Oh Holy Crap.

I'm in pre-kickstarter launch hell. And blog hell. Mostly because the computer (either due to program glitches or operator glitchiness...uh, that would be me) is not behaving the way it should. (or how I want it to, damn it) Here is a photo of one of my collage pieces from my Picasa web album...that I didn't even know I had. But it was an option and I needed to vent here, and I always think it's nice to have something to look at while I'm fussing and fuming, so there you go. It's grey skies and gloominess here in Arky. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I'm off to Hobbis Lobbis to buy some E-6000 glue and a sketch book so I can at least make some kind of crappy Mc crap crap art.  Dang, I think I need a dose of happiness. Sorry, here goes...Hey, have a great night!

New Mixed Media Collage

Just finished this 8"x10" mixed-media collage last night.  Dang, I have fun with these!  The images are from my collection of 1940's magazines.  Title is "Niblets".  It's framed in a black floater type frame and ready to sell. Mounted on gessoed 1/4" MDF.  Special online price for the next two weeks,  is $150.00.  Usual cost for an 8"x10 from my studio is $250.00 so that's 100 bucks off folks.  I'll be putting this up on etsy tomorrow, same price for two weeks.  Sale ends midnight Oct. 17th. So line up and sign up and buy now, save $$
I know, I know, you think, geez, this is just a bunch of scraps of paper glued together.  Yeah, well, I went through the magazines, picking out images, cut the boards, gessoed them, glued everything together and then put a nice uv protected finish on it and framed it. You know what I'm saying? This is bonafide work.,  I'm tired just talking about it now.
 I hope y'all enjoy my fun cut paper activities.  Hey, have a day out there!

Dog and 2 Humans Collage Artwork

Woke up this morning around 4:30am.  Tried to force myself back to sleep, but wouldn't go...finally got up around 5 and put this piece together.  It's an 11"x14" MDF panel.  I prepared the panel with some dandy 'Bob Ross' black gesso and used nori paste to do the glue down.  I had cut out most of the images last night while watching old episodes of 'Iron Chef' on my computer...nice way to spend the time, eh? Thanks for all the issues of Oprah mags Al,  lots of good colors and faces.
I'll do a top coat with some Golden Gel Medium, heavy matt finish.  And then, who knows?  Maybe someone will want to buy this.  Or I will just add it to the growing stack of unsold artwork.  I have to keep on making art....that's what I do, that's who I am, and that's what keeps me sane.  Here's the thing folks,  once they are done...I'm done.  The most recent piece I'm working on is my newest favorite.  The older finished pieces are crying out to go home with someone besides me.  so if you want it, or need it, shoot me a message and we'll talk details.  I had a great weekend.  The scratchboard class at the Fayetteville Underground on Saturday was wonderful.  Lots of fun art being made.  I'll post some photos and more on that next time...stay tuned.

Little Houses

More little houses. Most of these are on Ampersand Art hardboard, with a variety of sources for the paper collage work. I'm fond of using 1940's magazines and other cool old paper. The more brown and brittle the better! The four little houses are 4- 3"x5" boards mounted into frames that I build with my own two old hands. The three little houses are 5"x7" boards. I started this little house project about a year ago. Didn't know at the time where it was leading me, I just knew I had to make at least 100 of these...and I did. They sat around in a box for 7 months until inspiration struck me up on a ridge top in the middle of nowhere while living in, what else, a little house! These are all available, in various sizes and prices. I've relocated into a larger house, with hot water and flush toilet etc.. Realized the other day that it's been about 5 years since I've lived someplace that had more than one room! I'm happy to have more space, but it's nice to know I can live with less if need be.

Time to get scratching!

