Altered Illusions

Moving my blog

2011-01-30T10:53:00.000-06:00

I've moved my blog to www.inspiredillusions.biz/inspiredblog

Encaustic on ceramic tiles

2011-01-02T18:44:00.002-06:00

Indigo, Enso 2, Enso 3, Marble, Enso

These encaustic paintings are among a group that will be for sale at TheArtery in the Bucktown Center for the Arts in Davenport, IA. The four in the black stands are painted on ceramic tile and the one in the back is on cradled wood.

Encaustic Art evokes memories

2011-01-01T15:52:00.001-06:00

"Nougat" detail

This morning I played around with scraping back a wax surface to random blobs of colored wax I'd sprinkled across the surface. As I was scraping it reminded me of one of my favorite childhood candies, Brach's Jelly Nougats.

The candy I remember

This experimentation came about because yesterday I bought Lissa Rankin's book Encaustic Art and I am so pleased that I did! Somehow I had the impression it was simply a collection of interviews and artwork, but, of course, it is so much more.

New encaustics

2010-12-31T00:45:00.001-06:00

Enso

Here is a preview of a new series I am working on. Encaustic paint on ceramic tile.

Post Christmas Inspiration

2010-12-26T16:38:00.000-06:00

Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle,
and the life of the candle will not be shortened.
Happiness never decreases by being shared. - Buddha

The house is quiet today, but my mind is racing with ideas for the new year. While making plans for the future with my art and fledgling business, I'm going to make a more conscious effort to stay grounded in the present. It is so easy to retreat into inactivity, which doesn't permit me to make those steps forward that I know I can accomplish.

Thought of being more economical with food - not letting leftovers languish in the refrigerator - led to potato pancakes:

Gifts of new wax has my creative juices flowing: R&F encaustic paints - Iridescent German Silver, Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Violet Deep, Celadon Green, Jaune Brillant, Alizarin Crimson, Cobalt Yellow, and Viridian.

Watercolor pencil & paint spattered paper towels

Hamsa of zentangle-inspired doodles

Make art everyday:

I have several art journals in progress right now.

These two pictures are from the "Make Your Mark" traveling journal, sponsored by Dick Blick and the LaGrange Art League. I have 9 months to work in and share the journal. At the end it will go on display with other artist's journals and travel among Art Leagues in the Chicagoland area.

There really is no good reason

2010-12-17T09:51:00.000-06:00

Jennie and Kyle

... to not have blogged over the past four months - other than the usual business of life, Well, that and keeping up with friends and family on Facebook, rather than posting here. So I'm acting on a decision to get a move on and post here as often as possible - maybe not daily, but certainly I can manage a weekly of post.

We have a new member of the family - Jennie! She and Kyle were married in October. Here is the happy couple.

A few weeks ago, I presented a demonstration at the Kishwaukee Valley Art League's December meeting. My topic was "Encaustic Painting and Collage". It was the first time I'd done such a demo for my art friends in a public setting.

dipping paper into hot wax

working on a ceramic tile

Today I plan to finish up my section of a Traveling Artist Journal. Our journal was started by fellow FusedChicago artist, Jenny Learner. So far we have the artwork of Jackie Hefty (owner of Whispering Woodlands) and Bridgette Guerzon Mills. Over the weekend I'll add some photos of my journal pages. Time to get back to work on it so I can get it to Jenny this weekend.

Encaustic: Hot Art Show

2010-08-22T14:15:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was a busy and enjoyable day in the 'burbs. Attended an organizing committee meeting for FusedChicago at Mary's home. Then on to Elyse's house to drop off my artwork for the FusedChicago show at The Art Center in Highland Park, IL. Here's the blurb from their site:

Spiral and Leaf

"Encaustic: Hot Art" is an exhibit of work by members of FusedChicago, a group of area artists whose practice involves using layers of pigmented beeswax and a heat source. Since the turn of the 21st century, there has been a resurgence of interest in this ancient medium. The exhibit showcases the wide and current variety of techniques and methods artists are using as they work in this increasingly popular medium.

Three

and here's my painting

Coral

Nacre

Kristin at Retro Cafe has a giveaway

2010-08-08T12:50:00.000-05:00

Check out Retro Cafe Art for a chance at a great blog giveaway! I love the vintage typewriter key pendants.

Making Encaustic Medium

2010-08-05T16:03:00.001-05:00

Today I finally took the plunge and worked on some handmade encaustic medium for my next series of paintings. I'd run out of commercial medium and had decided earlier this summer that I would just make my own, as it was more economical. So, today I followed a traditional recipe of 8 parts beeswax to 2 parts damar resin crystals. I ended up making two batches this afternoon, so now I have 24 muffin-sized cakes of medium and 2 small "loaves".

Here I am stirring the sticky melting resin crystals into the melted beeswax. Notice the dirt and bark that will be strained out of the mixture through cheesecloth after the wax and resin are completely combined.

This is a shot of the hot liquid medium right after I poured it into an old muffin tin and a foil loaf pan. (Neither will ever be used for food again!) I had a feeling the medium would be difficult to remove from the foil - and it was - so with the next batch I poured the extra into a metal loaf pan. Much better results that time. It took about 2 hours for the wax medium to cool and harden in the kitchen even with the A/C on. When the bottom of the pans were cool to touch I tapped them lightly with whatever tool I had handy and the wax popped out smoothly.

Here's a shot of Batch One of my handmade encaustic medium - Tah-dah! I was really quite pleased with myself and set about making Batch Two right after lunch. (I am easily amused!)

A special thanks to Jaime Lyerly for posting her foray into handmade medium and to Susan Crouse-Kemp for her video "Making Encaustic Medium".

The ARTery in Davenport, IA - my wall

2010-06-30T17:35:00.000-05:00

Carolyn Krueger (owner of The ARTery Gallery at the Bucktown Center for the Arts in Davenport, IA) did a great job hanging my acrylic and encaustic paintings on the 8' wall space I've rented. I'm looking forward to visiting monthly for "Final Fridays".

