Seems like I always think I have more time than I do. then all of the sudden reality hits when I look at the calendar and realize I have only two weeks to get what I should have worked on for months. That is where I am today.
I am taking a break from sculpting faces using DAS clay. I really like what I am creating little gourds with gnome-like, or are they country Santa, faces. The small ones, which are actually artificial gourds, will be just faces and become ornaments. A little larger, are real dried gourds. I have given them a base of huge feet, crafted from the DAS as well as the faces. I most likely will add clay arms and hands as well.
While the clay dries, I will use Bendi dolls and create holiday fairies. While the dolls paint dries I will create beautiful bows from glittering Holiday ribbon.
All this will be done after work and perhaps also before work. And--YIKES!--it needs to be finished tagged and ready to drop off to the Rome Art and Community Center for the annual Holiday House sale by Nov. 1.
I will post photos of my creations here after all is done.But for now the clay is calling me. There are gourds that need faces!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
autumn colors
This time of year in central New York state nature exclaims it's beauty in vibrant and rich colors. Before moving here I never knew that the leaves on trees could turn so many colors. Where I grew up fall leaves would turn basically two, three colors at the most: yellow and brown and a little orange here and there. Still I thought of it as very pretty. I honestly thought that all the colors I saw in fall decorations were probably done with artistic license and the leaves really did not turn those colors.
As I lived in new locations I saw more colors in autumn but nothing as beautiful as the colors here. They are breath-taking. I do believe that the hillsides full of a variety of trees, each with leaves of it's own hue, must be the inspiration for the calico prints. This time of year each bend of the road gives view to a new and wonderful patchwork of vibrant and earthy tones,
I have joined a postcard exchange in one of my favorite online groups. We are each to make one postcard for all the other members of the group that signed up for the exchange. The theme is autumn colors. I have worked on mine a few hours here and there for the past week or so. tonight I have them almost finished. I still need to tweak them a little but for the most part they are done.
I had them drying on the table a few minutes ago. How surprised I was when I realized that I have not used the vibrant hues that I see here every day. Instead, the colors on my card are of the autumns I knew as a child. I find that so odd. I have lived in central New York longer than I have lived anywhere in my life, yet it is through what I knew in my growing years that has come through my creations.
An afterthought--It is now the next morning. After writing this post, I wondered if I should go back and add some vibrant colors. This morning I studied the cards. Although they are darker, hues, I like them. I will not change the colors. They are colors I know and love.
As I lived in new locations I saw more colors in autumn but nothing as beautiful as the colors here. They are breath-taking. I do believe that the hillsides full of a variety of trees, each with leaves of it's own hue, must be the inspiration for the calico prints. This time of year each bend of the road gives view to a new and wonderful patchwork of vibrant and earthy tones,
I have joined a postcard exchange in one of my favorite online groups. We are each to make one postcard for all the other members of the group that signed up for the exchange. The theme is autumn colors. I have worked on mine a few hours here and there for the past week or so. tonight I have them almost finished. I still need to tweak them a little but for the most part they are done.
I had them drying on the table a few minutes ago. How surprised I was when I realized that I have not used the vibrant hues that I see here every day. Instead, the colors on my card are of the autumns I knew as a child. I find that so odd. I have lived in central New York longer than I have lived anywhere in my life, yet it is through what I knew in my growing years that has come through my creations.
An afterthought--It is now the next morning. After writing this post, I wondered if I should go back and add some vibrant colors. This morning I studied the cards. Although they are darker, hues, I like them. I will not change the colors. They are colors I know and love.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Sept 20, 2009
I don't have a theme today. It has just been so long since I have posted that I thought I should post something.
I started my blog with every intention of posting a few times a week, with thoughts, insights or new work. It seeems I get busy with work, and just don't feel like posting. Sometimes I wonder if I have anything of interest anyway. Sometimes I write a "wonderful essay" in my mind. "OH", I think, "This would be great on my blog." But it never makes it out of my mind to my blog.
It seems I have been on a roller coaster of feelings about my "artwork." Is it relevant? Should I continue or should I just clear everything out and sit and watch TV? Then I see a new product or get an idea for a new project and I get that "creative high."
I know I have to create. When I go too long without creating I get very moody and unhappy. It is a drive, a need, to create something. I can't say I am expressing or trying to convey anything. I am just creating because I "have to" and because it gives me joy.
