Happy New Year

Trust God for the New Year!

Find Peace through His Son.

Find Joy in His Spirit.

Accept His Gift of salvation.

Share it with all.

Revelation

I had a revelation in the strangest place-a financial planner's office. . .

I keep looking for the path I'm suppose to be on....well, at 51 years old, maybe this is the path God intends for my life. Maybe it's wasted energy to seek a path; maybe it finds us. We may waste a great walk on this earth for the short time we are given if we are too concerned with the path search. God created us and understands us. He knows our needs, strengths,and desires. He gave them to us. It only makes sense that he directs us and settles our journey. He gave us free will and choices but if we stay in tune with His spirit then our spirit finds its true destination.

The image attached is a group of mini collages I recently made. It was great fun gluing bits and pieces of color, texture and painted swatches on tiny bits of cardstock. I covered the finished product with Mod Podge which really added a great deal of depth.

Trust and Accept

Not a resolution but hopefully a way of life for 2007.

Trust and accept.

The past is passed.

Revel in it.

Trust and accept.

The future isn't here yet,

Look forward to it.

Trust and accept.

Today is the present,

A gift.

Use it wisely.

Happy New Year!

A Glorious Day

My husband is home after a two week business trip.

My son is home from college for the holidays and

we were all in church together.

I felt so blessed.

I saw a family with the father's arms around his wife and daughter. He just had brain

cancer and is on chemo and healing. How blessed they felt.

I heard many describe what JOY is to them and it was such a blessing.
I wanted to witness myself but knew if I tried I'd cry.

If you are reading this and haven't found Christ, this is the perfect time, to pray and receive

his salvation and join the family of God.

Christmas Mania!

It's almost Christmas and my ideal simple enjoy the moment has turned into the usual do too much, too tired to enjoy, list of things that I ALWAYS do. Do I do it for me? For them? For show?

What is the reason and now did I get like this?

I declare my calendar use to have more days between Thanksgiving and Christmas than it does now so what happened?

I still need to do some baking, a tiny bit of shopping, wrapping and then stop and have Christmas.

My dad who is working a job he loves after retiring from his career in textiles is actually working on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and that really bothers me. We will get together on the 23rd! Oh well!

Merry Christmas! The reason for the season is found in a humble manger...the baby Jesus in a feeding trough!

Time

for me
for my art
for my thoughts
for exploring
for gathering
for releasing
for finding
for living
for appreciating
for understanding
for enjoying
for remembering
for knowing

Creative Integrity

Don't you hate it when you have to make art that is acceptable as a creative effort even when your style is to throw caution to the wind and be as free, tacky and different as you want. I'me dealing with that right now by changing the styles of collage for gifts I am making for family.

Look at the two and see which you find more creative. Let me know what you think.

Also, I am getting work ready to show at the local Little Theater for their holiday production.

Of course I feel obligated to show what the public accept rather than who I am as an artist.

PS I also realize that people who read other people's blogs get disappointed when they check a few times and see no updates but as all of us I stay busy just staying afloat so I tend to blog only when I have something new to say or show. Be patient with me.

a day of FrUsTrAtIoN

I hate to start stuff and not finish....

With a yard full of oaks though you never finish getting up leaves until late winter or early spring.

So I spent 2 1/2 hours getting up the piles in the front yard and then got the lawn mower out to cut up and pile up more until suddenly the mower wouldn't move! Belt! I think but it appears to be in place. Leaf clog! No!

So there it sits waiting for Terry to get home and figure it out and get himself frustrated.

Did some cleaning and sorting but too much to finish in one day so I here I sit writing this and waiting to finish the leaves, finish dinner, and get on with my evening plans.

But how BEAUTIFUL fall is despite the frustration of leaf maintenance............

