My Entry for EBSQ's February 'What a Doll' Show: 'Beryl Moon'

Meet 

"Beryl Moon"

"Beryl Moon", a sculpted Art Doll created from re-purposed objects

Last month, EBSQ, the online art community I've long been a member of, hosted their monthly art exhibit, with the theme for February being, "What a Doll".  This was my entry: "Beryl Moon", an Art Doll sculpted using paper mache plus a whole host of all-recycled materials 

(click here to see my entry in the exhibit).....

"The Moon Was But a Chin of Gold", by Emily Dickinson

I painted and finished her as inspired by the following poem, by Emily Dickinson:

The Moon was but a Chin of Gold
A Night or two ago—
And now she turns Her perfect Face
Upon the World below—

Her Forehead is of Amplest Blonde—
Her Cheek—a Beryl hewn—
Her Eye unto the Summer Dew
The likest I have known—

Her Lips of Amber never part—
But what must be the smile
Upon Her Friend she could confer
Were such Her Silver Will—

And what a privilege to be
But the remotest Star—
For Certainty She take Her Way
Beside Your Palace Door—

Her Bonnet is the Firmament—
The Universe—Her Shoe—
The Stars—the Trinkets at Her Belt—
Her Dimities—of Blue—

"Beryl Moon", a view from behind

She was actually a long time coming, my "Beryl Moon", because I initially began her many moons (ha-ha) ago, only to set her aside for some reason (ADHD mostly, I suppose), abandoned and unfinished.   Started as part of a project to rescue the dead, mangled barbies left behind after my daughter's childhood, it was my intention to breath new life into these hopelessly broken objects so as to keep them out of the waste stream, where they were surely destined.  And I did get a reasonably good and interesting start on a few of them, before I became distracted by something else and rudely shoved them all onto the back-burner (story of my life?)....

An in-progress project I call the "Dead Barbies Society" -- its mission being to turn useless broken junk into Art, people!  ART...!

However, this one in particular was the furthest along....: 

....thus she was the one I grabbed when I decided I needed something to enter into the EBSQ "Doll" show last month...:

And so I got her finished, finally....! 

The following is cut and pasted from my artist/entry statement (because I'm lazy like that):

Buried deep inside 'Beryl Moon', under Celluclay (a commercial paper clay product) and layers of paper mache, is a wee 'injured' action figure, but a few inches tall, and missing an arm. Spared from a landfill life, he now provides some inner armature for this Art Doll, though little of him is actually recognizable anymore, given that an entirely new being was sculpted over and around his original form, using re-purposed items (including but not limited to: a plastic cup, multiple plastic cup lids, and newspaper), for a complete and thorough transformation. A whole new, crescent-moon shaped head was sculpted from Celluclay and attached (the head of the original figure/doll ends somewhere deep within in the present neck/chest area), along with a newly sculpted arm, and new hands. In addition to gaining inches in height (now standing about a foot tall), "he' also became a 'she', complete with a newly sculpted bosom, as well as a big, bustled and flowing skirt of Stars -- using as my inspiration the poem, "The Moon Was But a Chin of Gold", by the wonderful and talented poet, Emily Dickinson....: 

"....now she turns Her perfect Face
Upon the World below—...."

And so there you have it, my "What a Doll" show entry.  

Which..., I'm happy to be able to report tied for "Member's Mention" (2nd Place) in the show...!  Thanks so much, EBSQ...!

"If I Had a Hammer....": Pete Seeger Tribute, for EBSQ's August 'Toolbox'-themed Art Exhibit

8 x 10 Portrait of the folk legend, Pete Seeger, in tribute to his classic song

"If I Had a Hammer....."

EBSQ, the internet community of self-representing artists of which I have been a long-time member, features monthly, themed online art exhibits.  One of the shows this past August had the theme "Toolbox".  This was my entry (as can be seen here).

The following was my artist statement:

 

My entry for the EBSQ 'Toolbox' exhibit features a tribute portrait of the late American folk musician, Pete Seeger (1919- 2014).   

