Cathy's Garden of Artful Delights

My Other Sites

2018-02-19T21:35:00.003-05:00

Thanks for visiting!

Please visit my latest work at https://www.flickr.com/photos/aspiring

and check out my Etsy store at https://www.etsy.com/shop/CathysArtfulDelights

Inspired By My Collage Group

2014-10-05T18:17:00.002-04:00

I made these pieces today in my monthly collage group. There's nothing like hanging out with a small group of artists creating our own stuff while enjoying each others' good company. Both pieces make use of acrylic gel-printed tissues and papers.

Blood Moon, collage on gel monoprint, acrylic, 8" x 8"

Breaking Out, collage on printmaking paper, 8" x 8"

Horned Masks of Nicola Toce

2014-09-01T16:33:00.002-04:00

I've recently learned about these beautiful masks by Nicola Toce of Aliano, Italy. They're hand-made by the artist, using traditional techniques, for the annual Carnivale festival in Aliano, and each year new masks are added to the collection, which is housed in a local museum when not in use for the festival. The masks are currently being featured in a traveling exhibit most recently shown in the nearby town of Avigliano.

Gravusia

Flautomonte

Sanco

Zopàrtu

The Joys of Recycling

2014-08-10T22:21:00.000-04:00

This collage started off as an unsuccessful monoprint. I thought I'd incorporate the print into this new project, but by the time I was done, and added my acrylic painted papers and some acrylic paint, none of it was visible any longer. Some pieces just seem right on the first pass, but this one took a lot of editing until I was happy with it.

"Orange Cruciform on a Field of Blue", 8" x 8", August 10, 2014.

Revisions

2014-08-03T20:14:00.001-04:00

There are times when I just don't know whether a piece is done. Or, I think it's done and then I change my mind. These two gel plate prints were like that, until I added a bit of collage to each of them. Now I think they're finished. We'll see!

"Cycle", August 3, 2014, acrylic gel plate print with stenciling and collage on printmaking paper, 8" x 8"

"Stems", August 3, 2014, acrylic gel plate print with stenciling and collage on printmaking paper, 8" x 8"

Jumping Fish

2014-07-26T19:33:00.000-04:00

It's been hard to find time lately to create, but a couple of weeks ago I was inspired by the company of my collage group friends and put together this piece, which I call Jumping Fish. The papers are my own acrylic-painted tissue paper and acrylic-painted deli paper. The substrate is 8" x 8" Stonehenge.It makes me smile!

Jumping Fish, July 5, 2014

Index Card Collage

2014-06-18T21:34:00.000-04:00

Here's a little collage on an index card, inspired by various other artists' ICAD (Index Card A Day) projects. Materials: index card, acrylic painted paper, magazine pictures, washi tape, 3" x 5".

Twister, June 17, 2014

Collage Play

2014-05-17T22:36:00.000-04:00

I made these today in my collage group using papers from my stash. One is not really a collage, but who's checking?

Inky Stem #1 - Acrylic monoprint with marker and ink, adhered to matboard, 5" x 8", May 17, 2014.

Inky Stem #2 - Collage of acrylic-painted papers, with ink, on matboard, 5" x 8", May 17, 2014

Sketchbook Skool is in session!

2014-04-15T21:01:00.000-04:00

I'm in week 2 of Sketchbook Skool with Danny Gregory and 5 other amazing teachers, having a fun time and trying a few things that are new to me. And I got out to the beach on a fine spring day!

West Haven Beach/ April 13, 2014 / Pitt pen / Moleskin watercolor journal

West Haven Beach/ April 13, 2014 / Pitt pen and watercolor / Moleskin watercolor journal

Apple / April 15, 2014 / Prismacolor pencils / Moleskin watercolor journal

Black and White

2014-03-02T12:00:00.000-05:00

I just completed a fun class called Black and White at Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven, CT. We explored several angles of creativity using only blacks, whites and grays. Here's some of my classwork:

Black and White Collage Study, 01/18/2104, cut and reassembled magazine photo on white paper, approx 8"x7"

Black and White Collage Study, 01/18/2104, acrylic paint on paper, cut and reassembled, approx 9"x12"

Black and White Collage Study, 2/15/2104, paper, approx 9"x12"

Gray Scale Collage Study, 2/22/2104, acrylic paint on paper, cut and reassembled, approx 12"x12"

Wanted: Sleep, 3/1/2014, paper, magazine clippings, and acrylic paint on mat board, approx 16"x11"

Recent Gel Plate Play

2014-02-02T09:26:00.000-05:00

I spent a fun afternoon yesterday playing with my Gelli Arts plates and Golden Open acrylics. I'm loving the extra working time I get with the Open paints. During my play, I made some stencils from hot glue, as demonstrated here by Jane Davies.

Stencils made from hot glue

Golden Spiral !

Golden Spiral 2

Leaf and Stem 1

Leaf and Stem 2

Party

Foggy

City Wide Open Studios 2013

2013-10-13T08:57:00.000-04:00

New Haven's annual month-long art bash, City Wide Open Studios, is in full swing! Each of us hundreds of Connecticut artists has one piece in the main show at Artspace and is showing the remainder of our work at one of three subsequent weekends. I'm at Erector Square this weekend, October 12-13. I hope you can stop by!

Summer Pear, Main Show, Artspace, October 2103

My wall at Erector Square, October 12-13, 2013; Building 5, 2nd floor, Studio O.

