Ancient Artifact

I love the look of ancient artifacts that are an inspiration in art. I lalso ove finding rusty metal objects to incorporate into my art, and this one piece was begging for some extra attention due to the unique beauty of it.

This piece was found by my daughter while taking her Corgi for a walk. I think it may have been from a car around the tire maybe? So this was what I went with to create "something" with this piece, but before that....

I started with layering some ephemera on my wood panel. Then layering with paint and stains and stenciling with Pam Carriker's Beautiful Halo and some Seth Apter stencils. Adding more ephemera and more stains along with other textures such as mini stones and latex lace started to really build the piece.

Some of the mini stones on the bottom was a bit too much so I removed some and revealed a nice collage piece underneath. I further accented it and the top with Seth Apter and Emerald Creek embossing powders of Vintage Beeswax. I really liked how this was coming along so I added more embossing powder in Ancient Amber over the stained latex lace.

Still needing something more powerful I added one of Sandra Evertson's relic and artifacts pieces with the head piece. Staining, removing and staining more gave depth to this piece. I also at this point decided to do the same with the halo to give it cohesiveness. 

Next I stained cheesecloth to add another element to the rust piece and then applied both.

I really let the piece tell me which way to go with each step. The rust piece was a joy to work with.

2018 Brings New Changes

2018. The start of a new year and with it new goals. I still keep a hold with my current goals that I am still working on, but new positive directions are also a good thing. My eyes have been opened to uncharted roads that are somewhat new to me, but at this time in life, inviting.

Over the past couple of years I have added to my Urban Collage Dog line. I have found by looking back that those have even changed. For example my first dog Chihuahua Aiden. Notice the background, quite simple and "urbany" if that's a word.

Once useing a flowing abstract feel I am finding out I am incorporating a more linear and architectural feel to my work. Like the vertical and horizontal lines in the backgrounds of my dogs I am also using it in other more recent work. I think this still takes me back to many years ago my mom and I would go to downtown LA to browse and see what we did not normally see where we lived. Not to say I want to live in the cities as I love my rural lifestyle, but to visit once in a while would be nice.

I have noticed I have become more textural and a bit on the noisy side in the background. I noticed quite a change from my first to my most recent dog. I think the word I see is complex. I have recently been using more stamps and stencils and sometimes have a hard time saying "stop" I would usually say this is a problem, but in the case of these dogs, I think it suits them just fine.

Been prepping for this year's shows coming up. I have a lot of work to get together and I am still creating more art! Hey, I can't be all work and no play...not my style.

Here I have some urban abstract art on Yupo I created in 2017. This particular piece was done with acrylic and acrylic inks, pen and sgraffitto. Multiple layers are what I am all about and this type of work is no exception.

I love expressing through my art memories that are so precious to me. My Mom and I use to take the bus to L.A. a lot just to have a day together. We always had wonderful times going to many shops, checking out Chinatown and eating local cuisine. My urban art always brings me back to those times. I always thought so, but now I know, that is why I am so drawn to certain types of art. I long for those days now living in Minnesota seeing those places again with well weathered walls, and the immense architecture with a history behind them.

Getting ready for next years shows and gallery representation! Now over the winter months I will be mounting my dogs to wood panels as well as other abstract work done on paper.

I have to say this process takes quite some time but makes such a nice presentation and ease of hanging.

My dogs will be at Madden's Stable Gallery in spring of 2018 so if you are in the area at that time check them out!

There will a one day show in Dorset last weekend in June that I will be attending.

I will also be at the exhibit at the Nisswa show in July of 2018.

Stay tuned for upcoming events as I will post them in late spring 2018!

Autumn 2017 New Dog

I took quite a challenge creating my Chinese Crested dog. I knew it would take more time with all the hair but I fell in love with this dog once I saw them. The eyes that are somewhat hidden yet speak to the heart with so much love. The hairless body just wanting to be held. They really do need and love us. I just wish more people could see that.  Who could not love these dogs!

I have been working between my dogs and some more mixed media this fall. With a few shows coming up next year I need to get prepared! Mounting the dogs to the panels, creating more work while coming up with some new work takes quite some time, but I love what I do.

In the meantime, I keep collecting found objects whether in thrift stores or on the streets, there is always something to find if one just keeps looking. I will be posting my new work soon so stay tuned!

Recently I have been jotting down some goals that I want to achieve by the end of this year and the end of next year. One is to get my art out there in my local community. I live in an area that does not  have much appreciation for the arts. My location is much more into sports. Me not being one that is into sports puts me at a great disadvantage as I am on the other end of the spectrum of interests.

I did over the summer attend an art fair that did "ok" for my first one. I sold a couple of pieces of artwork which was good; of course would like to have sold more, but it is what it is.

I also brought these three mixed media pieces I did earlier on at a local resort art gallery. It will be for a short time as it is getting near the end of tourist season.

Mixed Media Collage 10" x 10"

Mixed Media Collage 10" x 10"

Mixed Media Collage 10" x 10"

These mixed media pieces incorporated some of my "findings" at garage sales and flea markets. Parts of old books, metal pieces, skewers, hand made papers and lots of texture to name a few of the components that went into these. 

I really like collage a lot as it really lets me express what I am feeling. I tend to like the weathered and aged look (boy I sure hope I don't resemble those two aspects)! 

A while back I started playing with Yupo and Terraskin paper. I wanted to see if there was a difference or one I liked over the other when applying acrylic paint. 

I found that I liked both! But I will say it seemed the Terraskin was more stronger to withstand my mark making. When I applied varnish both seem to warp the same but once I laid some weight on them, both came out flat.

I found I absolutely love working on either of these papers. Most of my paint was applied with a brayer, which is a plus for me, as I love the unpredictability of using a brayer and the geometric like lines I get with it. 

Some subtraction was achieved with stencils to give it even more depth. And you know how I love letters and numbers in my work!

Acrylic and Ink on Terraskin 11" x 14"

                Adding mark making with various types of pen and ink adds another dimension. 

Acrylic and Ink on Terraskin Paper 11" x 14"

                                                  Acrylic and Ink on Yupo Paper 11" x 14"

Although I love my oil and cold wax I will definitely be exploring more on both of these papers with acrylics!