neldaream

Checking In

Yes, I'm still alive.  Thanks to all of you who have asked.  I'm sorry I have neglected posting to the blog.

There have been so many new challenges here: new directions in business, buying and selling a house...so much to do. 

One bright spot in the last month is a wonderful online class taught by Connie of Dirty Footprints Studio.  The class was titled BIG and it truly lived up to its name.  Connie not only encouraged us to paint on big canvases, but to let out the BIGness inside us.  I highly recommend this class to anyone.

Here are a couple of paintings from my big, 18x24" journal from the class.

We're leaving tomorrow for a big trip to Texas, but I will be back soon.

2/28/12 Journal Page

You have to leave the city of your comfort

and go into the wilderness of your intuition.

----Alan Alda

 

2/15/12

Playing some more in the journal with found poetry...

They all started out together.

They were just too good for words

when they started out.

They suddenly changed;

no more nice, quiet, sedate.

They ran, they laughed,

they screamed, they hollered.

It was something awful,

and wonderful.

1-31-12

I have been enjoying a class with the inspiring Misty Mawn.  I love the way Misty challenges us to think beyond what we have done in the past. 

Each day is devoted to a different expression of a subject.  Tuesdays are for creative writing.  I have begun writing again!  Last week we explored nature in art.  We were told to write down everything surrounding us at a particular moment, then make a poem from it.  I was enjoying a new CD of Indian flute music and this is the poem that came from that.

In a natural cathedral

an Indian flute sings.

Its clear notes pierce through

walls of green leaves.

A woman sits, long braids flowing,

breathing her life into the reed.

Listen to the call to worship.

Join the choir of sparrows,

squirrels, crickets.

Sing the song of peace.

 

 

12/06/11

This morning I heard a phrase spoken by a talk show host that intrigued me: Times are Changing.  It made me want to do a journal page. 

I set out to play with only that phrase in mind, just wanting to put some paint on the page and see what would happen.

The page in the journal had been pre-painted with orange.  I have now learned I do not like starting on pre-painted pages.  It was too orange for today.  So I tried to tone it down with some gesso and paint.

Ahh...that suits my mood today much better. 

I liked the collaged text pages peeking through the paint; especially the piece from a Bible with the blue underlined sentences.  It was like a message from God; couldn't cover up a message from God, now, could we?

How about some stenciling through punchinella?

Well, since that went pretty well, how about some more stenciling through that plastic place mat from GoodWill?  But what color to use...

I chose a blackish color.  Uh-oh.  It has taken over the page.  Now what?  Even after blotting and adding white gesso on top it is still screaming on the page.  Plus I have now lost some of that nice collage element.

Find a nice figural head in a fashion magazine.  Combine it with some painted deli paper.  How about some left over stars from another project found on the work table?  Yes, I like that.  Especially since one of them is blue.  It compliments the blue underlining on the text. 

Now, where to place the stars.  There are only three.

Maybe that's a little better.  Kind of makes a boomerang effect into the focal point of the text.

That black head on the page is screaming.  Need to add more black somewhere else.  Outline the stars...add some black text.  Hmm...still not enough.  Wish I hadn't added that last line.

Asphaltum to the rescue.  It never disappoints.  Hey, it even blurredf the line I don't like.  Maybe it could use a bit more. 

I'm liking this better.  The head is integrated a bit more into the page, although it is still screaming at me.  But at least it is muffled somewhat. 

It is finished.  I don't like it enough to keep going further.  It is what it is..and that's okay.  I had fun and I learned something.  The main thing I learned is that a touch of black can totally take over and dominate a page.  Note to self: be more cautious in using black.  Experiment to see how you like it combined on a page.

But then...maybe I could paint over that head with Payne's Gray...tone it down...integrate it into the page more...

 

The Fancy Flea

Some concerned citizens have been asking if I have given up art.  No, I promise that is not the case.  Things are just changing a bit right now.  I am trying to integrate my love of antiques and art.  

On Saturday I was a vendor at The Fancy Flea Market in Lakeland, FL.  This was cited by Romantic Homes Magazine as one of the Ten Best Flea Markets in the U.S.  They were so right, it was a marvelous show.  It was held on the streets of the historical district of Lakeland.  Combine that with mature trees along the street, top notch vendors, beautiful weather, live harp music, beautiful gardening items and good food...well, it was just wonderful.  It was so busy, though, I forgot to take pictures; just snapped these few as we were setting up the booth.

This show was the first time I tried to put my art with the antiques.  Guess what?  I sold some paintings!  It was great confirmation to me that this idea will work.

Tomorrow I will be working on some small paintings that didn't get finished in time for the show.  It's another idea I have been wanting to try.  So many ideas...so little time.

The next Fancy Flea Market will be held on April 28 in 2012.  You gotta come; you will love it.  See you there!

 

Halloween Sweater

We don't actually celebrate Halloween, but since the holiday fell on flea market day this year, Tristan got a new sweater to wear for the occasion.  I wanted to show you how cute he looks in it but...

I got a lot of this...

and this...

and this.  Oh, well...

Happy Halloween, anyway.

Flea Market 10/24

Shopping for the flea market last week was hard because we had rain. The best find of the week was this wonderful big toolbox. 

The best part is that it is cantilevered.

Just think of all the art supplies this guy would hold.  Maybe it won't sell and I can take it home.

Even Tristan likes it.

I signed up to have a booth at The Fancy Flea market in Lakeland, Florida next month.  My friend, Debbie, told me more about the market yesterday.  It will be much larger than I'd expected.  I hope to get some art done to mix in with the antiques I sell.  This big tool guy will definitely go with me.

Party Lights

This was last week's find.  Can you tell what they are?  Party lights!  Can you tell what they are made of?  Tin cans! 

As you know, I love turning trash into something beautiful and useful.  When I saw these party lights at a flea market, I got so excited.  Someone was VERY clever and creative in thinking of this upcycled product. It looks like they were cut with a torch.  There is a hole in the can bottom to accomodate a light, and the "ribs" cut into the can can be bent to give it a more round shape. 

They look perfect with vintage industrial or rustic decor.  Now, all we need is the party.

A Whisper of Autumn

Everyone at the flea market yesterday was so exhilirated by the COOL weather.  We actually had to wear long sleeved shirts in the early morning.  We haven't done that here in Florida since January.

Of course, by noon it was 83 degrees, but most of the vendors were closed by then.

It was such a good day.