The Spirit of the Gulf

My first attempt at watercolor - this is my contribution to the "Spirit of the Gulf Challenge," a young brown pelican looking out at the crisp clear blue-green waters of the ocean and dreaming pelican dreams of soaring over the white caps looking for a few snacks from a school of silvery fish just spotted right beneath the shadow of her wings.

A couple of days ago I was blog hopping and discovered a site that is calling for all artists to create a piece of art depicting something of the Gulf of Mexico BEFORE the disaster hit. I put the link on my sidebar but I think it deserves a post of its own so here it is. The call is to put into that piece of art all of the heart and soul of what the Gulf means to the planet's overall well being and all the positive thoughts and energy you possibly can send to this disaster, which by the way is not contained just to the Gulf. It is moving and will continue moving. Our great country is founded on many principals and one of them is being united in times of crisis - well folks this is one of those times.  We need one unified voice to direct all of the groups and volunteers and it is NOT BP - BP doesn't own the Gulf and this is too big for just one company to handle! (Mr. President we need you now... It should be all of the oil companies, all of the environmental groups and all of those recently graduated environmental students without jobs and more - and where is the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers? This is of a magnitude approaching Katrina so what is the problem guys?)  OK, I have said my piece and hopefully not lost any of my friends along the way... back to the issue at hand. We are artists - we are about the beauty around us and creating our art from our hearts and souls - lets pull together and take this challenge to each create a piece of art for the Gulf. I am placing the link so you can read all of the details on how to complete and post your work for this project. Please forgive my anger, because we need less anger and lots, lots more love and compassion to get it all done!

Artist Blog Hop

Thanks to Kelly Watts for the link.

Thinking, Thinking Always Thinking - Too Much!

I anticipated a quiet creative morning finishing up a book I started making yesterday only to find myself saying, "so what!" I had wanted to finish it today but motivation seemed to be missing in action, again. So, rather than get into a complete funk I decided to "blog wander" and some wonderful blogs I did find! The crucial one however came from one of my friend's blogs, http://www.freebirddrawing.blogspot.com/. I should warn you this is going to be one of those weaving in and out posts so you might want to go grab a cup of your fav beverage and come back and then read... Anyway, my friend's most recent post was on an artist journal page she had just finished, which by the way is awesome. Moreover, it got me to thinking, in circles mostly because that seems to be how my brain works, about why artists make artist journals - you see I am big on purpose, I know, I know but that is a therapy session for another time. So anyway, looking at her journal page, on the letter "C" in case you are wondering, all of a sudden a light went on - "there are literally millions of subjects to journal about...and that is that journal's purpose, an artistic representation of the chosen subject"! OH MY GOSH, how utterly simple, yet complex! OK, OK, you ask what in the heck does this have to do with Beth's working on her handmade book? Well it does, honest, just not as direct as one would like (even me), I warned you about the weaving in and out as well as my circular thinking! A quote, also found on my friends blog led me to the site where I found the following:
"I regard it as a waste of time to think only of selling: one forgets one's art and exaggerates one's value."
Camille Pissarro
This you see, had been my problem, thinking too much about the saleability, (and purpose with respect to the artist journal), and loosing sight of the "ART" of creating the piece. Sometimes (probably more often than not), I realized, focusing on "purpose" gets in the way of art, which is a spiritual, personal, creative statement - that is its purpose. So, with my new found epiphany I am going to actually begin my first artist journal as well as go back and make a heap of changes to that book in progress.
A peaceful, worry free weekend of creating art my friends...
Ciao for now,
Beth

Photography Prompts - Echo Project Week 15

This week I was cruising around various artist's blogs, following links and just getting lost in all the wonderfullness of the myriad of interpretations of art out there. I happily stumbled upon a link to two wonderful photographers who have put a group together where every other week one is given a prompt for a photograph. I thought to myself, "hmmmmmm this might just be the inspiration I have been looking for to get me back out in the field and photographing nature, one of my many passions". Now I know this sounds like I am just over loading my plate but photography is a life long passion of mine. I have been at it since I was quite young...just not lately, and it actually ties in quite nicely with my handmade book arts, so I thought why not?! The project is called Echo (there is a button on my sidebar if you are interested in joining the project), and week #15 has the prompt of "Rouge". This is my interpretation, photographically of that deep, vibrant and heat filled color that signals summer in my mind's eye. As you can see I am a little rusty with my photography but I promise the pictures will get better!

