Still recouping from flu

but ready to make art....working on Easter cards, ATC's, SS submissions and other goodies!

It's spring! I want to get my house spruced up and then spend time in my studion...non stop but Easter, my Dad's birthday and trip to beach are first....anything is possible.

All things are possible through Christ who gives me strength!

Metal ATC

Sorry this one failed to load....argh! slow dial up!

New ATC's

My first metal one, made of wire mesh, cross, word tile, all is attached with copper wire and copper metal tape.
Triptych is an homage to Monet, acrylic background with Prismacolor and gold pen details.
Diptych is an altar card for Madonna, acrylic background with Madonna clipart and gold and ink detailing.
Last cards are made on watercolor paper with fun foam shapes, glazed in metallic watercolors and stamped.

Feature

My "Her" series is featured in today's Daily Muse. Go here to see it.

http://www.artelladailymuse.com/news/129/ARTICLE/5119/2007-03-24.html

You may get a free pass to try it out.

Also, here are other links to my works:

http://creativeinspirations.blogspot.com/

http://artellaartistcards.blogspot.com/

http://www.gastoncountyartguild.com/tessnear.html

http://www.artellawordsandart.com/ChrisTessnear.html


http://www.flickr.com/photos/95185307@N00/sets/72057594104502684/

or http://www.flickr.com/photos/95185307@N00/ or

go to Flicker and search for Chris Tessnear or Creative Inspirations

Image is from Christine altered book.

Frustration but success!

The post page loaded this time. Some days it doesn't allow me to enter text or images! Is anyone else having that problem? Is it because of my slow dial up? Is it just the web goonies playing tricks?

Well, here I am at last able to log on and post and I'm at a loss of what I have thought of sharing all the times I couldn't get on. I am actually sick today with a horrible cold and sore throat and sleep deprivation. I took the morning slow and worked on some ATC's, journaling and even some chores (laundry and cleaning.)

I am sharing a page from the altered book I am doing on myself, using Steven King's book, Christine. Appropriate for my name of course. I started off good and then hit a wall and am now back to some decent pages. Do you ever do that? Start with a good idea, work hard and then suddenly, BLAH! Then get back on track and make good pages again.

I am also going to post some new ATC's. My local group meets next week and I will be sharing with a local art group the next week.

Classes are going well. (teaching 3 kid's classes at the local non-profit school of arts) Yesterday was a challenge, working on art for the booth for an upcoming fund raiser and then continuing the projects with kids in my class along with another teacher's class; it was messy and chaotic to state it simply.

Only two more weeks till we take an early vacation to my favorite spot, Kiawah Island, SC. Check it out on the internet and you will see a little part of heave right here on earth and it's only about 4 1/2 hours from here and 30 minutes from Charleston, a wonderful city of art and history.

This trip always relaxes me, inspires me and reenergizes me.

Well, enought rambling... time to finish up my list of chores to do today, sick or not.

frustrated with this blog

New ATC's and Altered Book

Having been making ATC's for well over a year but I am enjoying them with a passion like never before. Maybe due to a local swap group starting up. I have made hundreds in the last few months. I am obsessed with using tape transfers on them.

I also am working on a new altered book about me, using a discarded Stephen King novel, Christine. Loads of fun.

I also completed an addition to my "Her" series. I had wanted to do one of my husband's Aunt Christine (yes, another one, but she is called Teen).

I found this image of her as a young woman stooping on the ground, beautiful hair, and her mouth open as if speaking. I am calling this one, Her Days are Filled with Memories." Widowed in her early 60's she has surely survived with her memories of her wonderful marriage and enjoyed her daughter and grand children. I'll post a photo of it when I get one made but for now, here are my new ATC's and a page from the Christine altered book.

Living proof

I am living proof that if you follow your heart's desire, happiness follows....

• I dreamed of a romantic man to marry...Terry came my way 27 years ago...


• I dreamed of being a mother...Matthew was born 22 years ago


• I dreamed of being a teacher...after many changes and staying home for years to raise my son, I am teaching ...


• I wanted to be an artist since childhood...51 years and I am an artists and an art teacher....

Follow your heart. Love God. Be grateful! Life isn't as good as we thought...IT'S BETTER!

Hooray for late notices!

I was thrilled to recieve that little card in yesterday's mail, that said I do have work in the new Somerset Studios magazine, March April, 2007.

The women in lit issue and here again is my entry.

Keep on Keeping On

Disappointed that my piece for the current Somerset Studios was rejected. I thought it was great. (The Virginia Woolf Pocket Book Reader. Check blog archives for the image.)

Nevertheless, I have another piece to submit for the vintage halloween issue: Who Needs A Broom? A canvas collage utilizing transparent images on an acrylic painted canvas with copper tape details.

