Sumi-e Bird

Back to painting...

I'm out of practice and loving the feel of the brush in my hand, travelling over the lumps and bumps of hand made paper. It grabs and drinks in volumes of liquid in thirsty unforgiving gulps so I must remember to load the brush real good. Unless I want a dry brush effect and then that is like riding a bucking bronco over the lumps and bumps and valleys but what a ride. Must remember to breathe. I am never in control but love every second of the process. The results are always a surprise. Especially when I haven't done it for months at a time. Well, here's my sumi-e painted bird.

The first thing I do is grind the ink stick with a tiny bit of water in the stone well. See that tiny dipper? It allows a literal drop at a time.

The ink well is missing as I rinse it immediately after using. I've got many different colours of ink stick. Is it possible to be in love with art materials? Paper? Colour of inks? I think so.

Well, back to the drawing board. Thanks for popping in. See you soon, I hope, N, x

Is there a bird in there?

So far we have wire, paper and butcher's tape. Tomorrow I'll add more paper and some wet papier mache strips to see if I can further define the bird if it is there. We will have to see! And, I hope to see you again tomorrow. Night for now, Norma, x

When you want a slice of the moon, and...

The sewn bird image I was working on is transforming itself into a postcard design. I cropped it to about a 4X6 size, and I have plans to send it here, which by the way is open to everyone, worldwide, and there's plenty of time to participate, and maybe here. Thanks for dropping by for a visit today; I hope to see you soon! Norma, xo

More blue birds...

The second week of The Summer of Color hosted by Kristin featured the color green with a hint of citron.
I started with the color citron to make yellowish-greeny flowers and then went from there. A green tree and the birds just came on their own. They happened to be blue so maybe I am thinking they will be related to the first blue bird. We shall see. When I was coloring in the blue of the eggs I got carried away and forgot I was working on tea bag paper which is fragile and so when I pressed too hard the paper broke through and I am not kidding I felt like I had just broken a real birds egg. The feeling is awful. So in the nest are two eggs and a broken egg. Such is life.
All of the birds seem interested in one direction and what are they noticing? Do they hear something? Smell something? Imagine something? We shall see!
Of course you know I am leaving a part of each picture unfinished in case I want to tie in a theme as I go along, or at the completion of the ten pictures.
Hope you are all having fun with this event, *smiles* Norma
P.S. I wonder what those gold round things are coming from the tree? Or are they coming from the sky? It is a puzzle.

Thanks for dropping in!

A bit of magic...

Well you know how the muse works! Surprises everywhere...today is another mystery. I am supposed to be working on a paper artdoll. I have started to paint the face and I've got the dress designed in my head so it's off to a good start. The dress (skirt at this point) is made from used tea bags (paper) and I've sewn the outline of a plum blossom on it using music paper as a base. Lately I've been noticing the use of tea bag paper and let me say I'm speechless with excitement about using it, and often I am thinking. The first experiment was the skirt of my paper doll and as I said I'm off to a good start. Except that I looked at something on line (a blog I follow) that talks about using Pine Sol cleaner as a transfer technique. Somehow I got off on a different path altogether (this is the surprise part). The transfer technique didn't work at all (this will be another blog post), but here is what designed itself. Where it came from is a COMPLETE MYSTERY to me. My muse is at work here.
This is a wee bird pretty much the same size and shape as my paper inspirational bird (small size), but is made of used tea bag paper that was doubled over for strength. Encased inside are some fennel seeds which are believed in some folklore to ward off evil persons but I am using them to ward off evil thoughts. Sequins decorate it and chicken feathers (oh I am feeling the voodoo vibe here) feature in the tail. There's a small bell for the idea of sound and the bird hangs on a gold cord.
I am calling this a paper bird talisman to ward off evil thoughts. It is a complete prototype and I've used sequins and cord that were readily available so have given no thought as to color. It is stamped with the rubber stamp which says 'aspire to BE' and this talisman will hang by my computer screen to remind me that I would like to be a person who has more positive thoughts going on.
Now it is back to the paper doll. Have fun everyone! *smiles* Norma

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

The One World One Heart event has been an enjoyable ride and thanks to Lisa for hosting it. I've chosen the 5 winners of a bird which I've been making while waiting for connections online (my computer is slower than molasses in January). So chosen out of the hat, the winners are:
1. Frog and Beef of "The Adventures of the Arrogant Frog and the Smug Beef";
2. Laura of "Sahara's Memories";
3. Lesley of "Harmony Road Studio";
4. Lemondrop Marie of "Lemondrop Vintage";
5. Jules Woolford of "Adventures in Thread."

I can't say enough how much I've enjoyed this ride Lisa!
Now that it's over I can take the time to visit more thoroughly, the creative minds I have met at this event. Have a great day everyone, *running and sprinkling fairy dust*, Norma
p.s. I'll be contacting the winners today.

Dreaming of Flying

Made as an angel a.t.c. artdoll, this mermaid has her companion, a Rock Dove joining her as she dreams of flying, guided by her star of destiny.

Painted and drawn on heavy watercolor paper using watercolors, colored pencils, india ink, gold acrylic ink, sparkling H20, and sumi-e ink stick. The atc folds into itself to conform to the 2.5X3.5 inch size.