When reflecting upon the theme 'Toolbox', the first tool to come to mind was 'hammer'.   Thinking about hammers had the classic vintage folk tune, "If I Had a Hammer", popping into my head.  Written by Pete Seeger in 1949 in support of the progressive movement, the song has endured through the decades, recorded as it has been by numerous fellow musicians, and taken up as a freedom song during the American Civil Rights Movement.  I myself have many fond recollections of "If I Had a Hammer" over the course of my life -- singing it round the campfire as a young girl with my scout troupe, and then later to my own two children when they were small.  I always appreciated the simple melody and uplifting lyrics.  For my entry, I painted a portrait of the young Pete Seeger, who was 30 at the time he wrote "If I Had a Hammer" (after a lifetime of musical achievement and acclaim, Mr. Seeger passed away just this past January at the age of 95).  A prolific composer and performer, the "tool" of Mr. Seeger's trade was his guitar, with which he was often photographed playing.  I swapped out the one tool for another in this tribute to Pete Singer and his timeless classic.... 

If I had a hammer, 

I'd hammer in the morning,

I'd hammer in the evening,

All over this land.

I'd hammer out danger.

I'd hammer out a warning.

I'd hammer out love, between

My brothers and my sisters,

All over this land.

..............

"If I Had a Hammer...",  First Place Tie.....

There were but a total of four entries in the Toolbox show, still I'm very happy to say I tied for 1st Place....!   I got to split the $100 cash award prize with my fellow winner, April Trice -- $50 for each of us, how lovely!  Thanks to any who voted for me -- and many thanks to EBSQ....!

..................

(And now...., just a side note to add here, for interest and posterity.  As we all know by now (because I harp on it constantly in here), I no longer purchase new art supplies (aside from a few notable exceptions like paint and brushes) if I can in any way avoid it.  It's my own little, personal attempt to resist adding to our society's problems with over-consumption and the dreaded Affluenza  (and yes, I realize my small actions in this regard aren't likely to save the world any time soon, but can at least sleep at night in regards to my own personal artistic pursuits).  This personal moratorium includes the purchase of canvases, or even purchasing the ingredients to stretch my own canvases (too lazy to do that anyway)....because I often come across perfectly suitable alternatives when I happen to be out and about (tag sales, thrift stores, and the like (with a big emphasis this time on "the like")).  As a result, my paintings are typically created upon found wood or wooden plaques, or even supports I make myself using 2nd-hand picture frames.  I've amassed a decent hoard of these painting supports by now -- out of which the one for this entry was fished.  It's actually just a regular, gallery stretched, 8 x 10 store-bought canvas, but how it came to be mine is the more interesting part....

Years ago, when my husband and two very small children and I first moved back here to my hometown, we chanced upon a home to rent with which we fell in love.  With so many of the features we wanted in a house, we felt we had really hit the jack-pot -- cozy and old and with loads of character, a decent location, decent size (and nice to stretch out after apartment dwelling), nice yard, near the things we liked to walk to, and, most importantly, all at a reasonable rate.  We lived there for a time, until ready to purchase a house of our own.  And so we eventually moved out -- still, I always kept a very special place in my heart for our sweet old rental....

After we resettled, our cute little rental, which we were so happy with and had such good memories of,...turned into a something more of a haunted house.  It was within several years that we noticed it looking pretty beat up.  A few more years, and it was clearly run down.  Trashed even.  Hoarders, or something, had taken over, with piles of useless junk overflowing the driveway and yard, windows broken and patched with duct tape, chunks of stucco missing and shingles falling off.  What the heck happened?  Sometimes we would walk or drive by, and just pause to take in the mess that had become what had been a big part of our lives.  Where we'd had parties and celebrations, and heck, just lived. We couldn't image who could have done this to 'our' house -- much less that our old landlord would have ever allowed such a thing....!  That mystery was never solved.