Art at The ARTery in Davenport

2010-06-23T10:23:00.002-05:00

Last week I dropped off 15 pieces to The ARTery gallery in the Bucktown Center for the Arts in Davenport, IA. I have encaustic paintings and acrylic paintings and collages on an 8 foot wall. This weekend I'll post a pic of the wall when I visit for the Final Friday celebration. Here are some of the encaustic pieces that are hanging.

A keychain book giveaway on Sue Bleiweiss' blog

2010-06-23T10:09:00.000-05:00

Sue Bleiweiss has a blog giveaway of her keychain books. Check out before midnight Sunday and you might win one!

work in progress

2010-06-04T22:09:00.000-05:00

I started these a week ago, and need to finish them asap! Just not really sure where I want to go with them. They are collages with encaustic paints and decorative paper on 6" square cradled hardboard.

Venus envy reception

2010-05-01T22:54:00.000-05:00

Last night was the artists' reception for Venus Envy - Quad Cities. I toured the venue - Bucktown Center for the Arts in Davenport, IA, had a chair massage, glass of wine, and then a very much appreciated surprise. When I came upon my 4 encaustic collages I saw two red dots on the cards - sold two of the four pieces before the show even officially opened! The sold pieces are Circles and Buttons (top center) and Button, Button (right).

Venus Envy is almost here

2010-04-26T07:39:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday I took the four encaustic pieces shown in the post below to the Bucktown Center for the Arts in Davenport. I was so fortunate to find Helen Boyd and Jacki Olson working in their studio, so I stopped in for a chat and to admire their work. They are two gracious and generous artists with wonderful work hanging . Jacki was using an iron to smooth out the wax on paper on cradled board abstract. Helen was deftly using a heat gun to get a very shiny and smooth surface on her piece. They were both encouraging when viewing my four small pieces. It was great to be able to share ideas among us.

I also visited sculptor Paul Algueseva in his new studio in Moline. He has many irons in the fire (sorry, I couldn't help that!). I'll look for his website later.
Gotta run - time for work!

Venus Envy - Quad Cities 2010

2010-04-02T21:44:00.001-05:00

Several of my encaustic pieces have been juried into the Venus Envy -Quad Cities 2010 show.

Sixty visual artists will be showcased along with musical performances, dance, installation performances and interactive workshops on Saturday, May 1st, from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. at the Bucktown Center for the Arts in downtown Davenport, Iowa .

The exhibit runs through May 28 during Bucktown's normal hours of operation, Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Collage book Giveaway

2010-03-21T09:23:00.001-05:00

Check out the giveaway at Kristen's Retro Cafe blog.

Love doll for mmartfriends swap

2010-02-27T23:33:00.000-06:00

Finished up the "Chakra Love Doll" for Lori A, my swap partner on mmartfriends. The doll has bits and baubles to represent the 7 chakras: white, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. The body is a collage of fabric paper, stitch, quotes, sequins, and paper ephemera, inspired by Kelli Perkins' Stitch Alchemy. Thanks, Kelli, for being a generous participant and co-host in the study of your book!

Pieces I've worked on lately

2010-02-15T21:07:00.003-06:00

Here are a few of the acrylic and encaustic pieces I've worked on lately. (Thanks, Wally and Barb for the photos!)

Bohemian Memory was done in the summer of 2009 and hung bottom-side up for quite awhile until I kept seeing Abraham Lincoln peering back at me! So I flipped it over and liked it better this way. It's 24" x 36" acrylic textured with molding paste and stencils and some paper collage.

Breathe and Live Abundantly were both done in January 2010. They're highly textured acrylics with paper collage. They were done for fun.

The last one of this group is Delight, an encaustic collage I worked on in the summer of 2009. I changed my color palette from the darker tones to a pastel palette. R&F oil paint sticks were added to the encaustic medium to achieve this lighter look. I collaged a vintage photo, some sticks from a bush in the yard, pieces of map and dictionary pages. It's a 10" x 8" piece that I need to find the right frame for it. I'm thinking weathered white wood.

Esther's Place

2010-02-07T11:45:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I stopped in at a wonderful fiber shop in Big Rock, IL called Esther's Place. It is a feast for the eyes and a tactilely soothing experience. The Lehrer family owns a farm, sheep, and this lovely B&B/ fiber arts studio. I can't wait to return to take some classes. Natasha Lehrer was a demonstrator last week at the Kishwaukee Valley Art League in DeKalb and truly opened up my eyes to the art of wool felting. Her work is beyond that of what I usually associate with felting - very artistic and creative. Check out the blogs for Natasha and her mom, Donna, as well as their Facebook page

I specifically stopped in to purchase some Lincoln sheep curls to include in my artwork. After admiring the rack of a multitude of hand dyed curls, I decided on just purchasing the contents of the scrap basket and was pleased with the variety of colors. The curls in the 3 baggies in the photo are Wensley dale lamb locks.

Check out a great review of Natasha and Donna Lehrer's venture on the Try Handmade blog.

Fabric Paper projects

2010-01-17T23:38:00.000-06:00

As part of some swaps for the yahoo group, Mixed Media Art friends, I've made book marks and strings of "good luck birds". These were based on Kelli Perkins' book Stitch Alchemy.

Here's the patchwork bookmark without the frou-frous of yarn embellishment, and a couple of birds before stringing them onto transparent ribbon.

Time to update

2010-01-15T21:16:00.002-06:00

It is way past time to update this blog. I'm thinking about a new theme and some links to coaching and goal setting.

