Unique Visions Exhibit opens

The resident artist show, Unique Visions, opens at VisArts and the portfolio gallery really looks wonderful with everyone's gorgeous work inside. The gallery is such a jewel box and in its place right across the hall from my studio it is the centerpiece of the artist concourse.

a gallery for the wee ones

In the art center there is a special room called the children's discovery gallery which has a comfy chair for mom or dad, and loads of artsy activities for little ones. It is stocked with paper and crayons and safety scissors, and things to touch and do and discover. It has proved to be a very popular spot with the "under four feet tall" crowd.

With the shows currently in the galleries, a member show and the resident artists' show, gallery staff asked for resident artist work to decorate this space. Alan lent his wonderful hot air balloon photographs and I thought my Bright Birthday Flowers acrylic would be able to hold their own on that bright orange wall. It suddenly makes me want to paint a wall orange:)

a new life for a discarded drawer

I spent all day in the studio yesterday going through images and finding the map pieces for the next part of the Altered States drawer. An eye exam card, butterflies, and maps are now affixed inside... and next comes a handmade ladder.

Read about:

Joseph Cornell

Joseph Cornell at the MOMA

the start of the Altered States personal shrine

Another project in the Fall workshops at the art center is the Altered States personal shrine. I am creating the demo piece now and will list the process photos on my website. I have had this drawer in my possession for the last two years or so and have waited for the appropriate use for it. First, Italian glass tiles... next, maps that have meaning to me. More to come.

a new tablescape:):)

In my continuing efforts to reinforce the concept that art is FUN, I have changed my studio tablescape to reflect the season. Lots of people stop to peek in the window, and then (usually smiling) they enter my door. The tablescape breaks the ice before we ever speak, and even if I am not in the studio an interaction has been encouraged and workshop fliers and business cards await on my window glass. This weekend I had four new people interested in workshops and classes, and I met some great people.

Altered States Collage

The demo piece for the Altered States collage workshop is completed and images are now up on my website. I really like the fact that my workshops and classes are now listed on my site and traffic to the website is really picking up now.

I have started the personal shrine for the Altered States workshop in my studio and am gluing Italian glass tiles into a recycled drawer as the first step. The subject of the personal shrine will be "journeys" and I am cutting out bits and pieces or maps for inclusion... much more to come.

the best of the best

I have finally had the opportunity to finish going through all the (500) sunflower field photographs from the art center-sponsored photo field trip. I have made a folder of my favorites on Flickr for painting reference and to brighten a winter day when we need it. Looking at those images I can still feel the heat of the morning sun, and I can smell the wonderful green tang of the flowers. I now have painting references for watercolors and acrylics and it has taken me years to find the opportunity to have full access to a field. That thought gives me goosebumps. Hopefully we'll go back every year.