Okay, okay, break time is over now. I spent last weekend in Austin doing scratchboard demonstrations and sales in the Ampersand Booth at the Texas Art Educator's Assoc. conference. It was a true shot in the arm! Just what I needed to get back on track with my art. Lack of sales, be damned! I need to make art, if it sells in the galleries, great. If not, I still have to make it anyway. I've been doing my 'little houses' series like crazy. Same format; panel painted black, collaged vintage paper houses, little people in the doors and windows with red paint on the background. Have built frames and have been putting it all together for the upcoming thanksgiving show at the Eye of the Dog Art Center in San Marcos. Can't wait, big fun. Meanwhile here is one of my many little house works for your enjoyment.

Little Houses

Ok, so, my latest obsession is making these little houses. This one is 9- 5"x7" panels mounted and framed. They are basically all the same...2 windows, door, chimney etc...and yet, of course they are all different. It's been shipped to Wally Workman Gallery in Austin for the August show. http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/ The materials are gleaned from my extensive stack of vintage papers, magazines and even a bible and such! My goal, for the most part is to get rid of this stack. In the meantime, I've found a theme that really speaks to me. Home, where the heart is, where we nest. Right now my home is temporary. I don't know where I will be for the winter as the cabin has no heat and promises to be cold and drafty. Time will tell I guess.

The Neighborhood

Just in case you were wondering what I've been working on...Here is just one of many in my 'little house' series. I've been making these small collage houses with vintage paper and red acrylic paint for the past year. Recently I decided they needed to be framed in groups. I'm thinking of calling this "The Neighborhood". Although, it could be called, 'The Window in the Outhouse' as I retrieved this window frame from the outhouse at my best friend and neighbors place. In fact I've been staring at this frame, just sitting against the wall for at least the past 5 years, or at least every time I visit that 'little' house of hers. A few weeks ago I asked if I could have it and this is the result. I like it a lot. This will probably be shipped to Wally Workman Gallery soon for the 30th anniversary group show in August. Check out the website at http://www.wallyworkmangallery.com/
Other news, I will be going out to Santa Fe NM for a few days the end of the month and will be doing a free scratchboard demo representing Ampersand Art http://www.ampersandart.com/ at Artisan Santa Fe
http://www.artisan-santafe.com/ on Weds. July 28th at 1:30-4:30 (or there abouts). Come on out if you are in the area, or give a call for more information 1-505-954-4179

Still Life Scratchboard

This is a large 16"x20" Ampersand scratchboard. I just finished this the other day. This is a combination of vintage paper collage and water based oil paint. This is my new favorite piece. I struggled with it for several months. It just wasn't coming together. Once I started slapping the paper on it started to make more sense to me. I love it when it happens that way. I'll be doing a scratchboard demo at Jerry's Artarama in Feb. I'll post more info soon. Also will be doing a day long scratchboard/collage class at Eye of the Dog Art Center in San Marcos TX in April. Check out more info at www.eyeofthedogartcenter.com

God, Guns, & Guts

I know this isn't a scratchboard drawing, but I wanted to put it out there anyway.  I did this collage a few years ago when I was doing an illustration for a magazine article about 'Cowboy Church'.  Needless to say, this was not what was used for the article.  The editor told me 'what ever you do, don't do a 'Cowboy Jesus'.  But if you do one I'll buy it from you!'  So I put this collage together and sold him a scratchboard version.  I've been doing a limited edition of 25 of these as prints that I then hand color and frame. I call it, 'God, Guns, & Guts'. Think of it what you will.  My theory is, that if the belief is that we are made in the image of god...well, I sure see a lot of folks who look or think like this. So there you go.  They are available at Blue Genie Art Bazaar until Xmas eve. http://www.bluegenieart.com/

Monkeys Not Over

Well, after hitting the wall with the Daily Monkey project yesterday I decided to try and carry on, at least for a bit longer. So I took an old scrapbook album cover and a bunch of misc. vintage paper I have and threw this collage together. It may not be done yet, but it was wet so here it is for now. I'm off to Dallas tomorrow to spend the night and prep for a Tuesday morning scratchboard demo with 25 High School students. I'm excited, should be great! Stopping by the Dahlia Woods Gallery to pick up a check and artwork from the show that just closed. Sold a monkey there and two monkey scratchboards at Wally Workman Gallery. So, I will continue to make monkeys...go figure. Who am I to argue???