I can't believe I mailed off my fabric paper bookmarks for the mmartfriends yahoo group swap without taking a picture of them! I have one left without the yarn tassels. I'll snap it tomorrow and post - I'm just so sleepy tonight - it's been a long week at school :)

WIPs

2009-09-23T23:04:00.009-05:00

Pictures of some bits that I've been working on lately or that have bubbled to the surface in the studio. The first one is a piece I worked on awhile back: Crumpled brown bag paper, painted with metallic acrylics and embellisheed with varigated rayon thread sewn with a variety of programmed stitches from my Pfaff 1475. This is the front and back view of the same piece.

The next three are fabric paper samples I made quite some time back. The pink one has a muslin base with scrapbooking paper, printed tissue paper, sewing pattern tissue, and washes of fluid acrylics. The blue one has a base of coarse, large weave cloth similar to burlap. It's layered with wrapping paper and sparkle tulle with washes of fluid acrylics. The final green - blue piece is again the coarsely woven fabric, wrapping and decorative napkins, white tulle, and washes of fluid acrylics. I like making them in rather large sheets - about 20" x 30" or 24" x 36"

Fabric Book page or cover

2009-08-09T18:53:00.002-05:00

Fabric Book Pages or Cover Background
© 2009, Denise Funfsinn

I’m in the process of creating a fabric book to give to a relative later this year. Since I’ve accumulated a decent stash of thread, fabric, and fiber clippings from other projects, I decided to add them as an embellished quilted fabric background for some pages. You can use this technique to make a fabric background for a wall hanging, soft box, journal cover, ornaments, postcards, ATCs, etc. Let your imagination soar with a color theme and a variety of specialty threads, fibers, and fabrics.

Fabric base
Fusible fleece
Sulky ® Solvy –water soluble stabilizer
Clippings of threads, fibers, & fabrics
Pressing cloth
Quilt Basting Spray (June Tailor®) running water

Iron, Sewing machine, thread, pins

The base of this quilted sandwich is a sample of discontinued home decorator fabric from a local sewing center, about 18” x 10”. I cut a piece of fusible fleece and pressed it to the backside of the home dec fabric. (You could substitute a heavyweight interfacing like Peltex or thin batting and spritz it lightly with Quilt Basting Spray)

On the front of the fleece-backed fabric you now scatter a layer of thread, fiber, and fabric clippings. (you could spray it with the quilt basting spray if you are worried about it shifting or blowing away – I didn’t bother, I just lightly sprayed after I placed the clippings on).

Cut a piece of Sulky Solvy (water soluble stabilizer), lay on top of the embellished fabric and pat it down lightly with your palms so it sticks to the fibers. I then pinned the whole piece with about 8 straight pins so it didn’t shift.

Now it is time to sew a grid all over the sandwich (fleece side on the bottom, Solvy side on top). My sewing machine had a lightweight white embroidery thread in the bobbin, and a dark gold rayon thread on top (Sulky). New needle, stitch length 3.5, and straight stitch setting, sew a grid all over the sandwich attaching the bits and pieces securely. My grid was basically diamonds and then some free form spirals and curves to fill in.

If you have any loose pieces of solvy sticking out along the sides, tear those off and place back in your sealed bag for another use.

Next take the whole piece and soak it in the sink under running water, lightly rubbing with your fingers. The Solvy will dissolve readily. Lightly squeeze out the piece and roll it in a towel to absorb excess water. Iron between a couple of press cloths to dry it and prevent your iron from picking up any sticky residue that could possibly remain.

You now have an embellished, quilted fabric background to use a base. I plan to add fabric photo transfers and beading to my piece for a fabric book cover.

Sweet giveaway on The Polka Dot Barn

2009-07-28T10:17:00.001-05:00

Jan has a lovely spring banner giveaway on her sweet blog. Pop over there and check it out!

Art Journaling

2009-07-27T22:48:00.006-05:00

This is the first page from an art journal I began this past winter. I have to give a nod to Kelly Kilmer for getting me motivated to start (once again!). She has a daily art journal/collage/painting/prompt offered on her website A Prompt a Day.

I was more interested in getting some color and collage into a book and let the journaling come later. So I fashioned my own signatures and sewed them into a cover of a discarded hardback book. This first page is layered with lots o f drybrush acrylic paint, collage from my stash, including the removable holy card which is from my grandfather's funeral nearly 40 years ago. I like leaving plenty of space to actually write in journals, (rather than filling them up with collage). This page also includes rub on letters, colored pencil, paper scraps, German scrap wings, silver metallic and black pens.

Besides this page, I spent some time today scanning pages that I've painted so that I have "before" and "after" pics of my pages. Here's another spread before journaling. Layers of dry brushed acrylics, collaged tags, papers, and stickers. I think these fit in nicely with the concept of layering, especially the paint, that we are exploring in Techniques Sunday with the mmartfriends yahoo group.

finishing up projects

2009-07-25T19:10:00.005-05:00

I'm in the mood to finish up some projects that have languished for awhile.

I made a little quiltie out of fabric paper, felt, machine stitching, and embossing powder. Not sure where it is going after this!

Later I added some pockets to the inside of another quilted piece and made a bookcover for a 6" x 8" journal.

I'm in the midst of repainting over some "failed" canvases. It's nice to work with a base of texture and color.

Mixed media quiltie

2009-07-17T11:09:00.001-05:00

This little quiltie includes a fabric transfer of a vintage image, machine embroidery on a Lutradur scrap; fibers and ribbons, and commercial fabric. 6.5" x 9"

encaustic 5

2009-07-11T17:49:00.004-05:00

This one was an exploration embedding black, soft, lacey paper in beeswax for the first layer, followed by floral ribbon. The ribbon reacted to the heat by shriveling into a bird-like form. I then added assorted beads to the melted wax, incised circles and arcs, and added alchol inks and copper oil sticks for color. The substrate is a 5" cradled board.

