a very merry Xmas

Here's my little dog in her new winter coat. I know, she looks like she's wearing another animal! First of all, it's fake fur, and secondly she looks adorable in person (though there is someone who disagrees...you know who you are!) So I will leave you with this image for the holidays while I prepare to leave on Saturday for a couple of weeks to visit the East Coast. I'll be posting again when I return in January. Happy Holidays!

new art journal spread

I FINALLY sat down in my studio and did some art journaling. I have missed it so! I got the photo of the girl from Family Circle magazine...go figure!
This photo was in my mind for about 2 1/2 weeks, so I was very anxious to finally get to it. I started by gluing her down to a journal page, then letting her "talk" to me about what she wanted to become.

I'm finding now I have certain things in my "symbolic alphabet" (Anahata Katkin's term). Things that keep attracting me, coming into my art pieces consistently. Big things right now are halos, stars, wings, flowers, birds, type, and glitter letters.

It was really fun to magazine surf and look for inspiration in everything...a phrase or group of words here, a photo there, even advertisements!

I especially loved the photo at left because of the blurriness of the image and the joy on the little girl's face. I've included a couple of detail shots here too. Now, back to it!

Christmas mania

I've spent today getting Christmas presents together to ship. Spent most of yesterday making them, then finished up this morning and now am too tired to go to UPS! Oh well, they'll be open tomorrow.

I will have time these next few days to work in my art journal before I leave for my trip next Saturday. Will post the results.

a little more figure drawing

Here's one of my last figure drawings for class. I feel I'm finally getting it, just in time to take winter break! My teacher is setting up some open figure drawing sessions over the break and I'm taking my book and sketch pad with me to Cape Cod, so I'll keep my skills up over the next month.

Today is my last day of exam stuff...final this morning and another critique this afternoon. Then I will spend the next week and a half getting ready for Xmas. Hopefully will have some time to work in my art journal. It feels like years since I did that!

let's try again with some new artwork

Ok, it looks like this time it worked. The other file must not have been to this program's liking. Ahh, the joys of computers!

Anyway, this was my last drawing for Life Drawing this semester. I like it, and look forward to honing my skills even more next semester.

It's kind of weird not having structured time all of a sudden. I feel kind of lost. Without the structure of classes everyday, the sadness and difficulties of the past few months is catching up with me and I'm looking at the holidays with an inward groan. I have tons to do, but somehow it's hard to get motivated to do it. Christmas is in two weeks, I'm going away for two weeks on 12/23 and I've only scratched the surface of Christmas shopping, etc. Well, it won't be the first time I've experienced the holiday blues.

Last night I crocheted, and it was the first time in months that I felt like doing any handwork like that. It was nice and I really enjoyed it. Am looking forward to doing more over my vacation and winter break from school. I dug through my pile of yarn and projects yesterday, picked one, and went to town last night. I think now that all my creative energy isn't being eaten up by school, I will feel more inspired to crochet, knit, quilt, and the like. And having gifts to make adds extra inspiration!

the new beta version

I'm not sure about this new beta version. The colors in my art are all wrong, and the type is a weird color and is underlining itself. Hmmm...any tips ?

the new beta version

I'm not sure about this new beta version. The colors in my art are all wrong, and the type is a weird color and is underlining itself. Hmmm...any tips ?

it's been a busy weekend!

My little dog is showing how I feel right now...tired but content. It was a busy weekend in Phoenix, and I attended several events over the course of two days.

Friday night was the Phoenix "First Friday" art walk downtown. I'd been to it a couple of years back, so was pleasantly surprised to see how much it had grown. It was packed with attendees, and so nice to see all the artsy folks wandering around enjoying the art and ambiance. My friend Ted commented on how nice it was to see a thriving art event. Gives us hope for Phoenix!

Last night was the downtown parade of lights which I had never attended, and it was great fun! About 200,000 parade goers congregated along the parade route and enjoyed the festivities. My friend Vic and I got great parking and front row seats at the beginning of the parade route, so we got the best view AND a speedy exit! There were several floats filled with Christmas lights, and the marching bands were all decked out with Christmas lights on their uniforms. Christmas carols aplenty we heard, and were dazzled by sparkling Xmas lights everywhere.

Today I went to the Tempe Arts Festival with another couple of friends. It was a great day; a little windy and cool, but the sun warmed us nicely in the late afternoon. The show was kind of weak; lots of chili peppers wearing cowboy hats and Kokopellis, but I did see some beautiful work. In particular two photographers whose work was soulful and evocative. I'll post their website addresses when I dig out their business cards from my purse.

On to the last week of classes tomorrow, then finals...