SAY IT WITH COLOR ?

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way- things that I had no words for." - Georgia O' Keeffe

I am back in Tuscany. Not literally, I simply have more to show and tell. 

When you are there, everything takes on a glow. You look at the landscape and realize why so many artists painted there, why so many writers wrote there, why you are there. Everything looks like a painting, the light, the colors, ochre, raw umber.......

This assemblage piece was meant to be a shrine to the brush that I scrounged for at a flea market. I have a weakness for old paint brushes. I had almost given up hope. As a last ditch effort, I got down on my hands and knees and ran my hands through the dirt and "junk" and viola!

I had spent so much time on the shoe piece a few posts back , I almost forgot about the brush. it turns out, the junk finds that I had left were each precious to me in their own way, so I decided to say "what the heck" and just attach everything together.

The colors, rust, white, a touch of blue, YELLOW, brown, all seemed to work together. I added a bit more, copper mesh and a bit of blue paint to the brush handle, a yellowish ribbon to highlight the yellow of the......... round, whatever-it-is, with the buttons, a piece of ochre mica. It all seemed to blend well with my surroundings.

I LOVE MY BRUSH!

" I think it pisses God off if you walk by  the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it". - Alice Walker

DIA DE BLOGLANDIA

Happy Dia de los Muertos everyone and thank you to Susanna and Stephanie for planning a " get together", DIA DE BLOGLANDIA.

I decided to use the design of an Arbol de la Vida (tree of life) and do some work in copper and paint to remember my father and his family.

ALTERED BOOK ROUND ROBIN PEEK

I just finished working in the second to last book of my altered book round robin. The theme of this book was "Layers". 

It took a bit longer this time, to decide how I was going to interpret the theme, as a few of the other artists had already thought of some of the ideas I was going to use. 

I ended up using an archaeological dig theme.....of sorts.

Receiving a package each month, filled with the art work of so many people and adding my own to it,  has been an amazing experience.  Once we finish up in the next two months, I hope to share the images in their entirety.

ITALIAN DREAMS- VENICE

Detail from an assemblage "shrine"  to Italy by Karen Cole

"I stood in Venice, on the bridge of sighs; a palace and a prison on each hand. I saw from out the wave of her structures rise, as from the stroke of the enchanters wand; a thousand years their cloudy wings expand around me, and a dying glory smiles o'er the far times, when many a subject land, looked to the winged lions marble pines, where Venice sate in state, throned on her hundred isles." -Lord Byron

Back from a sleepless trip to a magical place.  Above, a "winged messenger" from Susanna, taken from the balcony of our hotel. The Rialto bridge in the background. (duh!)

The key to a great Venetian experience? The key to your room at the fabulous Al Ponte Antico, a Venetian Spritz (Prosecco and Aperol) made by Matteo our host, A CAMERA and a view.

Sharing it all with wonderful friends.

Al Ponte Antico from the other side of the canal.

Even the construction has style.

A "must see". The Fortuny Museum. The current show Un Mondo Di Carta, the work of Isabelle de Borchgrave, clothing and accessories made out of paper. Swoony stuff......oh my!

Do you like mosaics? Don't miss the Orsoni workshop where you can get beautiful smalti.

Food? How about an artichoke fresh from the Rialto market?

Perhaps I'll get to experience carnivale next time.

Venice is a jewel. Detail of another italian shrine by yours truly.

CIAO and A ROUND ROBIN PEEK

This is the latest sneak peek into the world of my altered book round robin, which will be ending at the end of November. It's been wonderful working on these beautifully themed creations. The theme of this months book was "Hidden". I got my inspiration from a Charlotte Bronte quote.

"The human heart has hidden treasures, in secret kept, in silence sealed; the thoughts, the hopes , the dreams, the pleasures, whose charms are broken if revealed."  Charlotte Bronte

I am headed on another journey today. Italy. I will be attending a workshop in Cortona with Michael Demeng. Enjoy your own life's journey while I am gone. Ciao my friends!

BEACH SKETCHES, TOO

Spent the labor day weekend at the beach with some friends. I do not want the summer to end. I think we get a raw deal, with this memorial day to labor day thing. I want to continue to wear my flip flops and bask in the warmth of a summer day.

I also think we all work too hard. This is an observation from watching people on the beach. I  may have said this a few posts ago, with my last sketches. Everyone looks like they needed this break........bad.

This time I used some black Arches paper and a white gel pen. My daughter would like to see me stick to just the white on black sketch.  I can't seem to keep my hands out of the colored pencil and crayon box. Any thoughts??? Plain vs. color?

BLOGSTOCK 2008-A SENSE OF WONDER

"If a child (or adult) is to keep alive her inborn SENSE OF WONDER, she needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with her the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in." - Rachel Carson

I 'm exhausted......but very happy. I just spent a wonderful few days with some amazing women. Artists, writers and yes, even dancers (you know who you are).

We shared our opinions on art, music, history, politics, food, wine and just about everything else. We looked at art, history and scenery. 

We collaborated.  We worked separately creating journal pages and images. We took them apart, shared pieces and put them together to create a mosaic of images and pages that became a beautiful journal that we could each enjoy forever.

We celebrated our coming together.....formally , of course....in a "funky diva", "homage to Woodstock" kind of way and did the "kitchen dance" all night long.

Thank you my blogging friends, for a most memorable experience. 

Time for some rest and reflection.

Blogstock 2008= (in no particular order)

Constance, Leslie, eb, Elizabeth, someburntflowers (oops, I meant somepinkflowers), Isabel, Susanna, Stephanie and me.

A GREAT READ

Yes, I am still here. Just very busy.

You must check out what is happening over at the Altered Page. Seth has created an amazing online artist question and answer series of posts, that will actually have you reading......so pour yourself some coffee, tea or a large cocktail....and get ready to be entertained.

If you don't want to read (you will) ,  just enjoy the photos and artwork.

I shall return.

TREES-SNEAK PEEK

This is a continuation of the sneak peeks I've been providing , from my altered book round robin with team USA and team Australia (just thought I'd throw that in, in honor of the Olympics).

"TREES" - copper flashing that has been "tooled" or drawn into, acrylic paint, liver of sulpher, Arches drawing paper, woodcut, pen and ink and fabric collage.

THE BEACH PART 2-THE BEACH IS A PAINT BOX

A dear friend came to visit us at the beach. She has two young children, adorable little girls.  Did we build sand castles? Did we splash in the surf? Did we bury each other in the sand? YES, just like everyone else. Did anyone else have paints and paper and use sea water to wet the paints? NO. Lucky us. 

As a former art teacher, I still get great pleasure out of seeing children play with a box of paints......and play we did.  After they got bored with the paper, we started body painting.  SWEET!

In the evening, we headed to the boardwalk , lots of people, lots of noise and food that will kill you.  Not my favorite place to hang out, but with little ones, it's a must.  The colors very much reminded me of that paint box.

I prefer the softer side.  Soft evening light.  Softer colors.  Sand like powder between your toes.

An evening breeze. Back to the beach for some sketching.