Faces in Technicolor

Just a quick blurb today to let you know my absolute favorite teacher - Sharon Tomlinson of All Norah'S Art has done it again. Sharon has just opened registration for her new painting class, "Faces in Technicolor", which should be absolutely fabulous. Class begins June 18th, is limited to 85 spaces initially and only costs $55.00. So, don't wait too long contemplating, just get on over there and sign up for an awesome class, lots of fun, new friends and great conversations.

Slither, Slither Snake!

Well, just after writing such a soothing post yesterday discussing the wonder of mother nature in all her glory I had a temporary moment of insanity, having been lulled by the kinder and gentler of her nature. Walking to the kitchen from my studio (a.k.a. spare closet sized bedroom) not long after putting up yesterday's post I stopped dead in my tracks..."no, surely not, it can't be...but yes I fear it is true, it is most certainly a snake in my hallway just in front of me!" Yelling loudly for DH to come on his white steed to rescue me, I yell almost incomprehensibly, "snake, snake, it's a snake!" Much to my dismay DH wakes from a peaceful nap in the rocking chair on our back porch and groggily says, "I will do a lot of things for you but I DON"T DO SNAKES (petrified of them it turns out)!" OK, so the task has been thrust upon my shoulders. I summon up all of the courage I can calling on the help of all female goddesses in the UNIVERSE and yell to DH to give me an oven mitt. He throws one to me, lest he get an inch closer to said snake who has now slithered behind DH's desk and is trying desperately to blend in with the snake-like jumble of cords. I proceed with my very distasteful task of playing tag for the better part of 10 minutes back and forth between the hallway to our bedroom ( I did have presence of mind to close the door), and the living room by DH's desk. One problem I quickly realize is snakes apparently have very very good eye site, and another being that said hallway has a lot of my art supplies stored in bins and the like - lots of snake hide-a-ways, much to my dismay again. As I begin peeling boxes out of the hallway frantically chasing this not so small intruder as it slithers behind box after box trying to get away, anywhere but here with this crazed human with the oven mitt on her hand! I corner it once but it is amazingly fast and as I jut out frantically to grab it all I manage is its tail, not the best part to grab, and I definitely don't want to squish it so escape #1. Next I fall over a box and end up almost eye to eye with my slithery intruder, "this is not good" as snake slithers to the other end of the hallway hiding behind yet another box. I run around my DH's desk to  the other end where the snake is lunging madly only to watch it turn with lightning speed and slither back down the hallway the other direction. "Aha, now I've got you," as it is now fully exposed and stretched out almost it's entire not so insignificant length. I run once again around to the other end of the hallway lunging again with my oven mitted hand and, "success, I got you - pew what on earth is that smell, great a dead mouse is in the hallway," mentally noting to self I will have to come back and look for that next. Yelling to DH to open the front door I run through the house arm extended as far as possible in front of me snake wriggling frantically trying to get away, I run out into the front yard not even noticing the gravel from our walkway cutting into my bare feet as I run to the edge of the meadow and unceremoniously drop said snake on the ground. I turn and run back into the house so fast I don't even see which way the snake decided to slither. Once back inside, out of breath and admittedly a little shaken I smell that odor again and realize it is coming from my oven mitt, yuck snakes must emit a distress smell or this particular snake just stinks. I also suddenly realize that the mitt my DH tossed me was my brand new mitt from a dear friend who brought it back from Maine for me 2 years ago. I have coveted that mitt, protected it AND NEVER USED IT BEFORE! Now I have carried a stinky snake with it  *Sigh* Oh well, nothing else to do - it must go in the wash. Life in the country with all the beauty and harshness of mother nature...
Everyone have a wonderful, snake-free day!
Ciao for now,
Beth

