Valentine

Just a few new things I created for Ten Women Venice Gallery hurrying to get ready for Valentine's Day.  There's just not enough hours in the day...

This week the nominations for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences were announced and as I have done for the past 10 years now, I started personalizing the nomination certificates in calligraphy.  It's a very large job that consumes my time for about 2 weeks and there's a luncheon as well where the certificates are given out and I also create the name tags for that. 
The anticipation and preparation is nerve racking as I have other jobs that need to get finished as well that got held up for one reason or another.  Juggling several areas of my life that are demanding has become something that never seems to change but indeed has gotten more intense as I'm getting older... 

And, older I'm getting.  I'll be 64 in a few weeks and the only good thing I see about getting to this age right now is that next year I can switch to Medicare and reduce my medical insurance.  Boy, will that be a big savings.
I'm not doing anything special for my birthday except perhaps use a Christmas gift of a massage and get a pedicure.  Ahhh, the simple things in life.

Shiva Paint Sticks

This is my first attempt at using Shiva Paint Sticks.  It was challenging at first but I got into it especially after driving all over Los Angeles looking for who sold them.  I had no idea they would be so hard to find.

Letters California Style 2010

Each year, usually in February, the Society for Calligraphy (SFC) has a mini Conference in Pomona, California at Kellog West Cal Poly which is very much like the big conference held in different parts of the U.S.   We bring in about 8 teachers to teach classes over a long weekend.  Brenda from Paper & Ink Arts sets up her mini shop and teaches a mini class and the artists have a chance to sell their art as well.  Ward Dunham comes to sell pens and wax seals and it's all really lots of fun and gives us a chance to get together and schmooze in a large arena once a year.

We also invite artists to donate a piece of art for the auction to raise money for our Southern California chapter.  This year I donated an original mixed media on wood with sculpted letters, entitled "Love of Letters".  I hope it bring in a worthy amount.

Misty's class

I'm taking an online class with Misty Mawn, and I'm really enjoying it.  I haven't done much sketching...I didn't feel like I had the patience to do both mixed media and working with pencil.  But, here I go, never say never.  There is so much to learn.  I will be working in Shiva next.  Another thing I've never done.

Only one of these didn't have a model to guide me...can you guess which one?

Spending time with the grand kids

Yesterday I picked up the kids at their perspective homes, James in North Hollywood then Izabella in Altadena.  We headed out to Huntington Gardens in Pasadena and spent a glorious afternoon running around, playing hide and seek, seeing carnivorous plants and coy fish and just spending time together.  After the storms of last week, the weather was glorious and it was good to be out in sunshine.

 

 

 

 

They're growing so fast and I'm happy that they will grow up knowing each other. 

Sharing

I want to take a moment to say thank you to the followers and visitors of my blog.  I find it hard to put into words what your support means to me.  Everytime I receive a comment I feel like a little kid who comes home from school to show what I created today and feel so proud when I am complimented and encouraged.  The feeling is addicting.  I once joked with my friend about how she had become a blog slut (pardon the expression) because she couldn't get enough.  Well, it takes one to know one.  The feeling is so rewarding. 

I truly am a kid...a 63 almost 64 year old kid who hasn't grown up yet.  I'm also someone who so much appreciates the privilege of doing art for a living.  It is definitely my one saving grace in my life.  When all else fails and I can't take my life, I dive right into my art where I know I'm safe, where I can forget all my troubles and feel embrace by this unknown miraculous experience every single time I pick up a pen, brush, pencil of any kind, any tool, any medium at all and put a mark to any surface and boom!  the world is wonderful again, everything is fine.  How lucky am I!

Before the holidays, I visited a site and it gave some guidelines on how to let the people you care about via internet get to know a little about me.  I thought this a wonderful idea and kept meaning to do it but busy is the only word that comes to mind as to why I didn't.  So here and now it goes........................

5 Things you might not know about me that I want to share

1. I did not graduate high school but attended college on my own terms taking courses I wanted to learn.

2. My second husband and I are together 40 years, but we were only married 3 of those years, divorced in 1990 but still very much together.  That should really tell you something about me. ;o)

3.  My 2 sons have children that they are not raising.  They are adopted by 2 lovely couples and I am fortunate enough to still have them in my life.  It is a very happy situation.

4.  I still have all my childhood girlfriends in my life (from the Bronx) since we were 12 years old even though most of us live in different parts of the US.  We have reunions every 4-5 years and act like teenagers when we are together.