Fast forward to just over a year ago, when my daughter and I were bike riding, cruising through our old neighborhood.  Passing our old house, it was clear by now it was completely empty and utterly abandoned, trashed beyond repair, and even slated for demolition.  We parked our bikes in the alleyway behind the house, and looked and looked.  She was young when we'd moved out (4 years old maybe?), but my daughter could still conjure up lots of memories.  We climbed through the gaping holes in the fence into the yard to get a closer look, pointing out nostalgic landmarks we once used to enjoy ourselves -- the patio, the outdoor brick fireplace (or, the place where it once stood anyway), the swing set, all while taking care not to trip all over the assorted junk and crap strewn about posing a booby trap.  We got a little closer, and closer still....until we were pretty much standing right next to it, staring at the gaping back door.  I'm sure you can guess what came next of course.   "Oh no, they didn't", you might be asking.  But yes, we did.  How could we not?  Our poor old house!  *OUR* house.  I know, I know -- risky, plus it was trespassing.  But I wanted to see it one last time before she was demolished for good....

Well, suffice it to say, time had not been kind.  Not easy to see the house that I'd loved so much, and held such fond memories of just 10 years before, in such state of wreck and ruin.  Still I'm glad my daughter and I had our chance to say goodbye.  And it was in there, amidst all the shattered glass and beer bottle caps (gazillions of them) all over the floor, that I stumbled upon this little, 8 x 10 canvas.   There was paint on it, but to call it a "painting" would be way too much of an exaggeration.  Just some color splashed around, and what looked possibly like some Chinese characters, although it could have just been some sort of attempt at 'abstract' something or other.  But, I took it home with me.  And when it came time to paint my little tribute to Pete Seeger here, I sanded it a bit, gessoed it, sanded it again -- and voila, good as new.  Was it stealing?  Technically, I suppose -- though guess what?   I can't say I feel much like a thief.

The house was pushed over and hauled off to the landfill just a few weeks later.  One thing I do know though...I sang this song many times over to my two young kids during countless bath times/bedtimes/naptimes, in that old house.....)

Day 13 of the '29 Faces' Challenge -- More Heart/Face Valentine Action....

Busy-ish day for me today on this, the 13th Day of the '29 Faces' Challenge (with one even more so expected tomorrow, oy).  That, combined with the fact that it's currently in the wee hours of the morning right now (groan), is strictly  that this be one quick-and-dirty, perfunctory drive-by blog post (to be made up for later)...

With Valentine's Day tomorrow, my project du jour was more home-made, DIY  Valentine' Day cards, featuring my sunny and cheerful anthropomorphic hearts, as from a few posts back.  Hence my Face for 'Day 13'...:

Red Heart Valentine Card ( to have lettering saying 'Be Mine')

Day 12 of the '29 Faces' Challenge: On a (Rock &) Roll Here With the Painted Rocks!

omg!  I think I might actually manage to get to bed before midnight tonight!  This, my friends, would be a very good thing, as I think I've been running on a bit of a sleep deficit, squeezing in my daily painting and blogging as I have.  But all very worth it of course!

In any case, it's Day 12 of the internet art blog challenge '29 Faces in February', and I am especially proud to announce that I have yet another 'Finis!' project for today, which also happens to be yet another painted rock.  Meet "Rockquel":

'Rockquel' Cuddling her Pet Pooch, ''Pebbles'....

Mother Nature was particularly creative with this one.  It's a very special rock (though aren't they all?), because it sports not one, but TWO figures and faces --  one being the lovely 'Rockquel', as you can see, but also her wee pet dog, 'Pebbles'....:

Painted all over, following the natural bumps, crevices and curves of the rock.

How can you describe it other than Nature's Sculpture...?

Her Left Side.

Her right side.

Back View

Very Cuddly!

Along with all the other unfinished projects in my 'Pile of Shame' post, Rockquel had suffered much neglect by me for years despite being such a magnificent find, what with having been started, but never properly finished.  Today I worked over her hair, which I had originally painted a bright red (for variety's sake?) but which I never felt really suited her.   I'm so glad I made the change.  I also defined her features a bit, plus I switched out her shirt color, which was initially painted a green hue.  With all these improvements I'm much, MUCH more satisfied now, and am so very happy to declare her finished, finally, for once and for all, who knows how many years after initially starting her....

The following is the statement I usually include with my painted rocks:

Typically, a rock... is just a rock. But sometimes, when luck smiles upon me, very special ones reveal themselves. Then I 'see' rock people, little figures hidden within the naturally formed bumps, corners and crevices of ordinary stones -- Nature's very own sculpture. With the help of a bit of paint, I enjoy 'liberating' these unique wee folk for others to enjoy as well.....  

