Newest line drawing, Elf

Have been a bit distracted this week, so not much for the internet.  However I have done a couple of new Line drawings. 

I tweaked the Dragonfly!  And I did an Elf head shot.  None of them are colored in yet, but I thought you might like a look see.  I am very pleased with both. 

Do keep in mind that I don't do faces very often so be kind with your comments.  Remember she is 'imaginary'.

Wonderful Wednesday Feature

Yet another Wonderful Wednesday Feature artist.  I found this one on our wonderful Etsy again.  So many talented people sometimes I don't know where to start.  Her shop is called "  Cakes by Amber"   and she has a very clever idea going!  I also discovered she has a Facebook page and you will want to visit her there also.

She has found a way to create "  cakes"   with items that are for each specific occassion.  It is kind of hard to explain so check out these pictures.

See what I mean...simply delightful for any occasion.  

Don't forget to go see her and click, convo, favorite or buy.  Let's support our fellow artists every chance we get.

Peyote bead work

I finished it!  After a lot of ugly words, but boy is it BEAUTIFUL!  Take a look!  The listing gives the full description. 

I Need some feedback!

I have been toying around with the idea of doing a coloring book.  After I messed up a few designs, or did a design in color pencil and half way through I wished that I had done it in graphite / pencil, (or vice versa) ,I started to keep copies of my original line drawing.  As a result I have copies of quite a number of these.  

My first thought was to never produce the same thing twice, "  only one of a kind designs"  .  In other words if you bought a piece of my art no one but you would ever have a copy of it.  But since in general things are not selling I am forced to rethink this idea.  I don't have copies of all of my work, as this it didn't even occur to me to keep copies until I had been at this for quite some time.  Further more I can still make more designs.  I have two sitting ready on the boards as we speak.  I won't work on them one way or the other until I complete my commission works.  

Any way I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on this one way or the other and I would love to hear those thoughts.

Commissioned Art

Hi!  Haven't been on line much because I am working on my friend in St. Augustine's Peyote stitch bracelet.

I don't do these very often...very slow and tedious...Go ahead and laugh Max! Looking forward to weaving her handbag.  That is my comfort zone.

Anyway this is what I have so far.  Can't believe I found a button with the exact cobalt blue silk cover for the closure.  She didn't want a design, just "bead soup" with blue and silver beads. 

Please remember shiny beads are very hard to photograph.

Newest Line drawing, Dragonfly

I started this one last night.  Want to get a few line drawings done before I make a trip to the print shop to get copies made.   That way no erasure lines and such.  Did you know that if you get the copy made light enough toner will erase out!  Very cool.

Anyway here is the Dragonfly so far!  Actually playing around with the idea of a coloring book?  Whatcha think????

I made it into another Treasury!!!

This is the second week in a row I have made it into a treasury!  I am sooooo excited!   Check it out! 
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c4711b15aaf6d91392e2777/the-seasons-are-a-changin. 

Unfortunately the first one seems to be gone.  But the piece that was featured was my Mercury in color!  http://www.etsy.com/listing/44428863/mercury-in-color.  Too cool.

Wonderful Wednesday Feature

O.k., so for a moment I thought I had a little bit of talent.  Then I found our next Wonderful Wednesday Artist.  I think I stumbled on his site late one night when I was surfing the web.  His name is Bruce Dellinger, and he leaves me breathless AND speechless.  

He draws...but wait until you see how.  I am at a loss as to how to describe this incredible artist, so in this case less is more.  Look with your own eyes and be as humbled as I am.

This is the only picture I could copy and paste.  His other work is on a slide show and wouldn't let me copy.  So you will have to go and see his work for yourself.

Newest Pencil design

Started a new piece after Crystal Pistal left yesterday and this is what I have so far.  Still haven't decided on color or graphite pencils yet.  But I am happy with the design.

Can you believe it?

