August is Zooming

 This pandemic has been odd - in that it seems like forever and yet the days and weeks go by so fast. We have been in a heatwave here- yes even for the desert SW- it is hot. We will reach 100 again today - 90s have been the norm ALL summer- usually we have a couple of weeks of those and then to the 80s. So besides the virus fears keeping us at home- the heat keeps us home for sure in the afternoons.

I am thankful for my art- I try to be in the studio some time each day.  I am taking a few online art classes- One is The HomeBook- Rakefet Hadar- it is altering a children's book-into a house shape and the  video lessons deal with concepts of home- where is your home? Who can enter your home?  Those are two of several questions that are dealt with in the book we make. I found a used book called The Doll House Book and it was already  in a house shape. So I am sharing my cover and some spreads. It's larger than I sometimes work when it comes to art journaling. A double page spread measures 14 inches tall and 18 inches long. The paper in the book is shiny so I am using gesso and acrylic paint to create a surface to work on.

Book Cover collage

This is the inside cover and front page spread. I was going for a children's book illustration feel here. I digitally added birds to the building here- then printed out the buildings with birds and then glued it into the book after I had journaled and painted a background color.

This is the tile page spread that said Doll House Book and I painted out the Doll.

This is about my husband and me.  We have been together 44 years and we see each other with our hearts as well as our eyes. The background is a gel plate monotype I glued to the pages.

Finishing & Beginning

 Time is seeming to be both very slowed down sometimes and yet it seems another weeks goes by in a blink- this pandemic is challenging on so many levels- containing my emotions from one extreme to another is a challenge at times as I know it is for many of you. I am thankful for my art-it has helped me in so many ways.  I completed the ICAD challenge for 2020. Making a card a day from June 1st through July 31st- this was the second year for me doing this- so having 122 4 x 6 cards- I decided to start mailing some out to friends from long ago and some new friends. I have loved mail art forever it seems. So I will share a few more of the ICAD cards here.  I am in 2 different collage groups here in Albuquerque. We have not had any in-person sessions since the virus made that unsafe.  I organized an ATC exchange for one group that I helped start: Scissors & Glue ABQ. I wanted us to somehow keep connected during this challenging time- and making and sharing these small artworks seemed like the way to go. If you are unfamiliar with ATCs here is some info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artist_trading_cards.I have sent out my cards to the 18 members that are participating in this exchange- it is fun working in this small size- 2 1/2" X 3 1/2". 

Here are the ATCs