t w o d r e s s e s s t u d i o

take to the air

2012-02-02T09:16:00.001-07:00

February already? No. Say it isn't so. This just may be at some level, a self-portrait as I run around, trying to organize myself to leave for a change of scenery for a few weeks. Packing. ug. It falls in the same category as d e n t i s t. Having spent years in a job that had me on planes regularly, I came to loathe having to leave home and I'm afraid I've generalized this to include packing for a vacation. And having developed a mixed media habit, it's not so much the choosing of clothes to pack as it is trying to decide which art supplies to take. I suppose digital art has its advantages as far as packing is concerned and yet, this time 'round, I'm hoping my muse may cooperate with some acrylic paint and canvases, oh and maybe some,, and ok I can fit that... well, just in case... will my new printer fit? Critical decisions...not.

Does the drill sound familiar?

Like a - with its--off Mail Art

Image Credits with thanks to

Tumble Fish Studio, CrowAbout StudioB, Holliewood Studios, K. Pertiet and

other creative commons findings

You say anatomy, I say botany....

2012-01-31T13:43:00.001-07:00

Over the past several years I've developed a love for vintage anatomical etchings/drawings and botanical drawings. Much to my delight, many are available without copyright restrictions because of their pre 1921 age.

Call me crazy (it wouldn't be the first time), but I love combining them together having first developed an attraction to this when I was introduced to some of Richard Russell's collages on Flickr.

Cuspidatus - digital collage 10 x 14 inches

Image Credits for roots - Temari 09 - Flickr

Cuspidatus - V2
Background thanks to Tumble Fish Studio - And So On

Sternum - digital illustration

Image Credits for background - Finecrafted Design, Flowers - Holliewood Studios

Ileum - digital illustration

Image Credits - Flowers - Holliewood Studios

Joy

2012-01-26T20:17:00.001-07:00

I have Linda Kunsman to thank for the inspiration in creating this digital turned to cloth collage. She asked for something with "happy" colors and "joy". I think it reflects 'cheery' so I've decided to put it in a frame (similar to below) and hang it in my studio to remind me of those days where I occasionally feel like I need a boost!

"Joy" - digital illustration 6 x 6 inches

Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio,Finecrafted Designs and V. Stegall (tulip)

Although it's difficult to see I added 3 layers of organza in the sky and one foot, beaded and embroiderered and finished with a blanket stitch with my baker's twine. I love this twine!

"Pack and Post" Etsy Baker's Twine

I used it to trim some of my presents for Christmas and just ordered more. You can purchase it at Pack and Post on Etsy by clicking the photo above or here.

"Joy" 4 x 4 inch cloth mixed media

for Linda K.

Great 'new to me' tags - birch wood 'burnt' engraved mini tags at Art Chix - here Be sure

to tell Helga I sent you!

And last but not least, MORE Joy!

I was so delighted to receive this for Christmas in December from Marsha from Tumble Fish Studio as a gift for being a member of her Creative Team. Isn't it adorable? Just a very thoughtful person, that Marsha! She had these wonderful wooden 'house' mixed media charms custom made by Angela Woods of Junk Garden

Junk Garden Wooden House Charms custom

order with Tumble Fish Studio images, made by Angela Wood

Thanks as always for your visit and comments!

"Cake" , The Cannibal

2012-01-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

When good cakes go bad....

"Cake", The Cannibal

for the Make It Interesting Challenge #3

Image Credits -

Tumble Fish Studio, Holliewood Studios, Finecrafted Designs,

Clementine Design, Lorie Davison, Cliff

Starter Image:

Image provided by Cliff

Lady in Red - Before and After x 2 with downloadable 'starter image' plus invite to play along!

2012-01-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

Here's an opportunity to challenge yourself to create an image using the original (see last photograph) of a painting without attribution from Vintage Graphics! If you create something, I'd love to see it and will add it to this post! Also, if you know who the artist is who painting this, I'd love to know that too!

Lady in Red Version 2

Image Credits - Vintage Graphics, Lorie Davison, V. Stegall

Lady in Red Version 1

Image Credits - as per V2

Painting without Attribution from Vintage Graphics (no copyright restrictions)

Right Click and Choose SAVE AS

Flickr - Make It Interesting Challenges - Why Not Join In?

2012-01-19T13:24:00.003-07:00

Fishmist - digital illustration

Image Credits below

Which Way?

Image credits below

Image Credits below

This afternoon I thought I'd take a quick break to share with you a new group I've been participating in over the past week or so and invite you to join in!

The group is on Flickr (www.flickr.com/groups/makeitinteresting/ ) and they regularly post a photograph someone on Flickr has taken and challenge anyone to "make it interesting"! Peeps like you and me, create a digital incorporating the photo, upload it and add it to the group. After a set period of time then the voting begins.

Easy peasy!

For me, it's a great warm up to any project I may be working on, an opportunity to try out new compositions or color strategies, images you haven't had a chance to experiment with, a way to dig through a creative block or....the list goes on! I limit myself to 30 minutes, set the clock and start creating!

Here's a sample of the next 3 challenge images (please follow the link for image credits for pre-photos) and below, my 30 minute responses.

Image Credits for bottom row images (left to right):

1 and 2 - Tumble Fish Studio

3 - Holliewood Studios and Finecrafted Designs

Not every picture tells a story

2012-01-17T12:59:00.000-07:00

Image Credits with thanks to:
Tumble Fish Studio

CrowAbout StudioB

Finecrafted Design

Holliewood Studio

Tangie Baxter

Twelve Art World Habits to Ditch in 2012

2012-01-14T12:23:00.006-07:00

Yesterday I came across an article written by Mat Gleason (via The Huffington Post) entitled Twelve Art World Habits to Ditch in 2012. I hesitated whether or not it was something I wanted to share on my blog. Afterall, what do I know about the art world? I am merely a tourist. Nevertheless, it piqued my interest and my funny bone and even though it is heavily coated in sarcasm and cynicism, I thought it was contraversial and a good starting point for an interesting dialogue. It is with this goal in mind I share it with you today. Do you share any of his opinions? I hope you'll find the time to read and consider it and share your thoughts here.

"It is 2012, but in the art world it is often still 1966. Some of the "traditions" underlying the business side of the gallery and museum world date back decades. Don't let 'em fool you that they are hip. The art world is a bunch of stubborn ninnies who learn to do things one way and insist that things never be done a different way. Everyone has great career advice for you that is current for 1979, or 1985 or 1994, whatever year they broke into the art world -- that is the master plan they insist everyone must follow; they assert you will not succeed unless you, too, do things like they did back then. Understand two things: The art world doesn't replace its dinosaurs, it gives them retrospectives, and two, the first caveman who left the cave was the first performance artist and nobody has topped him since. Here are 12 things about the art world that need to disappear for good.

Consignment

Painter Mark Kostabi's slogan sums it up "Ending Lending is Beginning Winning". Artists have traditionally consigned artwork to galleries. When the artwork sells, the gallery and the artist splits the sale 50/50. When the work does not sell, the artist gets the art back. This is the way the game is played and it is ludicrous. In this scenario, the artist literally loans the gallery collateral at no risk to the gallery and with no interest on the loan. An alternate way of doing things might be to imitate, oh I dunno, how about... the way every other business on earth operates: The gallery should just buy the art from the artist. How hard is that? If the gallery cannot afford it, either they should find an artist who will sell them work for what they can afford or they should get out of the gallery business, which they are not in if they cannot afford to purchase inventory. Of course, this works in the benefit of the gallery too -- you can mark up the work 200 percent if you like. Buy 10 paintings for $100 each. Sell them for 20 grand each.

Academic Curators
The realm of the visual is inherently non-verbal. Academia is a lecture-based system of auditory and linguistic learning. Pretty much the polar opposite of art. And yet here come the pinheads with their Ph.D. theses (rhymes with feces) getting every damn thing wrong about the art and making sure none of their presentation is enjoyable nor accessible to people outside their peer group. Their ruse is the implication that art is intellectual. Art is sensual. Academics are not. Sleep with a few (your grad school professor is almost always willing) and tell me I am wrong.

Marketers
Who gets paid first in the art world these days? Promotional idiots with tired gimmicks and antiquated postcard mailing lists. The marketers are taking the cream off the top of the art world latte. Marketers are people who know nothing abut the creative process and feel happier watching an episode of Friends than they do looking at new and exciting work or having an interesting gallery space experience. Art is the antidote to culture, not another client of the machine.

Paid Writers
Think about it. A painter struggles in his or her studio with a stack of canvasses, tubes of oil paints and nothing but time. It is a romantic vision we can all accept. It is also pretty much the only way that great painting takes place. But ask an art writer to write about your art and they want $3 a word. Where is the romance and pursuit of pure artistic vision for the writer? Suddenly the slob at your opening is quoting prices like your 401K advisor. Writers have become sharks because, like the academics, people who are good with words either manipulate you with them or exclude you from the discussion. Verbosity is often used as a weapon to seize power in the arts, populated as they are by visual learners and masters of non-verbal expression. Beware of the writer whose desk has blank invoices in the drawer.

Charity Auctions
I ranted about this on the Huffington Post last year. Bottom line is the price your art goes for at a charity event is the golden "what the market will bear" amount. Do you want the world to know that in a roomful of millionaires eager to support a good cause your donated painting could not get a minimum bid of $50? And of course, if your piece did not sell, don't expect the non-art non-profit hacks to know how to handle and return it to you.

