Part two (2)

Continued from this post. . . and now for more on a few artist reviews from The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival

Fourthly we have

Sarah Bean, a fabulous 3D artist that uses works of literature. She takes and carves books into integrating beings of fantasy. Her attention to detail is just amazing not to mention her patience and super sharp knife. Yes I wanted to touch ‘em but Sarah must’ve saw me coming and placed her works of art under glass. Oh I don’t blame her, not one little bit, these old and delicate books need to be enshrined under glass. Please drop by and drool over her stuff, but careful not to splash the glass. ps she is also a poet. 

photo Courtesy of me - lol

Fiftly we have

Amanda Armistead, a fun paper painter and collage’ist and wow’age. I loved here paper work, collaged onto wood and cut out into cool shapes and then painted some more and collaged more and just fun stuff y’all! Amanda was a delight to talk to and very inspiring for me, she actually asked me if I wanted to touch . . . and touch I did like a kid in a candy store . . . but I didn’t have sticky fingers. Please say hi to my neighbor, ok so she’s not an actual neighbor but close enough.

photo Courtesy of me - lol

Sixly and lastly we have a great band

Kolby Cooper & the Relentless. As gate keepers we were not able to hear any of the bands or see any of the shows that the venue had the privilege of showing so y’all know me I asked all the performers that exited out gate to please play for us. . . they all said no . . . that is until this group . . . Wonderful boys that worked well together and a band that I hope to see make it big in the music world. They are from Palestine, Texas, yes home grown boys that you can find out more about on their FaceBook Fan page. . . thanks again Kolby y’all come back now ya hear so I can get our picture together.

ps TJ Sharp has some videos of the band you can listen / watch on his YouTube channel here.

I want to thank all the artist that took time out of the business to talk to me, I really REALLY appreciate it and thank you for adding so much beauty and fun to our art world.  I hope to see y’all at the next festival and until then sell lots of stuff and remember to keep on

Happy Art’ing Y’all

Part one (1)

Recently I worked volunteered at The WoodlandsWaterway Arts Festival. Johnny & I always have fun working the gate as Greeters. So on with the reason for this post. . . I meet several artist and want to highlight a few: (going to make is a two parter post)

Firstly up is 

Ernest Vincent Wood, III (was given an artistic name at birth) does some amazing oil painting. His light work is incredible. Ernest has written a children’s book and as a new’ish father, he finding his way in the adventurous world of art festivals, shows and travelling with his wife and  7 month old son. If y’all get the chance check out his web site and send some encouragement his way.

this is the image on 1 of his postcards

 Secondly up we have

Paula Collins, a sculptor of ceramics. I had to visit her booth when I saw the fun unique works. Sorry to say Paula was off having lunch when I was there, but her husband assistant was kind to speak with me. He told me how she came about doing her characters after first working with making clay tiles. I can’t tell y’all how bad I wanted to touch the pretties, but I tied my hands in my pockets as visions of maybe trying to make some of my own clay characters. Hey it could happen. Please drop by and check out what else Paula has to see, warning you may get the warm fuzzies and giggles.

this is her business card

Thirdly up we have

Jay Long, he won the best of show for Mixed Media 2D at the festival and well deserved. His unusual works really seek to be touched . . . and I did, but please don’t tell. . . it was only one little touch and for the shortest of seconds, but O the trill. His paintings are layered upon layers with collage and wood cutouts and canvas and yes! The workmanship is just wonderful. You can find more of Jay’s work here.

this is the image on his business card

Part two (2) coming up in a couple of days . . . well I didn’t want y'all wearing out your eys balls all at once ya know . . . you're welcome

Happy Art’ing Y’all

Chalking it UP

In Conroe that is. The 5^th annual Chalk Up Conroe, my first time to participate and might I add it was my first time to chalk on concrete period. 

The squares were huge. Bigger then HUGE even. I had sorta sketched out an abstract, you know just to get started and man it took a long time. We (Johnny & I) got there a little after 9am and I didn’t finish my square until 1:45. Didn’t have time to do any kind of shading judging was at 2. LoL I was just so happy to get the square chalked. I took no tools only my cushion which was great to have.

