Queen of Glue

Hip. Hip. Hooray

2012-01-25T06:13:00.000-08:00

Sandra and I finished all the projects for the book and have just shipped it off. What a load off our backs. In two weeks we are off to Cincinnati for the Photoshoot then when it is formatted by the staff at Northlight we get a final proofing before it is shipped to the printers. You would have blown me over 4 years ago if you told me I would write a book much less three. Life always takes us on an interesting path.

French Memories

2012-01-02T15:44:00.000-08:00

I lived in France for several years and remember a day when I thought in French, the only songs I sang were French, my clothes were French and how I loved those French boys. Oh la la. And the wild wonderful food in the restaurants. Early May when the Muguet (a flower) bloomed they were cut and fried in a batter. Oh so good.

This piece reminded me how the sun felt on my face on those first warm days after a long cold winter when the first flowers were poking out.

Provence Memories, 12" x 12", mixed media on Panel

Forever Friends

2011-12-27T13:51:00.000-08:00

They say there are three types of friends - friends for a moment, a season or a lifetime. I count both two and four legged friends in my life. My goal this year is let all my friends know how important that they are in my life and to do all I can to enhance their lives. This painting is about friends who have come and gone but are always cherished in my heart.

Forever Friends, 36" x 24", mixed media

Another Student - Judy Eckhart

2011-12-03T11:05:00.000-08:00

Another fabulous student I have is Judy Eckhart who has worked for years as a traditional artist showing nationally. My challenge to her was to do an abstract painting since it was such a departure from her watercolors.

She started with a picture of a dress with an ornate necklace for inspiration. The middle image shows her half way through the process and the far right image is the final piece. She glued rusty metal and other objects after using a variety of surface treatments on the cradled panels.

I was impressed with how she found her inspiration.

My Student - Mary Ann Bennett

2011-12-03T10:48:00.000-08:00

Mary Ann has always been an oil painter who wanted to try acrylics/mixed media so she took my class. This as yet unnamed piece started out with a canvas that she glued linen, string and prayer flags to, blocked in her colors in acrylics then added a stencil and gold leaf. Some of the gold leaf has been sanded back. She finished off the details using oils. It is a stunning piece in person and I am very proud of her.

Yeah, I Finished It!

2011-11-14T12:49:00.000-08:00

Holy Water, 48" x 48", is my largest piece to date and what a challenge. It felt so good to finally finish it. Living in the Southwest in a drought period really makes you realize how heavenly water is.

Napkin Art Charity Event

2011-11-10T09:04:00.000-08:00

Tom Ross of Hahn Ross Gallery has organized a charity event where all the art is cocktail napkin sized. We have all been given four to do. This is as far as I have gotten but there are still two weeks before he needs them.

Is time moving at warp speed for you also? I can't believe Thanksgiving is in two weeks when it feels like summer didn't even happen.

It All Started With a Demo

2011-11-08T09:43:00.000-08:00

This piece was inspired by a demo I did in one of my classes that I then scanned into my computer and played with the composition in Photoshop. Finally when I got to a place where it was working for me then I went to painting the final piece which has so many techniques used. There is gold leaf, stamping, alcohol, stenciling, transfer painting, water slide decals, collage and more.

Midsummer Dream, 20" x 16" mixed media on panel

Bump

2011-10-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

This was from a photo that a dear friend gave me of her aunt or great aunt that I thought was saucy and fun. I love the fact that photo was taken from behind and the pose says it all. And aren't we all shaped like one fruit or another?

Bump, mixed media 24"x24"

Studio Dog in Heaven

2011-10-19T06:49:00.000-07:00

There is an empty space where my dear studio dog was. He had a long life for a big dog and was truely loved. Will miss his heartbeat under my work table.

Work in the Studio

2011-10-04T11:47:00.000-07:00

This is my first 48" x 48" canvas that I have worked on and I am amazed by how much more paint it takes. Could it be because it is canvas versus my regular panel? I am having a good time but it is still taking getting a little used to moving this back and forth from my easel to table when I am painting real wet.

I have some round shapes and green shapes taped on to the canvas in order to do color, size and images checks before I commit to the next step. This is also one of those cases where the name is coming before the finished piece. I am thinking either holy water or soul searching for a title.

On the wall is more yet unfinished work. A commission came in so everything else is left for another day.

From Surface Treatment Workshop

2011-10-04T11:33:00.000-07:00

Some techniques if not persued further look like just old grunge.
The pulled paper technique in Surface Treatment Workshop is really just a step to your finished piece not your finished piece as most of the techniques are. It is the layering of images and surface techniques that make a piece interesting.

The top example is what was done with the pulled paper/wet gel transfer technique and the second is what it could become when it is pushed further with drawings, collage and paint. I personally love that in and out of focus thing that is happening.

Wild West Workshop

2011-09-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

Just taught a workshop in Magdalena, New Mexico. It is miles from anywhere - between Pietown and Socorro but the group was great. It is right next to the VLA (Very Large Array) which was in the movie Contact, had great old WPA buildings. I was so ready to buy a great WPA gymnasium. Can you image the great studio space it would make.

Am busy finishing up the first round of art Sandra and I have to send to Northlight for book number three. My own personal expectations are even bigger for the quality of work. It is hard when you want to do big pieces when you have shipping issues.

Huera or Not Art Opening

2011-09-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

If you are in Santa Fe tomorrow please come to a two-woman show with Sandra Duran Wilson and myself. The title refers to us being light Hispanics. Actually we are both Hispanic/Anglo. I look Irish to the core and Sandra is blonde.

