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!

 

I See Dead Things

I have a box in my art room.  It's labeled "dead things."

i have a plan for this guy already.  it will involve halloween

 This week i've added two new bugs to the box.  Don't ask me what they are.  One is big and ugly, the other one i saw while mowing-the color got my attention.

 This is in the box also.  look closely and you can see the bird's beak. 

 The frog skeleton.

 Last night while mowing the backyard i came across what was left of a mole.  Here you see his big front feet that were used when he was tearing up my yard. (the dogs have gotten 3 so far this year)  not sure if they got this one too.

 Mole's ribcage-fur still attached but it's falling off.

Here is the skull-with teeth intact.   I also have a skunk and opossum-bones.  Those are in the garage and if I remember, i will take pictures tomorrow. 

Hang Your Party Hat

This is the full view of the piece i previewed earlier.  It now resides with the person it was intended for
so I can post the picture here.  It will receive a companion at a later date, but that is all I can say for now.

10,000

It's official.  I've hit 10,000 pins on pinterest.  I AM addicted.  but very inspired

On A Roll

Two posts in one week-even i'm impressed.  I finished a piece i'm making as a thank you for a friend.  She graciously sent me a package full of vintage photo's that she was "purging" from her stash.  This image was NOT one of the ones she sent, it's one I have.  Nicer than a thank you note I think,  

 

close up of the crackle

 While working in the yard yesterday, i cut back the wild grapevine that grows in the yard.  When i was almost finished i had the brilliant idea to take some of the vines and make my own
grapevine balls.  Some people would go to the store and spend money on these-me, I just harvest my own :)
When they dry out enough, i'll bring them into the house and
put them in a bowl or something. 

This is a rusty (duh) old license plate I found when mowing some land out in Weatherford.  I've mowed the same area the past few years and am always amazed when I come across something that I missed before.  This time I found an old bottle and the license plate.  Anyway, I used some pearl-ex/gum arabic in a copper/gold color and went over the raised areas so you could see them better-before it just looked like a rusted rectangle.  When I was photographing it tonight i had one of those sudden "I know exactly what i'm going to do with it moments" and promptly ran inside to start working on it.  It involves a "recycled" canvas, some old weathered wood, the plate and some barbed wire.  I know who is going to get it also-well, one of two people, depending on whether or not it is too rusty/crusty for the first one I have in mind :)

What I've Been Up To. (ie i'm still alive)

Seems like quite a while since i have posted here. I'll just blame the summer heat

This was in our yard one day. Live.  If it were dead it would belong to my collection of dead stuff.

 

Riley and Jack trying to get the cake.  they didn't.  Mom made a homemade one the next day. 

this guy has been hanging out in the front.  I've seen him on several occasions.

. Let's see, i've turned another year older (may)  I went to stay with my friend Traci last thurs/fri nights.  We went to Canton on fri.  Stopped at LaurieAnna's before heading into the actual grounds.  The store is well worth the visit.  Even if you buy nothing, it's full of inspiration for home decor.  The store used to be in one of the Canton Pavillions.  No pictures allowed.  I didn't take any pictures inside the grounds-well, one on my phone.  A "chucky-esque" doll. what else?     We partook of corn dogs, roasted corn, fried pies, cookie, lots of dip samples....ok, this was a combination of what we both ate, we didn't  both eat all of that.  Bought some photos, burlap coffee sack-might make two large pillows with that, children's book for my children's halloween book collection, homemade pasta, some odds and ends.  The weather was great for this time of year-had a great day of visiting and shopping and just hanging out.    We stopped for italian food on the way home-because once we got back, we showered and were in for the night!  The next morning we went to Panera then the town square in McKinney to hit a few antique stores and shops. After all that, I headed back home.

fun bottle found in mckinney

part of my burlap sack

I've been working on some art this week-very belated birthday gifts.  Here are some snippets-since one of them reads this blog on occasion don't want to spoil the surprise!   That's all for now~

Phillip Phillips: Home - Top 2 - AMERICAN IDOL SEASON 11

t

I Am

I finally watched "I Am"
It's a documentary done by director Tom Shadyac after a near death experience.
It's been on the OWN network a few times.  There is some pretty powerful information-when you
hear someone tell you not to be negative-or put out negative thoughts-this will show you why.  
I've been pretty negative the past few yrs with all the crap that has gone on in my "world" but this
shows a strong reason to try to be more positive.  
 This makes me want to downsize-and live a different life.

Art Festival Favorites

Here are a few links to some of my favorite art at Main St this yr.
http://guyhousewrightphotography.com/  photos of peeling paint in abandoned bldgs-LOVE
http://www.westernphotoworks.com/  photos printed in a whole new way-loved these
http://www.marjolyn.com/  mixed media/nostalgia
http://www.jimcbrown.com/  love the look of his work
http://www.kinacrow.com/  found her on pinterest few months ago and just LOVE her work in clay/canvas
 http://www.dresspaintings.blogspot.com/  love how her work has evolved

 http://www.scottolsonfineart.com/  love the "scratchy" look

 http://www.etsy.com/shop/melissaschmidt    some of the most unique jewelry i've seen
http://www.lisauntitled.com/  batiks made into art pieces very labor intensive
http://www.o-liveland.com/cms/   interesting concept (sculpture)
http://www.dlittlewilson.com/  always enjoy her work
http://www.thetincantourist.com/  fun/nostalgic mixed media
http://www.mainstreetartsfest.org/experience-main-st./the-art/artists/patricia-deleon-alfonso
 pretty amazing work

Art Festival and Water Gardens

This weekend was the Ft Worth Main St Art Festival-one of the best i must say.  We went out there on thurs to spend our tradition opening day looking at art.  Lunch at Jake's Hamburgers, then art.  I didn't take any pictures of the booths-i'll post websites later to some of my favorites.  I went back friday evening to listen to some music and walk around again-just for the inspiration.  Sunday we headed back yet again. Can you tell i like to make a weekend out of it?  Lunch at Razoo's, more art then off to the Water Gardens.  Haven't been there since they did renovations.   

Too Much Information

Just found out about this site: www.spokeo.com  from Pam Garrison's Blog
There is allot of information out there on us all-she tells how to go to the site to have your info
removed.  It probably gets added back months down the road so you may have to do this on
occasion.  It has too much info for comfort.  Check it out. (spokeo.com)