Well, I got a bit radical today.  I felt that this piece, overall, was a bit too bright.  Moreover, while I really like how the upper portions were evolving I was not happy with the bottom portions.  I sat for some time to figure out how to change what was there.  But sometimes you have to let go.  I let go of the parts I didn’t like by using a black glaze over them to reduce the red and reduce the “noise”.  I am happy with the result and I feel it gives me a fresh perspective.  I think I was stuck because I didn’t like where this piece was headed.  I have now given it a new direction and I feel great to have taken the plunge.  Now I have to go make guacamole for the Pats versus the Ravens.  GO PAT’S!!!!!!!!!

I spent time on my large canvas today.  I thumbed through my postcards and art to look for inspiration on where to go next with this piece.  I do plan to add more words but that wasn’t where my head was at today.  I decided that I love sort of odd-shaped checkerboard patterns and I decided to try adding that to this piece to see how it would look.  I chose the narrow sections around some of my orbs as I thought it would integrate them into the overall design better.  So far I am happy with the result and I do feel the orbs now feel more integrated and incorporated into the overall design.  I also used marker on some of the words to bring them into sharper focus.  I am moving forward with this piece and it feels good.  I have to keep my momentum going even at the risk of taking a misstep.  I have to remember that this is a fluid, process-based piece that will continue to evolve.  Missteps are all part of the journey!  I posted a before and after picture so I could see my progress.  The first picture (before) is a bit over exposed but still allows for comparison.

I am very excited so I had to get right on and post about it.  I had decided I wanted to add some text to my black, white and red canvas.  Rather than painting or writing the text, I wanted to print it out and transfer it to the canvas using matte medium.  To do this I had to print the words backwards which is an option that my print menu does not afford me.  However, I have found the answer!  I opened a Word document and typed in some text as word art.  Then I pulled the right side of the word art over the left edge which reversed the text.  Voila!  I printed the reversed text and applied it to the canvas.  It was a bit of a rudimentary attempt that needs more care and precision.  All the same, I am happy to have found the solution.  Check back later for further updates on how well I can make this work for me!

Hmmmmm, I know the answer to the riddle that starts that way is the newspaper, but I’m talking about a large canvas I have in progress.  I felt compelled to try to work large.  It seems that so much work is done on a large-scale and I should try it.  It has been very difficult for me.  It’s hard to “play” with a large piece.  It’s harder to work on an easel instead of flat on my table.  The large pieces seem to take forever, mostly because I am stymied by them.  The first one took a long time and I was happy with the result.  This one , which 36′x48′, is also taking a long time and I’m somewhat at a loss where to go next.  I thought I would post a picture because I think whatever I do next may be radical and push much of the current work into the background.  Then again, I’m not sure of that.  You’ll just have to wait and see – much like me!

BTW – I have another blog on which I have decided to track my New Years Resolutions.  Stop by if you’re curious!  http://tmlt.wordpress.com/

Those of you who are younger will not remember an old, old show called The Time Machine.  Those around my age may remember it.  There was a black and white vortex that was somehow used to travel through time.  It’s so long ago that I don’t really remember the much about the show, but this design reminded me of it.  It is the start of a new two page spread in my altered book.  I haven’t decided where to go next or whether I will actually keep going.  I don’t need to decide that now.  I just like the colors, the shape, and the way that one starts at the bottom of the page and the other starts at the top.  I am easily amused!

This digital collage is part of an experiment.  A couple of years ago I decided that I would like to collage on old windows.  I found a woman nearby and went and purchased 3 of them for a song.  They are still sitting in the garage which probably drives my husband crazy.  But he’s patient and knows that I will use them eventually.  I saw a window in New Mexico that had old photos in the panes surrounded by metal.  It was interesting and gave me an idea.  I’ve always wanted to keep the transparency of the panes, not obscure them entirely.  So I’ve decided to create some digital collages, print them onto transparencies and try applying them to glass to see if this will be a worthy use of my windows.  I may also try to find some transparent inks to play with in terms of painting on the collages.

For this collage I started with the scan of a page from a old calendar that was my Aunts.  It is a reproduction of an old travel poster.  In photoshop I added a layer that was a picture of concreate.  I did this in order to try and “age” the appearance of the original image.  Finally I added a third layer which is a picture of my parents on a cruise ages ago.  They loved to take cruises.  I flattened the image and made it black and white.

I have all of the old family photos and there are people in the box that my siblings and I can’t identify.  I’m thinking I might scan those and create stories for them in the form of collages.  We’ll see…

Ah, I have finally returned to the studio to get my hands dirty.  It’s been a while.  Okay, it’s been a long while.  The demands of the holiday and my being away have kept me from indulging myself.  This was a small start but a start none-the-less.  I pulled out a book I had been altering and just let go.  I started with yellow tissue paper and then moved on to purple.  I finished by added the slivers of color.  Those were cut from a piece of wax paper that I had used as a palette.  It is a simple page spread but I like it that way.  Rather than keep going I liked the simple bold design.  It feels good to be back at work!

Join us at Galatea Fine Art tonight for our First Friday reception in SOWA.  Three fine artists are exhibiting: David Martsolf, Stephanie Angelo and Lola Baltzell.  My piece, Autumn Sentinels will be on display in the member area.  Enjoy the mild winter weather and come on down!

6-8 pm 460-b Harrison Ave, Boston, MA

Hello my friends.  This is a belated Happy New Year to you all.  May you all find health and happiness in the new year.  I was away during the holidays.  I had hoped to post on my new ipad, but found that I could not see what I was typing!  I have no idea why.  I could only see what I had written in preview.  Oh well.  I wanted to thank all of you who have taken the time to visit my site and comment on my posts.  Last month was my very best month ever in terms of visits.  YAY!  Again, I thank you.  I have met so many wonderful people through blogging.  I have enjoyed reading your words and viewing your art.  I have been inspired by so many of you.  Here’s to a new year brimming with creativity!