As most of you know my daughter was here for a couple of days.  Yesterday we were sitting around visiting and my phone rang...can you believe it, IT WAS THE LOCAL ART CENTER.  The very one that I was supposed to teach at earlier in the year.

Things were not handled well by them and when it came right down to it I decided that it wasn't the place for me.

Well, they have asked me if I am still interested in instructing classes. 

I had proposed to them that I teach Tapestry/frame weaving, spindle spinning, and peyote bead weaving.  At this point I might also instruct Pine Needle Basket weaving.

Anyway there will be a staff meeting on Tuesday the 27th and I was invited.  Soooooo I might actually be an active participant at the art center in the fall semester.  Lets just hope I am not going to Chemo or some other hideous thing.  Won't know any of that until after the biopsy on the 30th. 

So at this point I can use all of the crossed fingers I can get.  I will keep you all posted.

Peyote bead work

My good friend Kraftymax and my friend Carol (my current roommate) got me started on my art endeavors. They have both encouraged me every step of the way.

My 1st beaded piece was a scale of the American flag in peyote stitch with delica beads for the 911 E-bay Victims Auction.  After that Max just kept me going.  I moved on to bead weaving on a loom, which is how I moved into weaving textiles.  As a result I always have gone back and forth with the beads.

I love to do Peyote bead work with size 11 delica beads and I now have to start on my 1st commission.  This piece will be a bracelet done in shades of blue.  It will be an easy one as she doesn't even want a pattern.  Just "bead soup", which means just pour them all together and pick them up randomly.

So as bad as I want to weave a new bag I am forgoing warping my loom in lieu of the money.  I also have two pencil drawings to do as a commission for another friend in St. Augustine for his daughters new apartment. 

I will probably pace myself by doing the bracelet, then warp the loom, then a pencil drawing, then a little weaving and then the other pencil piece.  That way everything gets done on time and I get to do what I want also.  At least that is the plan for now.  LOL

So I thought I would post a few pictures of my bead work and let you tell me what you think.  A couple of bracelets and there is also a picture of a sun-catcher that I also need to complete.  It is my own design (one of my drawings) and is a 5in x 7in that is 2/3rds of the way done.  It is a present for my youngest neice's hope chest, since she doesn't know about it no pressure there. 

Again these are all one of a kind and my own designs. 

Complete Green Gecko Messenger bag

It's finally complete folks.  I haven't listed it yet because I was so excited I wanted you guys to see it first.  

Please let me know what you think.

Crystal Pistal's Birthday Pandula

Yesterday my 'baby' turned 28.  Don't know how that could have happened since I just turned 28 myself...

Then I look in the mirror.   I really hate this getting old thing.

Anyway when she has her own place (she is in the middle of a move), she has a black and white wall.  All pieces will be black and white, there is even some of her own photography there.  Anyway she seemed to like it even though I couldn't be there to see her open it.  I am glad it got to her on time.

Just thought I would post it again for those who may have missed it the first go 'round.  I also posted a picture of my clone.  (She's probably gonna kill me for it.)

Gecko weaving

O.K. so it's not a Gecko after all, but the name stuck.  

Here it is right after taken off of the loom.  

I think I am going to turn it into a tote or maybe a laptop bag/sleeve.  I especially like the asymmetrical end.  I was thinking that would be the purse flap.  It would also make a pretty neat throw rub or bath mat (especially since it is 100% cotton), easily washed and dried.  Do any of you have any suggestions?

I think Wiggles likes it ...A LOT.

 

My wonderful "Followers"

I just wanted to take a moment to Thank all of my followers of this blog.  It is always amazing to me that anyone actually pays attention to me and my thoughts and my work. 

You all flatter me greatly and I love you for it!

Wonderful Wednesday Feature

Today's Wonderful Wednesday Feature Artist is brilliant and not my usual . I didn't find him on Etsy...as a matter of fact I can't remember how I found him.  I am just glad I did.   I really don't know a lot about him but I do know that I just love how his mind works and the results there of.

