From here... to there

Another stab at collage/mixed media. Had a lot of fun slicing and dicing my old woodblock prints (rejects- not ones that were in editions).

However, I had to ask myself if this form of 'upcycling' was really making things easier, or was I really giving myself another way to make things really, really painstakingly difficult! (Aaargh- do you see the tree branches I had to cut out!)

Self-inflicted, so I won't complain but it's still kinda funny... well ... to me it is, ok?

On another note- thanks to everyone who came out to the Leucadia Artwalk a couple of weeks ago. Your energy and enthusiasm were wonderful and I can't wait to do it again next year.

Indulging the wackiness

Just completed a new piece. Well... almost completed- I haven't come up with a title yet. In any case, I had a lot of fun with this. All I had to do was remember how my daughters approach art. Scribble, cut, paste, use as many bright colors as possible and have a good story to tell about it.



I must admit I'm a bit rusty with the whole fun part of creating (sad, isn't it?) but I'm lucky that my inspiration lives in my own house (and is constantly running underfoot). I positively burst with pleasure when she approves of a color choice I've made or likes the way I've rendered a face.



Lucky me.

Leucadia Artwalk

Just a heads up for those of you in the San diego or SoCal area. I will be doing my local neighborhood show this Sunday the 29th from 10 am - 5 pm. I'll be setting up shop in the parking lot of the Corner Frame Shop/Leucadia Art Gallery on the corner of Hwy 101 and Diana. For more information visit Leucadia 101 Main Street

Hope to see you there!

A bit more

Here is another little piece I am working on. It's not done but it's delightful (if I say so myself). A lot of fun the draw and I love when a collage choice actually works! (Can you tell I'm new at this?)



I can't wait to see how this one ends up...

I'll post a pic when I do.

Getting my feet wet (figuratively speaking)

I've spent a couple of years talking about how I just needed to find a new way of making art. I actually got tired of hearing myself speak. Now I've started making some new work. Drawing, colored pencil, gouache, collage- everything but the kitchen sink.


I'm not sure what I think about this recent work. I draw, color, cut and paste and have a blast. But there is always that inner critic...


Oh, what the heck! It's a start (and who says you can't pick up art techniques from your 5 year old?).

Featured on Trice Collective

A nice treat today. One of my woodblocks, 'Personal Iconography' was featured on the website Trice Collective . The site, curated by Sawyer Trice, features affordable art that is available for online purchase. In my case, this piece is listed in my shop on Etsy.

A great concept and a wonderful way to see art selected by someone with a good eye that you might be able to afford. To read more about this site, click here. Thank you!

Wish I Had This Book a Long Time Ago

My uncle sent me a book he found- 'A Woodcut Manual' by J. J. Lankes published in 1932. I've only had the opportunity to lightly skim it but it is chock full of printmaking tips and the wisdom of experience. Check it out...

The author has his refreshingly straightforward opinions (there is even a list of Don'ts under an illustration titles 'My Lord of Missrule'). Here is a quote that jumped out at me,

"Don't let any self-appointed art critic form opinions for you. Never listen to such unless he is saying nice things of you. The professional critic is all too often a sad person, a defeated artist; his function is not to educate the artist whatever else he may attempt on the public. And don't let anyone scare you, because you may be, from force of circumstances, an "odd moment" artist."

Well said and greatly appreciated by those of us in the "odd moment".