Life on Your Kitchen Table

Flowers are lovely to have on 
the table. It's also pleasant to look at something more personal. A small grouping of favorite things you haven't seen in a while are nice to enjoy in the morning with the cup of coffee. 

A book, a souvenir from a childhood trip, photos of those who don't live close, items we used long ago, favorite game pieces are just a few. 

    

Top sketch is from an earlier post. Bottom photo is actually three photos.
After a few small revisions, I am happy with the results. Now I need to
mount the painting on plywood, add a small frame element and hang 
it for Brooke and Collin to enjoy. 

Click on image for larger view.

Why I'll Never Be a Vegetarian

Every now and then I get a craving. Not often.
Since I don't have access to a Sabrett stand, I go for a Hebrew National all beef frank with sauerkraut and mustard, and a little chopped onion.

This was sacred food for my dad. He would not approve of the onions, but he'd forgive me. This stand was in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and in honor of him, we devoured a few good dogs on the sunny steps of the museum.

6 Pieces of Scrap Wood

                                              

                                                    Color Theory

  Wood, fiber, metal  9 x 11 x 1/2

Available on my ETSY store  

 www.etsy.com/shop/MatangaBay

                          

Art of Color and Light

The Art Institute has this incredible staircase. The colorful light show installation is called Public Notice 3 by Mumbai-born artist Jitish Kallat. The words are taken from a speech given in 1893 by a yound Hindu monk from India, Swami Vivekananda at the World"s Columbian Exposition. The Art Institute was hosting a 17 day Parliament of the World's Religions. Just steps away from this staircase is the where he spoke.
It will be on display until May 1, 2011.

Boo, Tully, Moe and Gabby

Updated post from January 8. The animal mural for Brooke and Collin is coming along. Let's just say, I'll never paint on the ceiling of any church. With that said, I am having a lot of fun keeping it basic, fun and happy. I think the kids will love it. 

One more butterfly...........maybe sitting on Gabby's ear. 

They Don't Build Them Like This Anymore

I can't remember where I shot this in  Manhattan. These beautiful three dimensional tiles covered the upper portion of a building.

I wish I would have written down the address
to find out more about it.

"We Give to You Our Worldly Goods" was a series of pieces I created from a variety of found metal, wood and fiber. Some had as many as 25 figures, others only 3. The figures were made with cafe curtain hooks. 

 Men usually call them warriors, while women see them as tribes women or goddesses.

Fountain Face is Lonely

            
              Update photo from Jan. 29 post. Only 107 days until June 1.

Art Institute of Chicago

Wish I could say this grand spiral staircase is in my foyer.

It's one of the great views of Chicago looking out of the Art Institute. Hubby and I spent our Valentines Day looking at art, eating and taking photos. It was finally warm enough to walk around the city.

The Power of the Human Spirit

 Though this is not a political blog, 

I want to acknowledge the amazing people of Egypt

and wish them peace and freedom.

I designed a family card for a friend of mine.

                          

Bag Lady

If you love something, 

don't hide it in the closet. 

Hang it up on the 

back of a door.

I Need Inspiration on Wednesday

This is one of the first mixed media pieces I did years ago. I gave it to a good friend of mine and she still has it displayed in her dining room. 

Looking at art I created in the past is like reading an old diary. I look at it and say "What the heck was I thinking?".

I need to start some new work and I always like to look back before I go forward.

Alfabet Soup

                     Do you know your A B C's?

My Laughing Buddah

Most of my recent posts have been "visually busy". I thought I'd give you a calm, happy image to enjoy this Sunday.

This is Hotei. He is the god of contentment and happiness, guardian of children. Supposedly based on an actual person, he is widely recognized as the Fat, Laughing Buddah. His origin is from Chinese Taoism/Buddhism.

According to legend, if one rubs the Laughing Buddha's great belly, it brings forth wealth, good luck, and prosperity.      I better start rubbing.

For a long time, I had been looking for a buddah. I imagined buying a large stone figure, but instead this small 5" hand carved figure "found me" in a crowded antique mall. He sits on the window sill by my kitchen sink and greets me each morning.

Gallery of Whatever

As a home stager and stylist, I'm aways in need of wall decorations. When I ran out of enclosed cabinet space to store them, I found a blank wall leading down to my studio. Now, not only is it functional storage space, it is a gallery of great stuff I love to look at everyday. 

prints, postcards, 

photos & quotes

empty frames

mirrors

plates

letters

whatever

I say, find a wall and hang it up.

Images Like This Just Keep Me Smilin'

This magazine photo of Carly Simon on a swing has been on my inspiration wall for a very long time. There is no date on the pages, but I think it was from an issue of InStyle or Martha. I change the images on the wall often, but I just can't seem to let go of Carly on a swing.

Work in Progress

A friend of mine asked me "What have you been up to these days?" (Frankly I tend to hide during the winter.) I started to tell her. Beading necklaces for "Gallery Ten" in Door County Wisconsin, painting a mural of animals, sorting thru years of magazines.... blah, blah, blah.

This is an unretouched, unstaged photo of my worktable. Can you find Waldo?