The show highlights how our Hispanic heritage has influenced our artwork whether it is with color or imagery.

Huera or Not
Friday, Sept. 9 - 5:30-7:30 pm
at El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe.
(in the railyard)

We will also be having a book signing at the event. I hope to see you there.

Better Late Than Never

2011-08-19T06:41:00.000-07:00

I love this piece, After the Bath, because of the vintage chair back that becomes a frame. I added fake flowers, a bird to replace a lost finial, chain, crystal, etc. to it — then rusted the whole thing. I have had that old chair back sitting around the studio for years and one day it just came together. Isn't that how it always is?

Where Has the Time Gone?

2011-07-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

I just looked at the date of my last post - wow! Lots of summer house guests, sick husband, etc. Hot as hell for Santa Fe. We are usually in the 80's with summer monsoons but this year it has been mid-90's and no monsoonal relief.

This piece, Born to Bowl, 24" x 24", has been so much fun. It started out with a different concept was going to be called Birth/Rebirth but in the end turned into a bowling ball. What can I say? Personally, I haven't bowled since college but if I did I would want that bowling ball and the striped stockings.

Springtime for Gaia

2011-06-23T06:52:00.000-07:00

I had some old canvases that I decided to paint over last month. The flowers were blooming, the birds were building their nests and all seemed right with the world around me so I decided to do a painting about Gaia and her spring attire. It was not that long after the royal wedding so, of course, I had to create a crazy hat for her. The folds of the blue dress are also the ocean's waves and if you look hard the map of the world shows through them.

Studio Tour This Weekend

2011-06-19T06:30:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy weekend with tons of visitors coming through the studio which I am sharing with two other artists. One is Mary L. Parkes who creates magic realism oil paintings and Linda Fillhardt who combines photography and painting.

This coming week I am teaching a workshop at the Art Spot in Santa Fe. It is a fun, fast and furious class combining techniques from my first two books.

This piece, Lil' Angel, is my idea of a contemporary angel - sweet but also a little feral.

Lil' Angel, 24" x 24", mixed media

Under 100 Degrees!

2011-06-01T14:01:00.000-07:00

Just got back from Max Lehman's 50th birthday party in Scottsdale and the weather ranged from 86 degrees to 100 degrees which is cool for that town this time of year. We ate great modern Latin cuisine at the The Mission. It has a wall made of bricks of salt that looked like amber. From what I hear, at least two people a week try and lick it. Stayed with wonderful and gracious Victoria Boyce in her uber modern house and had dinner at Randy Jones of Duley Jones Gallery. Love them all. Randy and I worked at competing greeting card companies years ago and traded stories.

Now I am back in Santa Fe just in time for the monsoons. Yummy.

Prompted by Cataract Surgery

2011-05-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

Too much sun, too much computer time leads to early cataract surgery. So obviously, I had to do a piece about vision. FYI: the surgery was done in a flash and the only bad things were no coffee before the surgery and the regime of eye drops for four weeks.

Vision Check, 24" x24", mixed media

Easy Abstracts

2011-05-19T08:51:00.000-07:00

I love how Citrusolv and National Geographic magazine pages made these very easy abstracts.

Just spritz Citrusolv in between the pages, wait about 15-20 minutes and peel the pages apart. You never know what you are going to get and the results are always a great way to start a big painting.

Orange is not my favorite scent but it is much better than wintergreen. Do this where there is good ventilation.

Cloud Nine

2011-05-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

Book number three has been approved by the committee at NorthLight and, yikes, has to be ready for the photoshoot in January. I can't even imagine how cold Cincinnati will be then.

I Love Sushi

2011-05-11T06:11:00.000-07:00

Actually, I love all raw food. Sushi. Steak Tartare. Yumm.

Anyhow, my love of sushi was the inspiration for Sushi Chick. It is a ToGoPortfolio box — an art box that you paint an original piece of art on then insert a CD and print portfolio into and ship or carry to a gallery or the media. It allows them to see the quality of your work and makes a great first impression.

These boxes come with a carry box or a shipping box. Talk about making it easy for the artists. However, it is just as much work to do a small piece of art as it is to do a large piece unless you already work small. Hmmm. Maybe I should do a big version of Sushi Girl.

Leveraging Your Art

2011-05-05T05:50:00.000-07:00

As an illustrator in addition to being a fine artist, I have managed to use much of my fine art as bits and parts in my illustrations. I like the rough almost fine art look it gives the art. This piece for Stanford University was used on a CD and packet for new students.

My clients are international and during the 1980's I worked as an illustrator in Paris for several years. Needless to say, those were great years!

Nun too bright!

2011-04-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

This started as a surface techniques demo for my students. We had covered stamping and Crazy Easy Transfer Painting when I decided to do Elmer's glue and black paint. When it had finished crackling, I saw the shape as the skirt of a nun's habit. That lead me to doing a water slide transfer of a nun that faded out on the bottom when a story came to me that Rome had sent her to a tropical muslim country to convert the pagan babies (that's what they told us in grammar school, believe it or not). Nun's habits does look like a burkas to me.

Glory of the First Cup of the Morning

2011-04-20T06:43:00.000-07:00

I love the smell of coffee brewing. The aroma gives me the good feeling that all well be well and the day will be great. What a great experience to paint. Hence, Glory of the First Cup, a 24" x 24" piece with gold leaf, paint skins, collage, stencils and gel transfers.

Sorry, this was shot with my iphone as my wonderful photographer (Clare Lighton) is in Berlin for a couple weeks.

