My Mythologie

A Wordle

2012-01-23T18:48:00.000-08:00

In class tomorrow, my students will be making Wordle graphics from their first blog entries. I did one myself of my most recent entries - these word clouds feature words you use most often. I'm wondering why mine has "POT" as a main element. "Shard" makes sense, but how about "easy" and "roll"? Interesting. If you want to make your own, go to the Wordle site.

Small Studio Eureka

2012-01-21T06:43:00.000-08:00

Mechanical solutions do not come easy to me, but I needed a way to keep my heavy recycled kraft paper available and easy to unroll. I "visioned" a solution - a clay flower pot turned upside down, a wooden dowel that would fit thru both the roll and the pot hole, and three round furniture slider discs between the roll and the pot to keep it turning smoothly. The sucker works! And the extra dowel space above the roll give me a place to hang scissors and tape. Now off to the patent office . . .

Celtic Treasure from Gina

2012-01-19T17:38:00.000-08:00

My friend Gina and I met today to discuss a collaborative project we're thinking about, and she surprised me with a beautiful gift - earrings she had made from tiny glass vials filled with grains of sand she gathered on the beach at Enniscrone, County Sligo, Ireland. I was totally speechless when I opened them. They are lovely and delicate and filled with symbolism as well as sand - she crafted the tiny copper spirals herself (there's one even on the bottom of the vials) and even wrapped the wire around the glass so that they are secure but still seem to float. Gina, you are amazing -I think you have a new direction to explore along with your wonderful journals!

Creative Solution

2012-01-11T08:24:00.000-08:00

(. . . . . . .if I do say so myself)
A friend purchased my magnetic adornment shard called "Canyon", but she wodered if there was any way she could wear it as a necklace. After looking at the back, I figured out a way to attach a section of soda straw, the translucent kind, above the magnet so a cord could be strung through it. The shard can still be worn as a brooch if the cord is removed, but this makes it doubly versatile. Thanks, Teri, for giving me the challenge! See the pics of the front and back:

Rick Rocks - Proud mom (and grandmother)

2012-01-10T06:20:00.000-08:00

Rick and Haley on Rock Center last night - I'm speechless with happiness!

Grand Opening

2012-01-09T17:05:00.000-08:00

After a few weeks of hectic holiday activity (including a *great* visit with my Austin Brother and my Philadelphia Brother) I went back to work in the studio on Sunday and made a kilnful of shard faces. When I fired late last night, it had started to rain. I worried a bit even though the kiln is under a canopy, but when I opened it this morning, everything was perfect - no breakage, no overfiring. It was grand! Now to surface-finish and sign each piece - what a good way to start the new year. Here's what I saw when I opened the kiln lid early this morning:

Shard Necklace - why do I procrastinate?

2011-12-17T07:50:00.000-08:00

I'm sure Haley's ADD runs in the family - it's so hard for me to sit down and bead shard necklaces. I love the way they look and feel, and I have a bunch of request for them, but stringing beads is like pulling teeth for me. Some people might find it relaxing - not me. I did complete one last night for a friend, Barbara. Here it is, and I do love it. But, dang, that's a lot of beads!

Haley speaks out for kids with ADD

2011-12-15T05:31:00.000-08:00

Grandson Haley was featured on last night's local news with an inspiring message for other kids with learning disabilities: "You can do it!". Hopefully, his encouragement will keep teens with learning difficulties channeling their talents in creative directions and away from the "other" kind of nightly news. I am so proud of him and predict his career as an author will be just as successful and meaningful as his father's.

OPEN STUDIO EVENT

2011-12-12T18:54:00.000-08:00

This last-minute idea was wonderful - it was practically a sell-out and I had the best time visiting with friends and talking about art. It's something I plan to do again on a regular basis every few months.
Many thanks to everyone who came (and purchased).

Hyatt Show and Display

2011-11-26T09:38:00.001-08:00

Yesterday's show was an interesting one, and I did sell a number of Shards and two shard collage pins. It was primarily a children's event, however, held in conjunction with a tree lighting and a visit with Santa, complete with real reindeer on the lawn of the Hyatt Resort. Most vendors seemed disappointed that the art show was not the featured event, but more of a walk-through on the way to Santa's place. But it was fun.

I got an idea for display table pieces that I'll use when I do another craft show - it's a folding book, the same model as the Kindle covers, but larger, and with one simple image on it. The image is a photo by Julia Cameron, the 19th century photographer whose work I'm so fond of. The "book" stands up and a rectangular black vase fits inside to hole dried flowers. There's a small Velcro'd box at the bottom edge for business cards. I can put a magnetic pin on the front. Here's the idea, and here's a photo from the show set-up.

Magnetic Adornments

2011-11-23T19:52:00.001-08:00

Tonight I finished a dozen new Art-To-Wear shard "magnetic adornments." A friend saw these yesterday and said,"They are a combination of your collages and your shards!" Yep. I like the idea of the bar magnet on the back that keeps them secure on clothing without making holes. I'm taking them to the Hyatt Resort Art Faire on Friday - we'll see how they are received. Now, back to the kitchen to cook!

Thanksgiving Dessert

2011-11-23T09:34:00.001-08:00

Here's a wonderful dessert for turkey day - I used Cajeta instead of melted caramels when I made it this morning for tomorrow's dinner. It's essentially the same thing, and easier than unwrapping caramels. Local apples make it even better!

Warm Caramel Apple Bread Pudding

1 qt cream

6 eggs

4 oz. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 small loaf of French bread

2-3 Granny Smith apples

1 lb. caramels, melted

Cut bread into cubes and toast.

Place bread into buttered Pyrex dish, and

alternate layers of caramel and sliced

apples until full. Mix cream, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Pour over bread and

apples. Bake at325 degrees in a

water bath for an hour, until set.

Studio Visit

2011-11-18T19:42:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, I drove out to the Hill Country to visit a new friend, an artist I had met at last weekend's Olmos Park Art Faire. She and I hit it off immediately, and I promised to help set up her website. It was a pleasure because her work is varied and complex. She described her studio to me, but nothing prepared me for the place itself. Designed by the Houston architect Cameron Armstrong, the home and workspace is an amazing fusion of metal and organic material. It's essentially a small compound of three buildings, all of which integrate progressively with the surrounding stone-and-cedar terrain. I can't wait to go back!

A Little Family History

2011-11-15T20:07:00.001-08:00

I like this interview because that's the way it really happened.

