Lynchburg Art Show, September 15th, 2007

"Winter Creek" (C) monotype (SOLD)

I have been getting ready for this show! It is one of my all time favorites! I just love sitting out at the ball field, transformed into an art show, meeting new folks and catching up with other artists! I will miss being next to Kim, who is having a baby, and Lorna who is in the midst of buying a house. I will have two new 'roomies.' One is an artist from North Carolina, Lynn, and one from Smith Mountain Lake, Nancy! I adore them both! And, as always, my dear friend, Lucy, will help me set up and listen to my drivel all day! Now for the best part, after the show, we go to our favorite Mexican place! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.




Many thanks to David Eakin! He works so hard and makes everything so nice for the artists. Check out his work! http://www.davideakin.com/bio.asp
Hope to see you all soon!

Where does the time go?

Busy times.

I am working on more pages for two more 'fat books.' I have become addicted to making and receiving them over the years. I have met so many other fantastic artists and made new, wonderful friends. I love my opening 'fat books' while sitting in my car once I get the package from the post office box! I get in the car, turn the air on (damn, it has been hot), and covet it in my cool, private moment! Most of the time, they arrive on a day when I really cherish the break, the art, and the inspiration contained inside. What a rush!

This fat book theme was 'Nesting. " See how fat? A fat feast for the eyes!

Then there was the charm swap! Here is a photo of just some of the charms from Amber Dawn's charm swap! I adore those as well. I am fortunate to be a member in such fantastic groups!

Belle Armoire Jewelry Volume 3

I was surfing the net this morning over my coffee. I found a beautiful site http://happydayart.typepad.com/ and had a HUGE surprise! I noticed I share the cover with these other wonderful artists! I am so excited! Thanks to Michelle and Belle Armorie!

http://www.stampington.com/html/postscript_ba_jewelry_vol3.html

Excerpt from the intro for the magazine:

Belle Armoire Jewelry Volume 3 is your source for some of the hottest trends in jewelry, including metal clay, beading, metal stamping, paper collage, resin, and fiber. Deryn Mentock takes ordinary antique flatware and transforms it into perfectly wonderful “Spoonful Pendants” with the addition of vintage chandelier crystals, beads, wirework and ethereal images. Elegance, tradition and history come together in Kristen Robinson’s “At The Ball” resin and silver charm necklaces that evoke the glorious age of the haute ton. Metal clay is not just “For the Birds” as wannabe metalsmith Catherine Witherell shows in designing whimsical birdhouse pendants and jointed bird pendants with Precious Metal Clay. Belle Armoire Jewelry Volume 3 has something for everyone!

(My piece is the third one from the top)

Women In Art

This is Awesome!

Lynchburg

I had hoped to get more photos of the show. Ted did a fantastic job of hanging all of the pieces!This photo depicts only a small portion of this show. I walked in and was amazed to see a full gallery representation of my work. Typically I hang all my work on my home studio walls. I see it up close and in often poor lighting. Seeing it hung in this manner was astounding. I hope that if you get to go to the show, you will please comment and let me know what you think. Thanks!

(Special thanks to David and Kelly!)

Winding Down

I have been printing, painting, matting and framing pieces for the upcoming art show. I figure I have over 50 pieces ready to be hung. This is exciting! I can not wait to see them all hung in a gallery setting.

The opening is next Friday...YAY! After that, I am hoping to take a break, read a few books, garden, etc. There are a few folks I plan on visiting and I need my girlfriend fix...I also have a few birthday R.A.K.'s (random acts of kindness) to fill. I also try to stay active with postcard-X and I try to send postcards to random folks from all over. (Postcard-X has been a lot of fun...I never know what treasures or oddities will grace my mailbox!) I am just looking forward to enjoying what few days are left of vacation.

"Watercolor" watercolor (C) gls

"Storm Cloud" Monotype (C) gls

" Stormy Canyon" monotype (C) gls

"Storm Chaser" monotype (C) gls SOLD

More Monotypes

Carving the Earth (C) monotype gls

Distant Mountains (C) monotype gls SOLD

Abberations of Light (C) monotype gls

Stormy Waters (C) monotype gls

Figurative Works

Grandmother's Wndow (C) monotype collage gls

The Orchid and the Dandelion (C) monotype gls

I do not do too many figurative works...I prefer the landscape and capturing the soul of the earth. But, this figures have an element that ties them to the earth, flowers. I prefer not to use detail in the faces...as I feel the statement is what we leave behind, or what we give back to the earth, not take from it. These figures are in tune with an earthly balance...

