Painting Bliss

With Little Snippets

 

 

Fingering through the pages of an old book, long forgotten and placed on the used book store shelves, it is my intent to bring home these words and transform them into my own. I sit, I snip, I place and rearrange... until the words flow into reflections of my insides turned out.

Poetry flows through my mind and out through my fingers. When I am satisfied I glue them into their final resting place, a natural toned brown journal.

As I sit with my books, I graze my eyes over the the pages looking for phrases, sentences, and single words that stick out only to me. It is my mind, my soul, and my heart that sees the words that are meant for me. I am fascinated with the thought that given the same pages, and someone else, that a whole 'nother set of words and phrases would evolve.

The words are waiting like seeds in the winter, suddenly given light and warmth... another chance to live.

This personal meditation gives me a sense of ease in a body that breathes anxiety.  This time of self expression gives me the opportunity to dilute the rush of beating wings inside my chest.

It is when the bird sleeps... 

 

 

I am a deep thinker.

I am a deep feeler...

and often times my heart is enlarged.

 

 

Completely Out of My Box

 

So I have been doing a little side work. Something way different from anything I have ever done before...

Medical drawings.

A friend of mine whom works in a doctors office is helping the doctor she works for along with her colleagues publish an e-book on thyroid stuff... don't ask, I'm not a doctor... but I did paint a thyroid from the front and back along with someone from the inside.

Hey there is a first time for everything!

 

 

Pretty good right? Not bad, I hope! As I have never seen a thyroid and am a little grossed out that I have this alien type figure wrapped around my throat. I mean, I am really thankful for all it does for me, no doubt! Don't get me wrong... but look at it... it looks like the harness from the show Falling Skies.

(Any watchers of the show totally get that?)

 

 

I did everything in watercolor and micron pen, then a little white gel pen for highlights. I am really pleased with how they turned out and the soft pallete I chose to paint them in. I think there are more to come, not sure. Either way, this was fun and different! A challenge, I like challenges!

The illustration below is my favorite of the bunch. I don't know why, it just is. I think the colors I used are pleasing and compared to the other diagrams I googled, it looks quite nice. The next step will be that my friend and her colleagues will label these via a computer program called Illustrator so that the person reading the book can understand the drawing. I am looking forward to seeing them all labeled and perfect.

 

 

Challenges are good for the soul. They keep you on your toes and often teach you something you didn't know before. Life is all about challenges and lessons, it is what you choose to take from these said lessons that makes you a different person. Hopefully for the better!

An Old Stuff Kind of Week

 

 

Yesterday's post sharing my antique store adventure, also found me stopping at a small consignment shop which really wasn't worth much other than the book that greeted me my first step into the door. I had no idea Candy Land was a book before it was a children's board game... so either I'm really young or I'm unlearned in the ways of child's literature.

Either way this book was an excitement for me,  and I had to have it!

 

 

Printed in 1928 its no longer attached to its cover, but gently sits inside hoping for future professional repair. The hubby knows how to bind books, so I will probably have him take a look see. I was truly surprised by the richness the book still held in it's color. Bright illustrations in mostly primary colored printing are a sight to be dazzled by.

 

 

Being that just moments before I found my vintage red bear friend from the American Teddy Bear Co. I knew I had to read this story to my boys and tell them that my red bear was the very same bear that led little Betty into Candy Land! So far the kids have been taking turns sleeping with "Brunny" each night, and there's not a room he doesn't follow us into.

 

 

If you ask me, the board game doesn't hold even a small candle's light to this book and the original story... and where did the bear go in the game? Where did all the freaky characters come from and the wacked out LSD hued colors that we all remember as a child? To be honest I remember altering the order of the cards when my mom turned her head or went to the bathroom so that I could take an instant jump right to the candy cane castle (ooooooh cheater cheater!)

 

 

And perhaps the book and the game have nothing to do with each other as the story other than traveling to a place called Candy Land and the castle looking exactly the same, truly don't resemble each other. I am having trouble researching it actually. Anyone know anything about my beautiful old book? Anyone recollect reading it as a child or happen to be an antique book aficionado?

 

If the book and the board game aren't related I would of seriously sued the board game creator over creative rights... or something like that, I'm no lawyer! Sounds official... sounds good :)

 

 

I have always had an affection for old children's books. They inspire me and intruege in their mysterious ways. Perhaps it's the magpie in me or the girl from another life that needs old things nearby. Whatever it is, someday I'll probably be living in a house full of cats and boxes of old stuff... atleast I'll be happy!

