Sketchbook on a rainy afternoon

ah, Mexico.........

I went to San Miguel de Allende for the first time in 2000, and it was a  pivotal trip in the development of my artwork.


I couldn't help be influenced by the churches and the icons.
Below are two of the (many) pieces I created in the Mexican style. They are fine art prints (from my original art) and in my JaneVille Etsy shop.





And you can join me and my friends at an Art Retreat in San Miguel de Allende in April 2011. Details here.

Fave Books and DVDs

I'm thinking of holiday shopping.  Here are some of my fave books & DVDs, in no particular order, and I'ved * the ones that would be a great kick start if you're participating in the Sketchbook Challenge.

• Everyday Matters by Danny Gregory *
• An Illustrated Life: Drawing Inspiration from the Private Sketchbooks of Artists, Illustrators and Designers by Danny Gregory (I'm in this one!) *
• Inspired to Quilt by Melanie Testa
• The Found Object in Textile Art by Cas Holmes
• Journal Spilling by Diana Trout *
• Stitch Alchemy: Combining Fabric & Paper for Mixed Media Art by Kelli Nina Perkins
• Canvas Remix by Alisa Burke
• A Complete Guide to Creative Embroidery by Jan Beany & Jean Littlejohn
• Drawing Lab for Mixed Media Artists by Carla Sondhiem *
• Nature Inspired Mixed Media Techniques by Tracie Lyn Huskamp

Blurb books, self-published by the artist:

• Painted Threads by Judy Coates Perez
• Wild at the Edges by Virginia Spiegel
• Beneath the Surface by Loris Bogue (My work was included in this exhibition)

DVDs

• Surface Design Sample Platter by Lyric Kinard (includes how to sew an easy journal cover)
• Design, Paint, & Stitch: Wholecloth Quilts by Judy Coates Perez (I confess, this one is on my wish list) 
• Quilting Arts TV hosted by Pokey Bolton (I love these, and watch them again and again while I work in my studio. Especially Series 300... blushing..where I make two appearances.)
• The Small Art Quilt by yours truly. (instructional DVD) 

These were just off the top of my head, so if you've got some super faves, let me know!

Handmade gifts are the BEST!

We all know (I hope) that handmade gifts are the best.


But if you don't Mindy Crum's class of 3rd graders to make you a gift, check out some of these Esty shops for wonderful artist-made gifts. I confess, I've purchased from each one of them, often more than once!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheDailyPincushion

http://www.etsy.com/shop/birdfromawire

http://www.etsy.com/shop/cathycullis

http://www.etsy.com/shop/CornflowerPress

http://www.etsy.com/shop/hnick



http://www.etsy.com/shop/ephemeralalchemy



http://www.etsy.com/shop/LyricArt

http://www.etsy.com/shop/alisaburke



and of course, my JaneVille Etsy shop!



You just gotta see this exhibition. San Diego. till Dec 31.

An Installation By Wes Bruce from Bryan Bangerter on Vimeo.

Wes Bruce installation at California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum through Dec 31, 2010. This is the installation where I did these drawings and where husb and I spent the night.

Drawing at the Wes Bruce Museum Installation

I spent a good part of yesterday drawing at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum. (I'd gotten permission.) The Wes Bruce installation/fort, "The Secrets Surrounding the Mysterious Life & Psychology of Mrs. Augustine Greane," is fantastical and beyond description. (It ends Dec 31, and you must see it!) You may recall, husb and I spent the night in the fort.
I sat on the floor, in near darkness and drew these pages. I started with the sewing room (above) because is spoke to me immediately. Lots of vintage hankies hang from the ceiling.

The Poetry room is one of my favorite rooms. Long pieces of paper, with Wes's words written on them, move gently in the breeze caused by the fan. You have to crawl through the hanging paper poems.


Next to the game room. It had a small lamp, so I was able to draw a little in pencil first, then to pen.


Lastly, out to the hallway, where Wes had painted, written and hung more notes on a large wall. I could spend hours more at this installation...sitting on the floor, alone and drawing. A fine day.

whatever you call it, a sketchbook or a journal...do it!

           
You can sketch and paint anywhere. Here are just of few pics of my past students. And a reminder that I'll be teaching an online class "Sketching & Watercolor: Journal Style: ON LOCATION starting in January (with only one outdoor location) and that the SKETCHBOOK CHALLENGE starts on January 1st! More about the Challenge in an upcoming post.

Tree of Life reincarnated!

Here's the story. In 2003, husb & I traveled to fabulous Oaxaca, Mexico for an absolutely wonderful art-filled adventure. We visited many folk artists, learned about the history and culture. (We actually met many of the people featured in this book.) When we returned home, I created this 22x30" mixed media and watercolor, as part of my Tree of Life series. The artwork was juried into a prestigous exhibition at the Oceanside Museum of Art. (Where I have a piece right now, in the Quilt Visions Bieniannal 2010: No Boundaries, but I digress.) So, the peice sold, to Cassandra Prescott. I knew Cassandra as a former student in my Art Quilt Class and as a talented and respected designer.
Time passes, and Cassandra contacted me, could she design a needlepoint canvas based on my original artwork? YES, I said, imaging a small piece, stitched with yarn.


Here's Cassandra Prescott, of Sundance Designs (she's been in the needle work business for more than 30 years)  with the life size, and unbelieveably detailed and embellished and nearly finished needlepoint of my painting.


Here's a pic, I took with my phone, but you must look at Cassandra's blog Sundance in Stitches to see the meticulous detail.


And, to further add to the bounty she presented to me, she also included all the threads, beads, embellishments and a binder with the instructions!  It's one of those moments in my career, where I step back and go...'wow' with lots of gratitude.
Cassandra's company sells wholesale only, but tell your local shop about her company!

Working with 3rd graders.

Remember when husb and I volunteered to help 25 third graders make papier mache? I went back today to help them design and paint their ornaments/snowmen. It was nearly 80 degrees, so painting outside was perfect.

Update: Mindy sent me this pic of how they turned out.......
We went from that to creating an instant mural, using the 'drop cloth' splashed with white paint and creating a snow village. Construction paper, glue, and a skiing calendar. The village boasts both a FOOD shop and a cake shop.

work in progress

new ONLINE sketching & watercolor: journal style ON LOCATION registration open

My new online class is open for registration. Sketching & Watercolor: Journal Style ON LOCATION starts January 20 and runs for 6 weeks. The first lesson will be done at home, then asignments will be at coffee shops, museums, zoo or aquarium. Why not sign up with a friend and do the art excursions together? All my online classes are here.

Holiday craft project

What started as a project for kids, turned into a nice hostess gift addition.

It started as a trying out a project for my Mundo Lindo kid's after school art program. In the parking lot, outside of the craft store. (and inspired by Alisa Burke)


I bought cheap silver balls, puff paint (found in the fabric painting aisle, but works on all surfaces) and coffee (optional.)


The parking lot try out was a success, so I made some more in my studio. Remove the little hangey things.


I squirted yellow dots, and sprinkled glitter. (The paint is very goopy, when wet, and larger balls might be easier to work with.)
Then I squirted red petals to surround the sparkly yellow center. Of course, there's a million ways to design these!


I stuck them on old brushes or pencils to dry. (The mosaic pot is from the recent Mundo Lindo project.) Let them dry overnight.


Put the hangey thing back in, add a ribbon. 



Since I'd been saving paper product cardboard tubes for the kids projects, I tried out another potential kid activity, toliet paper angels.