Garden Faerie

Faeries, come take me out of this dull world,
For I would ride with you upon the wind,
Run on the top of the dishevelled tide,
And dance upon the mountains like a flame.
~William Butler Yeats, "The Land of Heart's Desire,"

These first two photos are taken prior to waxing~
These pictures are after waxing. Waxing gives the painting a warm hue~
The kitten is actually a card you can pull out~
Wax seals the painting ~

Details of the background~

Fairy -One of a class of elemental beings. usually associated with gardens and plants

Faerie - Archaic spelling of fairy

Summertime

This picture was made with elements that I hoped would evoke childhood memories of summertime; music, dreaming, monkeying around and jumping rope followed by a glass of lemonade of course.
Beautiful memories tell our story, and wrap themselves in ribbons of the heart.
-- Flavia

Cats Lullaby

Encouraging creativity in my house is easy these days. A special table for my daughter in the same room. Although she uses mine when I am busy! Allowing her to use my supplies as long as she asks first. She is my shadow creating and drawing at 7 yrs old. Here is a unfinished piece we did together, which all started like this~ She asked if my girl needed a kitty and I said sure! A few days later she said here is my girl and her kitty! So I decided to incorporate them in one piece. I found a piece of sheet music called the Cats Lullaby and that is what is on the background which inspired me to make it dream like. The final piece is covered in wax. It was my first attempt at this process. I like the dimension it gives the painting /collage but it is hard to pick up in a photograph. I laid on the wax some area's thicker and some thinner. It looks dreamy in the picture. I have done some more since and I can tell I am going to love experimenting with this technique. I can't wait to share more.
If you would like to learn how to do this type of collage technique Suzi Blu has a fun class called Les Petit Dolls for beginners. Her work in this style is amazing.

Creativity represents a miraculous coming together of the uninhibited energy of the child with its apparent opposite and enemy, the sense of order imposed on the disciplined adult intelligence. -- Norman Podhoretz

The Pirates Life For Me

Here are some photographs of details of my work "The Pirates Life For Me". I did this while taking Suzi Blu's class Les Petit Dolls. I am simply excited over learning a new technique.
What new techniques have you learned lately? What styles inspire your work? What theme park rides or movies inspire your work? Inspiration is everywhere just look around, jot your ideas down and let your creativity flow!

Treasures From the past - Remembering

My mom was always encouraging us to create today I thank her from my heart as today is the second anniversary of my mom's passing~ a treasure lost and memories abound~She spent her life as an educator of elementary school children. Later when semi retired she worked at Job Corp. in SF, CA. Her focus was always on children and learning. She was dedicated to her children and grand children. A scrabble fanatic! My scrabble partner was one never to be reckoned with. Although we tried!! Life taken too soon, when she chose to have a knee operation and suffered a stoke and later died within 2 months. Here are treasures from my mom and grand parents. Just cleaned up and ready for viewing. I have it in various spots in my house. The glassware circa pre 50's and 60's- I have in a curio, the train case in my bedroom. I bought a special jewelry box for all my mom's jewelry. (Which she loved so dearly and always so fashionable) The sewing goods are in my laundry/sewing room. The vintage doll, tucked away for special viewing. It was my grandma's from when she was a girl. Then passed on to my mom and now me. The pretty embroidered linens-Does anyone do this anymore? My grandfather worked for Coca Cola bottling company and I remember him bringing us mini cokes that we could actually open and drink from the bottle. I never could find the one's I didn't open. See the mini coke bottles next to a glass perfume bottle. Another one of my favorites is the vintage curlers and clothes pins. Would kids today even know what they are? Thanks for stopping by and seeing a little herstory. These are only tiny reminders of family members lost too soon~Cherish your loved ones daily!
I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity. Gilda Radner

Mermaid in Mixed Media

Here is a mermaid I have been working on. It isn't quite done. I am learning a new technique and it will be finished with bees wax. But I wanted to bring you up to date with my latest. Inspired by my youngest daughter learning how to swim. She is growing new scales every day and soon to be the newest mermaid in the water. The background was first done with collage papers, stamps and paints on birch wood. The mermaid done on separate paper and then put down with matte medium. I painted the flowers to match the background and added some other elements. She is holding a key and ready to pass it on to my daughter with all her knowledge.

Happy 4th of July

I hope this finds you having time to enjoy your family, friends and outdoors. Taking time to do some favorite past times: barbecue, baseball or just swing in a hammock! Be sure and take the time to think of the men and women who have given their lives for our country and our freedom. ~Enjoy the fireworks and have a wonderful time~