Blogtober three

A thought just occured to me while I watched my third tutorial video on Facebook this morning... that art is as relative as anything else in your life.

While I was watching this woman make an abstract painting in watercolors (no, I don't do watercolors but its fun to watch other medium artists do their thang) I realize that the theme of the painting that attracted me to watch in the first place is a definate difference in what she ended up with. (For the record I watched an Oil Painting technique this morning also, but I don't do that either. The third one was a Art Journalling video which I have tried, and basically suck at!)

While I appreciate the techniques and the creative mind she has, and the products she is touting on the video, I asked myself if I would buy that art from a booth.  My answer is no.   I gained appreciation for the piece by simply watching it be made, and if I saw it in a booth without that knowledge, I probably wouldn't value that piece as much.  In other words, it was fun watching it become what it became.  And the video did what she wanted, it taught me a few things.

Once the piece was done, it really didn't appeal to me personally.  I look at this like looking at a catalog of clothes.  Some may be beautiful on other people, but I know its not right for me.  Some may be the right color, or some might be the right size, but I don't have to like them all. Its personal preference like the clothes you wear, the color you paint your walls or any other decision you make.  You have to be COMFORTABLE with it.  Something in that piece has to resonate with you.

I think that art is in the eye of the beholder, and there are as many tastes as there are people.  You should always pick out your own art.  What makes you say "WOW!"  And it doesn't always have to match the sofa. The art you like says a lot about you.  I like to ask myself what I like and don't like about every piece I consider.

For me, I think this blog has given me the determination of  painting over a few canvasses that are less than loved that I have done.  Make something better out of them.  There are more canvasses being done these days than there are walls to hang them on.  So the ultimate purpose of those canvasses, in the long run, are to make ME happy anyway, right?  To express me.

Just my thoughts on a cool, blowy Blogtober morning....


Stay tuned!

Friday, Blogtober 2 2015

Happy Friday!  Did you know that Oct. 2 is Plaid Day?  Yep, I read that on Facebook last night.  And you know what they say, if its on Facebook it has to be true!

Well, I wore plaid today... (lumberjack red), and apparently nobody else got the memo.  Oh well... it WAS chilly out, and the plaid WAS warm, and its comfy on casual Friday.

Besides that, its First Friday.  Hoping to get down there tonight.  And with fall comes the fish fries at the local Legion. Gonna go try that tonight.

But first a glass of wine to say goodbye to the workweek, and hello weekend.

See you tomorrow!  Stay tuned!

Blogtober one.

Ok, we'll give it a shot, Blogtober, that is, with no promises.

Its 10pm on the first... can't wait too much longer to start Blogtober, but I'm in!

Well, as much as I hate to post things that I do for others before they get to see them, I doubt if they, or anyone close to them, will see them here. 

This is a poem that I calligraphied, for a friend, and did the tree to match.  So, although I don't get the poem, I like the tree.  It is on parchment paper with walnut ink and sepia pen. The artwork is only laying in the frame before I left it for framing.  I can't wait to see it done next week. I hope she likes it.

Next up: a baby nursery hamper and a rooster for a restaurant.
And a halloween sign. 

Stay tuned!

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Hmmm, here we are on the last weekend of September.   Despite the continuous proverbial hanging on by the fingernails on the season of summer, its leaving, and the days are getting shorter and the weather is getting cooler.  So I sit on my front porch a little longer, keep the windows open when its cooler than comfortable, and I will not, nope, will NOT hang out the fall wreath yet.  So there!

To do Blogtoberfest, or not to do Blogtoberfest, that is the question...

Life is going to be busy for the next couple weeks so I am also trying to get in all the art I can. (housework be damned!) So remember a while back, I bought a pretty big canvas for a call for art for a new massage place, but I didn't get it started in time? (I bought the canvas on the same day it should have been turned IN.)  Well, that blank canvas has been just hanging around taunting me.

So... yesterday as I was in the parking lot of a favorite store, we noticed THESE:

 I don't know if they were looking for their cars in the parking lot or seeing what parking lots were all about but they were not in any hurry or alarmed at all.  An hour later, when we came out of the store, they were still hanging out, entertaining everyone.

