black & white

Some pictures from the 4260 Black and White Photographers Guild exhibit.





http://www.4260photo.com

group diversity

This weekend I attended a party called "Woman of Passion". Jenny Doh (from Stampington & Co.) brought together a group of artists and friends to celebrate her 40th birthday. There was good company, good food and many toasts that made this night a memorable occasion.


The days are a blur as we prepare for our big debut exhibit of the 4260 Black and White Photographers Guild. The opening will be at A Studio Gallery on February 11. The website I've created is not finished yet, but I am determined to have it up and running by the 11th. The Guild is comprised of a group of photographers that love black and white photography. It is amazing to see the magnificent photographs that these artists produce and work from the 22 Founding and Charter member photographers will be on display. It never ceases to amaze me how diverse photography can be. It's going to be an exciting evening and it will be here before we know it. If you are in the area, drop by for a visit. Open House is 5-7 on Sunday February 11th. Go to this link to read more about our brand new Guild for black and white photography. http://valleynews.com/StudioCity/Events/Art-Events/Event~179027.aspx

cha cha cha

We stole away from our hubbys on Sunday morning and spent the day at the beach to get rested up for our CHA experience. Thanks to the crisp weather and the cottage by the sea (thanks M+P), Carol (CW Slade)and I were able to unwind. Carol is getting ready for her next exhibit...and I have been trying to outrun the deadlines on the new book "Mixed Emulsions." Just having that day off felt like we were on a real vacation...like we had been away for a week. Talk about recharging your batteries.

The next morning it was up early and off to Anaheim. It reminded me of my Rubber Boots days. For 23 years I attended the LA Gift show twice a year to try and find new and extraordinary items to stock the shelves. CW was having a blast playing with Golden Paints newest products...(Carol is an amazing artist...and always has been...I've known Carol (CW) since we were 15 and art has always been her life...check out her site http://www.cwslade.com


Lovely Claudine Hellmuth and special Bernie Berlin dropped by the Stampington booth where I was signing my artist papers. I made some of the trading cards that are in Bernie's new book "Artist Trading Card Workshop:Create, Collect, Swap." Bernie does the most work with dogs and cats. It is definetly a calling for her, and the animals are fortunate to have such an advocate.
http://www.collageartist.com
http://aplacetobark.blogspot.com

I've always loved Michael deMeng's art. He has a brand new book about to hit the shelves and I can't wait to see it.
Secrets of Rusty Things: Transforming Found Objects into Art"
http://www.michaeldemeng.blogspot.com


Sandra Evertson came by the Stampington booth and introduced herself. It was great to meet her too.
http://www.parisfleamarketdesigns.com.

It was wonderful to meet my editor Mary Ann and all the good folks at Quarry.
Everyone at Rockport / Quarry Publishing said they are very excited about Sarah and my new book "In This House" and so are we. That will be available in July 2007.
You can pre-order it by clicking on the Amazon link at the side of my blog page here if you so desire.

Sarah Fishburn's Blog http://ragtagsf.blogspot.com

I also stopped in and spoke to the folks at Ranger and met that group of nice people. And the booth at Stampington & Co was humming. All in all it was a fun packed day and an exhausting adventure.

I see the links are not working on this blog I'm posting, so I've written them in. Blogger has been acting goofy lately. They have a new system and they are trying to get everyone to convert over. I just have not had the time to do it yet...in case there are glitches when I do I need to allot some time to be able to fix them. But everything is not working correctly on the old Blogger system anymore.
I will be doing the conversion to their new updated version soon...Wish me luck...I hope I don't lose everything.
Oh my gosh look at the time...gotta go!

linked to empty bowls

I received this information about the Collaborative "Linked By Art" Charm Necklace that appeared in "Belle Amoire" Magazine in the September/October issue. I thought I would pass it on as I know some of you were interested in bidding on it.

Linked-by-Art Charm Necklace Update! We finally found a loving organization for our necklace. (due to legal/privacy issues with the battered women's shelter, we were unable to do an on-line auction) Instead, we have donated the necklace to the Empty Bowls Fine Art Auction for the Larimer County Foodbank! They picked up the necklace and the corresponding article in Belle Amoire yesterday.
The date for their auction is February 27th, 2007 at 5:30 pm. The auction will be held at The Hilton here in Ft Collins, Colorado. I know a few of you were interested in bidding on this divine creation...if you are still interested, you may contact Jill Lysengen at the Larimer County Food Bank, phone #970-530-3113. She will be able to take your bid over the phone PRIOR to the 27th. If you are interested, PLEASE contact her BEFORE the 27th.

inspired by...

My Enchantresses are appearing in an article in the Spring issue of Art Doll Quarterly Magazine. I used my artist papers as backdrops and so enjoyed putting these little ladies together.





There is an article about the Theatre de la Mode doll sized mannequins in this issue. The original garments, hand sewn, hand beaded and hand embellished garments were inspired by the top designers of Parisian haute couture houses in the late 1930's and early 40's.





