Goodbye Charlie

This morning I was working in the Studio in my prayer journal on the 23rd Psalm piece "Even tho I walk through the valley" when my husband came in to tell me our old cat Charlie had been hit by a car and was dead on the side of the road. I slipped into the valley. I was crushed. We have several cats....all but Charlie and one other are indoor, but Charlie was special. He was old and scrappy and started coming around here for food a couple of years ago. Skiddish at first, but we won him over. He and our dog Pooch were fast friends. This is the only picture I have of him. I took it for a video I was doing for my online workshop "It's Okay to Play". I'm sad today and will miss my friend. Sleep easy old man.

Prayer Journal

Haven't been in my Prayer Journal in awhile but decided to get back there. I've started a new journal and my intention is to do "something" in it every morning as a meditation time. Have had a crazy year with illnesses and hardships in my family and among friends so guess that is why the 23rd Psalm was on my mind today. "Even tho I walk through the valley". And even though I have and I do, I know that my Lord is with me always. His grace sees me through.



Owls and Lampshades

WISE OLD OWLS

I thought I was done painting owls and mushrooms. This was the rave in the 70's. I painted owls on shirts, on walls, in sketch books, on blue jeans on everything. I made them out of clay and macrame!! It was the thing. I thought it was over. Wrong. Owls are back and they are everywhere! There are even workshops in "How to Paint and Owl"!! Okay...time to recycle I guess. But I don't mind because I love Owls. They are BEAUTIFUL birds. So here I go. Wisdom. But....I refuse to do mushrooms again!!

This I did for myself. It occurred to me the other day that all my art is for someone else. Either as a gift or to sell. I decided it was time to do something for Suzi. This is an old lamp of my Mom's that I love and it sits in my studio and provides a nice soft light that I like to leave on at night. But the shade was rotten. I've seen a lot of DIY lately on doing artistsie things to lampshades, but I don't like to copy, so I thought "hmmmm...what can I do that is just me" and this was what I came up with. What better way to use up a bunch of my scrap fabrics and paper! Not to mention buttons and other pieces of "stuff". I love the way it turned out! And it is all for ..... ME!

Wonderful Gift!!

A friend of mine has a dress shop and she gets these WONDERFUL fabric swatches from people she buys from. Today she says "Do you want these? I'm just going to throw them away."

DO I WANT THEM!! I couldn't get there fast enough!!

I think this is one of the best parts of what I do....the wonderful "gifts" people give me that they have no use for and are like gold to me!! Through the years I have received so many priceless "jewels" from others. Thank you Marcia for these fabrics and thank you everyone else through the years that have contributed!

Making Fabric necklaces

Wore my new fabric necklace to Gallery Walk the other night and had a very favorable response to it and lots of requests....so....you know what I'm in the Studio doing now!! I love to figure things out. I never was good at going by other's instructions, so when I started doing this it was figure it out as you go! Each one has gotten a little easier as I figure out what works and what doesn't and what is too time consuming. I think I have a good rhythm going now so look out!! Here they come!! The fun part of the necklaces is making all the little stuff to hang off of them! Most of it I already have cause I do a lot of experimenting with fabric, paper, clay, etc. and then just stash them until I need them. Coming in handy now. My Mom and Dad, who survived the great depression always said "don't throw it away...you might need it sometime!" If you could see my studio, you'd understand!

Art Journal and Gallery Walk

If you are in my "It's Okay to Play Workshop" you will see this book in it's early stages. It is the book I decided to use for my art journal in the workshop and did several videos from this book. It is a 1931 recipe book. Just wanted to share how far it has come and it is still a work in progress.

Also a reminder for Local People of tonight's Gallery Walk! I will be featured again at Blue Moon Art Gallery AND August is a Blue Moon Month!!

COME SEE ME!!!



Fabric Jewelry

So.....first I want to say that this is not AT ALL what I had in mind when I went into the Studio today!! But somewhere between going in there tuned into my Left Brain as I was organizing getting stuff out to work on the right side of my brain decided to take over and make a Fabric necklace!!! I didn't even see it coming!! I have seen several fabric jewelry pieces lately and I guess this just shuffled up to the frontal lobe and said "Here I am. make me." So I did. It's kinda fun and I like it. Going to wear it to my Art Opening tomorrow night and see what kind of feedback I get. I'm thinking of making a few of these to go along with the Scarves in the fall.

And Finally...

"Dancing Girl"

So this is my final piece in the "Watercolor" Experiments. I used watercolor, Marker, Acrylic and collage papers in this one. The whole 9 yards!!

The Surprise for me in this piece is the Gray Background. I nevernevernever use gray. Ever. It's not a part of my artistic vocabulary......until now!! I love it!! Look at the way it enhanced this piece! And what made me do it was pure "play", experiment, asking myself "What if"!!

