The Other Side of Somewhere

Illustration Friday (Homage)

This is my homage to Sabrina Ward Harrison.  Not necessarily her artistic style (which would be hard to duplicate) but her spirit of expression and her willingness to put the good, bad, and imperfect bits out there and be vulnerable.   In a year in which I am living authentically I can think of no other artist who inspires me more.

I did try to capture a bit of her signature artistic elements (the loopy lettering, a hand drawn face) but copying isn't a good way of paying homage to an artist.  I hope I've done a not-too-cringe-inducing interpretation. 

I've shared this quote before, but it fits so beautifully today:

"I learn and re-learn that silence doesn't protect me. An unexpressed life is very painful to myself and those I love."  (Sabrina Ward Harrison)

Original drawing, pen and ink, fluid acrylic paint, pencil, colored pencil, acrylic glaze. 8" x 10" on hot press watercolor paper.

Previous Illustration Friday work:  Garden, Leap, Theory, Tales and Legends, Plain, Stitch, 100%, Soar, 2006 Retrospective

Pomegranate Smoothie and Peanut Butter Toast

When Mr. P is home, we sometimes go out to breakfast on a weekend.  His absence is good for my waistline, but not so much for my heart.

My solo Sunday breakfast: homemade Pomegranate Smoothie and peanut butter toast.

I've felt the need for quiet, lately.  Most of the activities I am doing (exercise, reading, emoting) are not interesting or blog-worthy.  I know there are people who blog spectacularly and movingly about these sorts of things, but I am not one of them. 

I am spending time reading other blogs, soaking up inspiration that will hopefully hold for me, until I feel up to being creative again.  Not only is blog reading good for the spirit, it can also lavish you with cash and prizes (ok, well not cash, but certainly prizes). 

First I had the good fortune of guessing a mystery photo on Susan's blog (it was "car wash") and I've STILL got that song on a continuous loop in my head!  If you are not familiar with this disco-era classic, you can read all about it here.  I would send you to itunes for a listen, but whoever edited the clips did not include any of the words.   

Susan, the magnet is so lovely and colorful - it definitely adds some brightness and whimsy to my grey office decor:

I also am delighted beyond reason to have named one of Stacey's sock dogs!  I so wish I made an art or craft that lent itself to making up little stories and personalities. 

Crafty

I made this log cabin pillow cover today!  The instructions can be found in one of my favorite crafty books from last year, The Crafter's Companion.

I am not much of a home decorator, but I was totally inspired by this headboard idea from Martha Stewart's Living magazine this month.  This is something I would very much like to do:

This "good thing" really jolted my latent interior designer.  I have a few more pillows planned and a trip to Ikea too.

Easter Sunday (2008)

I'm so happy that the weather is improving.  It feels so good - emotionally and creatively - to get outside!

#111

This is #111 in my year-long daily art project.  It is a Gocco print of one of my newest drawings.  I printed it in red ink on a recycled cereal box (the inside of the box).

I am disappointed to admit that it has been over a week since I made a daily ATC (artist trading card).  It kind of defeats the entire purpose of the project to miss days.  I considered throwing in the towel but I don't like giving up and I don't like indulging my "all or nothing" tendencies.  I'll just make up the days I missed. 

It's funny, I made it through Christmas and the craziness of the holiday season without Mr. P. just fine, but the show opening a couple of weeks ago really threw me off.  We usually go to the art openings together - it's not something I've ever done alone or with anybody else.  We usually go to these things, walk around and pick our favorites (and our least favorites, ahem) and try to predict who will win the big prizes. I felt his absence keenly.  Odd, I know, but It really knocked the wind out of me. 

Thankfully, all is well now.  In fact, if things go according to plan, Mr. P. will be back for a visit in May!  Yay!

I've been pretty busy the last couple of weeks, helping my good friends over at Shooting Star Gallery with their new web site and blog.  I know they'd love it if you'd stop by their new blog to say hello.  I'll be contributing to their blog as we go forward.  Too much fun!

