artescape

Like everything in life; there are postives and negatives to all artists' studio situations. When I first moved to Brevard County I had a small studio in my home. It was a big corner really... and it didn't take long before I outgrew it and knew I needed a bigger space.

I currently have a large studio space; Artescape Studio,  where I have gathered all kinds of supplies and inspirations over the years. I am messy! I love that if I drip paint on the floor... it's okay.

Having a home studio meant I could work throughout the day and evening; in between my daily tasks of raising a family. Working away from home means organizing myself to have ample studio time...  making sure I get there regularly.

There's nothing like walking through the doorway and getting out the paint and paper and glue... turning off the world and escaping through the creative process.

I am loving the challenges of the new techniques I am "playing" with; balancing design, texture and pattern. I have so many new ideas for these mixed media pieces... exploring many of my past "subjects" in a very different way. Sea turtles and lush tropical landscapes and koi ponds...it's difficult to stay focused :)

 

Artists should always challenge themselves. We should never be afraid to make new discoveries.

Mystery of Birds 18"x24"

new work in progress 8"x10"

Pretty Paper

Girl with Papaya

It's been a very busy time lately... I'm just finishing up a project that has been "challenging" but extremely rewarding. I organized What A Difference A Day Makes; 24 Hour Art Challenge for my gallery; Fifth Avenue Art Gallery in Melbourne Florida. (March 1-31, 2013), go see . This exhibition challenged 24 artists, including myself, to create a piece of artwork within an assigned 24 hour period... oh, and just so you didn't pre-plan everything down to the last stroke, you were given a list of prompts the morning of your workday. One of the most exciting parts of the project is the collaboration with a local creative marketing and branding company; Brandt Ronat & Company. They partnered with us to videotape a portion of each of the 24 artists workday and created an incredible video documentary all about the project, see it online. Our goal, along with the experience of the project was to raise money and awareness for Very Special Arts Brevard. They bring art to children and adults with special needs. It's a great local organization playing a very important part in enriching lives through art.

I used the challenge to push myself not only to complete a piece of art in 24 hours, but to use the techniques I have been "playing with" over the last year or so. I love the work of Anne Bagby and also love printmaking! The process includes aspects of painting and printmaking with texture, stencils, stamps; designing patterned paper by hand then using the paper as a element of the composition. I am enjoyed the tactile experience of layering with gesso and paint... getting very messy in the process and then playing with the design of the composition. My finished piece, Girl with Papaya was definitely challenging to complete in 24 hours... I looked up the list of prompts and chose the three that I would work with: rare, metamorphosis and flourish, then starting working on ideas for the composition. I am happy to have finished it... in 17 hours, and happy with the comments I have been hearing about the work;  it's very encouraging.
I'll be finishing my second piece soon and working on many more ideas for this new direction... I still love working with paint, and the stencils and patterns are finding their way into that work as well.
Prints of Girl with Papaya are available here.

Summer Inspiration

"How hot is it?" "It's really hot." Well of course it's hot... it summertime. Along with the heat comes bits of childhood memories of wonderful summers. And August... well August is great, it's my birthday month. I just returned from my annual week away at "art camp", and I am so inspired to get to my studio and paint everyday. I am pretty sure it is a combination of the two... summer and art camp. Spending a week with 80 or 90 artists who are so excited to making art and enjoying the natural beauty of the mountains has a way of renewing your spirit.

I am painting away... wanting to share the beauty I see, in a unique way, my personal voice through paint and sometimes paper and ink.

landscape in progress

day 2

New Directions in Bits and Pieces

on the "drawing board", work in progress

I know that change and new direction is healthy for any artist. For me, art and the art-making I do is all about my view of the world around me. It would certainly be boring if "the view" never changed.

Any artist who has ever tried to "ride the wave" of past masterpieces knows that a fresh perspective of the subject leads to growth and success. Some people love change...my mom was one who moved the furniture in our home just about weekly. Walking in the dark was definitely not safe. I very rarely, "move the furniture". Change for change-sake...is dumb.

I am however, very excited about all the "changes" and exploration going on in my art studio. I love texture, it has been a part of my art for years; working on canvases and board textured with gesso and collaged elements. After many years of collecting bits and pieces of the treasures that capture my attention I am venturing into more mixed media. I just know for sure, that I want to be excited every day to get to my studio and work.

I like complications...how to take all those bits and pieces and share my vision of the subject...or lack of subject. It is not easy...pulling so many possibilites together in a cohesive and artful way. That would be boring.

Stay-tuned...I am working to finish some new pieces. I hope they will convey my excitement and passions for the "treasures" that are here for our taking, everyday.

Art = Happy

It seems like months have passed since I settled in at my easel. I have paintings waiting...calling my name... "Real-life events" can knock you down for sure. I miss my mom, everyday :)

I realized a lot of things this summer... I Love making art, I love strange and silly things, I love the element of surprise that comes with printmaking and paper...nice paper. So I gathered up all my inks and brayers and some of that lovely paper and got busy! I have been smiling for 3 days :) printmaking. Making lots of prints, and planning books, and series... I always get carried away.

I'm pretty sure this is what art-making should be about, at least for me, for now.


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The Wild Life

Wildacres Retreat Wildacres, North Carolina

My annual week at art camp is sadly over. I will miss my fellow artists; new friends and old friends. It is wonderful to be immersed in a rich environment of art, artists and art-making; collaborations are inevitable, and force one from their comfort zone. I have been attending Ringling College of Art's continuing ed summer program for 11 years.
My printmaking class was made up of a range of art students; young and old, professional and new explorers. By day two, we are the "printmakers"... we cut, chisel, carve, scratch, ink and press. There are four types of printmaking; Intalio (printing the ink below the surface; etching, drypoint), Relief (printing the ink above the surface; woodcut, linocut collagraph), Planographic (lithography; printing the ink on a flat surface by means of the principle that grease attracts grease and repels water) and stencil (silk screen, serigraphy; forcing ink through a design of tiny holes onto your surface). We explored 3 of them through linocuts, drypoint, and monoprints. I enjoying working with smaller projects this year which allowed for more exploration and experimentation. I must be getting old...my latest printing session this year was only till 2:30am, in years past I have found myself there hard at work till 5:00 am.
Printmaking is elusive and nearly impossible to truly control; this is what I find so appealing about the medium. One missed step or slip of the hand and your "masterpiece" might make a background for some mixed media artwork, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The next time you see art made via a printmaking process...show some love!

The creative process expands

Last night at dinner we were talking about possible creative avenues we might explore for the evening. I had mentioned my families often unscripted, spur of the moment, movie making escapades ... Of course if you are an artist, you call them "short films".
So after a crazy night of writing a script, casting actors and filming... Jere I sit trying to edit our clips to make a movie. All in the name of ART.



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Location:Wild Acres Rd,Marion,United States