Primal Power

Happy New Year!
I've been a bit snowbound this week which has forced me to slow down, change plans, and make lots of new jewelry.

December was quite the big month and we've all made it to the other side alive and (at least somewhat) well. My next project is a show at Gallery Beyond Words in Prescott. The opening is during artwalk on January 28th. My dad will be there playing music and I will also be doing a block printing demo starting at 6:30. It's a lovely gallery and I hope to see you there!

GALLERY BEYOND WORDS

Prescott’s Unique Contemporary Gallery
204 North McCormick Street
Prescott AZ 928.778.2713

Some New Work

Starting work on some new pieces for our annual Beyond Printmaking show at the Raven in Prescott. Will keep you posted on the dates for the opening, etc. Let me know any responses!

True Love!!

I bought Edythe this yellow Mexican embroidered dress and it is still too big for her, but was fun for me to put into a painting! Maybe there will be a series featuring the yellow dress!

Can I Keep Her?

Inspired by our belief that Edythe loves whales!!

Two More Small Paintings

Mother's Day Paintings

Painted these for the grandmas!

Small new Paintings

Working this small can be satisfying because it is fast!
These are 6" x 6".
I am using acrylic and watercolor crayons and pencils. Missing oil paint, but can't beat the cleanup!

New Paintings

After thinking for the past year that I would like to do some painting I Finally busted out the paints and made two new pieces last week.



Painting is very different than block printing. Cutting very concrete lines and patiently carving away linoleum is meditative and slow. Painting is messy and loose.
It was fun and a good reminder to Just Make It!



Let me know any feedback you have!

Happy Spring

Edythe and the Radish

I have began to write down titles for pieces to make later. While cutting radishes the other day I thought this would be a cute picture, and I like the way the two words look together.

First Draft

My friends asked me to make a piece incorporating the phrase "Cultivate Gratitude"
A great reminder for all of us.
This is my first draft drawing. I like the majority of it, just need to change a few things.

I have had this drawing on my to do list for weeks. Why is it so hard to begin?
Once drawing I had a great time, what's more fun then drawing pretty flowers and contemplating all of my blessings?



Will post the finished project when it's finished!

Recent Projects

Daily Drawing

I am starting a new art/yoga book called The Painting Path and the first "assignment" was to use oil pastels and just have fun with the medium. This is the result.
Here is what i thought of some of it: It seems the large arm is a "strong-arm" metaphor , perhaps me trying to control my uncontrollable life with my new baby.
The glowing golden figure is my beautiful daughter. I notice the stripes on my shirt remind me of a referree outfit.

Hmmm.... well, it was fun and finished in the ten minutes she gave me between wanting to eat!
After crying at the drop of a hat today, I realize how tired I am and how I can't control this process, her process of growing and needing me in order to do that.
How do I move from a referee to a facilitator?

Let it go..................

Daily Drawing

I am not planning out these daily drawings..we'll see what comes out!

Wordless Wednesday...is it still Wednesday?

Daily Drawing Returns!!!

Pomegranate Prints

I have been thinking of natural dyes and natural ways of making art work.
These are experiments with pomegranate juice as an ink.

Gorgeous colors!

I am thinking of adding graphite to these images, but they are also nice as is.

This was fun to do, I am also going to try strong brewed tea as a colorant.

I am surprised at the variation of color. Fun!

Some ideas for new Block Prints

This is a drawing I made before I was pregnant.

This is an idea I had on how we can be connected to the world through our grief, how it is beneficial. The tears become seeds which bloom into flowers. Maybe a good idea, but I need a different perspective, this one looks too familiar.
Getting back into the groove of printmaking, Monday was my first day beck in the lab.

Altered Book Exchange

I wanted to share with you an Altered Book Exchange project I am involved with at the moment.
This is the first time I've done Altered Books with a group. It's super fun and exciting!

In our project my friend Jen Casados got a group of 10 folks together to do the exchange.
To begin you send out a list of all participants addresses. Everyone picks out their own book and then sends it to the person below them on the list.
Next you have a month to do whatever you want to your book before sending it to the person after your name on the list.

The only rule set was to alter at least 4 pages in the book.

I am showing you some of the altered pages in the second book I have received.

It's really exciting to see what other people think of to do in their alteration of the book.

And let's not forget- it's nice to get mail!!!
Especially fancy altered mail like this!

Jen got all kinds of people involved, artists and others and I think everyone's really going to town with it. We might have another group going soon.
I would recommend anyone starting an Altered Book Exchange! Get some creativity flowing and have some fun! Thanks to Jen for getting ours off and running!

less Job, more Work

This is my new mantra! I know I have to have my coffee shop job, but I am pledging to myself that I have to focus on the real Work that I want to do. Art, reflection, gardening, amazing cooking, walks, commitment tp living the Good Life in my opinion.

With that I am starting next week with a "Goal of the Week" for the blog. Wish me luck.

I will leave you with a Daily Drawing and some new jewelry from the shop.


Also a birthday shout out to Miss Donna Ray! The sweetest angel ever!