For the Joy of Illustration

 

I have been busily, steadily, and joyfully illustrating the first of 4 stories that I have been hired to help bring to life. I love illustrating children's stories, and it seems that it is something I am meant to do as it keeps coming into my life.

These stories are going to be privately printed by a Grandmother who wants to pass down stories from her family - to her family. They are warm, sweet, and a pleasure to read/illustrate. A lot of my time as an artist doesn't require too much thought, as it comes so naturally... but when I illustrate I have to think and the thinking part feels good. It's not a challenge, but it's challenging and the ol' brain loves the work out.

 

 

No children's book would ever be popular or successful without expressive and colorful images. Children live on images, as it is what they learn before putting letter to letter, word to word, and begin to read. When a child is not old enough to read they rely on the pictures to lead them along when there isn't an adult to read the story. The marriage between word and image is a strong bond that has always been and will always be.

I will share more illustrations as they are created :) I hope you like the two I have shared today. Whenever I illustrate a story, it really gives me the bug to do my own... perhaps someday! In the meantime, if you have written a children's book and are looking for an illustrator feel free to contact me via email anytime.

 

 

For the Love of Magazines

 

 

I really love Crochet Magazines. In fact, I buy them even if I know I won't be able to look at them right away because they are such a nice cheap alternative to buying a crochet book. You get a wonderful full color magazine loaded with current crochet news articles, tips, and of course all the awesome patterns! there are a few magazines that I like the best and I am sharing them with you today. For most of us crocheters it's always a slight challenge finding patterns that aren't ancient, and thankfully with this growing obsession with crochet and knitting again it has become extremely easy to find good modern patterns.

 

My first and current favorite magazine right now is Vogue Crochet. I have no idea if this is a one time shot or if it is a regular magazine, but I am hooked - line - and sinker! the patterns are out of this world modern and beautiful. A real out of the box look at the art of crochet, and the true magic you can create with it. This magazine features beautiful Vogue models wearing these creative patterns and the way they are photographed is just candy for the eyes. This is my first choice from this magazine to make, but who knows if I will get to it. I really want to, and it's really adaptable. Of course I would make it in different colors and paired with a pair of tights come fall/winter I think it will just be the sweetest thing! and cozy, cause it will be like wearing a blanket!

 

This magazine is also wonderful because it has really current articles about crochet. It talks about group projects, new ergonomic hooks, and techniques you always question and hope your doing right but aren't really sure that you are... if your self taught that is, and most of us crocheters are.

 

The next magazine I enjoy is Interweave Crochet. Another modern adventure of really wearable patterns for us hipster girls who aren't ready to buy into the mom isle (even though most of us are moms). I love the idea that I can wear what I made and it's different than anything else out there. I like that it's artsy, unique, and fashionable.

 

 

This magazine had a great article this month of different ways of holding your hook. Which I have learned is truly unique to eat of us hookers (LOL) hookers, get it? yeah... hardy har har. Anyways... I hold mine one way but you may hold yours another... in fact one of my friends holds their hook like a pencil!

 

Lastly I enjoy Crochet Today which is a lighter more everyone like it kind of magazine. It has a little bit of everything but also always can be depended on for it's child patterns and whimsical jewelry. There are always interesting afghans with squares you haven't seen or tried before, and I like that!

 

 

You just can't beat 26 patterns for the price of $6.99! I've bought one pattern for that price, so a whole magazine of wonderful reading and exciting maybe someday I will do them all patterns makes me giddy! yup, literally giddy! like a little boy in a comic book shop getting the latest copy of The Avengers.

 

 

Somerset Dreaming - Acceptance Again

 

 

Last night while packing my grocery bags into the trunk of my car I heard the email notification on my phone signal me that I had an email. Just junk mail I thought... I finished up packing the bags and got into my car, turned on the heat, and pulled out my phone. Checking my email I saw a name that I recognized but could not place. Opening the email I screamed like a little girl and instantly tears ran down my face, for I have been chosen for Somerset Magazine's Expression Pages, again! March 2012 Issue!  If I have it right in my head, I will be in two issues in a row! It's hard for me not to jump up and down and sqweel when I think about it. I am still pinching myself, thinking that maybe I am just Somerset Dreaming...

