Papier Mache Masks....

A Painted Rock....

"The Sculptor"...

Waste Not

I have a personal quirk. Ok-ok, I'm certain to have any number of personal quirks, but here's a confession. I really despise waste....

Thanks in part probably to my upbringing I suppose -- my raising by two former depression-era farm kids, from big families (see previous post), both who understood the value of a dollar and did not suffer overindulgence nor excesses gladly, was bound to have its impact, no? Whatever the case the fact remains. Wanton waste, the likes of which our hyper-consumerist and disposable society seems increasingly within the grips of, really disturbs me.

It's a fact. A certain amount of Waste is simply going to be unavoidable in life. Yet we also know a big chunk of it isn't, and could actually BE avoided if for only a little conscious choice and effort, both community-wide, and as individuals. While it's not going to save the world, I'm feeling ever more compelled to reduce/avoid/amend waste wherever I personally can, here in my own little corner of it anyway. At times it feels like quite the compulsion.

As such, this has been the motivation behind much of my artistic rumination and output in recent years. Some time ago, I challenged myself to keep my purchasing of new commercial art supplies/materials (aside from paints/glue sticks/duct tape and a few other essentials) at a minimum -- in favor instead of using either whatever I may already have in my possession (which happens to be quite a bit actually, after years of accumulation) or what I might manage to scrounge, second hand or otherwise. I do believe there is already 'enough' elemental material floating around out there with which to work, without having to resort to buying the newest and the latest commercially available art supply (plus all the packaging, raw material and manufacturing that go into such products). Because honestly, if I can't creatively utilize what I already find around me to satisfy my artistic urges? I may as well hang up my artsy little french beret. As it stands, I've come to really appreciate how this limitation forces me to look at objects now with a more critical eye -- inspiring me to fandangle alternate usage before sending the miscellanea of life along its way to take up precious space in our overflowing landfills....

There's just something really seductive about making 'something from nothing' -- objects of creativity, if not exactly beautiful nor functional, at least 'purposeful' -- made from the heart with what otherwise might be considered 'scrap' (and likely why I'm so attracted to papier mache technique, and painting rocks)....

Lula

I love this photo. It's a picture of my maternal grandmother and grandfather, plus some random boy cousin (this couple had 10 children, and mega-tons of grandchildren, so I have lots and lots of cousins -- a score of whom I don't even know and wouldn't recognize on the street). I'm guessing this was taken in 1950's maybe? On the family farm -- showing off some garden produce by the looks of it....

Sadly, I never did know either of my grandfathers, both having died well before I was born (being the youngest child of older parents, who were themselves both youngest children of older parents, and something like this is bound to happen). My grandmother here, Lula, was my last surviving grandparent -- and she passed on when I was 8 (my dad's mom having died when I was 5). I still have fond memories of her though, and sometimes even dream about her.

She was a good grandma while I had her -- wish I could have gotten to know her better....

Papier Mache Boar's Head

Ha. In contrast to the previous post ("The Un-turkey)", here we have yet another lovely centerpiece dish -- because what holiday meal would be complete without the requisite, celebratory Boar's Head (complete with apple in its mouth)?

Only in this case, no porcine's were harmed in the making of this head -- only newspapers (created upon request for a local Medieval feast reenactment).... ....

T-giving Unturkey

Finally getting around to uploading this, from this past Thanksgiving....

In any case, we're an all vegetarian family, all four of us -- so what's such a family to do for that elusive Thanksgiving centerpiece, 'ooh-ahh', show-stopper dish, when turkey is just NOT an option?

Why, make an "Un-turkey" of course.

I've been making this annually for Thanksgiving for the last 15 or so years - a lovely savory dish, and beautiful to look at. It's hard to tell from the photo, but it's really quite sizable (sitting there on my special holiday platter). Inside, tucked within the puff pastry outer crust, are layers of sliced seitan and traditional-but-veg stuffing, all slathered with gravy. Isn't it lovely? Delicious too. And a lot of work, but worth it of course because my family just adores it....

'A Single Sprig of Lavender'

Well well. Finally, some actual art for my so-called 'art journal'....

Here we have one of my entries for this month's EBSQ online art show, known as 'The Late Show' (http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_690_profile_shows__2_2_G.htm).

This particular theme (Late Show) is intended for all the art projects that may have been initiated (or not) during a particular year for any of the previous 11 monthly shows, but which were not finished in time, for whatever reason. It's like being given a second chance to finish up or even start projects. And really, who can't use extra time?

Except in the case of the above painting that is. It actually WAS completed in time for 'The Lavender Show', back in August-- only when I attempted to upload/enter it into the show the evening of the deadline way back when? I'd forgotten to take in account 'Eastern Standard Time'. Since I'm on 'Central', the fact that it was just before midnight for me here meant it was actually AFTER midnight on the east coast, where the site is based. Thus technically I missed the deadline. Drat! Oh well, I suppose that is what one gets when one tries to squeak in too close under the wire, no? At least the Late Show is offered every year in December -- for these very sorts of occasions....