a crabulous life!

Lotus Pond

2012-01-30T16:00:00.001-05:00

"Lotus Pond" - 6x6 - Mixed Media Collage - $90 + $10 shipping

Years ago, while in Newark, Delaware, I was shopping in this fabulous little clothing boutique of locally manufactured designs, when I ran across the cutest, hand-crafted ceramic buttons. They were each one of a kind and I purchased a hand full of them. Every once in awhile, they find their way out of one of my numerous drawers of tchotchkes and into my artwork. That's where the "flower" has come from in this piece.

Also, for the first time, I'm creating an option for the immediate purchase of this piece if anyone should so desire.

Red Flower On Red (Note Card)

2012-01-27T16:00:00.000-05:00

I think my note cards are some how becoming my equivalent of daily paintings! They're fun and quick to do, they serve as a warm up before I get started on my "serious art" and ultimately, they prove to be useful! So I'll probably share many, many more of them. (You have been warned!)

Secret Project Resumes

2012-01-26T16:00:00.001-05:00

Detail from the "Secret Project"

The artwork for Yellow Springs is completed, so now I can get back to the "secret project" that I've mentioned from time to time for the past couple of years. This time I'm resuming with a vigor. We've decided to take a different approach and we're determined to have it completed before the end of this year. And by "we" I'm referring to my collaborator and me. I'm not suddenly referring to myself in the first person plural.

The image above is just a detail from the new image I created today; sorry I can't share the whole thing... just be patient a while longer.

Orange Note Card With Green Butterfly

2012-01-25T16:00:00.000-05:00

Planets Aligning At Sunset

2012-01-24T16:00:00.000-05:00

"Planets Aligning At Sunset" - 6x6 - Mixed Media Collage

Seriously, if you could see this many planets that close up, you'd have a terrible time with the gravitational force. You wouldn't even notice the sunset. That's why the world needs artists; to create views you couldn't enjoy otherwise. (Lol!)


Left Side

Right Side

Another Note Card

2012-01-23T16:00:00.000-05:00

By now some of you probably suspect that I make note cards as another excuse for using glitter glue. You're probably right. ;)

Sorbet

2012-01-20T16:00:00.000-05:00

"Sorbet" - 6x6 - Mixed Media Collage

I just think the colors of this piece remind me of sherbert; that's all! (Even though sorbet and sherbert are two different things.)

New Stamps

2012-01-19T16:00:00.000-05:00

"New Stamps" - 6x6 - Mixed Media Collage

I realize this title is a little confusing, but it relates to the background of this piece. With the encouragement of a fellow mixed media artist, whom I met via Facebook, I used scrap pieces of styrofoam to make my own stamps in free-form geometric shapes which I used to create the painted background for this collage. In the past I've tried making stamps from more traditional materials, such as linoleum block, only to be frustrated with the difficulty of carving into the materials. Carving styrofoam with an exacto knife; however, is super easy and so much fun! And this is the spongy kind of styrofoam so it washes up very easily after being used, too!

Facebook has been such a great way for me to meet other artists and exchange ideas and to see their work and be inspired. As a special thanks to my new friend, Sharles, who has shared with me this stamp creating idea as well as many others, I'm including a link to his website and hope that you'll enjoy viewing his artwork as much as I do. Sharles Fine Art

More Positives Than Negatives

2012-01-18T16:00:00.000-05:00

"More Positives Than Negatives" - 6x6 - Mixed Media Collage

Some of the geometric images in this collage are created by the presence of papers, the others by the absence. It's very difficult, particularly in a photo, to tell which is which. ;-D

The Mustachioed Button

2012-01-17T16:00:00.000-05:00


"The Mustachioed Button" - 6x6- Mixed Media Collage

One never knows when they'll run across the most interesting art materials. The irridescent fibers in the blue button of this collage were found in a bait and tackle shop. They are intended to be used to make fishing lures. Before anyone could get that far with them, they lured me in!

Below is the under painting for this piece.

French Curves Are Sexy

2012-01-16T16:00:00.000-05:00


"French Curves Are Sexy" - 6x6 - Mixed Media Collage

Right View

Left View

More Greeting Cards

2012-01-13T16:00:00.000-05:00

The Key To The Universe As We Know It

2012-01-12T16:00:00.000-05:00

"The Key To The Universe As We Know It" - 6x6 - Mixed Media Collage

Once again, indulging my obsession with skeleton keys!

Taking the Plunge

2012-01-09T16:31:00.000-05:00

I did it! After two years of talk and consideration, I finally opened my own art gallery on Etsy. I have worried and fussed and fumed over this decision and finally decided to run with it. Now we'll see if it really runs. I noticed today that there's a lengthy on line handbook on the Etsy site full of tips on how best to promote your shop. Looks like my next task will be to study this. Very few artists are good at promoting their own work and I'm one of the worst. But, in this economy, with galleries closing their doors and the ones staying open getting very few customers, it is now incumbent upon us to be our own sales reps.

