scribblings !
The online journal of a passionate artist, writer and educator.
May 30, 2008
Toward Bellingham
Thank you to all of you who have written, asked about the move and wished us well. Actually, we aren't going far, a mere 40 miles.
Anacortes, our home for the past twelve years, is a 50 minute drive from Bellingham, that is, unless you take the scenic Chuckanut Highway which winds along the rugged coastline of northwestern Whatcom and Skagit County. I love the drive going north where my car hugs the rock cliff and the breathtaking scenery begins about 10 feet beyond my bumper. Coming south (and not being the thrill-seeker type)... well, I'd rather walk back...barefooted... over broken glass.
Our plans are beginning to take shape on the other end. I'm planning on much more teaching from an in-home studio... classes and weekend retreats. It's all very exciting. As soon as things firm up, I'll post a schedule, etc.
The only thing new this week is the height of the stack of boxes in our living room...
May 26, 2008, Memorial Day
The Move is On
FINALLY, our house sold and closed, a major feat in this marketplace. My obsession for keeping everything tidy for potential buyers has given way to frantic packing. The half-finished paintings on my easels beckon me, but I pass them by with longing regret. Soon, dear friends…
That lovely picture part-way down the right hand column no longer speaks the truth about this space I call my creative writing sanctuary. Exiled books wait in sturdy gin and vodka boxes for their transportation to their new abode, the desk suffers under a flurry of assorted papers, and half-filled boxes line the floor looking for the other odd shaped item that will not spill or in some other way destroy its boxmates.
Packing art supplies for a move presents a bigger problem that you would imagine. Unlike the standardized cans in my food pantry, art supplies come in every conceivable size and shape. Other than tubes of paint and brushes, very few are the same size. [Now what do I have that won’t squash that whatsit, poke a hole in the doodad, or ruin the gidget? And how am I supposed to think of fitting THAT thing in a box?!]
In the midst of the panic packing, I'm so excited about the future. Last night I lay awake thinking of the possibilities before us… More on that soon.
One last thing—Thank you to all of the veterans who have given so unselfishly in service to our country. I’ve been blessed to be the daughter of a veteran and to have known many, some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you.
April 21, 2008
Mixed Media Play
This weekend I had the pleasure of teaching about mixed media from an artist's point of view. Mixed media equals play to me. It gives me the opportunity to venture into new areas and try out all kinds of different things.
In my grand mixed media experiments I've:
...mixed various kinds of oil and water-based inks and watched them do all sorts of wonderful things as they flow from my pen onto all manner of paper and paintings
...used powered pigments mixed with various things like gum arabic and gel mediums to create interesting painting and drawing media
...used acrylic underpaintings for oils and charcoal under watercolor
...smashed up pastels and charcoal and sprinkled them across roughly gessoed paper to create interesting fresco techniques in drawings and paintings
...and much more...
Try putting materials together you never considered before. If it doesn't work, alter it. Creative cropping, sanding, lifting or overpainting all work in their proper time.
If you are stuck in a rut, play with your art materials. Have fun!
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