 (To see  more of my painted rocks, click on the 'Painted Rocks' label for this post -- as well as visiting my Painted Rock Gallery on EBSQ)....

Day 11 of the '29 Faces' Challenge: Work In Progress Altered-Art Dolls

WIP Altered Art Doll

Well, I had a nice blog past all written up late (very!) last night, only to have it  irretrievably eaten by Blogger.  How does that even happen...???  Not very nice of you, Blogger! (shakes fist)   And so here we are on Day 12 of the '29 Faces for February' art blog Challenge, but I will be posting twice today -- now this morning with my (reconstructed) Day 11 Face post from last night (grr), and then again this evening with my Day 12 Face post....   

Being as that it was Saturday yesterday, and a fairly quiet one at that, I woke up with my head full of ALL kinds of grand schemes of getting ALL manner of stuff done in the studio.   Of course as the day wore on things didn't quite go along with my lofty initial plans, though I was able to spend a bit of time last evening to work on several ongoing projects.  Nothing that I can declare officially 'Finis!' to show off  as Day 11's Face -- however I do have a Work-in-Progress project involving faces to share....

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I really despite waste.   I understand of course that some waste is unavoidable in life, but it's really pretty appalling to me the extent that our modern day society has become so very...disposable.  I myself do try to personally tread as lightly as I can in this regard -- by recycling whenever possible, buying second-hand and in bulk, schlepping my own grocery bags (when I'm not forgetting them at home that is), avoiding excessive packaging and that sort of thing.   I know I likely could always be doing more in my attempts to be green, as we all could -- still, I do try to maintain an on-going awareness, and make responsible choices based on that.  Also, as I've written before, it's a mindset that has become absorbed into my personal philosophies as an artist, propelling me in my attempts to satisfy my creativity and make art, by using materials I already have at hand, or with objects that would otherwise make their way into our nation's waste stream. To make something, from nothing....

So, on that note, I guess that's why I'd held on to my daughter's aforementioned dead and broken barbie dolls all these long years....:

Sad Collection of Dead and Broken Barbies

Either my kids were especially hard on toys, or they just don't make 'em like they used to (I suspect a bit of both) -- whatever the case, by the time my now teen daughter was done with this stage in her life, we had amassed quite a collection of dead barbie dolls.  Too practical to throw them out (actually it's a balance, and I have to be very mindful or I know it would be entirely too easy for me to slip into 'Hoarderism' --  but that's a topic for another post), I held onto them with the intention of upcycling them into something useful and beautiful one day, a project that I finally started some while back:

WIP: Dead Barbies in the process of being given New Life with the Papier Mache Cure

And so this brings us to my Face of Day 11.  Meet Myrtle:

Moon-Faced 'Myrtle', a Work In Progress....

 Myrtle's internal armature was actually some sort of small, broken and discarded action figure of my son's.  I've fashioned an entirely new moon-shaped head from paper clay, and an entirely new papier mache body, complete with a long, sumptuous skirt:

Myrtle's View to the Side

Least of not which is her ample bustle and train:

'Myrtle': A view to her back

I really wish I could show you before pictures (never remember to take those!), because her transformation from broken/small action figure to her current lovely, statuesque state is pretty radical.  In any case, I'm really pleased with how she is turning out thus far, and will continue to work on her and my other Dead Barbie Projects here as I go along.....

(And, in other late breaking news, do you recall my poor faceless, rabbit-bitten crow from a few entries ago?  Well, he's still faceless, but at least he now has a leg to stand properly on, with his nice, new, garbage-constructed base (which will make it far easier for me to actually WORK on his new face)...):

Day 9 of the Challenge -- Another, yes ANOTHER, Painted Rock!

Day 9 of the '29 Faces' Challenge!  That means that sometime between today, Day 9, and tomorrow, Day 10, we will already be one third of the way through the month, and the Challenge.  One third!

As for today I didn't start out with any particular 'Face' plans.  I entertained a few notions here and there about what I thought I might want to work on, but no definitive direction at first in the beginning.  It was when I was actually digging around my studio looking for one thing (an old, unfinished watercolor), when to my great surprise I stumbled across quite another, and found my inspiration -- a little painted rock started years ago that I'd totally forgot I even had.   The second I saw her, I knew what my project of the day would be.... 

