A Long Time Coming

The focal point of this assemblage, the collage, has been in the process of being "done" for well over 6 months now. I reworked it several times before feeling somewhat satisfied, but even in this state felt it wasn't quite done and it languished on the work table (among a few dozen other collage works in similar states of undoneness).

I really don't remember why I entered the studio yesterday or how I came to be sawing these pieces of wood. It was one of those "Aha!" moments as I stood in front of my display of finished pieces, some already framed with reclaimed wood. My eyes fell on this collage and suddenly I could see it in my mind and there was this force that could not be contained. I worked in a frenzied adrenaline state until it was finished. All thought of my "to do" list out the window.

It was finished in less then an hour. But it had been a long time coming.

In the satisfaction of seeing it completed, I reflected on the many stages I've seen it in. Honestly, at one point I threw it into my redo pile to scrape clean at a later date. It didn't seem possible to salvage and better to accept that I needed to let it go.

Many times it takes coming to this point of surrender, letting go of control, to see something you've worked for and wanted for so long come together. Change can't be forced. Sometimes the harder you try to "make" something happen the more elusive or impossible it becomes. To admit that you are powerless over another person, a relationship, even your own character flaws can seem like giving up, but it gives change the freedom to do what it needs to do, unhindered by our finite vision and limited views.

A seed languishes under the soil. It seems dead. There is no outward sign of the change that is taking place. And suddenly a flower bursts forth, overnight. But it has been a long time coming.


There have been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
but now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come. ~ Sam Cooke

Voices of the Sky

"Our sky is never the same – from day to day or even hour to hour. It holds the brightest and darkest things we will ever see, and in addition is capable of displaying every imaginable color and mood."~ Samuel Hazo

What if I....

There is so much inspiration online it is amazing that I get anything else done at times, other then look and drool. One blog I like to visit on a regular basis is Mary Buek's. Each post begins with the question "What if I". Recently she posted one title "What if I...Had No Time"

Time has been short for me recently, as explained in my previous post. This week finds me in the midst of (should be) studying for mid-terms. On top of which I've been exploring a new (to me) technique and my head is exploding with ideas. Tough to concentrate on studying when I keep walking past my work table and stopping to fuss and play with these new materials.
In the next week I'll try to post a few pictures of my recent collage work whether I have time to write or not. There are times, I've come to believe, the quieter the artist is the stronger the work speaks.

Blame It On Art

I've been away from the blog for some time, but not away from Art. I've started back to school again this semester but this time I've decided on a goal. I finally know what I want to be when I grow up and am taking my first academic steps toward that goal. I say my first academic steps because it isn't just about training for a career. Its more like acknowledging who I already am.

Art Therapist. Using art as a tool to aid in healing is something I've been doing since I was a little girl. The times I felt I was most comfortable being me was when I was creating. Art gave me a voice. A way to express myself. A way to release whatever energy I was storing inside.



I left it for a while, dabbling in crafts and being creative was always somewhere in my life, but the dream of being an artist had nearly been forgotten. But Art would not let me forget it forever. Because Art wasn't just a dream of the fairy tale kind. Art was my insides pressing and spilling out onto a canvas and speaking words I didn't have any other language to speak. And it was about learning to listen and to trust those words. And it was about healing.


It is exciting to hear myself say it. Art Therapist. I know that I have a long way to go before it is really a title I can use. Starting with just a handful of college credits and working toward a Masters in my mid-40s requires some juggling. Ratio of time on work versus proportion of creative needs being met, balanced with school and homework and then factor in the e-mails, posts, and social networking. It is a little overwhelming as I get the hang of it.

I might drop the ball a time or two while I learn my way around. So if you notice that my posts are a little more sporadic and you don't see me update my status as frequently as I used to or I'm slow responding to your kind comments. Please don't blame it on me. Blame it on Art.

Announcing Portland 2010 Classes

The Art & Soul Portland 2010 schedule was just published and I am pleased to announce that I will be teaching 3 classes this year. Registration goes live on March 1st and classes fill up fast so be sure to bookmark your favorites.

Wednesday night, Oct. 6, I'll be teaching a collage class. You can catch the Artist to Artist Interview by Lesley Riley in the current (Jan/Feb 2010) copy of Cloth Paper Scissors featuring my collage work to see more and read about my passion for combining collage and encaustic wax.

You can see a portion of the interview at this link.
P309 - Encaustic Collage in the Evening
6:30 - 9:30
Wed Eve

This class will help the student to break free of the fears or stumbling blocks that are frequently encountered when facing a blank canvas or trying a new technique. There will be some discussion about working intuitively, trusting the creative voice within, and following that voice to a satisfying finished work of art. The students will create a collage on canvas board and then enhance and protect the collage with encaustic wax medium. Discussion will include how to choose the right adhesive for the job, the use of encaustics versus regular beeswax as a finish layer, adding color, and displaying the finished work. The students should leave the workshop with at least one completed work of art and the knowledge to apply these techniques to other projects.

