Wabi Sabi Wax

I had the privilege of spending the day with Serena Barton on Sunday taking her Wabi Sabi Wax class. Last year I took Serena's Wabi Sabi class, sans the wax, and loved it so much I came back for more this year with the luxurious addition of wax. I spent the day playing to my heart's little desire. I started about five pieces, and finished two. Here's how my day progressed, from Serena sharing her supplies, to her demos, to my attempts, and finally Show 'n Tell and my finished pieces.








Time for me to jump in!






At the end of the day Serena led us around the room for a time of Show 'n Tell. Here's Serena and a sampling of the other artist's work.







I believe these two are completed!

When is Something Done?

How do you know when a piece of art is finished? I think I could futz with something forever, but lately I've needed to bring some unfinished projects to fruition. One of those projects is a small canvas journal that I learned how to make at Art and Soul last fall in a class with Leighanna Light, The Construction of an Art Book. My book didn't originally have a theme other than a vague idea it might involve creepy dolls, so, accordingly, I had added the words: With a round-eyed stare . Since that time, I decided the book would be a tribute to my Dad, so I added the words: My Dad is Fading Away . . . . Here's how the book looked as of 5:00 pm today. Is it done? Probably not.

The Construction of An Art Book

Leighanna Light is one of my favorite teachers and once again, I had a great class with her on Monday: The Construction of An Art Book. Our mission was to construct a book out of a long piece of canvas, a short piece of canvas, and two pieces of metal. Mission accomplished. Well, almost.






The room was a glorious mess of glue, paper, canvas, paint, metal bits and pieces, ephemera, and embellishments. My area was particularly messy.



Even with working through our lunch break, I wasn't able to finish my book, but I sure had a fun day and I can't wait to get back to my studio and continue working on my little treasure.

Wood Collage Vignettes

I spent a rainy Sunday at Art and Soul with Karen Michel taking her Wood Collage Vignettes class. It was very similar to my Itty Bitty Pretties, except that we used wood rather than chipboard. I had a great time, completing one vignette and starting another. One woman called my completed piece a compilation of sophisticated neutrals. I like that.









Some Salem friends: Dawn, Vickie, and the Lisas.


Two striped artists (me with the instructor, Karen):

BiRdS GoNe WiLd

I had so much fun today! I was in Leighanna Light's Birds Gone Wild class at Art and Soul. We all brought a bunch of old tins and piles of embellishments with the task of designing and creating metal birdies. Birdies gone wild.





I had a choice today. I could concentrate on making and completing two or three birds, or I could get the ball rolling on several birds and finish them up next week at my studio. I opted for #2 -- get a bunch of bodies cut out and begin the process of auditioning various arms, legs, wings, and embellishments. Not much has been attached, but here's what I got accomplished by the end of today . . .











Adorable Leighanna with a bundle of her birds.