Rainy Day

It's a rainy day here in Piedmont South Carolina.
My husband tells me that it is cold outside as well...
I wouldn't personally know since I haven't stepped outside the house today.
I've been inside, in the studio.
Busy as a bee.
Working on wayyy too many things at once.
Here is a sampling... Doodling, working out the kinks on a new technique for a collaborative project and another book cover.
Oh, two books.
I am working on a black/white and a touch of red book.
And "The Green Fan (Girl from Toledo, Spain) (Robert Henri 1912) book.
Jeesh - that's not the name of the book,
just the painting (printed on fabric) that I put on the cover.



It's one of my favorite paintings.
It is on display at Gibbs Art Museum in one of my favorite cities - Charleston SC.
The museum owns the painting so it's on permanent display there.
It is just breath taking.
So if you're planning a visit to historic Charleston,
head over to the Gibbs.
You won't regret it.

Studio Time

I spent some time in the studio,
doing what my friend Laura said to do ("Now, go make something.").
I've been merrily making books,
sometimes working on three or four at the same time.
I do that a lot...work on several things at a time.
My photos loaded backwards to what I thought they would.
Imagine that.

This small book (4 1/2"w x 5 1/2"h) has a lot of vintage lace,
my illustrations (inside and out) and the words
"To Thine Own Self Be True"
and
"Fight".

I added a row of beads down the spine on this one

as well as a beaded trim on the front cover.

I love the blue beads.

When I added the word "fight",

I was thinking about how we have to fight everyday to protect who we are.

How we have to fight for our personal freedom.

How we have to fight to BE.

To Be Who We Are.

A Give Away!

Run over to my friend Liz Kettle's blog for a great give away!

Happy Thanksgiving America!

Studio Time

I have a studio guest coming today.
The last few days have been spent in mad preparation...
or more commonly know as "the mad dash for cleaning out the stash".
I'll leave you with a quick photo of what else I've been doing while spending time in the studio.

Botticelli

I've been working on making mixed media books
but took a break yesterday evening to do a little drawing.


I'm captivated by the paintings of Sandro Botticelli.
Especially "The Birth of Venus".

Hopefully, I'll get a bit of free time today

to begin painting my interpretation of the goddess Venus.

Local Artist Community

Oh wait - wrong photo...

But this could be the local artists!

I am making a true effort to get out of my (self-imposed) little cocoon
at my home studio and get to know the artists that live in the upstate of SC.
Greenville has quite a few really talented artists
that are a lot of fun to hang out with as well.
We share inspiration, ideas and sweet lunch spots too.

If you're like me and tend to create your artwork in solitude,
you should make a point of getting out a little.
The weather here is cooling off a bit (low to mid 60's)
and it's perfect to sit outside a cafe while you sip on a cup of coffee or tea...
and talk art, inspiration and techniques with your art buddies.
It's another great way to support the local art scene -
by making friends and getting to know each other.

A Stellar Day

I am a winner!

Deryn Mentock, of the awesome blog "Something Sublime", posted a giveaway there a few days ago.

I left a comment on her blog and my number was one of the winners.

How awesome is that?!

I can't wait to get the goody bag that she will be mailing out.

What a great day this has been!

I completed the paper work for the retreat classes that I am teaching in Colorado Springs (Textile Evolution) next year, completed another hand bound book and wrote up class notes for both.

My son (away at art school) called to just say "hello".

My handsome husband fixed a wonderful dinner for the both of us.

Top that off with winning the cool goodies from Deryn and my day has be Stellar.

New Books, new class

I'm working on new books today.
I started three smaller covers last night
and, in a flurry of inspiration, I made five signatures as well.
I'm working on a new book making class - one that can be made in one day.

Easy peasy.

These are in the process of drying.

we all should do that you know...

Overcome all obstacles...

Sewing on fabric, paper and acrylic mediums.

I love adding bits and pieces to my book pages.

I love mixing this and that and making it into a cohesive piece of art.

I just love creating things, don't you?

Completed book project!

Do any of you have WIP that you've had sitting around for a longggg time?

Boy I sure do.

I had this book project, one that I just adored, just sitting there, waiting to be finished.
I guess it was last year
(wow, where does time go?!)
that I traveled to Alabama
to take a workshop (or two) from DJ Pettitt.
A book making/painting class.
I also took one with DJ and Deryn Mentock but
today I'm just talking about the book making class.
I started it in class but put it down when I got home.
I wasn't even going to finish it...
because the painting on the front was from a sketch that DJ had done.
I wanted the entire book to be "mine"...my artwork.
And , in my own defense, it is my painting but...

you know what I mean...
right?

I later changed my mind.

(imagine that)

I realized that I had put a lot of effort, time and money into the cover.

(this long story is getting longer, isn't it?)

I'll stop there and just show you the book,
how about that?

The cover is completely water proof...

very durable...

you can sew on it, paint on it...

wonderfully soft and flexible too.

All those beautiful carved beads on the spine...along with a vintage doily that my grandmother made (and I dyed!).

I have sewn five thick and yummy signatures into the book.

Lots of textured pages...

with lace, old linens and my grandmothers fabric left overs.

I've included signature wraps with collage work from my paintings, as well as a couple of DJ's post cards.

A little bit of reverse applique as well...

So, there you have it.

One more WIP off my worktable (and my list).

What next?!

Studio Table

I'm looking over the items on my studio table today...
and noticed that I keep a couple of things on it that I have artwork planned for -
I just can't seem to get to it.
When I have the time - I have no energy.
When I have the energy, I have no time...
Do any of you ever find this to be your problem as well?

Here's one -
Look at the right of the walnut shell.
It's a tiny vial (measures about an inch tall)
that's full of even smaller bones.
I retrieved them from an owl pellet
that a friend of mine from South Dakota (hey Judy!) sent me.
I love that little vial of bones.

And here is another favorite thing of mine.
Sand from "My beloved river".
Stored in a cup found at that same river - back when the drought was so bad around here
and Indian artifacts could be found in abundance.

So - there are a couple of photos of favorite things on my studio table.

What are your favorite things?

Painted Lady

Here she is...

all finished.

"Our Lady of Guadalupe"

acrylic, watercolor, wax pastels, molding paste

on 5"x7" canvas panel

Weekend Sketching

Working on a new face while riding in the car this weekend.