Daily Monkey-Two Monkeys on a Date

This is a piece of vintage 1940's magazine advertisement. Has something to do with a laxative...I guess the idea is you can have a successful date with a dreamboat if you have a good movement. No movement, not so much...not so good. I'm here to tell you that is so true!! I used a little bit of white acrylic and black ink to 'monkey' these two up.

Saint Monkey

Today's daily monkey is vintage paper collage with acrylic paint. What else can I say....

Monkey In A Suit

So I am just sliding right into this routine now...I think about monkeys and make monkeys endlessly. Today's monkey is vintage paper on a 5"X5" Creative Mark Edge Gallery canvas painted with black gesso (I bought 9 of these in a package...just love them). This one is similar to an earlier post, and yet...not the same. I'm going away for the weekend and am trying to figure out if I should post three monkeys on Friday since I won't be at a computer on Sat & Sun. What's a monkey making girl to do?

I Love This Monkey!

I just threw this 'daily monkey' together in a rush. I almost forgot about doing and putting a monkey up today. I'm trying to get back into my life after 6 days of house/dog sitting...takes a while for me to re-enter LindaLand. This is a 5"X5" edge gallery canvas from Jerry's Artarama, painted with black gesso. I used a bunch of vintage paper in the collage assemblage of it...no paints or scratching, just Nori glue (which is my current favorite) and paper scraps. I'm a lovin' this monkey head...will have to rush a few more together this week.

The neighboring buffalo are in the pasture, the peacocks are singing and all is good and right in my world. Hope all y'all are good too.

Houses, Houses, and more Houses!

Still making the houses. Here is a photo of 15 of them laid out in the driveway. Still go into the 'zone' when I'm doing it. I can cut and paste up about 4 of these 5X7's in a short while. Also have started painting some houses on little canvas'. There are four 4"X4" and one 8"X10" in the other photo. Not sure why I am so compelled to do these. But I've learned to not question just follow the urge to see where it goes. So here I am, making paper houses.

Scratchboard Drawings inspired by photos

When I'm not making art or fixing houses, I collect and sell vintage paper, photos and collectibles. What can't be sold because of damage I use in artworks, mostly assemblages. But, I also occasionally keep some items just for my enjoyment. These two scratch boards, 'Red Shoes' and 'The Final Campaign' were based on images from vintage snapshots (both from circa 1910-20) that I've held on to because I like the way they look. I just love the little boy holding the puppy...and of course I added the birds and so forth from my head. 'The Final Campaign' is from an shot that really grabs me. This woman with her coat is photographed several times in the album I have. I have a feeling the coat, and the woman really was something in the day. I don't know who she was or where this was. Doesn't really matter, although I do like keeping her 'alive' by using her likeness. Anyhow, this piece was for a group show at Wally Workman Gallery with the theme being 'The Boat Show'. Thought I'd put it out there that I can scratch out more than just Monkeys and Dogs!! Both pieces are available at the gallery. I'm adding the boy & puppy photo so you can see where I started from. Don't have a digital copy of the woman on the computer right now. Will add later

I've been in the studio lately making more of the 5X7 house collages. I've got about 20 of them now. It's almost an obsession...but in a good way. It keeps me out of trouble and I don't have to think about much I just make them. Plus I have an incredible amount of vintage paper that needs using! I can make usually about 4 at a time. My goal is to make 100 of them. Every one is different but the same idea. The same shape over and over and yet none are exactly the same. So many variables. Once I get that done I'll hang them in a show, call it 100/Houses of Belonging and charge $100.00 each for them. More about this later. I need to take some photos of the latest and will post soon.

The 5X7 scratch drawings are selling like crazy. I guess the price point of $100.00 is right for artwork to sell in this economy. I'm happy about that.