Art Abandonment - My First

I recently joined an artist on-line FaceBook group started by Michael deMeng called ART ABANDONMENT.

Yesterday evening I secretly placed a piece of my 2009 artwork on canvas at a "resting station" along a bike trail that runs along the El Toro side of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California.  I snapped a couple of photos and quickly made my escape before anyone saw me :)

The attachment you see taped in the upper right hand corner reads: 
"This is a handmade item I created that I am secretly placing here.  If you have found it, it was meant for YOU!  I am a member of a group of artists on FaceBook called Art Abandonment, and we just want to share a little piece of what we love to do - CREATE ART!  I have attached a card with my contact information.  Won't you drop me a line and le me know how finding this made you feel?  Have an art-filled day today!"


If you would like to learn more about our group and maybe even join in on the fun, check out Michael's video here:

This is fun. I'm definitely going to be doing this again real soon!

A Long Catch Up Blog Post - Yikes!

I need to apologize for being away from GOT ART? for so long.  I looked at my last post and it was dated December 12th.  I think that's the longest period of time I've EVER not blogged.

Some of my blog followers (and workshop students) had contacted me via e-mail and some even through stores where I have taught to see if I was "ok".  I guess I forget about that whole "C" (cancer) thing so I didn't even THINK that someone would be out there worrying about my health.  Again, YIKES!


I'm happy to report that the February 2nd appointment I had with my Oncologist all reports were good and instead of 3 months, I don't have to go back until August 2nd.  YIPPEE!


So what the heck have I been up to you ask?  I have been really busy at "the day job" as a supervisor to 16 instructors that work in 11 different offices.  And the past month has been Performance Appraisal time so I was busy busy busy.


I've managed to find time to create when I'm off work and even found time to teach a workshop. If you follow me on FaceBook then you know what I've been up to already.  FB has just been a lot easier for me to write a line or two and post a photo quickly.  But I know not everybody does the FB thing, so I'm going to try to get back into the swing of things here on my blog.


Catching up . . .


I'm no fan of clowns, but when I saw this clown in a little shop, I just had to take him apart and do something with him using Graphic 45 papers . . .

Collaged a few sets of these - EAT and ART using Teesha Moore papers, paint, pens and various sizes of paper mache letters  . . .

The end of January I went to CHA in Anaheim.  I saw all the new products being released this year, but I think better than all of that, I got to meet my friend Linda Ledbetter in PERSON!  What a treat THAT was :) . . .

Oooooh, and I met Dyan Reaveley at CHA.  Oh my, I just LOVE her style, and stamps, and stencils and sprays! 

Here's a piece I created after getting my hands on one of her stamp sets.  Dyan's sprays weren't released yet, but the Adirondack Color Washes worked quite nicely I think.  I did some "controlled doodling" as well . . .

Then in February I created some tags that went out in some of the Inspiration Emporium customer's orders . . .

If you're a Barbie doll collector, close your eyes for this one. This is an assemblage piece I did just for the fun of it.   . . .

And this month the Inspiration Emporium Design Team was given the challenge to create something using one of Tim's Pocket Watches.  Stop by our blog to see the other creations by my teammates!  Why not pick yourself up a pocket watch and create something fun!  This one is mine  . . .

Last weekend I went to the Rubber Stamp Convention in Carson, CA.  It was a 2-day event with Tim Holtz demoing in the Stamper's Anonymous booth.  Of course there were other vendors there, but I kept finding my way back to this spot . . .

one of the pages in this year's journal I've started . . .

Teesha Moore inspired piece on canvas board . . .

And just yesterday, I taught a mixed media canvas workshop for the Orange County Artmaker's League (OCAL) . . .

So that's about it so far this year.  I'm going to try harder to stay in better touch here.  So now I guess I'll spend tomorrow visiting all of YOU! :)

Will You Be Attending? . . .

It's almost here!  This Friday and Saturday is the Holiday Affaire II event in Costa Mesa.  Below are a few items that I will be selling . . .

