Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Sweet Things in Small Packages



Small Treats 10x8 collages
I have taken a diversion from tree branches to work on some small collages (12x12 or less). I have an upcoming trunk show where these small works and my flashbags will be featured here in Orlando in December. These small but sweet pieces are more stylized and less detailed than my larger pieces, so they are fun to work on between larger, more time consuming works.



Thursday, November 13, 2008

Growth, Change, Hope



New Branch Series
I have been working on a series of branches and flowering trees. These pieces are at the request of Juxtapose Gallery in Westfield, NJ. Gerri Gildea has had success with Paper Paintings there, recently selling Infusion and Moritake Butterfly, as well as Dogwoods

Juxtapose is a small gallery in a very unique town. Having grown up in Westfield, MA– I do smile every time I address a package to Westfield, NJ! Simple things make me smile.

Let me know what you think of the Growth, Change, Hope series, won't you? 


Monday, November 10, 2008

"Shaken" now on eBay!


SHAKEN, Click to Bid
SOLD!
8x10 collage of handmade and found papers
Art does make a one-of-a-kind Christmas gift! This original collage is framed in a 1.5-inch flat, plain, dark wood molding with finished back and hanging hardware. 

The first collage I posted on eBay had bidders the same day I posted it, so I figured I'd make another small collage available for auction. These small collages are not available in galleries.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

An Obama Victory


Where Were You on Election Day 2008?
A Brighter Future, 18x24, collage on panel
This Paper Portrait was completed last night as the election results poured in. This morning it is the featured collage on my website.

Last night in my studio I was working and listening to NPR, but it was my husband who kept running out with the good news, who really kept me on top of the CNN coverage and results. "Take a break and come in!" he kept saying as I struggled with the corners of Obama's smile. And so, I was back and forth between the studio and the living room...

I was really hoping Obama would win the majority vote in Florida. For the past three weeks I have been phone banking and canvassing as a volunteer for the Barak Obama Campaign for Change. I was lucky enough to attend both FL Rallies with my good friend and fellow volunteer, Jodi. We even took our young daughters to the midnight rally in Kissimmee! The campaign was up against a big challenge here in the I-4 Corridor of Central Florida. Obama actually did it, he won the Orlando area... all our volunteering efforts made a difference. Yes We Can!

Everyone will always remember what they were doing on this historical election day. I was lucky enough to be doing what I really enjoy and believed in. I did phone banking for the Obama Campaign for four hours in the morning, and I cannot tell you how overwhelmed I was when I arrived at our Longwood office to find volunteers filling the rooms to the point that there were no more chairs! We had to sit on coolers at card tables in the "food room" to make our phone calls, urging voters to get out and make their voices count. Speaking of food, that also poured in, in the arms of volunteers who just walked up the steps and said, "what can I do to help?"

After completing all my phone banking sheets, I headed over to my son's elementary school for Art See, a PTA sponsored program that presents famous artists to students at the elementary school level. On election day, I taught 3rd graders about the abstract art of Paul Klee. I reminded them that art did not need to look like a photograph, and that everyone has a different view of the world, that is what makes us unique and individual.

In the evening I went to work in my backyard art studio, which I am so fortunate to have since it keeps me close to home and my family, but carves out a space where I can do what I love -- surrounded by piles of bits and pieces and scraps of paper, a wonderful mess!

I truly believe that with our new leader, our country is going to head in a new direction. I have learned through volunteering that people from all different backgrounds can come together and work toward a common goal, even though they might have different views, toward a brighter future.


A Brighter Future - Unframed
24" x 18" (61.0cm x 45.8cm)
collage on Panel
$400 plus $12.95 shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.


Monday, November 3, 2008

Trying Something New


Click Here to Bid on This Paper Painting
SOLD!
This 10x10 original art collage titled High and Dry is framed in a contemporary 1-inch square edge, gold leaf frame.

While I admire the artists who can produce "A Painting A Day" I can't imagine keeping up with that pace! I do have a few small original collages which will ship easily enough and I decided to test the water with selling them online. If it works, I will do more. Who knows....

Take a minute to click the link, and let me know what you think!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Paper Paintings Published!


Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine
I have a "how to" feature article (5-pages!) published in the current November/December issue of Cloth Paper Scissors magazine which details my collage process in a step-by-step format. Since I have started doing Figurative Collage Workshops, having an article detailing the process will be a helpful education tool for me. The magazine is available at Borders as well as news stands nationally! 

You can check out the Cloth Paper Scissors website , for the "online extras" to the printed magazine article, but to see the whole feature, you gotta buy the issue! 

The folks at Cloth Paper Scissors were great to work with, and I thank them for the beautiful layout and design of the article, it looks great! What an honor to be published in such a high quality artists' magazine.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Katharine Butler Gallery


"Hey! It's The Chicken Lady!"
When Chris Falk at the KB Gallery asked me to bring six rooster collages for my first month as a gallery artist, I said to him, "you know this is going to have folks peg me as the 'rooster artist' when they see all these roosters collages and nothing else." 

Sure enough, I was called the "Chicken Lady" (even better) five minutes in the door. LOL I used to work for marketing and financial guru Charles J. Givens who said "there is no such thing as bad publicity, all publicity is good, they will remember your name..." or something to that effect. 

I am happy to be recognized, and praised for my roosters. Chuck would be proud of me! I look forward to show as the featured artist at the Katharine Butler Gallery in February where I get to show them other diverse subject matter.... like cows. :)