China
I can make a lousy painting today of George Bush performing a sexual act with Barack Obama. Nobody is going to like it or buy it but nobody is going to knock on my door tonight and take me away for painting it. Call me when you have two billionaire army general art collectors bid up the price on your painting of Hu Jintao having a threesome with Confucius and Mao Tse Tung. Until then, you can let a thousand sub-par Thomas Kinkades bloom -- it is the only way to stay out of jail.

Diploma Mills
Tens of thousands of dollars of student loan debt used to at least get you a diploma that led to a decent job. Those jobs are gone now. Long gone. They are not coming back. No matter how prestigious the school and how fantastic the program, MFA art programs are just a summer camp experience with pretense and attitude. The art they produce is not demonstrably better than art produced outside of academic dialogues. Many people enjoy MFA programs. Cut-throat capitalist bankers at student loan portfolio departments love them more than any student or faculty member would ever realize, until it is too late...

Rules
There are too many of them. You do whatever you want. You can even be so great that you actually achieve a complete and total failure. Then you can make art. But you never have to follow any of the rules and anyone who says you do... well he or she just hasn't failed enough to realize this.

Experts
Art is subjective. There inherently cannot be experts.

Series
Artists are told to work in series. It is one way of doing things. To posit that it is the only way or the best way is as dumb as saying every painting should be 40 percent earth tones. Huh? Yeah, that dumb.

Reading Graffiti Art
Street art is the best abstract painting of the past 60 years. Rationalizing one wall as somehow better because of individual authorship (instead of innovative composition) misses the whole point. Let's not take the people's medium against the power of property and make it into another celebrity manufacturing game. Enjoy abstract vandalism at its most beautiful without obsessing over who authored the specific letters on the wall. And what is closer to the bottom of the barrel: Street art gallerists, street art curators or street art academics? On what sad date did aerosol spray paint become synonymous with cotton candy?

Artists As Their Own Manager
You gotta do this, and you gotta do that, and most of all you have to buy the art advice book on how you can make it on your own as an artist by doing all of this stuff on your own. Advice is now an industry. Just make the art and sell it for whatever it takes to get it out of the studio and make more. Don't buy the book. It is probably rehashed if not flat-out plagiarized from the other books. There is no blueprint for a masterpiece and there is no blueprint for a successful art career. Like Gandhi said, "What you do will not be important but it is important that you do it." he didn't add "...so buy the overpriced book and DVD series on how to succeed at doing that unimportant important thing."

Happy New Year to all the artists and art appreciators. Let's hope 2012 is a masterpiece in which all can exalt the fruit of the creative process and ignore the pretense and hype."

by Mat Gleason - original article here

Brave enough to respond? Hope so!

Sincerely,

Your not so politically-correct Canadian art tourist, (heh, I just copied and pasted it) aka don't crucify the messenger.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On another note -

I came across these this morning as I sat down with my morning coffee to approach a much avoided task of organizing and filing the hundred plus images I have accumulated which all get plopped hastily into one generic file. They share some similarities (pastel, filtered, tulle) but are otherwise disparate in mood (celebratory versus sombre) To my eye they create an amusing contrast to each other when placed side by side.

Mail Order Bride - 8 x 8 digital collage

Image Credits in part with thanks to Holliewood Studios

Into the Light - digital collage

Big uh OH!

2012-01-13T13:00:00.003-07:00

Late Tuesday or Wednessday evening I received an email from a friend telling me my work had been misattributed in Somerset Studio this month.. The email subject read: " Big uh OH! " I was taken off guard and I think my blood pressure rose 30 points. You see, this friend has had a string a mile long of awful things happen to her over the past two years and I was afraid something else had happened. So, even though I was disappointed, in the bigger scheme of things, I was grateful.

I contacted Somerset and they will be noting the mistake in their next publication (I guess that would be March 2012) In the meantime, Linda Trentholm, if you get any calls from international galleries inviting you to exhibit, because of the error, kindly send them my way? :0)

"And a Partridge" - 5 x 7 inches

digital illustration recolored and reworked for

"Chartreuse Challenge" Page 120 - Somerset Studio Jan/Feb 2012

I 'was' published here

Original work - "Appearantly" for sale here

8 x 10 inches digital illustration

Image Credits:
The Graphics Fairy, Tumble Fish Studio,

Lorie Davison and Holliewood Studios

And here's a couple of others I created but did not submit for the Chartreuse Challenge (Summer 2011)

Splash - digital illustration

Image Credits -

Holliewood Studios

Tumble Fish Studio

Bird Bath- digital illustration

Image Credits -

Holliewood Studios

Tumble Fish Studio

True Confessions

2012-01-12T13:16:00.003-07:00

Ever since I first laid eyes on Nick Bantock's Griffin and Sabine trilogy, I was HOOKED on mail art. I still recall the day - now asome odd 20 years ago. I went to a book signing and lecture at Audrey's Books when I was still living in Edmonton, Alberta and had the pleasure of first meeting Nick.

Since then, my library of Nick Bantock books has grown 10 fold and I now have 6 of his art pieces in my limited art collection. I've had the pleasure along with my soul mate of sharing dinner with Nick and his wonderful wife Joyce, and partaking in two of his extraordinarily inspiring small group workshops located in the equally inspiring British Columbia island - Salt Spring Island. It is home to not only Nick and Joyce, but a long list of famous artists from all disciplines.

I was delighted to learn several weeks ago that Nick's alter ego, Wasnick, has taken to blogging and just this week announced a new book is in the making. Having a stepson who is an inspiring author, I felt compelled to locate and send him the Griffin and Sabine trilogy, hoping it may inspire in some small way. Click here to be redirected to Wasnick's blog.

Below are a series of snapshots, in no particular order. They are a response to a Cloth Paper Scissors challenge to send in a 6 x 4 inch postcard to their offices for possible publication. The staff at CPS encouraged the postcard to include a 'message' and I found a fitting one for me personally by Twyla Tharp -

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home".

About the Stamps

Tim Nokes - Artist

From the Canada Post Website: " Stamp designer Tim Nokes said, "Receiving the commission to produce the commemorative stamp for Parks Canada's 100^th anniversary was especially meaningful to me as I was raised in Banff. But it was a challenging design task due to the small framework of a stamp and the diversity of Parks Canada's landscapes. However, I did not want to focus on a singular iconic Banff image. So I created a montage of images within the stamp that are inspired by all the mountain parks."

Daphne Odjig - Artist

http://www.daphneodjig.com

Canada Post issued three new stamps on February 21, 2011 featuring the artwork of Canadian aboriginal artist Daphne Odjig.

The stamps highlight three of Odjig's acrylic pieces with each painting, Spiritual Renewal (1984), Pow-wow Dancer (1978), and Pow-wow (1969), representing Odjig's passion for the arts and love of her native heritage.

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home"

Image Credits: Tumble Fish Studio, Holliewood Studios

Thanks for the visit!

Erin Pankratz-Smith

2012-01-11T10:16:00.003-07:00

I have a wonderful artist friend here in Lethbridge who inspires me every time I am lucky enough to get out of my hermit shell and visit with her! Or, as it turned out, on Monday, she dropped by.

This morning she wrote on other matters, but mentioned her friend's daughter, Erin Pankratz-Smith, a wonderful mosaic artist who was commissioned by the Edmonton International Airport (my hometown) - to create a very large mosaic. (30 panels with 3000-4000 individual tiles per panel for a total of !!!! 100,000 tiles!!! ) The video below, created by Greg Southam is a time-lapsed feature capturing the installation of her art. It was unveiled this past Monday.

Everything Flows Nothing Stands Still

Erin Pankratz-Smith

Edmonton, Alberta

(partial photograph only)

Another photo:

Erin is in the blue shirt/black sweater (front-center)

Area in white rectangle highlights the partial photograph above this one

For more images and Erin's statement - press here

Video: Airport mosaic installation time-lapse

Thanks Linda for introducing me to another talented Alberta artist!

Make it Interesting - Flickr Challenge#2 - Version 2

2012-01-09T11:38:00.000-07:00

"Shiva Divas"

digital illustration

Created for the Make It Interesting Challenge #2
Make It Interesting, Challenge #2 - Varanassi Woman

Starter image with thanks, from Mctrent
Background - Holliewood Studios

Make it Interesting - Flickr Challenge #2

2012-01-08T13:17:00.000-07:00

Occasionally, I receive an email from someone who wants to know which imaging software I use, and how I create digitally. I've been asked to teach classes, but teaching has never been something that comes easily to me.

One way to visualize the process is to just for me to include the original images I've incorporated to create the final composition. So today I decided to include them for those who enjoy seeing the 'before and after'.

Most people assume I use Photoshop - but they'd be wrong. I have favored and always used Microsoft Digital Image (Silver), an applicaton that has been discontinued for several years now. I'm always in awe of those who have mastered Photoshop or CS5 (I find old Microsoft habits hard to break) and keep my fingers crossed that the upgrading of operating systems as we dive into the technological future won't reach a point to make my favorite software obsolete, ....cause....that'll be a sad day in Two's Studio.