Copic Markers giveaway

2009-07-07T12:38:00.001-05:00

Check out this Stampin Up blog for a giveaway of 36 copic markers

Angie's birthday giveaway

2009-07-07T12:23:00.001-05:00

Angie has a birthday giveaway on her blog, Handmade by Lilacanglia

Melissa's Cuttlebug Giveaway

2009-07-07T12:08:00.003-05:00

Pop over to Melissa's Creating from the Heart to enter her fabulous giveaway. You can enter until July 15th.

Two more encaustics in the series

2009-07-03T00:00:00.003-05:00

Shawna Moore -Encaustic Painter

2009-07-02T23:54:00.002-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7fkIKcET14

This is one of the most inspiring videos I've watched. Shawna works on a large painting - combined with a great background song - just mesmerizing!

Beeswax collage

2009-06-17T23:10:00.006-05:00

These are my first two forays into encaustic art. I love the smell of melted beeswax - it seems to bring me back to my childhood when i spent time watching my dad process honey from the several hives we had in the yard.

This 8" x 8" collage was created on cradled gessoboard, decorative napkins, wrapping paper, and stickers. I used Shiva oil paint sticks to add additional color.

The button collage is created on 5" square cradled gessoboard. The background is tinted with alcohol inks rubbed into the cooled wax. The vintage buttons are from my collection.

A Sale - something to bring me out of my art block!

2009-04-11T22:18:00.003-05:00

What a nice surprise I received today - I sold a piece! I'd taken the three small canvases Three Textured Abstracts linked them together with a repurposed beaded necklace and had it hanging at The Next Picture Show Gallery exhibit of work from our art league, Kishwaukee Valley Art League. Ever since the death of my laptop a few weeks ago I have missed having all my pictures available, but there is hope that I will get them back soon. When I do, I will post the piece.

2009-04-10T09:37:00.001-05:00

Maybe I'll work on chakras as my theme - I have several painted canvases that would make good backgrounds. Of course, I cannot show you the backgrounds because the software for my printer/scanner is MIA!

You Are the Throat Chakra

You are outspoken and eloquent. You have no problem making your opinion known.

It's likely that you're very verbal and artistic. You are creative in every aspect of your life.

You love to communicate with people. You think it's valuable to talk out ideas and issues.

You are very honest and straightforward. Speaking the truth is important to you.

What Chakra Are You?

2009-04-10T09:28:00.002-05:00

I've got a four-day weekend over the Easter/Passover holiday and i am still blocked with my art, other than a journal that I've painted. Part of my issue is that my laptop died and the folks at Staples did NOT recover my data as they said they did, so I have lost all my documents and photos of my artwork! Hopefully Kyle will do some magic with my hardrive in this next week or so and I can have my digital life back!

2009-02-21T19:12:00.002-06:00

I'm not sure where the day has gone, but it has been a relaxing one. We had another little snow storm (after all the previous snow had melted away, teasing us into believing spring was on its way!), so I decided to stay home and inside today. I'm trying to complete the many pieces that I have in various stages of "doneness". I only finished a few small ones, like this ATC-sized stretched canvas from Dick Blick

Gesso and Ink background

2009-02-02T06:59:00.001-06:00

This is half of the 12" x 18" background I created inspired by Maggie Grey's book Textile Translations
The base is Timtex, layered with tissue paper and handmade paper, fusible webbing, gesso, inks, and acrylic paint sprays. I haven't added any metallic highlights yet, nor any stitching, as I'm not yet sure what I am going to do with this particular piece. I love the texture though!

Preparing for Shows

2009-01-17T22:41:00.003-06:00

This three-day weekend has turned into a six-day vacation from work due to the frigid weather. It's been a bonus of time to think about what shows I'd like to enter and to get working on some artwork to send in.

I'm considering entering several exhibitions: at WomanMade Gallery in Chicago, the Venus Envy show in the Quad Cities, and the "Dos Equis XX: Women's Juried Exhibition" at The Next Picture Show Gallery in Dixon, IL.

Chrysti's 29 Days of Giving

2008-12-14T15:17:00.002-06:00

Chrysti is featuring a 29 Days of Giving on her blog

Check it out - still time to enter days 6 through 29!

Susan Tuttle's new book

2008-12-13T17:22:00.002-06:00

Susan Tuttle has a new book and give-away contest on her blog. Stop by to check it out - you still have a couple of days!

Three Textured Abstracts

2008-12-13T03:25:00.006-06:00

A couple of weeks ago I decided I needed to get out of my "not creating art" rut and came up with some painted chunky canvasses that will be a housewarming gift for Kyle and Jenny over in Lockport. They wanted some textured abstracts in green for the dining area, so I've begun with 4"x 4" x 1" pieces. Here's one of the three. I used Golden acrylics, molding paste, bubblewrap, and some stencils and stamps.

Then I grabbed a few 5" x 5" canvasses I found on sale for $1 a piece, and designed some mixed media pieces inspired by the phrases "leap fearlessly", "follow your bliss", and "surrounded by love". They have painted and stamped backgrounds with with wired floral ribbon and sewn fabric paper embellishments.

2008-11-23T16:05:00.001-06:00

I saw this on Kristin's blog and thought it looked fun. You are supposed to bold the things you've done. Seems I have a bit of living to do yet! (Check out her website Retro Cafe Art Gallery. Kristin has some wonderful antique "frozen charlotte" or penny dolls for sale as well as great digital collage sheets.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

2008-09-05T21:56:00.001-05:00

Tote Give-Away

Check out Vintage Cate's give-away on her blog:
http://vintagecate.typepad.com/a_charmed_life/

2008-08-31T09:40:00.006-05:00

I am Honored

Award Winners were nnounced for "I am Woman" Show on August 15, 2008 at The Next Picture Show Gallery in Dixon, IL

... and I was thrilled and surprised for my framed collage "Renewal" to be chosen for the third place award!

An artist from the Quad Cities, Raphael Iaccarino, judged the show. He is an internationally known artist whose vivid watercolors are inspired by the Costa Rican rain forests and jungles. Iaccarino prefaced the announcements with a comment that he was looking for images that compelled him to look, look again, and return to look yet again. He said that five of the six pieces had an air of mystery about them.

