Bodhisartva ..... Art/Spirit/Life

New Toys

Sometimes, it doesn't take much to give you a lift. Case in point, these new gizmos from Dick Blick.

I have for a long time had some texturing things like this. But these are very ergonomic; fat in your hand and I love the colors! We must have pretty things, musn't we? Cheap, too.

They're really made for heavier body acrylics, but I tried them with fluid Golden paints and they were equally fun.

Here's a close-up:

I'm anxious to try them on canvas with some heavier paint, but in the meantime, I played more in my journals. If I do this just right, I can imagine writing between the raised lines.

I had to get that orange in there somehow :-) But, I do try to use other colors.

I really like this version.  One of the wedges has notches that graduate from thick to thin. I can see I'll have a lot of fun with these new tools. I've been in a bit of a rut lately, so I need all the help I can get. Spent time in the studio just laying down paint on tons of paper, getting ready to make a new journal.  

What ways do you have when you seem to be stuck?

What a difference a year makes

Artfest withdrawal. I am having it BIG time. Right NOW!

This is the last year for Artfest - and I am not there. Last year, I was there.  It has been a spring ritual for years.  

For those who are wondering what I'm talking about, Artfest has been an annual art retreat for many years.You live, eat and sleep art.  You talk art.  And oh yes, you make art.  You play, you laugh, you walk in the rain lugging 68 pounds of art supplies half a mile.  There are 500 people and you feel you know them all.  You take 3 classes with some of the most fabulous teachers around.  You live by the water in funky old military base housing, which you share with ghosts.

In other words, you are in HEAVEN.

It's a loooooong climb to get there........

Fly into Seattle, take the ferry to the island, drive over the Hood Canal, pass the paper mill (phew), drive through town and into the fort, maybe see some wildlife.

Check into Officers' Housing. Have a talk with the ghost.  Decide to ignore it but turn on all the lights anyway.

 

 See some friends.  Drink some sangria.

You soak up everything from every teacher and every student - every technique, every smile, every success, every failure. Then, you journal about it.

You write and paint and pay attention.

Your drink wine and eat yummies and get silly.

Then, too soon, it's over, but not really. Because when you leave, you never forget. Because now you have learned to fly.

Deconstructing the Studio

I have emptied the studio in a fit of early in the year, well-intentioned reorganization.  Seems that all around me, other artists friends are doing the same.  Must be something in the air or water. Global warming?  Here is what happens first:

So sad to throw away so many pens, but they do eventually dry out or get used up.  On the other hand, I still have these:

I've removed all the decorative items from the studio space and it looks so empty!  I now have about a dozen cardboard boxes full of treasures.  No wonder the studio was so cramped!  Now, I'm setting up stations for painting, metalwork, bookbinding and journaling.  I'll post the progress over time and hope this reorganization prompts me to be creative!  

Are you purging at home, work or studio?

What started it...

I always did some kind of artsy thing, even as a kid.  Acting.  Poetry.  Doodling.  But you know how it goes...life takes over and you let go of some things without realizing how important they are.  

About 20 years ago, I started talking and talking about how I missed art and wanted to take up painting, blah, blah, blah.

Then, my brother Rob gave me this amazing gift.  Out of the blue.   And that's what it took to wake me up.  It's seen a lot of use since then as you can see.

It comes with it's own little water bottle (see the cap?) and a tiny brush.  When it folds up, it looks like this and is only about 5 inches high.

I've had many travel kits and palettes since then. But this treasure is my favorite and always will be. 

Thanks, Rob.