I saw a couple of artist that have done this event a few time and they were using foam brushes and water. I whined and Lynn let me borrow one from her. After an hour I sent my support team (Johnny) to get me more brushes, they don’t last real long scrubbing on concrete. With bigger brush in hand I went to town lol that was one big square. IF y’all are thinking about coming out next year Think Team, cause yeah big a$$ed square.

They had ribbons for different age groups, Elementary School, High School (no other age group of kids were there) and Adult. Each group had a first, second and third. There was a lot of good art and lots of kids and families had tons of fun. Did I mention Do-Nuts, pizza, cookies, popcorn and water. ummm T-shirt too. The weather was beautiful, Gorgeous even.

That hopping, scooting and crouching made my back not so happy so I’m couch sitting (as if that’s not normal) and wondering if I’ll get off it before next week. LoL

Happy Art’ing Y’all

So a funny thing

Happened while I was docent at the Gallery on Friday. . . a film crew came in and . .. .

 Ok so they were scheduled to be there & I was pre warned & was requested to wear something touristy. So I wore my only wild floweredy shirt over my usual tank top (cause it’s hot here y’all). Bless the film crew for “directing” us to do this, that & tother. Not a clue what will be in the final short film. . .

I took a few photos and Brad, the cowboy took a couple with my phone while they were setting up shots and whatnot’age. Lol the hard part was listening to “direction” while talking and laughing, because they wanted us to ACT like we were ‘talking & laughing’ so um yeah, what? Lol. Do y’all know how hard it is to talk and smile at the same time?  I mean really lol & they set me up in the courtyard scene with a glass of wine. . . Me the non-wine drinker that makes a bitter beer face LOL. Let me put it this way I deserve an Oscar just for NOT making that squinted up face thing

Umm What’s it for you may wonder???? Well it’s for the Visitor’s Bureau of our beautiful little town of Conroe. They will prolly use some of the stills for brochures and on the website and who knows what all. The film (budget allowing) may be on our Web TV, in movie theaters as part of the pre-show whatnotage. What theaters I don’t know, but that’s what I was told when I asked about my debut and what kind of premier would there be and such. It was suggested that I prolly would NOT need a designer gown nor a limo. Le sigh ya know. LoL

Some lucky people got their art in some of the shots, some of us (ME) did not. But I can’t tell y’all how fun it was to witness this process and see how funny non actors can act. It was a process too. Sitting up the camera and lights and shifting things in the room for different scenes and stuff. They also shot other places around town so they have lots of footage to edit and assemble and do voice over for. . . wonder if they will call me to do a little musical interlude. lol

Happy Art'ing Y'all

Soooo what have I been doing

You may or may not wonder? But never mind cause I will tell y’all. I’ve been busy, with various classes at the college, fun ones not credit courses, and helping a friend with some shipping of boxes and the usual household stuffs and

Volunteering at the art gallery and I even helped with a show, receptions and worked an art festival. And of course the fur babies are well And was told I had to have a professional web site for my art stuffs. .. .

But um I didn’t go that far, I have made a “professional”blog, cause that’s how I roll and to so I’ve sorta been posting over there, playing catch up of a sort. I’ve been trying to get stuff ready for a Gelli Demo up in Livingston in mid May.

I have done a couple / few videos but not many. I’ve mailed off my Pocket Letter Page to my swap Pal and still need to edit that video and get it up. I’ve also been doing the HOT mess ART gang Newsletters and some actual art’ing. WEeeeeee I’ve done a couple group art’in sessions at a local church (info on that “professional” blog) I call it that because it really won’t have “personal” stuffs on it (that’s the plan anyway)

Johnny and I have gone to the movies a couple of times, loved The Woman in Gold. Furious 7 was pretty good, well it was hard to suspend belief a few several times, but they did a great tribute to Paul at the end.  The TV series we like, The Walking Dead and Better Call Saul have ended for the season, Defiance is soon to start I think (hope) and we no longer have HBO so we are not getting to watch Game of Thrones. Oh well

We have meet up with friends to go to a couple of plays and to help say goodbye to the Texas Motor Speedway (it’s been sold & closed).

