Mixed Media Artist

I got the book Digital Photo Art by Theresa Airey recently and have really been enjoying her insights on combining both traditional and digital techniques to totally transform photo images. Here's a excerpt from the book. I think it's an excellent observation to keep in mind as I wander outside today to take pictures... "Have you ever noticed that when you're preparing to make a purchase, whether it's a new car, new carpet, or a new home, you become very attuned to advertisements, billboards, radio ads, etc., that speak to your field of purchase? You fill your mind with certain visuals as you pre-plan your purchase, and your sub-conscious mills over your inner desire unbeknownst to your conscious self. There were no more red Hondas on the road this week than there were the week prior but, suddenly in the market for a red Honda, you see them everywhere! You have that car shape and color in your mind, so you are more attuned to their presence than you would be ot

Margaret, are you grieving? I've always liked Gerard Manley Hopkins's poem, and I realized a couple of days ago that I was calling this little girl Margaret. The rest is history. The fabric collage was quilted and embellished with lots and lots of beads, and then finally she was nestled into a heavily collaged and painted paper "frame". Technorati Tags: mixed media , collage , assemblage

Now this is more like it! She's about half done as far as embellishment goes, and I am very very happy. This is all fabric and quilt batting, but she'll be placed inside a larger collaged paper frame when the beading is done. Technorati Tags: mixed media , collage , assemblage

Here's the next little image that I'm going to build a collage around! I learned a very valuable lesson through the advice and feedback of my online beading art group. As I worked on the last fabric collage, I was terribly unsettled the whole time. I liked the image, and it was fun and happy, but it just wasn't me. On the one hand, it was a good exercise to use colors that are not my favorites, in combinations that are not my favorites. But maybe...just maybe...I should have stuck to a slightly smaller size. A dear online friend whose opinion I value greatly suggested to me that there was a real split between my jewelry style and my art quilt/collage style. No problem with that, but it led me to some introspection and a certain amount of new understanding about what colors/images/styles/etc I like to work with. And how much embellishment. I felt the entire time I worked on the last piece as if I were imitating someone else rather than doing my own work! Don't g

Sunflowers This piece was made in order to answer the question, "Can a minimalist find happiness in over-embellishment?" The answer is a very definitive yes and no! On the one hand, I like this piece. It was fun to do. It's a beaded fabric collage, and it made me very happy to work on it. BUT, even though I kept telling myself to pile on the beads, add more color, more more more...I just couldn't do it. I can see where lots more beads and stuff could be added, but it is just not my style. I tried, I really really did. But this is as close as I might ever get to one of those stuffed-to-the-gills art quilts that I admire. As it is, I would have been happy enough to stop when it looked like this . Technorati Tags: mixed media , collage , assemblage

After not hearing from Nate for well over a week, we finally got the word that the new orphanage that they're building in Guatemala is still standing. The closest mudslide was only 1/4 mile away. They are still planning on moving there as soon as possible. There will probably still be displaced kids in the region when they move in, so hopefully they'll be able to help out by providing a home for at least some of them. Here's a family group of five ~ they are all being adopted by one family! Blessingson people who would open their hearts and home like that!! See this previous post to find links to reputable places to donate!

Link Don't miss the wonderful downloadable e-journal called The Bone Folder that Peter D. Verheyen makes available free on this site.

Tagline: All the laws of Murphy in one site There are laws for sewers, nurses, and fire brigades too :-)

For those who have inquired, Nate's orphanage still does not know whether the new house they were building is standing or not. It seems very minor to lose the house when so many have lost their lives, so Nate's attitude is, "Thank God we didn't already make the move!" Thank you for your prayers and inquiries. For those who are looking for reputable organizations to donate to, may I suggest the following: Doctors without Borders (Medicins sans Frontieres) Americares

Symmetry Since I'm married to a particle physicist, I think this is very cool!

A new fiber piece I just started. I'm planning on this one being highly beaded and embellished ~ a bit of a change from my series of minimalist vintage photo quilt-collages. Technorati Tags: mixed media , collage , assemblage

Another selenium experiment Technorati Tags: digital art , photography

Can you keep a secret? I posted what I thought was a finished piece a little while ago, but I was wrong. It kept calling out for just a bit more color to tie it all together, and just a few more beads. Technorati Tags: mixed media , collage , assemblage

Please pray for all the people affected by the earthquake in Pakistan and the mudslides in Central America. Particularly heavy on my heart is the entire village of Panabaj in Guatemala where everyone was lost in a slide. This is in the same region as the orphanage where my son is living. Thank you.

MOBA

Why Art?

Beowulf

I've been experimenting with color balance in my digital prints. I was aiming for an antique selenium/gold look with this one, but ended up posterizing it a bit. Even though the look is now too stylized to be authentic selenium, I still like it. The full-sized print is quite nice! Technorati Tags: digital art , photography

Can you keep a secret? A small art quilt, featuring a fabric transfer of a vintage cabinet card. The quilt combines the sun-printed fabric I did several weeks ago with old sheet music, commercial fabric, and beads. Technorati Tags: mixed media , collage , assemblage

Back row, white shirt, right in the center! Nate came home for a brief visit over the weekend. He mostly came to collect the rest of his stuff, including all his warmer clothing, to visit and to rest for a few days. Even though Guatemala is the "land of eternal springtime," it varies from late spring to early spring! He's leaving to return to the children's home tomorrow morning. He won't be able to be home for Christmas this year, but is hoping to make a slightly longer visit in late January or February. We'll miss him, but we believe that he is doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing right now.