R.I.P.

This past summer I purchased this lovely "Escargot" Begonia. It grew on my front porch, so lovely, so big and I felt like Martha Stewart. It's now a shriveled up, mass of dead plant matter. I need a moment of silence, while I mourn my plant.

I'd Rather Be Here

If I close my eyes, I can feel the heat of the sun and I can hear the squealing voices of the kids standing in this fountain. 

Only 123 days until June 1.

Help From the Strangest Places

While I was on a cruise, I took this photo looking out of our cabin. This large, worn cargo ship obviously had stories to tell. The name "Courageous" appealed to me because I had not seen that word for a long time.

Recently I started looking at the photo, and I began remembering it from childhood books, describing the characters of the stories I was reading.

I find myself needing to be just that - courageous. However until I honestly feel it, I will fake it. My red cape will help.

Garfield Park Conservatory

 A fabulous "escape destination" for those of us who live in the frozen land of Chicago, is Garfield Park Conservatory. It's a wonderful oasis of lush tropical plants and flowers that transport me out of the deep freeze and into the warm, misty rain forest. Cabin Fever is not good for the soul and this place is an instant lift. G.P.C. here I come.

Primal Ten

This is a mixed media composition of found metal, wood, copper, beads, string and napkin rings. Plywood is wrapped with an old feedbag and I assemble the "tiles" on top.

Because I worked as a graphic artist for many years designing catalogs, it's never my intention to create realistic art. Although these  arrangements may remind me of real life things,
they come from purely abstract thoughts.

Instead of buying souvenirs, I usually come home from trips with a Ziplock bag filled with odd pieces of metal I found on the sidewalks.

Coffee Can Art

I noticed there were lots of coffee cans in my studio filled with junk. After they were covered with canvas, and sewn, copper pipe was used for a handle and they were decorated with the junk originally found in them. 

They started selling really well at art fairs and I started drinking way too much coffee.

I needed a "Thinking of you" card and honestly I rarely make cards. Sounds silly because I am surrounded by art materials. But this time I grabbed a stiff sheet of hand made paper and a fabric patch and started punching holes. The inside message was printed on the 'puter since my handwriting is unreliable. It's a good idea for me to have a few of these on hand. Lately there are lots of people I am thinking about...

Lately I use lots of trays when I am styling a home, or staging one. They're easy to find and easy to change. I'm not the flowery type so I went for an ethnic look.

Hang it Here

I found this ugly, brown wall hanging rack in Goodwill and thought it had potential. A few coats of paint, new brushed nickel hooks and it looks great on the wall. Unfortunately, it's not on my wall.

Comfort Food for a sad day

Having a hard time getting stuff done today. It's a sad day. Feel like I want to stuff myself with something decadent or alcoholic. Think I'll stick to decadent...like chocolate and a really good cappuccino. My idea of comfort food. 

But them again, a really good Cosmopolitan would chill me out.

Mural for Brooke and Collin

This is a sketch for a mural panel that will hang in the playroom of Brooke and Collin's house, my clients in Iowa.  It will be a series of three - animals, a town scene and the third topic is yet to be determined. I am not an illustrator, but I have enough drawing skills in me from my days as a catalog designer to get by. I will post the color version when it's completed. Sorry for the overlap on the right side. This blog site is really the pits.

 
This past summer a friend of mine asked me to paint a rain barrel for her church auction. There were a number of them on display downtown.  Most of them were sweet, with flower themes or images of town scenes.  
I am not a realistic painter. I work in the abstract. But luckily a “vision” appeared in my head. A vessel. A Mexican water vessel. I have no idea where the Mexican theme came from. 
Oh yeah. Maybe I do. I was sitting outside of Cafe Amano drinking a margherita...

Bula!

I love to start something new. It makes some people feel uncomfortable, but I welcome the squirm of anticipation and I look forward to the endless possibilities it creates. One thing leads to another. So who knows what will happen because I started this blog today. 

Lately, I have been wanting to have a bigger life and so I am asking for it. These past few years have taught me one thing for sure. All you have to do is ask for "it". Now the funny part is, you have no idea in which form it will come to you. I know it sounds unrealistic and silly. But be aware, I am never afraid of being unrealistic or silly. It's my life story. I am an artist.

With this blog I wish to inspire and share. No political views or advice on how to have the perfect life. If anything, I will share my imperfect, haphazard, let's give it a try approach. So here goes.

FYI: Bula is a word of welcome on the islands of Fiji, a place my father loved very much.