A must see blog

I would like to introduce you to a blog that I think is one of the most outstanding blogs I have seen yet. Here is the link and the name “The Hermitage” but let me say a few things before you go to this wonderful fairy tale. The woman that writes this blog is called Rima and she lives in a Gypsy wagon on an island far far away….

she also lives with her husband who built many items in the house on wheels...

…she draws, paints and carves the most wonderful pieces of art that I’m sure have magic in them.... ...you can see some of her work on her etsy site but do go back in her blog to see and read the story's of some of her work.I have decided to buy a piece of her art only I don't know what yet...

..she is so very talented..

..this one is a window seat in the wagon....

..and here incense drifts outside...
She has a list on her side bar called “Encourager's of Tales” I like “Snapper & the Griffin” the best so far.

Make sure to read the left side bar "Welcome Travellers" it sums the blog up nicely.

Get a cup of tea on a dark and rainy day, take a little trip and see life through the eyes of a free spirit that is loving live and making art. Enjoy!

Ready To Roll

I will be participating in Mary Lou Zeek Gallery- 100 Artist Show again this year, it is for charity with the proceeds going to the Marion and Polk County food bank.
100 artists had a tin can sent to them some months ago with the instructions that "almost anything goes". Each piece will be bid on in February at the gallery show. Some don't even last five minutes, it is a show to be seen!

This young person rides around town in a magically powered tin can auto. Warning signs on the side let everyone know this is a very temperamental vehicle, (Automatically Protected- DO NOT- work this system without first calling county fire department) reads the sign.

As I have said before I never know who will come out of the clay and was so happy and surprised to see this innocent but adventurous face appear. I have always named the sculptures as I see their story's take shape but this one will need to be named by its new owner, for now I will call him Marion Polk. The piece is 12"x 18" mixed media assemblage.

I really enjoyed making this piece for the joy of making art but also this last week end I was surrounded by three fellow art friends to seek advise, visit and laugh. It really doesn't get any better that that!

This was the fourth guest Alex he claimed the blow up bed next to the fire place but was happy to share it with his best friend. What a nice little gentleman he was. And he seemed to like everyones art.

Walking back to the studio

More to do but oh so nice! I can't wait to do some tile or mosaic and some art lights, cool molding.......

About 7 months ago with help from our daughter Norm and I tore apart our kitchen. Walls, sheet rock, all the electric, ceiling, beams under the floor, floor all had to be replaced. I have been doing the dishes in the tub on my knees for that entire time, not so bad I became very handy with paper plates. But now a few days before Christmas my boys Nick and Gil put it back together. So very nice to do the dishes standing up!

Before it started snowing today I cracked some old walnuts for the Jays and put them on the frozen bird bath. Winifred the Loyal (Winnie) knows a good walnut when she smells one and couldn’t figure why I would place them just out of her reach.

I just couldn’t stay in as the first snow feel, it is so beautiful, quite and clean.

And I needed that after a week of house guests.

House guests Duke and Reo 2 and 3 years old.

Now I start the walk back to the studio holiday break is over the guest have gone home and I have a powerful need to get paint and glue on my hands.

New Art For My Walls

In the past few weeks I have been involved in several art shows, as a participant it was successful and a wonderful adventure. I met many artist old and new, fell in love with so many beautiful pieces but could come home with only a fraction of what I wanted. I was not surprised at the colors and subjects I picked but was amazed at how well they all go together once they were all on the same wall. We are still in the middle of a remodel and they will find new space after it is all done but for now they will hang at the side of my bed where I can see them every night and dream of art and color.
Remember if you want to see the art work up close just click on the picture.
This piece is by Barton DeGgraaf click on this if you would like to see more of his work. I love all his work, the one above is titled "Gone Fishin" and is a watercolor.

This one is by Robin Olsen from her pod series, an acrylic on canvas. The title is "Alone Time". I love the values and textures in her work,check out her blog and see some amazing art.