Magnetic Shard Adornment

2011-11-07T07:14:00.000-08:00

Something new! I got this idea the night before the craft fair and made one to wear:

It's a pin, but not really, because it's a small collage with a shard face that attaches to a jacket or sweater with a very strong magnet meant for name tags. I got so many comments on it (and offers to buy it) that I decided to make a few more. Check them out - I think I'll make some for Etsy or my own webpage and sell them for $22 or so. Apparently, wearing the one I have is the best advertising! Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

Belisle Sells Out

2011-11-05T16:34:00.000-07:00

Yep - today was a sellout at my first "real" neighborhood craft fair. I gave my last Shard face to my hostess as a thank-you for letting me participate. I met so many great people and learned to use my Square software on the iPad to make transactions reliably.
One thing I learned is that set-up and sales in that venue is hard work. There are lots of times one just sits, and then a customer or two come and then more, and the wind picks that moment to blow over your umbrella and scatter your cards. It's a crazy way to make a living! But it definitely has appeal - and the feedback is priceless.
Here are some photos of my low-tech treeside set-up.

Uptown Art Stroll this Weekend

2011-11-03T09:07:00.000-07:00

I haven't done much of this, but will be participating in a large arts fair called Uptown Art Stroll in the Olmos Park Terrace neighborhood. My friend, knitter and weaver Kathleen Messina, has invited me to share her space. I'll be taking Scent Shards and cover examples. Here's a map that shows how extensive a "stroll" it will be. Fortunately for art lovers, there's going to be a trolley, food booths and music to make strolling more fun.

West Texas

2011-10-17T05:36:00.000-07:00

Just returned from a trip to the Davis Mountains near Big Bend where my band played for a 50th high school reunion. The music was fun, but the landscape was harsh. Places have their own beauty - the light here was very different and made photography difficult because there seemed to be no mid-tones. If a landscape can be bi-polar, this was it! Here are some photos from the Davis Mountains near Ft. Davis State Park. The last two show two shops in the town of Ft. Davis. I really liked the shop called Possibilities, and found some interesting essential oils there, as well as a very interesting shop owner.

It's a scan!

2011-10-09T07:39:00.000-07:00

I needed some batik print accents for a journal cover I created recently, so I turned to my trusty scanner and laid my 35-year-old Indonesian batik sarong on the flatbed of my scanner.

After the image was scanned, I opened it in Photoshop Elements, my graphic design studio's best friend.

I kept the original version, but also made a version in blue by adjusting the hue settings. I saved them as separate files, but combined them into one sheet to print. I printed them out on a strong but semi-transparent rice paper meant for InkJet printers. The result is amazing- it even has the satin gloss and soft feel of the original fabric. I can't wait to use it on my next project. As they say, the possibilities are endless.

Wow.

The India ink caper

2011-10-05T17:31:00.000-07:00

Aargh! My little cat, Pharaoh, was looking out the window in the studio while I was working. When he jumped down, his front paw landed in a bowl of India Ink and he ran across my work table, the dhurrie rug, the tile floor and on and on. I finally caught him and gave him a footbath in the sink, which he did not care for one bit. Unfortunately, since India ink is permanent, I may have a new pattern on the studio rug.
Pharaoh, the art cat -

Spicepaper from the kitchen

2011-09-30T08:21:00.000-07:00

I was experimenting with paper towels when I saw some great stain patterns that were left after cleanup yesterday. A blog post on Cloth Paper Scissors prompted me to try some kitchen ingredients for mixed media surface enhancement, so I got some curry powder and some Chinese Five-Spice Powder and sprinkled them on very damp paper towels (white with fiber). It looked good - after it dried a bit, I brushed off the small clumps and painted some gloss acrylic medium over the surface.

Once the paper dried, I adhered the spicepaper to a journal cover frame that I had constructed and covered with Kraft paper. A little gold leaf added to the texture. The results were fun, a cross between aged canvas and distressed leather. And it smells like a spice bazaar!See what you think--too bad you can't smell it:

Font fever

2011-09-27T04:42:00.000-07:00

Design mode has kicked in and I went on a font hunt for some letters with a craftsman look. I found some beauties - here's a sample board with just a few. Fonts are so expressive all by themselves no matter what the words might be.

Prest-o Change-o Studi-o

2011-09-17T20:40:00.000-07:00

Behind in my work as usual, I had to do a quick change from a collage and drawing studio to a clay studio in about half an hour today. Actually, I've organized my tools so that it's fairly easy. I keep all of my clay tools, clay press molds and carving tools, and rolling boards stacked in one area behind a kitchen butcher block shelf. And I have baskets for the collage material - here are some pictures which show the transformation. Pretty slick re-purposing in a small space!

Judging book by cover?

2011-09-13T08:54:00.000-07:00

I agonized over how to present my work to the Cloth Paper Scissors editors before I packed it to mail it off. I ended up "re-imagining" some of those brown kraft expanding office folders. I put a strip of mat board in the bottom of the two smaller ones to hold them open, then scored and trimmed the flaps to make fold-overs with punched holes and ties. The larger one was done the same basic way, but the iPad cover was too large for flaps, so I skewered it with some bamboo toothpicks.
If *I* were the judge, I'd choose *me* based on the creative packages alone - - too bad I'm not!

Cloth Paper Scissors Finalist

2011-09-08T03:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I received an email from Jenn Mason, editor of the popular national art/crafting magazine, Cloth Paper Scissors published by Interweave Press. I am a finalist for Artisan of the Year 2012!
In this post, I described working for this in the studio - and I'm happy that they liked the work!
Here is another piece from that set of three submissions:

I am pretty amazed, but happy that I seem to be on the right track - good to be validated by a community of incredibly talented people.Stay tuned!

Canyon Series Shard Firing

2011-08-28T07:40:00.001-07:00

These are for the Nueva Street Gallery - I did a small edition, only eight pieces, but I like them all. Seven pieces sold last week - I'm hoping these do as well, although there are some in this series that I hate to let go of.

Studio Work

2011-08-21T06:34:00.000-07:00

Been working on some new journals in an attempt to send some ideas to a national magazine Here's one I really like - it's an iPad cover called <groan> Eye Dear. I lined the inside with some very textural recyclable packing paper - wonder where I can get more of this stuff? It's great!

Moment of Truth

2011-08-14T17:14:00.000-07:00

Opening the kiln is both fun and nerve-wracking, especially when the clay is really too damp still to be safely fired, which is what I did yesterday. I need to have some new pieces for the Nueva Street Gallery this morning, so I pushed it, loaded the kiln and crossed my fingers.
Hooray, the Kiln Gods were looking out for me - it was a perfect firing. I took a photo before I opened it early this morning and then just as I lifted the lid. It looks like a smaller firing that it actually was because there are pieces stacked under the shelf on the right. But nothing broke! And, even better, two of the new pieces sold at the gallery this afternoon.