5.  The only time I am truly happy is when I am creating art.

5 Things going on in my creative life

1. I purchased a very expensive printer to use to create prints of my art and a card line using both my mixed media art and calligraphy.

2. The start of Inspirational Retreat has encouraged me to get connected to the various artists whom I admire and to be brave in my attempts at feeling equal.

3.  I am planning on sending art in to be published to the various magazines this year. 

4.  I plan do some videos to share how I make various creations exclusive to me. 

5. I am planning on starting a selling blog.

5 Things that inspire me

1. I get so inspired by visiting other artist blogs, their flickr and websites and become encouraged to do the same by sharing.

2. I am truly inspired by taking hands on workshops and meeting the artists and physically seeing how they work at their art.

3.  I love taking online workshops because I can go at my own pace and see how everyone else is progressing by their sharing.

4.  I am inspired by looking through all my favorite publications (almost all Stampington) Cloth Paper Scissors, etc. and reading the articles, absorbing the techniques and trying some that appeal to me.  I've grown so much by this.  I also have purchased many books published by my favorite artist.

5.  I also love and am inspired by being surrounded by art so I purchase from some of my favorites (within reason of course, budget allowing).

I'm going to add one more thing to this list because it truly warrants being mentioned....

6.  Being part of an artist gallery is a privilege and blessing and continually inspires me to be the best artist I can be.

I hope that by sharing a little bit of myself personally will bring me closer to all of you.  I will always welcome your comments, negative and positive, as I want to be the best I can be and hope to grow from the critique.

Again, my humble thanks for all your support.
Much love and gratitude.....R

Getting geared up for Valentine's Day

Ten Women will be doing a Valentine's window for February so I'm creating some canvas work for that....

These are 6x6 canvas', gallery quality and I had such fun creating them.  A more casual style then I'm used to.

The Fruits of Life

This mixed media collage painting was very challenging for me.  I started it so long ago on heavy watercolor paper and was trying a new collage technique that didn't quite work out but I liked the images so I kept at it.  I had no idea where I was going with it once my failed attempts were fixed so every day I did a little something to it and this is the result.  I even added a little something else to it after I took this photo but was too lazy to set up the camera again before I took it into the gallery. 

After I finished it I mounted a natural handmade paper on wood and then mounted the painting on top and attached some wire to the back for hanging.  It always amazes me how I start out with a certain direction in mind and it turns out to have a mind of it's own.  I do wonder how I manage to accomplish things sometimes.
Oh well, I got it done and that's what counts in the end.

Samuel's Birth Announcement

In the 90's I created custom framed birth announcements such as this one by the dozens.  That was way before all the new stuff for scrap booking came out.  I would get the announcement and depending on the theme would draw all the little characters,etc., water color them, cut them out, collage them and create a one of a kind, dimensional keepsake.  However, this one was mostly created with store bought scrap booking ephemera with the exception of the waves and clouds.  Each one was further personalized with my dimensional Roman letters that are drawn, scored, cut and shaped.
I had created 2 others for this client way back when and she contacted me when her daughter was due to give birth with her third, unexpected child and wanted them all to have a similar keepsake.  I don't remember what the others looked liked so I'm hoping this one will fit right in.

 

New beginning - new work

This is a mixed media painting on canvas which was really fun to do.  Ten Women will be doing a Valentine window in February so I'm creating some pieces for that.

2010

I am really excited about 2010.  I feel that this year will be a really good one for all of us. 

New Year's eve day I moved up front at Ten Women Venice Gallery.  I'm very thrilled to be in my new position because of the additional exposure and possibility of more sales.

The gallery has a main area and then there's a small area that is divided by a partition making it an additional room.  For the past year I was in the additional room and did well.  Since moving, I sold an original and smaller items already.  I truly feel that the sales will continue if we get the traffic.  Like anything else, it will ebb and flow but I'm in a more advantageous position when the flow arrives.

There are empty spaces already that need to be filled.  Gotta get to work...see ya soon.

Happy Happy

This Holiday Season is filled with so many things to be grateful for.  When I look back on the year I can reflect on lots opportunities that presented itself to me and that altered my life for challenging myself.  Change is hard sometimes, especially at my age but worth the effort all around. 
I made so many wonderful friends and contacts and have broadened my world just by reaching out.  I will forever be grateful. 
I also made changes on a personal level by trying to look at life, family and friends in a different way and accepting them just the way they are.  I realized that I can be judgmental and self righteous but where does that serve me...I get to be right in my own mind.  It is after all, a judgment on myself.  That reflection doesn't make me feel very right.  And, I don't have control over anyone and anything other than the way I think.