Untitled digital collage for "Make it Interesting"

Image Credits - noted below

Images incorporated into "Make It Interesting" above with permissions and thanks to Finecrafted Designs,
McTrent on Flickr, Bobjagendorf - Flickr and
Holliewood Studios

If you are interested in participating in this challenge (only rule is the compulsory use of the McTrent image (bottom left) - click here
Have fun and thanks for reading!

I'm not sure if this is what Ev had in mind when she hired me....

2012-01-07T21:19:00.001-07:00

but I did get a bit of a snorkle composing it! Here's the before image (Finecrafted Designs - Warrior Women) -

and here's my 'adaptation' or image manipulation -

"Flippin' The Royal Bird"

digital collage

Image Credits:
Finecrafted Designs - Warrior Women

Bird - Tumble Fish Studio - Freestyle 1

Carpe Diem - more thoughts on 'the moment'

2012-01-06T22:10:00.002-07:00

Following yesterday's post asking you to join me in my goal to live fully in each moment, today's "The Daily Om" presented a timely look at "Thoughts" -

Our thoughts are powerful forces in the creation of our experience of life. You may be able to recall a time when frustration that was based on a misunderstanding completely evaporated when your understanding changed. This is because our interpretation defines our experience, and it can change in an instant. Our only true reality is the present moment, so rather than merely accepting that life is happening to us, we can harness the power of our thoughts to actively create a positive reality. For example, we can choose to appreciate beauty around us rather than focusing on traffic or look for admirable qualities in the people we deal with rather than focusing on the negative. By choosing how to interpret and define each moment with your thoughts, you truly create your reality.

Throughout the day, we can monitor our thoughts to catch ourselves in the middle of investing our energy elsewhere—such as into belief in limitations—and instead pull our focus back to the infinite possibilities of the present. Taking a deep breath will help us center our thoughts on being in our bodies right now. Regular meditation allows us to gain mastery over our minds so that we can still our thoughts to focus on the pureness of being. If we mentally dwell on the past or the future, we may miss the experience of living in the present moment. Setting and visualizing goals is wonderful, but we can bring our thoughts into our current experience by taking steps to create them now.

Our minds are powerful tools that we can harness to create our reality. Through them we move the unformed energy of the universe into form, which gives us direction for our words and actions. Each thought is like a stone dropped into a lake, sending ripples out into our world to affect all they touch. We can choose our focus and how we invest our energy, which gives us the power to design our lives to be whatever we choose in each and every moment.

"Carpe Diem"

digital collage - 6 x 6 inches

Image Credits - from my own photographs, Tumble Fish Studio (wave)
and Holliewood Studios (fish)

For pure amusement's sake, here's a selection of photos of the above work in progress. It began with a photo I took of the ocean last week (in the middle) during our holiday trip to Victoria, BC

And another capture of it 'in process'

On the opposite side from the original photograph, the 'scene' looked like this -

Gonzales Hill - Victoria, B.C. Canada

Free Library of Congress JPG and PNG to Start 2012 on a Fun Note!

2012-01-06T09:44:00.001-07:00

Happy New Year! I'm starting 2012 hell bent on focusing in on fun, sharing, outside of the box thinking and being mindful of the possibility for joy that exists if we stay tuned to the moment! I hope you'll join me and share your enthusiasm, thoughts and feelings, waking each morning with the chance to perceive the day asking one critically important question: How Good Can You Stand It?

FREE DOWNLOAD JPG FILE

To download, double click on the image, then right click SAVE AS

FREE DOWNLOAD PNG FILE

(same instructions apply as above)

Will you join me? It's 100% free!

Second Glances - more insomnia

2011-12-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

Second Glance - Digital Illustration 8 x 8 inches

Image Credits thanks to Finecrafted Designs,

Art by January, Tumble Fish Studio, Lorie Davison and

Holliewood Studios

....couldn't sleep

2011-12-21T08:20:00.000-07:00

inSOMNIa - digital collage

Image Credits - Holliewood Studios "Birds and The Bees"

plus other images from the public domain

The pressure is on

2011-12-19T13:17:00.001-07:00

to get this finished before Dec 24. I am feeling it - even though it is all self-imposed. I keep trying out different excuses in my mind as I paint, reasons to delay it so I don't have to hurry through. Being a beginner at painting is really rearing it's ugly head and I haven't any techniques to draw upon apart from some of the You Tube videos I've watched. If anyone out there has taken an on-line acrylic painting course (preferably portraits as opposed to landscape) I would love to hear from you! I am also open to any suggestions!
Arrrgggggg....I think I need to take a chill pill. I swear I've worn out my husband asking him to tell me what's right and wrong. Damn insecurity. If I were the type of person to be more gentle on myself, I'd give myself a pat on the back for getting over the dreaded fear of a paint brush that has plagued me for 3 decades. Oh, I know, everything WILL be OK. :0)

Day 13 - work in progress
Study of Richard Phillip's "Scout" - 40x30 inches acrylic on wrapped canvas

Progress Snapshots

Min's Christmas Cut

2011-12-17T14:10:00.002-07:00

Min, Mini and Mindi (just don't call her late for supper) is our 6 year old Yorkshire Terrier. She weighs about 6 pounds - a good size for her breed. She has never had her hair cut quite so short, so when I see her, it's a double take! Especially how much bigger her ears look!

Swan Correspondence - digital meanderings

2011-12-16T10:05:00.001-07:00

Swan I - digital illustration

Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio, Holliewood Studios

Swan II digital illustration

Image Credits: Holliewood Studios and Finecrafted Designs

2011-12-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

"Dear God, Please send to me the spirit of Your peace. Then send, dear Lord, the spirit of peace from me to all the world. " - Marianne Williamson

Peace - digital illustration
Copyright 2011 TwoDressesStudio
All Rights Reserved
Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio and Holliewood Studios

Oh My Gothic 4 x 4 Squares - Month 8

2011-12-11T09:14:00.000-07:00

Working ahead of schedule on one of the collaborative projects I participate in, for January, it was my turn to create something for Leslie. She'd requested among other objects, eyes, vintage, clocks and maps as some of her favorite images.

I snapped several macro shots as well as added this new fabric collage to the ones I've completed and sent forward so far.

Thanks for your comments and visit - with two weeks to go before December 25th I'm sure everyone reading has a long list of things to do right now!

4x4 Fabric "Crazy Collage" - for Leslie January 2012

Most images from Tumble Fish Studio and map circles from Tangie Baxter

June to January 4 x 4's

Work in Progress - Sunlight and Textures

2011-12-08T11:47:00.004-07:00

Update 2 Day 11 - still working on the face......

Today the sunlight really captured the textures of an acrylic painting I have been working on as a Christmas gift for my daughter Jill. It is a study of a painting by Robert Phillips called "Scout" (see last photo below). My daughter saw it on the set of "Gossip Girls" and asked me if I would paint it for her.

I am about 60% done and am working on it for an hour or so a day, hoping that amount of time will allow me to finish it in time for December 25th.

Work in Progress - Study of Richard Phillip's painting "Scout"

40 x 30 inches acrylic on wrapped canvas

Above are photos of the work-in-progress, from top left down and then up again. Similar to looking at your work in a mirror, it's helpful to see a photograph for me to determine where I'm going wrong...or right. I'm continually surprised at how the photographs change depending on the time of day, whether or not I've used a flash, sunshine as well as incandescent lighting in the evening shots.

Here's the photograph I am working from (it's also shown above as the last lower photo on the right in the series above as a reference) -

Original - "Scout" -Richard Phillips

Photo from the set of Gossip Girls - Original Painting "Scout" by Richard Phillips

The Butterfly Effect: UPDATE #32

2011-12-02T14:43:00.004-07:00

I started this post on November 17th, but ran into a snag. I hope I have now finally solved the problem I was having with tracking and recording each butterfly. I won't bore you with the lengthy search I went through to find proper owners, but I do have two requests.

1. Jean Carl - if you are reading this could you kindly contact me. I cannot reach you via the email address you gave me and would like to add your blog and additional information. Thank you!

2. If you are still in the process of getting your butterfly ready to mail, please make sure to write your name and coordinates on the back of your butterfly, if possible, or attach a little post-it-note to it or tag. Otherwise, I can't promise I'll be able to give proper credits! Thanks so much.

Reminder - The deadline for sending butterflies to The Butterfly Effect is December 31st, 2011. But, you still have until Spring 2013 to participate in the Holocaust Museum Houston original project. Click here for more information.

Now on to the fabulous new butterflies! First, I'd like to announce that in the last two weeks (and I am just making a guess here) more than ONE HUNDRED new butterflies have touched down!!!! There are flocks flying in every room of my home! :0) I can't tell you how grateful I am !

AND, we received our first butterfly from The Phillipines ! This brings our total of countries participating to 18!

Finally, a very special thanks today to the creators of the butterflies photographed below -

Lenna Andrews

Daniella Hayes

Beatrice Gibson

Sherry Ellison

(who had already sent several!! and keeps on giving)

Florence Maggio - Corsica!

Pam Yee - Manilla!

