'Dream, Awaken' ...the process

'Dream, Awaken'

5" x 5" mixed media on canvas

Original $65.

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart ...
Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens."
- Carl Jung

How does the process begin? What goes through your mind? Do you have a clear vision of the outcome or just allow yourself to be guided.

This is my attempt to show you my steps or thinking as I am guided in the process of creating my layered mixed media works of nature. I begin with a quote and in this case the one above. I then decide on color and what is speaking to me at the moment. Using FW acrylic ink I apply the color to the canvas with cotton balls so to get a rustic looking background.

Next I write the quote using an Artwin pen and blur the writing by misting with water or rubbing alcohol. Although the quote has meaning it also provides a background. Sometimes I want it ledgable and will repeat a quote in a later stage of the painting.

More background is added with transfers of my designs I do on the computer. My favorite transfer method is printing the designs on transparency sheets and using rubbing alcohol to make the transfer.

*Side note here before I forget. I spray the piece with an acrylic spray or fixative between steps that I know will run to keep them fixed.

Next I add bits of paper for color, design, and texture. I apply the paper with a gel medium.

One of the final steps is painting in my nature subject.  It could be a bird, butterfly or plant life. Sometimes I have an idea at the beginning but it can change by this step. I originally was going to do a bird but a butterfly image became strong as I was creating the background.

I start by sketching the butterfly out on plain paper working from my photos. Using graph paper I transfer the outline to the canvas and fill it in with white gesso. The gesso provides a surface and background to make the butterfly stand out and not have the under-layers interfere with the colors. The butterfly was created with gouache and colored pencil.  The last step in this case was writing 'Dream Awaken' with a calligraphic pen and gouache.

I finish my canvas with a UV acrylic spray which is glossy. Then I apply a matte varnish.

I love the gallery wrap canvases that you can paint around the sides. I like to hang them as they are with no frame but you could frame them if you wish.

 

Mandala Fun and Camp

You should never go camping unprepared and that is just about what I had done. I forgot the the one most important item my Ott Light. Yes my intention was to do some art while at the cabin which by the way turned out to be wonderful with full accommodations except internet and cell phone reception. But we did have Direct TV!  We only turned it on late night.

So what to do when it is raining and cloudy with minimal lighting? We colored mandalas. My sister and Jean brought mandalas to color so we sat at the kitchen island coloring. Amazing how different the same design can turn out colored by different people. You find yourself going into a zen like zone coloring and blending watching life go into each design. I kept thinking I could design a mandala and so last night I created my first design. I didn't want to stop and this morning I tweaked it some more.

Now I want to share with you!  Download the design, print it out and have some fun coloring with pencils or markers. Share your colored creation on your blog, facebook, twitter or all of these social media. I would love to see them. And please if you will link back to here. I would appreciate it.

What else did we do at camp besides mandalas. My sister and I did the cooking creating soups (naturally) salsas, chili, and in desperation chocolate chip cookie dough to eat. Kelly and Terre brought their sewing machine to make their cute little owls.

I did get out for a little bit on the trails between the rain showers. Kicking myself for not taking more photos.

 

And a stray horse kept coming into the yard. She didn't look to good covered in mud needing a good brushing. We were able to locate a local horseman who said people have been reporting the stray horses. It was not his horse but came by to see if he could get the horse but it was gone by the time we reached camp again. He informed us that some people can no longer afford the horses and are letting them go to fend for themselves. How sad people would do such a thing. Take them to auction if you cannot take care of them. Don't let them run wild in the woods or on the roads where someone might get hurt. We informed the owners of the cabin and gave them the number for the county ASPCA.

While packing to go home the sun came out and we had beautiful blue skies and glorious yellows and reds dotting the trees. Even butterflies came out to bask in the sun. But it was soup night and had to make my way home for an evening with the kids and more soup. Love this time of year :-).

Special print offer of 'A Winged Heart'

For my blog and facebook fans I'm offering my print 'A Winged Heart' for $40. till the end of October 2009. This is a $5. savings plus free shipping is being offered till the end of October. Printed on archival fine art paper using pigment ink the image measures 13 x 15.

Buy now with paypal.
PA residence are subject to 6% sales tax.

Shipping: Prints are packaged in a clear bag with a hard backing for protection and will be mailed in a hard photo mailing envelope through USPS. Allow 5 - 10 days for receipt of purchase.

Please contact me with any questions or additional information about my work and prints.

Inspiration at the Mud Flats

The sun came out after days of rain and clouds last Thursday and the break in the weather allowed Michele and myself to take a late afternoon trip to the mud flats at Conneaut Harbor in Ohio. One of the wonderful things about living in Northwestern PA along Lake Erie is that we are about 45 minutes from either the Ohio or the New York state line and there is so much to see along this lake's shore that spans the three states.

We had been hearing from quite a few of our photography friends that Conneaut Harbor was the place to be right now to view migrating shore birds. The harbor also has a mud flat that attracts these shore birds as a migration stop to rest and feed. We geared up with high boots, cameras, and binoculars and ventured into the mud flats. Since the weather for most of August into September had been dry so were the flats which aloud you to drive out onto the flats.

At first we walked along the West side of the harbor and I was excited to see a Great Blue Herron among the Gulls.

 Great Blue Herron

Also walking along the shore that looked like little specks among the stones, driftwood and Gulls were the cutest little Sanderlings.  You didn't notice them till they started to scurry about quickly which made it hard to photograph till they came to a stand still or with luck settled down to sit for awhile which gave me an opportunity to lay down and for some close ups.

Sanderling

Sanderling

When we finally walked over to the flats we came across some birders observing a Red Phalarope. Now at first I thought why are these people spending so much time observing this little bird. It wasn't till we got home when I was trying to ID what we saw what a colorful bird this is in the Spring and Summer.

Red Phalarope

For myself 7 of the birds we saw that day were life birds for me. Observing and studying these shore birds has inspired me to pay closer attention to their beauty and grace. I'm looking forward this winter to start sketching from my photos.  And to give you an idea I filled my digital card which holds 400 photos and Michele filled hers and started another card. Her first card holds 1000 photos!!  I would say we had a productive day as we stayed till the light gave out as the sun began to set over the lake. I'm hoping to get back one more time before migration ends.

 

 American Golden Plover

Black-bellied Plover

Caspian Turn

Dunlin

Least Sandpiper

Semipalmated Plover