You will see more gray mixtures in my pieces now!

More Play Time

Experiment #2: This little piece was painted with Neopaque Acrylic thinned way down like watercolor and the background completed in Opaque Acrylic. Acrylics work well used as watercolor but not the same. You can do some blending, but not like with watercolor. I still like the effect though and the results are similar. "Cup of Tea" here for the afternoon. More to come....

Play Time!

Since I am slowing down for awhile, I decided this would be a great time to revisit watercolor!

So, I got out my watercolors and started playing.

The Image on the Left is all watercolor but when It came to the background (Right) I had to go with Acrylic. It is just very hard to get the intensity I like for the background out of watercolors. So what did I "learn" or "remember" from this experience not having worked with watercolor for about 15 years?

I remembered how much I love the way watercolors blend so well together

I had forgotten how little paint in takes to do an entire piece and how easy the cleanup is!

I had forgotten about drying time...gotta wait for one area to try before painting right up next to it.

I was surprised how well I remembered my colors and which color does what.

The interesting thing is that even though the image itself is loose, I found myself being more particular about where the paint went than I am with acrylic and other medium AND I found myself thinking "Some acrylic would be nice here, but I don't want to loose the watercolor effect"!! THAT is  my old mindset and one I fought hard to rid myself of! Therefore, I allowed the acrylic background.

Over the next few days I will share some more "Watercolor" experiments!

Having fun!





Today....

Made more scarves today, but also finished up this little piece I've been working on. This one is from Proverbs 1:9 in the Message. "Wear their (your father and mothers) counsel like flowers in your hair" I love her! I think she is precious!

I'm going to slow down on my productivity for awhile (NOT stopping) just slowing down. I have a lot of art out there right now.

This is a piece from my watercolor days. I did watercolor for about 10 years from 1987 to about 1997ish. I was a watercolor purist and it took me awhile to break out of the rut. By that I mean that I had a "phobia" about putting anything else but watercolor on my paper!! I think I have more than overcome that! But I look at some of the work I did back then and wonder how I did it!! Was that Me? I posted this on my facebook page today and got a large response! Maybe while I'm "resting" I'll pull my watercolors out and "Play". hmmmmmm.......

New Scarves for 2012

In the Studio starting on my 2012 Scarf collection. These are handwoven on Weaving Sticks and embellished with vintage buttons and jewelry. Woven with all kinds of fabric but mostly vintage chiffon and silk scarves. Fun and Festive!! Watch my blog sUZI mADE for more information as it gets closer to fall. COME ON FALL!!!

Prints of my art

Something I haven't done in a long time is offer Prints of my art, but today, I am.

I'm offering 8" x 10" prints of some of my recent work that is on ETSY. Below are the pieces available in print. I'm excited about being able to offer these because I know how hard it is for everyone to have an original.

It will be Scarf time soon!

Time to start thinking about making my scarves. Fall will be here before we know it and I can't wait! It's been and still is a rough summer. This is one I made last year. They were very well received so think I'll do it again! Need to take a breather from my 2-D art for awhile. I've been on a roll lately and don't want to get stagnant. I have one more Proverb piece in progress and then I'm going to the Scarves! (Is that kinda like "going to the Mattresses"?)

A Lesson in Proverbs

I love when an image comes to me from scripture. Today I was reading in Proverbs from THE MESSAGE and this was what I read.

"Pay close attention friend to what your Father tells you;

Never forget what you learned at your Mother's knee" Proverbs 1:8

This image instantly came to mind so I made a quick sketch and off to the studio I went with it.

This lesson is all about not following behind people who are not doing the right thing, trouble makers, bad companions. Remember how you were raised and what you were taught when it comes to that. A good lesson!

This piece is on ETSY

More from the Studio

 "Kingdom by the Sea"

"Preening in the Garden"

Having fun in the Studio just drawing and painting until I see the image! What a fun way to create! These are on Etsy and I'm soon going to be offering prints. I realize not everyone can afford an original but ahhhhh....there is nothing like the texture and vibrancy of an original piece of art work!!



Flowers for My Dinner Table

 I reached a "pause" moment in my pieces I've been creating for my art Exhibit, so now have some time to create some small mixed media pieces for Etsy. Today....this one. "Flowers for my Dinner Table". Dog images are something new for me. I have 6 indoor cats and 2 outdoor cats and have LOTS of inspiration for those, but never around dogs enough to learn their personality. Well....not any more!! We are the proud owners of a wonderful young puppy named "Pooch" who came to our door beaten and with his ribs and hip bones showing!! BROKE MY HEART!! So.....now he is our dog and believe me...I am learning about Dog personalities!! Especially puppies.

Go to my Etsy site to see this image.

