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!

Art Show in July

Well I did my first official art show in Moose Lake Minnesota. I had just found out a few months before of the show, so never had the chance to "scope it out" the year before to see what it would be like, so I just went in head first.

What I found was quite true what people say, "go a year before and see what type of show it will be." This is good to see what type of work vendors are bringing and the crowds in the area. Well like I said I never had that chance, but I am doing it now with other shows in Minnesota.

There were a lot of crafters that may have had nice stuff, just not fine art. I did bring some of my jewelry and upcycled clothing I have made in the past (yes I wear many hats), and those did seem to sell.

I did sell a couple of my smaller collage art so I can't say I didn't sell any artwork, just would like to have sold more. But hey, it was my first official show. Here is one of the collage art that sold.

                                               "Mom, I'm Going Places" Collage 6" x 6"

 This one was inspired by my 8 year old granddaughter who wants to be a scientist someday. When I saw this picture in an old vintage book, I had to use it. At the time I did not know how I was going to incorporate it, but I knew I had to use it. It just seemed to fall into place as a lot of other things I do.

"Sing Me a Song" was another that pulled together nicely. I especially like how the postcard with the bird "fit in."

                                                   "Sing Me a Song" Collage 6" x 6"





A nice gentlemen popped in my area and stopped to look at my work. This one in particular caught his eye. I explained to him that I was just looking inside some old books when I came across this picture with these two little girls, looking like they were heading off to some new adventure with their suitcase in hand.

As I pieced this one together with an old letter, some mulberry paper, collage papers, an old book spine, a bamboo skewer, and some coffee beans, it was not until a day later I found a nice surprise.

I was looking in another book and there was this little treasure. Hand written words on a piece of paper that had been tucked in the book, someone from so long ago. It seemed to be some titles of some kind, and one said "The Two Sisters" I remember my excitement when I found this because I knew exactly where I was going to put this, in the piece with the two little girls. I love when things like this happen!

The other thing that struck me after this is that my two sisters and I love coffee. There was something telling me to put the coffee beans on this collage. At the time I didn't know why, but now it all makes sense.

I am excited to try some more collage this weekend, but we are painting the exterior of our house, and the lawn needs mowed, the laundry needs to be done etc, so somewhere I will have to squeeze some of my "therapy" in.

Throwing Paint

                           Teals and Warm Tones Abstract. Acrylic Paint on Canvas 12" x 12"

Some days I just feel like throwing paint on the canvas and wait to see what I come up with. No certain intentions, just intuition. The evening I painted this was a result of my" intuitive" side.

Did it turn like I expected it to? Maybe not, but it sure felt good to let go of the days busy schedule!

Sometimes we need to listen to our inner voice that sometimes holds us back or says "why not just let go." I find that when I paint like this, I am in the mode and nothing else really matters, well really not true......

Yesterday, another beautiful soul left us. Chester Bennington from Linkin Park. Recently Chris Cornell passed away too. I am in shock and heartbroken and at a loss for words.

When Chester sang the lyrics "in the end it doesn't even matter" in In The End, it really does matter...to me. I have direction of where I want to go in life, no matter how long it takes.

I started back my art later in life than I would like to have, but what is important is I did. Instead of saying "what if?" I am working hard at making it a reality, even at my age now.

Most of my waking moments are thinking of creating, and what I hope to achieve when I do my artwork. Many evenings I have a goal or thought in my mind of what I am going to do. Some evenings I am not so sure, I just do. As long as I create, and know I did the best I could that day, then it is ok.

Because in the end, it really does matter.