Meet "Rocksanne":

 

This rock is especially unique.  She has incredibly well-defined features, sculpted by Nature herself.

These photos do not do her justice -- they make her look much more 'flat' than she really is, when she actually has a lot of shape.

She has deep-set eye sockets, nostrils, and a well-defined mouth -- can you imagine my surprise when I first found this rock (a long, long time ago) and saw this really obvious FACE staring back at me...?

I happen to think she's really beautiful.

A View to her left side.  She was painted following the natural lumps and bumps of the rock.

 

Chock-full of character and personality.  I love her.

I am so, sooooo glad I rediscovered her today, my 'Rocksanne' -- she definitely deserved to finally be given her just due after all this time.  I do recall starting her years ago and getting hung up on some detail or other, like I often can -- then setting her up out of the way on a high shelf, out of sight (and apparently out of mind).  Today in my re-attempt after finding her again, I ended up just repainting over her entire face, and starting over -- a blank slate (with no hesitations this time around).  It was the right thing to do.

Day 7: 'Bloo Moon' Painted Rock

My goodness, has it really already been a whole week since the beginning of the '29 Faces' challenge....?  How quickly it's going....!   

I have to admit, when I first heard about this Challenge, I did have a moment's hesitation in regards to taking part.   I think it was the thought of the daily blogging that really gave me pause -- it just seemed so...daunting.  And yet here with a full week under my belt, I'm pleased with how I've been keeping up so far, plus how there is no question at all about the fun to be had in participating.  The interaction with my fellow artists and blog followers has truly been a pleasure and an inspiration, and I'm so appreciative of all the lovely comments I've been lucky to receive. So too with the many nice emails I've gotten since all this began --  it means a lot to me and I thank you all! (Note: to any who haven't heard return word from me yet, please know you will very soon as I catch up on my correspondence :-))....

So here we are -- Day 7 of the Challenge.  Tuesdays are always my busiest day, and today was no exception -- nevertheless I still managed a few hours of studio time this evening, which afforded me to finish, for once and for all, another wee rock painting.....  

Meet "Bloo Moon": 

"Bloo Moon", a Painted Rock

 

 Who can resist that face...?

 

 Here we see Mr. 'Bloo Moon' in his classic crescent shape, nestled comfortably in a cushion of clouds (A view of his right side).

 

(Yes, these photos are rather crappy, sadly,  but the best I could do tonight given my light-challenge house (will reshoot in natural light asap)...(

Lots of Character in his face (painted following the natural shape and contours of the rock)

(A view of his left side)

I'd begun 'Bloo Moon' many moons ago, even declaring him 'finished' a time or two over the years.....and yet somehow, I was never really satisfied, and as such never uploaded him anywhere online.  Tonight while re-examining him (again), I realised that more contrast between him and his 'cloud' would be an improvement, plus more definition in his features, among other details.  Correcting these things this evening I am now much happier.  Victory!  Yet another 'Finis!'....!

'29 Faces' Day 5

Today was a busy one (complete with a Super Bowl party -- oh joy) on my end, so I didn't have the chance to work on my '29 Faces Challenge' pieces as I would have liked.   Still, as much as I would love to be showing yet off another completed project right now, I can report I did at least manage to make some progress on a hanging, unresolved 3D project today that has been nagging me for years.  This is not going to look like much I'm afraid, but trust me when I say that it involves a 'face' and that a necessary first step was accomplished here, which will allow me to continue on toward completion of the project....

Years ago I created a 3D papier mache figure of a crow.   All was good and well....that is, until my raging, free-ranging house bunny (sadly no longer with us) somehow got a hold of him, and chewed off his face:

Silly Rabbit!

Faceless Mr. Crow Needs Surgery, STAT.

