Wednesday, February 22, 2012

It's a funny little world....




Lately I have been very much in my own head.

I have been dreaming that I am dreaming, which makes waking up to the mundane strange and difficult.

The Mister and I have been seeing a marriage counselor, because when he says X I hear X but what he means is Y and when I say Z what I mean is Z but what he hears is A. It's all very confusing and leaves us grumpy and out of sorts for no REAL reason.

Then there is this business of finding art shows/participating in art shows, which has me composing art behind my eyes at nearly every minute.

And lastly, the shop where I tattoo will be closing down at the end of the month, so I am tromping around looking for a new place to ply my trade.

All of which leads to inconstant blogging, and for that I apologize.

I thought I'd share a bit of my process with you today, from sketch to final work.

One night I dreamt I was a fox, curled under leaves on the forest floor.

I sketched out a rough idea (middle picture), made a fox head (top picture), painted the interior of a shadow box and made some leaves out of silk fusion. You've never done silk fusion? It's pretty awesome. My mom taught me how to do it, and it results in this shiny, textured paper that you can cut and paint and sew. I don't use it very often, but there are times when it completely fits the bill.

I am still in the part where I am making foliage to apply to my painted background--in order to have the lush textural feeling that dreams often have.

Speaking of, have you ever seen the film MirrorMask? It's a visual rendering of a dreamscape and OH MY. After you watch it, you just want to stare at a blank wall for a while and let your eyeballs talk to your brain. It's available on Netflix, so if you like visually interesting things or have a love of Neil Gaiman you should add it to your queue.

And now I have to go do some required Mom things.
More later, ducks.


Friday, February 17, 2012

My Sketchbook Project Book!



I FINISHED MY SKETCHBOOK PROJECT: LIMITED EDITION 2012 BOOK!
(I am having a one-woman parade and cake to celebrate)

I have been working, nay, slaving away at this book so that I could return it to the Brooklyn Art Library and start on a different project.

And the book was difficult and slow going at times, but I got into a rhythm and I think it all worked out fairly well.

You can be the judge of that.

Follow the linky link and take a gander, then let me know what you think.

Of the book. Not of my less-than stellar editing skills. I know they are choppy and need work.
This is the first time I have attempted movie-making.

Sunday, February 05, 2012

A peek in my Sketchbook

This is my Sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project.
This means that once I finish the book, I mail it to the Brooklyn Art Library-where it will live forever.
I plan on sharing the completed book here, for all who can't make the trip to Brooklyn to visit.

Friday, February 03, 2012

Paint much?

Peony. Acrylic on board.

Painting has ALWAYS been a love of mine. The smell of the paint, the colors swirling together. Mmm, heaven!
As I have a job that only pays me per tattoo, but requires that I show up every day, I have decided to paint while at work.
It's much better than watching the clock, or trying to convince passersby that a tattoo would make their lives complete.