Under Pressure

I joined a swap for the Fatbook Into the Woods. I have been doing swaps for years, and love the challenge of a topic. It pushes me beyond my comfort zone, and the deadline forces me to make a new piece of art. Some of my best work has been done this way and I am grateful for the wonderful yahoo art groups out there who support and inspire my creativity.

Since I could not get into the studio to make this piece due to having to watch my 3 year old granddaughter, I had to do it digitally. The collage was done in photoshop and is composed of a photograph, and scans of antique illustrations of mushrooms and a young girl. Of course, there are special affects and filters added on too.

The back page of the book is two photos, one is of the woods and one of me, with an exerpt from the poem Into the Woods.

I had fun, I hope my fellow swapees enjoy it as much. Now I just have to print them up and cut them and send them out. Deadline: 2 days. BYE!!!

Patti

The Small Check Blues

I have not been creating much these days. The most I have done business wise is listing ephemera on Ebay and Etsy which at least pays the business bills.

I got a commission check today from one of the stores I work on consignment with. WOW in one month I sold an 8.00 card, which nets me 5.60. Sometimes it is hard not to get depressed about my cards. I have to realize that they are NOT mainstream and that they only call to a few, but those few do so love them and are my biggest supporters. I love the store, I love the owner, so I will leave my cards there. She did ask if I could come in and switch some out, which I have no problem doing. But GEEZ, it is hard to keep one's head up high when it rains all day and you wait for the postman to bring some money, and it is not enough to buy lunch.

I hope that I am not like Van Gogh and others, who left behind huge bodies of work, but died penniless. I had better start a will now so that I will leave my work to those who appreciate it, and I do have some fans. Don't know how many, but there are a handful...... (Kincaid, can't you share the fame?) Anyone want to be in on the will? (I know you all only want me for my paper-I wonder who will get that?)

Today's collage is one I did several years ago. It is on loan to one of my friends for now. She floats around.

Patti

House as a Work of Art

The walls have been my canvas this past week. Not my favorite painting surface, but I have been getting into the rhythm of it. The ceiling and three out of four coats of paint are done. I plan on painting the trim a rich color called red oxide......but the question is, what color appliances? My husband and daughter say black. Of course Larry would...as yellow/orange and black are Halloween colors and he LOVES Halloween. I do too, but not 24/7. I am thinking white..to work with the ceiling and sink. As it is I will have dark trim and rich glowing walls, so white will counteract it a bit.

SO MY READERS...what do YOU think? You can either respond to my post or email me by going to my profile page and finding the email link there. I won't go off white as if one piece (stove or fridge) has to be replaced, you can't match off white colors. White is standard and does not show fingerprints like black does. I don't want to spend the money on stainless, and besides, it is also a bear to keep clean.

One of the pictures was taken without flash, and one with. This lovely color changes hue with the light, ranging from a slight yellow orange, to a glowing melon color as daylight fades and lamps come on.

I will post more photographs as it comes together. We will paint as much as we can in the house until it is too cold to keep windows opened. Then the winter's projects will be interior design work, like maybe a runner up my stairs held on with brass stair bars (this 1820 house I was in last night had the stairs carpeted this way, and it was fabulous!) or a carpet in the dining room.

I hope to hear from you my readers! Patti

Bridal Shower Project

A quick blog while I wait for the water to boil for the Pesto Pasta I am making for the shower, along with the other salads I am bringing.

The girls did not get any little "bridal favors" so I had a day to whip something up using whatever materials I had at hand. I did not have a lot of time to do this as so much else is going on, but I found some little muslin bags, had a pound of lavender, (both from the Atlantic Spice Company which is located almost to Provincetown on the Cape and is on the Internet too I am sure..). I found some rubber stamps. Great, the fine detail ones would not stamp on the rough muslin. I came across some Chinese word stamps that were thicker in design and stamped two words with fabric ink.

I think hot glued charms underneath, made a tag on the computer using an antique image of two lovers, and translated the words on the bag "Love and Happiness".

Placed inside of one of my display baskets, it all smells and looks sweet.

Voila. Some of my favorite challenges are the ones that are done on short notice and with limited materials and limited time.

Martha-I may have failed housekeeping school, but I did NOT get this out of your magazine, LOL.
xxpatti

Catskill Mountain House Vista

This is the vista overlooking the Catskill Mountains; the villages of Catskill, Saugerties ET.AL. can be seen from this view. The Hudson rolls in the very background of this painting, the small white area in front of the final mountain range in the sketch. It was very very hazy, atmospheric perspective at its best; blue, cool, misty. Storms rolling in from the west. Ghosts whisper in the trees along the mountain top. Names, dates, dreams, and loves etched into the rock ledge that graciously provided a table for my work.

Perhaps I should run a class one summer. Painting in the Catskills. If I only had that lovely mansion in Catskill...oh the things we could do. Anyone want to invest with me? LOL. patti

Catskill Mountain House

After another long day of painting, we headed to get my lost cell phone at Clermont. I managed to have enough time to do one sketch of some trees (you can see it in the photo). I loved the trees in the graceful way they grew on the hill; they looked like dancers.

Afterward we headed up to the mountains into the heart of the Catskills. At North Lake we found the trail to the site of the Catskill Mountain House. Storms were rolling in from the west, so we had limited time to work. I did a sketch which I will post another time, and took many photos. Larry worked with his 8 x 10" and I can't wait to see the photographs.

The first picture is a photo which was a mistake, but which is so cool. I was walking in front of Larry and took his picture. He looks like a specter. I am going to print this odd photograph! It doesn't look like much when it is condensed on the blog, but on the screen it rocks.... I photographed my set up on Artist's Rock, upon which many names are carved, some 150 years old.

I felt honored to work in such a beautiful and historic place whih has been graced by fellow artists over the centuries.

And it is all good. Patti

Hazards of Working at Dusk

A quick post as I am busy working on painting my kitchen and that has been what has been consuming most of my life these days, as well as preparing for my daughter's bridal shower on Saturday.

Hazards of painting at dusk which I have discovered..... bugs. I have bug bites. Not too many, but enough to be annoying. I normally carry some natural repellent, but I forgot it the other night. Oh and always have to check for ticks. I am lucky that I have never seen one on me ever, but I do check all the nooks and crannies that they like to go. Or Larry does, haha.

Dropping things that you can't see when it is dark, like your cell phone.

Luckily, some dog walkers found it and it appears to be in good working order. Only it is still 40 minutes away and I don't know when I can find it.

I hope to get out tomorrow to paint again. Today looks like it will be stormy and we have our hands full with stuff at home. I feel like I am going through withdrawal if I don't write or make art.

patti