Sunday musings

Yesterday I was able to spend most of the day working in my studio...I was so happy...a place to call my own, where I could work in peace and be surrounded with the supplies/tools/objects that inspire me.  
Virginia Woolf had it right...a woman needs a room of one's own...

In another life of mine...many years ago...this would not have happened...I wouldn't have a room of my own...I put my key in someone else's pocket...luckily that was not for long...

I hope you have your key and hold on to it tight... 

Sunday musings

a gray quiet day after a sunny week devoted to much gardening...
not my favorite activity but I do enjoy the end results...
plenty of new art projects underway, plenty to keep me busy...

Remembering Mom

As the calendar page turns to May, one cannot help but be reminded of Mother's Day...
          and to think about Mom...

My mom passed away 8 years ago but still holds a strong influence in my life...
she taught me a love of sewing and a desire to create...
           to make do with what one had at hand and to take the initiative to figure out problems...
           to try new things and not give up when the going got tough...


In my bout of purging earlier in the year, I unearthed a box of clippings, photos and mementos...I came across a photo of my mom and dad in the early years of their marriage...and decided to play around with it...
and I'm thinking about having it printed up so I can hang it in my studio...SocialPrintStudio has some great metal prints...perfect for my metal mania...

I like this photo mostly for the expression and attitude of my mom...young, fresh, full of anticipation. My parents settled in a small Wisconsin town and that's where I spent my childhood...and throughout the years, my mom continued to have a healthy dose of anticipation for what was up ahead...whether it was raising 6 kids in a small house, moving across the country to Oregon when my dad lost his job, rebuilding her life in a new town after my dad died and finally coming to live with me in her final years.  She wasn't one content to sit by and let things be...

Unfortunately, I don't have many photos of her...I guess we were always so busy that one didn't think about stopping a minute, reflecting on the moment, and taking a photograph to capture the day...

So to honor her memory, I'll take the time this weekend to stop and reflect...shoot a few photos...
and be filled with anticipation of all that still lies ahead...

Sunday musings

the tools of the trade might be paper, paint and scissors...
but without direction and decision, the path is obscured...

Sunday musings

the first light of morning...the quiet hush of the house...the warmth of my coffee cup...
this is the simplicity of stillness...

because...

because I enjoy telling stories with pictures...because it's good to be reminded...

a thought to consider...

whatever it might be, wherever it may lead...however long you can...

a thought for today...

Bit by bit

In May, I had the privilege to be one of the demonstrating artists for the groups of schoolchildren who came to see the Sustainable Art exhibit at the Schack Art Center. The focus of the show was using recycled/upcycled materials to create art...everything from mosaics to glass to jewelry to fashion...no artistic medium was left out.  The school groups enjoyed a docent led talk through the exhibit, a chance to try their own hand at recycled art and the opportunity to see a live artist in action...that's where I came in.  I demonstrated the steps of making a multi-media collage, using all recycled materials.

The process began with a stack of leftover painted wood scraps...I used these as my foundation...

I wasn't quite sure what would spur me to create...so I brought a suitcase full of materials and papers...
which would also allow the kids to see that just about anything can be used for art...

Since I had recently been rifling through a stack of old photographs, I decided to let them be my guide...I picked out a few interesting faces and began to craft a story, gathering materials...

With each photo, I asked for input from the school group kids...what did they think was happening in the photo...what was the story here...things began to take shape...

Bit by bit, each collage unfolded...
the map in the background expressed the notion that this couple was going on a trip...
but still something else was needed...

Elements shown here were chosen to add to other collages...but where...
the value of trial and error was discussed...

In the end, six collages were completed...started by me...and eventually finished by me...
but with plenty of input for the middle stages from the kids...

Each tells its own small story...with attention to detail and a few well-chosen words and images...

An art creation...composed bit by bit...

Following the thread...

I love old things...and the stories that they tell...

Some people see a pile of useless junk...I see a former life, a past event, a fleeting thought, a momentary wish...

Sometimes I let my imagination run ahead...and spin a tale...pulling the thread of the story...seeing where it may lead...

Last week I participated in the 7 vignettes challenge on Instagram.  Sponsored by Interiors Addict, there's a list of 7 prompts for you to follow and post your photographic inspiration.  I had such a grand time chasing down my story that I thought I would share with you here...

