Thursday, February 26, 2009

Vision Board - "Gravitate Towards" Story

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I found the four vintage images above in one of the pull-out sections in a Somerset Studio-Mixed Media magazine tonight and decided to use them as backgrounds to create a series of collages. My partner and I are beginning to create a Vision Board (more on that later). They are sequenced in order and address some of my goals this year ...plus.
Below - who else - after I scanned my collages - well, Mr. Byron arrived on the scene...

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Altered Art Obsession - A Book of Hearts

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Above by Teri Valequez
Above - All 9 5x5's
(Thanks to Cindy -"Lunagraphica" for the above photos)
One of AAO's efficient hosts, Tejae coordinated an Altered Heart Project this month with nine of us participating. My heartfelt thanks to the participants -

Tejae Floyd

Martha Brown

Deb Patrick

Priscilla Schrock

Dara Loffland

Kathy Cora

Cindy Couling

Teri Velaequez

The follow up to this project was to display the 5x5 squares. I decided to make them into a book. I chose Deb Patrick's beautiful square as the cover. Here are a few photos:

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HTML Color Code Chart (click on the chart to enlarge)
This week's class is all about color. I've added links to recommended websites on color on the sidebar of this blog if you're curious to explore color theory in greater detail. Our exercises (posted above) were:
1) to pick a complementary color pair and make a chart of the two colors of how they appear next to each other, adjusting them for light, coolness (adding blue) and warmth (adding red)
2) Using this same pair, create an representational or abstract composition three ways by varying the percentage of each of the two colors.
I've also added in an HTML color code chart that is a good resource for bloggers who would like to adjust their background colors, outlines or font colors apart from those displayed in the Blogger template. Above, my final submission for our first major project on Abstract Representation. This piece is meant to convey my experience of composing a photograph. I incorporated 2 photographs (one, a sunset and the other a snapshot of my partner's hands) and one drawing (the mechanical black and white) into it and then adjusted it digitally.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Lucky Me!!!

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I am patiently waiting for the arrival of my WONDERFUL prize from the One World One Heart Blog Extravaganza. The artist - Tammy - she is tres talented and her blog can be accessed by clicking here. Check it out - you won't be disappointed.

My Favorite Postcard from Nick Bantock (June 2007)

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Idea for a Blog Background

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If you have wanted a background for your blog, but can't decide what you would like illustrated - I have a simple solution. Find one of your favorite pieces of artwork and use it to customize your own background. What better way to reflect your art blog ?
The Fiddle and Drum has personal significance to me because I have been a Joni Mitchell fan for as long as I can remember. Attending her production brought back so many good memories, I decided to use the art I created as a result of my recent experience to create a background.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Flashback - "Making Do" Collage

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Another collage I did this past week. I had 9 hours of being a passenger to and from Edmonton and brought along, what else? ...a National Geographic magazine, scissors, glue and a few other images from Dover. It was quite a challenge for me to try to put together a collage with only one magazine to use, but a good exercise in 'making do'.

The Fiddle and Drum

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I had the opportunity to see Joni Mitchell's The Fiddle and Drum production at the Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton, Alberta this past Saturday. This is a collage I did reflecting on the choreography, dance (Alberta Ballet Company) and music.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Please Spread the Word - 2 spots open - Nick Bantock in Spain

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Two spots have just opened up for Nick Bantock's workshop in SPAIN - May 1-9th, 2009
If you are interested, or know someone who might be and/or for more information, please visit his website at http://www.nickbantock.com/

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Sunday's Snow Prints

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Saturday, February 14, 2009

The Sun Left a Heart For Me Today.....

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Today's Show and Tell - Talisman

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n. pl. tal·is·mans 1. An object marked with magic signs and believed to confer on its bearer supernatural powers or protection. 2. Something that apparently has magic power.
This is a "souvenir" I made today for the Magical Mystery Tour project. I can't say who it's going to, because that would ruin the surprise. It has a secret compartment in the back (see Image 3 - side view) that opens to reveal....another secret. shhhh... don't tell!

Friday, February 13, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day From Eleanor

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More abstraction on my Major Studio Project.....

