"Peking In" - New diptych - (I AM an Art HERO)

OK, I  can't contain it any longer - I am an ART HERO!   ;0) 

 A week or so ago, I ran across a video from Kesha Bruce, an artist and mentor living both in France and the USA.    I heard about Kesha  from one of my dearest friends and Michele, and decided if I said it loud enough inside and outside of my head! just maybe, fingers crossed, one day I might actually believe it!!!  As Keesha states  ...Sometimes ya gotta make a little noise.....

Apart from it being an amazingly fun video, (link)  it came at a time when I've really been trying to dig deep and discover my style. 

This train of thought  all started with a question that Seth Apter (The Altered Page) asked in his latest, soon to be released "Pulse".  (more about that later)   I just couldn't answer that.  But it did set in motion much internal debate.   Thanks Seth for provoking me to PEEK IN-side. 

What followed was a solid twenty hours of exploring creatively as well as an on-going set of goals to slowly chip away at.    And even though, I have miles and years to go, these two collages are a new beginning for me.  I feel like they are `` my style.``  I am an Art Hero.....I am I am Sam ...I AM!! 

It feels good to be vulnerable  ...uh ...I ....think!  But, a comment or two from my readers would help right about now?  Did my hard work pay off?  Or do I need to find another tree to bark up and at?  Either way, I will plod along....and happily because, after all,  it's all in the playing!

"Peking In" - Diptych #1 7 x 7 inch digital collage art print (low res)

copyright 2011 TwoDressesStudio

available on Etsy here

"Peking-In" - Diptych #2  7 x 7 digital collage art print (low res)

Copyright 2011 TwoDressesStudio

Available on Etsy here

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Mona in the Looking Glass - on her way to Germany after visiting Two and PeEKING

Marion B. at  http://bockel24.blogspot.com   is hosting her 5th Annual International ATC Trade.   This year the her subject was Mona and Friends - Renaissance Women.  Now that I've completed my contributions, I'm really looking forward to visiting the other blogs to see the array of entries.  I always wait so that I'm not influenced by what others have made. 

 I've known  and admired Marion as a blog friend for even longer, trading ATC's with her when I first started to explore mixed media art and collage.  Although I've never been outside of the airport in Franfurt, Germany, I've spent some time armchair travelling through Munster, her hometown and often dream of how magical it would be to live in a city so  full of history and bursting with architectural wonder.

 Since the Canadian postal workers have been legislated to return to work, I had no time left for excuses and dreamt up three ATC's and a card to go along with them.  These are cut and paste ATC's with handmade paper and portions of pages from a vintage Japanese book I purchased a few years ago.  In the background are also  portions from a larger, more sustained digital illustration I have been working on for the better part of a week and hopefully will be finishing up over the long weekend and posting on Etsy.

Photograph 1 - Monasiatc Card - Mixed Media Collage 11 x 6 inches

Photograph 2- Monasiatc PEeKING Series - Mixed Media ATC's  (cut and paste) -  2.5 x 3.5 inches each

Photograph 3 - Monasiatc PeEKING Series and Card

Image Credits - Mona - Tangie Baxter, Pink Flamingo - Paper Whimsy, Small Fan - Holliewood Studios,

Embossed Stamp - Nick Bantock Series

Also - there is still plenty of time to enter my monthly draw (a way to express my appreciation to those of you who visit and comment). To enter, clickthe link on the sidebar to the right.  I know, it's a June 2011 Draw, but because I didn't post it until mid June, I'll be waiting until mid July to draw!

Happy 4th of July and Canada Day July 1st!

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Life's Apprentice - Search Find Follow - New Mail Art Series

Blogging seems to have taken a temporary back seat lately as I've been trying to catch up on outstanding projects....again.  Can you relate?  :0)  Here's a series of postcards I just finished for an international postcard exhibit.   The first  image is a photograph of all three matted and ready for the now (effective today)  'back in business' Canada Post!