The Book is Shipping!!!

2011-04-19T07:53:00.000-07:00

Surface Treatment Workshop is no longer a pre-order item on Amazon but actually in people's hands and we are getting emails about it already. Sandra and I are both thrilled about the finished product. It is really is a great for your art arsenal.

It was such a pleasure to do all those projects and really push ourselves when we did the variations.

You probably noticed that are web site is new and combines both books. We were going to do two different web sites but decided it would drive us nuts. There will be updates in the gallery sections in the next several months.

Artist & Muse Dinner

2011-04-16T17:04:00.000-07:00

My dear friend and fabulous artist, Pat Chapman, was suppose to come to town and I was going to throw her a party. She had a change of plans but the party must go on. And where else to throw an artist & muse dinner but in the studio. I am making coucous, greek salad and ???? plus lots of red wine.

Hey, Pat, look what you are missing. We all wish you were here.

Thumps on the Head

2011-04-05T15:34:00.000-07:00

Found out while at a friend's house that I made one of the "35 Locals We Love" in the current issue of the Santa Fean magazine. Nice article, a great group of people to be with, and, YAHOO, I am loved!

While flying high from that, I was brought back to earth by having to clean up a massive accident by my beloved almost 16 year old dog. I guess those are the highs and lows of life.

Fragments of Stuff

2011-04-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

My master, Glue, was calling on me to find old and interesting things to glue and bolt onto a panel.

When I was cleaning up my flat files, I discovered some old book covers and wood trim that I had. This got me started on this 24" x 24" piece, Apothecary, one of those magic pieces that just comes together. All it required was a trip for ephemera at Laura Stanziolas.

I love painting but I really love gluing!

Under the Sea

2011-03-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

This piece, Antonia Under the Sea, 24" x 24", mixed media, is a switch for me. Koi Garden, another piece of mine that sold and I was trying to replace in the gallery led me to this brighter color palette and more contemporary look.

In the last several months, I have worked on three pieces that I felt like I had painted before. Deja vu. Wish I knew if this meant something good or bad. Yikes.

Temptation

2011-03-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

Is temptation what rules life? Or is it just me? This painting is so typically me - always looking over my shoulder in case I missed anything, the one wing meaning in search of completion and, of course, the crow who loves anything shiny!

Back to asses and elbows in paint. Am almost finished with another water themed triptych which I will show you when it gets back from the photographer. Just to keep you guessing there are fish swimming among dreadlocks.

Back in the Clouds

2011-03-17T13:45:00.000-07:00

After spending a week in Palm Springs, checking it out for my husband's health. He decided that after the earthquake in Japan that he didn't want to risk one in California. As a native Californian, it doesn't bother me as much. The weather was perfect, the pool was wet and I looked at a lot of art both on El Paseo and the La Quinta Art Show. And went I got back to Santa Fe, it was spring. Winter is hopefully over although we can get snow into May.

So it is back to the studio and my classes!

California Dreaming

2011-02-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

After a freezing week we are now having a heat wave and I am dreaming of seasonal changes. Sick of hearing how I hate winter yet?

This piece, Datura Dreams, 24" x 24", is a mixed media delight of image transfers, stamping, skins, alcohol techniques and some wonderful maroon plaster.

Problem Children

2011-01-19T06:07:00.000-08:00

My studio is full of problem children so today I decided I would ignore them for awhile and just start on a new piece. What would you do?
My second book, Surface Treatment Workshop, is on Amazon for pre-orders and is shipping in May. I am teaching some of these techniques in my classes and I love seeing how everyone makes each technique their own - especially one minimalist painter.

I mentioned wax paper transfers in an earlier post and people asked about it. Basically is is using a good grade waxpaper, rubbing it on a newspaper or inkjet print and transferring it to another substrate like rice paper, old book pages, etc.

I did get this piece, Lunch with Caravaggio, finished during the last several weeks. It is 24" x 24".

BRRRRRRR

2011-01-01T16:27:00.000-08:00

The Moroccan Love Shack so inviting in the summer, looks so lonely this time of year. I am counting the days until I can enjoy it again.

Surface Treatment Workshop is finally on Amazon for pre-orders. We are very excited about this book and we learned so much doing it. Both Sandra's and my art have changed significantly with our books.

The proposal for the third book on leveraging your art is finally going to review by the committee. Fingers crossed!

New Transfer Techniques

2010-12-02T05:48:00.000-08:00

I have been playing with some new transfer techniques. Waxpaper works (varies with brand) as well as a combination of soap and turpentine.

When Sandra and I were writing the book we would sit around and just try and figure out what could get an image to transfer. Ironing an image to plastic wrap was my big idea - and worked so well.

This piece, Splish Splash, started with this great image of a little girl with a hose that made such a great line.

Learning New Stuff

2010-11-18T08:49:00.000-08:00

The semi-annual studio tour was last weekend and I had lots of fellow artists and students come - not to mention all the neighbors who wanted to see the house. We are a curious species, aren't we. Getting ready for the tour and cleaning up the studio took a lot of time which meant no blogging.

I have printed several pieces of my art on fabric at spoonflower.com. It is so cool but not sure what I am going to do with it. Also had some printed on to metal, bamboo and plexiglas at Harvest Productions in Anaheim. Though the samples were interesting, I found the service less than desirable. Too bad as I had used them years ago and they were great then.

Hoping to paint through the upcoming holiday.

Breathe in the Good Smells!