Day One - Blush
I can't say exactly what prompted me to pull out these things...most likely it was the large spool of linen thread in a dusty pink color sitting on a shelf that caught my eye...and then the photo on my inspiration board behind my computer screen...it was the start of the tale...

"blush...the color that rises in a young girl's cheeks when an admirer notices her in all her beauty..."

Day 2 - Bloom
"the fresh lilac blooms brightened her outlook that spring had arrived on this first day of April"

Day 3 - Light
"and so she had a thought...an inkling of an idea...perhaps this young man who made her blush...and brought her such lovely blooms...was the one...her face lit up with anticipation..."

Day 4 - Soft
"she felt like she could soar...her heart unfettered...but if she fell, she knew she would have a soft place to land...is this what one calls love..."

Day 5 - Easter
"rebirth...a new awakening...a fresh start...could this be the direction she sought...the path to follow...her heart guides the way...

Day 6 - Weave
"she remembered him hanging around her father's auto shop...never saying much but always tinkering...papa passed away while she was away at nursing school and now he had taken over the shop...their lives had been intertwined at the edges for years...perhaps it was time to strengthen the weave..."

Day 7 - Gold
"tied up with hopes for the future, a home filled with love and a promise of time eternal, the circle of gold on her ring finger signifies, not a closed chapter, but a new beginning..."

Pulling the thread of imagination, you never know what you might find...
joining with others over at kim klassen's Friday Finds...

and I invite you to follow me on Instagram, you'll find me as four corners design...
let me know if you're on IG, I'll follow back

April in Paris

lilacs blooming...the air fresh with scent...a breeze lingers and stirs memories...
my head in the clouds...like a faded polaroid print, the image is clear but the details are fuzzy...

a composition from my online creative class...
I will be off on an adventure next week...but not to Paris...at least, not this time...

out of the box

Within this first month of the new year, I'm trying hard to stay true to my words for the year - dig deep

To look beyond the surface...to explore new avenues...follow a different path...

I've been pretty surprised by my efforts...
discovering a few skills and abilities that I didn't know I had...or had merely forgotten...

Taking a different approach...not relying on the tried and true...

In my year-long Photoshop artistry class, AWAKE, I have surprised myself by taking photos of images that normally would not interest me...and then editing them in new and different ways...leading to an end result that I liked more than I thought possible...and revealing an insight that broke free from my standard artistic view...

The assignment was to take several photos of an object, each from a different angle...I merged this assignment task with another assignment, which was to focus on how we saw our artistic life...as I took my morning walk, I was struck by the row upon row of boxes of this apartment building...and how I would hate to live in one of those boxes...as I combined two of the views of the building, I struggled with how to make each stand out yet blend together...exploring some of the blend modes in Photoshop that I never use (hard light for example) yielded the effect I wanted...masking, blending, and layering helped to bring the entire composition together.

going off in a different direction...sometimes the best way to go...

joining the group over at kim klassen's Friday Finds...where my find is the exhilaration of taking new trails and leaving the path behind...

and speaking of new trails...did you read about that I'm taking the Art Party on the road...to Portland, OR...
want to know more?  get all the details here...

Taking the Art Party on the road

I've been giving some thought about the connections I have made with others through art...whether it’s from the online classes I have taken, the comments left on blogs or postings, or the shared love of a style or look...

Ideas have been swirling in my head...possibilities ignite...

the chance to connect with names and avatars you've only seen online

an opportunity to share artistic talents

the experience of exploring the sights and sounds of a hip urban environment

a time to reflect on personal hopes and dreams

a cultivation of the creative spirit

I have been hosting local art parties for two years now...and they have become an elixir for not only the participants, but for me as well...

So...what if there was a place to get together...in the flesh...meet one another, create some art, explore a city, cook fabulous food, drink a little wine, feed our souls...would you want to be a part of this?

I’m willing to head up such an experience...in Portland, OR...the city renowned for funky art, fantastic book stores, superb coffee and free spirit individuality.  I've scoped out a location, a time frame and a loose plan...

but I’m interested in knowing if anyone else is so inclined...

Here’s what I’m thinking...it’s a flexible idea at this time...input is welcome!

Time frame:  Thursday thru Sunday...looking at October 8-11...Junk Bonanza (one of the biggest vintage/flea markets) is coming to Portland that weekend...I love to junk...thought it would be fun to do with other junk-minded creatives...

