the tools of the trade might be paper, paint and scissors...
but without direction and decision, the path is obscured...
Showing posts with label birds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birds. Show all posts
4.24.2016
Sunday musings
the tools of the trade might be paper, paint and scissors...
but without direction and decision, the path is obscured...
3.13.2016
Sunday musings
I seem to have a pattern here...been posting a creative art photo on Sunday for the last couple of weeks...
I guess I should make this a regular feature...so here is today's posting...
Cold, rain and gray today...but I am hopeful that spring will come...
I guess I should make this a regular feature...so here is today's posting...
Cold, rain and gray today...but I am hopeful that spring will come...
2.28.2016
4.05.2015
3.25.2015
and still more birds...
I have birds on the brain...maybe because of spring...probably because I've always had a soft spot for them...
and when I see some fabulous bird prints, I go weak in the knees...
I saw these Morris bird prints on Rhubarb Reign's Facebook page...I was smitten...a back and forth exchange ensued...soon my package arrived...8 bird prints were mine.
I had a bit of fun using the prints as photography props...they are quite wonderful...hand colored...
with just the right amount of vintage wear...
I decided though that I wanted to share...so six of these prints will be available at my booth at the Vintage Market this coming Saturday. I decided to keep the presentation simple...I had a stack of white mat frames...and a slew of clipboards...I embellished one corner of each mat with a combination of paper ephemera and washi tape, added a little flourish to the top of the clipboard and called it done...
Easy to hang as is...or one could do a proper mat and frame of the print...
I attached the print to the mat board with nothing more than two small pieces of tape so as to leave the prints relatively clean.
Wishing the photos were clearer...that's the downside of the PNW...we've had a mild winter and spring...but the sun doesn't always shine...makes photography a challenge...and when I saw how grainy these pics looked, the birds were already packed for the show...you'll just have to stop by my booth and see them for yourself...let me know that you read about them on my blog...I'll have a surprise for you...
and when I see some fabulous bird prints, I go weak in the knees...
I saw these Morris bird prints on Rhubarb Reign's Facebook page...I was smitten...a back and forth exchange ensued...soon my package arrived...8 bird prints were mine.
I had a bit of fun using the prints as photography props...they are quite wonderful...hand colored...
with just the right amount of vintage wear...
I decided though that I wanted to share...so six of these prints will be available at my booth at the Vintage Market this coming Saturday. I decided to keep the presentation simple...I had a stack of white mat frames...and a slew of clipboards...I embellished one corner of each mat with a combination of paper ephemera and washi tape, added a little flourish to the top of the clipboard and called it done...
Easy to hang as is...or one could do a proper mat and frame of the print...
I attached the print to the mat board with nothing more than two small pieces of tape so as to leave the prints relatively clean.
Wishing the photos were clearer...that's the downside of the PNW...we've had a mild winter and spring...but the sun doesn't always shine...makes photography a challenge...and when I saw how grainy these pics looked, the birds were already packed for the show...you'll just have to stop by my booth and see them for yourself...let me know that you read about them on my blog...I'll have a surprise for you...
3.20.2015
birds of a feather, part 2
As I started in my last post, I was at a loss for a creative spark...
naked plaster of paris eggs...sat in a carton in my studio the last two years...
but then I was brilliantly inspired...and went to work...
Using my trusty bristle brush, I glued delicate feathers onto the eggs...
being careful to gently keep each strand smooth and not become a gloppy mess...
I also experimented with a little tissue paper; knowing that the tissue would be light and translucent as it dried...and a bit of french ephemera...because really, isn't everything a little better with a bit of french flair?
After the glue was dry, a little light sanding and a tiny bit of wax...
and finally a springtime vignette...
the contrast of the dark feather against the white plaster brings out all the details...
and highlights how delicate each feather is.
I like how this egg with the tissue paper layer resembles brown transferware ironstone.
And the partial shell that I created holds a tiny treasure...
Joining the group over at kim klassen's Friday Finds...
where my find is the inspiration and spark that I discover among the bestill52 artists...
Thank you Dutch Barb for the spark!
also joining up with Funky Junk Interiors weekend Party Junk...still more inspiration over there...
naked plaster of paris eggs...sat in a carton in my studio the last two years...
but then I was brilliantly inspired...and went to work...
