January 31, 2013

Game Board of Life

Week 5 of Life Book 2013 is led by Kelly Hoernig.

We are to create a game board using many of Kelly's mixed media techniques.  We are to concentrate on the positive, not the negative (my "negative" blocks are shaded.)

I started out with a bus map of Naples and surrounds.  (I have never taken a CAT ride!)  Paints, resists, etc.

cards from a deck of cards painted; select words describing our goals

My finished game board.  My only regret in this composition, is the placement of my "runner" self.  She should have been leaning forward - by the time I realized my mistake, the glue had dried and it would have been nearly impossible to reposition it without ruining the background.  I figured "how important is it?", decided "not very" and let it go!



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January 29, 2013

She's Walking....

I walk/run daily.  It's been a little chilly lately, thus the long pants.  (Actually, I'm back from my run - going to get the newspaper.)


The camera was set on a book; remote control used to shoot photo; totally lucky with the focus!

"Minus 43" texture courtesy of Kim Klassen (color removed from texture; multiply @ 39%).


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January 24, 2013

The Book - Mixed Media

I'm still working on the front and back covers of the book.  Until these are finished, I am drawing on some of the pages.  Talk about mixed media - oh boy!  Water colors, gesso, acrylic paints, charcoal pencils, ink, pencil, molding paste, rubber stamps!




We artists - who has more fun than us?!

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January 22, 2013

Patterns of Light

This week Life Book 2013 is led by artist Dion Dior.  Using white on a black background we are to create vibrant patterns of light that will represent our journey towards a destination that is unique to ourselves.  Use a handprint or part thereof and/or repetitive scales of light in a conscious way that is joyful, radiant and alive.  That's a tall order!

I did not have any black construction paper or drawing paper on hand.  I chose to paint my background with black tinted gesso.  (I'm glad I did, because it creates a nice border to my drawing.)  I used white "charcoal" pencil and a white Prismacolor pencil and doodled.



 I am intrigued by circles and the cosmos.  I wrote one of my favorite quotes around the edge of the piece.  "One may understand the cosmos, but never the ego; the self is more distant than any star." (G.K. Chesterton)

I had the hardest time photographing this drawing.   Difficult to focus on black and white.  I put a piece of blue tape on the drawing, set the self-timer, focused on the tape, grabbed away the tape and viola the photo was taken!














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January 18, 2013

Frozen in TIme

Playing around with different mixed media techniques can be fun and frustrating at the same time.  Experimentation and note taking is the key to developing a technique.

I recently bought new bed linens.  The old flat sheets saved to be used as drop cloths, bottom sheets and pillowcases were saved for the studio.  The pillowcases were torn to size; layers of joint compound, gesso and matte medium added.  Image transfer, water colors, stitch - everything is fair game on play days!

These will be used as pages for a fabric book.




The photo is of my Aunt Claire on her First Holy Communion.  The pocket watch belonged to my father (a gift from my mother).  He managed to keep it in one piece for years and years.  I've had it in my possession for 22+ years.  The other day, I accidentally knocked it off a table while dusting (I knew housecleaning was a bad thing!)  I hope I can get the watch crystal replaced.  (The watch is NOT part of the book.  I added it only for the photograph composition.)  Miscellaneous ephemera added.



Signatures sewn together with coptic binding

inside books pages which need to be painted, altered.  Front and back covers need to be made which will be a big surprise since I have no idea yet what I will do....

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January 15, 2013

Flower Power

This week's Life Book 2013 lesson is led by Christy Tomlinson.  Christy's theme is "New and Starting Again."  She used the example of a flower reseeding itself.

Using some of Christy's mixed media techniques, we were to create flowers out of coffee filters and aluminum foil.  This is a new one for me!  I'm not sure I will ever use this technique again, but then again, maybe I will.  I didn't have all of the supplies Christy uses, so I made do with what I had on hand.  My flowers look a bit like a botanical print.  I especially like the shadows created by the 3-D flower petals.  I'm fairly certain this page will get totally crushed in my journal...sigh...
Creating background; adhering dyed coffee filters to aluminum foil

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January 11, 2013

Serge Protection

This quilt is in its final stages.  I always serge the edges of a quilt before blocking it.  The quilts can be heavy and ungainly at times!  There is still a lot to do - block, bind, add sleeve and, of course, photograph!



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January 9, 2013

True Intentions

This week's Life Book 2013 class is led by Monica Zuniga.  Monica's theme is "True Intentions".  We are to embrace the New Year with those intentions that will help us grow, be happy and make our lives more enjoyable.  We are to create a self-portrait type doll using rubber stamps, paint, found words, etc.


(I have lots of good intentions - you know where that road leads, don't you?!)

Background prep work

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January 7, 2013

Marshmallow Fluff

The only time my mother bought Marshmallow Fluff was at the holidays - to make those crispie cereal squares - I'm sure we've all eaten those at one time or another.  I'm not sure how old I was, but I remember thinking when I grew up I'd buy a jar Marshmallow Fluff and eat it all myself.  As an adult, I cannot remember ever buying it!  I told this story to my friend, Betty.  The other day, Betty surprised me with a jar of my very own.  We all should have such good and thoughtful friends!


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January 3, 2013

Week 1 - Uphill Battle

Getting ready for Week 1.

Drawing of things I have and appreciate (clouds) and looking forward to goals in 2013 (trees)


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January 2, 2013

The Warm Up

I'm doing something nice for myself  - taking an online class with Tamara Laporte.  The "Life Book 2013" class runs for a whole year.  It should be fun.

Supplies are ready - take a deep breath - and begin!


I drew my own personal muse to help keep me motivated, stay focused and get through the course.


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Wordless Wednesday
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