2010-10-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

Crisp air in the mornings and the evenings, fall is getting closer and winter is getting way too close. Occasionally, you can smell pinon burning in a fireplace and I get the urge to bake bread. Yummy smells.

This piece, Floral Prose, is a huge gel transfer over gold leaf and then used as an under painting. I had two weeks to create two 24" x 36" paintings for my gallery. Whew.

Indian Summer

2010-09-29T07:37:00.000-07:00

In my madness to keep my galleries up to date with artwork, I have managed to figure out how to do HUGE gel transfers. It took a bit of trial and error to get a perfect transfer but I am now on my way. I will show you some of them as soon as I get them photographed. My problem has always been having enough time (must sound familiar to you) so now I can blow up my studies to a bigger size and use them for my underpainting. It allows me more time to explore possibilities and hug those dogs of mine.

Bernie, my Newfie, was the model/inspiration for La Jeune Madame Bijoux, 24" x 24", mixed media on panel

To slack or not to slack

2010-08-30T05:27:00.000-07:00

I am working on 6 large paintings but none are far enough to show you yet so even though it seems like I have been slacking - not! Nancy Reyner's new book, Acrylic Innovation, just came out and I have several pieces in it. Good to get press. I just saw the cover of my next book, Surface Treatment Workshop, and it looks real nice. Unfortunately, we were told that we can't unveil it just yet.

This piece was a demo for class. It started with a monoprint, a printed organza collage and then a little Crazy Easy Transfer Paint technique.

Here Comes the Judge

2010-08-10T05:42:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of being one of the judges for Hispanic Arts at the New Mexico State Fair. It was quite the experience and the thought processes were very interesting. Some categories were crowded while others only had 3 entries. It was split fairly evenly between traditional and contemporary art forms. Though most of the judges (myself included) lean towards contemporary, we selected an exquisite traditional Hispanic straw and tar applique for Best of Show.

For the Love of Rust

2010-08-02T06:43:00.000-07:00

I have spent all weekend rusting everything for a recycled show I will be in September. I am creating a grid of six images. Several done, more to come. I stenciled on the metal bases before rusting. Love the wild colors that start appearing as the rusting agent did it's magic.

These are 12"x12" with found objects - Bird in Hand, Diva

Yippee Kai Yeah

2010-07-26T15:52:00.000-07:00

I got Best of Show at Contemporary Hispanic Market for Citrus Muse (my July 15th posting image). After a crazy year things are starting to level out and go forward. Yeah.

The Zodiac Group Project Continues

2010-07-20T09:03:00.000-07:00

This one was a hard one with everything happening in June but it is done and is continuing on the path of hot creative chicks. I have to say that none of the twelve of us did anything light. All out container/pieces seem to be heavy, must be put in large boxes and cost a pair of shoes to ship. Are we thinking abundance?

Future Dreams

2010-07-16T09:36:00.000-07:00

Busy week for me. I withdrew from Jennie Cooley Gallery on Canyon Road in Santa Fe. It wasn't working for me which means it was working for Jennie either. Change of vision, I think. Please check out her gallery when you are in town. The gallery and Jennie are both so much fun.

I have moved on to La Posada Resort on Palace Street and will be hanging there next week. Sara, the curator, is a whirlwind of marketing energy. The hotel is elegant, has ghosts and they have a wonderful weekly tour starting in the kitchen and ending up with the art collection. I am thrilled.

Yes, I am still doing nudes. This one is a weird combination of bubbles, christmas lights and mums. I know, I have an odd spin on things but it made me happy.

100 Points of Light
24" x 24" mixed media on panel

Nudes and Fruit

2010-07-15T16:32:00.000-07:00

Why does the body always remind us of food? Think of all the words used to describe the body - juicy, sweet, succulent. As much as this painting appears to be about the nude, it is actually about wanting to paint my brushes. Go figure.

Contemporary Hispanic Market

If you are in Santa Fe on July 24 & 25 - please stop by and see me. I am at Booth 48 on Lincoln Street. It is a blast.

Citrus Muse
24' x 24", mixed media

Bye Baby Sis

2010-06-14T04:33:00.000-07:00

My sweet tormented baby sister died last week far too young. So sad to see her go but have learned alot from her and about myself while wrapping up her life. It is all about loving each other, respecting people's choices and spending more time with the ones you love. Soar high my sister-friend.

Zodiac Rotation for May

2010-05-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

This month the Zodiac rotation came in a very ornate book shaped box. Next spring when the year is over, we all get together to show off the final projects to all. Without this get together we will never know what the results were. Plus, it is a great excuse for a party.

This goes out tomorrow and the next surprise should arrive next week.

The Moroccan Love Shack

2010-05-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

After replacing the cloth cover for the Moroccan Love Shack every year, we decided it needed a facelift. So, channelling Tony Duquette and his philosophy that "more is more", we have made it this delightfully odd oasis. At night the candles glow against the corrugated metal roof - great place for a glass of wine, a good book or a nap. Houseguests have even requested that they sleep out there instead of a regular room in the house.

Zodiac Rotation

2010-05-12T05:01:00.000-07:00

There are twelve of us artists that are doing a group book (loose use of the word). Each person starts their own book project and each month is goes to the next person on the list for that person to do that month's zodiac sign. At the end we each have a book with art from twelve people. It is like Christmas each month when we get our new book. As always, I am learning about creative possibilities with each person's art.

Karen Cole started hera in an old hat box with a vintage piece of quilt. Her Aries ram was made with jewelry. On reading about Taurus, I learned a lot about the feminine in the sign so I decided to approach it that way.