Iaccarino gave each of the award winners a written comment, which I found very encouraging. The comment on "Renewal" was, " Just when you know, it's time to let go."

2008-08-10T22:30:00.001-05:00

Wordle allows you to create word clouds like this from your blog or other sections of text:

2008-07-06T21:35:00.004-05:00

July Update

I plan to have my blog moved over to here in the next couple of weeks.

In the past few months I've been busy at work, preparing to teach a different grade, so I haven't devoted a lot of time to artwork. Here though, are some of the pieces I've worked lately for the juried show, I Am Woman, at The Next Picture Show Gallery in Dixon, IL.

"Rain on the Roof" is a 12” x 6” wrapped canvas collaged with textured acrylic paint, paper, sewn copper sheeting, vintage buttons, and found objects

"Some say dreaming of hearing rain on the roof is a sign of domestic peace and joy."

The second image is "Optimistic Birdsong: Herstory needs Voices". It's a wallhanging 40" x 28" done in the style of mixed media artist Lesley Riley. Lesley generously provided instructions in a past issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissors. I enjoyed making this piece because I was able to try some new processes: painting muslin, heat distressing painted Lutradur, and using gel medium to transfer an inkjet photo.

The next two pictures are of the embellished wooden chair, titled: "Silla Especial". The 8" x 4" x 4" wooden chair is painted with acrylics and embellished with beads, loteria cards, discarded jewelry, and Spanish text of the prayer "Hail Mary". "Silla Especial" was designed as part of a tablescape for a fiesta.

2008-05-03T08:32:00.002-05:00

Venus Envy Reception

*From 5/3/08)
Last night was entertaining at the Bucktown Center for the Arts in Davenport, IA. I attended the Venus Envy artist reception, viewed the exhibit of the art (which includes 2 of my pieces mentioned in the last post), and wandered through some of the artist studio/galleries. There was a lovely assortment of appetizers (including chocolate dipped strawberries - yum!), a bar, and chair massages for the artists. A very nice surprise since last week I'd mentioned to my art group friends that nothing short of a chair massage would impress me after I read an email that said we'd be "pampered"!

Tonight I return the Bucktown Center for the actual event of music, dance, and theater performances.

Quad City Arts Exhibition Gallery

I submitted a CD of artwork to the Quad City Arts Gallery in Rock Island, IL, which is just across the Mississippi River from the Bucktown Center. It's a great gallery of work from artists within a 250 mile range. I won't find out if my work is accepted for a couple of months, so in the meantime, I'm going to keep exploring some ideas that have been percolating for awhile!

Anne Von Ehr Pastel Workshop

More catching up today... A couple of weeks ago I participated in a pastel workshop in Sycamore, IL sponsored by KVAL. It was the first time I'd really used soft pastels and I learned so much. Anne Von Ehr is truly a wonderful teacher and someone I actually worked with years ago near the start of both of our teaching careers in Oswego,IL. Imagine my delight to be able to catch up a bit with her after so many years!

2008-03-14T07:08:00.005-05:00

A lovely surprise arrived via email the other day - two of my acrylic/mixed media pieces have been accepted in the Venus Envy show at the Bucktown Center for the Arts in Davenport, IA.

The May 3rd event is billed as "VENUS ENVY All Women's Art Extravaganza in the Bucktown District". Forty-six visual artists will be showcased along with musical performances, dance, installation performances and theater on Saturday, May 3rd, from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. at the Bucktown Center for the Arts in downtown Davenport , Iowa . Some of the events will also take place along Pershing Street, adjacent to Bucktown. The artwork will hang until May 30th.

The two pieces selected for the juried show are "Mardi Gras" and "Renewal"

2008-02-13T22:53:00.007-06:00

I'm waiting to hear if any of these paintings will be accepted in the Venus Envy show to be held at the Bucktown Center for the Arts in Davenport, IA during May 2008. I sent off a CD of the work along with my artist statement a few days ago. Now it's time to wait for the response!

This is "Ayla's Cave", a highly textured 16" x 20" acrylic painting. I used etched deep lines into molding paste and added layers of trasparent fluid acrylics to build up a depth of color. I also used Golden's Garnet Gel tinted with Burnt Orange to add a gritty, rusty texture. The center area is painted and distressed brown paper with sketched charcoal images suggesting the cave drawings found in southern France.

The black, red, and gold framed piece is a 14" x 18" collage of paper, acrylic paint, and fabric. I used hot glue to provide the texture of curved, raised lines. The center image is a figure from Chinese

These last two painting, "Mardi Gras" and "Oceanids" have been described in early posts.

2008-02-03T10:26:00.000-06:00

I've finished a series of four textured acrylic abstracts that I've entered into the juried exhibition "Regional Art Survey 4" at The Next Picture Show Gallery. The series is based on the 5 elements of Feng Shui - earth, wind, fire, water, and metal. I'm still working on the "Wind" piece, which will hang in another venue.

This is "Earth", the Knowledge element. The original has more yellow hues than the orange that is here. It's 16" x 20" on gallery wrapped canvas. I used a variety of textures including molding paste, handmade paper, and tissue paper.

The second painting is a grouping of four 6" x 6" canvasses textured with tissue paper, stamps in molding paste, and cheesecloth. It's called, "Fire", the most powerful of the 5 Feng Shui elements, fire represents passion and energy. This mixed media piece incorporates the fire colors of red, orange, purple, pink, and strong yellow.

"Metal" is the prosperity element in the study of feng shui.
Original is 16” x 20” on gallery wrapped canvas. I used Luminere metallic paints to get the glow.

The last of the series is "Water", which is considered the Career Element in the study of Feng Shui. I’ve incorporated the color blue and a variety of textures in this acrylic painting. The original is also 16” x 20” on gallery wrapped canvas.