Good Motivation

Even though artists, true artists, must make and create and perform even when there's not a request or commission....
it is great motivation to receive some validation.
I won a Merit Award in the Gaston Co. Art Guild members only Miniature art show.
The Road to a Friends House is Never Long

Always Learning

I was making great progress on my commission for UAC holiday concert, even had a color test piece started when I discovered a huge
error. One that even existed on the Christmas card piece of Unity Place from long ago. The steeple was not right. I guess I could have gone with and called it artistic license but it really bothered me, so I tape paper over the error, redrew it right, then it was too big for the size I'm trying to do to make it work for the printer; I reduced it at the post office copier last night after Bible study, came home and put it on the light box, traced it on wc paper; finally I think it's ready to start again. Everything is a learning experience. I keep telling my kids that drawing is mostly looking and seeing and I didn't follow my own advice.
Here is today's verse given by God...Autumn's Golden Light.

Daybreak

More silliness and challenges

This collage is called "Queen of Travail."
I just accepted a poster commission to do a watercolor for the holiday concert sponsored by the United Arts Council in Gaston Co. I hope I can do it in 2 weeks?! Yikes!
I am still doing my funny little collages of people and it is so much fun and relaxing. I may even try a collage for the poster just to warm up!

been to the mountains

A retreat in the mountains is a wonderful way to revive your spirit and refresh your energy for your work, whether your work be making art, writing novels, teaching, or digging ditches. I always seem to find my heart and voice in the mountains or at the beach. My two very favorite places for each of these retreats are Kiawah Island if it's the beach and Jonas Ridge if it's the mountains.
Here is a photo from Jonas Ridge that I took this week. The mountains raising through the fog look like little mountains in the ocean.
There was much solace and serenity there for me and my husband.

Brain Alive

I am definitely not brain dead. I have woke early the last two mornings, earlier than usual because my brain is alive with "to do" lists, ideas, chores, errands and everything under the sun to worry about...what I really wish I could do is be a full time artist. I sneak into my studio off and on finding inspiration and spilling it out onto anything and everything standing still.

Today I keep finding references to "light" in quotes, emails, lyrics on the radio and in my morning Bible and Prayer devotions.
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22 and
...that I may walk before God in the light of life. Psalm 56:13

I love that "walk before God in the light of life."
(scripture for Matthew’s email today)

Much gratitude to you, those that nurture you and the incredible moonlight that has been illuminating our night sky.

(from The Spiral Muse Newsletter)
Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your innovations
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book beginsT
he rest is still unwritten...Natasha Bedingfield

What is the message for me? Seek the light, follow the light, be illuminated, get out of the dark, the dark is over…)
God please do lift the dark cloud I seem to huddle under and illuminate my life.
I feel so close to happiness and worry free but I just refuse to grab the bright illuminated brass ring of the rest of my life.

I'm doing lots of collage, with layers of paint and ribbon and images.
Here are the latest art pieces.

Given by God

My devotion booklet "Given by God" is barely finished and I have words to start a new one. I have combined the words with a recent photo.
Despite a restless sleepless night, I will face the day's errands and challenges with peace in my heart and praise on my lips

Reconnections

I heard from a friend from the past yesterday. She was my best friend and roommate in college. We talked for an hour catching up on the happenings in our families. It was nice. I suggest you contact an old friend today. Life is short and we should never forget the
good folks we have known.

Here is a recent wishful self portrait. I'm hoping to submit it to skirt magazine.

Productivity

I did go to the doctor for my pain and of course he gave me meds and wants to see me in a month but the pain isn't totally gone.

However, in my little studio I can find much to do to occupy my mind and take it off of the pain. I carved a new stamp (inspired by a wonderful photo of my mother in law who died less than a year after we were married). I am making cards with it and did a polymer clay piece from it to put on canvas. I just can't decide how to embellish it yet. Any ideas?

Change

Progress?

I have made more art in the last two weeks than any one period in my life.
That's good but I think the use of my arms and hands and the tense way I stand and work is causing my pain. I finally gave in and called the doc and have an appointment for tomorrow at 8:30 AM. I'm weary and ready to get it over and done and get on with my life, my art, and my activities.
Here is a new piece for the journal project and the 2X3 foot canvas I've been working on.

Another day of............