Cover of Ruler Book

Realized after checking the blog that the image of the cover doesn't show the title very well so here is a close up. I used different letters because it was what I had on hand; I think it works.

another given by God

O Lord of earth and sky,
Stay in my heart close by.
Supply me with your spiritual armor to fight daily battles
Helping me know when to turn away and when to tattle.
Through your Son, Jesus Christ, I survive,
And with your Holy Spirit I thrive.

Measure of Man Ruler Book

Here are some photos of my latest project. The ruler book is a great concept but it sure makes a tight opening book. I did email the company that makes it and got some professional tips that helped. I love the look but probably won't do another one.

Art highs and lows

I feel like I'm making more and better and truer art than ever but I sell so little. Is making it and sharing it enough? Yes except how do I continue to afford the supplies. Thank goodness I'm so into collage and assemblage now cause so much of that is recycled art and supplies except for the adhesives.
I pick up the hearts and flowers work tomorrow. No sales unless I finad there was a sale when I get there. Oh, well, I loved doing the pieces and it cost me nothing cause I used supplies and framing I had.
I have made a new altered book I will photograph and share later. It's one of the Tim Holtz ruler books and it's called Measure of Man all about the neat men in my life.

So I'd say generally speaking, my art is still on a huge HIGH! I love it. It's who I am and what gives me pleasure and defines my day to day existence. I will make it and share it as long as humanly possible.

It's Just ME!

I took my own image and did it like the Stone Woman I did for my Imagine pages for the Woman Journals.
It's a quick and easy way to make a striking image of anything...people, objects, landscape.
Try it and have fun!

Woman Journal Project Update

The collaborative round robin Woman Journal I hosted is nearly over. Everyone is to be working on one final page for each journal and be ready to share them at the local I Am Woman show exhibition in April in Kings Mountain, NC. I have made individual entries for each journal until now and was recently inspired by a poem called Imagine A Woman. I am including it here and the author's info and site since I did not ask permission to share it, I hope I will be forgiven and you will visit her site to tell her how much you like it as well.

The image is inspired by the woman in stone stamp from Stampington. I altered and simplified it in Adobe, put it on watercolor paper (already tinted with watercolors) with a light box and then wet the design and dropped in various colors to mingle. The page will be about 8 1/2 by 11 for each journal with the poem printed on vellum on top of the image. Each person will have different colors of watercolors.

Imagine a Woman

by Patricia Lynn Reilly, M. Div.© 1995

This poem inspired the book Imagine a Woman in Love with Herself.

Imagine a woman who believes it is right and good she is woman.

A woman who honors her experience and tells her stories.

Who refuses to carry the sins of others within her body and life.

Imagine a woman who believes she is good.

A woman who trusts and respects herself.

Who listens to her needs and desires and meets them with tenderness and grace.

Imagine a woman who has acknowledged the past's influence on the present.

A woman who has walked through her past.

Who has healed into the present.

Imagine a womanwho authors her own life.

A woman who exerts, initiates, and moves on her own behalf.

Who refuses to surrender except to her truest self and to her wisest voice.

Imagine a womanwho names her own gods.

A woman who imagines the divine in her image and likeness.

Who designs her own spirituality and allows it to inform her daily life.Imagine a womanin love with her own body.

A woman who believes her body is enough, just as it is.

Who celebrates her body and its rhythms and cycles as an exquisite resource.

Imagine a womanwho honors the face of the Goddess in her changing face.

A woman who celebrates the accumulation of her years and her wisdom.

Who refuses to use her precious life energy disguising the changes in her body and life.

Imagine a woman who values the women in her life.

A woman who sits in circles of women.

Who is reminded of the truth about herself when she forgets.

Imagine yourself as this woman.

For more of Patricia Lynn Reilly's inspirations, visit her site:http://www.openwindowcreations.com/

Here are all the images and the one with the vellum poem overlay.

Art is my life

Lately, I feel as if I just can't make enough art. I want to make art 24/7 but with a husband and college age son, I know there are other needs and priorities. I am constantly planning, thinking and wanting to complete all the ideas in my head but time, space and moola won't permit.

Meanwhile I'll just make all the art I can and share it with as many folks as I can.

If you remember an earlier post called Given By God, I'l love to share that little booklet of artwork and words with anyone interested. Just email your comments and address to me and I will gladly share it with you.

Here is the cover and a recent "given by God" poem, not included in the booklet.

Sitting by the creek
Feeling humble and meek
Save and protected by God’s own mercy and love
With angels soaring above
I feel His blessings and grace
Warm as the sun on my face
I look up and see the blue skies
Of God’s own eyes
Thanksgiving and gratitude
Are me current attitude
Knowing He care
Gives me all I need to bear
The struggles of this life
And all other strife
Peaceful and content
Will remain my mind’s bent

Who I wasn't yesterday

The moon wanes in the west as
The sun rises in the east
A new dawn
A new day
Lord help me be
Who I wasn't yesterday

I am always trying to be more caring, more creative, happier, kinder, calmer, more helpful, more Christian, healthier....all the things I think I should be and never succeed, so maybe each day should stand alone and I just try to be who I wasn't yesterday.

