Stage 4...

This is Stage-4 of this painting/collage.

1 - yellow wash on canvas

2 - white glaze and paint added

3 - crimson transparent wash added in sections, spashes and pours, allowed to drip

4 - Pthalo blue with gel medium scrubbed into canvas from bottom up, applied over tape-masked areas, now revealed. (Also, 3 pieces of corrugated cardboard were collaged last night)

More Creations

I've been busy working on some new art pieces, and some samples for projects to use with my classes. I've decided it's helpful to take photos of "the process" for some pieces.



















The top one is a small canvas board (8"x10") which is a collage piece and will feature many layers of glazed acrylics, crumpled paper (for texture), some pieces of 'definition paper' featuring the word "kiss", etc., and the numerals represent the 2 of us, the 3 children and our family of 5... it's still in the very early stages!

The bottom one is an altered photo, taken of David and Marina when she was just a couple weeks shy of 1 year old. I soaked the photo, sanded it, painted and stamped it. It will be incorporated into some art piece. I think I'll be doing more of these for sure!

Monster Mission

Last Thursday, I excitedly called David at work from my cell phone while in one of our local grocery stores to tell him they had a big display promoting a special event at that store for his favorite beverage "Monster Energy" drinks. The sign said, "Sunday 4-6pm, the "Monster Energy" people would be out front and give you a FREE can for every can you purchased - 3 case maximum."

Around 4:30, right after the Seahawk gamed ended, I hopped in the car and went on my "monster mission". The funny thing was the guy out front said since I bought 'by the case' I would get on the website, and next thing I knew, he was snapping my photo with my full shopping cart, standing in front the giant "Monster" truck. David teased me that the guy just wanted my picture (ha ha) because we don't see anywhere on their website, photos of people from these little promotional deals they run!

These photos show just how obsessed David is with "the monster".... yes - we got 3 Free cases, since I bought the maximum of 3 cases... yikes, where do you store 6 cases of energy drinks???

This is a cabinet above the garage fridge where we usually keep the 8 or so cans at a time that I buy for David.

Now, they even get the back areas of the shoe cabinet section!

(it was a REALLY good deal $$)

Mixed Media Design

My first class of this semester at MUSEO began this week. This is a photo of the sample I made for the lesson on "pastel fresco" art. This pear was drawn with soft pastels (which then due to moisture, blend like paint!) onto still damp plaster that was spread onto the burlap. The plaster gives you interesting texture and once it was full dry, I was able to bend & crack it further to enhance the plaster element.

I have 6 students so far in that class. They are all pretty much beginners, some are very creative, but not formally trained in art, so it's challenging. I really hope to be successful in helping them create pieces they will be proud of, in addition to just having fun in the class.

Sold!

It's been a week, but last Friday I posted this antique (not really sure how old it is... but it's old!) display/storage cabinet on "Craig's List.com" in the late afternoon, and by Sat. morning it was SOLD - full price! The buyers drove up after soccer and loaded it into their truck.

Sad to see it go, I really loved this piece, but it really wasn't practical in my 'studio/craft/computer' room, and there wasn't any other place in the house that was appropriate.

Now, my challenge is to once again (it's a constant issue) re-organize all my 'stuff' (David calls it junk) and make this a cool art studio (& place for my computer desk). I think today calls for yet another trip down to IKEA. I'll try not to get so overwhelmed there this time.

Cannon Beach, Oregon ~ Aug. 24-30th

A morning walk down the beach (first day which started out foggy) the kids found many large rocks to climb. I think Jordan had sand in his eyes?

Our 1st bonfire, right out on the beach of our 'backyard'. After sunset, we of course made s'mores!

Me, David & Mufasa @ Hug Point cove.

Marina, Ryker & Jordan @ Seaside wacky hat store. We had to go there this trip, as both boys had purchased wild hats there 4 years ago during our first ever Cannon Beach visit. p.s. they did NOT buy these hats, but Jordan DID get a pretty fun one you might see at some point.

Mufasa and Jordan on the beach in front of out rental house (see above the rock wall).

Marina, Mufasa, David, Jzo & Ryker. That water was COLD!

Our first morning we had fog and some cooler weather, but the rest of our trip was amazingly nice & sunny! See Haystack Rock in the background, just off shore? (over David's right shoulder - it looks like a mini mountain!)

first day of school

well, everyone is happy after Day One of the new school year!

Jordan left first (which really won't happen again all year) at about 7:45 and a friend took this photo at the corner of the neighborhood where they wait for the bus. Jzo is the one in the white sweatshirt. Yes, it started POURING rain right as the bus was arriving/loading. Crazy for Sept. 4th! He's in 6th grade this year, and at our schools, that is "big man on campus" as it's still elementary till Jr. High starts with 7th grade.

Being big 8th and 9th graders this year, Ryker and Marina didn't have to get to school till 11:30 and only had 15 minutes of each of their 6 classes plus "homeroom" today... during their under 3 hour day. The 'poor' 7th graders at their school had to show up at 7:40, and do a full day.

The report, once everyone got home was good. Good teachers, friends in each class (for the most part) and overall, a nice bit of enthusiasm for the coming year of school. We enjoyed a nice "family dinner night" which we hope to experience most Tues./Thurs. this season.

Next week, we start up with all the activities on M/W/F/Sat. and it's a wild season with dance, swimming, soccer, fall ball and of course I'll be teaching art classes too, so we're certainly not going to be bored!