This coming new year, I will work on Acceptance on a broader scale.  I truly want to know what the word means and how I can adapt to its meaning.  I'm hoping that the outcome will help me accept myself with all my flaws, imperfections and bring more peace into my life.  I believe that, for me, will bring me more happiness.

May Peace on Earth prevail, Enlightenment unfold, and may we all realize that what we focus on is what will present itself.  All it takes is a little courage to take a step for change if only in a thought.

Happy Holidays and a Healthy and Prosperous 2010.

With Love,
xxxxoooo

Inspirational Retreat ad in January Somerset Studios

I'm so excited that the Inspirational Retreat ad we posted in Somerset Studios has finally arrived at my door step today.  I could hardly wait to get the publication inside and find the ad along with all the classes posted in the Gatherings section.

We have such a fabulous line up of artists all the way through August.  I know that once the classes begin and the word gets out what a wonderful experience it was, it will be the place to come to for inspiration from a favorite artist teachers.

Patience has never been a strong part of my personality and this takes patience as with anything new.  It's been a dream of mine since it's conception to make each workshop a unique, comfortable, inspiring, and a personally rewarding experience.

I've been to many workshops over the years and have felt intimidated, closed up creatively, cramped for personal space and rushed among other things.  Knowing what I would want at a workshop gives me opportunity to prepare a weekend where teacher and student feel that the exchange of give and take is genuine and complete and that each person is getting everything they signed up for and more.  I see so many possibilities and can only hope that the dream becomes a reality.  As they say..."Build it and they will come".

Fairies by Renee

I've been making these fairies for a number of years now and I've decided to make a video on how to create them.

These whimsical little ones are about 5" tall and are fun and easy to make.  The hard part will be making the video and finding the time.

 

My submission to Holiday Window

I chose a natural theme with birds. I adore bird art which is a popular theme for a lot of artist these days. It always amazes me how different each artist work is.
I used the 6x6 canvas that will keep the window display uniform and did my usual mixed media collage work on them working with all 3 at once.
I then added the birds from 2 different sources. One was a napkin that displayed 2 different birds and one was a photo that I cut out. I added natural and purchased ephemera to each canvas keeping them similar but not the same. I'm pleased with the results and now I hope someone else will think so too.

I have a double shift at the gallery on Thursday and will take photos of how the window looks and post soon.

Holiday window at Ten Women

We just changed the window at Ten Women Gallery and of course, it has a Holiday theme. We decided that each artist do as many 6x6" canvas' as they liked in their own medium. I submitted my canvases along with 3 that had this to say. These are mixed media collage with my calligraphy written with acrylic ink and broad edge pen.






Because we are a co-op, each artist has individual jobs to contribute to the gallery's up keep. Being a calligrapher, I get all the signs, tags, and announcements. It's nice to use my skills to make it all look professional.
























































I will post my submissions next...

Great find at the Rubber Stamp Convention

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Lisa and I went to the Rubber Stamp Convention in Carson. I'm always excited and scared to attend because although I don't need anything, I always find these special things that I just have to have and end up spending way too much money. But, this time I found a little treasure that made my heart sing. Shadow Frames by Darcies.

These little die cut shadow frames that came in a variety of sizes and shapes just called my name. They were not expensive either. The kit had all the parts and was raw chip board to decorate the way you wanted and even had the plexiglass and clips for full assemblage. This piece is 5x5" and I paid around $4.99.

I put a decorative paper for background, cut a heart from a bible page...(I know, blasphemy...but the bible was falling apart and I used it for preservation :o)...I added a ribbon, tied a key and tag then painted the outer frame gold and rubber stamped with flourish. Kind of neat, huh?

By the way...Happy Thanksgiving!

More for Ten Women Gallery

Some book marks to add to a new growing variety of items for Ten Women Gallery. These started as paste paper that I tore into the size that slips in the plastic book mark holders. I collaged and
added the calligraphy. I even added a tassel at the end.

























These are ornaments with a natural flare so they can maybe sell even after the holidays...


















I purchased a thin piece of wood at Michaels to make this door hanger, used gesso and stenciled a design when dried and layered white acrylic to soften the stencil design. After doing the letters which are also stenciled, I decorated them and put a layer of mat medium to seal. I used glue along the edges and sprinkled glass crystals on top of the glue to give a snowy look. Drilled small holes, threaded with wire, a bead, ribbon, strip of fabric and whalla! That's all she wrote!

