Gifts that Keep on Giving

For a month, I've watched the paperwhites grow and now blossom. Each day is full of a new surprise- the angle of a leaf, the sprout of a bud and the bloom of a flower- gifts that keep on giving.
The growth and blossoming of the paperwhites remind me of other gifts that keep on giving- friendship, the love and support of family, mother nature, books and new ideas, sharing, a random act of kindness, wonder and curiosity, adventure and travel, memories, dreams and special moments.
I am grateful everyday for these gifts. In this season of giving, it's time to remember all the gifts that give us daily sustenance and pleasure.

A Big Thank You to All Who Came to our Open Doors Show and Sale

Thanks to all who stopped by my booth at the Portland Art Collective Open Doors Show and Sale to say hello. It's fun to see friends and family. Your support means a lot. I appreciate all who offered good wishes and were there in spirit, too.

For more photos of the show check out the post by Dayna Collins on our Portland Art Collective blog HERE

and to learn more about the Portland Art Collective listen to an interview with Robin Olsen and Lorraine Jones hosted by Eva Lake that aired on KBOO radio HERE

Rose Paintings

Last Spring at ArtFest, I created a Deck of Roses in a class with Orly Avineri.
A friend asked me how I was going to use them. I made note cards with the images but wanted to do more with the originals.
They sat on my desk for a long time. Then a light bulb went on in my brain with an idea on how to use them. I glued each one onto canvas.
I added a textured, molding paste border, paint and voila- new paintings.
I love to combine new techniques that I've learned. My joy in creating art is in the process- experimenting, designing and seeing a piece evolve into something I like.

You can see them in person next weekend, December 2nd and 3rd, at the Portland Art Collective Open Doors Art Show and Sale.

Journal Kits for Open Doors Art Show and Sale

This year for our Portland Art Collective Open Doors Art Show and Sale, I've made journal kits. Each kit includes a twenty page 5 x 8 inch journal with Vellum Bristol 80# paper, a Pentel water brush and a Coptic Multiliner water proof pigment ink pen and...

a palette with fifteen different Peerless Transparent Water Colors. A "How-to-Journal" Zine completes the kit.
The kit contains everything that one needs to make a travel, garden, art or personal journal.

Wild Arts Festival

Each year, the Portland Audubon Society sponsors a Wild Arts Festival. Local artists create and donate 6x6 inch canvases with a bird theme to benefit Portland's wildlife. My contribution is entitled Frost Moon.

The 2011 Wild Arts Festival is November 19th & 20th at Montgomery Park. It's a wonderful opportunity to see nature-themed work by Northwest and nationally known artists and writers.

Botanical Paintings

At ArtFest last spring, I took a workshop from Orly Avineri called Roots and Shoots. The two collaged paintings that I created can be seen HERE. They measure 11x14 inches.

Using the same techniques, I made these four 6x6 inch botanical paintings. I like the combination of loose abstract lines with finely detailed collaged and drawn lines.

The mixed media paintings include acrylics, inks and paper collage.

All of these paintings will be for sale at the December Portland Art Collective 'Open Doors' Show and Sale.

Word Keys for Open Doors Show

I made more word keys for our Portland Art Collective Show and Sale in December. Last year, they were very popular. The safety deposit keys are flooded with solder with metal stamped words, hand soldered silver jump rings, beads and a bit of fiber.

Words become keys to life, a reminder to dream or play. Many artists choose a word for the New Year to guide them in their artwork. Selecting one can be a powerful affirmation and tool for change for anyone.
I used the skills that I learned in Stephanie Lee's Homesteaders Metalsmithing online class
to make the keys and brooches.

Creative Hands

Last weekend, we drove to Menucha in the Columbia Gorge for an art retreat. Dayna Collins inspired me to take photos of the artists' hands. For me, this weekend offered a time to honor friendships, laugh, create, share, reflect and enjoy the beauty of nature. I came home full of inspiration, wonder and a full heart.

Jewelry for Portland Art Collective December Show

Completing projects for our December Portland Art Collective Show is keeping me busy. The brooches are now finished. The pin back has a bail so they may be worn as a pendant.




Last summer, I took Stephanie Lee's Homesteaders Metalsmithing online course. These brooches were inspired by her class. They are soldered bezels with my drawings, resin, sterling silver branches and wire wraps. In the coming weeks, I'll share more of my artwork for the show.

Katie Kendrick online class "Layered Impressions"

Last week, I started an online class with Katie Kendrick entitled "Layered Impressions". Many of her techniques are based on her upcoming book with the same name- a mixed media approach to painting and poetry. I've always admired the story telling style in her artwork. I'm just scratching the surface here in practicing some of the lessons. We drew several faces with our non-dominant hand and selected ones to paint.

I like the mix of watercolors with gesso. This face reminds me of Colette in Les Misérables. I can see how some of Katie's ideas will improve my drawing and painting skills. It may take me awhile to get through all of the workshop exercises and to practice them. It's always exciting to learn new techniques and see how other artists interpret them. I'll share more in future posts. I took a class from Katie in 2009 called "Spontaneous Haiku Painting". You can see the book that I made HERE.

Sketching with Friends

This week, I was fortunate to play with my watercolors and sketch twice with two different groups of friends. In the watercolor above, I played with stencils, textured items, a little tissue paper collage and drawing. I am attracted to art with the combination of solid colors and line drawings. Knowing when to stop and let some white paper, negative space show in the background is a challenge for me.
Earlier in the week, my regular sketching group visited Hughes Water Gardens. I wanted to work freer and capture the spirit of the fuschia without pen and ink. It reminds me of Chinese brush painting.

It was a cloudy day and the flowers' bright colors really popped.

Koi filled a large pond.


The waterlilies bloom.

Waterlily blossom on reflected grid, floating flower of spirit and rebirth. Speak to us.