 And le sigh you see, just a little busy. It looks as though things are calming down for us. My classes are ending soon and the Paint in’s, at the Church will be over (after May) for the summer. So maybe I can get back to a new normal soon.

Here is the link to my other blog, if y’all care to drop over there & have read. xoxo y’all

Happy Art’ing Y’all

so there

I was after Christmas weekend when what did I spy. . .

a new year just a coming and ah coming Holy Carp! y'all I have this thing a weirdness really and I've had it for many years. Maybe I inherited it. Yeah that's it, see it's not me it's a gene.

So I couldn't help but notice the puppy stains that were beaming from the carpet that covers our bedroom floor. Ummm no, no photos as I would be embarrassed for y'all to see besides who wants to be grossed out. Yeah I thought so NO ONE. And any ways Johnny "noticed" too and said we really need new carpet. I says yeah, but I'm not ready to empty the bedroom and paint and did I mention I need to purge, so um yeah NOT ready. . .

but I did go rent a machine this morning and got that carpet all spiffy and "new" looking so um yeah I got to postpone the really hard work.

and after I did the carpet I mopped; However I did forgo the pre-sweep, well I just swept like yesterday or the day before or before that so um yeah.

and after that I gave the dogs a bath, little stinky staining things that they are. Molly is small enough to be done in the sink but Champ. . . yeah he needs a whole room sooooooo

after that I had to clean the bathroom

and after that my back went into spasms. I mean really who is surprised by that? yeah that's what I thought NO ONE.

and now I'm couch bound for the rest of this day and tomorrow I shall visit the studio where I'm sure I have a toilet to clean there too. le sigh

oh about that thing that I have lol I have to have the house clean and the laundry done for the New Year. It's just nice to start out that way so tomorrow I will wash and dry one last load for 2014. Hummm maybe I'll mow the yard weeds too. Well it could happen.

Stone Avalokiteshvara MFA 7-18-13

Happy Art'ing Y'all

it's the evening

of Christmas Day 2014 it's quiet here

the tree lights are dimmed 

phone calls with family and friends made

laughter and food fills our bellies

this day has been great

I have faith that it has been the same for you my dear Internets

I pray the Christmas spirit enlivens your souls through the end

of this year and on into 2015

Happy Art'ing Y'all

Weird but TRUE

story that happened at my house, in the backyard. . . while I was working in the studio. Brace y'allself for paranormal stuff.

So there I was like I say working in the studio, we were having a very nice rain shower. Not stormy just a gentle rain, much needed btw.

I thought I saw someone cross in front of the window near the fence. Startled I glanced up and looked then quickly went over to said window and studied the scene out of the window in the direction that I thought saw someone go;  And then I thought to myself, 'huh, must've been a reflection / glare on my glasses, the gate's locked & I would have heard someone jumping the fence PLUS the dog would have barked. Weird. So I go back to work . . . lalalala and happy time span.

It was time to go into the main house to cook or some such nuisance and I couldn't help but notice that my statue (Lily) who normally looks like this

was all like this laying on the ground

Umm HOW ta heck did she get over the ledge of the flower bed and land on her face? Lily is quite heavy maybe 45 / 50 pounds of solid concrete. Champ wouldn't have gone near her, please note the yellow wire, Yep a bite ya dog collar thing. Couldn't have been the wind as there was barely a breeze and the wind chimes weren't even humming. Besides none of the other statues were tumped over including a plastic one. so yeah freaky weird stuffs y'all.

as I thought about it today (cause it bothered me) I suspect, that some entity was miffed because I found a portal and removed said portal. Yes I believe in that kind of stuff, well actually I more than believe, I know it exist.