Holiday Ornaments for Ten Women Gallery

I'm getting ready for holiday at Ten Women Gallery. I'm creating handmade ornaments, greeting cards and mixed media gifts and canvas' for the December window.

I finally got out my sewing machine before it got rusty and it felt good to put needle and thread to my work. It added another dimension. I was inspired by Ruth Rae
http://www.flickr.com/people/ruthrae/
who I admire and think is a fabulous artist.

These are just a few of the ornaments.

For Izabella...My Bell

Last year for my birthday, my son Sal, gave me a BD cake with Cinderella on top. His choice of BD cakes was probably pretty slim when he bought it ;o). He also knew I would save the topping to use again...
At Michaels, I purchased a small wooden box just for the cake topping to make a jewelry box for my 5 year old grand daughter, also Sal's daughter, Izabella, aka, Bella, Izzy, My Bell, Bell Bell...

Izabella will be in Argentina with her dad for Christmas. But for Thanksgiving, my hubby and I are taking the smaller grandkids to see "A Christmas Carol" and a stage show in Hollywood style next Saturday and afterward will have a buffet dinner at home with grandkids and their parents to give thanks for all our blessings. I will be giving her the gift that day.

I approached the design by putting gesso on the box first then painted several layers of pink and white until I reached the perfect blend. Izabella adores PINK and I wanted her to love it! I then collaged with childrens music sheet cutting it with a decorative scissors and doing the same with a complimentary decorative paper for the borders.
I outlined with charcoal pencil and dotted with white pen for accent. Using a sponge to a black ink pad I rubbed along the edges to give an aged appearance. I painted the legs with gold acrylic as well as the clasp. And, after adding decorative paper to the inside, I glued Cinderella on top and dress her with trim and ribbon, rosettes and rhinestones. I personalized it "Princess Izabella" then gave it a final coating of acrylic crystal clear to seal.

I attended the Rubber Stamp Convention in Carson last weekend and found a one of a kind charm that had a silver crown and with a white, pink and green glass bead on top...a perfect gift to put on a chain and put inside the Princess Box. She also loves Hello Kitty so I added a few little HK goodies to the box as well.

Bella's mom, Anna, is an artist and a naturalist. She always prefer the hand made gifts to the purchased and I'm always willing to oblige. I feel assured that the gifts I make and give will be appreciated, taken care of and preserved so Bella will have them as she grows into an adult with hopes of her always remembering me. I know how I feel about the few things I have from my mom that I treasure and will pass along as well. I only wish I had realized what is meaningful to me now, back when I was younger.

I could probably come up with a dozen or so quotes that would be perfect for this situation...but all I can think of is, I only know what is important today and I will take it into tomorrow to try and make a difference.

Inspirational Retreat sign

Today is Lisa's birthday...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LISA! Last night her wonderful daughters threw her an all girls surprise party and it was so fun. We danced our booties off and I have the aches and pain today to prove it.

When we started planning the retreat back in July, she mentioned she would love a sign outside her front door. Thinking it would be a good idea and a perfect present for her I got started on it about month ago to give it to her as a birthday gift.

It's an old wood shelf that I wasn't using...4'x2'...I was quite pleased with how it turned out. This was the first time that I had a vision of what I wanted it to look like and it actually turned out that way. It's gonna look great hanging outside the front door welcoming the teachers and all the students. I'll take photos when it's hanging there.

Balance

For my space at Ten Women Gallery Venice, among the things that I create are my mosaic collages in shadow box frames. I choose a word and add the letters to each of the squares so it spells out the word and collage the squares using ephemera and mixed media stuff. The paper is usually paste paper designed by me as I like to keep everything authentic. I add short quotes that relate to the word and coordinate colors to give it an over all aesthetic quality.

My most popular piece is always "Gratitude". And, again it sold about 3 three weeks ago. The gal who purchased it called me to order custom mosaic collages for 3 of her friends each one personalized to their personalities. This is right up my alley. I love custom creating for the challenge of it. This is the first one I did for her...It's called "Balance".

A gift for Lisa LaRosa

The 15th is Lisa's birthday and I plan to give her the sign as a gift. This sign will hang outside the entrance of the Inspirational Retreat, http://www.lisalarose.blogspot.com

Here's some details I added...

This is the very first time I created a mixed media collage where I had an idea of what I wanted it to look like and it came out very close to how I had envisioned.

There are many layers involved. I just kept adding to it to get some depth. When I felt less was more and needed to stop, which in my case is very difficult, I laid down the calligraphy using a brush and acrylic black ink. Several layers of ink went down as well to deepen the black and I sprinkled Schmienke gold powder while it was drying.