So, on the way home, I was thinking of them, and then BAZINGA! I remembered that canvas.  Its like 24 x 48.  and I did most of it last night, finished up at 6am this morning.  I didn't think the cars in the background did anything for them, so I used a new technique that I never have done before, where you squirt the wet paint and let it run.  Cool effect!  My first experience with Liquid Frisket.  A liquid masking stuff that you paint on everything you DON'T want paint on. Kind fun, even if a little pricey.
Since I took this picture, I have made the 'drumsticks' a little less pronounced, and the feathers lighter on the bird on the left.   Funny how putting on the computer makes you see things you didn't before.

<WIP to show background

So, thats the end of my tomfoolery this week.   Have a good week, and I will see you in October!  I haven't decided yet to do Blogtoberfest, but you will be the first to know.

Stay tuned!

Saturday, September 18,2015

Today is a local ArtFair that we call Artilicious. This is the Chairity Auction fair that we did the Wine Bottle chair for.   It will be interesting to see what is bid on that. Heading out to the fair shortly.

This week, the New Years Rez that I made, ( the one about doing something with the things I have around here that I have accumulated) kicked in and I pulled out an old piano bench that I found at a friends rummage sale (years ago) that I thought was worth painting.  Someday.  Well, someday was Tuesday. 

 This is the idea I had when I first bought it  Why did it take me so long to do it?

 Inside  I covered it in scrapbook paper that is antiquish sheet music.

I posted it on facebook and had some offers.  Sold to a friend of mine that is tickled pink to have it.
I am glad its going to a good home!  And proud of myself still working on a New Years Rez in September! 

Stay tuned!

Saturday September 12, 2015

Ever have plans for the day, and then at the end of the day, realize that very little of it was what you had originally planned?  This was one of those days.

On my calendar, it said, "Village Garage Sale", (I was going to have one) it said, "5K Walk for Cancer", and "WINERY".

I opted out of the Garage Sale when I realized the 5K that we do each year was on the same day.  4 days ago we got a notice that the 5K had been cancelled.  (you can't just throw a Garage Sale together at such a late date... and it rained anyway)

A buddy of ours that plays in a band was supposed to play at the Winery tonight. It would have been a beautiful evening to be out there, (the rain gave way to blue skies by then) but he let us know this morning that there was a schedule change and they weren't playing there tonight.

So, its good to stay flexible, I guess.

What I did accomplish is, my friend Christy and I got our wine bottle chair turned in for the CHAIRity Auction.  63 bottles of different shapes and sizes and colors.  We named it, "Wasn't that a Party?"

It was kind of a debacle... We had to remove the back of it because it wouldn't fit into our truck with the cap on the back, so we had to reassemble it when we got to the library.  The white stuff you see on the back is silicone adhesive that will turn clear when dry.  

Then I showed the tree I painted at cousin Marges house a while back.  Well she has been a framing fool and wanted me to come over to help get them up on the tree.  This is what we ended up with and we have room for growth.  She is tickled pink.

Thinking that although there is nothing on the calendar for tomorrow, it might as well stay that way, because plans change anyway, so you just have to find other ways to be productive!

Stay tuned!

PS Just a quick addition to my weekend fun:

Another scrap cupboard door that I decked out today.  That was fun!

Thursday September 10, 2015

Have you ever heard of Yarn Bombing?  A local town is starting to wrap several trees on their main thoroughfare with crocheted and knitted strips.  This is one of several.  It is a happy way to welcome people to their town, dontcha think? And hopefully, if they leave it up for winter, will add a little color to the winter months.

 

This is a an old boat house at a marina in the UP of Michigan.  It is now the tasting room for Mackinaw Trail Winery.  (I liked several of their wines!)  What a clever place to put their wine tasting room!

While in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan last week we stopped at the Cut River Bridge to stretch our legs.  There are paths and walkways under and around this massive bridge!  Here is a shot of the structure that holds up US-2:

Also there is this walkway that goes under the bridge:

Where you find this door:

With this name tag!  Those UPers really have a sense of humor, eh?  Did you know they call anyone who lives below the Mackinaw Bridge a TROLL?  In good humor, of course!

 

 We saw waterfalls and lighthouses and a great Blues Festival.  Best of all, our son in college!  

We live in a beautiful state! If you stop to check out somewhere new and explore a little, you just may find some fun surprises!

Stay tuned!