Body Art

2011-08-10T04:57:00.000-07:00

Change of pace - went to Jones' Autowerks in north San Antonio with a friend yesterday morning. It was like visiting a sculpture gallery. The contrast between the finished Porsches and those being restored and rebuilt was striking. I loved photographing the tangle of tools and cables and seeing the fine automobiles as few people get to see them. There were engine noises and garage smells and craftsmen quietly going about their business in a confident, expert manner. Great place, hope to go back.

Talisman Shard Necklace

2011-08-09T04:27:00.000-07:00

I made this yesterday and wore it to lunch with a friend. The waiter loved it and almost forgot to take our order! I like it too - I scented it with a bit of peppermint oil and it helped me feel cooler in the heat (103F yesterday).
The little shards take as much time to make as the larger ones, interestingly enough, but I like the delicacy of the small faces. I wish I were a better jewelry craftsman. Maybe I can learn patience if I sit quietly and string beads for a little while every day.
I'm going to put together another one of these today with some African trade beads and heishi.

"Cielo" Firing Kiln Notes

2011-08-07T06:18:00.000-07:00

Unloaded the Cielo firing of my kiln this morning with a couple of test pieces, as well as more than a dozen new Shards. I was anxious to see the results and they were great. Fingers crossed that this consistency keeps up.

The best news was the oxide finish that I applied to the leather hard pieces worked perfectly. If I had know how well it would turn out, all the pieces would have gotten that oxide wash. It's a 50/50 suspension wash of red and black oxide in water, brushed on the leather-hard clay, then wiped off carefully. The dark patina in the crevices of the little sculptures then become part of the clay instead of an after-firing surface finish.

Here are the results on the two pieces I tested, Cielo #11 and #12, straight out of the kiln:

Compare these to two others from the same firing without the oxide wash and you can see why I'm excited - these will need some surface treatment to enhance the contours:

San Fernando Kiln Firing

2011-08-04T04:20:00.000-07:00

These are the first sculpture shards from the San Fernando Cemetery trip - I opened the kiln yesterday afternoon while it was still pretty hot, but I was anxious to see them. Beautiful - so happy with the results. Some of these will be up on my Etsy site for a new showcase on August 9th.
I found a new book on surface treatment with clay while in Bethesda and it has so many great ideas for embellishment.
Got to remember to keep it simple and let the faces tell the story.

Pinching Art

2011-08-02T03:20:00.000-07:00

To paraphrase Picasso, mediocre artists borrow, great artists steal. I love this quite from British writer Lawrence Durrell when asked in a 1960 Paris Review interview to name writers who had "influenced" him:
"But I read not only for pleasure, but as a journeyman, and where I see a good effect I study it, and try to reproduce it. So I am probably the biggest thief imaginable. I steal from people—my seniors, I mean. And in fact, Panic Spring, which you said was a respectable book, seemed to me dreadful, because it was an anthology, you see, with five pages of Huxley, three pages of Aldington, two pages of Robert Graves, and so on—in fact all the writers I admire. But they didn’t influence me. I pinched effects, I was learning the game."

Art in Alexandria

2011-07-31T09:09:00.000-07:00

The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA is a great reimagined space. A former munitions factory, it is now a colleciton of studios and galleries and classrooms.

I saw some remarkable works, among them this handbuilt series of small vessels with an insect in various stages of its life cycle in each section:

There were lots of painting studios - I was most taken by the large abstracts by one of the summer artists-in-residence:

Each gallery had unique displays as well as eclectic selections of artworks in all media:

Each artist has a gallery/studio space - the building has three floors with many studios, but it never seems crowded. It must be inspiring to work in such an airy light-filled place by the water:

Road Trip East

2011-07-28T03:59:00.000-07:00

In Bethesda this morning visiting Victoria, my long-time (since 1970) friend. It's always great to see her and her family. We're here for a day or two before going to their shore house in Rehoboth Beach DE. She lives in a condominium in downtown Bethesda - I'm looking out from the sixth story down to Old Georgetown Road.

This morning we're going to The Torpedo Factory Art Center. A former torpedo factory, this world-renowned art center is located just outside Washington, D.C. - I expect to photograph, note and steal many creative ideas from all of their great studios, shops and small galleries.

San Fernando Cemetery

2011-07-23T18:49:00.000-07:00

San Antonio is graced with beautiful old cemeteries - it's one of the oldest cities in the Americas. I don't have to look far for compelling faces to use as celebratory face molds for my Scent Shard sculptures. I took a trip to San Fernando Cemetery by the Missions today and came away with some beautiful press molds that are going to be ready to use after they are fired. I also took a lot of photos and could have take lots more. There were families picnicking on relatives' graves and lots of really funny gaudy bright arrangements everywhere. Shops around San Fernando sell these. Some have cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny festooned with polyester flowers. But the sculptures and monuments are unrivaled.
The first photo shows me reaching up to take a face mold from a tall angel statue - I use only white clay to leave the stone unblemished, and the process takes just a few gentle seconds. The other two photos show monuments that I thought were particularly lovely.

Little Kiln Finds a Home

2011-07-21T06:10:00.000-07:00

It works! The little Skutt kiln that I bough on Craig's List, brand new, has been wired, test fired and welcomed home to its own little tented firing pavillion outside my garden gate. The wiring cost half as much as the kiln itself, but the total cost was still less than half of what it would have cost from a retail clay supplier.
By the way, Clay World, which took over Hood Clay, my supplier in the 80's, is a wonderful place for potters. I can get in as much trouble there as I can in any art store. They have beautiful carved wooden stamps, tools, books - oh. my.
The Scent Shards page is growing and expanding on my own website - check out the videos. No matter what happens, this is the most fun I've had in a long time. See the little kiln's new home in these photos. There's a shelf above the kiln with the Kiln Gods that my grandsons made to ensure a good firing, and there's a drying rack for unfired pieces - it's a wonderful space.

Gallery of Scent Shards

2011-07-18T06:45:00.001-07:00

Scent Shards on You Tube

2011-07-17T16:26:00.000-07:00

Scent Shards debut - first sale

2011-07-15T19:45:00.000-07:00

I had what stores call a "soft opening" when I posted my first Scent Shard sculptures on the ETSY gallery site this morning, and darned if one didn't sell right off the bat. I was absolutely delighted. Two more sets sold to a friend, so I'm working away getting ready for my Etsy art showcase next Thursday. Also, Carole at La Vida Gallery wants to carry them, and lots of other people have shown interest. We'll see how far it goes, but right now, I'm having a good time working with clay and I look forward to firing my own kiln next week. Here is a link to one of the Scent Shards on ETSY, and here is another link to a short YouTube video that I did this afternoon, totally unrehearsed but enjoyable, as I described the process of making the molds and then pressing the sculptures.
So stop and smell the shards!