I can just imagine the detail and beauty the original mannequins wardrobe must have. I hope I can make the exhibit up in Maryhill Museuum in Washington sometime to see them in person. I still have some of my original Barbie doll clothes and I love the details that went into those original clothes. Real silks and cottons, authentic tiny pearl buttons and the tiniest zippers. Their hair is a little on the dry side after all these years, but the workmanship in their wardrobe is still apparent.

chill zone

It's been chilly here. I love it. I love putting on socks and sweaters. I like the brisk smell of the air and the energy it gives me. The days have been clear..and I have been busy. I have some bulbs on my windowsill...they are just about to bloom. Every day a little more open...everyday searching for the sun.

The end of January is almost here. That is when I will be attending the CHA Crafts and Hobby Show in Anaheim. I have several places to be...meeting in person my editor Mary Ann of In This House-A Collection of Altered Art Imagery and Collage Techniques and my second book Mixed Emulsions-Altered Art techniques for Photographic Imagery and the rest of the crew at the Rockport/Quarry Publishing booth. I'm looking forward to that. I'm also greeting the good folks at Ranger Inks and talking. Then I will be at the Stampington and Company booth #3984 11:30 on Monday morning to sign my AC Artist Papers and meet and greet...I'm looking forward to seeing all that is new out there and digging the demos...Come on by to say hi if you find yourself there. You may see a few of my Enchantresses...inspired by Theatre de La Mode dolls.

I'm very excited that it is almost Monday again so I can have my '24' adreneline rush as Jack faces his 5th hour of the day. It may be too violent for the weak of heart...a bit gross for others (what won't Jack do to escape...yuk) but I love good TV...I love good movies...and even a slip up of no blood on Jacks shirt after his encounter with the ice pick, I can excuse...cause the show is so well done. The man is super human...and the suspension of disbelief is evident. So Mondays I may have to have a glass of wine...or two, before watching Prison Break, 24, and then Heroes via Tivo...

Well I must get back to work now. I'm trying to wind up the writing on "Mixed Emulsions"...so I'm off to alter something artful. Enjoy your Sunday and the week ahead.

the day has arrived....

This is a picture of my Christmas dishware...I lost a bowl this year...I can't believe it is the middle of January already. Time is flying by.

Yesterday the four gals from "The Sound of Music" got together for an autograph show. As always, it's fun to reunite. The show was slow though and I left after a couple of hours. I have a deadline on this new book looming, and had so much to do. It was fun to see the gals again though.

Well after a long wait of 8 months, the day has arrived. I am looking forward to watching "24" tonight. But now I must get back to work. I have not had much time to post any new art, as what I am creating now is for the new book. But here are a few shots from an altered book swap I did on 'stars'...the celestrial kind...using Black Lava texture gel. Cool stuff.

272 hours and counting...

Can't wait till January 14 and 15th...that's when Jack Bauer starts his next sleepless day. I cannot wait...
We received the '24' DVD boardgame for Christmas and 5 of us tried to play it. We are definetly NOT secret agents...we could not figure out how to manually reset the computer at CTU for the clue to destroy the submarine...we got told off many times by Jack that we were wasting time...we were all devastated. We have decided to let Jack save the world, as we were all hopeless secret agents.
Thank heavens there are Jacks in the world to save our planet from destruction...it allows us to remain artists and do our job of contributing in our way. Wish we could save the world with art...but what can you do...only the best we can I guess.

i wish...

Several years ago a friend of mine gave our family a 'wish box'...and a new tradition was born. At the end of the year my family gets together and we pull out the box which holds the wishes we dreamed of the year before. Then we lament, and dream of what we want to wish for in the new year ahead. We write it down, date it and place it in the silver box, not to be looked upon until that year comes to a close. It is truly amazing how many of these wishes come true.

I hope you make some wishes to be fulfilled in 2007...write them down and put them somewhere special. Wishes and dreams can't come true unless you are very clear about them.
May all your wishes come true...
Happy New Year!

i'm dreaming of a white christmas...

Doesn't look like that is going to happen here in LA...but the turkey is cookin', the plum pudding is baking, the carols are playing, family is gathered with antiscipation for our feast...and present opening...
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all...

it's beginning to look alot like christmas...

Well the packages are sent, the garland is up, the tree is decorated,the carols are playing, the holiday cards are hanging...I love the smell of Christmas...the wood in the fireplace, the smell of pine and fresh crisp air. The lights up around the house inside and out is one of my favcrite things. We are not buried in snow, (like some people I know), but the feeling of the holidays is hanging in the air just the same.

A mosiac of 2006...(No Becca is not a Playboy Bunny, but worked as a story editor on "Girls Next Door")I love putting these mosaics together every year to capture the memories and moments of the year.

Well, there are presents to wrap...and more chapters for my book to write...I do not see a break ahead till my parents arrive...with bells on, ready for Christmas Day!
I hope you are all enjoying the season, refusing to get stressed out and just spreading good cheer.
Now where did Coco go...?

tree decorations

Peyton and Coco lounge while we decorate the Christmas tree

being crafty

Whew what a week...

I got an email from Alison Lee at CraftCast who told me the interview we did a couple of weeks ago is up and running on her site.
Give it a listen when you get a chance.


