caution tape

Caution Tape
6x6 Acrylic Collage with stitching

I stole this title. From our youngest son's new song... of the same title. The song is not yet mastered or mixed... if it was I would definitely share.

paper quilting

Paper Quilt 6
6x6 Acrylic collage and stitching

Slightly new direction..... Still playing with the paper printed with the Gelli Plate!

gazing

Gazing
6x6 Acrylic Collage with stitching

I think I'm out of that gorgeous turquoise paper... Time to use the Gelli Plate again... So much fun.

sunbeams

Sunbeams
6x6 Acrylic Collage and stitching

Still at it..... Cutting. Pasting. Sewing. Mini bits of fun.

a good egg

A Good Egg
6x6 Acrylic Collage with Stitching

Slipping into a more vibrant palette.... A bit circus-y?

cabana

Cabana
6x6 Acrylic, Collage, Stitching,

Still using the reams of paper I made using the Gelli Plate. I'm enjoying this process...It's a nice combination of painting, collage and quilting-ish. Some of these will be available at Synchronicity Gallery in Glen Arbor, MI this season.

true confessions

Lake View 2
12x12 collage
this is where it is at the moment.....trying to salvage.
I'm not sure if I'm done or not...I'm mad at myself.

Where it was yesterday....
after I had the bright idea mid painting, to turn it into a landscape.
Geesh.

One of my constant struggles in painting is having an idea or concept, and sticking with it. The smart thing to do when these "other" ideas come up is to write them down and try them on the next painting. Stay the course. But if I'm the least bit distracted.... I veer off course into another idea. 

The trouble with this, for me anyway, is 

1. I never complete the original idea...which is sometimes a good one.

2. Because the base of the second idea is on top of a different idea...it's not a good solid place to start.

I've been lazy. 

The best way to stop this flighty behavior is to actually write the concept down on tape or a post it...and have it right near my palette. 

To remember the WHY I'm painting this in the first place. 

Where's that sticky note pad?

construction site

Construction Site
6x6 Acrylic Collage

I love the smell of sawdust...I'd wear it as a perfume.

balance

'Balance'
6x6 Acrylic collage

Wish it was as easy to achieve in life as it is in collage...... I'm balance challenged.

northern lights

'Northern Lights'
6x6 Acrylic Collage with stitching

Still playing cut and paste and sew with the Gelli Plate papers that I made....You'll be seeing these for a while... I made LOTS of paper. :-)

pushing and abstracting

Turns out... I can go pretty far with abstraction... I could go a little bit further to a Rothko-esque place, but I won't. (These are all things I'll be teaching in a new class this summer.)

making your summer plans?

Jumping into the New Year with some fun class offerings for 2014.  I'll be teaching "Getting From Here to There ~ Abstracting your subject"  at the Oliver Art Center in Frankfort, MI. (July 15...full day).. As I look at this example though... I'm thinking I'll abstract it even more... going for a progression of more and more abstraction... How far can I go?!? Stay tuned. :-)