He is simply amazing. 

His name is Andrew Chase and he has art everywhere.  This only one site and a fraction of his work.

He works with metal parts to create wonderful sculptures.   If you click on this Link it will take you to one of his page's and show you where to find him, his blog and whatever else you might need.  His art is everywhere so do a google search and you won't be disappointed.

I love his work so let's show him a little artistic love and support.

Periwinkle and White Cotton bag completed

Well I finally figured out how I wanted the closures to work and finished up the Periwinkle and white piece (tote).  I created a bag out of it.  It looks bigger than it really is because the sides are simply blanket stitched together.  In other words I didn't put any strips for side walls in it so it is flat. 

I like the idea of my bags being pretty much self contained, very little finish work.  I simply sew up the sides and develop a closure and it is complete.  

It doesn't need any lining as tapestry and a boardy kind of fabric that nothing can fall out of or through.  The straps so far have just be large braids fashioned in such a way as to make them adjustable.  That way you can wear it diagonally, as a shoulder bag or even in hand bag tradition.  I am considering doing some Peruvian finger weaving for straps in the future.  This would let me put sidewalls on the bags.

The closure on this one is a draw string that also looks decorative in the front.  At first a 13 in bag seemed too wide, but once I put something in it my estimations for the size were dead on.  It is only 8 1/2 in tall as I ran out of the periwinkle yarn.

Because the bag is flat, i.e. no sides, it needs to be wide or it would be too small.  For myself I like my bag a little roomy.  Anyway, I am going to carry this one for prototype purposes.  The white one was the one I really wanted for myself (still might use it if it doesn't sell) but it was a little small.  

I will definitely let you know how it works out.

Here are the pictures.  Don't forget I spun the cotton for this one also.  My kid will definitely call me a hippie now.

Oh yeah, I definitely look forward to feed back, including suggestions.

Complete front view.

Close up front view.

Closer still.

Back view.

Inside.

Inside close up.

I just love it when a plan Comes Together

Who says pencil is boring.  All that's left to do is tweak it a tiny bit and maybe put a background.  Then again maybe not.  I love when the piece just speaks for itself. 

This is all me folks.  My design, my coloration. 

Next I try a Pano...handkerchief art.

Newest Pandula drawing

So I decided to go with graphite pencil.  I love working with the gray scale.  I like to see just how many shades I can produce with just one medium.  I like it so far...how about you guys.  Muse silk painting I thought you might like this one.  LOL

Self expression

I have been reading on the blog "Art is FUN" and a lot of what she has to say is about making sense of chaos with her art, getting lost in the process and other philosophical aspects.  On contemplating this I would have to say that I agree.

I find my art 'mind freeing'.  Often I get so involved that I lose all track of time.  I have even read about this in many art books.  It has something to do with the right brain left brain thing.  It seems that there is also the fact that I produce more art that I am pleased with when I am in this 'other' state of mine.  I do realize that it is a form of escape, however we all escape in one form or another.  I just happen to find this one enjoyable and productive.

At night I often have trouble 'turning off my brain' and that little voice in my head goes over and over and over the same things.  Don't forget to call the bank tomorrow, oh yeah and its garbage day too, so and so's birthday is next friday, etc...  Often if I write these things down it will quiet down.  Maybe because then I know they won't be forgotten.  So why is it if I get up and work on the art it also helps?

And then there are the times when the art just doesn't come easily and IT is one of the things running around in my head at night.  There are also times when the newest idea, or design starts to form and I can't think about anything else because IT is circling around in my head. And then there is that feeling of...WOW!, and wonderment and the ultimate question of "I did that"?

Am I hitting close to home for any of you?

Back to the Drawing Board

Well I have to tell you girls and boys, things are really slow in the art world.  

