Parts of Art

     I started with this page in my journal one day recently.  The ferns are from stencils that I designed and cut from card stock. This led to a whole series of acrylic paintings of light coming through ferns. Because, like I said, I have always been fascinated by the effect of light coming through leaves.  From this one page, a limited selection of acrylic paint and some artistic imagination, here’s where I went:       By the way, these are sections of the larger paintings in which I have been immersed.  Still in the (Floridian) woods for awhile. 

    My current series of mixed media collages is “Of the Woods”. As you can see here, I am literally in the woods, and won’t be out for quite a while! Here is another page from my journal.  It is actually the view out my studio window. This little collage later inspired me to do a large version of it, which I will show you soon.       Here is the same view out the window, back in September. This one also led to a series of larger mixed media collages, which I plan to exhibit next year. 

      About a year ago I started keeping an illustrated journal. It’s just a simple watercolor pad sketch book, about $5 at the local art supply store. I love it because it’s watercolor paper and I can paint on it, draw with pencils,  markers, pen and ink, I can write, I can do mixed media collage, and then repeat. And the thing about keeping an illustrated journal is, it’s not for finished art to sell.  It’s really pretty private, just a place to start ideas. It’s not about showing it to people. It’s about having a place to record thoughts, plans projects, ideas, etc, and then illustrating them.     My winter morning routine involves going out to the studio, starting the fire in the wood stove, feeding the cats, and then opening my journal to a new page and giving it a fresh wash of watercolor.  It just gets the juices flowing, so to speak, to get some color on a plain page.       I don’t even like the art on this page. I would never actually do a painting

    This weekend I will be set up at the historic and beautiful Indiana State Museum, where I will be one of the featured artists at the Indiana State Art Show.          One thing I love about this show it’s INSIDE! It is one of the few shows I do that is not out in the elements under a white tent. Of course it IS Indiana and it IS still winter, so I’m very glad to be doing a show inside!        I also love that artists from every county of Indiana display their wares. It is a vivid and variegated group of talented artists that I feel honored to be among. This year there will be a series of demonstrations by some of the artists. I will be demonstrating how to make a pair of earrings from a kit.         I love the people who come to the show. Last year the weather was horrible, which prevented a lot of people from showing up. The show promoter was actually apologizing for the lack of customers (it wasn’t her fault!) The great thing was, even though the crowds were thin, I