Clay in the Studio

2011-07-08T19:35:00.000-07:00

I have a new project under construction - I'm working on an idea using some of the gravestone press molds that I took from cemeteries in Texas and Key West several years ago. This is one of those inspirations that sprang up almost ready-made. More about that later, but working with clay feels just like coming back to drawing did - natural and instinctive. I'm using a Longhorn Red clay body and firing to cone 05. I even have kiln time lined up with Inspire Art Center. Stay tuned - if this works out, you'll see another dimension of my work on Etsy, debuting on July 21 in the Art Showcase.I'm excited!!

From Writer's Digest, Today, July 4th

2011-07-04T05:26:00.000-07:00

I love this poem preface - and I added a picture of my grandson, Patrick, to remind me that what I should do is so worth doing.

This is what you shall do

by Walt Whitman

"This is what you shall do; Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body."

"This is what you shall do..." by Walt Whitman, from the preface of Leaves of Grass. Public domain.

Life Drawing 101

2011-07-03T07:39:00.000-07:00

With more than a little fear and trepidation, I joined a Saturday morning group of artists who meet at Inspire, pool money for a model's fee, and spend two hours in intensive life drawing. I had not done this in decades. It was an amazing experience - liberating and confirming. I can still draw! Obviously my work is rough and my proportions are sometimes badly rendered. but it was great to be "back to the drawing board." Here's one of my early studies of Morgan, our amazing model.
I'll be back next month!

Artist's Statement

2011-07-01T07:36:00.000-07:00

Artist's Statement: Lyn Belisle

The Arrow and the Song - 2111

My work is a synthesis of images across time presented in a contemporary context using pages and scans from old art books and museum catalogs in combination with my own digital photographs. As an undergraduate art major, my influences were Jasper Johns, Larry Rivers, Cy Twombly and other abstract expressionists whose collage-like paintings intrigued by hinting at snippets of untold stories and myths.

I found that by combining fine prints of paintings by the old Masters with my archetypal photos of fruit, eggs, and other symbolic objects, I could create a rather mysterious story that transcends time. The expressions on the faces of the Renaissance men and women who modeled for paintings are rich and complex and, when chosen out of their original context, lend a humanity that speaks to the contemporary viewer.

I combine state-of-the-art digital photographic manipulation with traditional materials such as gold leaf and walnut ink to bring the images together visually and thematically. The titles of the works hint at the story as I see it, but each piece invites the viewer’s own interpretation.

On the Rocks:1949 & 2011

2011-06-21T18:54:00.000-07:00

My friend Carol took the photo of me on the right a couple of days ago at the Garden of the Gods, It reminded me of an old photo that was taken at Mt. Rushmore when I was five years old. I found it and scanned it and I put the two together. How can more than 60 years go by so fast? What a long, strange trip it's been - glad it's not over yet.

Art, Adornment and Analogy

2011-06-20T15:38:00.001-07:00

Yesterday morning as Carol and I were having breakfast on the patio at the Garden of the Gods Club, she asked me what I would remember as a defining moment about our weekend. I think it was discovering the earrings in the photo. We were in Rich Designs, an eclectic gallery which carries the artwork of Gwen Fox, whose paintings we both admire. We looked at her new work, then both spotted some wonderful chunky ethnic jewelry in a nearby display case. I fell in love with these earrings. There was a matching necklace and several other striking sets with large beads and silver findings. Then we learned that the beadwork we were so taken with was also created by Gwen Fox - she is branching out into jewelry design. What talent!
Carol bought me the earrings for my birthday - they are more than just jewelry. They symbolize our discoveries in art together, and they also absorb the colors and light of anything around them, seeming to glow from within. I will wear them often for inspiration and cherish them as a reminder of the comfort of sisterhood across the miles.

Garden of the Gods

2011-06-18T07:23:00.000-07:00

What an inspiring trip - seeing Carol Mylar is always a delight. I have missed sharing a studio with her so much. I'm here at the Garden of the Gods club in colorado Springs soaking in the cool weather and the mountains. Art, food, friendshop, fun - all of it.
Yesterday was Rich Designs, a visit to Carol's amazing friend Rori, lunch at the Broadmoor, shopping and looking, a facial for each of us at the Spa, and a wonderful diner and conversation. I'm writing in Goina's journal all of the new ideas that seem to come to me effortlessly when I'm here with Carol.

Photos:
Top: Grilled vegetable salad at the Broadmore - art in itself, delicious, too

Next: Favorite artist Gwen Fox is now creating tiny boxes with painted tops - lovely idea

Next: She is also incorporating calligraphic elements in her paintings

Next: I get to cut my own geode at a mineral shop near the Broadmoor

Next: The incomparable Broadmoor

Bottom: Kissing Camels outside my terrace - beautiful view of the Garden of the gods

Very Low Altitude Aerial Photography

2011-06-14T06:44:00.000-07:00

While looking for a particular illustrator's work, I found this gallery - a collection of images taken by looking straight down in a variety of locations. Jon Sachs believes there is a lot to see right at our feet and presents this evidence to support his claims. It reminds me of my recent Street Shards photos, but with a lot more expertise and thought.
His photographs are great studies in texture and color and composition - here are a couple, and here is his gallery link.I love his quote about the first photo, "I did not put the leaf next to the rock. Somehow it seems to matter whether I did or not, but why?
Sometimes I do move things in order to make the photograph more of what it wants to be.But not this time."

New Collage - King Baby's Feast

2011-06-12T14:22:00.000-07:00

I finished this today and just matted it. It was a tough baby to birth, and I think it's because I sent a photo to a friend of the preliminary images I wanted to use, so I felt obliged to stick with the plan even though other things evolved during the process. It took three or four days to complete. The framed collage is 18"x22".
Below is the photo I sent to my friend of the images I thought might work and then a photo of the completed piece. I called it King Baby's Feast. The pomegranate photo in the center is my work, and there is also some other mixed media things going on, including black gesso. My only complaint is that it's kind of matchy-matchy, but that's also what ties the images together. Anyway . . .

Street Shards 6.11

2011-06-11T06:45:00.000-07:00

Laurel mountain beans, feather, wood, magnolia pod, shell

This is the last of this series for a while - I find I'm getting more into the manipulation of the photos than the objects themselves. But that's part of the experiment. Here are two versions of this morning's flora - sadly, I saw a dead squirrel while I was coming home from the track. When you start observing more closely, you see the beauty of the small objects but also the sad things.