So and umm yes it warranted a blog post, if for no other reason than for me to document the incident that happened 11-5-2014.

and ummmm so ok


Happy Art'ing Y'all

New Post

Carp y'all it's summer time (hot & humid in a normal sort of way) here. And I noticed that I have not (hadn't) done a post on my blog for a while (I really don' t know how long it's been so ummm maybe not that long)

Um what's been going on with me you may ask (I'll wait while you ask)

well go ahead and ask

Umm yeah, well. Nothing much. Two of my daughter Erin's kids have been here for a few days a piece. But I think Nanna was just too much of a personality for them to handle and they went home. Well even I have to admit that I'm pretty . . . um I'm a lot to take in. Yeah that's it, I won't mention how boring it is for thirteen year olds. I mean really I have old "classic" music on the phonograph, a telephone that is attached to the kitchen wall, a 19 inch black and white TV. . . No, that's not true. lol

We have color TV with cable it's gotta be a like 99 inch screen or something, the HiFi is cool  and contains an eclectic mix of genres BUT we don't have any Bored Games.

it's all cool I post in jest or is that gest or is that just because I wanted a New Post and that's really it. I've been hanging around the studio, goofing with this and that, meditating, cleaning house (cause I'm not strong enough to pick it up), mowing the yard (a lot) drawing faces, watching my friends on the UStream and YouTube and the Twitter and the Facebook. Spending time with my Johnny holding hands on the couch or walking or laughing or eating. and umm

I've made a couple videos  you can find 'em over here IF you feel so inclined or reclined as the case may be.

umm ok then

A Promo shot my director snapped-what a nut

Happy Art'ing Y'all

More or Less

How I have set up my camera for recording video on my work top. I use a Logitech and have it mounted (with a big binder clip) to the top of a paint stick that is mounted (with medium binder clips) to a small’ish desk easel. The desk easel is sitting on top of a wire pantry rack, well I have the easel tied to the pantry rack with some cord that I found lying around. I also have a fairly heavy book on the pantry rack to sorta weigh it down. To avoid tip’age and ka powy type of fall’age. I do have the camera mounted upside down so when I record it shows the view as if you were over my shoulder, umm errr as if you are at my work top with me.

Yes I have shadows going on in my vids, (excuse coming up) because the lights I currently have in my studio are not great, they are halogen and way super hot. . . as they burn out (kinda slowly – argh) I have plans on replacing the strips with plain old florescent lighting. Hey they do make  “natural” day light bulbs for ‘em. LOL I actually dumpster dived (curb side trash) for them. Cause the Universe just knew I would want and use them when the time is right. ^5 God ^5

And um anyways back to lighting I have a floor lamp on the right side that I turn on for extra light and to sorta counter balance the shadows away.

For the sideways angle shots (I have used this once) I brought in some tall patio chairs and taped Poster Board to them to block out the way too distracting background. And as y’all know white poster boards can be used to bounce a bit of light back. . . making for a little brighter view. The one time that I did this I sat the camera on a coaster so it would be just a little elevated (higher then the desk top). Haha Lucky for y’all I made sure I had it right side (top) up.

I have the laptop on the left so I can plug in the camera by USB and more or less have access to the control software that I don’t really know anything (much) about.

For Editing I’m using the FREE Microsoft Movie Maker that came with said Lap Top. It’s not been too hard to figure out and I have no plans on using anything else at this time. I am a beginner people; which brings to mind the little ol’ fact that Once I jump on the Fad it is most likely run its course and something new is about to come out. At least so says my history of “the in thing to do.” Just saying!

Because for the most part the talking I do in my videos while I’m recording is pretty lame, very disjointed and or garbled (I don’t know how y’all understand what I say). I’ve used a hand held digital recorder (old Olympus) and do the sort of Voice over audio thing. Umm yeah it’s not a whole lot better than then the recorded sound with the video, but it makes me feel better. And let’s be honest here peoples That’s what’s important – Yes that I feel better about it.

And when I’m done “filming” and doing “voice over” and all that editing carp I upload to my YouTube channel and typically I go grocery shopping and running errands, with the hope that when I’m done the video will be done uploading and I can proceed from there.  So umm yeah ta dah end of wordiness post. 