This is a piece of wood that I had used as a shelf in the past. It's 4 feet by 2 feet and is the biggest piece I've ever worked on.


I hope she likes it....I can hardly wait to give it to her.

My friend from a Farr

About 2 weeks ago I was invited to participate in an Tag Art Event where you send a piece of your art to a person on the top of the list and add your name to the bottom, etc. You're supposed to receive little bits of magic in the mail. I joyfully did my part and sent off my art to the top name on the list, Diana Frey, a wonderful artist and jewelry designer, come see... http://www.dianafrey.blogspot.com/ ...and promptly forgot about it after she had notified me she had received my gift of tag art. By the way, I'm excited to say that Diana will be teaching at Inspirational Retreat in May with Riki Schumacher, http://rikijewelry.blogspot.com/ and by herself in July.

Okay, so after returning home from a double shift at the gallery yesterday, I was anxious to get into my studio to continue my calligraphy work. I totally ignored the mail until my curiosity got the better of me after dinner when I realized that there were no bills haunting me to be paid. So off to the mailbox I went and low and behold..."what is this and who is sending me something addressed in gorgeous lettering?" I turned it over and to my surprise, a bell went off in my head to let me know that I was receiving my first bit of Tag Art. And, to make things even better, it was from someone I admire and who's blog I've been following forever it seems.



Jane Farr, calligrapher extraordinaire, my Indiana online friend, was tagged to send to me. Oh, the joy...did you see that envelope? http://janefarr.blogspot.com/


What was inside the envelope thrilled me to laughter as I explained to Jon what had made me so happy and the tag art. Look at all the goodies Jane sent. This is my drug of choice.


I'm off to play in my journal with all my goodies. Thank you Jane for making my day. Sending hugs and kisses.

Best Blog Award

It's my first and it's from my friend, Lisa. How fun and how proud I am to receive this award. Just because it only took me 5 days to figure out how to put it up on my blog doesn't mean I don't appreciate it....I truly do. So, thank you my dear friend. I am in gratitude.

Another Grandson

My life long friend Laura, had her 4th grand son in May...her fourth grand son. What happened to all the girls? Anyway, I finally got an opportunity to create a gift for her with the birth announcement she sent. She hasn't received it yet since I just sent it out to her on Saturday. She lives in NY so it'll take about 3-4 days till she receives it. I hope she doesn't come snooping over here to see what I'm up to cause it's a surprise.




This is before it was framed. Hope she likes it....

I'm published in "Hand Lettering"

"Hand Lettering" by Marci Donley and DeAnn Singh



Today I attended a book signing at Stamping from the Heart for Marci Donley and DeAnn Singh's new book "Hand Lettering" for which I was privileged to be invited to take part in. I really didn't think it would be as exciting to me as it was. I'm normally a low keyed kind of gal about tooting my own horn but it was kinda thrilling, I must admit. We had quite a turn out with food, drink and demos.

Here are some photos of my work and of the book signing event.


Here are Carrie Imai, the President of our Society for Calligraphy, Helen Chu and a customer buying a signed copy of the book.




Carrie getting ready to do her demo for a well attended group of attendees.





Lisa Engelbrecht and Nancy Campbell, also participants in the book, signing copies.





That's me in the back, next to Nancy, Carrie, Helen and Jane Shibata in the pony tail.






Nancy Campbell, Jane Shibata, Sylvia Kowal, DeAnn Singh, Marci Donley, Karen (owner of Stamping from the Heart) and seated, Lisa Engelbrecht. Oh yes....and me looking at ???



Marci doing her demo and Chris Ewen having a good time on the right.




I created a mixed media collage alphabet book from scratch which is where the photos were taken from.

New Logo

This is the new logo I designed for Lisa's Inspirational Retreat. I'm pretty happy with the way the calligraphy came out. And, I played around with it in Photoshop on my own with a little help from my friend, Lisa H. and Jon. What would I do without my support? What do you think?

Dream

Dream is a new mixed media collage on wood, now, one of my favorite surfaces to create on. It's so diverse...you can do all the things that you do on canvas plus attach ephemera using nails, tacks and whatnot. It's so fun and has endless possibilities not to mention it's much less expensive. I may eventually give up on canvas.

Believe in Yourself

This is a mixed media collage on canvas adding a calligraphic verse about how important we are and the need to believe in ourselves. I used some ephemera as well...I just love the 3 dimensional jolt.