Journal by Gina

2011-06-10T08:35:00.000-07:00

My friend Gina created the most beautiful one-of-a-kind leatherbound journal as a Christmas present for my son. He loved it - and I wanted one, too, after I saw her incredible craftsmanship. She combines the best paper, her own original acrylic paintings, and original touches such as pocket between the signatures that are lovely and useful. There's only one problem - it's almost too wonderufl to use, but use it I will and do my best to sketch and write inspirational things that are worthy of this journal. See for yourself in the short video below. Thanks, Gina!

Street Shards 6.10

2011-06-10T04:27:00.000-07:00

. . .starring a styrofoam cup with tire marks and a very nice magnolia leaf.

Haiku: Techie Reflection While Running

2011-06-10T04:18:00.001-07:00

i meditate in

random access memory

save to soul’s hard drive

~LB

Street Shards: Photography 6.9

2011-06-09T05:54:00.000-07:00

Found around construction site near garden - very little manipulation except cropping image.

Street Shards: Photography

2011-06-08T04:35:00.000-07:00

I started this series of photos two days ago when I was coming home from the track just at sunrise and saw three or four dying (but still soft and velvety) magnolia blossoms along the edge of the street. As I picked them up to feel the texture, I saw some other great partial plant shards and pieces and took them home to photograph. Here are the first two results - the rules are that they have to be found on the same day at the same time in roughly the same spot and they can't be over analyzed in terms of composition or quality - just picked up "because." No precious tacky metaphors on the meaning of life and death and faded beauty are allowed :)

Diana Kennedy

2011-06-04T19:17:00.001-07:00

What a thrill to meet one of the most famous chefs in the world, Diana Kennedy, at La Vida Gallery tonight. I have many of her cookbooks and have counted her among my cultural heroes for decades. She is a good friend of gallery owners Matt and Carole Weissler, and although she does few book signings these days, she did agree to come to La Vida and sign her wonderful new definitive book on the food of Oaxaca. I can't wait to look at it -the photos are amazing, and her anecdotes read like chapters in an adventure novel. It' s a rare glimpse into the cuisine of Oaxaca - she was charming and funny and gracious - she even asked about my artwork that was hanging in the gallery. What a remarkable woman. Viva Diana Kennedy!

The Song and the Arrow

2011-06-03T19:01:00.000-07:00

I found a painting of a young boy holding an arrow in one of my art books - Children of the Golden Age, I think - and then decided to look through an old song book for some sheet music to use as a background. The first page I opened was titled "The Song and the Arrow"- really a strange coincidence. That became a somewhat collective theme, and this collage is the result. I like the unusual strongly horizontal composition.

Muse Calling

2011-06-02T06:25:00.000-07:00

I was rushing around doing errands and getting frustrated when the thought of "dove gray and silver" came into my head. I walked to the studio, took off my silver bracelets, added a dove feather that I had found yesterday morning in the garden, and took this shot - it's one of my favorites now. There's something good about stopping everything to take a break and listen to whatever muse is calling :).

Project Night with Old Friends

2011-05-27T04:48:00.000-07:00

Last night a group of old friends met at my house for a craft evening - it's an Herb Society subgroup called Lotions and Potions. I have not been involved for a long time because of commitments at school and studio, but it was great to see them all again. We did a project with dried herbs and printed backgrounds, all pressed under glass.
Each person brought the dried herbs and a short quote or info about the plants - there was a good assortment, done in advance-and then we experimented with fonts and placement for the backgrounds. I printed them out on my computer. Then the paper was dyed with tea or coffee. Great results! I found clip frames that worked perfectly for the project. See for yourself in the video:

Charm-ing?

2011-05-22T07:37:00.000-07:00

I went to a bead show last weekend (wow - stimulus overload) and came away with some interesting beads for Kindle closures. On a whim, I choose four of them to represent the four elements (water, earth, sky and fire) and strung them together as a little protection circle charm for a Wiccan friend. On the card, I put some drops of Clary Sage essential oil for clear psychic vision! She liked it a lot.
*Bright Blessings*, MJ!

SAVA

2011-05-14T18:50:00.000-07:00

Today I took a new collage to the San Antonio Visual Artists ongoing venue at the Foundry Coffee House. Members can enter one piece at this popular cafe for a $5 hanging fee. I'll go on Thursday to the opening, but I've never seen such an assortment of art - every size and medium. The SAVA website reflects this diversity. It's as much a non-elitist all-inclusive super-eclectic arts group as I've seen in the area. I'm looking forward to seeing how it works and participating a bit more in the future. Today was a small start. Here's the piece I took - it's called Pearadigm - I almost didn't have the nerve to use such a corny name, but I did anyway :).

Water from the Sky!

2011-05-12T08:58:00.000-07:00

There has been no real rain here since September of last year - today we got a wonderful rainstorm. It's amazing how rain in a drought can make everyone feel happy and optimistic. There are no half-measures, though. Right now there are flood warnings, but that will pass. Hooray for rain!

Opening at La Vida, May 6th

2011-05-07T19:36:00.000-07:00

It was a good night! The collages were nicely displayed- Matt and Carole do such a fine job. There was an annoying but interesting glare on the plexiglass framing, so you can see the outside street and the inside gallery reflected on the paintings. Layers of reflection. Lots of friends and good food and music. I sold three pieces, which was very nice. One of the best moments was when my former art professor, Bill Bristow, came by and discussed Art with me and some of my techniques in particular - that was perfect, things seemed to come full circle since I was in his class in the 60's. Yay for art!

1929 New Mexico

2011-05-06T04:41:00.000-07:00

Finished this cover last night - it went together quickly, which is a good sign. I used a photo of Georgia O'Keeffe and in the process read again about the timeline of her life. What a remarkable artists' journey she lived. Here are some photos - even the fittings and inside cover went together well. Woohoo :)

Seance for Kindles

2011-05-03T16:26:00.001-07:00

Here's another cover that came together like magic - it's called Seance. It made me think of Madame Blavatsky and her Theosophists, and that whole group including Yeats who studied religion, science and philosophy in the early 20th century. Wonder if Yeats would be surpirsed that people read his poems on a Kindle? Hmmm.

Kindle Covers and Coco

2011-04-25T05:17:00.001-07:00

I took a break from gallery work to do a new Kindle cover - am also working on a commission cover. This one is called Coco's Cat. It sold almost immediately - a tribute to the enduring allure of Coco Chanel, no doubt! I am looking forward to doing some more covers this summer. It's such an effective way to "sketch" and try out new techniques and media.