True Boheme

Winter Falls (C) watercolor gls

Sun Fog Watercolor (C) gls sold

Autumn Creek (C) monotype gls

A Rose in the Woods (C) monotype gls (SOLD)

A Touch of Red (C) gls

Western River (C) watercolor gls

Rancho Murieta watercolor (C) gls

Winter Lights Watercolor (C) gls (SOLD)

Fall Fog (C) watercolor gls

I seem to be living the typical Boheme lifestyle. LOL. Creating...sipping a bit of wine here and there, and definitely NOT following a clock. Typically, I arise at 5:30 am, but now I get up at 8:30 am or even 9 am. I truly feel out of sync, but I am getting some creating done. I am not sure how though because I am not one bit focused. I get up, have coffee with the cats, check emails, eBay auctions, and run in and out of the house, deadheading flowers, and looking at the wildlife here. Somehow, I have to find time to clean house, do laundry, and cook dinner. I wish I could download atomic clock sync internally...or maybe not, lol.


So, I guess I am living the life of a true artist?

Frustration

Green Hole (C) gls

Fall Creek (C) gls sold

Cloud Shadows (C) gls SOLD

Fall Lake 2 (C) gls

Fall on the Creek (C) gls

I am frustrated. I seem to be getting things all muddied...or maybe I have been working too hard getting ready for the coming shows?

This is ART!

Just let the page keep building, it will spell something, lol.


http://amaztype.tha.jp/US/Books/Title?q=art

Make a Pollock! Have Fun!

http://www.jacksonpollock.org/


"It is only when I lose contact with the painting that the result is a mess. Otherwise there is pure harmony, an easy give and take, and the painting comes out well."Jackson Pollock

Here are some of the fatbook pages and a new pendant.

New Work, New Directions

Re-Creating My Life (C) gls

Wow, what a busy month already! I have kept up with doing art daily, but have not been great about being near the computer. I have been getting ready for four shows that will hang this month and next.

I also signed up for five altered fatbook (chunkybook) swaps. Making the pages for these is challenging, but I love to get the completed book back in the mail. These little books are gems! I love to sit back with one and savor it over a cup of coffee. (I will try to get a photo of a fatbook on here later).

I have also been gardening. I created a new bed last summer and it needed more work. Not to mention the three huge truckloads of mulch I spread. Now things look so much better. If only my new plantings with with stand the heat.



Well, here are a few new pieces. Some are monotypes, some are altered photographs, and some are fatbook pages. Enjoy!

Messgener Spirit (C) gls

Secret Shadow (C) gls

Misty Waters (C) gls SOLD

Art Daily

More art dailies.

Since I am teaching summer school, I do not get to post daily...so I thought I would share a few of the art dailies at a time.

Day #2

Purple Sky monotype (C) gls

Day #3

Night Ocean monotype (C) gls

Day #4

Fish Pond Watercolor (C) gls




Also, check out the WVTF Art Show online!

http://www.wvtf.org/art_gallery/art_show_finalists.php

Summer Goal

My goal this summer is to create at least one piece of art a day.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, so I figure making a piece of art a day (results good or bad) ], will keep creative constipation away.

Creation #1

Frosted Branches (C) monotype by gls

Create the World You Want to See and Feel

Yesterday was hot, really hot. After teaching summer school, I drove to Lynchburg to look at the gallery space and the Art Academy, where I will have a one woman show show this August. While I was there, I happened to view the current show, Interpretations of the James. All of the paintings and prints dealt with the subject matter of the James River. There were 12 artist represented and the pieces were rather large. I found them breathtaking.

I have always admired the works of Richard Crozier. I marvel at his plein air paintings, his simplicity, his textures created with each stroke of the brush, and the mood he creates. Some of the others, who exhibited were Franks Hobbs, Ray Kass, and Ron Boehmer. The other artists were new to me and I felt I should have known of then sooner than yesterday.

I am charged with creativity right now, despite working half days. I have been creating prints. I have been working very slowly, methodically, and thoughtfully to create a mood while refining my technique of creating monotypes on clayboard. I am in love with the surface.

Last night, my studio was hot, very hot. I had the air on, but it did not seem to reach me. So, I created a cool image, literally. I thought back to the falling snow, watching it fall slowly from my studio door, and feeling much cooler. Summer is not my favorite season. Not that Winter is, but Summer is NOT! This monotype was my attempt to create a sense of winter peace.

Winter Peace (C) by gls sold

Little Bits

The Sidewalk Art Show was good! Saturday it was one of the best weather days ever. Sunday it rained. I somehow found peace in that rain. I know we needed it as it has been really dry here. While the rain was not good for artists, it was good for flowers.

I have been only doing 'little bits' of art. Artist trading cards, small playing card sized art. After next week, I plan on doing more new work. But for now, this is it.