Use of materials supplied by me will include encaustic wax, paintbrush, heat gun, iron, etc.

Supply List:

Ampersand or generic brand gesso art board (bring several small sized boards)
acrylic gel medium, paste, or students preferred adhesive
variety of papers and thin cloth to create collage

Optional Items:

rubber gloves
oil pastels
oil paint
charcoal pencil or colored pencils
lightweight found objects


You'll find a feature on my Wax & Wire line in the Winter 2010 Issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry. Intrigued? Learn how to create your own pendants on Weds. Oct. 6th and pick up all the tips and tricks.

P308 - Encaustic Adornment
9:00 - 4:30
Wednesday - Oct 6

This workshop features a unique marriage of materials and techniques not traditionally used together to create a wearable art sculpture that tells a personal story. Each student will gather ephemera and paper or thin cloth mementos in advance of the workshop that will speak of the story the artist carries within. There will be some class discussion of how we can tune in to those stories we all carry in our hearts and how to release them in our art in a way that draws interest from the viewer.
The students will create the foundation and pin back of the brooch from steel wire. Techniques in wire shaping, texturing, soldering, and creating pin backs from wire will be learned. The papers used are preserved with encaustic wax. The students will then learn how to bond the two elements for their completed brooch. If time permits we will create necklace pendants or other pieces of jewelry as well. The students should leave the workshop with at least one completed work of art and the knowledge to apply these techniques to other projects.

$10 Materials fee payable to the instructor include: encaustic wax, solder, flux, small butane torches, butane, steel pins, soldering pick, sandpaper, and steel wool.

Supply List:
16 or 18 gauge steel wire
sturdy round nose & standard pliers
wire cutter
metal file
hammer
steel block or anvil
hand towel or metalsmith sandbag
soldering pad (need to be able to push steel pins into it)
dremel with grinding wheel
bits of meaningful or personal ephemera (does not need to be large – but consider color and texture as design elements when choosing)
small disposable paintbrush
long tweezers
small crafters quilting iron
glass or bone burnishing tool or old credit card/gift card.

Optional supplies:
rubber gloves
finger rubbers (to protect fingers while sanding the pin back)
oil pastels
oil paint
charcoal pencil or colored pencils.

You may recognize this piece from the Cloth Paper Scissors article. I had so much fun teaching this class in Portland last year I'll be doing it again in 2010!


P390 - Front & Center 3D Collage w/Story
9 - 4:30
Tuesday - Oct 5, 2010

Oftentimes the only barrier between you and becoming the artist you were meant to be is learning to trust your inner voice. In this class we will learn to listen to the artist inside to quickly create a background for this 3D collage. Once the background is complete, we will move on to learn how to use a jewelers saw to sandwich our main image between two pieces of acrylic and attach it to the collage with a telescoping rivet technique. Each student will create a highly personal work of art as we learn to hear the story that plays inside as we create. We will discuss how the skills learned for the finished piece can be translated into a multitude of other applications in collage, assemblage, and jewelry making.
$10 Materials fee payable to the instructor include: micro-screws and hex-nuts, small beads, drill bit, brass tubes, and selection from instructors ephemera.

Supplies Needed for Class:
-5” x 7” or larger Cradled Artist Panel by Ampersand with 3/4" profile (can also use the 2" profile if preferred)
-A variety of papers, music and text pages for collage
-Collage glue, acrylic medium, decoupage or white glue
-Focal Image to be used for the main image – this can be a vintage image, printed copy or original, a photograph or print – at least 1/3 the size of the canvas
-Scissors
-.60mil or .80mil Acrylic w/ premask attached (this can be found at window replacement centers in outlets such as Lowe's or Ace Hardware) – 2 times as large as your main image
-roll of blue painters tape or other EZ peel tape
-jewelers saw and plenty of sized 1/0 or 2/0 blades -
-bench pin
-Oval Sanding disk - 3M makes a good resin covered one that works really well with acrylic, otherwise just a plain sanding pad or disk is fine.
-Various grades from medium to fine sandpaper, fingernail files, jewelers files
-Dremel &1/16” drill bits (if you can't bring one along, one will be available for class use)
-Fine or medium tipped Sharpie marker

Optional items:
-Acrylic paints
-found objects
-small flat round/disk shaped beads or washers with a wide hole (should accommodate a 1/16” sized screw or wire)

I am really looking forward to the retreat ~ but October seems so far away. Be sure to keep checking back for updates to my schedule as I hope to be adding some local (Far Northern Chicago Suburbs) dates to my teaching schedule soon. And if you are planning to attend Art & Soul Vegas in February be sure to come by my booth on Vendor night, Saturday Feb. 20th at Bally's Ballroom, and pick up some of my art & objects and view the class samples first hand!