Text and Image

Combing text and image challenges me.  I want to be able to add my calligraphy to my artwork and make the two work together.  I do not know why this combination causes me some frustration. I need lots of practice to make it work.  I took Jane Davies' Text and Image online class this Autumn to learn some new techniques and ideas for design.  Some of these are more successful than others.  The simple ones speak to me the most.

Merry Christmas and Holiday Greetings

Blessings to you and your family for a joyous Christmas.

Happy Winter Solstice

Happy Winter Solstice!  This morning, I hung my seasonal weather grams from my calligraphy friends. I chose the lilac bush so that they are seen from the front yard and can be seen out the living room window. After a cold spell, it's almost balmy here today.

I really like the saying each person pens.

Mine is the one on the bottom left, "Darkness, candles flicker, bring in the Light".

Wonky Drunk with Love Log Cabin Quilt Blocks

Fifteen of us from the Portland Art Collective joined a wonky drunk with love log cabin quilt exchange.  Each month we each receive a packet of fabric strips to make a quilt block for that person.  I thought I'd share with you some of the quilt blocks that I've made. This month, I hand out fabric strip packets for my quilt and will post the blocks that I receive in the future. I have never made a quilt and learned so much about color, cutting and piecing with this project.  It's a fun way to remember fellow artists' work all stitched up in a warm, cozy quilt.

Orly Avineri Nature Journaling Summer Workshop

The frigid cold temperatures outside make me think of summer and the nature journaling workshop that I took with Orly Avineri this July on Whidbey Island.  Here's a peek at my journal.  The front cover-

 the back cover-

First page-

Forest collections-

Another page-

She let go and burst into flame-

Collections from the seashore-

This workshop challenged me to think about and play with the differences of literal and abstract art explorations and interpretations.