2008-01-29T23:07:00.000-06:00

I've been working on some paintings for submission to a juried exhibition at The Next Picture Show in Dixon. I have 3 of the 4 near completion that are a series interpreting Feng Shui elements in the style of Jacqueline Sullivan's DVD. I've become enamored with her techniques of using transparent acrylic paints and mediums along with the additions of textures of molding paste, cheesecloth, tissue paper, etc. Pictures will follow later this week when I have the work dry and ready to photo!

In the meantime, here is one that uses torn wallpaper, acrylics, stamping, and handmade paper that I made a few months ago. I named it Oceanids, after the Greek sea nymphs. The original is 16" x 12" on canvas board. The enlarged view really shows the textures.

2008-01-02T22:56:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year to all! 2008 promises to be another wonderful year of art opportunities!

My plans include doing art everyday - being more productive by using the vast array of materials I already have rather than being seduced into buying more! I set a goal to enter 4 shows at the Next Picture Show gallery - the call for entries has Regional Art Survey 4 (any media and subject); Sculpture, Clay, and Fiber (fabric, fiber, paper???); the Nuts about Art outdoor show in July; and then the I am Woman show in August. That's about 16 different pieces. I need to get moving!

I kept busy during winter break with some painting and mixed media art - photos should follow by the weekend. My printer/scanner decided to die, so I haven't been able to do all that I wanted with digital media, but that should change by the weekend. Just bought an Epson printer/copier/scanner today at CompUSA as the Rockford store is closing by the end of the month. It was a decent deal, so maybe by tomorrow evening I'll have it set up and ready to go.

Last week on yet another trip to Rockford, I discovered a rather new contemporary art gallery
on State Street between downtown and Alpine: Golan Lieberman Gallery. I met the artist co-owner, Roni Golan, who was there working on his computer and practicing his flute. His work is simply amazing and he is a delight to talk to.

Friday brings another exhibition opening at The Next Picture Show Gallery . I don't have any work there this time, but friends do, so I'll be there to celebrate along with them!

Vacation has ended! Time to sleep! I am looking forward to seeing the preschoolers tomorrow (and keeping my fingers crossed that everyone's now an independent user of the toilet!)

2007-12-15T06:42:00.000-06:00

Lisa Vollrath is once again offering a Christmas countdown of images. Go here to read about how to download her linkware images.

2007-12-08T09:13:00.000-06:00

I'm In!

Just registered to attend a summer workshop with Beryl Taylor at the wonderful Valley Ridge Art Studio in southwestern Wisconsin! I've been thinking about this and planning it for months, so you can be sure I was signing in at precisely 9 AM today when registrations opened! I've attended Valley Ridge for two previous workshops (Lesley Riley and Kathy Malkasian) and had a marvelous time on both occasions. You really can't ask for a more comfortable and idyllic setting offered by the proprietors, Kathy and Bill Malkasian.

2007-11-03T07:49:00.000-05:00

I can finally get back to do some artwork - the two week jury duty is over, contract negotiations are completed...now all I have to do is deal with the car issue - hit a deer the other night, so I'm off to get estimates and talk to my insurance agent.

These are two examples of the second set of Skinny book journal pages I completed for the swap at Arttechniques . The theme for this set was "Goddess". I used a wallpaper sample again, coated with gesso and various acrylic paints and overstampled with Stazon inks. The goddess shape was cut from textured wallpaper and sewed on, couching some colorful yarns in the outline. I'm happy with the results! More later!

2007-10-08T20:16:00.000-05:00

Tonight I joined an art and photo sharing/selling based in Australia - RedBubble

I posted 4 of the Goddess series images as I was learning the ins and outs of the site.

I've also been working on a set of journal pages for a swap on the Arttechniques group. This first set is for the "color" theme. I used wallpaper for the base, gesso and acrylic paint over it, layered with sheer ribbon, painted paper towel, tyvek, watercolor paper, sequins, beads, and a bit of stamping. Lastly I added some machine stictching to bring it all together. I know most people add images of people or text, but I wanted something a bit different.

Hopefully my partners will appreciate a more abstract journal page too!

2007-09-15T08:19:00.000-05:00

Not too much time to work on art this week, which bugs me because I've many things to work on! This morning I got up after 11 hours of sleep (guess I needed it!) and played with heavy gloss gel and paint to add texture to a color block piece I started a couple of weeks ago.

I ran across this quiz and the outcome was apt, considering I drink coffee once a week!

You Are a Cappuccino

You're fun, outgoing, and you love to try anything new.
However, you tend to have strong opinions on what you like.
You are a total girly girly at heart - and prefer your coffee with good conversation.
You're the type that seems complex to outsiders, but in reality, you are easy to please

What Kind of Coffee Girl Are You?

2007-09-08T21:17:00.000-05:00

Today's been one of those unexpectedly busy days in which I didn't get any art work done, but I indulged myself with two "gifts". One was a 2 1/2 hour nap this afternoon that I didn't know I needed! I thought I would get up after 20 minutes, but I was zapped, so I thought, what does it matter - sleep!

The other gift was the arrival of two books I ordered through Amazon, so I spent time after the nap reading Acrylic Revolution by Nancy Reyner. This is one amazing book for anyone using acrylic paints, mediums, and gels in their work. I was familiar with some of the tips and techniques, but this spiral-bound book that opens flat for easy reading and reference has many techniques that I've admired in other artists' work, but didn't know how to accomplish. So, now before I go to bed, I'll be prepping some 16" x 20" canvases for play tomorrow.

The other book that arrived today is Simple Soldered Jewelry & Accessories: A Crafter's Guide to Fashioning Necklaces, Earrings, Bracelets & More by Lisa Bluhm. That one will be perused in bed later tonight. (My usual routine is to bring a magazine like Quilting Arts, Cloth, Paper, Scissors, or Somerset Studio, or a book to bed, read until it drops from my hands as I doze off, then laugh, turn of the light, roll over, and go to sleep.)