I have a few unfinished pieces right now. No pictures to add to this page, nothing of substance to share. But again I renew my intention to create a blog with current posts, posts that perhaps will be of interest to someone.
I started my blog with every intention of posting a few times a week, with thoughts, insights or new work. It seeems I get busy with work, and just don't feel like posting. Sometimes I wonder if I have anything of interest anyway. Sometimes I write a "wonderful essay" in my mind. "OH", I think, "This would be great on my blog." But it never makes it out of my mind to my blog.
It seems I have been on a roller coaster of feelings about my "artwork." Is it relevant? Should I continue or should I just clear everything out and sit and watch TV? Then I see a new product or get an idea for a new project and I get that "creative high."
I know I have to create. When I go too long without creating I get very moody and unhappy. It is a drive, a need, to create something. I can't say I am expressing or trying to convey anything. I am just creating because I "have to" and because it gives me joy.
I have a few unfinished pieces right now. No pictures to add to this page, nothing of substance to share. But again I renew my intention to create a blog with current posts, posts that perhaps will be of interest to someone.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
My first ever canvas
For some strange reason I had the urge to try "my hand " at painting a face on canvas. Using a brush I base-coated the canvas with some exterior latex paint I had left over from the flower pot I created (picture a few posts down). Then I picked up a brush and using more of the leftover exterior paint I began to paint the face. but then I found I just could not get the effect I wanted. I set down the brush and stuck my finger in the paint. Presto! I was creating the face I saw in my mind. I continued to finger-paint the rest of the face. I did use a brush for the hair, eyebrows and to line the eyes. Everything else was finger-painted. (That is why I put the my hand in quotations in the first line of this post.) So what do you think?
Friday, June 19, 2009
My interview
I recently joined in an interview game that was posted by Carol McKenna from www.artmusedog.blogspot.com
I would love to have you join in the game. The rules and instructions for the interview game are below my interview.
Here are the questions Carol asked me and my replies.
1. When did you begin to make Art Dolls?
When I quit doing craft shows and got a "regular" job, I promised myself I would make items to express myself and challenge me to grow creatively.. I beleive that is when I began to create art dolls. When" the winter of 2002-2003.
2. What material(s) do you use to make your doll faces and how do these faces evolve?
The materials vary from doll to doll. I began doing needle-sculpture, then branched out to polymer clay, next paper clays and papier mache. Most recently I have created needle-felted faces. Oh and this last week I painted a face on canvas (first painting ever!) But I guess because of my sculpting, I did not like what a brush did so i ended up painting with my fingers!. Yep! I finger-painted on canvas. I did use a brush for the hair, eyebrows and to line the eyes.
This was a double question. How do the faces evolve. I always start with the nose. Then the mouth and then the eyes. The fun begins when I get to add all the wrinkles. That is when the character becomes "alive" to me!
3. Explain how living in different states and countries has influenced your creative life.
When I began making items for craft shows here in central New York State, a rural-state-of-mind area, I was oft advised to tone it down. I love glitz and glitter (could it be from growing up in Las Vegas?). I am not crazy about pastels. Instead I love warm to hot earth tones and jewel tones (California's influence?) Greens in all shades except light and pastel greens, are one of my most favorite colors (perhaps influenced by the thick, vigorous vegetation in Okinawa, the Oregon and Virginian coasts?)
I have always loved studying faces. the ones that interest me the most have weathered skin with lots of lines. I find myself studying peoples faces wherever I am. The different ethnic characteristics of the faces of people wherever I have lived turns up in my work. I do not create from photos or models but from the faces of my eyes' memories.
Some of the costumes I create for my dolls and the combinations of colors and prints are influenced by what I have seen where I have lived.
4. "Going Green" ~ is that something new to you? And how has recycling effected your creativity?
I have always used what I had on hand whenever possible. I never thought of it as recycling,I was just finding a way to create without having to buy anything. People have often shook their heads and grinned when learning the components of what I have made. I think it stems from having little (if any) funds for crafting. My Mom would always say "Find something you can use instead."
It has however created a problem of not knowing what to throw away. After all I might be able to use almost anything for something someday. My poor walls now are ready to burst at the seams due to my saving what might be useful someday."