"Orbits"

"Dew-Sun"

"Portal"

"Spirit Dance"

"Gauze"

"Pebbles & Shards"

City Wide Open Studios - Upcoming Opening Reception on October 4

2013-09-29T10:34:00.002-04:00

New Haven's annual month-long art bash, City Wide Open Studios, will kick off this coming Friday, October 4, with the opening reception at Artspace. I will be participating along with hundreds of other Connecticut artists. We each have one piece in the main show at Artspace, and will be showing the remainder of our work at one of three subsequent weekends. I'll be at Erector Square on October 12-13. I hope you can stop by! Here's a sampling of my work:

Summer Doings

2013-09-08T22:40:00.003-04:00

I spent a refreshing week last month at Jane Davies' Collage Journeys In Vermont 2013 workshop. Check out this link to see Jane's post about it. This was my second year. What a fun and relaxing way to spend a summer vacation - art and Vermont together, along with the company of some wonderful fellow students!

I came home with a lot of works in progress. These two are the closest to being done, as I see it.

Acrylic/collage on printmaking paper, about 10"x10"

Jane coached us through a creativity exercise that she calls "Big Fat Art". Here are some of mine.

Acrylic on 70(?) lb drawing paper, "Big Fat Art" exercises

Today, at home, I started some Big Fat Art on my own. Here they are, in progress:

To visit the blogs and websites of some my my classmates, take a look at these links:
Beverly Fine
Marilyn Gillis
Sandy Gregg
Janet Joehlin
Bette Friedlander
Sherri Scott

Next month, I'll be participating in New Haven's annual City Wide Open Studios. Stay tuned for more information.

Loving Blog Lovin

2013-06-30T16:10:00.002-04:00

As you may know, Google Reader will no longer be available as of tomorrow, July 1. After seeing Blog Lovin' posts by some other bloggers, I've decided to give it a try. If you wish to follow my blog on Blog Lovin', here is the link: Bloglovin

Behind the Silver Lining - The Art Show

2013-06-12T20:52:00.003-04:00

Behind the Silver Lining was great! Take a quick Video walkthrough that includes the work of my co-artists, Tony Ferraiolo and Lorraine Hurley.

Here's a closer look at my part of the show:

This is about two thirds of my space. The pieces on the left are small collages, and on the right, my Inner Geologies series, shown in more detail below.

Yours truly with my recent gel monoprints

Gel plate monoprints, up closer

More gel plate monoprints

My Inner Geologies series, 3 of 6

My Inner Geologies series, the other 3

Self portraits

We had a well-attended and fun reception, too! I didn't manage to take any pictures of it, but hopefully soon I'll have some to post from friends.

Prepping for Next Week's Show

2013-06-02T16:21:00.002-04:00

A sampling of items for the show. Check us out next weekend!

Behind the Silver Lining

Art Show

New and returning works by
Cathy Farrell
Tony Ferraiolo
Lorraine Hurley

Erector Square Building 4
315 Peck Street
New Haven, CT
Enter @ Lori’s Cafe

Free parking in Erector Square lots along Peck Street

Sat. June 8, 2013, 1pm-9pm
Sun. June 9, 1pm-6pm
Opening Reception Sat. June 8th 6-9pm!

For more info, contact:
203-376-8089 or BTSL.NH.2013@gmail.com

New Gelatin Prints

2013-05-20T22:42:00.000-04:00

I made a bunch of Gelli prints tonight for Carla Sonheim's Gelli Printmaking class. Here are a couple that I'm calling done. The rest are still works in progress.

Portal, May 20, 2013, Gelatin print, acrylic on printmaking paper, 6"x9"

Spirit Dance, May 20, 2013, Gelatin print, acrylic on printmaking paper, 6"x9"

Beyond the Silver Lining flyer

2013-05-06T17:52:00.003-04:00

Art Show: Behind the Silver Lining

2013-05-05T22:24:00.000-04:00

Next month, I'll be participating in an art show with two other fabulous artists!

Behind the Silver Lining

Art Show

New and returning works by
Cathy Farrell
Tony Ferraiolo
Lorraine Hurley

Erector Square Building 4
315 Peck Street
New Haven, CT
Enter @ Lori’s Cafe

Free parking in Erector Square lots along Peck Street

Sat. June 8, 2013, 1pm-9pm
Sun. June 9, 1pm-6pm
Opening Reception Sat. June 8th 6-9pm!

For more info, contact:
203-376-8089 or BTSL.NH.2013@gmail.com

Inner Geologies

2013-04-14T20:07:00.003-04:00

I'm currently taking Extreme Composition with the incomparable Jane Davies. I created this series "Inner Geologies" as part of a lesson in this fabulous online class. Each piece is acrylic and ink on watercolor paper, 4.75" square.

Gelli Play

2013-02-18T19:21:00.001-05:00

I spent a good deal of my Presidents' Day long weekend having fun with my Gelli Arts gel printing plate. These pieces started with a Gelli print, with stenciling and stamping added:

And these were inspired by their terrific fun foam tutorial:

Farewell CWOS 2012

2012-10-14T21:57:00.002-04:00

What a fun show it was! Lots of visitors, family, and friends came, among them my fabulous teacher Jane Davies of Vermont, who happened to be presenting a workshop in the area and drove over from Guilford to see the show!

Yours truly with Jane

My wall of abstracts

Working Large #1 - Tuning In

Color studies

Two more color studies and a color-wash-line painting

Shape studies

Working large #2 - Mooncircles

Self-portrait series

Video Preview of Erector Square Studio

2012-10-14T09:47:00.002-04:00

Day one of City Wide Open Studios was a lot of fun and very busy. I shot this quick tour of our studio on Saturday morning before all the action began.Take a peek! The show is open today (Sunday 10/14) from 12pm to 5pm. Come on over!

Setting up at Erector Square

2012-10-10T22:41:00.000-04:00

A sneak peek. We will be in Building 7, 2nd floor, Room 7.