I guess I'm going to the doctor. This head ache is keeping me from progress with my many art projects. I'm working on a canvas book for the upcoming SS theme of nature and I need to know how to keep vellum from wrinkling even though the dampness just came through the backing paper not the vellum itself.
It's looking so good except for that and I hate to think I have to start over. I attached the vellum with brads and then pasted the two pages together to hide the brad backs but now the dampness has come through and the vellum is wrinkled. Can I try to iron it? Blast it with the heat gun? What? I didn't want to stick the vellum even with vellum tape. Any suggestions?
I even learned to do piano hinge binding thanks to Lisa Vollrath's help. If you haven't seen her site TwoTen Studios. Check it out here:
http://tentwostudios.lisavollrath.com/

Here is a recent fun work featuring my son and his girlfriend. Just take a funny magazine ad and alter with heads and paint:

Believing in the healing of God

Although I am only 50 the ravages of time are taking over and I have new aches and pains every day. I need anyone reading this blog to please pray for me. I have had a headache off and on for 5 days now, not the normal, take a pill or rest and it leaves. Please join me and tell me if you believe too.

God Bless you!

If only...

If only I have time to devote a full work day each day to art.
If only I had the energy to give all my free time to art.
If only I had started earlier in my life.
If only...........wait........Carpe Diem.........I have today......I have now.....
I will do all I can
with all I have
as much as I can
for as long as I can
I am now in the process of doing mini color journals.I have begun blue and am going to do the primaries and then maybe go on to the secondaries and so forth.
I have another piece ready to submit to Somerset for their "blue" theme.
Whoop! Here it is!

another publication

I am happy to say I have another piece that will be published in the upcoming Oct./Nov. 2006 issue of Legacy, another Somerset Studios publicaton.
It is from my "Her" Series.
Here is the image and description:

“Her loyalty was awesome” is digital images of my paternal grandmother Hassie Quinn. She was a simple, hard working wife and mother who took care of everyone in her family for as long as she lived. Even after her day at work in the textile mill, she came home and cooked, cleaned, raised three children. I love these images of her. My grandfather Claude was her main charge and she took care of him until the day he died. The images have been printed from my computer. The background of red, blue and white acrylics really emphasize the doll like image of her. The smaller images are mounted on foam core to add dimension and interest in design. The text is stamped with acrylic paint. The images are attached and coated with gel medium. The size of the piece is 17 X 8 inches.

still in love with watercolor

Despite all my recent fun with altered everything art, I still have the passion for watercolor I always had. This piece "She wasn't always blue" began as a collage and now I've done the watercolor version and am very pleased with it.
I hope you never give up your first passions whether in art or life. Each day is precious and you never know how many are left so I encourage you to love them all. Embrace each little fact about daily routine. There is comfort there!



Carpe Diem!
Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of. ~Charles Richards

Manifesto

I read about a neat idea on another artist's site about writing a manifesto (Kelly Angard at http://www.creativecollage.blogspot.com/ a really cool site with lots of great images and info.
A manifesto is your own policy or standard for who you are and who you are becoming.
I decided to do a collage of words on an old watercolor landscape painting.
Here it is. I did add one more word after the photo so I just tagged it by cgi. It's a good exercise in deciding what is important to you. Something positive to focus on is better than fretting over any negativity.

New Studio Part II

Still evolving and organizing and planning and cleaning and whew! I'm tired. I had to stop and make art. Cleaning out your art areas or obtaining something new for it is a great catalyst. Yesterday alone I:

• finished a collage
• started a full sheet watercolor
• prepped pages for the collaborative woman journal
• planned another piece
• sketched new ATC's for Artella swaps
• sketched heritage women on a 2X3 foot canvas

I'm telling you. It works! If you haven't cleaned out your studio in a while or haven't went through that old box of stuff you were saving for "someday" or found a new item for you studio organization, then do it now. You will suddenly be making art so fast you want hardly be able to stand it. Just do it!

Here is a sample of that list:

Heart Felt Wishes

New studio

Well, not new but in the process of adding a huge work table and rearranging and discarding all the junk. I will post a picture when finished but for now.........here is some eye candy.....

