Ancient Treeline

12"x15", satin, cloth, stamp, paper, stitching machine and hand, rust treated string and trim. Trees show up in my art making all the time. It doesn't matter if I'm painting, printmaking or fabric art ...trees and leaves. Over the years I know I'm drawn to viewing tree lines whenever there is a clear spot, something about what is up ahead, sky and trees meeting, maybe oasis.  I received this beautiful pale rose cloth  in a giveaway presented by Connie and its been a challenge working it into my other fabrics and stitching. I didn't want to cover it with stitches yet I wanted to bring out the mottled shades and light spots. This piece was started in 2015 and finished here in 2016 so its a crossover piece. I've been searching for a new series and still searching...today I'll begin again!
The new year has presented itself with plenty of online wisdom, loving statements, online prompts on the subject of keeping a journal to prompts for spiritual exercises. I have been tempted but I've decided to go it on my own. 2016...full of my own words, resolve, direction, meditation and whatever else encourages me to love my life... it's in the doing! 

Beloved Silence

12"x15", embroidery, gold beads, machine stitching, painted muslin, digital writing and images on suede and muslin.Painted trim and rust stained string.
This is the last of the "Ancient Scribe Series". The letter ayin ...this letter is said not to speak but only to see. Beautiful prayers begin with this letter and we all know the power and beauty of silence. It's been seven in all for this series and challenging for sure what with using a letter as part of the piece. I'm glad I did it...I'm richer for having had the experience. I'll frame and show a select few later in the summer. Now I need to ask myself what might be next? I'm still loving cloth and stitching and beads but I think what I need right now is to experiment and play. I have a list in my journal of titles that can easily lead me if I need inspiration. I also will continue to write each morning in my journal.Oh, yes, first I'll clean the studio!!

Spring is calling me for yard clean up and new color plantings. I need to repaint the kitchen and household repairs are all listed and available for the handyman. Beautiful time of year!

Desert Brown

1. "Leaving Egypt" 2.  "Morning Oasis"  3. "Nightfall"

These three fabric pieces speak (in brown) of my desert series. Each one has a digital photo on fabric. I've never been to any part of the Middle East but I didn't let that slow down my desert dream. I prefer using my own photos so lets just say it was a challenge! The little one "Leaving Egypt" has a photo of the wetlands outside of San Francisco (my take on the muddy waters of the Red Sea) I added loose threads to express grasses and reeds. The leather X's are from an old purse. The "Morning Oasis" cloth photo is of a special oasis in the Southern California desert region. I've been there but couldn't use my photographs ... next best was to use a photo from an Internet site. The "Nightfall" dark palm studded oasis was a photo I took while watching the PBS documentary "Walking the Bible". I was surprised it came out at all as I've never photographed something on the TV. I'm not generally a big fan of brown but using all the tones and variations of brown helped set the desert mood.
It's always so much fun seeing other artists share their take on a color. Go to Jennifer Coyne Qudeen for a list of sites of "Brown" ... the continued search for Roy G Biv !

Inside the Walls

Back to the oasis and this time to the interior, the real rest recuperation. Represented by ancient markings, floor plans, secret windows, doorways with the palm tree views. Under it all crumbling tile flooring. This piece is on a foam core base, photo collage, acrylic, lace, joint compound and wire mesh. It measures 18"x18" and I like the mix. During this time of the oasis series, I have taken personal time to eat better, meditate, exercise and write. I've come to a peaceful place in my life...the past has it's place and the future doesn't seem so dark (not counting the times I look at my money situation) and I'm finding myself able to stay in the present for longer amounts of time..I've found a more manageable pace for my day. I've also been looking at what is next in art as I'm just about ready now to choose a new focus.

Weekend begins tonight...the weather is so warm and I've packed away all my light weight clothes? We are going to rent a few movies...last weekend we went to see the "Changeling" but left in the middle...upsetting asylum scenes that didn't sit well with us so if anyone has seen this movie...let me know how it ends. I just leave movies when they are too upsetting...I'm so visual that I can't shake the images.

Shelter Me

Although I wanted to create more abstract pieces, I seem to be working out oasis as a metaphor with more imagery than I had expected. I had such pleasure putting this canopy (chupah) together using scraps of trims and lace with photo collage. I was married under a beautiful chupah but I think there was a little wish to have created my very own....now I have...at least in collage. This piece measures 18"x18" on a foam core base, potato print, added foam core, lace, acrylic, pencil, colored pencil, soft pastel and photo collage. I have two more large pieces and they are a little more abstract.

Pablo and I had our own journey yesterday, it was an hour drive through the mountains, crowded freeways to our destination...IKEA. Yes, with our cart rolling we picked up Lingonberry jam, mustard sauce, Swedish meatballs, dishtowels , picture frames and a new bread knife. We finished it all off with two $1 soft ice cream cones! On the picture frames...they carry a couple of sizes of square natural wood and black frames...perfect for these foam core pieces and the frames include matt and glass. My clever Pablo bought me two lovely grey metal mesh waste baskets for my computer area and work table. A long hard drive but Oh, the shopping!

"Southwest Wall"

Entering the first oasis for me...placing the water jugs and walls with dark windows...a less than friendly stop but necessary when moving in the unknown wilderness. Metaphorically through my wilderness of regaining my health...an uncharted area for me.
I started to do series with personal meaning years ago. I find a subject that draws me into research, historical, geographical as well as attracting my strong tie with myth, story and spiritual imagery. One series awhile ago had me visiting Venus...love myth, planet info, also visited Mars...planet colors, textures, war God, endings and forgiveness. All this loaded into a few paintings...for me it's a rich experience. My best hope is the viewer of my work be fully engaged in their own story!
"Southwest Wall" measures 17"x17" and is on a foam core base. Photo and cloth collage, acrylic, joint compound, potato print and soft pastel.
Speaking of oasis...Pablo and I are setting off to travel about 50miles north along the coast to a small town, Half Moon Bay where we will take a few days to eat well, read, sleep and enjoy the scenery. We expect rain so that will make the trip even cozier. We will return in time to vote!

I Just Want to Go Home!

That title is code for I want out for a time, a place to close the doors on current reality...to find comfort of sanctuary, restful sleep, good food, safety and natural beauty. I've mumbled or sometimes screamed those words when situations have been overwhelming such as my hospital stay in April. This has been the prayer for all time, our human desire to barricade the cave opening, tie the tent flap or move the ladder from the tree house...time out....a universal need. These first few pieces have become the literal journey to the oasis using the ancient desert themes. I know as in the past the imagery will eventually evolve into more abstraction. The "Little Night Journey" is collage, potato print on foam core. It measures 8"x8". I like the darkness.
Change of subject: I am thinking of beginning the HBO series of "John Adams". I have heard good reports and I believe it has won several awards. Great change of pace, history ,drama costumes etc....I need to separate myself from the nightly news shows that repeat and repeat the days political activities. Could there be anyone that is still undecided?