This one is so alive and my photograph does not do it justice because the depth, color and different textures captures the viewer. It is titled "Sunrise, Sunset" a mixed media collage by Lorraine Jones.

Here they are next to the bed.

So sweet this little Jack Sparrow Hawk (American Kestrel) is acrylic on wood by Susan G. Jensen

And isn't this one fabulous it is a African Guinea Hen. Acrylic on canvas by R. Goldys.

A bird of a different sort a "Urban Folk Art Bird" by Stephanie Brockway.

The pillow is by Suzanne Reynolds a wonderful seamstress and artist.

The card is a photo of a couple sock monsters by Darlene Veltman.
How lucky am I, I sold enough art to buy some amazing pieces from artists I admire.

More Lights

I have been working away on lights for my art groups show and sale Dec. 4th and 5th. I hope you can come see what we have been working on all year. Please click here for the details.

They are all lit with a 3 watt or 7 watt night light. Each one is unique.....

from the tip top to the funny little things inside...

This one I'm fond of.

"She thought the little nuts would never be quiet"

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Lighting glass assemblages

I have been having fun in the studio playing with glass and little bits of things...

This one is unfinished but fun to look at...

she rides her rhino in a forest of type writer keys.

as I was taking photos the sun came in creating great shadows....

a wood base holds a night light...

she looks out at us...

hand made papers diffuse the light...

the Russian dancer comes from the 50's

The old man in the moon takes a rhino ride.

More to come very soon I'm getting ready for the Portland Art Collective annual art show and sale.

New artist in town

Dad, Mom and baby just minutes after being born.

Every little thing checks out....

healthy 8.5 lbs....

after wetting on mom she gets her first diaper...

what kind of art would you like to try first.

first bath and combing of her hair... she loves it....

after all that its time for a nap.... we have plenty of time to do art...

She (Nessie ?) was born about 2:30 pm Nov. 2, 8.8lbs, 20" long with good healthy lungs.

Nautilus Shell

The nautilus shell spiral is a logarithmic spiral similar to other spirals such as the Golden Mean or phi spiral, but with slightly different proportions. A close approximation of a Golden Mean spiral, based on the Fibonacci whole number sequence.The spiral of the chambered nautilus as well as other logarithmic spirals can be found throughout the human body and nature. The drawing of the inner ear and a image of a star cluster nebula are just two examples which can be seen with a microscope or a telescope.

I started this lamp with a wire base that is soldered together.

Nautilus – Living fossil
The Nautilus (in Greek 'sailor') has survived relatively unchanged for 450 million years and is one of the only shells to survive from the Dinosaurs era. This is why the Nautilus is sometimes referred to as a "living fossil". The Nautilus is a nocturnal creature and spends most of its time in the great depths of the ocean. The Nautilus shell, lined with mother-of-pearl, grows into increasingly larger chambers throughout its life and so has become a symbol for expansion and renewal.

I looked at the shell for reference but did not measure.

Nautilus shell and Phi Dating back to Hindu myth, the Nautilus Shell was mentioned as a symbol of many things in the creation. It is also a symbol for the inner beauty of nature. The Nautilus shell is one of the known shapes that represent the golden mean number. The golden mean number is also known as PHI - 1.6180339... The PHI is a number without an arithmetic solution, the digits simply continue for eternity without repeating themselves. The uniqueness of the golden mean is that it can be found in all living forms such as the human skeleton, the shell and the sunflowers seeds order. Plato called this value - "The key for the universe physics".

The Golden Mean number is widely used in art, architecture and religious symbols. Artists like Da Vinci and Kandinsky have used the golden mean in their paintings. The Guggenheim museum, planned by Frank Lloyd Wright, is shaped like the shell.

The light is 12" x 12" x 6" and uses a 7 watt night light bulb

Researchers found that humans will consider art work, architecture and even a face beautiful that have the golden mean proportions.