Valley Ridge Inspiration

It's been awhile since I posted. I have been doing art, but every once in a while, I just need to be recharged. This last weekend, I took a class at Valley Ridge Art Studio in Muscode, WI, with Mary Beth Shaw. And am I re-ignited! Learned so, so much, in such a marvelous environment. There is just nothing like an art class in a beautiful environment. Above, is a collograph I made in class (on left), and a print that it made (on right). I will be making many more of these!
Here's a side-ways view of the claybord diptych I am still working on. That black part is tar. Yes, tar. I will have a challenge, incorporating it into the piece, but there was a little chip on the edge, and I thought the tar would conceal that.
Here are two more boards where we practiced several new techniques. I have worked more on it since this photo, and it is just about finished.
And here are the same two boards, early on. Here, it's obvious I used grids. The challenge is to start out with them, to aid composition--then, to move out of them to make the work cohesive.

I had so much fun, and learned much more than I had even hoped.

Simple Pleasures

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Sewn paper collages

Yesterday I spent time at my friend's house, using one of her sewing machines. (I don't own one.) She quilted while I sewed papers and fabrics onto cardstock. I just loved it!
Many of the papers are hand-made, while some are photocopies of fabrics or of other artwork I've done. I really, really like the effect.
Not to mention the COLORS! I feel so color-deprived after this long winter. Anyway, it was great fun to play with her machine. I must get one of my own now.
This shows some of the stitching detail. I wasn't very precise in getting them straight, but I still like the effect. Not sure yet what I'll do with them. Ideas?

Wearable Collages

I worked on these for a couple of days and ended up with over 20 necklaces. Many of the charms I had already made, but had not done anything with them; others, I just made yesterday. I used a lot of wood and metal on these.
Some of the wood are small cubes, while others are the backs of Scrabble tiles. I either collaged on them as is, or glued a small background on & collaged on that.
It feels good to use up some of my stash of goodies! I didn't realize how MUCH I had!!

Be-ing

Just completed this piece today. I worked on it, off and on, over two months. I knew it needed something, I just couldn't figure out what. Then, as I was reading MaryBeth Shaw's new book, chapter by chapter, it hit me like a ton of bricks--VALUES!! I needed more contrast. So I did that, made a few more layers of color on the figure, and now it feels finished.

I wanted to convey the importance of having gratitude. To me, gratitude begets peace. It's where I must start from, when I am overwhelmed or feeling out-of-sorts. So in this piece, although the figure is surrounded by bumpy rocks (lots of texture), she/he is aglow within.

Valentine ATC's

I made a batch of ATC's for Valentine's Day. This one is my fave. The background paper I used was from last year's Family Mixed Media Madness event. All my kids, significant others, and grandkids made papers. It was a lot of fun, and we all ended up with tons of papers.
Here's the bunch. I have always loved Valentine's Day. I suppose I'm a true romantic at heart. Or maybe I just like an excuse to use lots of pink and red. Regardless, my friends and family can usually count on some Valentines from me!

a serving of poetry

Today, before throwing away a Better Homes & Gardens magazine, I decided to skim through and snip out words to which I was drawn. I placed them in a small bowl so I could carry them into my studio. I think it looks like a delicious serving of Words! I challenged myself to create a poem, using only these words. (I made sure I snipped the little words too--prepositions, "a" and "the", etc.)
Then I spread out all the words, and began formulating a bit of a poem....
and here is the final poem. (The word on the left that got cut off is "Tomorrow.") I pasted it into my art journal, and now I have a great little entry for a snowy wintry day!