Unleash the Easter Eggs of War?

2011-04-22T04:32:00.000-07:00

Here's something really - well, disturbing and whacky. Saw these while looking for Easter basket treats.

They're rabbit-design camouflage plastic Easter eggs with an attached package of little toy soldiers shooting at other plastic soldiers that you apparently stuff in the eggs as prizes. What??? That's nuts!

Quick - give me a peaceful organic antidote! Here's a cool video on natural egg dyes from CurblyVideos. Whew, I feel better now.

Luna

2011-04-21T18:06:00.001-07:00

I really, really like this piece. It seems like more than the sum of the parts. It's called Luna. Mixed media, 24x28" framed. Even the details are interesting - it's great when art works. Favorite discovery - rice paper over silver leaf layered with walnut ink - wow.

Symmetry

2011-04-21T08:29:00.000-07:00

Saw this wonderful video on OpenCulture - here's a link to more information about it and what inspired it.

Blogs

2011-04-20T05:11:00.000-07:00

It's getting close to the end of semester and there will be time to read the books in my TBR pile, see what other people are doing via their blogs, reimagine stuff around in the house, and try some new things in the studio - including getting back to some new ideas for Kindle covers. Here are some blogs I intend to peruse for inspiration with when I have vacation time:

Planet Green
Treehugger
Inhabitat
Jetson Green
Dwell
Huffingtonpost Green
Blisstree
design*sponge
Remodelista
Apartment Therapy
Design Milk
Decor8
aqui pelo campo
Desire To Inspire
Craftzine
CraftyPod
EcoEtsy
GOOP
Sweet Paul
Slow Love Life
The Greenest Dollar
Nest by Tamara
A Way to Garden

Madonna of the Pear

2011-04-14T19:36:00.000-07:00

That was the title of an painting by 15th century artist Albrecth Durer - I liked the painting and just finished a collage that has both pears and a Madonna. It features two versions of the same photo that I took of a pear but with different lighting. It really looks sort of Dali-esque to me. This work is 20x24" framed. It was a tough piece to complete and went through a lot of phases but I like the results. I used a lot of gold leaf on this one.
Here's Durer's painting - check out the weird expression on the madonna's face.

Underneath it is the collage I finished this evening - really different!

My Friend Stevie - Paintings

2011-04-09T15:45:00.000-07:00

It is a joy to see my friend, Stevie Kesner Ricks, doing new work and exhibiting again. She has inspired me for a very long time. I'm looking forward to lots more time with her, sharing thoughts about art and life. Thanks, Stevie!

New Work

2011-04-04T16:57:00.000-07:00

I guess the beach R&R worked - before we left, I had prepared a piece of black board with some clear gloss medium, but didn't like the shiny-looking results when we got back yesterday, so I painted it with gray house paint and started a new piece. This is it! It's called "Intercession" and it measures 14x20 framed, so it's a bit smaller. I'm using some new photos of yard eggs that I took last week, great colors. It went together like a story that couldn't wait to be told.

Beach Time

2011-04-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

I just got home from spending the weekend in Port Aransas, Texas with old friends. Taking time away from the studio had me concerned, but it was a good trip, very relaxing. Here is a very short video I took yesterday morning just after sunrise and just before my walk.

The beach was almost completely deserted except for the gulls and pipers. There was reddish seaweed everywhere that had been scraped into long piles along the water's edge, but apparently the birds loved it because they were digging in it finding whelks and mussels.

Our group went back down together a couple of hours later and there were people and tents and canopies all over the place, so this was a very lovely time to be there by myself.

I wish there were a way to capture the color of that peach-y gray sky. Maybe the next kimono I fold will have those colors as an inspiration.

Old Dream, New Kimono

2011-03-31T20:03:00.000-07:00

My son gave me a card one Mother's day that had a Chinese character on it meaning "To Revive an Old Dream." Going back to creating mixed-media kimonos is definitely a revival of sorts. I just finished this piece and am not sure how I feel about it other than that it is artistically satisfying. But my style has changed enough that I don't do these on art-autopilot like I used to, which is probably good. At any rate, this one is finished and I plan to do at least one more kimono for the show. We'll see how they are received.

Postcard for Exhibit

2011-03-26T05:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I printed a preliminary design for my show at La Vida, partly because I wanted to experiment with the images, and partly to remind myself that there is still a lot of work to be done and time's getting short. Hard to believe all of this has happened since I made my first Kindle cover for sale in June of last year. Until then, I hadn't done any real studio art in a decade.

It was good to have a few copies with me when we went to an open house at Inspire Art Center because I saw several old friends who are artists and was able to give them away as a way of saying "I'm back!" That was fun. Have changed the title of the show to "Mythologie."

But wait, there's more . . .

2011-03-19T16:22:00.000-07:00

Amazing burst of energy today. I finished another piece based on what I had learned with the previous work. It may be one of my favorites, titled (right now, anyway) "Noh Festival. Unfortunately, I was so excited about it that I framed it before taking a photo, so this photo is shot through Plexiglas! I will probably take it apart and re-take later, but right now I'm happy to just relax. I'd hoped to get six paintings done over spring break - this makes four. Remind self - it's quality, not quantity that counts. Er, right...?

Unblocked!

2011-03-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

I worked all day Friday on an Asian-themed collage that just did not work - I had the mat cut and was ready to just go ahead and frame it, but it felt so NOT-RIGHT. Scrapped it, worried about why I couldn't get it to work, and started over with a result that I really like and gave me a zillion new ideas. One of those is scanning and printing fragments of previous work onto rice paper - it's amazing how different those images look from the original collages.
Here's the new piece, titled "Not for the Cat." It has lots of little areas that I want to incorporate in the next piece.
Here's the piece that didn't work (below) - let me count the ways why - too cluttered, no story, no unity, just matchy-matchy images stuck on without enough thought to relationships and values. It's valuable because it's a lesson. Sometimes it's so frustrating to keep adding things , thinking it might get fixed, but that's a mistake.
Look at the difference that a fresh start and clear artistic purpose makes!
I do so love telling stories with images, paint and paper.

Work, work, work (and titles)

2011-03-17T08:05:00.001-07:00

I seriously don't know how working artists who blog get any studio work done - obviously my good intentions to blog often about my work have been sunk by the work itself. Arg. But here are two new pieces. I had hoped to finish six over spring break, but that's rapidly evaporating.
Titles for paintings are always a challenge. On of these collages is titled "The Laying" - it's a semi-serious allusion to laying of hands, laying eggs - healing. The other new one is titled "Alberta's Dream" because it features peaches (!?). And some other things, of course :).
OK, off the computer and back to the studio.

