Sunday, March 29, 2009

Stand by me

Playing For Change: Song Around the World "Stand By Me"

Here's a lovely rockin' little tune. It's got kind of a hippie dippy vibe. I like it!

Friday, March 27, 2009

BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH

This was one of the first pieces I ever completed using the mixed media techniques I learned in the Kathleen Conover workshop at the Franciscan Center. It's never been framed and now I actually think it could benefit from some reworking. It's on the list of things to do after I get back on my feet. Ten more days of this cart and then weeks of limping in the boot. But I'm almost there!!

MONTE CARLO TULIPS


It's almost time to see these outside! For now we're happy to see purple, yellow and lavender crocus.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

How true

Computers are like Old Testament gods; lots of rules and no mercy.” Joseph Campbell

I heard this on today's Writer's Almanac.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Photo play



I've been playing with some photos of reflections taken awhile back. I'm being artistic digitally rather than in my studio. I'm still a couple weeks from healing enough to be back in there.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Susan Cornelis

I'm spending more time in my convelescence looking at things online than creating my own work, but that is appropriate. A good time of lying fallow and preparing for a time of growth . Here's a youtube demo by an artist I just added to my links. Her huisband is also an artist and I've added his blog too. They seem like friends I haven't met yet.

Soul Sketching - Nature Collage with Image Transfer
Demonstration of a contemplative art piece using natural materials of tea, feathers and wood shavings along with acrylic paint and image gel transfer.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Elizabeth Gilbert author of eat, pray, love

Elizabeth Gilbert has an amazing 20 minute talk about creativity. Well worth the time to listen. I had never heard of TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) but found this link on someone else's blog and I'm looking forward to listening to some of the others.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86x-u-tz0MA

Whew!

Watch this guy paint!! I can't wait to paint BIG again! Great to be able to watch someone else do it! His name is Svein Koningen and he's from Norway and painting in Austria.

SHENANDOAH WILDFLOWERS

I'm still not able to get into the studio and work. I've done some sketches and have a series in mind. But in the mean time, I'm blowing the dust off another one from 2004. It's a particualr favorite of mine. This painting lives with my niece in Minnesota.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Episcopal Church Visual Arts online show

I'm honored to have a piece included in the ECVA online show. It's a wonderful show to look through. My piece is here.

A LANDSCAPE FOR RUTH

A painting for Ruth, DONE IN 2004. This is a huge oil and hangs in my friend Ruth's living room.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Problemsolving

My brain hurts from trying to figure out how to accomplish on the computer what my mind KNOWS is possible. It took me a while and working in three different programs and remembering bits and pieces of other struggles but here it is. Doesn't look hard, does it?

We are having an Art Auction at our church to raise funds to build a school building in Sierra Leone. This logo will go at the top of each label and I'll use it in other signage for the show. I wanted the labels to be eyecatching and distinctive and the reason for the show evident. Whew! I think I did it. Time to go eat some Wheaties!

Friday, March 20, 2009

DREAM VISION

Another oldie- pre 2004. It's a collage that I think may be getting a few new layers soon. First I'll play with it on Photoshop.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

BLUE TWILIGHT

Another oldie (1998)- my husband loves this one and it hangs over our computer.

I'm a week into recovery from my last, and I do mean last, foot surgery. Right foot, now left foot and I should be ready to put on two shoes and walk normally by the end of April, Lord willing. My great toe joints are fused and I should be able to exercise without the pain I've lived with for years.

Almost ready to be able to paint again and there's blue in my future. I just bought a BIG tube of UltramarineBlue and a medium tube of Cobalt (expensive)!!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

ONEKAMA AUGUST


This painting hangs in the Trunk House at Camp Tosebo.

PURPLE SUNSET

This is another cloudscape inspired during travel. This is a golden oldie- maybe is a purpley oldie!

Monday, March 09, 2009

SPRING SKY


This painting now lives in Colorado. It was inspired by a spring drive from Grand Rapids to Lansing to see our daughter.

Saturday, March 07, 2009

Mrs. Tolsma

Mrs Tolsma was my 6th grade teacher. She just celebrated her 104th birthday. Bess and her husband Richard spent many years in service at Timothy Christian School in Chicago. She taught 6th grade and he was the principal. She was also my sister Sue's 6th grade teacher. Here we are visiting her last year (in a photo I took holding my digital camera at arm's length).

She's still as sharp as ever and uses the computer!
If you see this Mrs. Tolsma, I LOVE YOU!
She remembers when I sat right next to her desk and one day passed her a note that said "I HATE YOU". (Who knows why) Without missing a beat she wrote "but I love you" and passed it back to me. That's the kind of teacher she was. She still remembers stories about many of her students. What fun to visit with her. My friend Carol and I visited her this week, but I forgot my camera.

Blessings on you, Mrs. Tolsma. Thanks for all you did for me.

Proverbs 3:5-6


These are words of assurance for me, especially considering how convoluted the paths of life can get. I'm off to the gallery for the last time for a while. Wednesday is the day for my second foot surgery- on my left foot this time. I'm just glad I'm not a spider!! If all goes well, I should be back in shoes by the time the tulips are blooming!

I'm working on painting some little seascapes at the gallery and will post some as soon as they are finished.

Friday, March 06, 2009

ROMANS 15:13


This is another verse that was suggested to become a rock. Abounding in hope is eomething that is very relevant right now!

Thursday, March 05, 2009

Deuteronomy 31:8


It's amazing how many times in the Bible this message comes through with minor variations.

Especially in these challenging economic times, these are good words. I've been doing these FAITH ROCKS! for well over ten years. I originally did them on USPS postcards and sent them off through the mail weekly to people who had long term illnesses. Now I have them printed. I sell them for $10 for 12 cards at Fire and Water ART! in Lowell. If you type FAITH ROCKS in the search bar in the upper left, you'll find all my rock posts.

I'd like to say this was an original thought, but I got the idea from Millbrook Christian School. The teachers had written their favorite verse on 12"x18" neutral colored papers and had then posted on the wall by the office as a 'rock wall of promises'. It stopped me in my tracks. I added the watercolor and melted watercolor marker twist. GOD is our ROCK!

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

MY KITCHEN WHEN IT WAS BLUE

This is an oil painting I did probably 15 years ago when I took a class with Dick Stien. I liked it because I was able to paint some areas quickly and not overwork them and I pushed the color scheme past reality. My 3 year old grand niece came to visit and sat at the table to have a snack, looked at the painting and said "Oh, that's a picture of your kitchen when it was blue". Yep, out of the mouths of babes!

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Art video

Art
Music video for Tanya Davis' song Art by Andrea Dorfman



I found this on my friend Robin's blog. It's sweet, clever and profound at the same time.

Monday, March 02, 2009

I Samuel 7:12

This is a new Faith Rock postcard. The verse was suggested by someone for a person in her church. It's drawn and painted but also Photo Shopped (on the computer). It got me working on a new group of cards to add to the ones I've marketed in my space at Fire and Water ART!