Summer and the Dance of the Fireflies

Summer is less than two weeks away and the trees and flowers are boisterously in bloom here in Northern New England. It was a mild winter, especially for New Hampshire and everything wonderful about summer seems to have arrived extra early this year. Perhaps nature is trying to make up for the horrible horrible ice storm that destroyed so many trees and plants two winters ago. The wood thrush with their beautiful trilled song arrived at the end of April, very early indeed and the dragonflies and fireflies are all out dancing in the meadow. Dragonflies by day and fireflies by night, what a treat! I have made a little study of the fireflies, nothing scientific or documented other than in my head - they all appear to have their own little signature light dance. As they skip through the night blinking once or twice sequentially, there are others who exuberantly blink three, four or even five times in their eons old mating ritual saying, "look at me, surely you want to mate with me the most grand of them all"!  Nature is such a marvelous wonder...My DH has always said that June is his favorite time of the year, which I used to disagree - thinking fall was surely the most wonderful - but this year has made me rethink those feelings. I still love fall with the gorgeous scenery decorated with mother nature's paintbrush the myriad colors flaunted in the changing leaves and the crisp fall evenings requiring one of those lovely hand knit shawls that we all love to wrap ourselves and curl up in. Apple cobbler with those handpicked apples from the orchard down the road...but I digress. Summer is coming, YIPPEE!!! I will be spending my summer working in my studio (seems silly to call it work for it does not resemble any of my past experiences with WORK) - this is play, self-discovery, artistic growth and self-expression...and most importantly - FUN!
In Celebration to the Summer Goddess - let's all create art and have fun...
Ciao for now,
Beth

2nd Annual Where Bloggers Create party- June 19th, 2010!!!! It’s time again to share your creative spaces!!!

Wherever your creative space is here is an opportunity to share yours with other like-minded souls, all artists at heart or otherwise. Here is a chance to play with other artists, be entered in the contest for some great prizes and  find loads of inspiration for your art and your studio design:

“This year is special because Jo Packham and Where Women Create magazine is offering some fabulous prizes!
The first prize is your own feature in Where Women Create magazine! (How cool is that?) Jo Packham herself will pick the winner and boy is it ever a fun experience!

Then [they] will be offering to 6 random party goers,

2- 1 year subscriptions to Where Women Create magazine

2 -Sets of Jo’s books Where Women Create and The Book of Inspiration

2-WWC charm bracelets.”

I don’t know about you but I think it really sounds like lots of fun, and a great opportunity to see other artist’s creative spaces. If you are like me, your space is never really done – there is always room for improvements LOL.

Anyway, why don’t you hop on over to Karen’s blog, “My Desert Cottage” for details on how to enter… Remember, it is June 19th so you should get a move on!

Ciao for now,

Beth

Memorial Day Weekend is Here!

Wow, how time does fly by! I had the best of intentions of writing more in my blog this month and here it is almost over and this is only my 4th entry. I have been busy learning some new art skills however, which I guess I could use as an excuse and oh what a wonderful excuse it has been. I have discovered yet another site with online classes (and more), which you must, must visit :  http://www.mystele.com/the-story/ . Mystele is a wonderfully energetic and very creative mixed media artist who is only too ready to teach you her unique ideas and discoveries, much of which is free! She has tons of free tutorials on Youtube and very reasonably priced classes on her site. I couldn't take notes fast enough while watching her book arts series! I have also been working on a fun calligraphy class at Creative Workshops as well as continuing on with my "faces" painting class with Sharon Tomlinson. Oh yes, and a mixed media background class with Nancy Lefko at Creative Workshops. Now my challenge is to begin incorporating all of these wonderful techniques and ideas into my own art! I hope to have a new line of handmade journals incorporating all these great new ideas coming out in my etsy shop sometime this summer. In the meantime I thought you might like to see one more of my paintings ala Sharon Tomlinson a.k.a. All Norah'S Art so here she is... her name is MaraLee.
Well, I guess I better go feed my very hungry DH before he mutinies LOL.
Have a fun and safe Memorial Day Weekend and to all those in the armed forces working to keep all of us safe, A Big Hug and Giant THANK YOU!!!
Ciao for now,
Beth

Attention is Always Nice!

