promotion at the retirement home from half hour ambling visits where Siddy trots around smiling at everyone and I get made happy by watching eyes light up and sparks of life sparkle out of tired old eyes. We were asked to widen our brief and include helping out at the two hour crafting session every week, of course I said yes. And of course there is painting and crafting time to fit in here somewhere. So the days have simply been eaten up by the minute munching monsters.
Here’s Siddy posing with his Aunty Jo – show that boy a camera and he puts on his best sartorial pose
The lovely Alys purchased two items from my collection on Vida when it first opened. One she purchased secretly and sent straight to me, reducing me to tears of wonder, gratitude and astonishment that I had such a generous and kind friend. You may remember my disappointment when I discovered I couldn’t afford to purchase my own designs as the shipping cost was astronomical. Well, now I have a lovely tote bag and here’s me still looking somewhat stunned at the event, just arrived at YD’s in time for elevenses……..
A week or so later and the lovely Alys sent me photos of her Inky Doodle design scarf that she purchased from Vida. Photographed by her youngest son, Alys rocks the colourful fabric and is well on her way to becoming the world’s next super model. And isn’t the fabric gorgeous, I am so happy to see my doodles come to life like this. It’s simply great!
After prolonged imploring from three people I agreed to reopen my collection on Vida. My stance remains that it is a pyramid selling scheme and therefore not ethical – but it allows my work to reach a wider audience and to be taken down from the wall and worn. I am made happy when my friends and family are happy and, as I make art to spread joy, and Vida allows that process to happen we have, it seems, reached accord.
There’s a painting on the easel, this is phase 1, where do you think it might be heading?
We’ve been mostly enjoying lovely late summer weather this month, which has been much appreciated and greeted with cries of ‘Better late than never’ and ‘Great Scott, what is that bright yellow orb in the sky?’ We have taken heart, all is not lost for our Blogging Babes reunion this time next year! (That’s a teaser, more on this later)
Thanks for coming by today, I love that you did!
Wow, lookit me go! It’s still January and here’s another post! I hope it won’t be too much of a shock for you.
I’ve been pottering, and the silver lining to the no-show summer is (Ta-da!!) the tiny house has now been entirely decluttered. I mean ENTIRELY! There is nothing in this house now that is not useful or beautiful and probably both. The laundry was the last space holding onto ‘someday’ things. The last drawer has been sorted and tidied and there is nothing left to do now but keep it all ticking over nicely. Can you see my halo, isn’t it bright and sparkly ……..
I rocked up to my local stationers a couple of days ago and had them scan all twenty of the pieces in the art journal I worked on for the last three months of 2016. Plus print out copies of all the yupo paper/alcohol ink pages I had made. I’d decided to copy the ink spreads and then doodle so that I have lots of options to play.
Did those last two sentences sound like a foreign language to you? Read on my friend, read on.
Yupo paper isn’t paper, it’s a synthetic, a plastic pretending to be paper. It is therefore classed as a non-porous surface and things can be done to this stuff that can’t be done on paper, no matter how many gsm’s it is.
It’s also, at this end of the world, horribly expensive and something I intend to try only once in this life. Hence the photocopying before doodling remark. I treated myself to fifteen sheets and waved a fond farewell to $25.00.
One of the really fun things we can play with is alcohol inks, dripping drops of different colours onto the page and watching what happens. The ink spreads out and ‘blooms’, changing colour somewhat at the edges, more with some colours than others. Mixing different colours together results in different spreadings, different blooms, and sometimes even no blooms. It’s like taking part in some mysterious class in alchemy and is totally fascinating to observe.
When the dripping and watching and wondering is done and the inks are dry (which doesn’t take long at all provided you don’t over drop in the first place) you doodle. Doodling is also fun! It can be done in front of the TV if you are so inclined, or can just be a quiet, meditative activity that steals hours from your life 🙂
Here’s some examples of the ink drops
Here’s one I have started to doodle on
And here is the only spread that is finished so far.
And here is that last spread cut into four pieces and note cards made using different coloured card and with writing paper inserts. The following two photos taken at the desk, under lamp light, in the middle of a dreary, wet day:
Notecards 1
Notecards 2
I’m not complaining though, we had three lovely sunny, warm days on the trot. It was quite exciting!
I have to say I really like these notecards, and in the interests of encouraging the renewed interest in letter writing, I’m going to package some up and put them in my shop. And do a giveaway. Stay tuned for that.
‘Believe’ is finished.
This is a texture rich piece and there’s also a ton of gold metallic paint in there so it looks entirely different in different lights. This is a slightly skewed scan, which is entirely unexciting as far as mood lighting goes. You must therefore use your imagination to see all the gold glimmery bits. Sorry about that.
I’m quite pleased with this one.
I hope you like it too.
So what do you think, are you tempted to play with yupo paper and alcohol inks? Have you done so already? How did it go for you? And what do you think of those notecards?
Thanks for coming by today, I love that you did!
The Contented Crafter 