2009 Art Journal Calendar

The past two years, I participated in collaborative Art Journal Calendars. I like to collage, sketch and write daily in my calendars. At the end of the year, I have a visual journal review of my activities, inspirations and dreams come true for the year. For 2009, I made my own art journal calendar using my artwork between calendar pages.
Here are the inside cover pages. Each page measures 7 x 8.5 inches so it looks like an engagement calendar.
For each month, I print out a calendar 14 x 8.5 inch paper. I space the calendar halves in Photo Shop to allow for the center binding.

I also include a list of art goals for the year to keep me focused on projects, mediums and accomplishments that I want to achieve.
I take the completed calendar to Kinko's to have them bind the book with a black, coil binding. Now, I'm ready for the New Year. Have a creative, happy, healthy and prosperous 2009.

Happy Winter Solstice- a new beginning

first snow- the neglected yard, now perfect. Elizabeth St. Jacques

winter solstice- the waterfall, frozen in mid-air. Sandra Fuhringer

Nature Gathered Fauna Piece

It's cold here in Portland with snow, ice and wind at 25°F. It's given me a chance to do a piece for our Nature Gathered group. Karen Winter's article on quilted pet portraits in the Aug/Sept issue of Quilting Arts inspired my squirrel. I even felted in a little snow on the ground for him. Working with fabric and thread helped keep me warm and cozy today. Hope you are all safe and sound during this cold snap.

Thanks for Making our Open Doors Show a Success

Thanks to everyone who came to our Portland Art Collective "Open Doors" Art Show & Sale this
past weekend. We had two sunny days. Many friends, family members and art lovers came to see and buy our art. I've posted photos of other Portland Art Collective members' art on the PAC blog. The creativity in this group always amazes me.

Mexican Field Notes for Nature Gathered

I'm getting caught up with my Nature Gathered posts. While in Mexico, the process of using natural materials for dyes really interested me. Both the weavers and the candle makers used
the same plant-based dyes for blue, green, yellow, brown or tan and cochineal for red. The colors are wonderful, rich and very earthy.

Más de México

Mexico holds many contrasts. This "dualidad" or duality makes the culture so rich. The country celebrates family yet has a high incidence of domestic violence. In Oaxaca, forty women die each month. Light and dark coexist. In the Panteon General or main cemetery in the city or Oaxaca, organizations that help women made altars and offerings to those who have died, to recognize their lives and to honor them.

In Xoxocatlán, we spent a quiet afternoon sketching in the cemetery. Families show their respect to their family members who have died. The offerings for Día de Muertos celebrate

life and welcome the loved ones' spirits to be remembered. It's a special tradition to stay connected to family through many generations.

We observed the faithful in the many of the churches and cathedrals that we visited. Hardship often makes one appreciate the little things in life we take so much for granted. ¡Gracias por la vida! Milagros- Mexicans believe in miracles.
Even in our hotel room, the sacred is remembered.
Las Flores- the flowers and gardens speak to the soul with tropical plants, peaceful inner courtyards.

Hola- Back from a wonderful trip to Mexico

Our trip to Oaxaca and Mexico City filled each day with many adventures and sites for all senses.

The first day, we explored the city, visited Casa de La Cultura Oaxaqueña for a Día de Muertos

presentation, checked out a couple of artisan markets and walked everywhere. It's been

eight years since I visited Oaxaca and I saw many outward changes- lots of cars & traffic, abandoned buildings, more graffiti, empty restaurants and fewer tourists. It's taken a

long time for the area to come back from the government and teacher wars of 2005-2006.

The people welcomed us everywhere we went and appreciated our interest in their work

and culture.

Businesses, restaurants, hotels and homes set-up altars or ofrendas to honor their loved ones
who have died.

Pablo took us on an artisan tour of the Central Valley. We visited the home and studio of painter

Román Andrade Llaguno and his wife, Marta. He paints with gouache on Mexican amate paper

made of tree bark. His whimsical paintings contain the colors and symbols of Oaxaca with a

strong emphasis on family life. At the home of Zapotec weavers in Teotitlán de Valle, the use

of natural dyes interested us: cochineal- for red the color of life, indigo for blue; marigolds or

cempazuchiles for yellow; moss for green and nuts for shades of brown.

Often around a corner, we heard a band and then saw a calendra or parade from a local church, women dressed in their traditional clothes, throwing out candy to everyone on the street and celebrating Día de Muertos.

Thanks to Leigh, we enjoyed filling in our inchies with sketches or other ephemera. I will post more photos and sketches. This trip reinforced my love of Mexico- the people, culture and traditions.