Enjoy your saturday, it's crisp outside and December has decided it's done pretending it's something it's not. For now, anyways :)

In Which I Bind ~ Sketchbook Project Sketchbook

 

 

It all begins with cut paper, lots of it.

The idea of re-binding my Sketchbook Project sketchbook was a little scary, but only because I had never done it before. Mr. Google was very knowledgable on the subject and led me to a great website containing picture by picture instructions on how to sew a binding.

I must admit I helped pick out the paper, stack the signatures (stacks of paper), and thread the needle... but the rest was completed by my husband. This project contained more math and precision than is in my realm of possiblity. I am no way a mathmatician, not even with a ruler. I can measure to pieces of paper the same size, cut them, measure them again only to find  they arent the same after all. Luckily I married an engineer!

 

 

The job of binding wasn't that hard, just time consuming. The finished product, beautiful! I have chosennot to put the cover on until I have painted all my pages, so that I can keep it clean. As you read a few days ago I was really un-motivated with this project... mostly because of the time crunch.  A time crunch that originataed from my excellent ability to procrastinate. I must admit though, now that the book is made... and I have put my happy self into some books to get myself inspired, I am really excited. I poked around on the web, looking at others sketchbooks... I was a little peaved to see that The Sketchbook Project allows people to use photocopies. I really don't feel it is fair for someone to scan their sketchbook and bind it for this exhibition. It's cheating if  you ask me, and a slap in the face to those who worked hard on producing real and touchable art.

So far I have completed a page, and 1/2 of two others.I will share them later this week, hopefully by then there will be even more to share!

 

 

Thank you for your visit today! just cause you may be scared to do something, doesnt mean you shouldnt. Conquer your fears, no matter how small :)

 

 

Forgetting Imagination and the Ability to Draw

 

I read a wonderful quote in one of my new books the other day... it is as follows,

" When my daughter was about seven years old, she asked me one day what I did at work. I told her I worked at the college --- that my job was to teach people how to draw. She stared at me, incredulous, and said, "you mean they forget?"

That quote, repeated in my head over and over again because of it's honesty.  Children are so honest! We all start out drawing. What is so foreign to some people as adults, may have been their favorite past time as a child. Drawing was everyones purest way of sharing their imagination.

I wonder at what age imagination was discouraged and told make believe was bad. For if we weren't told it was wrong, we would all still be doing it... well, maybe some of use still are ;)

 

My Craft Store Addiction

 

Someone call an intervention! Sit in a circle around me and say "Will you accept the gift that has been given to you today? will you accept help?" and I'll look at you in a blank stare and shout "NO! Heck NO!" and run out the door and straight to the nearest craft store to get my fix!

It's no mystery that I basically live at ACmoore, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby. When I was a teenager I worked at ACmoore and also met my husband there. Awwwww.... a craft store romance <3 Seriously though... some of the ladies that worked there when I worked there, still do. Most of the cashiers know me by name, even the ones that weren't my fellow ACmoore associates. I walk in smile at the front end gal and say "Hi Christina! how are you today?".

Hey you! reading this! stop your laughing! :)

When I feel I have been to ACmoore too much in one week I will hop over to Michaels. I have a sneaking suspicion that somewhere in corporate land ACmoore and Michaels are owned by the very same person. I don't think it's coincidence that the things ACmoore don't have Michaels does and visa versa. ACmoores bead dept. stinks, Michaels is grand. Michaels yarn dept. stinks, ACmoores is grand! I could go on and on.  Did I mention that my ACmoore and Michaels sit side by side!? That being said whenever I go to one, I have to go to the other because they balance themselves and my artistic needs as well.

Until now, because...

we... got... a... HOBBY LOBBY!

Hobby Lobby was one of those stores that my mommy in law and I would travel to. We would take a day trip, have lunch out and get our Hobby Lobby fix. For those of you who don't have experience with this store (dear God say it ain't so) it's like ACmoore and Michaels had a love child and then raised it to be a good little store with the influence of Auntie Joanne Fabrics and Grandma Home Goods. It's a beautiful marriage of all these stores. What makes me even more delighted is that they have everything I could want. EVERYTHING! and not only do they have everything my little heart delights, but also about 3-4 different brands of each thing I need so I have the choice of price and qaulity. Ahhh... listen to my heart beat inside my chest. Hear it? it's in love!

