Where did the summer go?

We have had a glorious summer,

wonderful weather,

lots of teaching,

travel,

and enjoying the days...

hence not much blogging.

Here is a glimpse of the highlights...

First ferry ride leaving Seattle.

Next ferry to Victoria.

See the 'Coho for peace'?

A beautiful chalk drawing on the sidewalk in Victoria.

A little fun in a Victoria park.

 artEAST progressive dinner in 4 art studios.

 Listening to music in the park every Thursday afternoon

 from our yard.

 The amazement that our vegetable garden actually grew

 and gave us divine goodies.

 An organized art room with some help from Ikea.

 My new friend that I birthed.

 My great niece letting her caterpillar-butterfly free.

 Discovering a watercolor I made years ago.

 More ferry rides.

 Spotting these guys in front of a house in Ellensburg 

on the way to visit friends in Coeur D'Alene.

A chair for sale.

 New friends in a park.

 Learning we are going to have a grand-daughter!!!!!

Teaching with my son.

 More teaching.

 And looking forward to new adventures.

a SUPER DUPER Sunday blessing!!!!

Guess who is going to be a grandmother?

Yep me!

So very excited and just found out she, yes she will arrive around Christmas.

Being the mother of boys,

well a girl will be extra fun.

What can I say - girl things are already distracting me big time.

I foresee some girly art in my future.

Funnel Caw'kins

Meet Funnel Caw'kins.

He was born yesterday,

but labor took a week...

and was rather difficult.

He was made in class-

Paper Mache Beasts at artEAST.

First he was wired and stuffed.

Then he need to dry,

 and a word was needed for his perch -

so he searched and found the perfect word -

curiosity. 

And then he dried some more

while trying out a new nest.

And some more drying time...

Have you noticed a continuous theme here?

At least now he has wings too.

And a cute little hat.

His top coat is made with torn painted paper.

Buttons were my mom's as were the thread spools.

Eyes are painted coffee beans.

Cardboard tube was retrieved from recycle.

Now how do I keep my cat from the tangling threads in motion

and all the sparklies?

After all he is part crow...

Teaching at artEAST tonight and City Hall next week!!!

Tonight I will be demo-ing iPad apps,

we will welcome in our Menagerie Art Festival week,

and I will showcase work of my students, 

as well as sharing videos by David Hockney and other iPad artists.

6:30-8:30 artEAST Issaquah WA

be there or be square ;)

And next week I will be Sammamish City Hall

teaching families how to have fun with iPad art apps.

Let the summer creativity begin!

I will even break it down step by step.

Like most things in life,

bird by bird,

as Anne Lamont would say-

seems like rather appropriate subject matter.

hee hee.

If you are in the area I would love to see you at either event!

don't you just love playing in the summer?

Here is a great video on play - something we all need.

http://youtu.be/9ygz1PlqDzk

Ron Crabb, an artist who does commercial and fine art, said,

Art is about vision, and an artist is wise to use all the tools available to him in order to make that vision come to fruition.  I am finding that using digital technology allows me to create images much broader in scope, and more ambitious, than I would ever try with paints. 

So please take out your iPad and just play - 

you just may learn something in the process.

Illumination

Illumination

finally done - with glitter and buttons and a gold crown and nails and lots of layers...
I made this one for a juried show at the artEAST gallery.

I started with a sentence from a vintage book:  

"Yes", he said, "we must set out now, but I can carry the lantern."

Which path shall I take?  One is straight and the visibility is clear; the other goes over hills and around the bends, and is shadowed and unclear.  I choose a new fork in the path each day and gather what I need as I go along.  Hopefully I search for the gems in all I meet and help others along life's path.  With my trusty guide and companion, I head out with my head raised, and tackle this thing called life with gusto and courage.  Challenges and setbacks await, but my friend carries the lamp and the light illuminates the way.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- 

I took the one less traveled by, 

And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105

a Sunday Blessing

ahh summer...

And God said, "Let the land produce vegetation:  

seed-bearing plants and trees on the land 

that bear fruit and seed in it...

And God saw that it was good."

Genesis 1:11-13

king and queen for a day

I am working on this one for an upcoming juried show.

Thought he needed a metal crown...

and she needed some buttons.

Will share the finished version next week.