Working with Positive and Negative Space

Lively Lettering

A couple of weeks ago, I took a workshop with Julie Wildman. We played with lively letters- ways to add energy to lettering. We experimented with a variety of tools, media and ways to add color. It's all a quest for me to become more expressive in my lettering. The challenge is how to assimilate the lettering with my artwork.

 

Weather Grams to Celebrate Fall Equinox

Each season brings it own changes and blessings. Today to celebrate the Fall Equinox I hung the weather grams made by calligraphy friends. It's a seasonal ritual that makes me think of Mother Nature and all she gives to us - a time to be grateful.

Quilt Block for New Baby Blanket

The Portland Art Collective started a new project to stimulate member creativity. Each person gives participants supplies and directions for her individual project. Cynthia is having us make blocks for a quilt for her new grand baby. She gave us each a packet of fabric. I enjoyed working with these light, colorful scraps to make this block. We're all helping her to get the whole quilt made by October.

Painted Birdhouse for Portland Art Collective Exchange

For a couple of weeks, I've been painting this birdhouse. It started out as a Joann's find on sale. The leaves and bird on the front are painted, stamped metal 3-D pieces. I hope some bird will find it to be a lovely home.

"I want to paint the way a bird sings".  Monet

Celebrating Summer Solstice with Weather Grams

Yesterday, I hung my weather grams in the lilac tree in the front yard. It's a wonderful ritual to share with my calligraphy friends. We've done this for five years now, four seasons a year. Each one is special and makes me think of the scribe who wrote it.

Thank you dear friends.

Immigration Activist Scribe

For our final class project, we became activist scribes. I chose immigration as my theme because I feel passionately about the subject and it's meaning to our country. My grandfather immigrated to the US from Sweden. My inspiration for the format of my artwork came from the Vision Quilt  about preventing gun violence. My focus combined Lady Liberty and the Virgin of Guadalupe to welcome immigrants to our shores and across our borders.

 The Neuland lettering of Emma Lazarus' poem is made of fabric.

Four quotes on immigration surround her.

Nihil humamum a me alienum puto.  Nothing human is alien to me. Terrence, Roman poet
This was the slogan of the Immigration and Naturalization Service from 1933-2003.

George Washington said, "I had always hoped that this land might become a safe and agreeable asylum to the virtuous and persecuted of mankind to whatever nation they belong."

"Remember always, that all of us, you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionaries." Franklin D. Roosevelt

John F. Kennedy said, "Everywhere immigrants have enriched and strengthened the fabric of  American life."

The banner  promotes "A World Without Borders".