Happy Art’ing Y’all

ATG

Some of y’all know (or should by now) that I’ve been clearing and reorganizing my studio space. Yep really it’s done and you have (or may NOT have) seen the video, but that’s not what this post is about. Nope

It’s about the ATG (advanced tape glider) gun I got last fall on clearance at Hancock’s Fabric for $8.00. It came with 2, that’s two rolls of tape. I like it pretty well, not that we are BFFs but I might would miss it, IF I didn’t have it. So anyways back to the point. . .

IF I left it out on my worktop, it was in the way; IF I sat it off to the side OR in a drawer it was subject to the tape sticking where I didn’t want it. There is no hole in the handle nor a hook on it with which to hang. . . woe was me (sorta, just work with me people). Then all of a sudden a spark {insert lightning here} Yeah it was bigger than a light bulb moment, for me anyway. . .

Umm Velcro people, it was Velcro. Simple and in my mind a solution to my ATG dilemma (lol word’age) I rummaged through my sewing drawer and found a bit of it, ok I recycled it from some kind of strap, that was for who knows what. Sooooo I cut the size I figured I needed. I went to my handy home whatnot drawer and got out the new package of Liquid Nail (love this stuff). I LN (Liquid Nailed) the soft side of the piece of Velcro to the side of the ATG and I LN the rough side of the Velcro on the side of my work top (island)

and VOILA {fancy word for Ta Dah) My ATG is handy, yet outta the way and still portable without much effort. And I’m sharing this cause it might {just maybe} work for you. Now the thing about the LN, it is permanent (once it’s dry). . . meaning it would cause damage to the surface it’s stuck onto IF you were to pull it off. So if you decide to use it for whatever purpose you think it might work for you PLEASE BE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT the risk is yours and I am in no way to blame. {use at your own risk}

 But IF it works well for ya and you are happy then ^5 for me and Way to go Jamie.

ps this is the idea I had while watching Dede the Inkiwell stream this fine morning

Happy Art’ing Y’all

Happy New Year Y'all

We’re moving ahead and looking forward to the blessings and adventures of 2014

Merry Christmas Y'all

Just a couple of kids hanging around waiting for Santa

I know y'all

Have seen these – or Not – nonetheless (big word) here’s a holiday photo montage (funny word)

^ 2012 ^ 

We got lights

We have ornaments (^Santa^)

FB header (get it) 

We have Elf'ing Around (X-large Elf)

And Yes indeed (action word) I’m working on (fixN to words) the Christmas Postcard 

Umm, okay

Happy Art’ing Y’all

Paper Hugs

I have been blessed to receive some happy mail over the last few months –

Thank you Butterfly Girls. Y’ALL KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

Any hoot I have put my treasures in a book but I had these cool envelopes and such. They just jumped for joy to be used and I took them and tore ‘em up. Yep I did, just teared ‘em up. Then I glued them down onto black card stock. And ended up with this loverly journal page. 

The brown paper stamped with sweet butterflies was the flap of an envelope, I kept it as a flap and hidden underneath is a (hug)

Butterfly Paper Hugs, don’t cha just love it? I know I do

Happy Art’ing Y’all

Dodging

Raindrops. My friend, Rejoyce, got this really cool RAK and I loved the raindrop stamp she received (among many things) and thought hey that’s nice and simple I can do that. And I drug out my regular pink speed ball stuff and carving set. 

I did a raindrop and thought Hey why not try a dragonfly. I like dragonflies ya know. . . so yeah. Then from the bit that was left I just ran my carving tool over it and in my head I heard “that looks like tree bark, no it looks like a tree!” 

And I’m happy so I stamped my new pretties on a Gelli plate Delli wrap clean up pull and now I’m showing off to y’all.

Happy Art’ing Y’all

I have been

Gifted by the Universe


Found one earring - mother of pearl butterfly with broken antenna And a BlueJay feather. I don't normally take photos of the gifts left for me but they looked so cool on the bronze bag.