Image is wings to fly ATC

How long?

How long can I continue to make art for the Somerset artist calls? How long can I afford the postage to mail it and for return? It's very inspiring and challenging to do them. Maybe that should be my reward. I had this silly dream that I would be discovered and asked to design a line of work, be part of a book or have some other gem of recognition and possible income tossed my way. Wish there was such a company to work for here.

After yesterdays worries and borrowed troubles I 'm surprised I can even think art but I am. I am almost finished with 4 new ATC's for the next Artella Swap and here is a piece for the upcoming SS take in for Vintage Halloween issue. I call it Key to the Coven although I do not believe in witches and this lovely woman is certainly not a witch but I do believe women have a kind of personal magic within them and they hold the key to its power for their lives. Unfortunately, my key seems to fail to open the door most every time.

The image is a collage paper doll on a painted and textured piece of foam core with a message written in about my beliefs about this inner power women have. The key is an aged piece I found at a local craft store.

When is it finished

If you remember a few posts back I was trying to get work ready for the Hearts and Flowers Exhibit and did not like one of the collages I made... well I painted over it and now I love it!

Here are the two in comparison.

Tell me what you think:

Moral: Don't ever be afraid to paint over, collage over, alter anything you make. If you don't like it you can just do it again and again until you do.

First Tip In Swap

I have been making tip ins for my first swap in this area.

The theme is corsets and I am to make 10 to exchange for 10 different ones.

Specs are to make each 5X7 inches with a 1/2 inch left margin for binding and include at least one vintage image.

I chose to do an original watercolor image of a lady in her dressing room. I used foil for the mirror, a trasparency for the dress manikin, and a small framed vintage image for the wall. Various scrapbook papers were used for the backgrounds and prismacolor was colored in for the floor. Some of the figures are hand tinted and some are tinted on the computer.

Here are the 12 I made. I always seem to make extras. The backs include more vintage papers, a large vintage image from the front with the corset definition, and a small atc with my picture, bio and contact info.

an early rising

I just couldn't sleep once I got up to go to the bathroom!

Does anyone else do that? Aches, pains, worries, thoughts, to do's...my mind is awake but my body isn't ready for the day.......

Bible study was great last night....fear...we all have it at some point in our lives...but what about those of us who cant' seem to shake it? We hide it, disguise it, ignore it, pray about it, hide it some more!But it never really goes away! Why? Where did it come from? How do we get fearful? Why do we fear things that will most likely never happen? Why do we fear things we KNOW will happen when there's NOTHING we can do to prevent it?

Am I crazy or normal?

An aside: I am almost finished with my angel altered book so I will be posting images:

Here's a favorite 2 page spread, maybe not for beauty but for idea and content: it's all about angels protecting us and we entertaining them unaware of their presence.

always thinking ART

I admit art is my guilty passion....

I am constantly thinking, doing, making, planning ART!

I have just committed to my first "tip-in" swap with a corset theme.

Here is the piece in progress.

Background is scrapbooking paper, figure and reflection is original design hand painted watercolor image , mirror is foil, stool is original wc image and vintage image is the framed wall piece of a lady in a corset. Each piece is glued on separately and the base is watercolor paper or card stock with the left 1/2 verticle edge free for attaching to book.

Treasures in My Heart Series

These are the pieces for the Hearts and Flowers exhibit sponsored by the Gaston County Art Guild at The City Club in Gastonia, NC for the month of February.

I, II, and III. Mixed media collages 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 inches matted and framed 12 x 14 inches.

I used scraps from pallettes, papers, scrapbook mesh, and a heart cut from paste paper in each. Assembled with mat medium and then covered in Mod Podge, a decoupage medium that really gave the pieces depth and shine.

Productivity Vs Creativity

Sometimes it's both. Many times I work and work and work and work and have almost nothing to show for it and sometimes I work and work and work and have much to show and appreciate.

I have had a very productive week, finishing work for my next Somerset Studio submission - 3 Nature items, 8 ATC's for the latest Artella swaps, have work ready to frame for an annual Valentine exhibit and more things planned to get busy with as soon as I clean up the studio from all of this. I can work in a mess for only so long and then MUST clean and reorganize to get going again.

I recently was able to get a friend to finally admit she understands my need for time and space to create. She also admitted she now thinks of me as an artist not a hobbyist. How do I get the rest of the people I know to realize this?

I'm also involved with a small group of ladies at a local art and history museum who are trying to get a local ATC swap group started.