I thought that if I made useable and  functional pieces of art, not just pretty things to look at, that something would sell.  Not so my friends.  I am getting tons of views but no sales.  Not even a nibble.  Combine that with the fact that I have been a weaving fanatic lately, I think I have burnt myself out on it nicely.

So I have decided to go back to drawing.  I have had this line drawing (i.e. design) ready to color in since I went to Jacksonville to visit Kraftymax a couple of months ago.  There is a picture of just the line drawing below.  Trying to decide whether to do it in color or just graphite.  All opinions are welcome by the way.

I still have the looms set up, but I am going to take a break and do something different.

I think this will also free my mind a little from some of the other pressures in life I am dealing with.  For those of you who know me I think you understand.  I may even spin a little yarn.....nothing more mind freeing or relaxing than spinning.  Unfortunately then I feel pressured to make something with the yarn.  But I digress. 

So here is a picture of the very start.

Gecko weaving

I always have to learn things the hard way.  

I started my Gecko...and once again I have decided I hate following a pattern.  

I prefer to let the yarn and the loom breathe and take life under my slow and steady hands.  I have never been disappointed this way.  Somehow, I just keep thinking I should be able to do pictorials...I often feel that because I can't (or more to the point don't) enjoy doing pictorials I am an inferior fiber artist.  

I feel the same way about drawing.  I keep thinking that I should be able to do photo realism.  

My friend Carol says not many people can just pick up a pencil and let their imagination do what mine does. Not many who listen to their inner voice without censorship and get acceptable results, and sometimes great results.  That not many people with no formal education can pick up a few balls of yarn and create the things I do.  That it is a gift, as I rarely, if ever, have bought yarn and said I will do this design in these colors in this size and accomplished this to the end result.  I have always been on a budget and have used what I have on hand, I even went to the cotton fields and a man gave me a whole trunk of ginned cotton when I found buying the roving expensive.  I have always been encouraged, but I have also always had to husband my supplies.  

Somehow it has always worked out.  I have produced nice pieces within these limits.  Persevered against limited education and funds.  Am I an artist???  Some days I am just not sure.  Guess today is one of those.

Wonderful Wednesday Feature

Another Wonderful Wednesday Feature Artist.  I just keep finding more and more "  wonderful"   talent on Etsy and  facebook.  Her Etsy shop is called DJsArt and she does whimsical fantasy art in rich vibrant colors!  I have included her Facebook link, just click on it, and then you will find info on where to locate her blog and other sites.

Please go and visit her to show our support.  Do favorite her, like her, convo her or buy some of her lovely pieces.

I think the pictures below will say more about her than I ever can with words.

New weaving! Gecko design

I have finally gotten around to starting a "  pre-determined"   design.

This one is a Gecko drawn by a friend of my step daughter's, Tara.  I can't remember the young man's name so I will be keeping this one.  

It is being done on my large 32" tapestry loom.  The weaving is 15" wide and I have a 47" warp on the loom.  It is warped at 6 ends per inch. (6 epi), with unmercerized  8 ply 100% cotton.  So far I have a 3 1/2" bottom border, 5 rows of Soumak (about 1/4") and 1/1/2" more inch of border, totally 5 " before the design.  I am using #10 mercerized cotton crochet thread in two shades of green double stranded for weft for the background.  The soumak is in the same shade of moss green as the warp.  I am just about to start the design of the gecko and I will start with the head.  

The plan, so to speak, is to create a "  tote"   for myself.  The last two efforts were not exactly what I need for my own use, even though they started out to be for me.  The white one is already for sale on my artfire site, and the blue and perwinkle one will also be listed there as soon as I complete a strap of some sort.  Watch for pictures of the listing.

The 1st picture is of the design itself.  As you can see from how tattered it is I have been holding onto it for about 10 years.

So there you have it folks..."thats "  What's on the loom!"    

Looking at the colors I have chosen as my background I think you can tell it kind of reminds you of a Gecko's skin...kind of verigated, mottled...at least a little like a Lizard I hope.