Tomorrow morning is the weekly meeting of the Sunday morning art group that convenes at a local Starbucks (still nameless after months and months of meeting!) I'll bring the above- mentioned books to share as well as the package of journal pages from a recent CPS swap. What a wonderful array of 10 pages from some talented artists in the group!

2007-09-02T15:59:00.000-05:00

Today and tomorrow I plan to devote to creating some art pieces. Yesterday I found out I can have a spot in a Sycamore, IL business for the traveling art show of KVAL (Kishwaukee Valley Art League). So, I need to get three pieces ready for that. Melissa asked if I would create something for her dorm room, as she and her roommate need to "art-up" their room! And, just because I've been busy with the start of school for the past two weeks and have not created anything artistic, I need to get cracking.

This past week the new zine, Fibre & Stitch, debuted and it is lovely! This one sounded like a good match for me because no matter what art medium I explore, I tend to gravitate back to fabric! There's also a new yahoo group for the subscribers to the zine, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fibreandstitch/. The first challenge is exactly the technique I wanted to try, Carol McFee's "Lutradur and Lace". I'll post it later - first painting is still wet.

2007-08-25T09:12:00.000-05:00

I'm just now getting to posting my four mixed media goddess art pieces that were accepted in a local gallery's juried show. The Next Picture Show Gallery in Dixon, IL has a current exhibition hung until September 11, 2007 entitled "She". "The “She” show displays artworks that explore the diversity of womanhood – earth mother, wise woman, mother/daughter, goddess, spirited souls."

It was such a thrill to have my artwork accepted for this show as it was the first time I entered work in a gallery. I've been working on a goddess art series to honor the heritage of my grandmothers whose families hail from Ireland and Slovenia. So when I happened into the gallery earlier this summer and saw that there was a woman's art show coming up, I thought this was a sign that I should finish the pieces and enter them!

There was a reception on Friday evening, August 17th to which several of my friends accompanied me, making it much more fun! I arrived there about 30 minutes after the opening, and as I made my way toward the back of the gallery where I saw Barb, Wally, Judy, and Colin mingling, I passed my work, noting red sticker dots on three of the four pieces. I thought it might mean "something", but didn't have much time to dwell on it when the gallery director, Bonnie Kime, came over to tell me she had a young woman who wanted to talk to me about the art. "Cool", I mused, and when Bonnie then added that Bridget had just purchased the pieces, I'm sure I broke out into a big smile! We had a lovely chat amid the din of the crowd and then I had a bit of time to view the other 60+ pieces before the winners were announced. I'm thinking about going back later today or next Saturday to have more time to appreciate them.

This first piece with the flames and goddess reaching to the blue sky is entitled, "Belisama". It's a 6" x 12" canvas of acrylic paint, handmade, and commerical papers collaged with gel medium. Belisama or "Summer Bright" was a goddess of the ancient Celts. She was a goddess of fire, forge, and crafts. There is evidence that she is related to the Roman goddess Minerva, which makes sense if you consider the interrelatedness of cultures during the expansion of the ancient Roman Empire into Gaul and Britain.

This next piece in greens with a dryad emerging from a tree is "Sidhe Draoi". The name refers to the Irish tree faery of Druid lore who lived among the trees in the sacred grove. Tissue papers were collaged as a background and then I cut a free-form tree from fabric paper I made from muslin and assorted brown papers. The leaves are snipped from assorted handmade and commercial papers and fabrics. The dryad, or wood nymph, is fashioned from a polymer clay face attached to a body made of vintage and new laces glued, sewn and painted on cotton flannel. The hair is strands of floss, ribbon, and fibers.

The piece on the far left of the weaving in a handmade frame is "Brigid's Loom". It is pasticcio of fibers, yarn, ribbon, and handmade papers woven through wires colored with alcohol inks and then twisted when taken off the loom. The frame is a foamcore piece gessoed, layered with molding paste, handmade paper, acrylic paints, and embellished with small beads. It is part of a series of about 20 pieces in a similar vein. There is a nice tutorial for the frame in Somerset Workshop by artist Diana Twedt. (Diana is very inspiring and has shared her tutorials and art in many of Stampington's publications.)

The last piece I've posted here previously is "Airmid", one of my favorites. Now that it's sold, I've begun a smaller version to keep for myself!

2007-08-14T13:27:00.000-05:00

What a nice surprise I just received! My "Airmid" goddess piece was chosen to be the home page art on the Yahoo group "cloth paper studio" for this week! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/clothpaperstudio/

I created Airmid in honor of one of my grandmothers. I used a vintage photo of my grandmother, taken when she was 18. The photo is of her sitting in bright sunlight, wearing a dark colored dress with a sailor collar. I loved the high contrast of her face and how she is looking down, so I cropped her head and printed it on paper we made from cornhusks.

Airmid is the Celtic goddess of herbal healing, and she stood guard over the Well of Slaine in Ireland. She is said to live in the mountains of Ireland yet today, healing faeries and humans who need her help. Water is her element.

Like so many other grandmothers, mine had a cure for whatever ailed you. I recall her favorite remedy to slather over us was "Mentholatum", a sticky menthol rub still sold today.

2007-08-08T07:42:00.000-05:00

Two examples of using scrim (cheesecloth) in mixed media work. The first one is "Lost Love", a fabric and paper collage. The fabric on the right side covering the lower corner is purple scrim, purchased at a local Joann fabrics.

The piece on the right, "Pasticcio 2", has the same scrim along the top of the weaving. Displayed at an outdoor art show, it is the second in a series of collages exploring weaving over a variety of warps with an assortment of threads, fibers, paper, and ribbons. This piece is 12" x 8" on watercolor paper with a foamcore frame that I constructed with molding paste, embossed papers, and painted with acrylics.