Life's Apprentice Series - "Search-Find-Follow"

Image Credits - Thanks to -  Finecrafted Designs, Holliewood Studios,

Tumble Fish Studio, Lori Davison,

Tangie Baxter, Two Dresses Studio,

The Graphics Fairy,

 and public domain images 

all 3 available on Etsy here

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Oh My Gothic is so SQUARE!

One of my  on-line collaborative groups, Oh My Gothic,  commenced the 2011-2012 season this month with 4 x 4 inch squares.   After eighteen or so months of  creating works in a 4 x 8 inch format aka "a SKINNY PAGE" I initially felt a little 'boxed in'!   So, it's no coincidence, that I've been experimenting with this size for the past couple of months.  I'm quite certain, I'm the only one in the world that knows this until now. If you don't like square, you'll want to unsubscribe from my blog now! :0)

The 'theme' for June and for Connie  was 'white with a touch of color' and what follows are a series of

 snapshots of how this very 'early' page  unfolded.

I occasionally will read poetry or look through old favorite art books to find inspiration. Do you?   Not always, but if I'm in the mood for some very quiet reflective time.  That's how this particular process went. 

With inspiration in mind and even though I was quite smitten by the lovely aging....I chose to spruce up this vintage photo below,   erasing the time worn smudges of years of wear and adding color and flowers.  If only I could photoshop my own face each morning...sigh...

 Above:  The MakeOver - Before and After (scattering of flowers by Tangie Baxter and Lorie Davison)

 At the same time, my  'internal dialogue' was focused on recalling  several recently read lines  from French poet Gerard de Narvel  ... as An Old Tune echoed in my mind....


"There is an air for which I would disown
Mozart's, Rossini's, Weber's melodies, -
A sweet sad air that languishes and sighs,
And keeps its secret charm for me alone.
Whene'er I hear that music vague and old,
Two hundred years are mist that rolls away;
The thirteenth Louis reigns, and I behold
A green land golden in the dying day.
An old red castle, strong with stony towers,
The windows gay with many coloured glass;
Wide plains, and rivers flowing among flowers,
That bathe the castle basement as they pass.
In antique weed, with dark eyes and gold hair,
A lady looks forth from her window high;
It may be that I knew and found her fair,
In some forgotten life, long time gone by. "


another s i g h - isn't the imagery incredibly rich???

Unfortunately, limited by size and space, I  chose to insert another one of  his magical quotes:

"A flower is a soul blooming out to nature"
- Gerard de Nerval

Next up, machine stitching, beading, into some soft pink wee  tatting I hand sewed on (how did they do that?) and my favorite tiny antique lace.

A few miniature buttons sewn on (and I mean mini - although these photos are large, this is a tiny 4 x 4 inch finished size)

Folowed by  finishing touches and  now ready to send off  to sit at a Canadian post office for ???? who knows how long?  (for readers from other countries Canada is in the midst of a postal strike)

Oh My Gothic - 4x4 Page Front and Back - An Old Tune, An Old Soul

Thanks for reading...

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"Dark Glow"

Two more digital illustrations to share with you today - both created for Tumble Fish Studio featuring her new papers "Dark Glow"

And a reminder, don't forget to enter my June Giveaway (see the link directly to the right of this post)!

Be Afraid - Be Very Afraid - Digital Illustration

 

Wish - digital illustration

Image Credits - Tumble Fish Studio, Holliewood Studios

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June and July 2011 Giveaway Draw and New CT Work using primarily Tumble Fish Studio images

Happy Sunday and Father's Day to anyone falling into that category today!  I had forgotten about Father's Day until my daughter called to wish my partner greetings.  Having spent a week with my Dad last week when he was hospitalized out of town, I had the opportunity to 'spruce up' his back deck with some sunflowers, a new birdfeeder and a welcome mat to leave as a surprise when he came home.Thankfully, I had several days to visit him while he was recovering in hospital.  He turned 85 on May 31st and I'm happy to say has recovered from his illness!

