My Painted Papers

 I've been busy painting, gessoing, glazing and stamping to make my background pages for a book I have in mind as I mentioned in an earlier post. These are the finished pages ready for me to fold and create on.    I started with watercolor paper that I had then began my process.  I think the reddish one is my favorite (but maybe because of the theme of my book)  I plan to call it "secrets" but that could change.

 

 I have 7 pages back
and front making 14 pages total to work on.  I may had some thin papers in between each just as a filler but have not decided yet-as I said, it's a work in progress.

 I'll be posting more as the pages and book progress.

Halloween Itch

suzy-from my art group made the pumpkin last year.

 I made the party hat

 

a closer look

 The Halloween Itch has come early.  I haven't really decorated the past few yrs for various reasons-biggest being young dogs that might destroy some of my things-but this year I really want to get some things out.  Tues was spent purging and cleaning in the house so out came a few things.

table runner-a gift from a friend

 words ready to place around the house

a few more

 this says spooky and haunt in metal type.

 this is a preview of somthing I am working on-below is a close up.

Sunday Was Productive

Last sunday found me full of creative energy and plenty of time so I spent most of the day in my art room.

 I started several journal pages as seen below. I don't have any set method for working in my journal. Sometimes I paint and collage so it's ready, sometimes I do it all in one sitting, paint, collage, write. Sometimes i just paint and write.

halloween colors-getting in that "mood"

This was leftover paint from a page done for a book-could be halloween-ish too :)

 These next four pictures are papers I am creating to use in a book.  I have a book in mind that I hope to make but it needed just the right look.  I watched my newly acquired Seth Apter video friday night and it was all the inspiration I needed to start these pagesl
They have so much more texture and color in person.  Here it is friday again-after a busy week I am about to reward myself with more painting~

Nala and Riley laying head to head in my art room-they're happy just to be in the same room with me.

On My Table

I had planned to work on "something" artsy today, but when i looked at my table and everything on it, the
 mood kind of died.  So I will show you what is currently on my table-tools, unfinished projects (out the wazoo) and what not.     

journal page-even though the halloween bug is starting to "itch" wanted to do this bright colored spread

4 "starters"  not sure what i will do with these yet.

 stack of unfinished pieces.  I love the process of slapping down paint, paper and whatever else to make my backgrounds but I don't always know what i'll do with them after that.

 Here is a close up of the stack above-wide variety of colors/textures.

the WHOLE pile (piles)

 Here you can see a small part of my table and a bunch of "stuff"

This is a tiny piece that is actually finished.  It will probably be abandoned for the "art abandonment" project.

Clay and "studio pets"

Here are more clay pieces I did and finally finished.  The crown with a face embedded has text transferred onto the base with the face added over it.  The witches hat was my first attempt at that shape and I would like to do another.  

 3 of my "puppies" were hanging out in my art room tonight-Nala looks like she is standing but she is laying on the floor (messy floor) Jack was laying by my feet as I was cleaning off my table and riley was crashed on a cushion.  One of the 3 is usually in there with me-lately it's been riley.

Art Abandonment

Have you heard about the movement "Art Abandonment"-


Art Abandonment is a group designed to encourage random acts of art, left in various locations around the globe. The idea is that folks can make something and leave it for a lucky unsuspecting person to find. Artists can then post locations and photos of abandoned goodies…and finders can let everyone know that they are the lucky finder! O' sweet abandon!

So leave some art. Leave a contact email for the finder…and if you get notified share the message with this group. If you prefer you can use the contact email: i.found.artwork@gmail.com we'll be checking it often and share the results.

Here's an intro page on Typepad for full explanation: http://michaeldemeng.typepad.com/art_abandonment/


http://www.facebook.com/groups/ArtAbandonment/

I abandoned my first piece yesterday~
it's a small piece done on wood-left at my local library.  I have several more started-now I just need to finish and start leaving them.  So-go abandon some art too!

Yet Another Trip and more Crowns

Last saturday i drove back to Missouri with my dad.  He had some banking business to take care of (along with my ears) :)  and we went through some drawers, closet, piles of "stuff." So much history of the lives of my grandparents in the things that they kept.  Every canceled check written since they moved into the house in Kimberling City.  in chronological order.  It was just the tip of the iceberg.
  We returned on Tues-brought rain with us-as it rained tues night-much needed soaking rain.
Here are a few more crowns I did before I left-samples for my art meeting this sunday.

black Kato clay/translucent edge

black Kato clay/black band w/translucent/gold leaf behind cut-outs

 The two black crowns.  I really liked the Kato clay for this project-it held it's shape very well.  The translucent clay tended to bubble.  I like the idea of adding a tea light inside to illuminate the image. 

Translucent clay with image transferred before baking

  

With Age Comes Change

 Last friday my dad, sister and I drove to Missouri to see if dad could

get grandpa to come to Texas.  He's been wanting to see the airplane my dad is working on (painting) for a customer.  He said yes-and lit up when he heard they would fly here.  He was a private pilot for many years and has a very big love of airplanes/flying.  My Dad and his sister had made the decision that it was time to end his live in health care and put him into assisted living.  He has dementia/short term memory loss so it wasn't something that could be explained to him due to those issues.

Heading into the airport to fly to Texas (dad and gramp)

 When he arrived in Tx, they took him straight to his new place.  He seemed to like it-understood he would stay there and not my parents' home due to the fact that there was no one there to look after him like there was in the apartment.  Mon night-when it was time to leave him he got confused.  Gary got a "live" dose of what we have dealt with on every trip to Missouri.  We finally bid him good night.   Tonight we will go visit again and hope in time he can accept it as his new home.  It's very emotional for everyone and I know confusing to him.  My heart goes out to anyone who is dealing with this same kind of situation.  You know you are doing what is right for the person-but it's emotional because it is the end of life as they knew it-

"

The view from his home-the view he left behind.

Clay

 Here is a little clay crown i made recently. The inside is done in a contrasting color.  (need to touch up the black edges)  but I like the overall look.  Went to missouri two wks ago to get more business taken care of around the house-hoping to get grandpa to come to Texas soon. 

mom, dad, grandpa, linda

 My friend Traci has been making more of her "Slice of Pie" dolls.
You can find more on her etsy site-just click on her name to see them~they are so much more wonderful in person!