5. What do you most want people to know about your chosen methods of creativity?
That they can do it too! I beleive that everyone is creative. Sometimes people just have not given themselves permission to try something new to themselves. I do not feel I necessarily have a chsen method of creativity. I just have a lack of fear to try. One should just go for it. Perhaps because I have not taken formal art training and do not know "art rules" I have more freedom. I do what I like and what makes me happy. I use what I can find to use. If I do not have a certain product or medium on hand I try to figure out how to acheive what I want with what I have. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But I have tried--and through the process have learned and grown.
I would love to have you join in the game. The rules and instructions for the interview game are below my interview.
Here are the questions Carol asked me and my replies.
1. When did you begin to make Art Dolls?
When I quit doing craft shows and got a "regular" job, I promised myself I would make items to express myself and challenge me to grow creatively.. I beleive that is when I began to create art dolls. When" the winter of 2002-2003.
2. What material(s) do you use to make your doll faces and how do these faces evolve?
The materials vary from doll to doll. I began doing needle-sculpture, then branched out to polymer clay, next paper clays and papier mache. Most recently I have created needle-felted faces. Oh and this last week I painted a face on canvas (first painting ever!) But I guess because of my sculpting, I did not like what a brush did so i ended up painting with my fingers!. Yep! I finger-painted on canvas. I did use a brush for the hair, eyebrows and to line the eyes.
This was a double question. How do the faces evolve. I always start with the nose. Then the mouth and then the eyes. The fun begins when I get to add all the wrinkles. That is when the character becomes "alive" to me!
3. Explain how living in different states and countries has influenced your creative life.
When I began making items for craft shows here in central New York State, a rural-state-of-mind area, I was oft advised to tone it down. I love glitz and glitter (could it be from growing up in Las Vegas?). I am not crazy about pastels. Instead I love warm to hot earth tones and jewel tones (California's influence?) Greens in all shades except light and pastel greens, are one of my most favorite colors (perhaps influenced by the thick, vigorous vegetation in Okinawa, the Oregon and Virginian coasts?)
I have always loved studying faces. the ones that interest me the most have weathered skin with lots of lines. I find myself studying peoples faces wherever I am. The different ethnic characteristics of the faces of people wherever I have lived turns up in my work. I do not create from photos or models but from the faces of my eyes' memories.
Some of the costumes I create for my dolls and the combinations of colors and prints are influenced by what I have seen where I have lived.
4. "Going Green" ~ is that something new to you? And how has recycling effected your creativity?
I have always used what I had on hand whenever possible. I never thought of it as recycling,I was just finding a way to create without having to buy anything. People have often shook their heads and grinned when learning the components of what I have made. I think it stems from having little (if any) funds for crafting. My Mom would always say "Find something you can use instead."
It has however created a problem of not knowing what to throw away. After all I might be able to use almost anything for something someday. My poor walls now are ready to burst at the seams due to my saving what might be useful someday."
5. What do you most want people to know about your chosen methods of creativity?
That they can do it too! I beleive that everyone is creative. Sometimes people just have not given themselves permission to try something new to themselves. I do not feel I necessarily have a chsen method of creativity. I just have a lack of fear to try. One should just go for it. Perhaps because I have not taken formal art training and do not know "art rules" I have more freedom. I do what I like and what makes me happy. I use what I can find to use. If I do not have a certain product or medium on hand I try to figure out how to acheive what I want with what I have. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But I have tried--and through the process have learned and grown.
interview game for bloggers
"THE INTERVIEW RULES
* leave me a comment with your email address saying: “interview me”
* I will e-mail you five questions of my choice
* you can then answer the questions on your blog {with a link back to
my blog}
* you should also post these rules, along with an offer to interview
anyone else who emails you, wanting to be interviewed
* anyone who asks to be interviewed should be sent 5 questions to
answer on their blog
* it would be nice if the questions were individualized for each
blogger"
* leave me a comment with your email address saying: “interview me”
* I will e-mail you five questions of my choice
* you can then answer the questions on your blog {with a link back to
my blog}
* you should also post these rules, along with an offer to interview
anyone else who emails you, wanting to be interviewed
* anyone who asks to be interviewed should be sent 5 questions to
answer on their blog
* it would be nice if the questions were individualized for each
blogger"
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
3 Potted Ladies
I created 3 Potted Ladies for the Rome Main Street Alliance( Rome, NY). 12 artists were selected to create a work of art upon a resin 18 inch planter. The pots will be offered through a silent auction during the summer of 2009.
There are 3 separated and distinct faces on the pot. The above cllage shows them from many different angles.
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