So I say all this to say this:

PRODUCE and CREATE as much as you can as often as you can for as long as you can!

great beginnings

everyday is a time for a great beginning....not just january 1 or monday but everyday we are allowed to get up and breathe in fresh air for a new day we can start over, better, bigger, happier than the day before....

i guess i am feeling particularly hopeful because my son is beginning his last semester of college, my husband is beginning his last year of work before retireing and we hope to begin building our retirement home soon after and i am working hard on my art and teaching (16 art students now-biggest class ever) so i feel very blessed and ready to begin each day of 2007 with enthusiasm and great expectations for a wonderful life....it is you know.

church was also inspiring this morning and has left me full of hope for a wonderful year as well.

just looked at a great new website you may want to check out. actually it's not new but revamped....find it at http://zurabeth.com copy and paste this link into your browser. enjoy!

check out these other places while you are browsing as well....

http://artellaartistcards.blogspot.com/

http://www.gastoncountyartguild.com/tessnear.html

http://www.artellawordsandart.com/ChrisTessnear.html

http://claudinehellmuth.blogspot.com/

http://www.michelleward.typepad.com/

sometimes it's better in the mind

I had all these wonderful ideas for pieces for the annual Hearts and Flowers art exhibit for February. None have turned out as planned. Collages lacking gusto. Canvases lacking umph.

So I'm now trying a couple of simple watercolors. Back to the drawing board then I guess...literally!

valentine faux stamp

I have been working today on images for the annual Hearts and Flowers exhibit for the City Club in Gastonia. I'm doing some of my funky canvas collages and in the process invented faux stamps with one of my previous watercolors. I'm including it here and you may want to use it in a collage and send me the image to see. I'm using them in multiples as packing tape transfers and letters to convey my message of "love makes the world go round" along with a clip art image of a couple. I'll post it when finished.

Given by God: random thoughts while walking

Dear Lord,
You and You alone
Know my heart
You gave me my art
You alone know my soul
You made me whole
You alone know our spirit
You allow others to hear it

God’s voice can be heard in the wings of birds.
Their songs are His words.

It's WHO I Am

I had a call from a lady at church about taking the Worship chair position again.
I said No but that I'd pray about it. I just learned the hard way that I have to say No when I need to say No. I just about get sick myself when I think of meetings and chairing anything. I think God understands and I know He has a different plan for me right now.
I am trying to find it through prayer and my art even. I know I have been able to reach and minister through my art for him. I know I even do it without realizing it. When the lady called to ask me to exhibit at the Little Theater, it was a Christian Christmas play and she said she had seen my work enough to know it fit the theme. I was honored by that comment alone. I prayed over the pieces I took and hoped that above all my art may speak to someone's needs whether any sales were made or not. Well, I had no sales but I pray the art did speak to the viewers. I don't try to overly make my art a message of Christ but somehow it comes through
by him and his power. That was proved to me when a friend saw the crosses in the sky of the UAC piece. Well, art is my ministry right now and until God nudges me somewhere else that's where I'll stay. I can't begin to try to explain this to most people but I think you, the artist, will hear it and understand it. Art takes time and if I don't give it the time it deserves, it will suffer. So will I. I read yesterday in an article different artist's top ten lists of things, so I made my own top ten list of why I make art. High on my priority was that it is who I am and what I do and that without it I would lose a big part of my heart and soul, who I am.

This piece called Broad River is an older piece but it speaks

to my spirit right now and this message.

keeping busy

Finally, I have all the holiday "stuff" put away. Why is it so fun in the beginning and such a chore at the end? I love Christmas and all it entails but I pretty much do it all and most women and get tired of not having help. But....I'll do it again next Christmas....

moving on....

I am gessoing a blank book to make into an altered book on angels. Got to do something with all those beautiful Christmas cards. ..

I am working on a shrine of my maternal grandmother, using a wooden pastels case, given to me by a retired artist...

I am ready to start back with my Woman journal coop project...

I am ready to start that new watercolor I sketched on wc paper 3(?) years ago of my son and I at the beach when he was less than 2. He's 22 now...

I need to pick up art from the Holiday shows...

I am trying to find valances to match the curtains that I got to match the new quilt I got for Christmas...

I am planning my lessons for my art class for the quarter...

I am trying to finish the directory for our UMW at church....

Like I said....keeping busy....

New Beginnings?

Who am I kidding? I've already made all the same mistakes I have for the past several decades of new beginnings. Why am I so hard headed and stubborn and out of control? Is it hormonal? I do blame all my bad habits and attitudes on hormones since menopause hit a year ago.

That's no excuse!

SNAP OUT OF IT!

Get it together and ENJOY the rest of your LIFE!

Worry free.

Healthy.

Happy.

Content!

Women for ages have had these problems and worse and WON!!!!!

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