So, with that said, here's a link to my new online shop my Etsy. I'd appreciate any feedback (and/or sales!). ;-) Thanks!

Beanstalk Mandala

2012-01-08T16:44:00.000-05:00

"Beanstalk Mandala" - digital collage

I love nursery rhymes, fairy tales and children's stories in general. I always have. I love the feeling of being mentally transported. As a child I used to pretend I was living in my own fairy tale. (I'm sure this surprises none of you!)

While perusing my sketchbooks, I noticed I scribbled this little mandala which I entitled Giant Beanstalk Mendala back in 2002. (Pay no attention to that ghostly image in the upper right hand corner!)

Giant Beanstalk Mandala

Then, in 2005, a friend of mine had a baby which she named Jack, and of course, I created a Jack and the Beanstalk collage which I gave her to hang in her nursery.

"Jack & The Beanstalk" - mixed media collage

So, just for fun today, I turned the beanstalk mandala into a digital collage. Just for fun!

Mercury Glass Heart

2012-01-07T16:00:00.000-05:00

"Mercury Glass Heart" - 6x6 - Mixed Media Collage

Some of you have already guessed that I was a crow in a past life because of my love for shiny things. I love to collect little hearts and I'm particularly enamored with glass hearts. This one of mercury glass is a particular favorite. By the way, the red French braid was made from some raffia that came tied to a Christmas gift. Everything is subject to being used in my collages.

The Secret

2012-01-06T16:14:00.003-05:00

"The Secret" - 6x6 - Mixed Media Collage

A new little piece in one of my favorite color combinations. What's the secret? I'll never tell. ;)

Roman Coliseum

2012-01-05T16:00:00.000-05:00

"Roman Coliseum" - digital collage

This is just another digital collage from my collection of photos from Italy. If nothing else, it's a nice trip down memory lane for me.

Greeting Cards

2012-01-04T16:03:00.000-05:00

I like to make original collage greeting cards for my own personal use. I don't offer them for sale because it's not profitable. Last year I was not good at getting cards out on time for birthdays, because I kept putting off making cards until the last minute. So this year I'm trying to get a leg up by making a supply of cards in advance. Here are four that I created today.

The card in the upper left hand corner with the pear on it is the result of an experiment. It is a joke among my close friends that whenever they see something I've made with a pear in it, they know that I'm experimenting. For some reason, I find pears to be a good subject matter when trying new things. This pear was created on kinwashi paper with oil pastels. Then I glued the kinwashi paper onto the green collaged papers and applied varnish to the whole thing. To my great surprise, I was able to use acrylic varnishes over oil pastels. That defies all logic but I'm not complaining. That opens a lot of new doors to me!

A Moment of Bliss

2012-01-03T16:00:00.000-05:00

"A Moment of Bliss" - 5x7 - Mixed Media Collage

Is there any woman over the age of 8 who doesn't know the phrase, "Calgon, take me away!"? And with that in mind as well as the aftermath of the holidays, I created this new little piece.

Mars - God of War

2011-12-27T07:32:00.000-05:00

"Mars - God of War" - Digital Collage

Wandering through the streets of Rome one fine day, I happened upon this bad boy. He was locked away behind the gates of a private courtyard; which is probably a good thing, otherwise I'd have been all over him. Try as I might to get his attention, he kept his head arrogantly averted and paid me no heed. Thus, I was smitten! He's just the type of dangerous man who has proven to be many a woman's fatal flaw. After all, who could be more dangerous than Mars, the god of war? He was forever stirring up trouble and always falling in love. Yes, a very good thing he was kept behind locked gates! ;D

Soapsuds

2011-12-26T12:11:00.000-05:00

"Soapsuds" - 10x20 - Mixed Media Collage

I like the semi-interactive quality of abstracts. The viewer brings his or her own perspective to the experience. I love it when art patrons describe to me what they see in my abstracts and, of course, I always agree with them. (Even when I haven't the slightest idea what they're talking about!)

But, with that in mind, I've signed and wired this piece so that it can be viewed either horizontally or vertically.

Red Leaves & Copper Coins

2011-12-23T14:18:00.001-05:00


"Red Leaves & Copper Coins" - 16x20 - Mixed Media Collage

This began as a floral that wasn't making me very happy. So after a coat of black gesso, it was reborn as an abstract. (You can still make out the outline of little daisies which I love!)

The Green Earth

2011-12-21T17:18:00.000-05:00

"The Green Earth" - 12x12 - Mixed Media Collage

This poor canvas is in its third incarnation. I just haven't been very happy with the previous two images I created on it. The added layers, though, has produced a rather happy texture, which I love and I think that finally I can live with this image. Third time is a charm, right?

Denise's Scream

2011-12-21T17:14:00.000-05:00

"Denise's Scream" - 11x14 - Mixed Media Collage

I call this piece "Denise's Scream" and she knows why. ;D