PARIS OR MY SHOULDER..

so yesterday i had my shoulder operated on to repair a torn labrum. i am typing with one hand, so please forgive my lack of caps.

i returned from an amazing trip to paris last week. i figured that it would be better to post some of my trip photos than my shoulder mri or xrays......ha, ha.




line for tickets to the top of the eiffel tower....it reminds me of an edward hopper painting


we went to the top of the eiffel tower at midnight......oooo la la

the opera

paris comes alive at night

an assemblage by picasso at the picasso museum

a special treat, the vanves flea market, escorted by tara bradford of paris parfait




the magnificent flying buttresses of notre dame


an amazing international graffiti exhibit at the grand palais



everyone wants to be french in paris.......duh.....the berets




bike sharing.......an excellent idea


beautiful day at luxembourg gardens



great friends to share it with

so i know i was there and it wasn't a dream

FOUND-IN THE YEAR 2109

" I have always looked upon decay as being just as wonderful and rich as an expression of life as growth." - Henry Miller

Hey everyone, I am just giving a little update on my disintegration project, a la Seth over at Altered Page.

The copper and metals are aging very nicely, thank you. I DO love that copper. The patina of "life" just works so well.

The paper is curling and getting moldy......WOO HOO. Some of the wire has rusted.

If you look closely, you can even see some of the mold. What fun......


The "BLING"? Well that's another story. They are left overs from a time when I was making jewelry and adding brooches to necklaces. The brooches were purchased at Target!! I was hoping that they would rust.....that the stones would fall out........discolor, bend, fall off, break...ANYTHING!!!! I figure, when archeologists come to my neighborhood someday, 100 years from now, 1000 years from now, those damn Target brooches will still look as good as new.

Happy Holidays to everyone!!!

See you next week after I've been........here.

"SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY" -THOREAU

" The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak."
-Hans Hofmann

She agrees.

Here's what happens sometimes and I am only mentioning this so I can look back on this post and try an remember what I told myself, since this blogging thing is a journal, of sorts. When you are into a "groove" with a particular technique, that doesn't mean you should just keep adding more and more to a particular piece. Does that make sense? Does it happen to you?

I enjoyed doing this piece and sometimes pieces like this have their place, but I feel that I am more successful using fewer objects and drawing more on the copper.






Perhaps if I eliminate the color?

Harley wants my friend somepinkflowers to know that she would love to come visit, anytime.

SCHOOL DAZE

"In the dime stores and bus stations, people talk of situations, read books, repeat quotations, draw conclusions on the wall. " -Bob Dylan

I'm into the second week of an online graffiti workshop with Alisa Burke. Still having fun, just don't have as much time as I did, when I was on vacation last week. Practicing my juggling....as in work AND play.



This week we did some exercises with stencils.

HERALDRY- emblem, symbol or insignia

" We may talk what we please of lilies and lions rampant and spread eagles, in fields of d'or or d'argent, but if heraldry were guided by reason, a plough in a field of arable would be the most noble and ancient of arms." -Abraham Cowley



I have been wrapped up in this wonderful world of copper, old jewelry parts, found objects, paint, etching and stitching. In trying to develop a name for this process, I came upon old coat of arms and heraldry. Items used for war initially and now symbolic of families and other things. And yes, each marking on heraldry has a particular meaning, even the color.

These things very much reminded me of the look that I am attempting to achieve. I am calling these pieces my Heraldry Series. They are peaceful symbols in every way.




I am planning to open an etsy soon. Keep your eyes open.

ALTITUDE WITH ATTITUDE

There I am, perched high above the town of Telluride Colorado, riding the wonderful free transit system gondola into town. Can you tell the view is spectacular. If you have a weak stomach or a super fear of heights, that first scene over the ridge can be a bit tricky.

While I am here, I decided to sign up for Alisa Burkes Graffiti Chic, on line class. It's a treat. I have a difficult time being "messy", she helps you get over that by using great videos and blog sample lessons, instant chats and other things to get you on your way.

Our first assignment was to photograph some things we found inspiring and use the photos as a jumping off point to dig into her techniques.

Below you will find a short sequence of photos showing a bit of what I did for the first two pieces, starting with the photo.


I used whatever paper I could find as a base.


It's all about layers....paint, text, stamping, scraping and so much more. I felt pretty "tight" on this first one. I admit I sort of liked the initial painting, so it was hard to move on.

Next photo and subsequent painting.



Have NO IDEA where the 66 came from, but I got rid of it fast.

I had more of a sense of freedom here. We'll see where the next exercise takes me.

Besides the spectacular mountain views, there are some typical Telluride sights.

Boards with tons of posted events.

The Free Box is a great place to get rid of what you don't need and pick up something else........yes, for free. I got a brand new journal the other day.

Then there is the white out snowstorm which can sneak up on you.

Mostly there are beautiful scenes like this.