Wash Me

2010-04-23T04:28:00.001-07:00

Sometimes there are too many important things to do and you let some things slip away - like cooking. Actually, it is windy season here in the desert which means dusting at least 3x a day. Max Lehman, ceramic artist and excellent cook, was over returning a piece of his that he had borrowed for a show and wrote "wash me" on my stove. I laughed so hard my stomach ached.

Speaking of cooking—wonderful mixed media artist Pat Chapman really rocks when she cooks. When she lived in Santa Fe we did dinner parties ALL the time. The tradition continues here every Thursday but it isn't the same without that wild child. I am putting a cover on my portal so during the summer monsoon season we can still eat dinner outside. Can't wait until it warms up so we can dine al fresco.

Got to go so I can cook up some art so I will have some art to post next time.

Out With the Wind

2010-04-19T11:18:00.000-07:00

Not the most perfect photo color wise but this piece was just finished and was out the door with Teena Robinson, Santa Fe encaustic artist, before I could say BOO. Since it was named on the spot it is called Ode to Teena. The surface was gold leafed prior to any work being done on it.

Be Happy

2010-04-04T05:23:00.001-07:00

This piece reflects how I am feeling. I am such a victim of weather but now the trees are budding and blossoming. The weather has warmed up and I am already in flip flops and I am out of hibernation.

Be Happy is a small piece, 6" x 12", on a ampersand panel. It started with a vintage scrapbook page, image transfer, a faux encaustic pour with gel and paint skin circles on top.

Dreaming of the Positive

2010-03-28T18:38:00.000-07:00

When I find myself getting tighter and tighter with my work, I try to break out of it by doing a loose piece where I start to hit my discomfort level then back up a step. This piece is an example of that.

The other thing I discover periodically is that there is a cupie doll inside of me that keeps trying to break loose. Where I want to go with my art and where the cupie doll wants to go are totally opposite directions. Very Sybil of me, I know.

The second book on Surface Techniques should hit the bookstores in April. Sandra and I are hoping it is on Amazon for pre-orders by Christmas. Fingers crossed

Dog Farts, Art & the Future

2010-03-18T07:47:00.000-07:00

Here I sit surrounded by 3 dogs farting. I can barely breathe. It must have been the pig ears. They are so totally cut off!

It appears that the art market is bouncing back. Several of my friends have had big sales in the last week or two. Other friends are having fun trying out new things. Spring has sprung. Yah Yeah.

Sandra and I put in a proposal for book number three and first response has been real positive. Still has to go through several more folks before we hear anything definite but we are very excited about the possibilities in what we are proposing.

I am in a show at Jennie Cooley tomorrow night, Hot Monkey Love, which should be very edgy since all my friends are doing deviant art for it. Reflection on my friends, isn't it. Personally, I hate monkeys - if you read my last newsletter, you already know that. Long childhood story.

Back to the studio. With book deadlines and my husband's health issue, I haven't had time to play. So ready. Bet you are too.

Spring is Around the Corner!

2010-03-09T13:16:00.000-08:00

We shipped the book projects out for the surface book and will by flying to Cincinnati in two weeks for the photoshoot.

Of all the techniques, Sandra and my favorite is a faux monoprint technique. We haven't come up with a good name for it yet. This technique is so incredibly versatile and with virtually no cleanup. I am using my class as beta testers on it to see how far we can push it. They are as excited as we are.

This piece, Loving the Drama, is 85% faux monoprint with minimal collage and a stencil. It is helping me loosen up and understand abstract painting.

Never Enough Time

2010-01-29T04:25:00.000-08:00

I use to think that the most important thing that should be invented is the teleport from StarTrek, now it would be something that could xerox time. Is there every enough to do everything that you would like to have. Imagine - vacations could last longer! Of course, a holodeck would be real nice from time to time.

Snow Days

2010-01-22T10:28:00.000-08:00

This is another piece, Surprise, that started with a gold leaf base and then had every technique known to woman thrown at it. Alcohol, toothbrush with paint, Crazy Easy monoprint, collage, stamping and image transfer. After I finish the next 11" x 14" I have started, I think I will move on to large scale. Better for me if I start small while I perfect the technique that jump in over my head.

Snow day today. It is suppose to be the storm of the century today although we usually get those when they predict small snowfall. It seems like weathermen never lose their jobs if they guess wrong. I think that might be might next career.

Zoom. Zoom. Zoom.

2010-01-17T08:58:00.000-08:00

Time is flying. Eight weeks to finish the book projects before we fly to Cincinnati for the photoshoot for book number 2 on surface techniques and we are just 1/3 done. Yikes.

This piece is just a play piece on matt board where I was playing with textures and rusting.

My mixed media class at Valdes in Santa Fe started last friday and I can already tell it is going to be one wild class with fun people that are advanced artists. I really enjoy teaching.

The Finish Line

2010-01-10T13:33:00.000-08:00

On December 1, I showed you a painting, Abundance, that was blocked in and said I would show you it again when it was done. Well, here is the finished version of the piece. There are image transfers, painting, glazing, collaging and a jewel or two. It was my piece to enter the New Year with.

Today I played around with encaustics with a friend and decided the only thing I really liked about it was carving into it. I would rather do a fake encaustic with gels. I am proud of myself since I only started one fire.

Zazzle

2010-01-05T05:48:00.000-08:00

I decided to put some of my paintings on Zazzle although I will probably buy most of the products myself. Crazy, huh. Also found a place on the web that prints on fabric as I wanted to make a top with one of my designs. Inspired definitely by Angela Cartwright's site.