Spray adhesive shield trick

2011-03-02T19:03:00.000-08:00

I use spray adhesive, the 3M kind that's extra strong, when I'm first constructing my Kindle covers to make sure the delicate rice paper adheres to the archival matboard without tearing or wrinkling. Even though I spray briefly, everything around the aerosol can gets sticky - so I made a "tent" out of watercolor paper that is mounted on the inside of the door of the cabinet where I keep glues and drills and such. It folds out when the door is open, and folds back in like a book when I close the door. It isn't perfect, but it helps a lot to contain the adhesive. Just sharing!

Tokyo47

2011-02-24T08:30:00.000-08:00

Finished a new cover this morning that really pleased me. I noticed as I was finishing it that the front cover was a bit narrower than the back. I thought that I might have to rebuild it, but then put a strip along the inside of the front cover that looks really good, design wise-and function-wise! Necessitity is sometimes the mother of artistic invention.

Encanto

2011-02-18T10:38:00.000-08:00

Finished a new piece today - I worked with a square canvas to see how it felt. It was a bit difficult to work with the symmetry, but once I divided it up into a grid, it was more comfortable. There are parts of it that I like very much and other parts I wish I'd done differently - well, what else it new?
"Encanto" means a charm or a spell - the lady in the gourd did it, of course.

Max likes it, too

2011-02-14T17:11:00.001-08:00

I went back to put the new paper away, but Max has already claimed it:

Mulberry Paper and More

2011-02-14T16:49:00.001-08:00

I found a nice new (to me) online source for unusual paper called Mulberry Paper and More. They are out of Parker, Colorado near Denver. They have a great selection and very good prices. The Unyru Mulberry, for example is $2.41 for a 25x37" sheet, and it's lovely and silky but sturdy. Lots of colors, too. Of course I got black and Terra Cotta - how predictable, Lyn! They were out of one paper so waited a day or two till it came in before shipping, but checked with me before they did that. I will order from them again, for sure. Here's their website:

Stinkhorn?

2011-02-13T19:40:00.000-08:00

Ahem. I was given an interesting fungus today. It's called Phallus Impudicus. For real. It's also called "stinkhorn." Want to know more? Mushroom expert Dr. Michael Kuo says, "Stinkhorns are astonishing. Their abrupt appearance in gardens and lawns is frequently the cause of considerable consternation; they arise from an "egg" that results from the immature mushroom's universal veil, quickly breaking the "shell" and thrusting themselves up to heights of nearly 10 inches in a matter of hours! . . . Phallus impudicus covers its tip with a foul smelling and spore-laden slime; flies are attracted to it, and carry the spores away as they continue on their little fly adventures."

Charles Darwin's granddaughter Etty "so despised stinkhorns that she mounted an antifungal jihad with the aid of gloves and a pointed stick," burning the stinkhorns in secret to protect "the purity of thought among her female servants."

It's kind of an appropriate Valentine's gift - now I just have to figure out a good way of working the photos of my Phallus Impudicus into a collage . . .

Such flattery!

2011-02-10T11:55:00.000-08:00

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I guess I'm flattered - I came across a site on Etsy this morning that looks somewhat familiar :)
The construciton and even the presentation is a lot like mine - it's a good lesson in what is and what is not one's own intellectual property, but I have no problem with sharing my ideas with other artists. Good luck to "Craftycovers" and may you have as much fun with your Kindle covers as I have with mine.

Two New Paintings

2011-02-08T16:23:00.000-08:00

It's always a little risky to step out from what's already working, but I just finished two new collages with an Asian influence and a different, softer palette than the previous Renaissance-themed work. I liked the idea of using Noh masks as a central motif - I'm still using my altered fruit photos, and they still seems to work. So far, so good - would like some fresh new work for the April show at La Vida. This feels like a good direction right now, or maybe it's because I'm just ready for spring after all this unusually cold weather!

Old dog, new tricks, lazy blogger

2011-02-04T06:49:00.000-08:00

I have LABS (lazy artist blogger syndrome) - no entries for several weeks - but the good part is, I've been working - a lot! Custom Kindle cover requests are coming in and I've sold over 70 covers since my Etsy shop opened in August. It's wonderful, lots of experimenting and learning - speaking of learning . . .one of the things I discovered after getting back into collage after so long away is the slew of new products available, mostly thanks to the scrapbookers out there.
I was watching a collage video on You Tube and the demonstrator kept talking about Soft Get for adhering paper - what's that?? I found some at Michael's and tried it - great stuff! It works beautifully for delicate papers such as joss and tea papers. Here's a pic of one of the latest covers with joss paper accents:

It also makes a good over-coating because it's quite flexible and transparent.
Another news flash - it snowed in San Antonio this morning. Trinity University is closed, so I get to spend the day in the studio - yay! Here's a view out the studio doors - poor Prius.

Art on Autopilot

2011-01-16T19:35:00.000-08:00

Not really "autopilot." but after being frustrated with photographing the larger pieces, my new Kindle covers went together so well and relatively quickly - and each one is different. I finished three of them over the weekend and got an inquiry about another custom cover today. I also got an inquiry from someone who wanted to know how to make her own, so I gave her the link on this blog - it's just great to share stuff.
Hope she has as much fun as I do. Here are the new covers - the titles are Temple Bell, Gypsy Ledger and Florian's Song. You can see other views on my Etsy Gallery.

Framing and Photo Frustrations

2011-01-14T16:28:00.001-08:00

I completed two pieces that I really like today and just finished cutting the mats and assembling the frames - one has a four inch mat and one has a three inch mat. I think I like the wider one, but am just not sure. And I am so frustrated about not being able to get good photos of these larger pieces. My light box isn't big enough. I do take photos before they are framed. Any tips out there? It's something I need to work on and figure out, especially if I want to make a giclée print of the one on the right.
The two pieces are titled "Inedible Fruit" (right) and "The Architecture of Dreaming" (left) and both are 22x24" framed.

Processing the Process

2011-01-08T07:31:00.000-08:00

My girlfriend Gina came over yesterday for a studio visit. I was cutting a mat for a piece that was finished (I thought). We decided to go down to La Vida Gallery, so I put off framing the new collage. This morning I got up at five and realized it really wasn't finished. It was an incomplete story. The fact that I had already matted it didn't matter, it just needed another small dimension. Here is the before and after. It's not necessarily better, just different, and I am much happier with it. The "before" is the top image. After I added the second profile on the right, it brought the focus back into the center of the collage. This one is titled The Cat's Dilemma. There's a whole mini-drama behind what's going on in this composition but that's for me to know and you to figure out!

