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

New Minibook

I made another mini book- these are the 2 1/2" square ones.  This means the spreads are 5" long by 2 1/2" tall. There is something about that small size that is so appealing to me. I have other projects waiting but it was nice to take a fun break and make this.

Book cover

First book spread

Second book spread

Third book spread

Fourth book spread

Fifth book spread

Sixth book spread

Seventh book spread

Back book cover

July 4th 2020

I have mixed feeling about this holiday this year- I always have as this was certainly a holiday not for all groups in this country.
The first piece is a journal spread I just finished today.  I had the idea come to me a couple of nights ago just before I fell asleep. The quote pretty much explains the spread. The pieces after that are 4" x 6" cards I am doing for the ICAD challenge (index-card-a-day) This started June first and will end the 31st this month. So yes- I will have 61 cards.
I hope you have a nice holiday please be safe wear your masks and watch your distance from people.

This spread is 8 inches tall and 16 inches wide.

The rest here are the 4 x 6 cards.

New Online Class

Hard to believe 2 years ago this week are arrived in Albuquerque New Mexico.  Lots has happened in 2 years- I have no regrets moving here from Minnesota.  There have been numerous health things to deal with so far things are ok...for both Ron and for me.  Then the pandemic came and well we are ll dealing with that.
My dear friend Orly Avineri has launched her first online class and I am loving it- I had the incredible experience of taking two classes from her when she taught them from her home in California- she has since moved to Salem , Oregon. The class is titled Come Outside. It is based on a deck of journaling cards she made. Each card has sparks of inspiration. The first spread I did for this class is below- it is based on the card Art and Life.
Albuquerque has been in the news- while there was damage to buildings downtown- it was not the scale of what happened in Minneapolis. What has happened was that there was a peaceful demonstration at a sculpture grouping in front of the Albuquerque art museum. The statue has been a source of pain for many here- it is of a  Spanish Conquistador portrayed as a hero. A group of armed militia showed up- one of the militia shot one of the protestors. The whole statue grouping has since been removed. This is the spread I did. Lots going on here.

 

George Floyd's Funeral Day

Feeling very emotional today-  George Floyd's funeral is today.  Another African American man killed by a policeman that had a history of trouble. This terrible killing sent shock waves through the world. The combination of this and the ongoing pandemic makes it very hard to not be pessimistic. I lived in Minneapolis for 25 years- that city has a special place in my heart.  Seeing the damage done to neighborhoods  made me so sad- I left Minneapolis 18 years ago and there were police issues then.  I saw a group of photographs posted online by David Biljan of St Paul, MN. I contacted him for permission to use some of them in my journal and collage work. He said yes and this journal spread is the first thing I have done with the photographs. I altered them and merged two side by side.
I want to be hopeful and think that maybe there can be some real change now- if there is change it will be hard with the idiot we have in the White House that incites this sort of thing-calls racists good people and has no moral compass what so ever.

ICAD 2020

I am participating in the ICAD challenge again this year. last year was my first time- you do something on an index card a day from June 1st to July 31st. When done you have 61 cards. I choose the 4 x 6 size. Tammy Garcia started this 10 years ago-https://daisyyellowart.com/icad-base
I sometimes make them daily and other times if I am fired up I may make 8 in a day- I post one a day on the ICAD group- this is a huge group- last year there were 10,000 posts- mind blowing and I can't look at everything but I like the idea of doing something on a regular basis. I met some terrific artists from the group last year. So here are my cards so far- we were to do a title card first and then a name card.

ICAD title card for 2020

We were then to do a name card as an intro to the group.

Not In Kansas Anymore

Art Every Day

Ethan's Dream

Learn To See With Your Heart

Keep Your Eye Open