Citrus Muse

2010-01-02T14:05:00.000-08:00

Not sure what to say about this piece. In the world's fantasy image of the male painter there is always his model/muse, a couch/bed with tons of covers and his paintbrushes. Somehow putting a male nude on the bed didn't quite work so instead I added oranges for the juice of inspiration.

My First (or Second) Abstract

2009-12-31T05:35:00.000-08:00

Even though most of my paintings start with an abstract background, this is more abstracted than I normally do. The background is gold leaf with an image transfer of a mum reversed out of a tapestry background (kinda), then a Crazy Easy Monoprint on top and another image transfer over that. I love the gold leaf - it really makes the art glow.

Elusive Catch

2009-12-29T15:34:00.001-08:00

Here is one of my December pieces. Remember when you were young and you believed fairies and elves roamed the woods and heaven knows what lived under the water. Well, this is the adult version. It is painted on a panel covered with silver leaf.

Brrr. Snow.

2009-12-29T11:52:00.000-08:00

Paintings are done and I should have the photos later today so I will post them as soon as I get them. I might space them out so I have several entries instead of just one. Sandra and I are working hard on book two as we have to ship 1/3 of the projects to the publisher at the end of the week. And, as we speak, my Newfie is outside playing in the snow like only a big furry animal can do.

If you are in Santa Fe, I am giving a demo in February at Artisan in Santa Fe on Crazy Easy Monoprints. No cleanup (just brushes), no size limits and you can print on canvas, panel or paper. This technique will be in the book.

One Busy Wall

2009-12-13T10:25:00.001-08:00

This is my working wall taken with my iphone. The one behind the light is finished while the rest are in different stages of being done. When they are, I will post them up on the site. And you thought I was slacking!

In the Land of Sugar Plums

2009-12-11T17:41:00.000-08:00

This piece is called Body Image which is always an issue this time of year. Actually from Halloween through Valentine's day and then swimsuit time of year. Eeek. Never ends.

My last class was today and it ended with a great critique, margaritas and fun. Looks like my class starting in January is almost booked up. I handed out dollar bills on which I wrote Abundance, Prosperity, Health & Growth so they could forward them on to the universe. Perhaps the world will join in. Yikes, will I be arrested for defacing the dollar bills? Hope not.

Laurie Mika and I now have a piece of each other's work. I love my piece!!!

Eggnog Anyone?

2009-12-01T06:06:00.000-08:00

If you subscribe to my e-newsletter, you would have seen this piece that I had blocked in. Currently I am working on this piece, Abundance, and four other 24" x 24" pieces that I hope to have done by New Years.

As artists, I think the hardest thing is finding your voice and growing it to new levels. If you are working on a piece and thinking of how well it will sell - you start losing that voice. You to start to hear the chatter of the galleries, other artists, wall street. So, let's all be true to ourselves this coming year and lift an eggnog (or whatever) to fulfilling our dreams.

Slow Down, Old Man Time

2009-11-23T06:49:00.000-08:00

OMG. The Holidays are here and where did most of November go. The Santa Fe Studio Tour held last weekend was a great success and I love meeting new people. Bernie, my newfie, was the biggest hit and lots of people wanted dog hugs.

The work on the new book is going at a steady pace. I dream techniques all night long. What a blast.

This piece, Waiting Patiently, was done in 2006. It is on plexiglas which I am getting back to though in a different way. It takes a different way of thinking as I am working on both sides with paint, transfers and collage. They beauty is the depth and how they glow.

Red Hot

2009-11-07T14:38:00.000-08:00

Something bright, something red. My friend's gallery is telling her that they want more red pieces that she does so well. It prompted me to create a red one, Juicy Too, though I normally don't work that hot. It turned out to be a delight to do and for some reason it made me feel like Christmas. Oh my.

Time Flys

2009-11-05T10:24:00.001-08:00

Busy getting ready for the Santa Fe Studio Tour on November 14 & 15th. Doing artwork, cleaning studio, organizing. I am sharing my studio for the event with Mary L. Parkes and Linda Filhardt. Last year we ended up with great sales even though we seemed to be doing a lot of partying. Personally, I think people would rather buy art from those who enjoy themselves.

This piece, Maitresse sans visage, has to do with all the old images of people we see. We know what they were wearing, the time period but never their personality or soul.

Dream Time

2009-10-16T07:37:00.000-07:00

Sandra and I have started our second book (on surfaces) with the assistance of Bonnie Teitlebaum and we are in Dream Time. It is like being in an creative think tank. Its not just creating different surfaces but pushing the techniques to new levels. It has been a series of OH WOWs. It is amazing how one forgets how much work it is to write a book. The first book we had so much more time but we have a much faster turn around on this one. Whew.

This piece, After Raphael, was just for fun, painting on plexiglas and texturing an old book page.

Fall is in the Air

2009-10-14T06:18:00.000-07:00

Fall means that winter, my least favorite season, is nearby. So as the days get shorter, my life has gotten busier with teaching (and its prep time), the book which requires a lot of studio time, painting for myself, doing my web work and time for dogs and husband. Makes me want to go back to sleep.

Periodically I like to do a mixed media sculpture. I used to do more. It's fun to switch back and forth from 2D to 3D.

Scrapbooking, kind of

2009-10-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

Using part of the same old scrapbook that I had used as the base for the art in the previous post, I used this page as a more visible piece of the art. I like the idea of having a very flat area on the bottom and the highly painted top region.

Not much to say, would rather paint today.