Andrea Thompson

Rory Te'Tigo

Elisa Choi

Jo Urbansi

Debi Livsey

Martina Brown

Lenna Andrews

Florida, USA
www.creativelenna.blogspot.com

Rory Te'Tigo

Cornwall. UK

www.rorytetigo.co.uk

Sherry Ellison

Nevada City, California, USA

http://creatology.blogspot.com

Daniella Hayes

Montague, New Jersey, USA

www.daniellahayes.blogspot.com

Jean Carl

Beatrice Gibson
San Antonio, Texas USA
http://beashive-bea.blogspot.com

Beatrice Gibson

Publish Post

San Antonio, Texas USA
http://beashive-bea.blogspot.com

Beatrice Gibson
San Antonio, Texas USA
http://beashive-bea.blogspot.com

Pam Yee
Beulah, Michigan USA

Andrea Thompson
Canisteo, New York, USA
http://fallingladies-fallingladies.blogspot.com

Florence Maggio
Porto Vecchio, Corsica, France
http://lartenciel.blogspot.com

Anonymous

Debi Livsey
North Bay, Ontario, Canada
http://puddleduckgrange.blogspot.com

Jo Urbani
Edenbridge, Kent, UK
http://fiddlesnips.blogspot.com

Martina Brown
Brantford, Ontario, Canada
http://borderlineexpress.blogspot.com

Elisa Choi
Paco, Manila, The Phillipines
www.harmonythoughts.com

I am so behind.... FREE download and link to great swap!

2011-11-30T16:49:00.003-07:00

To those of you waiting to see your butterflies posted, I apologize. I have taken on a couple more projects than I should have and the deadlines are echooing in stacatto in my mind!

To assuage my own guilt, please feel free to grab this little 3.5 x 5 inch recipe card for Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti.

Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti 3.5 x 5 inch recipe card
Image Credits: Tumble Fish Studio, Clementine Designs,
Holliewood Studios, Finecrafted Design

Instructions:

Right click (rick clight is what I initially typed) See! I've lost it! Then choose SAVE As. When you go to print it out, select PRINT AT EXACT Size. Once printed, just fold it in half, glue, and trim edges. Hope you enjoy it!

And if you are interested in participating in a holiday recipe card swap like this - following this link for more details and Join US!

Here's the info in case you have trouble with the link -

Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio

The beauty of pollination

2011-11-19T09:32:00.002-07:00

New 4 x 4 Square Finished and Update on Butterfly Effect

2011-11-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

Update on Butterfly Effect - I am scrambling to find the owner of four beautiful butterflies that arrived recently as well as photographing new arrivals that seem to fly in almost every other day! I should have everything up to date, uploaded and ready to post again by this weekend, fingers crossed. I'm delighted this project, after 15 months continues to reach so many kind and giving souls! Thanks so much. I am guessing before taking a final tally, we may have reach 400!

Below is my latest 4 x 4 fabric page, this month for Lenna in sunny Florida! Ironically, her page for me arrived yesterday as I was just starting the sewing, beading and embroidery for her. Lenna also sent an extraordinary and very original butterfly that I photographed today and will include in the update mentioned above. Thanks Lenna!

Front

Back

Image Credits with thanks to:
Tumble Fish Studio
Finecrafted Design
Art by January

Butterflies - Update 32

2011-11-14T12:11:00.171-07:00

1. Jean Carl - if you are reading this could you kindly contact me. I cannot reach you via the email address you gave me and would like to add your blog and additional information. Thank you!

AND, we received our first butterfly from The Phillipines ! This brings our total of countries participating to 18!

Finally, a very special thanks today to the creators of the butterflies photographed below -

Lenna Andrews

Daniella Hayes

Beatrice Gibson

Sherry Ellison (who had already sent several!! and keeps on giving)

Florence Maggio - Corsica!

Pam Yee - Manilla!

Andrea Thompson

Rory Te'Tigo

Elisa Choi

Jo Urbansi

Debi Livsey

Martina Brown

Lenna Andrews

Florida, USA
www.creativelenna.blogspot.com

Rory Te'Tigo

Cornwall UK

www.rorytetigo.co.uk

Sherry Ellison

Nevada City, California, USA

http://creatology.blogspot.com

Daniella Hayes

Montague, New Jersey, USA

www.daniellahayes.blogspot.com

Jean Carl

Beatrice Gibson

San Antonio, Texas USA

http://beashive-bea.blogspot.com

Beatrice Gibson

San Antonio, Texas USA

http://beashive-bea.blogspot.com

Beatrice Gibson

San Antonio, Texas USA

http://beashive-bea.blogspot.com

Beatrice Gibson

San Antonio, Texas USA

http://beashive-bea.blogspot.com

Beatrice Gibson

San Antonio, Texas USA

http://beashive-bea.blogspot.com

Beatrice Gibson

San Antonio, Texas USA

http://beashive-bea.blogspot.com

Pam Yee

Beulah, Michigan USA

Andrea Thompson

Canisteo, New York, USA

http://fallingladies-fallingladies.blogspot.com

Florence Maggio

Porto Vecchio, Corsica, France

http://lartenciel.blogspot.com

Florence Maggio

Porto Vecchio, Corsica, France

http://lartenciel.blogspot.com

Anonymous

Debi Livsey
North Bay, Ontario, Canada
http://puddleduckgrange.blogspot.com

Jo Urbani
Edenbridge, Kent, UK
http://fiddlesnips.blogspot.com

Martina Brown
Brantford, Ontario, Canada
http://borderlineexpress.blogspot.com

Elisa Choi
Paco, Manila, The Phillipines
www.harmonythoughts.com

New Inspiration

2011-11-14T02:09:00.001-07:00

I found a new digital collage artist I love on Flickr - Marcel Lisboa (Brazil) - these are inspired by his work.

Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio (Freestyle 2), Tangie Baxter - Mona,

Holliewood Studios

November First or 11/01/11

2011-11-01T17:40:00.003-06:00

Thanks to everyone who extended their kind support to my Dad. I am pleased to report he is doing much better now and has taken off his sling. Unfortunately, my extended family has suffered a very unexpected and sudden loss recently and so my blog posts may continue to be sparse for a little while.

A couple of weeks ago Tumble Fish Studio (Marsha) sent her Creative Team a new set of images titled "Free Style". They have now been released for sale over at Deviant Scrap. Although I planned to take some time off, there were too many images that struck my fancy. Below, an assortment to share with you today.

http://twodressesstudio.blogspot.com

"You Are The Hero of Your Own Story" - digital illustration

Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio FreeStyle, And So On, Wings

Book - Holliewood Studios Background - Lorie Davison

Flight Maiden Mojo - digital

Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio - Free Style

Untitled - digital illustration

Image Credits: Tumble Fish Studio Free Style

"It's Not Always About Me" - digital illustration

Image Credits: Tumble Fish Studio Free Style - legs/feet - Iktupilli,

hands - my own stash

"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (Elton John) digital collage

Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio Free Style

And a new twist to my typical blog post (just because I started reading it today and LOVE it) I would like to introduce you to -

Sunday's Musings.....

2011-10-23T14:46:00.001-06:00

Working on these little 4 x 4 cloth squares is effortless. The size lends themselves to working on them in the evening if I am watching a favorite TV program, (like The Good Wife??? anyone else a Good Wife fan??) or just relaxing with my DH. As a result, I'm ahead of schedule again, and will be finishing this for Karen Owen probably sometime this evening, even though it's not due until November 30th.

This one has some embroidering left to join the front and back together along with a few finishing touches around the face...

little bits of tatting, some opalescent clear beads, and some transluscent colorful stretchy netting I used to embellish the wing.....

still some work to do (as you can see) in and around the face and within some of the tatting...the yellow tatting was meant to look like the end of her sleeve...maybe with a few revisions it will!

.

Front 4 x 4 - Aviana for Karen (work in progress!)

For this particular project, we are not required to finish the backs of these pieces, but to me, it's not finished unless the back is...I just don't spend as much time on it...
.

Back 4 x 4 - Aviana for Karen

and finally, the low resolution digital version that I decided to add to my Etsy shop. I've been drawn to paler hues and pastels lately, such delicate feminine tones..

Avianna - 8 x 8 inch digital collage

Image Credits - Holliewood Studios,

Iktupilli and Made to be Unique (hummingbirds and birdhouse)
Filters - Totally Wild Dezinez

Available on Etsy here

I hope Karen will like it. She does lovely collage work - her gallery is here I've been adding beautiful lavender I purchased from Salt Spring Island months and months ago with the intention of creating some little sachets. If you've ever wanted to purchase bulk lavender, check it out here

Thanks for visiting.

Update - finally done!

Best laid plans...

2011-10-18T18:12:00.001-06:00

It never fails. Whenever I comment that I plan on posting more often, something happens.

This time, my Dad took a tumble and broke his shoulder (he'd fallen at our house less than a month ago and broke a rib). Because the initial physician reading the x-ray didn't see the break, it wasn't until the radiologist took a look and made the call. So, I was certain I'd be on my way again to my home town to stay with his dog and be his advocate at the hospital. Fortunately, the break wasn't 'serious' and surgery isn't necessary.

I'm sure many of you reading can relate to the worry that is next to impossible to overcome when an elderly parent is suffering. No amount of meditating or 'affirmations' or prayer seem to alleviate entertaining the possibility of that worst case scenario. FEAR - my nemesis.

"My Nemesis" - digital illustration 8 x 8 inches

Image Credits:
Figure - Pirate Queen at Deviant Art

Bird, Face, Letters, Photographs - Tumble Fish Studio

Background, Mirror, Brooch, Hammer and Mask - Holliewood Studios

Stars - Finecrafted Design

I've also not taken a serious step toward some of my 'planned' sustained art, and instead fell back into a comfort zone of doodling digitally. Right now, I'm really again not certain which direction I will go - my muse is being very non-committal.