So I've been thinking.  Faceless as he is now and essentially starting over, I could actually go anywhere with this.  The obvious thing would be to give him another crow face (with a beak, et al) -- but why do the obvious thing....?  Rather, with this second chance for a do-over, I could go in an entirely different, and more interesting, direction.  Well, I'm still ruminating on it -- but at this point I think I've pretty much decided I wont be giving him another boring crow face.  Thing is though, I actually couldn't do anything (crow or non-crow) for him until that gaping crater was repaired and a new foundation built up upon which to work.  So, that's what I did today -- reinforcing and fixing the big hole that was his 'face', so I can go on to give him a whole new one. (*Plus while I'm at it, I'm intending to create a 'base' for him from the hummus container lid he is standing on, and fix his feet, in order to give him better free-standing stability.....

Behold!  The Beginnings of a Brave New 'Face'.

Face 3 of the '29 Faces' Challenge: a Painted entitled 'Red Dress'

"Red Dress":  8 x 10 Original Painting

Years ago, I wrote in my blog about my own personal moratorium against purchasing new art supplies.   I explained how I felt we already have enough 'stuff' clogging up the world without me contributing to its excesses.  I rationalized how I already have at my disposal, thanks to my penchant for saving and hanging onto junk (AKA: Hoarding), PLENTY of material around here from which to make art.  And for whatever I don't have at hand but might need, I possess the creativity and skills to improvise and come up with non-commercial solutions and alternatives.... 

Well, some four years since that post, I'm happy to report that, for the most part, I'm still continuing to stick to my little personal moratorium.  Aside from a few small exceptions for some very basic elemental items, such as black and white paint (still have plenty of colors), Mod Podge, one stack of pre-cut aceo cards, gesso, and brushes, etc, I rarely ever find myself having to buy art supplies.  Take canvases for example.  For years now I've been building and preparing my own painting supports using second-hand picture frames that I acquire for very cheap, or even free.  And I have what must be a lifetime supply by now, thanks to a local charity rummage sale that gives me their end-of-sale leftovers.  At this rate I doubt I'll have to actually BUY another canvas ever again.

The following explains my painting-support-building process:

I have recently begun painting almost exclusively on supports I create myself utilising the old, salvaged wooden picture frames that cross my path from time to time (usually for free). I feel good about giving these unwanted homeless items a second life, not only because trees were cut down at some point to produce them, but also because by the time I get my hands on them they are usually destined for the landfill. The process of recycling these vintage frames into painting supports/canvases is a lengthy one, typically involving stabilizing the frames (which can be quite rickety), cutting thick paperboard to fit, securing it all and pasting and building up a painting surface with layers of overlapping scraps of paper. The end effect is a highly textured surface that adds dimension and depth to my paintings, complete with a built-in frame (onto which I often extend my painted images, incorporating the frames into the overall piece) into one cohesive, ready-to-hang whole....

Which brings me to the above Painting, 'Red Dress'.  I can't remember exactly when I started her, but it was many (many!) moons ago.   As you can see, the frame has been incorporated into the painting -- and therein I think is where I got a little stuck with this one, as I've played on and off with the background, proportions and details (getting her 'shoulders' to look right, etc etc) all this time.  But, finally, FINALLY today I put the finishing touches on her, including my signature, and am declaring 'Red Dress' done for once and for all...  Finis!  (and to be added soon to my Etsy shop)....

2nd Face of the '29 Faces' Challenge

"The Songstress" , 3.5" x 4" Painted Rock...Finished!

Meet 'The Songstress'.   A painted, found rock, this petite little beauty cradles her guitar in her arms as she regales us with a lovely tune of her own making....  

As long time readers of my blog may already know, I love to paint rocks.  Nature's own sculpture, I see the figures contained within them, then use paint to gently coax the images out, following the natural cracks, corners and crevices of the rock, so that others can see them too.  When I first found this particular rock, maybe a decade or more ago, I could see the female figure right away, and set out to painting her.  But for some reason I was never quite satisfied with several of her details, leaving her unfinished and unsigned over all these years.  I would go back to her from time to time and dibble-dabble -- but..., finally today I worked on her properly, sorting some issues out, such as her hair and instrument and so forth.  I'm happy to say I am now satisfied and declare her 'done' (and will be uploading her soon into my Painted Rock Gallery within my EBSQ Portfolio)....

'Stongstress' Back, showing her flowing long hair and the straw hat that has slipped off her head

'Songstress' back, with straw hat

A Vegetarian "Boar's Head"....