Today I got a bit of a shock, a good one but very surprised. I joined this wonderful art group called Milliande Art Community for Women and have been enjoying the sheer fun of being surrounded by other women artists, looking at their work, reading their poetry and journal entries and learning from tutorials graciously uploaded for the community to use. Anyway, one of my paintings I had uploaded was picked by Milliande as one of the days featured works of art! Me of all people - I just began this painting adventure and there are so many extremely talented women in this community - it was a very nice surprise! Just in case you are curious the picture here is the one I am talking about - who knew?! It is 12x14 acrylic with decorative napkin embellishments on cardboard. An experiment from Sharon Tomlinson's class.

Does Art Have to Make A Statement?

Something I have always been confused about is when you are creating a piece of art do you have a purpose and focus for the piece beyond your muse simply telling you it is time to create? How do you imbue your work with a meaning other than just a pretty painting or whatever medium you are working in? Or, better yet do you feel you need to intentionally have a purpose/focus/statement to your piece in which you are trying to convey something to the viewer other than just the beauty of the piece? I often hear artists say they go with the flow of their muse as they create, more or less spontaneously rather than a focused direction. If that is the case how can the piece make a specific statement? Often I also hear artists state that the viewer will get the sense of the message you were trying to draw out into the open with their work... can a piece be both spontaneous and at the same time impart a message?

Second painting in Sharon's class...

Love to hear your thoughts,
Ciao for now,
Beth

Found Memories Art: More Mixed Media / Collage Giveaway Goodness!#links#links#links#links

Found Memories Art: More Mixed Media / Collage Giveaway Goodness!#links#links#links#links

OMG - this gal has a lot going on over at her blog. This giveaway is not to be sneezed at so get on over there quick as a bunny!
Ciao for now,
Beth

Oh my Gosh...I'm Painting!

In my last post I was talking about my new discovery of both a very talented teacher and a new medium - painting. After having a field day in art supply stores buying all my new supplies I made a new space for my all my new supplies. I finally got the courage up to begin, and I worked on the background. After finishing my background I looked over my work and let it sit for a few days as I kept letting fear of making a mistake get in my way of actually beginning my painting! How dumb, that is why you take a class - because you don't know how to do something that you want to learn - this is the environment to make those mistakes - so you can learn! I felt my muse grab me by the collar and the next thing I new I was painting! Here is my first attempt...

New Discoveries

Well, my walk and photo taking didn't work out - the weather turned ugly and cold so I scrapped the project for when a little warmer weather arrives. If you follow my blog you know I have been discussing the meaning and reasons for our making art and I guess this new topic falls somewhat in that category. I just discovered a really wonderful artist - Sharon Tomlinson who paints stunning faces. Now if you have looked over my blog nowhere will you find my mentioning my interest in painting...until now. Sharon's work has so inspired me, and of course I guess I am in the right place in my art right now to be receptive to this type of change but I can't wait to take her "Faces" class. Don't worry, I am not completely jumping off the cliff and have visions of this tying into my handmade books, which I have forsaken all my other mediums for, at least for now. I  have just been stuck, feeling a need to expand my handmade book vision and I think this is it. Just so you can see what I am talking about above is a picture of one of Sharon's recent pieces called "Flying"... absolutely amazing! So look for more posts as my work in this class progresses...Oh and if you are interested here is a link to her class offering http://allnorahsart.ning.com/
Ciao for now,
Beth

Daily Walks

My friend Robin in Kodiak Alaska just reminded me with her post today on her blog about the wealth found in a simple romp outside. Whether one is walking alone, with friends or spouse or both it helps to recenter our souls so we can get back to focusing on the important things in life. I kind of have lost site of well, my centered-ness and so tomorrow, weather permitting of course I am taking my "good" camera and tripod and going on a quest for some much needed fresh air and a commune with nature. If I am lucky my commune with nature will result in some great photographs as reminders of my day. There are already green buds on my huge lilac bush in front of my house and lots of little green sprouts sticking up out of the ground as well as swollen brooks and streams from the run-off from all the rain recently and the melting snow. All in all plenty to make for some great shots - if my photography muse is looking over my shoulder that is...we will see.
In case you are wondering that is DH sitting on a rock contemplating the great day we had just had last summer when we were in the Adironack Mountains in upstate New York. Now that is a place I would love to move back to if only we could afford it...*sigh*


Ciao for now,
Beth

Rainy Gray Day on the Farm

Well I just logged onto my blog this afternoon and was stunned to find I actually have 3 followers. Yipeee, someone to talk to besides myself at last! Now the pressure is on to actually say something...