I'll come back to edit this later today. I've got to run to a meeting!

2007-07-23T15:33:00.000-05:00

Kate's Remembrance is an assemblage of precious bits of vintage treasure nestled in a brass pendant in honor of my grandmother.

The central figure is a small bisque porcelein unjointed doll known as a "frozen charlotte" or "penny doll", which were popular in the late 19th to early 20th century. My doll is a vintage German find about 1.25" high.

The bent nail symbolizes illness.

The mother of pearl buttons are from my grandmother's collection which I inherited. Mother of pearl (or MOPs) buttons have fascinated me for years. When I discovered that Muscatine, Iowa, on the Mississippi shore was the center of mother of pearl button making in the early 1900s, they became even more interesting to me, as they originated just a couple of hours from here. The buttons were made from shells of mussels, abundantly available in the river.

I found my Frozen Charlotte on Ebay from a seller who had a lot of 5 with broken limbs. Their disrepair made them even more interesting to me, so I was thrilled when I won the bid at a very reasonable price!

Here's a bit of Frozen Charlotte lore from "Yesterday's Toys"

http://www.ohiokids.org/oe/yt/10f.shtml

"The name came from Fair Charlotte, a well-known American folk ballad attributed to William Lorenzo Carter. It is believed to have been composed some time between 1833 and 1860. The ballad tells the tale of a beautiful young woman who set out in a sleigh with her lover, Charles, on a bitterly cold night to attend a ball fifteen miles away. Her mother warned her to wrap herself in a blanket to keep warm, but:

"No, no, no," fair Charlotte said

And she laughed like a gypsy queen

"To ride in blankets muffled up,

I never can be seen."

The couple rode off into the cold and, after traveling a mere five miles, Charles remarked:

"Such a night as this I never knew,

The reins I scarce can hold."

Fair Charlotte said in a feeble voice

"I am exceeding cold."

Away they ride through frozen air

In the glittering starry night

Until at length the village inn

and the ballroom were in sight.

They reached the door,

Young Charles stepped out

And held his hand to her

"Why sit you there like a monument

that hath no power to stir?"

He called her once,

he called her twice

She uttered not a word

He held his hand to her again

And still she never stirred

Then swiftly through the lighted room

Her lifeless form he bore

Fair Charlotte was a stiffened corpse

And word spoke nevermore.

Of course there was a lesson to be learned from this tragic tale, and many young girls who later played with Frozen Charlottes probably were warned:

"Now, ladies, when you hear of this

Think of that dreadful sight,

And never venture so thinly clad,

On such a winter's night."

Can't you just hear your grandmother's advice ringing out, "Take a sweater with you!"

2007-06-25T09:09:00.000-05:00

Shame on me for not updating this blog for the past 4 months! I've got lots of things to show but the scanner is out of commission until I replace the monitor downstairs (thank God for the laptop upstairs!)

More later.

2007-02-07T23:22:00.000-06:00

Vintage image with permission from TenTwo Studios.

Vintage image my dad and one of his cousins, circa 1929.

Here are some of my latest ATCs.

2007-01-01T16:57:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year to all.

Just a bit of updating what I've been creating lately. You can also see images of my work on ArtWanted.com

The mixed media image to the left is a 9" x 12" piece inspired by an article in ClothPaperScissors. I'll update the details later.

The image below "Inspire" with the red heart is a 4" x 6" acrylic on canvas board with copper wire, beads, buttons, watch parts and paper ephemera.

The "Sisters" piece was a gift to my sister at Christmakuh. It is similar to "Inspire" but with a photo of us when we were quite young printed on muslin. Both pieces were also inspired by an article in ClothPaperScissors, but again I need to get the magazine to check the details!.

2006-10-22T21:46:00.000-05:00

There are some swaps I'd like to participate in, most especially the ones Lisa Vollrath does on swap-bot. But I need to have some experience on the site, so I went with a button swap - 5 buttons to each of 4 players. Pretty open and straightforward. Here's a button tag I am sending out tomorrow to my partners in Sweden, Portugal, Canada, and North Carolina.

2006-10-16T23:46:00.000-05:00

Here's a quickpost before I go to bed: my goddess paperdolls for a swap on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/clothpaperstudio/
The base is the same tissue paper collage on watercolor paper with some stamping, coiled coppery wire, gold slick paint, and an inkjet transparency transfer (image from a poster by Linda Bergkvist .

2006-10-14T22:57:00.000-05:00

I've been playing with collage backgrounds. Both of these started as 140 # watercolor paper with roughly torn orange, yellow, and gold tissue paper collaged on with Golden's Matte Medium. The 4" tag on the left has some coppery paper woven through slits at the top and a tag tied on with some chenille yarn.

The square on the right is the same base but with Golden's Clear Tar Gel slatered on. Then I dipped a bamboo skewer in som Carbon Black acrylic and swirled it through the wet tar gel. The piece dried with a glossy shine that isn't evident in this photo.

2006-09-10T21:27:00.000-05:00

Nearly a year has passed...

and it is about time I revisit this blog!

This past weekend I experienced one of the best activities ever - taking a 2-day workshop (Exploring Fabric Books) with mixed media artist, Lesley Riley at the amazing Valley Ridge Art Studio in SW Wisconsin. I made a great start on three fabric books (photos to follow in a week or so as I complete the books.) Lesley is as inspiring, helpful, and generous as I imagined her to be. Kathy and Bill, owners of the studio ( a gem hidden away in the hills and valleys of scenic WI), are a gracious and fun-loving couple.

Two of the lovely women I met at the workshop are Beth and Laura. I hope to continue our associations (and perhaps visit with some of the Illinois contingent - Jane, Tricia, Sandy, Carol, and Deb!)

I'd rather be in Paris

2005-09-23T23:12:00.000-05:00

... but until then this will have to do! Here a few of the altered puzzle pieces and book pages I've worked on recently.