Monday, August 23, 2010

My Creative Discovery Voyage



It looks like it’s been about 2 weeks since my last post, so I can’t feel TOO guilty about overwhelming the inboxes of my friends with pleas to read my most recent post. I know some folks post almost daily, but I can neither get comfortable with nor manage it. However, inspiration struck yesterday, after discovering a magazine called “Artful Blogging.” These days, it seems like I can find artistic inspiration most anywhere, but it usually directs me to get out paint, papers, glue, scissors and photos.

Recently, driving in the city of Escondido, I caught a glimpse of this funky old gift shop, which is housed in an old metal building. All the buildings around it are fairly new, so the gift shop seemed to stand out, especially (to me) because it was COVERED in morning glories. I made a point of heading over there early the next morning, when the light was better…something about morning glories just makes me smile.


“Picnic in the Valley of Flaming Geraniums is a little (5” x 7”) mixed-media piece I finished recently. I started with a gel transfer of a photo of geraniums from my yard, then layered with acrylic paint and art papers. Up until the addition of the bright yellow and orange papers I felt lost as to where I wanted the piece to go…the colors were putting me to sleep. The colorful addition of the papers gave me my 2nd “YES, YES!” creative moment, and also blessed me with the title, which somehow made me giggle. Of course, what is a picnic without ants? They were added with my Staedtler pigment liner pens.

This last piece was one of the quickest projects I’ve done. I’d been sitting on the background for some time, a result of my having decided to try and use up paint from one project by starting a new background. When I received an invitation to a house-warming party for a friend, I pulled the background, and added a “house” created from classified ads for real estate. After adding the recycled magazine pages (along the bottom and the clouds in the sky), I stippled more sky to calm that screaming yellow, added a photo from my friend's wedding, and used the Staedler pen to draw in the tree. I’m not sure it really goes with my friends decorating, but I had fun making it! (I've posted a small image, since she's kind of a private person.)

I’m enjoying sharing this Creative Discovery Voyage with friends who I’ve known for a while, as well as those who I’ve met more recently through these mediums. For all, I’d like to share links to other artists (no matter the medium) who inspire me.
Lisa Bebi is an artist-friend-of-a-friend. I first “met” her on Facebook, through her art, and am pleased to I know the possibility exists to actually meet her F2F, since she does live here in San Diego County.

Some day, (when I’m back in the working world and not paying COBRA rates for health insurance!) I’d love to take one of Lisa’s workshops…I’m most interested in her “Paintover” workshops, in which she has her students use magazine photos, personal photos and paint. Sounds simple, but I find her work whimsically inspiring. Maybe Lisa can help me cross off one of the items on my mental Creative-To-Do list. "Entering an Art Challenge" spooks me a bit, but the incentive to win a piece of Lisa’s art might help me overcome that fear!

Check out Lisa Bebi's page!

On a personal note, I’ve got a PET scan coming up on September 1st, and expect to get the results the following Tuesday. That means that I’ll “get back to business” in an upcoming blog, and get all my friends updated as to the status of my treatment. Until then, go out and make your own beauty!

7 comments:

  1. You are beauty personified Linda! I also am in love with morning glories...a flower that truly fits it's name. I love reading your blog and seeing your art. Keep them coming! Holding healing thoughts in my heart for the PET scan!

    Love,
    Mary Jo

    Lo

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  2. And YOU, Mary Jo, are a dear and sweetly supportive friend!

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  3. Linda- have been following your journey. Being computer challenged, it has taken me this long to figure out how to sign up. After several failed efforts, I quit trying. But just had to try again-so glad I did Don't know if you remember us. My husband, Buster, and I are long time friends (and x neighbors) of Sandy P. . We were at her sing-fest birthday party, and we all did the singing bowls together, and , of course, we shared the wedding day with S and G. --You are an artist every which way- as a musician/singer, writer, and now with colors. You amaze me! I pray for good news w/ the PET. Look forward to so much more from you.

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  4. Such lovely and thought provoking pieces, Linda. I'd love to see them in real life!
    Love you, dear,
    Lori

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  5. Oh, yes, Sunny...I CERTAINLY remember both you and Buster! You are an artist...I remember seeing some of your works around the time I first met you...when I was performing in Ramona. Are you still painting? Might you share some of your work here?

    We actually didn't make it to S&G's wedding, as it was on a Friday, and we got married within a week of their wedding.

    Thank you for your kinds words...and I hope to see you face to face soon!

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  6. Hi Linda,

    Thank you for visiting my blog. :)
    I love the little ants in your picnic painting!

    ~ Karen

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  7. I like the idea of finding beauty in everything. That's my motto for blogging too. Well, except you change "beauty" with "meaning".

    I'm also inspired by your positivity. I wish you the best.

    http://ficklecattle.blogspot.com/

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