How to stand out??????????

My art is growing with leaps and bounds but I still feel like my work looks like a take off on other peoples' works. So how do I make mine different?
I would love to have you browse my blog and give me some constructive ideas for finding my own style or tell me mine are very unique. I love what I'm doing but I need to step out of the crayon box and go for the WOW-I NEVER THOUGHT OF DOING THAT response.

Be thankful

I am thankful for my husband.
I am thankful for my son.
I am thankful for my mom.
I am thankful for my dad.
I am thankful for my God.
I am thankful for His Son, Jesus Christ.
I am thankful to be who I am.
A CHRISTIAN!

Creativity

I have been working on a zine about creativity. I am happy to share it with anyone reading this blog.Just email me and I will gladly send it to you. cqt144w@mindspring.com
It is a word file so most can open it easily.
Here is a sample page.

Time for Art keeps me sane

In all the commitments and things to do I keep finding new stuff to do with my art and I am having a ball. Here is the latest and another version is in the works on canvas to give my friend.

Monday isn't here and my schedule is full!

I taught all last week and thought this week would be free for my own art and regular chores but now I'm doing a backdrop for church, teaching one day, meeting a friend, getting oil changed, and on and on and on.
When will I ever learn to say NO!(?) Probably never!
Meanwhile here are some more of my funny heritage women.

another day another dollar

I am teaching an art camp this week and I really would rather be making my own art but instead I am trying to get 13 busy elementary kids to appreciate art, instruction and opportunity. Four days left and I am wiped out. I still had time to work on some lettering last night as I sat in front of mindless TV trying to unwind and get ready to sleep.

I think I'm on to something new

How in the world can I get my ideas out there and published and start making a living doing what I love? Is it even possible. I keep trying and dreaming and playing and maybe someday.....Here's a new image, using markers, Crayola Colorwash, regular Crayola and various others.

New series-Name?

I have been obsessed with a female doll pattern from Somerset Studios Workshop. I have traced it, doodled on it (inspired by Traci Bautista's new book - Collage Unleashed), put it on canvas, watercolor paper, etc.
I don't know where it is leading but I am having fun and know a new series is developing. I even think I will buy a HUGE canvas and paint it (my design teacher is always telling me to work larger.) I also learned that the Crayola Color Explosion markers will erase some other markers which really adds lots of neat detail to drawings. Try it and let me know
what you think. And what do I call the? At present I am calling them Heritage Women for lack of a better name. Here are some samples.

I need more time and energy

My mind is exploding with ideas and there just isn't enough time and energy for it all but I AM NOT GIVING UP! Why can't I just admit I am a full time artist and punch the clock at 8 AM, go to the studio (spare room) and create for 4 hours. Have lunch. Paint, collage, sketch, frame, etc. for 4 more hours and even put in overtime at night?
One day I will! And maybe even make a living at it! Here's a self portrait I did last year about this time!

Ready or not!

How do you ever decide if a piece of art is finished? Maybe you can't. Maybe no one can but at some point you move on. You either have no further ideas to express with it, no more things to possibly add (less is more) or you are just plain tired of looking at it. I like to place a piece I'm considering finished in another place other than my studio and go by several times a day and look at it with different light and eyes. This also keeps me from fiddling, picking up the brush or another element for collaging. This usually helps me more than anything. I also have a dear number of friends (artists, teacher, realist) who can look at it objectively and give me feedback, critique and still make me feel like I have accomplished something nice.
Here is my latest piece I am considering finished. Feel free to comment!

The Pocket Book Reader for Virginia Woolf.

"I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process."
Vincent van Gogh

Quantity Vs Quality

I choose both but due to time quantity is a problem. I have so many ideas and not even enough time to write them all down but I seldom have a lack of something to do. If only I could work an 8 hour day with art and not feel like I was wasting time. Maybe I'd actually start to sell more if I did this. Marketing is not my strong suit but I can truly produce quite a bit when given the chance...
I would love responses of how you feel about quantity, quality, time, etc.
Meanwhile, here is another project in the works for my collaborative journal project. I call it A Woman's Center.