Christmas Angel - 8" x 8" gallery wrapped canvas

Christmas Tree - 8" x 8" gallery wrapped canvas

laser wood cut Santas and Elves and some
fun swimsuit & intimate Santa girl earrings

Some vintage goodies in the mix . . .

And of course I will be bringing some of my Eclectic Charm Necklaces . . .

Oh, and I just learned today that 4 more artists will be selling at the event.  That makes twelve of us now.  There will be something for everyone - sterling silver jewelry, candle holders, gorgeous holiday pillows, decorator dolls, whimsical creations, greeting cards, fine art and MORE!


Ooooh, and don't miss the Mini Marketplace.  There's going to be some really good new and slightly used items and even some vintage ephemera for sale at some great prices.


For address, time of event both days, etc., please refer to my blog post below.  Hoping to see you Friday, Saturday or maybe even both days! :)

Isaiah 41:10 Sunday Collage on Canvas and Some WIPs

I was looking at the calendar this morning and realized that this time last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer  and preparing for my double mastectomy surgery which took place on September 14th.  Wow, almost a year has gone by since that surgery and many more associated with this disease.  But here I am a year later writing this blog post and can say that I am still cancer free! 


10" x 8" canvas that I first painted with Pitch Black Adirondack Acrylic Paint

Various decorative papers including vintage ledger paper, white paint pen, fun foam and Diamond Glaze . . .

I threaded some cotton candy pink and white twine through an antique silver breast cancer awareness "Hope" charm for the girl's necklace. . .

 Since I had the paints and papers out, I started three more canvas collages . . .
I painted the canvas using Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paint in Classic Teal.  I just love the consistency of her paints!

I used her Landscape Green on this canvas . . .

Have a great art-filled week ahead!

Teesha Moore Workshops

Last Saturday and Sunday I went to the Rubber Stamp Convention and on Friday I took a couple of early morning Teesha Moore workshops that were held at the Convention Center as well.


Both workshops were fun and freeing for me.  I got to work in one of my favorite mediums - collage, but more than that, I got to use colors I am not usually drawn to when I create.  Here's what I created:


This collage was created on a canvas using papers and fun foam and paints and paint pens . . .

This one I created on cardstock using some of the same techniques but is meant to be a journal page . . .

Me and some of my art buddies at our table . . .

and here are some of the other artist's creations from both workshops . . .

After the workshops I joined my friends for a nice lunch before I went back to the hotel and started resting up for the two days ahead! . . .

I will do another blog post Saturday morning to share photos from both days of the Rubber Stamp Convention and the Tea I went to with friends Pam and Nancy.

Birds of Sorrow

You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head - but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair - Chinese Proverb

I created the bird using light weight metal for body - including head, paper bird head (attached to metal), filigree pieces to create legs and feet, metal eyelets to attach the wings and legs, wooden letters to spell "FLY" and metal crown.  The letters and crown were attached using Glossy Accents.  

The 8" x 10" canvas was created using the following products:
Tim Holtz - Idea-ology - Paper Stash - Craft Resist
Tim Holtz Distress Stains - Antique Linen
Tim Holtz Distress Stains - Wild Honey
Distress Ink Pads - Rusty Hinge
Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber - Pitch Black
Tim Holtz - Idea-ology - Tissue Tape—Symphony
Archival #0 Pad - Jet Black

I glued the bird onto a 2" x 2" mini canvas that I painted (using a distress stain.  LOVE that stuff!) and then glued the canvas onto the the larger canvas for dimension.  Here's the finished piece . . .

I'm still working on the following piece.  I have set it aside until I can figure out what I need to complete it . . .

I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday weekend!  I'm still "following doctor's orders" and have been pushing nothing more than a paint brush :-)


Come back tomorrow for my Inspiration Design Team submission and a chance for you to be the lucky winner of $50 in Emporium Dollars this month!