Wedding Cake Dream

I am shifting gears a bit and trying something a little different.  Although it is in the same vein as much of my collage work, the image itself is painted on a collaged background.  I can't seem to do a piece without adding fabric so her hat is fashioned from a piece of antique lace and her parasol is also a piece of sheer fabric.

I found the vintage ephemera interesting and hope the viewer will glean the tongue in cheek message that my choice of ephemera suggests.

Conquer

Above is the finished skateboard for the charity auction I am participating in this month.  My designated charity is Charlotte's Wings - a non-profit organization that provides books to children in hospice and hospital care.  As I have said in the past, I am not always initially aware of what drives my choice of subject matter.  This piece is, to me, a piece about personal growth.  Slaying one's inner demons requires reflection and I feel the representation of both angel and demon speaks to the inner conflicts we all face.

In other news, Firefly, a piece I absolutely love will be exhibited at the Graubner Library beginning tomorrow, May 5.  This show is a Romeo Guild of Art members exhibit.  There are many talented artists in this group and I highly recommend checking it out if you are in the area.  The exhibit runs through May 26.  Maggie & Me will also be on display...

Deck Art - 2012

I have been busy working on a skateboard for Deck Art - 2012.  Each artist is given a blank skateboard to use as their canvas.  I have to admit, I was initially a little unsure of how to proceed.  I didn't feel my fabric imagery would be suitable for this challenge so... I decided to try using thin art paper and tissue to create my image.  This was a bit of a challenge but I altered my technique a bit and am pleased with my progress.  I have wanted to create a Renaissance piece since my visit to Italy last summer.  This work is based on the archangel, Michael by Carlo Crivelli.  The skateboards will be auctioned off for charity.

Flea Market Finds

One of my favorite things to do is to comb through garage sales and flea markets looking for interesting & odd items to include in my work.  I am a bit of a trinket hoarder and frequently pick up odd items with no real intended purpose in mind.  I have recently become enamored with the artful reuse & recycling of items in assemblage pieces and steampunk dolls.  I found this doll buried in a box at a flea market and although she was rather sad looking, I think she is deserving of a makeover.  She cleaned up rather well.  Removing the glue and scuffs from her head was my biggest challenge.  I gathered some odds and ends that may come in handy.

I also picked up these little broken bisque dolls with the same idea in mind...

  

At the estate sale of a watchmaker, I scored this box of vials.  They contain minute watch pieces.  I just liked the look of them and the wooden box was a bonus.  I’m not sure how I will use them but looking through my collection often brings inspiration.

I am always on the hunt for ephemera to use in my collages and this book ©1917 yielded inspiration.  I briefly glanced through it and was drawn to the poetry.  Only after returning home did I take the time to read about the author, Bernard Freeman Trotter. I was saddened to learn that he did not live to see the publication of his work.  He was a soldier in the Canadian armed forces and “was killed in action in France on May 7, 1917” at 26 years old.  I intend to use some of his poems in my work.  It makes me sad that young, aspiring voices are all too often silenced by the horror that is war.

Inner Beauty

I have been reworking the above piece entitled "Inner Beauty."  She was included in my recent show at Lennon but the canvas did not fully reflect the message I wished to impart.  Women are often my subject matter and while the image (created from fabric) remains the same, the ephemeral elements have changed.  I hope to stress the importance of character and to encourage women to embrace their inner strength.

Meanwhile, my Poe piece has also been completed.  I applied a glossy finish over the entire canvas and this seems to make the image POP!

...and speaking of Pop, the little jester was very interested to learn the art of making cappuccino from his "Pop" during a recent visit.

After a break...

I realize it has been awhile since I posted but after the hustle and bustle of the Lennon Show, I have been laying low.  I have been working and have several pieces in process but I have needed some time to regroup.

Edgar Allen Poe has been a favorite of mine since childhood.  Looking for new inspiration, I pulled his his novel from the bookshelf and was surprised by the impact his words still have on my psyche.  Several ghoulish dreams ensued and led to the creation of the above piece.  It is based on a lesser known work entitled The Gold Bug.  I thought I had finished but decided to go back in to tweak the scarab.  While this piece is still not completed to my satisfaction, I feel I am on the right track and will attempt to finish it over the weekend.  I find difficulty in presenting my work photographically as the 3-D effect is somewhat lost in translation.

I have also been working on the above piece for the upcoming Re-create Recycled Art Show at the Orion Art Center.  I found this old brass clock at an estate sale and although it was severely weathered from years in a damp barn, I saw potential for a recreation.  There is still work to do but I am liking the results.  I'm not certain I will stick with the spectral image but am having fun trying out different ideas.  I will post the end result soon.

Carnivale!

I started this piece several weeks ago, right around the time of Mardi Gras.  She is nearing completion and almost ready to enter into a new exhibition.  Below are a few detailed shots.

 The colorful squares were created from hand-made paper which was then painted and embossed.

A vintage advertisement for Lux detergent for the pretties, the dainties and the flimsies:)

My youngest daughter & I had great fun planning a mini-celebration and spent an afternoon creating the above masks.