Two Who? - digital illustration 8 x 8 inches

Image Credits -

Figure - Pirate Queen at Deviant Art

Frame, Mirror and Background - Holliewood Studios

Photographs and Letters - Tumble Fish Studio

.I do like to dream about what it would be like to be a master painter....no shortage of imagination in this woman's head....

Starry Eyed - digital illustration 8 x 10

Image Credits:

Figure - The Diamond Fell From The Sky - Flickr
VanGogh - Creative Commons and/or Finecrafted Designs

Wings and Stars - Tumble Fish Studio

But I did manage to get one of two tarot cards I've signed up for for a Steampunk Tarot Deck Artist Collaborative and have 80 of the cards now laser printed, ready to cut out (Yeh...not!)

The Hermit Steampunk Tarot Card - 3.5 x 5 inches

Image Credits -

Tumble Fish Studio

Katie Pertiet

Tangie Baxter

Iktupilli

Finecrafted Designs

If tarot tickles your fancy, double click on this image to see a brief explanation of The Hermit "card" , gathered from research via this website

Thanks for reading and of course, as always, for taking the time to leave comments.

Creative Team Work - Taking a Break

2011-10-13T12:13:00.000-06:00

Deviant Scrap continues growing at a fast pace and I'm always impressed and wow'ed by how the designers can continue to produce so many new and captivating digital elements week after week!

I've taken a bit of a respite from creating specifically for the Creative Teams I participate in so I can focus on working on developing more personal work. I began creating digital illustrations for Deviant Scrap upon it's arrival on the internet in May 2010 and as of today, have created 448 different pieces ! That's an average of 26 per month! I know! I guess there's no surprise that I have a passion for working digitally! I saw that number and thought....

"Holy Cow!"

(close up detail of Spinning My Wheels below)

This collage/illustration was created after Finecrated Designs and Holliewood Studios collaborated recently to create a kit they called "Ode To A Muse - 2" with images reminiscent of Michael deMeng's asssemblage work.

Spinning My Wheels 8 x 11 inch digital illustration

Image Credits with thanks to Finecrafted Designs and Holliewood Studios

- Ode to a Muse 2, Dancing Girls - Lisa Altered Art

For sale on Etsy here

Self-conscious, self disclosure part -

I've tried to reflect periods in my life when I occasionally feel like I am “Spinning My Wheels” creatively. Sound familiar? I think "us creative types" all have occasion from time to time to second guess what they do and why they do it? I'd wager that for the majority of us, it certainly has little to do with the notion of a 'get rich quick scheme' :0) Not that there's any harm in dreaming....

The Eye being held is my true creative aspirations, that I hold onto dearly but sometimes put on the back burner while I act like a ‘puppeteer’ for some of my work on various creative teams....(the dancing women representing the kits) And the antlers and eyes are my insecurities – “deer in headlights” timidness and also my ‘mask’ to avoid the work. Or not being 100% myself. There I said it - I am often my own worst enemy. Doesn't Dr. Phil say, "You can't change what you don't acknowledge"?

Please note, this does not diminish the gratitude I feel for the great fun I have at Deviant and how lucky I feel to be a part of the teams there! I have learned so much and more importantly have developed wonderful friendships with like-minded peeps.

Thanks as always for reading these posts and allowing me a 'voice'.....

One thing leads to another...

2011-10-11T13:38:00.000-06:00

Happy Belated Thanksgiving to all of my fellow Canadian bloggers

I was blessed with a visit from my elder daughter Jillian and her adorable Yorkie/Maltese cross "Maude". It's a long drive from our 'hometown' so any time my family makes the trip, it's always cause for "thanks-giving."

Along with lots of laughs, we enjoyed the autumn weather and after compulsory Saturday shopping and putting together a Halloween (steampunk) costume for her, we had lunch and picked delicious strawberries at Broxburn Farms. Sunday was all about relaxing and preparing Thanksgiving dinner.

I thought I'd post images of my latest digital turned cloth project today. The cloth 4 x 4 inch version is for my monthly collaborative project with the Oh My Gothic group - this month for Heather Robinson, fellow Canadian, a long term blog buddy, and sweet friend. I have managed to keep up with this commitment, but have long fallen behind on blog visits. I plan to put some time aside this week for nothing but that!

Below images include the 8 x 10 original digital collage followed by the 4 x 4 cloth square front and back as well as a few fun close ups.

This list of image credits are long and include big thank yous to Finecrafted Designs, Holliewood Studios, Tumble Fish Studio, Tangie Baxter, Art by January and Nicole Perry.

I'd like to be

Under the sea....

In an octopus's garden

in the shade!

Octopus's Garden 4 x 4 cloth - Front

Back

Octopus's Garden - 8 x 10 inch digital illustration

(see above for credits)

Revisions for 4 x 4 - front and back with a few additions (eg - octopus!)

Ready to package up and mail out to Heather in Ontario. Thanks for the visit!

The Butterfly Effect Update #31

2011-10-05T16:57:00.000-06:00

Hurray! I am officially ALL CAUGHT UP! I finished photographing the last of the Carstairs Elementary School butterflies on the weekend and created a 'collage' of them to send back to the school as a thank you.

But, that doesn't mean I am not still looking forward to receiving more butterflies for the Holocaust Museum Houston project! So.....nudge nudge, wink, wink....there is still almost 3 months left! Deadline is December 31st, 2011. We're now at 342.....and counting.

Anatomy....New digital work

2011-10-04T21:32:00.000-06:00

Tumble Fish Studio recently released a new set of images she named "Greg's Anatomy." Having been a collector of vintage books among other things for several years, I was familiar with many of the images.

Ironically, I have a vintage book "20th Century Physician" and have often been tempted to use the anatomical illustrations in my cut and paste collage work. Now, I don't have to !

Flash Back Diptych 1 and 2 (8 x 10 inches each)

Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio

Available in my Etsy shop here

Complexities of The Reproductive System, Mating and Gender Differences - 8 x 8 inch digital collage

Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio and Holliewood Studios

"Cabinet Musings" - digital illustration 4 x 6 inches

2011 TwoDressesStudio

Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio, Holliewood Studios and Finecrafted Designs

The Girl Effect - the message is here, the message is clear

2011-10-04T10:06:00.001-06:00

I have a small favor to ask.

Please join me, Tara Mohr and hundreds of others by watching this amazingly creative and poignant video, posting it on your blog and then adding the link to your post link here

Thank you!

Field Notes - how artists and scientists together might help restore broken bonds between people and land.

2011-10-01T09:12:00.000-06:00

"Ecotones" - 8x8 inch digital illustration

Image Credits: Finecrafted Designs, Holliewood Studios

The digital collages posted here (with image credits primarily to Finecrafted Designs) are in response to Ecotone -an event I participated in recently as an artist member of the Field Notes Collective.

The 'weekend' began on Friday evening at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG) with two keynote speakers - Ryan Doherty, the curator of the gallery and Dr. Henry Janzen, a scientist at the Canadian Agricultural Research Centre here in Lethbridge, Alberta. Dr. Janzen is an international expert in greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation. His speech was compelling, and began and ended with the awareness of how at that very moment (while listening to him speak) we would expel a breath, and in it, it contained a carbon atom that would be released into the atmosphere. A year later we could pick up a leaf and find that very same carbon atom within it. He pointed out that until we really 'love' our earth, and feel as though we are entirely 'connected' to it, we won't be compelled to embrace it and do whatever necessary to ensure it's survival. We ARE the land.

For the last 60 years, the research centre has been studying the effects of cattle grazing on an area of grassland, nestled in the foothills in front of the Rockie Mountains west of a small town called Stavely. The lead scientist, Dr. Walter Willms presented the research which is defined as "Examine how grazing affects grassland heterogeneity and biodiversity, and its interactions on wildlife, including SARA-listed species, and develop strategies for their recovery and protection.'

The following morning, the Ecotone group (approx. 75 ranchers, artists and scientists) met in Stavely and then boarded buses to travel to the field. The weather was perfect, about 85 F. with a warm wind and not a cloud in the sky. Once there, the lead investigators for the study explained their research in detail and we were taught how they measure the effects of grazing, the 'composition' of the grasslands, each grassland species, soil, ecosystem, watershed, etc. Four separate fields divided into various 'intensities of grazing make up the field site. We broke into subgroups and walked through each field, identifying the native grasses, noxious weeds and non-native species. Each group was lead by two scientists and they taught us how to 'diagnose' the health of the grassland, using different methods of collecting data. There were also fenced areas within the heavy/extremely heavy grazing fields that had been protected for the last 10 years to see if it was possible for these areas to recover from the effects of heavy grazing. Sadly, the answer at this point in time appears to be not. A vivid example of the fragility of the grassland ecosystem.

Above: The large group together listening to the scientists explain the study before breaking out into smaller groups.

A Rancher, 2 Scientists and a Journalist who was recording the Ecotone event as we began by identifying the grassland species of native, non-native and noxious weeds.

Dr. Walter Willms and Dr. Henry Janzen

(the flags you see are marking different grassland species that we identified and studied in each research field)

John, one of the scientists employed by SALT teaching us how they collect and measure 'litter' - the dead plant material that has collected at the base of the grasses - an integral component to measure the overall health of the grasslands and critical to how rain/snow is stored in turn relating to the health of the watershed and ultimately our water.