The Art of Tamales

2011-01-01T06:57:00.001-08:00

The day before New Year's Eve, a group of friends gathered at Casa Belisle to make tamales. What was I thinking? But we did it! Ten intrepid tamale makers, including our expert, the fabulous Elaina, spread homemade masa (lard-y and veggie) on shucks, filled the tamales with beef, pork, beans, squash, chiles, cheese - all manner of wonderful things, rolled folded stacked and steamed. The result? At least 16 dozen of what were undoubtedly the best tamales we've ever eaten. It was a holiday miracle - good intentions, lots of laughter, and one person who knows what to do and can show the rest of us works. Special thanks to Elaina, who can pull steaming tamales our of the pot with her bare hands to check to see if they are done, to Raven and Sandra for washing mounds of dishes, to the wine and cheese bringers, to Jim for being a good sport at a grownup party, to Michael for making masa and fillings, to Sherry for the awesome shredded pork, to Stuart for the veggie inspirations, to Carol for the Lady of Guadalupe that blessed the venture - and a happy new year to all!
Viva Tamales!

Gina's Beautiful Handcrafted Journal

2010-12-23T04:58:00.000-08:00

I sincerely hope that my son Rick doesn't read this post before Saturday - it's about his Christmas gift that I commissioned from my friend and fellow artist Gina Mitsdarfer. I always have trouble finding something special for him but when Gina showed me a journal she had made for her trip to Ireland this fall, I loved it and knew Rick would, too. See her Ireland journal here.
For his gift journal, she crafted a brown leather wrap cover that closes with a silver Celtic dragon ornament, and the inside paper is beautiful ivory. Gina includes touches like pockets and envelopes to hold notes and tickets, and her hand painted divider pages are amazing. It's a perfect blend of form and function - the thought and craftsmanship she puts into her work is inspiring. Thanks, Gina, this is a treasure.

Almost Finished?

2010-12-08T06:37:00.000-08:00

I think it may be - this piece is interesting. It doesn't have a name yet, something about Venice and Doges and such probably.I knew I wanted to use a Tarot card and thought I knew which one, but found I was holding them against the work and "letting" them tell me which one to use. It turned out to be a different one, The Moon instead of the Page of Staves. Yikes, I'm losing it! But it was fun.

Raven Rocks

2010-12-04T18:46:00.000-08:00

Cynthia Wenslow (aka the lovely Raven), talented artist and art advocate from Austin, included me in her series of Texas Artist Portraits and the results of the interview and her photographs taken in my studio were posted today:
Texas Artist Portrait Project: Lyn Belisle
I am so grateful to have been included in such a visionary project by a woman who does everything with grace and flair - thanks, Cynthia!

Godbye My Lady

2010-12-04T18:04:00.000-08:00

My favorite of four new works was happily someone else's favorite at last night's opening of LaVida Gallery in Southtown. It's my new art venue, and the owner, Carole, has been wonderfully supportive. When I brought in four pieces at the last minute, she hung them in a great spot
And my collage, Lady of Anjou, sold! I even got to meet and talk to the buyer.
The opening itself, held on the established First Friday art night in San Antonio, featured musicians, food and wine and a lovely courtyard for visiting outside on the balmy evening.
It's nice to be a productive artist with a sale - Carole wants more work and I think I'm on a new creative track with this series, not too far from what I've been doing with the Kindle covers, but a bit more narrative.
Carole hung my work on a vivid green wall - I wondered about the contrast, but it worked! See for yourself.

Body of Work

2010-12-04T17:51:00.000-08:00

My dear, beautiful and exotic long-time friend Ann Lyneah Curtis was in San Antonio this weekend for a show of her exquisite body sculptures and I got to see her after far too long between visits. Tall and regal, Ann personifies the free spirit that comes through in her work. See what I mean at her website, Masquerade Life Casting.
At her opening, her friend was wearing a paper cast body corset that laced down the back and was a replica of her own torso - it was adorned with funny, bawdy ceramic ornaments. She looked fabuous and was the subject of questions and photos.
Ann is passionate about her work - she's been doing this for over a quarter century. She's cast faces, big beautiful bellies of pregnant women, groups - and anything else you might imagine. We made plans to get together in the spring when I visit her studio in the Hill Country. Here are some pictures from the opening.

Companion Piece

2010-11-28T17:25:00.000-08:00

Just finished the second collage of what appears to be a new series - I like the size, techniques and the materials (and the rather flexible self-imposed guidelines, such as they are). This one is called Lady of Anjou. These first two are 13"x15" unmatted and will be 20"x22" matted and framed.

Mercado de Paz

2010-11-27T19:56:00.000-08:00

The Esperanza Center’s annual Mercado de Paz/Peace Market was the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, as it is each year. It's my favorite holiday sales event - here's how it's described (see some photos of the sellers' wares at the end of the post):

"As an alternative to crowded malls filled with crazed consumers and mass-produced goods, the Esperanza’s Peace Market features unique, handmade gifts and artesania centered around themes of peace, social justice, cultural diversity, and ecological concerns.

Shoppers can wield their economic power by spending their time and money supporting individuals and groups that are fighting for a better world. A diverse array of gifts are offered each year from artists like: Oscar Alvarado, mosaic-tile artist and found-object furniture designer; Veronica Castillo, internationally-renowned ceramic artist from Izucar de Matamoros, Mexico; Martha Prentiss, silversmith and owner of Prentiss Jewelry; Barrio Beat/Alma de la Raza, a company that seeks to carry on Chicana/o culture through community-based business enterprise, and to reflect and include voices of the pueblo in its operations; and Colores del Pueblo (formerly Pueblo to People), a Houston-based nonprofit organization that buys merchandise from over 200 grassroots craft and agricultural co-ops throughout Latin America—paying much better prices than for-profit corporations—and then resells directly to consumers in the U.S., thereby eliminating unfair profit and providing artists in developing countries a larger market for their work."

New Work

2010-11-27T19:25:00.000-08:00

I think I'm finished with a new collage and may even have overworked it a bit, but for the most part it seems to hang together well. There's a heavily textured background, some images of angels, a tarot card (the Four of Cups), a photo of eggs that I took last year - copper tape and walnut ink - some experimenting but mostly doing what I know. It's going to go to LaVida Gallery later this week once it's matted and framed - dark gray mat, I'm thinking, and thin chrome frame. That I can do myself since it's simple. I've already started a similar one - will see where it goes. Making art is so intense and serene at the same time!