I have been doing some very serious soul searching of late as I am sure you have noticed by my recent topics regarding the reasons behind creating art. It has made me rethink my goals for the rest of my life now that I am on the other side of 50, to question what really matters to me. I have read that this stage of our lives is one filled with questioning and a feeling of needing to do things but often we are not sure what we want to do so we end up trying everything all at once and kind of spinning our wheels. What is really needed is some quality quiet time filled with non-movement and reflection.

I have always been an eclectic artist, well, and person, with my fingers in new mediums all the time but that has not lead to any real self-satisfaction , really it has only lead to feeling overwhelmed. There was always something missing and I now think what was missing was I was simply working in the wrong mediums. My passion has really always been paper, ink and fiber. I have been a quilter for 20 years and have made handmade books, journals and albums embellished with hand drawings for 40 or so years. Some how I strayed and that is when I got lost...and began to feel unfullfilled. So I am on a new quest, or should I say my old quest to create within my own parameters. Stay tuned to follow this new journey...
Ciao for now,
Beth

Spring Sale at Crazy4Art's Etsy Shop

Just a quick post to alert everyone to my spring sale at my Etsy jewelry shop starting today March 17 -
April 2. Everything is 50% off or better! I shift gears every season, or so it seems and jewelry making is done for the winter season. Now I need to make space for other items. I am also destashing my quilting fabric, lots of quilting kits and a large portion of my beading supplies. Watch for the destashing items to start appearing on my Etsy site soon, and you can be sure there will be some great buys there too!
Happy Almost Spring!
Ciao for now,
Beth

Just for Inspiration...

"Olive Goddess"

Cruising around YouTube today rather depressed with all the snow/ice/rain/snow I ran across this very talented book artist and just though I would share a link to one of her YouTube videos of "Heriloom Journals". MoxyLyn  - hope you find some inspiration for your creative book muse - I know I did!

Ciao for now,
Beth

Why Do We Create Art II

Continuing on the theme of why we make art the question also begs another question that tends to haunt many of us,"are we any good at our art?" I wander in and out of working with different mediums but then I see someone's work and think "now this is a real artist"! How do we connect with our inner soul to speak in different words that have never been spoken quite that way before; to express a beauty of a kind not quite like any other ever seen? It is there all locked up inside of us, we can feel it, we can almost touch it but...something is keeping us from being able to turn the key to open the door. Art of course comes from the depth of the soul of the one creating the art - so what stops at the door - is it a fear of others seeing who we really are? Our perhaps our own fear of seeing who we are? Or the fear of rejection of not being good enough? This morning I ran across the work of a book maker and photo artist (picture above -website http://www.theblackspotbooks.etsy.com/) and was instantly struck with,"now this is a real artist." The perfection, but not, but somehow is - expressing a depth that has no words but meaning is clearly expressed. Here is an artist that has found her medium of expression. I then look at my work and it is a mere shadow, trite eye candy but no more.
To be continued...
Beth

Why Do We Make Art?

I know, I know...this is such an open ended question it almost begs not to be answered. However, this is a question I have been plaqued by for a long time. I know I have an undefinable inner need and drive to work with my hands and create things that are pretty, well, at least they are to me but as an anthropologist as well as an academic reference librarian (note: not employed in either field-just thought I should say that for the record) I feel like I should have a more sophisticated answer. I read other artists biographies or resumes and am awe struck by how well they define what their art stands for and therefore how well they know themselves.  Is that part of the equation? Knowing yourself - that is also a problem I have been plaqued by - defining who I am. Mostly I am like a little kid excited with the prospect of what I will find around the next corner, or the discovery of how something works, that probably explains why I am interested in so many different things. My art though, is just something that comes from inside of me and I am not sure why, just that it does and I have to make art...hmmmm that was a complete circle LOL!  Anyone care to chime in with their thoughts? (Oh and if you are wondering why I have a picture of an alpaca up with this post it is because I think he is absolutely adorable - he belongs to a freind, Pam at Dream Come True Yarn and I just couldn't resist sharing Monte Cristo with the world!)

Would love to hear other thinking besides my own...
Ciao for now,
Beth