Here we were measuring how far water travels before it is absorbed (length x time) In the less healthy grasslands, the water travelled significantly farther over a longer period of time, than in the healthy areas.

Once back from the field, we gathered in the Stavely Community Hall for more presentations addressing several issues of sustainability and partnerships between the scientists, the ranchers, the artists and the end consumers of food. This took place after a 100 mile dinner - all local food...beef, vegetables, berry pies...and of course, Big Rock Beer.

Ecotones 2 - 8 x 10 inch digital collage

2011 TwoDressesStudio

Image credits - Finecrafted Designs

I'll never look at the grasslands the same way again.

Wait :0) There's More! 30 to be exact! Butterfly Update #29

2011-09-30T11:02:00.000-06:00

This morning has become my "Catch Up to The Butterflies" day with 30 more NEW Carstairs Elementary School Butterflies to share with you, bringing us now to a total of 86 posted from the students and 41 awaiting photographing!! Time to change the camera batteries and turn the calendar month over tonight! Once I finish these, I'll be sending off a copy of the photographed butterflies to the school as a reminder of their significant contribution to our project.

Butterfly Update #28

2011-09-30T08:46:00.000-06:00

Thanks again to the students at Carstairs Elementary in Carstairs, Alberta for contributing so many butterflies to our project. If any of the students happen by this post and can't yet see their butterfly, there are LOTS more to follow soon so keep checking back!

Here are the latest sixteen -

And the first 56 Carstairs Elementary School butterflies together -

AND - 284 all at a glance (click any photo for a larger view)

The Butterfly Effect - Update #27

2011-09-28T16:05:00.000-06:00

Please join me in a round of applause or a WOO-HOO to the following beautiful additions to The Butterfly Effect! With these 14 new butterflies, our flock is now at 344!

Fiona Randall
Ellis Powell (Fiona's grandson and an AWESOME printer!)
Dianne Davies
Cary Scholes (count 'em EIGHT!)
and
Chris Parmentier

Fiona Randall

United Kingdom

http://myartfulmuse.blogspot.com

and Fiona's Grandson below -

Ellis Powell

United Kingdom

" The yellow butterfly does not fly alone."

Chris Parmentier

Crescent City, California, USA

http://groundswellforchris.blogspot.com

Cary Scholes

Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA

D. Dianne Davies

Port Richey, Floria, USA

http://piecesofd.blogspot.com

http://piecesofd.etsy.com

"The RorschTach"

2011-09-20T09:27:00.002-06:00

Last week Seth from The Altered Page invited readers to partake in a collaborative event after he was inspired by Heather Campbell (Blissful Things) who commented on one of his 'paper stacks' and suggested we all take photos of our 'stacks'. Great idea Heather and thanks for responding and inviting us Seth!

I grabbed my camera yesterday and chose a favorite group of altered books I have on display in my studio and snapped a few shots. In the process, I was considering why so many of us have this passion for these 'altered pages' while other peeps may look at our collections with expressionless faces, some I'm sure masked to hide their true reaction, (eg) WTF?

What is it they "don't get" or what is it we DO get?

What do we see that compells us to cherish these pages and stacks?

The "RorSCHTach" - Do You See What I See?

Studio Photograph - Altered Books and Journals - TwoDressesStudio 2011

Thanks for visiting and there's still plenty of time to enter this week's draw for a free postcard - I know...it's not a 'big' prize, but who doesn't like getting mail art? :o) Enter here

Reminiscing with The Byrds and Introducing the first of TWENTY free draws

2011-09-18T11:53:00.001-06:00

Over the next several weeks I will be posting several free draws - twenty to be exact!

Let me explain? One of my projects this summer was to reconfigure a number of my own personal favorite illustrations and collages to be made into 4 x 6 postcards. Yesterday I completed this project and early in October I will have them in hand and be ready to share with you. I am also planning to eventually package them (the method behind my madness :0) for sale in my shop at what I think will be at a very affordable price.

What's involved? Not much really.

Leave a comment - simple huh?

I'll draw from the list of comments, and send the winner a postcard. It's just my way to express appreciation for your readership.

You know, a 'win-win'! Easy peasy.

So to get the ball rolling I chose to begin with one of my newer illustrations, and one that's new to my blog too - titled "Whiter Shade of Pale". Below is the original 8 x 8 illustration and at the bottom of this post you'll see the 4 x 6 inch postcard.

A Whiter Shade Of Pale - 8 x 8 digital illustration

Image Credits: Tumble Fish Studio 49 Birds and My Picks

There are some lyrics and melodies from my early youth that will never lose their 'heart' and when and if by chance they are played on the radio, I am transported back to those early years as though time has remained still. It's the most amazing thing about music, how it remains frozen in that earlier time allowing the listener to muse and consider emotions from years and decades past. So sweet. The above 'group' of young men instantly reminded me of a 60's British Rock Group - like these oldies -

The Beatles

The Byrds (very groovy cape don't you think?)

Procol Harum (gotta love those hair-dos and Seinfeld "puffy sleeves"!)

A Whiter Shade of Pale - originally recorded by Procol Harum (written by Fisher, Brooker and Reid)

"We skipped a light fandango,
Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor.
I was feeling kind of seasick,
But the crowd called out for more.
The room was humming harder,
As the ceiling flew away.
When we called out for another drink,
The waiter brought a tray.

And so it was that later,
As the miller told his tale,
That her face at first just ghostly,
Turned a whiter shade of pale.

She said there is no reason,
And the truth is plain to see
That I wandered through my playing cards,
And would not let her be
One of sixteen vestal virgins
Who were leaving for the coast.
And although my eyes were open,
They might just as well have been closed.

And so it was later,
As the miller told his tale,
That her face at first just ghostly,
Turned a whiter shade of pale."

Click here to go to You Tube if you're in the mood to listen to the original recording.

The Byrds - Digital Illustration - Postcard 4 x 6 inches

Image Credits: see above

Best of luck, stay tuned for the next draw and thanks again for stopping by!

What if ?

2011-09-08T15:16:00.000-06:00

The other day, my muse asked me in her always unpredictable way ....What if? What if birds wanted to explore alternative methods of transportation....like rollerskating, wheels, or rockers....? Maybe they get tired of flying....what if? Here's how I chose to answer...

"What If" 8 x 10 inch digital illustration/print

Image Credits: Tumble Fish Studio, Holliewood Studios (rockers), Tangie Baxter (roller skate)

Some New Butterflies to Share With You

2011-09-06T13:09:00.001-06:00

Butterfly 'mail' has slowed down over the past four months, but not all together thankfully. The Butterfly Effect has been under way now for over a year, and our count now stands at 330 which is beyond what I had imagined when the project began.

If you had thought about sending a butterfly before, but wondered if there is still time.....well I'm happy to tell you there is! The deadline for this project isn't until December 31, 2011. The Holocaust Museum Houston deadline is in the Spring of 2012. You don't need any special skills to make and send a butterfly - a strong desire to END HATRED, a piece of paper, and envelope and a postage stamp is all it takes! So, please consider adding this to your long list of to do's. You'll feel good about it and be surprised at how little time it took!

The following butterflies were received during the month of August, and I'm happy to add, one arrived from a 'new' to the project country - Luxembourg! Special thanks to Carol for putting her country on our map!

The other two butterflies arrived from New South Wales, Australia - a mom and daughter team - Raewyn and Samantha Todd. Samantha was studying World War Two which made this project especially significant in her mind. Thanks ladies!

I am planning on reviewing all of the butterflies soon to list how many countries we have represented in our collection.

Samantha Todd

New South Wales, Australia

http://www.woodburyparkbears.com.au

Raewyn Todd

New South Wales, Australia

http://woodburyparkbears.com.au

Carol Abel

Luxembourg

http://www.traveller2006.wordpress.com

For more information on the specifics of this project, please click on the butterfly to the right of this blog post.

Monkey Mind Part Two

2011-09-01T12:42:00.002-06:00

Owing to on-going encouragement from a very good artist friend, Michele Jackson I decided to take my previously blogged about digital collage here into the 'dimensional realm.'

On Monday evening I ink-jet printed it onto cloth and the following photographs capture the various 'surface elements' I added. There are layers and layers of old doilies, many hand dyed by Lorraine Stobie,

vintage tatting from Marsha Jorgensen

laces from Hermine Koster

and Viola Ertmann

and other bits and pieces of textiles and vintage doilies I've collected at flea markets and antique sales over the past several years, some tea dyed while others, just as I found them.

Thank you to all of my on-line art friends I've mentioned above, for reminding me again of your generousities!

In search of the non-monkey mind...

2011-08-27T22:32:00.003-06:00

I can't recall the first time I came across the phrase 'monkey mind', but it certainly had a profound impact on my awareness of how busy my own mind can become. List making, focus on accomplishing tasks, intermixed with dreams, considering my path, my past and future, realities of the day, matters at hand and the recalling of, daydreams, conversations with others, music and its lyrics.... memory spurts of things that remind me of another thing...and on and on. It is next to impossible to even list a fraction of what comes to mind in any given hour, let alone day. 60,000 thoughts per 24 hours is the amount I am told is an average amount for one person has in any given day.

