polishing your art...

I can't believe how fast the Holidays are approaching. This is the busiest time of the year for me and after Thanksgiving...wham...it's Christmas!

I have a new project underway that I was just given the green light for and I couldn't be happier. I will be buckling down in the new year to make this project which I have been envisioning for the past year, come to life. It's exciting, it's energizing, it's crazy...I'm on a quest...a new adventure.. and I will tell you all about it as soon as I can spread the word.
In the meantime, I appeared in the Winter edition of Somerset Studios Gallery where they published another article of mine on Polishing Your Art. Fun tricks to try with all that left over polish we all have hanging around. Talk about re-purposing...I'll be selling these 6x6 pieces along with a few others that appeared in the May/June issue of Somerset Studios magazine in my Etsy store soon... Those pieces can be seen on this blog here...now I just need to find time to post them. 

 So I will leave you with this while I gather the bells and boughs and lights and decorations...and I'll be back soon...

BTW...my 2013 calendar is now available here... some new images from my conceal/reveal exhibit appear on journals and jewelry etc....

giving thanks...

I hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving...

stART right now...

 Whenever an exhibit looms on the horizon there is a deadline...this time...I opened the portal and let it all spill out...I didn't worry about what I could conceal but what I could reveal instead...

This corner that I have just turned in my art...with my hand carved stamps and multiple layers, has it's ups and downs...in fact, to be honest about it...a few times I felt my heart was being ripped out of my body...but that's ok...I know it's true... I let my soul do the talking and now I have let it go...Here are a few snippets from the pieces I made for the "Conceal & Reveal" exhibit which is opening tomorrow night at "The Frame Gallery" in Agoura, California.

  

 

 The exhibit will run till January 6th 2013 at the gallery and I am sharing the space with my art pal Connie Freedman who finally is showing some of her pieces. For those of you who cannot make our little wine and cheese soiree tomorrow night...I hope to have my new pieces on my website in the next couple of days so you can see them.  

help...they need somebody...

Artist comrade Seth Apter created a charity auction for hurricane Sandy relief. Every bit helps... Check out bundle #9 where I'm donating a piece of my art, my book "In This Garden" and an issue of Pasticcio Quartz... plus other artists have donated to this bundle. CLICK HERE for the info on how you can bid and help. Thanks Seth...you rock...

haunting the streets of burbank...

I found myself in one of my favorite haunts yesterday with my friend Connie...Over on West Magnolia Blvd in Burbank where a huge transition is taking place... New shops and cool stops popping up all down the street. First place we visited was Mindfulnest...3319 West Magnolia. a contemporary artisan gallery where they had the coolest little masks that were hard to resist.  They also make the most scrumptious lotions and oils at the Klean Spa all mixed and made in the back room ...Coffee lotion...hmmm... the whole place was very inspiring.

Then we headed down the street to the Best of Times . 3401 West Magnolia. which is jam packed by proprietor Laree with antiques old-n-new. Connie was on the search of remnants for her handmade jewelry...and she found some real treasures here. 

Leaving the antique store we made one last stop down the street at the brand new Romancing the Bean. 3413 w. Magnolia Blvd

A stellar coffee haunt with the most delicious Cafe Mocha I have had in a long time.  Note to self: Must eat here... those salads and quiche looked delicious...not to mention that fresh coconut cake. The decor is awesome... Love that huge menu...It was a very good day...with coffee and our goodies we headed home....

he arrived in a gift box...

Sometimes...you just have to let your heart lead the way... case in point...Leo Tuxedo...a rescue kitty with a calm and loving personality...My son Jesse had hinted when this litter was born...and as the date grew nearer that they were headed to the pound,  I couldn't resist... Surprise Jesse! 

 Pets bring so much joy...they are so healing in ways one can't imagine, and they make one's life so much fuller just by having them love you unconditionally. So meet my newest grand child...Leo Tuxedo...

Yesterday I gave him an art class he seemed to enjoy...

I can't wait for more play dates with Leo...

unexpected places...

I'm getting ready for an art exhibit in November... It's called conceal & reveal...a joint show with my art comrade Connie Freedman...

I feel on the precipice of a cliff about to jump... maybe instead of jumping it's more like I'm about to bungee jump...there is a ton of art ready to spill out and I just need the time... I think I will be locking myself in my studio for the next few weeks...completing, painting, analyzing and delivering what's in my brain...

Sometimes you find 'art' stuff in the most unexpected places..I love when that happens. You see, I made an appearance with my Sound of Music buddies a couple of weeks ago... Kym Karath, Charmian Carr and I joined Debbie Turner  with an appearance at this cool event called the Taste of Arcadia.. It was a huge collection of vittles from all different food places in Arcadia... and it was tasty...

 but the thing that caught my eye was the plate you received when you arrived. It had a nifty thumb holder and a handy cup holder that could hold paint or gesso....Another cool thing is the plastic coating which makes it a breeze to clean up... I was very excited to bring it home and start using it... that's crazy right? But I love it... and I have never found a palette I liked as much...so much can be found in unexpected places... 

Here it is...Pasticcio 14

I remember my Mother telling me... 'Patience is a virtue' ... and 'all good things come to those who sit and wait' ... Well patience is something that is hard to find these days, with instant gratification expected at every turn.  Despite Sarah and my crazy schedules this summer, the surprises, the challenges, the celebrations, and the twists and turns we have both been through these last couple of months... this issue of "Pasticcio Quartz' was a while in coming... but here it is... spanking new and we are so very excited about it. Blood sweat and tears?  Yeah...issue 14 has all that and more...

Pasticcio Quartz 14 rocks the tried and true, with book reviews, entertaining quotes, window shopping, and of course just a dash of art history to show you where it all began. Yet it's also New and Improved! Not a single one of the artists in Palais d'art has ever graced the pages of Pasticcio before. Discover new gems in our museum style gallery! Seth Apter, Lisa Hoffman, Reva Solomon, Jill Berry, Bridget Davies, September Gerety, Donald Hendricks each contributed art and articles galore! Looking for a sign? We'll even get your dormant sign-making knack in gear!

Hope you will come on over to our Pasticcio Quartz page and check Issue 14 out...

playing favorites...

So pleased to be playing favorites with Seth...

http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/2012/09/playing-favorites-chapter-4.html

a personal geography...

Here's a piece that came together so easily... it actually took on a life of it's own...

inspired by the book "Personal Geographies" by Jill Berry...I call it Jubilee...

14 x 14 x 1 wood box - spray painted with stencils

the beginnings of the many layers that made up the finished product

I hand cut my own stamps. The window and door are stamped on hand wipes which I find adds an interesting texture.

layer by layer

bit by bit...

my story unfolds...

here, there and everywhere...

The finished product is a combination of elements...symbolizing my varied and full life.
here it is...said and done...

The only thing that makes one an artist is making art. And that requires the precise opposite of hanging out;
a deeply lonely and unglamorous task of tolerating oneself long enough to push something out.

David Rakoff

a little something...

We celebrated my daughter Becca's birthday a few days late as she was on vacation in Costa Rica for her actual birthday. I handmade and designed this little silver booklet for her and filled it with some good memories and wishes for the future.  I was pleased to find this antique cache box which that was the perfect size for her gift.

Hand molded and stamped 99% silver booklet, connected by linen thread, an antique chain, collaged pages and a Tibetan bell.

  

After popping on the restaurants' birthday sombrero, Becca is serenaded by all of us and another year begins...Happy Birthday Becca...