I'm also happy to share that thanks to your support I was able to make a $240 donation to the USO's Operation Phone Home program which provides phone calling cards to American servicemen and women, allowing them to call their loved ones from wherever they may be in the world.  I can't stress enough how amazing it is to be able to call Mr. P. from thousands of miles away ... thanks to your purchases of my little ACEOs, we were able to do that for others.  How cool is that?   

I sold 12 of the cards at $12 each (shipping, etsy, and paypal fees were on me).  100% of your purchase went to the donation, which I then matched dollar for dollar.  For those who purchased ACEOs as part of this program, please email me if you would like a copy of my donation receipt.  For security reasons I do not wish to post it here. 

And with that, I think I'm officially caught up!

Weekend at the Museum

I spent the bigger part of my weekend at the Suffolk Museum.

Friday night was the opening reception for the 24th Annual Juried Photo Show.  I got such a kick in the pants seeing my little Blythe photo hanging on the wall:

Saturday, my friend Sandy taught a mixed media shrine class in the museum's classroom.  I was feeling tired so I acted as observer and document-er of the day's events:

 

Look at all the collective junk we had to work with!   And see some of the finished shrines:

Dana (left) and Debbie (right) show off their shrines:

All of the shrines were amazing, but Jill's "Purpose" shrine, was my most favorite:

Great class, Sandy, thanks!

Illustration Friday (Garden)

Gocco print from my original illustration using apple green pastel ink on 5" x 7" 140 lb. warm white watercolor paper.

Thanks to the gray rainy weather we are having today it was near impossible to get a good photograph of this print.  I took photos from many different angles, in different rooms in my house, using the tripod and not, fiddling with all the settings, ditching the camera and scanning ... after all of that, I just couldn't get a shot that does justice to how pretty (ahem, if I do say so myself) this run of prints turned out.

Previous Illustration Friday work:  Leap, Theory, Tales and Legends, Plain, Stitch, 100%, Soar, 2006 Retrospective

And the Gocco Prints Go To ...

Yay!  Gocco print pack recipients:

Christine

Lisa

Ragen

Jen

Andrea

If you see your name here and I don't already have it (Lisa and Christine) please drop me an email with your mailing address (boodzoo at gmail dot com).

Thanks everyone for playing!   I discovered some great new blogs through your comments!

Remember, if you Gocco, please let me know if you'd like to trade prints (or tags, or cards, or whatever you Gocco).

Make a Cake

A day does not feel complete to me unless I make something.   

A collage.

A blog post.

A photograph.

Or ...

 

a cake!

I get the same sense of accomplishment from baking a cake that I do when I make something artistic.  Making stuff (artistic or otherwise) is truly what makes me happy and gives me deep sense of satisfaction and purpose.

The recipe for this cake comes from the same book as this one.  It has a silly name (Philly Fluff Cake?) but who cares ... it is divine (there is a ribbon of melted bittersweet chocolate running through the middle of the whole thing).  I think I'll need to stand on the community corner during tomorrow's commute to pass out free slices.  I really shouldn't be alone in the house with this cake.

Looks like Mudgeon and I will definitely be doing Pilates tomorrow.

Photography Exhibit

One of my aspirations and intentions for this year, was to enter one of the juried shows at the Suffolk Museum.  I decided to enter two of my favorite Blythe photographs for consideration in their annual juried photography show.  I found out today that one of my photos was selected for the exhibit!  Eeee!  I'm so so so so so very excited!

The opening reception is this Friday, March 7th from 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Suffolk Museum (118  Bosley Avenue).  Come on out and support the artists and photographers from around Hampton Roads (not just Suffolk) whose images comprise this exhibit. 

During the run of this exhibit (through April 11th) the museum is collecting food and toys for dogs and cats to benefit and honor the Suffolk Humane Society's first anniversary.

Hope to see you there!