Bernie Berlin's new book "Artist Tading Card Workshop . create, collect, swap" just arrived in the mail today. It was great to see the pieces I had made for the book sitting there in living color. This is a great book to purchase if you like ATC's or just some cool art. There are also some great techniques included that are sure to inspire you.





It's been a busy week. Sprinkled along with making art and writing my book, using my left brain then my right brain, I've had a break here and there, though not nearly enough of them.
Our annual Mah Jongg Christmas with the gals was a day at Mare's lovely beach cottage.I could have used a week there it was so beautiful on the island.


Today I did an interview with Bill Mumy for a documentary project called "In Search of Black and White." They asked us questions about what it was like to be in television in those early years when TV was black and white. It was good to see my ole friend Bill once again, who brought along his lovely daughter Liliana...now in 7th grade...how did that happen?

I was saddened to hear about the passing of Peter Boyle. He played my father in "Beyond the Poseidon Adventure." He had a pretty gruff and tuff exterior...and I can't really say I warmed up to him. He was a very professional actor who made lots of people laugh on 'Everybody Loves Raymond.".

So,I'm taking each day as it comes, trying to enjoy all the Christmasy things...though my house is in limbo between kinda decorated but not yet done zone.
I try to put up a decoration every time I pass by the living room...
Can't wait to get our tree...maybe tomorrow I can steal myself away to pick one up. I always love how it fills the house with the yuletide smells of the season. There is no chance of snow in LA...It was 80 today I think.

on giving...

One thing that is important to me is making time. Even when I feel I have no time to give,I remind myself...life is short, make the time, and somehow...it all works out. The beginning of this week I made time to be with my friends... I sorely needed the break, and I have returned more focused and able to get on with the multitude of things I need to get done by the end of this month. Life is short...and there is no better tonic than a healthy dose of laughter and fun! So off I went with three of my friends to get in the holiday spirit...see the lights of the holidays, play a few games, laugh, talk, eat, partake of holiday cheer and be merry. It was refreshing. I took this picture of Christy, Karen and Simone with a self timer from the roof of a car just before we left Balboa Island after a couple of days of fun. We have been friends for almost 25 years...some friendships are golden.
We look a bit tired, but invigorated.

The art of giving is tricky business...The most joy comes when you find that perfect item you know the receiver will love...there should be no dollar value on gifts that we give...instead gifts should come from the heart.

some pearls of wisdom...
The flow of life is nothing other than the harmonious interaction of all the elements and forces that structure the field of existence. This harmonious interaction of elements and forces in your life operates as the Law of Giving. Because your body and your mind and the universe are in constant and dynamic exchange, stopping the circulation of energy is like stopping the flow of blood. Whenever blood stops flowing it begins to clot, to coagulate, to stagnate. That is why you must give and receive in order to keep wealth and affluence-or anything you want in your life-
circulating in your life.
The more you give, the more you will receive, because you will keep the abundance of the universe circulating in your life. In fact, anything that is of value in life only multiplies when it is given. That which doesn't multiply through giving is neither worth giving nor worth receiving. If, through the act of giving, you feel you have lost something, then the gift is not truly given and will not cause increase. If you give grudgingly, there is no energy behind that giving. It is the intention behind your giving and receiving that is the most important thing.
Practicing this concept is actually very simple: if you want joy, give joy to others; if you want love, learn to give love; if you want attention and appreciation, learn to give attention and appreciation; if you want material affluence, help others to become materially affluent. Even the thought of giving, the thought of blessing, or a simple prayer has the power to affect others.
Deepak Chopra

I hope you are taking the time to enjoy the season...

the story of the day:

Plumber
The plumber was digging around in the pipes & he saw something shine in the muck & it turned out to be the soul of the last tenant. He gave it to me & I said I wonder how we can return it & he shrugged & said he found stuff like that all the time. You'd be amazed what people lose, he said.
Brian Andreas

lomo heaven 2007

Things have been wildly busy. We had our annual Lomography Exhibit "Lomo Heaven 2007" on Sunday, November 26. It always amazes me what can be done with a toy camera. This Lomography exhibit has shots taken with fisheye lenses, double exposures, sepia, a Clack camera and even Spy cameras. There were 61 photos framed 16x20 by a variety of artists. Each framed photograph sells for $100.00. It's a great gift right before the holidays. The show will go through February 2007. If you live in the area, and love lomography, drop on by the gallery.
A Studio Gallery 4260 Lankershim Blvd. Studio City, California 91602.
We often have exhibits where photographers from out of town can participate, this is one of them. The Large Show of small images" is another one. It will be coming up in July of 2007. You can find out more information on the website http://www.astudiogallery.com
"Bakery" is one of the photos I took at the old Farmers Market in Hollywood with my fisheye lens and Holga camera.

"Nuthouse" was taken as a double exposure.

"Loteria"

"Perspective" and the rest of them I hand colored with markers.

I got my first taste of Holiday shopping this afternoon. Christmas music, crowds and bags...Gotta run...so much to do.

Coco Celini hangs out with the little people.