Using my trusty bristle brush, I glued delicate feathers onto the eggs...
being careful to gently keep each strand smooth and not become a gloppy mess...
I also experimented with a little tissue paper; knowing that the tissue would be light and translucent as it dried...and a bit of french ephemera...because really, isn't everything a little better with a bit of french flair?
After the glue was dry, a little light sanding and a tiny bit of wax...
and finally a springtime vignette...
the contrast of the dark feather against the white plaster brings out all the details...
and highlights how delicate each feather is.
I like how this egg with the tissue paper layer resembles brown transferware ironstone.
And the partial shell that I created holds a tiny treasure...
where my find is the inspiration and spark that I discover among the bestill52 artists...
Thank you Dutch Barb for the spark!
also joining up with Funky Junk Interiors weekend Party Junk...still more inspiration over there...
3.18.2015
birds of a feather
Do you ever have a project that you get stuck on...
you get so far and then inspiration runs out...disappears...adios...
As indicated from my last post, this does happen to me...but I seem to be on a streak lately of picking up old projects and finishing them...the power of a deadline!
This time, the inspiration came from a fellow online artist...Dutch Barb...who is a member of my bestill52 online class...when I saw one of her recent posts, I had a eureka moment...and was motivated to action...
Two years ago I made some plaster of paris eggs...I hollowed out a couple of eggshells...very carefully...filled them with plaster of paris...very carefully...and then set them to dry for several days. I had half of a shell that I coated with plaster of paris on the inside...hoping to get an empty shell to fill with something later. After the plaster was completely dry, I removed the outer shell and I had eggs...after a little sanding to smooth out the edges...but now what...
When I saw Barb's photo on Flickr, I knew that this was the inspiration I was looking for...I went to work...gathering materials...
The eggs...
The feathers...
The glue...
I knew that I was on the right track because I had all my familiar tools...glue, water, scissors, brush...plus the added beauty of feathers...I was set to go...
you get so far and then inspiration runs out...disappears...adios...
As indicated from my last post, this does happen to me...but I seem to be on a streak lately of picking up old projects and finishing them...the power of a deadline!
This time, the inspiration came from a fellow online artist...Dutch Barb...who is a member of my bestill52 online class...when I saw one of her recent posts, I had a eureka moment...and was motivated to action...
Two years ago I made some plaster of paris eggs...I hollowed out a couple of eggshells...very carefully...filled them with plaster of paris...very carefully...and then set them to dry for several days. I had half of a shell that I coated with plaster of paris on the inside...hoping to get an empty shell to fill with something later. After the plaster was completely dry, I removed the outer shell and I had eggs...after a little sanding to smooth out the edges...but now what...
When I saw Barb's photo on Flickr, I knew that this was the inspiration I was looking for...I went to work...gathering materials...
The eggs...
The feathers...
The glue...
I knew that I was on the right track because I had all my familiar tools...glue, water, scissors, brush...plus the added beauty of feathers...I was set to go...
Next up...the end result...
3.17.2015
bird obsessed
seems lately that I have been obsessed with birds...more than usual...
perhaps because it is spring and I welcome their increased activity...
In any case, I have several bird inspired projects I thought I would share over the next couple of days...
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Today's is a quick one...I had a couple of wooden boards that I had collaged years ago and then never finished...the first background layer was a page from an old art book; the second layer is the top ply of a paper napkin...one of my favorite collage layering techniques since the single ply of the napkin is so sheer, you see the underneath layer. A snippet from an old dictionary was added...and then it sat...
Getting ready for a show always motivates me to action...in this case, I pulled out these two boards, attached a Cavallini bird tag, added a few more words and finished off with a ribbon hanger...
Both of these beauties (plus so much more) will be at the
Vintage Market at Swan's Trail on March 28...will you?
perhaps because it is spring and I welcome their increased activity...
In any case, I have several bird inspired projects I thought I would share over the next couple of days...
Today's is a quick one...I had a couple of wooden boards that I had collaged years ago and then never finished...the first background layer was a page from an old art book; the second layer is the top ply of a paper napkin...one of my favorite collage layering techniques since the single ply of the napkin is so sheer, you see the underneath layer. A snippet from an old dictionary was added...and then it sat...
Getting ready for a show always motivates me to action...in this case, I pulled out these two boards, attached a Cavallini bird tag, added a few more words and finished off with a ribbon hanger...