Johnny and I went to Old Town Spring Saturday, cause we like walking hand in hand up and down streets. I picked up some incense from the Asian something or other store and a package of three smudge sticks from a store that recently aggravated me and that is why I won't mention their name. See they conduct ghost tours and I questioned how they profess to be workers of light, but they taunt and call forward souls that have not crossed over instead of assisting them to cross over. They (the store) was all like oh no they have crossed and like to come back to play. Seriously!?! Once a soul goes into the light of God, do you really think they want to come back to scare the $hit out of people. These poor Earth bound souls of the dead become confused and often experience their death continually, yeah 24 / 7. Some become crazy in a way, they loose that part of themselves that were human. So anyway, I believe it is mean and very cruel to ghost hunt and I need to find a new place to get my smudge sticks.

I like the number three, just saying.

Happy Art'ing Y'all

Hey, this is about YOU

If you have not read this, then do so now (then come back here and read me) cause this post is in reference to Tanya’s Post, a reply of sorts or at the bare minimum just my two cents worth of encouragement.

I recall from my childhood talk about another branch of my family, how they ~

"think they are better than us. They look down on us because we don't have as much money as them."

I bought into that, hey it made me feel better about myself (us) only now. . .

ONLY NOW, I see ~ 

I SEE that "they" didn't make us feel anything, "they" didn't do anything except love us and welcome us. It was Us that felt like we were Less (less good, less worthy, less pretty, poor) because of what We thought about Ourselves. It was the way we judged us, the way we compared us to them. They did not make us feel bad about ourselves; We felt bad about ourselves all on our own. And now I see that I am as I am - simply put Me.

I cannot do this (make them see this truth) for the rest of my family it is a Truth they need to embrace on their own. I am good, worthy, pretty and rich with the abundance that is mine. This truth does not make me better than anyone else it only lets me see that I am as I am - simply put I am Me.

I do not need to be smaller than others to be all that I am - I do not need to be bigger than others to be all that I am

And this is true for YOU

YOU do not need to be smaller or bigger than others to be all that YOU ARE

Shine

            SHINE

                        SHINE your brightness

Light Up your world

                                  and that will
                                                             LIGHT UP THE WORLD 

stand in that grace, grateful that you no longer have to hide that little Big, NO I really mean HUGE LIGHT of yours.

Happy Art’ing Y’all

Here is

a fun spread I did at Johnny’s desk last week. The face I drew back in March of this year, anywho I got her painted. Then I did the background. So while I waited for dry’age I thought hum wouldn't it be cool if I made a little tiny’ish journal in the shape of a heart. So yeah I did. I glued the girl to the background with heavy gel, cause she is on heavy watercolor paper and the heart journal is stuck to the background using Tack it over & over. Love that it is removable to do some secret personal journaling in. {I think the background looks sorta Independence Day night'ish}

close up of the open heart journal

Umm what's up with the hearts on the shoulder?  I D K and so there y’all have it and now for an

Happy Art’ing Y’all

Cabinet of Curiosities

My last art assignment for the PennState online class. Interesting stuff about these cabinets, they can be entire rooms, tiny handheld boxes and everything in-between. They can contain weird, absurd, fun, quirky, ordinary, trash, treasure, new, old, futuristic and anything else one deems worthy of cabineting (collecting). Here is mine, simple with few items and I won’t go into their meanings (unless you want to read the artist statement – just let me know) Titled ~ The Vessel

The cabinet

The cabinet unpacked

A close up view

 I scored a 25 (100%) {yea me} I expect my certificate with distinction within in a couple/few weeks.  And YES when I hear of another one of these classes I will be sure to share that information with y’all. Thanks for viewing and reading me

Happy Art’ing Y’all


Update on Johnny, we have finished one month of chemo and see Dr. Wang in a few days to find out if more chemo or what. We have question on a list and it would be a good time for y'all to chime in with any questions for the Dr. This past week was hard on Johnny as he worked full days, one of his guys was on vacation . Not complaining but man oh man was it rough, saying exausted would be an understatement. BUT otherwise he is doing ok. That's all for now, will let y'all know after the Dr. visit of further updates. XOXO
p.s. Thank you for the continued prayers & love