And even the thought of escaping, quieting one's mind, whether by listening to the sounds of nature or settling into a meditation, comes fraught with plans and the execution of same.

Inspired by the monkey mind phrase, and in part by Laurie Feld amazing paintings, this illustration was my humble attempt to visualize this quietening - a time when life slows down and thoughts turn into whispers of color, our true nature awakens and we visualize the monkey fading into the distance. It's a departure from the deeper, more colorful pallette I've been entertaining for quite some time...and the softening of the hues seem to mirror a quieter, more peaceful ambience.

Thanks for the visit. This print will be available for purchase in Etsy sometime early next week.

"Tuning and Turning In" 8x8 inch digital illustration

Image Credits - several bits and pieces from my own collection of images blended together with lace from C. Rennee. tree from Finecrafted Design, Tumble Fish Studio (small roses), Iktupilli - two birds, plus monkey, map and body from public domain, brain from Tangie Baxter, face is a composite of three different faces, which I then combined, blended and digitally painted.

Drive by Posting....

2011-08-24T09:49:00.001-06:00

It's been a long long time since I've gone more than a week without posting, so I am touching base quickly (on my way to an annual golf tourney), to share eleven new digital illustrations thanks to my creative team work with new offerings of the Tumble Fish Studio, Holliewood Studios, Crowabout Studio B and Finecrafted Designs variety.....

"Moon Seranade" - digital illustration

Image Credits - Tangie Baxter, Holiewood Studios, Tumble Fish Studio

"Let Your Light Shine" - digital illustration

Image Credits -Tumbe Fish Studio

"Can You Hear THIS?" - digital illustration

Image Credits -Tumble Fish Studio and Holiewood Studios (gate and garbage can)

A Magical Life - digital illustration

Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio

"Marie's Man Cage" - digital illustration

Image Credits - Finecrafted Designs

Below, is a reworking of an illustration I did a year ago for Tumble Fish Studio which started with the first illlustration. I edited the shadows and then added the two that followed.

"Red Shoe Mornings" - digital narrative illustration

Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio and Holliewood Studios (shoe and bird)

And finally, three "mail art digital illustrations" all from a collaborative effort from both Tumble Fish Studio and CrowAbout StudioB -

"Crow Stamped Postage"

"Welcome to Philadelphia" digital illustration

"Fragile Five" digital illustration

Hope you are all having a wonderful sun-filled August with plenty left over for September and October! To the Moms with children or teens returning to school - take a deep breath! it's almost there!

I can't believe it is already the 15th of August!

2011-08-15T18:05:00.001-06:00

I am absolutely certain, the calendar is wrong, and it really is only the first of July. So, starting today, I decided to turn back the calendar to 6 weeks earlier and pull the wool over my own eyes.

I have two new pieces of work to share today. They are "Makeovers" from masterpieces found through Creative Commons (public domain) and were created primarily from Tumble Fish Studio's new JOLIE PAPIER set of images with before and afters for fun. Both of these illustrations were quite time consuming as I had to extract the design details from the backgrounds.

After - "Jolie" - digital illustration

Image Credits - TFS Jolie Papier, other selected TFS background images and Holliewood Studios for feather, as well as image noted below

Before - Amalie Von Schintling (1831) - Artist - Joseph Karl Stieler

After - Portrait of a Woman - digital illustration

Image Credits - see below "Before" and TFS Jolie Papier

Before - Portrait of a Woman - Paola Zacchia

A snapshot of the previews for the Jolie Papier -

Available here

Before and After - "Sleight of Hand"

2011-08-09T19:58:00.004-06:00

I think the images tell the story of the process of this digital collage - start to finish about 11-12 hours. If you're interested in joining me by sharing your 'before and afters', regardless of medium, technique, or genre, email me at twodressesstudio@shaw.ca

Thanks for your visit!

Before

- images selected (from Tumble Fish Studio - Cartes de Jex and Vive la France, figure - Lewis Hines and feather - Sherrie JD )

Digital Collage - "Sleight of Hand"

Sunday Postcard Art - Pirates Digital Doodle....plus

2011-08-08T00:26:00.003-06:00

Sunday Postcard Art - Arg, Argh - digital illustration

Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio, Holliewood Studios and Tangie Baxter

To play along press the Pieces of Eight Quarter Moon above ! And, a new CT creation for Art by January at Deviant Scrap - Flowers -

January's Flowers

Image Credits - flowers - Art by January at www.DeviantScrap.com

and, from Holliewood Studios new kit - "Black and White"

Raining Cats and Dogs

Copyrigh 2011 TwoDressesStudio

Image Credits - Holliewood Studios and Tumble Fish Studio (figure-boy)

Creative Team Work featuring New Images from Tumble Fish Studio

2011-08-05T13:51:00.000-06:00

Marsha of Tumble Fish Studio, has just released two new packages of images over at DeviantScrap

- Vive La France

- 15 Dresses

Below, are my contributions to her Cèst Bon images utilizing several of her new images from the above along with older selections too!

Composition Study - Line - digital illustration

All images - Tumble Fish Studio

``When In France...`` Digital Illustration

Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio

"I see London, I see France..." digital illustration

Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio

Queen of Stars - digital illustration

Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio

Before and Afters - an Invitation to Inspire

2011-08-02T21:15:00.002-06:00

Are you the type of artist who 'gets an image in your mind' and create exactly what you've envisioned? Or, do you let the process lead you?

Personally, I often surprise myself - what I start out with and what I end up with can be and often is, entirely

different and unrecognizable from the finished product. Other times, only a little snippet remains. Or, the digital image takes on texture and dimension (like this one below) when printed onto cloth and sewn.

I know I love seeing those "before and "afters". Whether it is following a painting along from start to finish, a collage as layers and layers are added on top of each other or a digital composition and which images were incorporated.

So today I thought I'd suggest something, that would be fun for me, and I hope, for those of you reading this. All that is required as far as planning goes is to take a "BEFORE" snapshot - the early stage of a painting, your first images down on canvas, paper or virtually on the digital screen.

Email your before and afters to me twodressesstudio@shaw.ca (at a decent but not ginormous size) with any relevant insights as to what you lead you from A to B and I'll set up a page to post them with a link back to your blog.

Here's a digital example -

Before (about 12 or 13 images to start)

from Finecrafted Designs (VooDoo) and Holliewood Studios - www.DeviantScrap.com

I had no idea this would end up below and be called...

"The Marshmellow Roast" - digital illustration

I'd love to see where you've been and where you're at! Will you play? Hope so!

Go Fish

2011-07-31T21:59:00.001-06:00

"Go Fish"

Image Credits - Thanks to Tumble Fish Studio NEW kit - Cartes de Jeu, Holliewood Studios, (at www.DeviantScrap.com) and Free People

In the mail....

2011-07-27T15:55:00.008-06:00

From Marion's ANNUAL ATC Exchange - I received this funky, whimsical and colorful assortment of ATC cards! Thank you again Marion! AND thanks to to Sabine, Astrid and Barb! Count me in for next year!

And from Angela Kennedy, a beautiful butterfly for the Butterfly Effect with tender words from Anne Frank's Diary - (click on photos to view LARGE)

Thanks so much Angela!

Angela Kennedy

http://Pennystamper.blogspot.com

And while we are on the subject.....Just a reminder - there is plenty of time left to contribute to The Butterfly Effect. I will be sending them off to The Holocaust Museum Houston in January 2012. So - if you find yourself with a spare hour or two sometime during the next five months... . click on the butterfly on the right sidebar.

Composition Study

2011-07-26T14:54:00.001-06:00

I have been spending a bit of time each morning over the past few weeks reviewing some of my course notes from a course I took at Emily Carr University in Vancouver. This composition below is a result of me tinkering with form, shape, repeating elements, neg/pos space, contrast value and color. Just in case you were wondering what the ? this was all about....now you know!

The Egg Cup - digital collage 8 x 10 inches

Image Credits - primarily public domain images, retuned, plus parts of background from Finecrafted Designs (and the edge of a sofa) and Holliewood Studios

Thanks for stopping by!

It was a hot hot day in July....

2011-07-25T09:20:00.000-06:00

yesterday, and I decided to spend some time learning more about my DSLR camera, a Nikon D90, which was a Christmas present from my better half (thanks again R!)

Although I did take it with me during our winter vacation this year, I hadn't thought far ahead and didn't have a proper case for it to take it with me during my daily walks. Getting used to carrying a larger camera again takes some planning, especially when wanting to have a tripod and an extra lens handy. But more than that, I needed to get to know its many features and settings.

But 'we' (the camera and me) are really still strangers, even after spending an afternoon together. One thing I love to do is macro shots. My little point and shot does this easily. Not so with the SLR. I ended up attaching my zoom lens and manually focusing looking through the viewfinder as opposed to the larger digital screen. And even still, it was a guessing game. The flash would pop up at times, sometimes the camera would autofocus, other times not. I am still essentially LOST and while I am not guessing 100% of the time, any photo that ends up focused and crisp is more attributable to the camera having to 'take over' and think for me!

Heirloom Knee High Sweet Pea

Blue Wishbone Flower

The First Raspberry

Rusty Tussock Moth Larvae

Varigated Petunia

More Heirloom Knee High Sweet Peas

Best Friend - Mini

"Hens and Chicks" Flowering

SERENDIPITY: the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for; also : an instance of this

2011-07-23T09:22:00.030-06:00

Thanks to everyone who read my blog posts and commented about the photos and commentary about the little caterpillar in my kitchen, her pupa and subsequent birth.