Meet "Pooch". With one of the many "gifts" he brings to our back door!!

And of course, I can't finish this blog without introducing "Chunkie" .... the studio supervisor.

My Studio Cat "Chunkie"

USING THE EMBELLISHER

Today I worked on the Video I will show in my workshop about using the Embellisher. It's a wonderful Machine that you can needle felt with and has all kinds of possibilities. I've been exploring the use of fabrics in my collage art for some time now and this is one of the tools I've been using.

The figure in the piece below was made using this wonderful tool and I am happy to be able to set aside a little time in this Art Journaling workshop to introduce it.

"If you ask MY opinion"



CLEANING OUT

Cleaned out a long forgotten corner of my Studio today and found all kinds of treasures!! These are my pieces I did in a Design Class back in the 90's!! That was a fun class and challenging. Taught by my friend Thad Flenniken. Found some old paintings from back in the 80's which I WILL NOT show here!! Arghhhhh!! Good to see how well I have progressed though!

Dancing Duo

Playing around in my studio today, a little paint here a little paint there, nothing in mind and then the duo began to appear. This is the way I create. I just paint and draw randomly until the image starts to appear and then I cultivate it. Decided to cut these guys out and pin them up on my "Inspiration Door". Inspiration is something I encourage and talk a lot about in the workshop. I believe that is where it all begins. Just having fun!! Life is too short not to!

Free Motion Stitching

Worked on a short Video for the Workshop today. This is a little demo on free motion stitching and how you can use it in your art work. Yes...on paper! Stitching adds so much to my pieces. Just want to share. I'm also going to be showing a little bit about one way to use an embelisher (or felting machine) whichever you want to call it. I have found some great ways to use it in my art. These are just a few of the many tools I am demonstrating in my workshop "It's Okay to Play".

The piece here is "Let's Go fishing"

Fairies in the Garden

A friend of mine on facebook posted a photo of her two little girls in fairy wings and dresses and in the garden blowing kisses. It was just screaming at me to do a little painting! I had to quiet the screaming :)

Birthday Girl

My friend Mindy Lacefield's Birthday today. I went into the studio to work and opened my art journal and could hear this little voice saying..."let me out. i want to wish mindy a happy birthday" so I went to work and found her and here she is. Birthday Girl. Happy Birthday Mindy!

But it is also my son's birthday so I have to say Happy Birthday to Mark too!! He is my Baby...42 today!!!

VISITOR

So....today I'm in my Studio and this guy came to visit!! I had no idea he was coming and I didn't even hear him but all of a sudden, as I was painting, THERE he was!! Sigh....I just can't get anything done with all these visitors....

EXHIBIT AT BLUE MOON GALLERY

Photos of my show last night at Blue Moon Art Gallery. The place was packed and we had a great time!! Took these before it opened which is a good thing. Sales were good and I so enjoyed seeing everyone and visiting! When I was a teenager I remember how I used to love to go to the county fair....to ride the rides, yes..but most of all to see all the people I had not seen since the year before!! That is kind of what this reminds me of. A good time to see old friends and meet new ones and visit! LOVE IT!! And loving my life as an artist and loving sharing it with you.

Flowers from my daughter and son-in-law <3



Chill and Play Awhile

This is what I LOVE about Art Journaling. Today in the Studio I was working on a piece for my August Show and it was pretty intense. I wanted it to be just right and it was starting to look "not right" to me. Too much "thinking", so I put it away and got out my Art Journal and just started playing, loosening up, not caring or focusing and did this FUN and stress free little piece. "Bye Bye" and when I had relaxed and gotten my eyes and mind off of the other piece, I went back and looked at it and there was nothing wrong with it!! Except for finishing touches it is a terrific piece I will be proud to display. LOVE my Art Journal!!!

In the Studio

Working in my Studio. My exhibit for July and August opens this Friday night, July 6th, at Blue Moon Art Gallery in Hot Springs, Ar. It is from 5pm - 9pm so if you are near by please come. I also have the show posted on my webblog sUZI mADE which you can go to on the tab at the top of this page. I have that show ready but am working on new pieces for the August Gallery Walk. Want to keep it fresh!!

Sneak Peek

A "Sneak Peek" at the workshop "It's Okay to Play". Finished Art Journal piece from yesterday but the fun part was how I got to this point!! I am having so much fun putting this workshop together and learning and re-learning a lot myself!! When the teacher stops learning then something is wrong.

yesterday's "abstract"

"BUNNY RAID"

Remember yesterday's "Abstract"?? Well...this is what came out of that!! I will be teaching in my workshop, "It's Okay to Play",  how to find images out of other images. It's a lot of fun and you never know what is going to happen! I just was SO excited when I looked at my "abstract" and found these guys!! That is what Creativity is all about!