This week, I spent ALOT of time in ACmoore and Micheals. I needed this, and that, and a bunch of stuff I couldnt help but bring home with me. Then I would get home look in my bags and realize I forgot one or two things... so back to the stores I had to go. When Friday came along and I had to go and get a canvas for a commission, I thought to myself... that I just can't show my face in those stores again... hence visiting the brand new Hobby Lobby. I thought today I would share with you my favorite grabs this week.

The first is new cutting blades for my linoleum/rubber stamp carving tool. My not so intelligent hair brained self thought that I could wash my old ones in the dish washer... really? yeah... and they instantly rusted. And well, since I cut myself every other move of the tool I thought a new set would be smart and far cheaper than the medical bills I would have to pay for the open wound infection.

After painting so much for so many weeks I have really needed a different artistic outlet. In the past week I have been carving and sculpting.

 

 

Below is my first rubber stamp carving :) I have been giving a lot of thought as to what I want to start adding to my Etsy shop come the new year, and one of them is hand stamped note card sets designed with my own original rubber stamps.

 

 

My second happy find were these adorable tiny itty bitty baby canvases! Not only are they awesome but they were on clearance for .79 cents a piece! I was sad there were only 5 left because I would of gladly bought more. I plan on turning these into necklaces and brooches. Wutchya think? wearable art? These canvases are only 2 inches squared.

 

 

Like I said, I have needed other artistic outlets, and one of those came in the form of sculpting some of my characters and themes into necklace pendants. Again, something different and original for my Etsy Shop.

So purchasing some sculpey clay I enjoyed kneading the dough and working it into familiar shapes. These will be available come January in my Etsy shop as necklaces.

 

 

Lately I have been finding inspiration in books and magazines. Looking at these books has really gotten my brain gears turning in the direction of The Sketchbook Project. Here are the books and magazines I have been enjoying scooped up in the past week or two. You'll notice in the pile a "Collaborative Art Journaling" book... I will be trading art journals back and forth from Texas to Unionville over and over again until they are complete with one of my very best friends in the world, Jax from Hand of bela peck. We have been friends and artistic collaborators for 5 years now, yet we have never met... until this month that is! Later this month we will meet for the first time!

 

Lastly I have been encouraging myself to get excited about The Sketchbook Project, and I finally am! during each craft store visit I would pick up this and that towards my Sketchbook creation. I have decided to re-bind my book. At first the thought was terrifying, but after researching the topic and finding that other participants were just as frustrated as I with the paper qaulity that it's really not that hard and these other artists shared their re-binding photo by glorious photo. I am now pretty revved about re-binding my first book! I will surely share it with you!

Here is my little box of sketchbook supplies that is slowly but surely growing.

 

Now that I have stolen a large portion of your time I thank you for it. I am grateful for your visits each day, it assures me that what I am doing... this dream I am chasing is real. Thank you.

 

 

The Sketchbook Project

 

As you know I have decided to take part in The Sketchbook Project. For those of you who don't remember or are new... The Sketchbook Project is an assignment that lasts a whole year. In that year I have to finish a sketchbook (sent by TSP) based around a theme. The sketchbook is due this January and will travel across the U.S.A. and also visit London England and Melbourne Australia.

The thousands of sketchbooks submitted will be exhibited for public view in galleries and museums as they make their way across the world. After the tour, they will be barcoded and enter the permanent collection of The Brooklyn Art Library where they will be available for public view.

 

 

I chose the theme "Writing on the Wall", so every page will at least have a word if not words on it. When I started the sketchbook months ago, and I must digress I haven't really worked on it since... I was battling a depression and the artwork  reflects that. Now that I have won the fight, my artwork reflects that!

 

 

I figured since my deadline is drawing near, I need to get my rump in gear! I am hoping to go to the kick off day in Brooklyn N.Y. and wish my book well wishes as it goes on it's international voyage.  I will continue to share the progress of my book with you! I have also started to draw in my own personal sketchbook again. I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to a sketchbook, finding it difficult not to rip pages out. I am resisting the urge! the more I draw, the more progress I will make in my skills. I will also be sharing these pages as well.

You will notice in the near future, that I will be adding some pages to my blog for artwork and a bio page. There will also be a button to request commissions. I look forward to sharing with you! enjoy your day!! It's cold and rainy here in N.Y., and that's okay by me... it's the opportunity to dress cozy and enjoy turning the heat on in my car.