Networking with Artist Blogs for Friendship and Inspiration

Robin Olsen surprised me with a Liebster blog award. Her blog, Rough Around the Edges, always inspires me with her fresh, creative ideas with fibers and the new directions her artwork takes in her painting, journals and travels. I really appreciate her passing this award onto me. Thank you, Robin.

The award is meant to showcase bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers. It originated in Germany and means "favorite" or "dearest." The rules are you must mention and link to the person who gave you the award and mention five other blogs that you think are worthy of the Leibster.

Dayna Collins- Her blog, Alley Art Studio - Be Bold, showcases her artful journey through her paintings, curious elements, travels, workshops and antique/junk hunting. I'm always amazed at her artistic energy.

Jo Reimer- Her blog, One a Day, offers examples of her daily art making and experimentation with her painted/paper collages, photographs, journals and paintings.

Liesel Lund- Her Blog, Adventure in Pretty, highlights her art interests in watercolor and mixed media painting, art journaling, jewelry and photography.

Lorrie Haymaker- Her blog, Lily Lovekin Tails, shares her life journey with its ups and downs, bits of wisdom, insights into daily living, poetry and wonderful photographs.

Penelope Harris- Her blog, Radiant Crust, tells wonderful stories about her artwork, art exchanges and other esoteric topics that enter her very inventive mind.

Blogging allows me to make and network with artist friends all over the country. Even though we live miles apart, I feel close to each one. Their friendship and inspiration stoke my creative fires.

Thankful for my Art Groups

Readers of my blog know how important my art groups are to my life. I feel fortunate to belong to several- Portland Art Collective, Portland Artist Group, Gussies art journaling retreat group, a weekly sketch group and a group that explores new art techniques together.

It's great to have so many like minded art friends. I learn something new from each member. They keep me inspired, encouraged to try new media and focused to create on a regular basis. Each friendship is a blessing.
The January/February issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissors has an article entitled "Strength in Numbers- or how to start your own art group" written by Tory Brokenshire and Robin Olsen.

If you're not already in a local art group, I encourage you to start one for 2012.

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.