Location:  I found a house for rent in North Portland – 15 beds available...understand, this is not the Ritz...its big, its funky, its shared rooms and shared bathrooms...located in a neighborhood filled with restaurants, shops, coffee houses.  There will be space to enjoy time together as well as time alone.  If you want to be part of the activities during the day but desire more private accommodations at night, there are plenty of hotels in town.  My thought would be to have a two tier cost – one for people staying at the house and one for people staying in other locations.

Schedule:  It will be up to individuals what they want to do...but I see there being some activities set up and you can join as you like...some ideas - multi-media collage, photography, art journaling, cooking, bread baking, wine tasting...

Cost:  I've worked up a very rough budget...but thinking it should definitely be under $400 per person for those who stay at the rental house...this would include 3 nights lodging, light breakfast and lunch, 3 group dinners and basic supplies...hoping to whittle this down more as details progress.  Haven’t yet figured out cost for people staying other places...

This cost does not include how you get to Portland, if you decide to rent a car, or other personal incidentals. 

Have I piqued your interest?  Let me know...I’m starting a list...send a quick email to me at amy_duncan@yahoo.com... that way I will have your contact info...tell me what you think...
and I’ll keep you in the loop as plans progress, details firm up and registration opens...

appreciating now...

the last number of days have been very gray and damp...
a steady rain that seems to say "slow down, don't go too fast"

a good plan for the new year...let's ease into it...acknowledge each day...
without wishing instead for the ones yet to come...

though difficult to discern from the photo...the silver baby cup is monogrammed with N.O.W.
I have no idea who this is...but the idea of making the present moment count is what captured my attention...

the diminished light gives a blurred edge to my photographs without any additional tweaking...
edited with just a simple layer of kk texture pinit11  (which you can download from kim's pinterest board here)

linking up with texture tuesday at kimklassen.com ...

Welcome 2015

A new day...a new year...filled with promise and possibility...

I don't write out resolutions...it seems so rigid to me...

Years ago I heard about the practice of deciding on a word for the year...I liked this idea...
a touchstone...something to guide my actions during the year...lead a course of action...help to set me straight...

Last year's word was direction...which was apt...I didn't know where I was going - literally...we had talked about moving...but with no determinations, it made it difficult to make decisions in other areas.  A month of travel in June settled that question...no moving...a good, sound decision...and from there, other plans, actions and ideas took hold...

So my word for 2015 is actually two words...
dig deep

As I contemplated these words, an image emerged...and spurned me to create...
blending together five of my own photographs comprised the final composition...

pushing me to go below the surface...
      explore and examine...
      refine and reflect...

to know that there is more than meets the eye...and that a depth of understanding - in regard to my level of commitment as an artist, the refinement of the craft of my skills, the breath of my willingness to encourage creativity in my life and foster the same in others...will be the root of the path I follow in this year...


As it has been since the beginning, this blog will be the journal of that journey...I hope you will follow along... 
and the best to all as we start 2015...

A lesson in thankfulness

Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to be the Artist in Residence for two days at a local elementary school.  
I had been recommended by the first grade teacher as an artist that could help with the theme of 
art \ recycling \ passion \ giving back to the community...sounded like a perfect fit to me!

We met in October and hammered out a plan...the students would learn the basics of design and collage while working on wood panels that would be made into permanent donation boxes for the local food bank...I would cover the design and collage lessons...a rep from the food bank would cover why food banks are needed, how important they are to the community and how everyone can help.

I had three different sessions with grades paired up - 2nd graders with 5 graders, 3rd and 4th graders together and finally 1st graders paired with their 6th grade buddies.  After explaining about my art, my use of recycled materials and the steps we would take in completing the project, work began...

Organized in groups of 6, there was first a little brainstorming on what each student was thankful for...
since all 6 students had to work together on one panel, a lesson in consensus was also needed...

Once they had their ideas, they collected images and words from newspapers and magazines...and then began gluing onto the boards...using diluted Mod Podge which would seal the wood surface and provide a sealant for the paper once dried...

After the boards were completed and dried, one of the parents would construct each box using 4 panels 
such as pictured below...

It was two exhilarating days...and renewed my appreciation for what teachers do...constant movement and energy as well as staying one step ahead of the kids...

And made me thankful that not only that I could share my talents with others...but that this school understood the importance of art...and community...as part of their curriculum for young minds...

As I looked over the brainstorming lists compiled by the kids, the one I liked the best was "faith, family, love and nachos"...yep, that pretty much sums it up...happy thanksgiving to all!