Dia de los Muertos 2012

I've been working on Dia de los Muertos scenes for the Rose Hills Celebration this October. I've got so many ideas, canvasas, shrines, shadowboxes, cards, etc.,etc. Just hope I can finish it all! Here are some pics, I'll be adding more as things are completed. Hope you like them.

 

 

 

 

Nature Speaks

This spring has been all about butterflies & bees, and the wisdom they have to impart.  This spring has also been about new techniques for laying down color on canvas.  These canvasas are mixed media with both acrylic paint and watercolor.  I love the bright colors of watercolor, but don't like the expensive "watercolor canvasas" they sell, so I improvised and here they are, watercolor on traditional acrylic canvas.  Hope you like them:

Let your Spirit Fly

See Miracles:

Be the Key

In Dreaming

Wishes do come True

Fear not and Be Free

Everything is a Miracle

I'll Fly Away

Yard Sailing

I go "Yard Sailing" every saturday, I've been going yard sailing for about 20 years now. I've learned alot through all those early saturday mornings.  Here's a few things I've found out:

1.  If you find something you want to think about or maybe like a little, pick it up and carry it around with you, if you decide you don't want it after all, you can always put it down.  It's the worst when you see someone pick it up and take it after you decide you did want it.  (rats!)

2.  The best yard sales are the ones with alot of different textures.  What do I mean?  Tables with Glass items, paper stuffs, plastics, etc.  If as you pass by and see a lot of different "colors" and   "textures" that's a good sign.  Also it's better if things are up on Tables and not on the floor.

3.  Signs - This may sound strange, but if the signs are pretty and well painted it's also a good "sign"  the yard sale will be interesting and good.  (torn pieces of cardboard with barley readable words usually portend a not-so-good sale)

4.  I always say, "Good Morning" to my yard sale host, they smile, I smile and it breaks the "stranger in my yard" tension. 

5.  When possible I say "thank you" when I leave too, even if I didn't buy anything.  Thank you for what?  Well, for getting up early, for dragging all your stuff out into the front yard at 5am, and for  going to the bank the day before and getting change for everyone.  I know I appreciate that alot!

6.  If you find something you're interested in,  I always ask the husband first, guys usually give you a better price, I don't know why.  (And no I do not Flirt with the husbands, I don't have it in me, I always feel like I'm a train wreck, so I'm not the flirty giggly kind of person)

7. Know where the bathrooms are in the neighborhood!  I know this isn't an issue for everyone, but  it is for me!  McDonalds are always nice and clean, so are Albertsons Supermarkets, you can go  to Targets and Wallmarts too.  (no gas stations though)

8  This tip is just a personal "dislike" of my own, but if I come up to a yard sale and it's just a giant    pile of clothes in the front yard, (no tables, no other textures, i.e. glass, paper, plastics) I don't stop.  I"m sorry, but the pile of clothes just reminds me of when I do the laundry, so I call these kind of sales Hamper Sales (sorry, but that's the truth and it's the first time I've ever told anyone)

So, happy "Yard Sailing" may you always find what inspires you and may you always have exact change!!

Latest Yard Sailing find:

 

Now is Good

I saw this rose in my garden, and she spoke to me. 
It's raining today and alot of people think that rainy days just aren't good, they prefer the sunny days.  But looking at this rose with the rain droplets on it made me realize that Now is good, whether rain or sun.  That our lives consist of only now and "Now is Good".

Star Shrines

I've been working on soldering new shrines. I've always liked the tin wall shrines from Mexico, so I decided to try making my own with copper foil sheets, tin, and jewels. The patina adds a nice distressed grunge look to them. Here are the first two I've completed, Frida large star shrine and The Buddha large star shrine. I've got a few more to make, hope you like them!

In Wonderland - Female Surrealists

My family and I went to LACMA this week and saw the wonderful "In Wonderland" art show.  All the artists works were by Female Surrealists of the 1930's through the 1960's.  I went primarily to see Frida's paintings in person.  I found such beautiful and profound paintings by women I had never heard of.  I quite literally fell in love with Remedios Varo's work.  Here are a few pics of my favorites.  I'm very inspired now and hopefully will follow my unconscious into creating surreal artwork as the next step in my artful journey.

Bridget Tichenor: "Lideres" 1967 (Leaders)

Remedios Varo: "Creacion de las Aves" 1958 (Creation of the Birds)

Dorr Bothwell: Hollywood Success 1940

Remedios Varo: "Mujer saliendo de psicoanalista" 1960 (woman departing psychoanalists office)

Kati Horna: "Historia de una muneca" 1960 (history of a doll)

Remedios Varo: "Papilla estelar" 1958 (stellar pablum)

Alice Rahon: Balada para Frida Kahlo (Balad for Frida Kahlo

You & I - a day of the dead vision altar

Just finished the Day of the Dead vision altar, titled You & I.  All hand painted, distressed, soldered, glued and sealed.  Hope you like this happy little couple.