So Far So Good

This past week I finally finished the load of journals I had waiting for paper and binding. Not counting the ones that have already found new homes, I have completed 43. Some of them I really like and some of them I fear will go unloved by anyone unless I do a little something more to them. I have, however, decided to wait to do that. Figure I can always use them myself as I journal daily.

Someone asked me recently if I had plans to start a business. Funny thing is that while the answer to that question is actually no, it seems I have started one. I've gotten my Tax I.D. number and the Reseller's Permit required in my state. I have a logo. I have begun to purchase supplies wholesale. I have a web presence. Weird.

All this started simply because I believe every human being has the innate ability to create.  My personal study over the last decade and the research of others more knowing than I support that belief. My original plan was to simply honor my journey by providing tools for people to nurture their personal creativity. To honor my journey by sharing the path I used to get where I am right now. And, voila! A business was born before I realized what had happened.

And strangely, God (or the Universe or whatever name you use) has been supportive. The other week while wandering the Farmer's Market, I had a conversation with a woman who creates wonderful journals from old childrens' book covers. She asked if I would have a use for some cut matte that a photographer had given her. As that is what I use as the base for my journal covers, I was thrilled. I was, however, shocked when I picked it up the following week. A heavy box of perfectly-sized, pre-cut matte board enough board for 144 journals! SCORE!

Synchronicity? Oh, yeah. I think I'm on the right path. And the journey continues.

Playing in Photoshop

This certainly isn't new information for everyone, but I just realized that every piece of art I create can become a new piece through the magic of the computer. I had already figured out that every image captured with my camera was fair game to design with, but the concept of re-entering  art made from camera images back into the computer for artistic transformation has just hit me like a bag of hammers!

For example, let's begin with the following print

recreated to be a compilation of a fun, young couple's engagement photo session using hand-carved stamps and watercolor pencil.

With just a little bit of tweaking in Photoshop  it can be transformed into something like this:

And with an addition of one piece of hand-painted paper from my extensive paper stash,

which can also be altered by computer, multiplying my paper stash to  truly monumental size,

I am left with a new image..

...which could become countless other images with the a few simple mouse clicks.

The combinations are endless. Yikes! So many choices, if only I enjoyed making virtual messes as much as I enjoy getting my hands messy.  Did I mention I really enjoy getting my hands messy?
Ah, the limitations of my tactile and kinesthetic ways.

Replacing Mona Lisa

I went to visit my family this spring and while taking out the trash, I discovered a treasure. In the dumpster. Someone had either redecorated or possibly evicted someone with Pop Art tastes, disposing of his graphic interpretation of Mona Lisa done in oranges and poison greens. The canvas was probably 36x40. SCORE!! I was going to be in town 3 weeks and was beginning to miss studio messes. Unfortunately, no one I knew in town had any painting supplies. However, I did plan a visit to my friend, The Visionary, in a town 3 hours away and I thought she might at least have some house paint I could prept the canvas with. I dragged Mona Lisa along on the visit and returned a week later with a relatively covered canvas ready for my use. But if you look closely, you might be able to see the 4 famed faces I brushed over.

As I had no paints, I determined to work out a shape of a large butterfly using torn newspaper to fill in the negative space. Butterflies are my mother's passion and the final piece would stay behind and hang over the door to the patio.

Once a vague butterfly shape  had been collaged onto the prepared canvas, Mom and I went through her wrapping paper stash, pulling colors she prefers for her house. We also went to the craft store and purchased pack of tissue paper. From this found and purchased paper, a butterfly emerged.

The final touches included some stray tissue and a meandering flight line.

Life is Good

Abraham Lincoln said,
"Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Saw this sign in a shop last week...

Preview

BE HAPPY TODAY