So excited

Here is another piece I am working on for SS.
It is an 8X10 canvas with lace background, polymer clay cake, letter tiles, bottle caps, clear word embellishment, metal corners and wire swirls.
It is not finished but it is progressing.
I am also working on a Virginia Woolf pocket book reader. I found this cute tiny purse at a dollar discount store and am embellishing it with altered pictures, handmade tiles and broaches, and excerpts from her work. I could only find decent head shots on the internet so I actually altered a photo of my grandmother and put Virginia Woolf's head on her body. I am attaching that image until the purse is dry and will post it.

Time to organize

Having people into your home is a great way to get things clean and organized. I can actually get into my studio to paint, work, and find things. So if you find yourself having a problem with space, stuff, and lack of motivation to take care of it, then invite someone to visit and you will suddenly be cleaning and organizing up a storm.

I am working on new art to submit to Somerset, for upcoming shows, and working on the woman journal, making atc's and just dreaming up even more wonderful projects. I am also preparing to teach a kids class themed "under the sea".

Here is a page from one of the journals.

Where did my blogging go?

It seems I have once again let life's little details take charge and keep me away. I like to get my ideas down for me if no one else.
I am pleased to announce I will have more art in the next issue of Somerset Studios (July/August 06). I am so pleased with this I could scream....maybe I will....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
I don't remember if it's the Bohemia or Paris issue but I will have it in a couple weeks and know.

Here are entries from both to look for:

Turn North

I know it's best to not take scripture out of context but I just read Deuteronomy 2 and these words stood out.

"You have made your way....long enough....now turn north."

What a grand thought!

My respite at Kiaway is fading fast....I have to stay in that mode or frame of mind or I'll not make the turn.

time for respite

Day after tomorrow we go on our annual beach vacation to Kiawah Island, SC. I can't wait. It's the only time of year I truly seem to rest and retreat from the daily grind called LIFE.
I am attaching a photo to show you it's beauty.
In the meanwhile, I am working on a free e zine about creativity and nurturing it in your life. If interested, contact me for a free copy.
Blessings to you as you read this and find your on getaway from life.

Decision time

As a teacher you strive to teach kids the right way to do things without compromising their own intelligence and creativity. With this thought I am in a dilemma. I teach for two different art programs. One is open to being very free and expressive while learning some techniques. The other is very rigid and "stay in the lines" kind of style. I am drawn to the expressive and creative format. So I need to explain this to my supervisor with the other program. I hope I can be honest and true to my beliefs while not getting chastizement or critcism.
Here are two samples of each style. Tell me what you like or don't like. Can you tell the difference. Leave me a comment and I will send you a free booklet on Sacres Landscapes and the freedom to play and create.

stresses and strides

I am so happy to say the collaborative journal project started small but spectacularly. I am enjoying the process and camraderie for fun journal art on the theme WOMAN. I am attaching a working journal piece for the first round and a piece I did for mother's day.
I am stressing myself though by trying to change and conform which is not what my journal is about (woman, be true to yourself without apology and conformity.) Oh, well, I AM WHO I AM and that's hard to change.
Celebrate strides and ignore stress.

Elation

I am easily encouraged.
I have been submitting work to Somerset Studios and been rejected twice but am happy to say I will have work in the upcoming Gallery V, summer 06 edition of their sister magazine. My "Girlfriends" canvas and board book were submitted and I don't know yet if they are using both or just one, but I am elated either way. You can preorder the issue like I did at the following link. http://www.stampington.com/html/gallery.html

I also have a new mini canvas I made yesterday between classes.
I call it "Wings to Fly" an altered image of me as a child with wings.
My mom and dad always encouraged me to do all I wanted and keep
trying my best with all endeavors. They applauded my successes and encouraged me to keep trying when I failed. They gave me wings to fly.
The whole wing idea I guess started too from my rejection of my "flight" pieces recently submitted.

I also have more work submitted to Somerset as well as Legacy.
These are great publications if you enjoy altered art, collage, and heritage pieces.