The Art Dept

 So I’m back in the woods, and here’s what I mean by that:       It all started when we moved back to Indiana from Florida eight years ago. We moved here to help my in-laws in their last season of life. It was a decision that had been bathed in prayer and much discussion over a long period of time. Finally, the timing became clear and right. So we moved here, to my husbands boyhood home in rural Indiana, in late summer, 2013. Not because it was convenient (it wasn’t) but because there was a need and we were the best choice to fill the need.        It took awhile but we adjusted to our new home and new responsibilities. David’s dad’s health was declining rapidly by the time we moved here, but he was gracious and thankful to the end, and I am so glad to have had the time with him that we had.       Once he passed, life and routine changed, especially in regards to my mother in law. David became increasingly wrapped up in her care...

 Here's my current illustrated journal. It’s called Winter 2020, and that is the correct year and season. BUT most of these pages,  I am happy to say, actually illustrate Spring, Summer and Autumn! It's  probably because I have spent much of Winter 2020 in my studio,  playing with and exploring new ideas, new techniques and new subject matter on these pages.                                                                           By the way, just for the record, as crazy and unprecedented and unplanned-for as 2020 has been, I am very thankful for this time. Here’s why:        With my entire show schedule being upended one show after another, I have of necessity shifted the way I market and sell. I have had to push my social media presence. That, my friends, h...

I am super excited to announce my very own series of  Original Hand Painted Art Cards. Note cards and more are available  on my  Etsy store here   For the rest of the story and to see a video of the entire process of the making of hand painted art cards: Instagram at parts.of_art These hand painted art cards measure 4” x 6” and are painted on white card stock. The card is first folded, painted, and printed with paint using hand carved linocut stamps, inspired from the pages of my illustrated journal.  Each card is an original acrylic painting, and is left blank inside. The card will arrive with envelope in a protective plastic sleeve.  

Here’s the rules of watercolor according to me:    Rule #1: Watercolor is colored water Paint with pure clear water first.  Then add color and let it flow. Literally let it flow. It’s colored water. See, it’s an official rule. And by that I mean, something I wrote on a page of my art journal. I am excited to announce a Watercolor class that will happen in early 2021. Check it out here.

 Here’s my illustrated journal entry for today: It’s all about sunflowers and gratefulness and what one has to do with the other. It started two weeks ago when I visited a local produce market for pumpkins and squash, and noticed they have a giant field of sunflowers. It was a yummy autumn day, and I was allowed to take pictures of the flowers.      I am also part of a 30 day photo challenge online where every day there is a topic, and today’s topic was gratitude. Wow, where to begin? There’s so much to be grateful for. I just heard a minister teach on God is light. He shared how a sunflower literally turns its head from east to west in the course of a day to follow the light, and at night reorients itself so that it will face east in the morning again. I’m speechless at the beauty and simplicity of that analogy. That God designed that into nature. That He invented sunflowers to follow the light. That as a follower of  God and His Word I can do the same thing. A...

 Suddenly it's Autumn! Here's what that means to me:  Filling up my illustrated journal with sketches and paintings from my gardens Getting new art supplies watching the leaves as they  dance and flutter to the ground and attempting to capture it in watercolor Starting a fire in the woodstove next to my watercolor table and setting my coffee on top and last but not least, offering workshops in my art studio for fall and winter. Click here for the calendar Mask up and come make art!

     “I made this for you before we met!” It’s one of my favorite comments when I’m at an art show with my Parts of Art jewelry. It happens at least once at every show: that piece that, after I designed and built it in the studio, and afterwards thought “O my God, who would ever want this? What was I thinking? Am I out of my mind?” Then I put it out there and sooner or later she comes along, spots it, and it is clearly, unquestionably made just for her. It’s the one aspect of doing shows that I love and dearly miss.       I have recently become a vendor at the Alexandria farmers and artists market in my little rural town. It’s literally the only gig in town, and all my actual juried art shows have been cancelled. So it happened, albeit with face masks and social distancing intact. Here she came, it was made for her, and it happily went from my neck to hers. Want to see what I made just for you? Visit my shop at Sandyartparts.etsy.com