Ingres Redux

2009-09-20T06:02:00.001-07:00

I am currently working on a series of Ingres Redux. Taking old images and giving them a new and different life. Honoring the past. These are gampi transfers on vintage scrapbook pages with floral decal glued on them. This one is 8" x 8" and I am feeling it is just a start for pieces that will be much bigger. My little head is bursting with ideas of all the places I can go with this.

Someone asked what a gampi transfer is - it is a laser or inkjet print on gampi tissue, also known as silk tissue.

Things are Popping

2009-08-30T18:07:00.000-07:00

I have just recorded two new videos for YouTube. One is about fiber paste techniques and the other is Gampi techniques (one of my favs) It will probably take a couple weeks to edit them but had fun alot of fun doing them. I should do one on bloopers.

Just hours before I left for California, I found out that our second book proposal was accepted and they have already scheduled the photoshoot for March. Isn't that crazy!!! The subject will be surfaces and pushing the techniques.

FYI - Check out the review for Image Transfer Workshop in the September issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissors.

Nesting

2009-08-27T14:57:00.001-07:00

We are all mothers to children (I skipped that one), dogs, art pieces, and creative thoughts. Think of the amount of time we spend on the nest of creativity waiting for that piece of art we are working on to be born into a finished piece of art. I can spend hours looking at a half done piece, just absorbing, then like magic the missing pieces all come together.

I am off on vacation next week to SoCal to feel the sun on my face, the sea breezes and shop for shoes. Should be a new woman when I come back and ready to write more.

Art Stories

2009-08-27T14:47:00.001-07:00

I love the stories that suddenly appear while you are working on a piece of art. This one is about a young boy dreaming about what the future will bring. It started with an vintage print that some friends gave me. The leaning tower of Pisa just seemed to work as the boy looked Italian and it went from there. Plus I had the fun of working with unusual perspective with things receding or coming forward in unexpected ways.

On the Wild Side

2009-08-11T13:51:00.000-07:00

Art Redux. Got part of a painting you like or an older painting that's not quite you anymore. The latest thing I hear my friends talking about is leveraging their art. Taking an older piece of work or a piece of it and turning into a piece of art that reflects their art today.

I had done a direct gesso transfer years ago of a sultry European woman and found it when going through my drawers. I scanned it into the computer and did a lot of layering, next I plan to print it out large and add more paint. I like the edginess of it.

Blog Challenges

2009-08-09T08:39:00.000-07:00

To try and have a new image for each blog is sometimes a challenge in a busy world. It reminds of a time years ago when I tried doing a piece a day for a month but, of course, I picked December which is the craziest month of the year.

So this piece is a demo piece with a gampi inkjet transfer that I did at the book signing at Artisan in Santa Fe. August 27 is the next book signing and its in Los Alamos.

Made a big decision to rent a climate controlled storage facility to store my art so I could have more room in my studio to paint.

Hot Times

2009-07-25T17:07:00.000-07:00

First day of Contemporary Hispanic Market in Santa Fe. Hot and tiring. Writing this and then off to a cool shower. What fun and how weird. A lady came by with 3 goats, believe it or not. Lots of fun people - mainly from Texas to cool down. Boy, did they pick the wrong weekend.

So tired that I accidently deleted a couple old posts. Will try and find them and repost in the next week or so. Lesson is don't do anything when you are tired or not totally awake.

Motherhood Was Out of Focus

2009-07-20T14:36:00.000-07:00

Some pieces just come together like magic. This is one of those pieces. The ironic thing with painting this week is that I worked on this piece which is quite dark in color and another piece that is very bright with hot pink, greens and turquoise. Obviously, I must be Sybil of the art world.

Made some big decisions about my art this week. Mainly it was about working big and forgoing the small pieces for awhile to see how this works for me.

Big News

2009-07-13T18:15:00.000-07:00

Just as my gallery in Scottsdale is closing, I have gotten into a gallery on Canyon Road. Jennie Cooley gallery is moving to a much larger space and she invited to be part of her gallery. Yeah.

Contemporary Hispanic Market is a big event in Santa Fe and I wanted to paint a special piece for it. This is named Ode to a Master and is done on two pieces of wood (old cabinet doors perhaps) that have been gold leafed. It came out just the way I wanted.

Oh yes, the book has shipped so if you ordered it ahead of time it should be in your hands any minute now.

Dreaming in Color

2009-07-13T18:10:00.000-07:00

Working hard for my shows the next two weekends. If you are here on the 17th and 18th, look for the ad for Summer Fandango for the Fiscally Frustrated in Pasatiempo. The following weekend is Contemporary Hispanic Market just off the plaza. Both are in Santa Fe.

Dreaming in Color, 24" x 24", mixed media on panel

News

2009-06-26T08:17:00.000-07:00

Yeah. The web site for the book, Image Transfer Workshop, is finally up. Check out the bloopers and gallery. It was difficult to design a web site for two people with such difference tastes. We hope to enlarge the site in the future.

Laura Stanziola, my contact for great ephemera, has a video on YouTube that was filmed by some students at the local college for a class. If you check it out, you will get an idea of all her stuff.

New Discovery

2009-06-08T11:50:00.000-07:00

I just discovered Stephen Mackey's paintings and am completely wow'ed. I love the dark angst that you see in the work of the painters from centuries back.

Art from Chicago, Art from Amarillo

2009-06-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

I have had great fun doing several one-on-one workshops.