Both of these beauties (plus so much more) will be at the
Vintage Market at Swan's Trail on March 28...will you?
2.10.2015
learning to find the light
One of the downfalls of living in the Pacific Northwest is that winter can be gray...and long...
which makes taking photographs challenging...both in finding the spot where there is light as well as finding the time of day that makes any such photography worthwhile...
So I've been embracing the shadows as well as the light...I've found that the best light comes through the north facing window in my kitchen...directly behind the sink...so the small area to the left of the sink...before you knock your head on the upper cabinets...is the best spot to take photos...
Trying to capture that nuance of dark, moody photographs...pretending that it was a conscious effort to avoid shooting in a bright, sun-lit atmosphere...
I picked up these daffodils...just starting to burst open...
Less than a week later...they are bolting...
Swapping out the backgrounds also helped to elicit different moods...so many possible tweaks and variations...
Other photo fun I've been having...recently learned that prints of John James Audubon's Birds of America paintings are available for free download...one of my favorite artists...his precision and execution are incredible...
find all the prints here www.audubon.org/birds-of-america
I just had to play...
original print
My composition - "Birds on the brain"
overlay of one of my photos of birds in trees with 2LilOwls texture...
Joining the group over at kim klassen's Texture Tuesday...why don't you stop by...
which makes taking photographs challenging...both in finding the spot where there is light as well as finding the time of day that makes any such photography worthwhile...
So I've been embracing the shadows as well as the light...I've found that the best light comes through the north facing window in my kitchen...directly behind the sink...so the small area to the left of the sink...before you knock your head on the upper cabinets...is the best spot to take photos...
Trying to capture that nuance of dark, moody photographs...pretending that it was a conscious effort to avoid shooting in a bright, sun-lit atmosphere...
 |
| edited with kk texture plaster squared |
I picked up these daffodils...just starting to burst open...
Less than a week later...they are bolting...
 |
| edited with kk texture plaster squared |
Swapping out the backgrounds also helped to elicit different moods...so many possible tweaks and variations...
Other photo fun I've been having...recently learned that prints of John James Audubon's Birds of America paintings are available for free download...one of my favorite artists...his precision and execution are incredible...
find all the prints here www.audubon.org/birds-of-america
I just had to play...
original print
My composition - "Birds on the brain"
overlay of one of my photos of birds in trees with 2LilOwls texture...
Joining the group over at kim klassen's Texture Tuesday...why don't you stop by...
10.22.2014
keeping it simple
Holiday production is underway...
I have three gift shows I'm doing before the end of the year so its a little crazy around the studio...
I've been busy creating with the vintage blue ticking I picked up last fall in Yakima...made a new slipcover for the living room ottoman, have some pillows underway...
The leftover scraps seemed perfectly paired with old french book pages...and of course, putting a bird on it makes any creation just right...
I constructed these simple sachets...two squares of ticking topped with a square of french text and finished with an image of a vintage bird printed on vellum.
I didn't see any need to finish the edges; the soft torn edge of the ticking adds to the casual nature...embellished with a pearl button and a linen string for hanging...stacked up in a pile, hung on a hook...or even displayed as an ornament on a tree...
and the bonus part...
they are filled with lavender for a heavenly scent...
ah yes...let the holidays begin...the calming scent of lavender will keep the frenzy at a lull...
Joining the Vintage Inspiration Party over at Knick of Time...
because who doesn't need an extra dose of inspiration!
I have three gift shows I'm doing before the end of the year so its a little crazy around the studio...
I've been busy creating with the vintage blue ticking I picked up last fall in Yakima...made a new slipcover for the living room ottoman, have some pillows underway...
The leftover scraps seemed perfectly paired with old french book pages...and of course, putting a bird on it makes any creation just right...
I constructed these simple sachets...two squares of ticking topped with a square of french text and finished with an image of a vintage bird printed on vellum.
I didn't see any need to finish the edges; the soft torn edge of the ticking adds to the casual nature...embellished with a pearl button and a linen string for hanging...stacked up in a pile, hung on a hook...or even displayed as an ornament on a tree...
and the bonus part...
they are filled with lavender for a heavenly scent...
ah yes...let the holidays begin...the calming scent of lavender will keep the frenzy at a lull...
Joining the Vintage Inspiration Party over at Knick of Time...
because who doesn't need an extra dose of inspiration!
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