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Phew....today, I really tried to go 'outside the box' with my major project for my studio art class at Emily Carr U. I suspect I've almost entirely lost perspective on this project and can approximate only the numbers of hours I've spent - must be close to 40. I never appreciated how challenging abstracting an experience could be. This is supposed to be and I should emphasis, SUPPOSE TO BE" my abstract representation of my experience of taking a photograph.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

One World One Heart Winners

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It's official !!!!!!!! and...... the winners are (drumroll please) (press on their names to be directed to their blogs) For the Bracelet - Heidi G. of My Hiding Place in Cyberspace

For the Blog Banner and Background - Sandra Evertson Thank you to everyone who entered. I've not yet had the chance to visit even one quarter of the wonderful blogs that were a part of this very popular event. But...I have the links! AND, a big thanks to Lisa for organizing!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Red Dog Scott's "Byron" visits The Isles of Morpharchengigel

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Below is a project I am working on with five other delightful artists, through our Yahoo Group, The Recollection Parlor. I've blogged and blogged about it before, so I won't repeat myself...
If you've glanced at my earlier posts, you'll notice some definite similarities betweeen them and this one. Part of what forms the background in this envelope is a major project I am doing for my Emily Carr studio class. So way, way, way back in the background is a photograph I took of a sunset here as well as a snapshot of my partner's hands! Both very morphed at this point! I mucked around with it some more today to create what you see. Then printed it on to canvas and fitted it to the envelope. It has a great feel to it now (better than paper and sturdy!) I still have a few elements left to add....as usual! Byron is hiding underneath the row of feathers, so the photo above is Byron...unplugged. Red loves leaves (or I hope she still does!) so I added in a few. There's also a small feather from my beloved, departed Northern Flicker.
The envelope books we are using are from 7 Gypsies and you can take a look at everyone's work from January and their covers at "The Parlor" by clicking here.
Back Closed Back Open
Front Closed
Front with Flap

Monday, February 09, 2009

Mr. Byron - Soul Seeker

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“There is a road from the eye to heart that does not go through the intellect.” - Chesterton

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Disintegration Collaboration - Paper Bundle Installment Complete!

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Above, 3 views of my 'paper bundle' for The Altered Page project (see previous blog post.) I decided to add some rusted mesh (to see what effect it may leave on the paper) and a twig for birds to perch on in case they want to use some of the paper to make their nests.

Prayer Flags

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Today, I was roaming the backyard considering where I might 'install' the bundle of papers to participate in The Altered Page's (Seth) project - The Disintegration Collaboration.
Instructions:
"Create a paper bundle, any way you like. Place said bundle in nature. Post a "before" picture on your blog. Watch and Wait. It is that simple. Each artist will then reveal the result in an "after" picture posted on their own blog on May 1. " Great plan!
Pictured above is a string of Tibetan prayer flags I had hung outside less than one year ago. I live in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada - known for being one of the, if not, the windiest city in Canada. It is a regular host to chinooks, which can often blow planes out of the air or overturn semi-trucks on highways.
Our summers are hot and very dry - considered a semi-desert climate, as evinced by the cacti and rattlesnakes! Although the after photo is due May 1 so I'm not counting on much heat before then. But, I've no doubt, based on the shape of these flags, the wind will each leave their mark on my bundle.

Friday, February 06, 2009

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"Abstraction allows man to see with his mind what he cannot physically see with his eyes. . . . Abstract art enables the artist to perceive beyond the tangible, to extract the infinite out of the finite. It is the emancipation of the mind. It is an explosion into unknown areas." Arshile Gorky (1904-1948), Armenian-born American Abstract Expressionist painter.

This week marked the announcement of our first major project - Abstract Representation. It's been a challenge for me to think in terms of how I will accomplish an 'abstraction'. Our subject choices are: 1) a sport of activity, 2) a piece of music or 3) interaction with technology. I've chosen 'technology' and more specifically - my 'experience of snapping a photograph.' Sigh. I thought I was getting somewhere and yet when I reviewed my Several drafts, I still am not satisfied enough to dive out of what I have created digitally into painting. Below is a summary of my drafts so far, along with a larger photograph of my partner's hands! Let me explain. At one point, I had thought I would include somehow an image of hands framing a 'scene'...that's where his hands came in.... Writing about my understanding of this project here, will probably motivate me to understand it better and (knock on wood) I will improve upon my brainstorming thus far!

This morning (Feb 7) I changed direction to this image above in an effort to reintegrate the mechancial element of a camera as well as the 'organic' (ie. me!) back in. The sky is also a photograph I took and I think helped me to reconnect with the experience of composing and photographing it.

Above is the result of a 2 hour exercise this week in "reduction". It started with taking a black and white photograph, and with tracing papers outline the vertical, horizontal, diagonal, circular lines and finally the 'solid areas in different values.' Then place them on top of each other and compose another sketch choosing lines. Finally, crop it and use one color for your final example. I decided to use the shutter mechanics since I had planned to draw them for my final abstraction assignment. My most recent draft is photographed below.