Once in a while, life gives us these unexpected gifts, the arrival of a hummingbird at a new feeder, newborn fawns in the backyard, a waft of sweet pea fragrance floating with the breeze in through an open window.

My stepdaughter, who has spent the last year living in a remote island off the coast of British Columbia conveyed a story to me recently about a conversation she had with a long time resident on this island. They were out in a boat when they spotted a bald eagle "up close and personal." Both silenced by its beauty they stopped to observe. The long time resident, after this lengthy pause, looked at the bird, then to her and said "It Never Gets Old."

I felt blessed to have the privelege of getting to observe and photograph the metamorphosis of the little Cabbage Butterfly. And yes, I'd have to agree one could say it was serendipitous given my involvement with The Butterfly Project. But, what I thought was even more worthy of being labeled Serendipitous was the arrival of the group of butterflies below during the same time the butterfly emerged from her cocoon.

It had been weeks since any new butterflies have arrived at my doorstep. Unlike the first months of the project where butterflies arrived pretty much on a daily basis. And so when Christine Cuthbert's envelope arrived, my mind travelled back into those bittersweet feelings of gratitude and wonder combined with the sadness again for the memory of the Holocaust children. But, what I wasn't at all prepared for was her motivation for creating these butterflies. Christine enclosed a beautiful card of hollyhocks and forget-me-nots with butterflies floating above. And inside the card read in part:

"...I spent my childhood studying the Holocaust. I saw everything and read everything I could including the stories of the children in the Warsaw Ghetto and Anne Frank.

I believe in some way they helped me to survive a horrific childhood

All the children lost through war, poverty, violence and atrocity hold a special place in my heart...."

The best way for me to describe the impact Christine's note and butterflies had on me is to share with you part of an email I wrote to her in response....

"...The hours of love you’ve poured into these pieces or art – I can’t fully imagine how many thousands of thoughts and memories and feelings of your past, present and dreams of the future they contain. It baffles me. I don’t want to be overly presumptuous. But, my sense is that you’ve channelled your deepest scars into each of these butterflies with so much color and texture and shape, form, line – Beauty. The result is a pure uncensored expression of Beauty.

To then package them up and send them away to serve as Tributes to the Children of the Holocaust? Well, the only word that I know to describe your act of Pure Unselfishness is Grace...."

And this is also why, I named our little Cabbage Butterfly Christine Grace...

Christine Cuthbert shares her artistic musings and loving thoughts on her blog Paisley and Peacock Emporium.

And thank you Christine for your amazing contributions to The Butterfly Effect -

all of the above butterflies created by

Christine Cuthbert

Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada

http://paisleyandpeacockemporium.blogspot.com

Illustrations of the "Male Persuasion"

2011-07-20T21:28:00.001-06:00

You guessed it - a new selection of funky images from Tumble Fish Studio! I emailed Marsha shortly after she announced this new kit saying I wasn't sure if I'd be able to come up with anything for them....I was feeling very flat creatively. But, I er um recovered. So, if you're looking for some Ying for your Yang, here goes...

Annual Meeting of the American Society of Magician/Exquisite Corpses

digital illustration

And as soon as I saw the exzpression on this fellow's face below - I was compelled to compile these images together....

Like a Deer in Headlights

This one is for my dear friend Abby, who is recovering after surgery in Syracuse, NY today. She introduced me to Flat Stanley in a blog post recently. You can wish her a speedy recovery AND read about her Flat Stanley's here

Flat Stanley Fashions

Digital Illustration

And finally, this last illustration came about as I was grasping to bring a visual 'voice' to a much more sobering topic, considering the state of our world's oceans. Did you know that More than 54 percent of the decrease in large predator fish has taken place over the past 40 years?

As unpopular as he is, Paul Watson, Canadian environmental interventionist (an ex co-founder of Green Peacce) is the 'star' of a new film by Trish Dohlman "Eco Pirate" . While certainly not getting any stars for sex appeal (think Johnny Depp,) I plan to watch this documentary if only to find more ideas of what I can personally do reduce my 'global footprint'.

The Tail End of the Tuna Eclipse Digital Illustration

Image Credits: 1) Tumble Fish Studio and Holliewood Studios for the trunk

2) Car - Clementine Designs, Tumble Fish Studio - that guy, background and deer - Holliewood Studios

3) Macey's and Tumble Fish Studio

4) Tumble Fish Studio and Holliewood Studios (for trees)

Thanks for visiting!

"A-Pearantly" digital illustration, my Chartreuse fetish and Christine Grace returned!

2011-07-20T09:33:00.003-06:00

I've really become enamoured with Chartreuse this year after reading an article about how this color when added as foliage to a home actually increases the marketability of the home. I've wondered how this could possibly ever be measured so took the claim 'lightly' but then began to notice Chartreuse more and more often. While shopping for annual flowers to fill my containers this spring, I decided to purchase a few 'chartreusey' colored vines and even found a two-toned hot pink and chartreuse petunia. I think the brightness and vibrancy of this yellow green or green yellow color is reminiscent of spring, of renewal and freshness and although I have never committed to ever having one favorite color, chartreuse has certainly begged for my attention.

Here are a smattering of photos and recently completed artwork featuring Chartreuse !

"A-Pearantly" digital illustration 8 x 10 inches

Image Credits: The Graphics Fairy (figure) Lorie Davison, Holliewood Studios,

Tumble Fish Studio

A very rainy day and yet the bright foliage makes it look less dreary - don't ya think? (This isn't my home)

Ground Cover - woops - please touch your right ear to your shoulder to view this!

"Those" Petunias

Catching Up on Creative Team Work

2011-07-17T02:19:00.002-06:00

Blogger seemed to be experiencing a severe case of the hiccups as I was creating this post, so my apologies for the wacky layout....

"Z"- and this was a fantasy having had difficulty sleeping the night I created this!

Images thanks to Tumble Fish Studio and Holliewood Studios

*******

Lots of activity happening over at Deviant Scrap lately. I've been out of breath trying to keep up with the new images and brilliant and endless creativity coming from Marsha at Tumble Fish Studio and Hollie at Holliewood Studios. Also, in trying to keep with my commitment to challenge myself to begin to think more about defining my own style, I am beginning to blend more of my own backgrounds into the illustrations as this next illustration reflects.

"Faery" - digital illustration

Figure with Wings - Tumble Fish Studio, Writing and Flower - Holliewood Studios

Background - mine

Fortune Cookie ATC Digital Illustration

"You May Be Inclined to Use Fish In Your Art More"

Boat - Holliewood Studios, Tickets and Background Images - Tumble Fish Studio,

Figures - mine

Another ATC - I must have done this one after I finally had a good night's rest as my sense of humor emerged...

"Sniffn'Go" Digital Illustration

Image Credits - thanks to Tumble Fish Studio

Or maybe I was just really 'punchy' and still sleep deprived...that seems to be the flavor of this one!

"Odd" - digital illustration

Image Credits thanks to Tumble Fish Studio, Holliewood Studios, Finecrafted Designs and Art by January

Out of Africa - digital illustration

Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio, Holliewood Studios and background - mine

Blog Reader Appreciation Day and Assorted Embarrassments!

2011-07-16T17:59:00.002-06:00

I wouldn't blame anyone for wondering IF I was ever going to carry through with my original June 2011 Blog Giveaway. If you've been reading along, you'd know I had to beg forgiveness for calling it the June Giveaway when it wasn't posted until June 15th and postpone it until July 15th, allowing me a month to create something. Now, I have to announce yet another 'adjustment' ! I had said I would create something from the images posted the day I announced my "June" giveaway. I promise you, I did begin to carry through with exactly what I promised. That was until I ran into a total block. And each time (and there were several) I went back into the project to see if my muse had found a different angle, nada.

So, now that I have those two embarrassments out on the table, I am very happy to announce that we do have a winner and also something to send her way!!

and the winner is -

#8 - Lynn

(Image from Tumble Fish Studio - A Bit of Magic)

Lynn - since my original plan failed, I had to improvise. This started as a cloth skinny page - my very first one in fact. The images are all from Holliewood Studios and the composition was created digitally and then printed onto fabric.

Unfortunately, during one of my trips to visit my daughters, I forgot to repack it. So, the time flew by and I retrieved it recently while I was visiting family again.

Because I questioned whether anyone would want a fabric page, plus I am utilitarian at heart, I transformed it into a reader's/eyeglasses/sunglasses case. I also stuffed it with some French lavender so it could also be used to carry tissue in your purse/car. The tissue would soon take on the fragrance of the lavender. Trust me, I keep my supply of lavender stashed in my sewing closet and every time I open the door, I can smell it. It's embellished with small seed beeds, a paper flower, some metallic thread, hand embroidered around the edges and I a sari ribbon to close it up.

Handmade Sun Glass/Reader's Case 8 x 8 inches
Digital Composition using a combination of images from Holliewood Studios printed onto

cloth, sewn, stuffed with lavender, seed beads, sari silk remnant, paper flower,and felt.

A big thank you to all of you that entered and to all of you who take the time to visit my blog and leave comments!

Stay tuned for the next Blog Reader Appreciation Giveaway! You can't win if you don't play!