"Roasted and Basted" Table Centerpiece (Made entirely of Papier Mache)

Paper Pig

No piggies harmed in the making of THIS boar's head.....!

Roasted and Basted, Succulent PAPER

Actually, it's probably technically-speaking more of a 'pig head' than a 'boar's head' ('boar's head' just sounding better), but however you want to slice it (ahem ;-)), I am happy to report no critters were harmed in its creation (unless you count trees)....


I confess it had been some time since I'd taken on a paper mache project. As much as I adore the medium and champion all it's glories, it's probably safe to say the toil on my 10' tall Statue of Liberty Project may well indeed have burned me out for a wee bit there. Not that I'd ceased loving the craft or anything -- it's just that after such an ambitious endeavor it appears I needed a break, and an extended one at that, while I concentrated instead on painting and other pursuits. And so it was that I was able to tackle this recent project with a refreshed mindset after my little hiatus. Created upon request as a stage prop for a December 2011 theatrical production, I was really pleased with how my 'Pig Head' turned out -- roasted and basted and succulent in appearance (I'm vegetarian mind...so yeah. Gross.), it made for a very festive, show-stopping centerpiece dish suitable for any grand banquet table. And I approached this project in such a way that I can easily (well, relatively speaking anyway) make more of them, should I receive any additional Pig Head requests (as I repeatedly have for 'Horse Heads' all these many years) down the line (Medieval Feasts, anyone???  Madrigals too, and all that)....

Nibblefest Art Contest: 'Still Life'....

"Green Pear" for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (click for auction link)....

My entry for the October 2011 Nibblefest Art Contest (the theme this month being 'Still Life') features a single green pear rendered upon an 'upcycled', 3.5 x 4.5 wooden plaque. In addition to the vintage second-hand frames I tend to hoard (as mentioned in my previous blog entry), I also possess a collection of small wooden plaques that I've acquired second-hand through various means. To prepare these old plaques for painting I sand them and then cover them with overlapping scraps of paper in order to build up and create a new and textured surface upon which to paint (the textured surface lending depth and dimension to my paintings)...

I feel good about giving these old, unwanted items, typically headed for the landfill by the time they cross my path, second life in the creation of original art....

RedWood - by Patience for the 11th annual "Ripped Off" EBSQ Art Exhibit

'RedWood', my 2nd entry into EBSQ's 'Ripped Off' exhibit

I was able to finish and upload this 'Ripped Off" EBSQ show entry this past weekend -- a fun project and very enjoyable for the opportunity to partner up with my buddy, Tina Calderin. (Thanks, Tina!)...

RedWood - by Patience from Ripped Off 11 art exhibit (click link for more info)....

Side View, demonstrating the painted frame....

My "RIPPED OFF"  inspiration:  "Wood Nymph", by Tina Cart

My accompanying artist's statement:

My partner for my second entry into this year's RIPPED-OFF exhibit was the wonderful pastel artist and painter, Tina Calderin, of GalleryT....

So many lovely pieces to choose from in Tina's EBSQ portfolio, but I finally decided upon her painting, 'Wood Nymph', to RIP, attracted as I was to her flowing, flaming hair and captivating blue eyes, but also to the intriguing way in which Tina painted a floral arched 'frame' as part of her painting's background...

I have recently begun painting almost exclusively on supports I create myself utilizing the old, salvaged wooden picture frames that cross my path from time to time (usually for free). I feel good about giving these unwanted homeless items a second life, not only because trees were cut down at some point to produce them, but also because by the time I get my hands on them they are usually destined for the landfill. The process of recycling these vintage frames into painting supports/canvases is a lengthy one, typically involving stabilizing the frames (which can be quite rickety), cutting thick paperboard to fit, securing it all and pasting and building up a painting surface with layers of overlapping scraps of paper. The end effect is a highly textured surface that adds dimension and depth to my paintings, complete with a built-in frame (onto which I often extend my painted images, incorporating the frames into the overall piece) into one cohesive, ready-to-hang whole....

Interpreting Tina's 'Wood Nymph', I used one of these hand-constructed, repuposed framed painting supports as my canvas, concentrating on her subject's beautiful hair color, cascading waves and serene expression, while including my own version of a painted floral frame using the same hues as Tina's (including her bold red background).....