While I was at my Dad's I found a series of photographs - here's one I am particularly fond of of my Mom and Dad taken in 1946 while they were dating (taken at Banff National Park, Canada)  

My Parents - circa 1946

Love your socks Dad!!!

Here's my latest contributions to some of Marsha's (Tumble Fish Studio) new kits on sale at Deviant Scrap.  Unless otherwise noted, these are primarily Tumble Fish Studio stock images available here

My Little Pretty - digital illustration

The Blind Date - digital illustration

From 39-46 I was SINGLE and believe me, I went through several blind dates via the on-line dating services. I always chose to meet at Starbucks as it was public, daylight, and a quick 'first live interview'. There were several times, I wanted to run the other way as soon as I walked in the door. This little illustration attempts to depict those times.

Beauty - digital illustration

Rose Was a Ten - digital illustration

1/2 June and 1/2 July* :0)Monthly Giveaway Draw

For my June 2011 giveaway draw, * plus half of July) I will be translating one of the above images into a mixed media piece....  If you'd like to enter, leave a comment with appropriate information so I can notify you if you win!  Good Luck!!



Image Credits:

List of Images that are NOT Tumble Fish Studio (from top to bottom)

Salamander - Art by January

Light - Tangie Baxter

Tea Cup - MizzD Stock

Chair - Holliewood Studios

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Musing the Disparate, Update-Butterfly Effect, June Blog Giveaway

The below illustration was purely an exercise for me in exploring the repetition of  various forms with a focus on collage and design,   however disparate.  

 Things so unlike that there is no basis for comparison.  

The crook of a tail, the bend of an arm at the wrist, a tail feather navigating a direction through the wind.

 A vine cascading downward, returning to the earth,  energy flowing through water, falling to the ground, rising to the surface, finding the sky. 

  

 Moving forward and through the mystery of the next moment. 

  

 Elements of water, air-wind, earth and sky inter-mixed and interdependent. 

Nature's palette.

Soft and gentle.

Grace and morning...glories.

"The Flow" - 8 x 10 inch digital illustration/collage

Image Credits - here

The Butterfly Effect - while I was out of town, several beautiful new butterflies landed and I was so re-energized by this and for the project.   I'll be photographing them this week and hopefully updating and adding them by the end of the week.  Please note there is still lots of time to work on and submit butterflies - whether you submit to me first or directly to the Holocaust Museum Houston.  For more information go here 

June Blog Giveaway - details to follow soon.

Thanks for reading and for your always welcomed comments. 

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Van Gogh Sunflower House

This is the first of a few 'paper houses' I've been working on over the past several weeks.  CPS has a reader's challenge including the template to create these tiny houses (the base is approx. 2 x 3 inches).

 Why not give it a try?  Here's the link

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Teesha Moore Stamp

 I've always loved the expression on the face of this stamp created by Teesha Moore.   So, several weeks ago I decided to take it to the computer by photographing the stamp,  digitally enhancing the edges  and then working it into a composition to then print onto cloth and bead, embroider and stitch.  The rest of the  images  in were from Lorie Davison with lots of alterations.      I completed one,  stuffed it with lavender to send to a friend.  This is the second one, that I'm transitioning into a needle book for a little gift for another friend.  Ribbons from Alpha Stamps, Tatting from Marsha Jorgensen and scalloped edge from a hand dyed doilie from Lorraine Stobie.

Here are a few images of it in progress from digital to cloth.

The Slightly Twisted Flower Child  - digital illustration

 
 
 
 
 

I'll be off the grid  for a few days, take care everyone!

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May 2011 Blog Giveaway Winner

A big thank you to those of you who entered the May 2011 draw  and an apology too for leaving this announcement to late in the day!   Life happens!



Lucky #30 was the winner - Patty S. from The Magpie's Nest
Here's what she'll be receiving -

Congratulations Patty and thanks to everyone for participating.  I'll be announcing another draw for the month of June soon!

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