The latest was with Kathy Botsford, Chicago area, who creates wonderful jewelry in addition to her mixed media and journaling. She is a bundle of energy and just absorbed information. Her son is #63 on the Notre Dame football team so cheer when you watch the games. We worked in a visit to Laura Stanziola for an ephemera shopping trip and we found wonderful handwritten recipes, braille sheets, doll heads and so much more.

Delightful Paula Hales and I laughed so much when she was here. Such great Texas stories amid all the great ideas just flying out of her. The workshop was a surprise birthday gift from her very nice husband. Here is an image she created when she got back to Amarillo.

Breathing Room

2009-05-26T12:18:00.000-07:00

House guests gone. Time to paint, start blogging again and think in color. I am an art supply junkie and so am trying to use up canvases and panels that I already have before I load up again. Definitely I was a packrat in a past life.

I promise to post a few new pieces this week as soon as I get a chance to photograph them.

For the fun of it, I posted my living room on HGTV's rate my space. My design hero is Tony Duquette - kind of a mixed media interior designer who is now dead. So people either love the look or want you to pare down and live in a model home. Interesting experiment. As a world traveler, I want to always feel like I am on the road.

People, People and More People!

2009-05-14T06:27:00.000-07:00

My fourth set of houseguests in May arrive Saturday. Whew. It is that time in Santa Fe. Fun to see them but nice to have my place back to myself too. Laurie Mika came by last week and it was great to finally meet her after talking via email for awhile. She has a brand new web site that I recommend checking out. Pat Chapman spent last weekend here and we always get wildly insane.

Here is a picture of my quiet spot where I will take a break to read on lazy days. I spent two years traveling around the world years ago and this place takes me to a foreign country without leaving home.

Just Being Silly

2009-05-05T06:55:00.001-07:00

Have had houseguests so not much time to paint but enough time finish this silly piece.

A conversation that my friends and I are having is on "leveraged" art. Throwing away nothing and recycling pieces of old art into new art.

Now that the weather is changing and the flowers are blooming, I think I need an area outside to paint and glue.

Santa Fe just had a big Oil Painters of America show and the town was just oozing painters. Lots of them painting outdoors on Canyon Road and the Audabon Center.

Thinking of Fruit

2009-04-21T12:50:00.001-07:00

In my effort to abstract my images somewhat I have done this tryptyph of ripe fruit. Was shooting to a series of five but ran out of time and want to take it to my gallery in Scottsdale, Victoria Boyce Gallery.

Busy Girl

2009-04-21T12:48:00.001-07:00

Been busy with several one-on-one workshops. Great people, lots of fun, and crazy art.

Here is a happy piece I have been working on, Tea Party. I have no ideas where this stuff comes from but I always enjoy the weird stories. Notice the great 1940's paper dolls and their clothes?

Lena Bartula from San Miguel del Allende has invited me to teach a workshop there in January. You bet. It is the perfect time to be there and get the juices flowing in another country.

The Joy of Rust

2009-03-30T06:44:00.000-07:00

Been working on some rust skins and having a blast with them. Not sure yet where I am going from here but I see combining with image transfers and hanging from ceiling.

Unfortunately the drying time takes a while and I like immediate gratification so I try and do them when I am real busy.

Just got back from Scottsdale where I went to art museums, galleries, and got sick as a dog. Obviously my body doesn't do well with margaritas and Mexican food anymore.

Great Places for Images

2009-02-19T04:34:00.000-08:00

I love old images and have a wonderful collection of old tin types and cartes de visite but also love cruising the web for other images.

Thought you would like to see some great places for images so here goes:
Tallulahs - great place for vintage images
Library of Congress - all kinds of images
New York Public Library - great vintage images
stockexchange - contemporary images

Fun with Different Backgrounds

2009-02-18T06:26:00.000-08:00

I have been painting on plexiglas for several years but because I am giving a demo on surfaces this Saturday at the local art store, Artisans, I have been playing a little more with it plus painting on difference metal surfaces.

This piece has a combination of stamping, a lazertran image and the pattern you see is a gel transfer.

EEEEEEEK

2009-02-11T04:20:00.000-08:00

My email went down plus computer went down and is the Apple fix it place for a week so stuck working on an old backup laptop with nothing on it. Enforced vacation. On top of that, lost my recharger for camera. What I learned is that I can never be a kid again because I can't text message. I will survive. I hope.

I will have some new images for you to see next week.

Magic in My Workshop

2009-02-08T07:32:00.000-08:00

Last week I taught my students about gel skins and about digital inkjet grounds. One of my students mixed up the information and came out with magic. She painted 3-4 coats of the digital ground on her glass palette, peeled this airy film off, taped it to copier paper then ran it through her inkjet paper. It came out stunningly beautiful. Today I am going to try this with butcher paper which I can just run through my inkjet thus eliminating a step. I love happy accidents.

Time is definitely flying by

2009-02-05T05:11:00.000-08:00

Here is next month's calendar page for you. January flew by and I don't even remember the holidays!

My first salon, Creative Mad Dash, was last Tuesday and there was a combination of beginners through professional artists. It was time to work on their art, get a demo on demand and a glass of wine. Lots of work was created, great conversation and next time I will buy a bigger bottle of wine. It got a bit wild and crazy but I love that.

TIP
When your acrylics are still wet, spray some Fantastik on it and you will get a lovely speckled pattern.

What a Surprise!

2009-01-26T06:13:00.000-08:00

Was cruising through Amazon this weekend and see my book with Sandra Duran Wilson, Image Transfer Workshop, available for pre-orders at an incredible price. The publishers said it wouldn't be available for pre-orders until May. Hmmm?