{ if on a winter's eve...}

There seems to be no more magical time of the seasons then at the winter solitice.

Blessings

{Photoshop Workshop with DJ Pettitt}

I will be taking this fantastic Photoshop Workshop with DJ Pettitt 

these photos are just a couple of examples of her work.  It starts January 4th and I am sooooo excited.

My art work in the coming year will be taking on a new flavor based on the things I will be learning with DJ.  I have taken a workshop in person with her before and she is wonderful instructor.

{Finding My Own Style}

Learning about Payne's Gray, angular brushes and water soluble crayons.  I have to smile when I think about
trying to paint portraits without them.  It would be like saying to a seamstress "you mean you were trying to sew without a seam ripper".  This portrait was far less stressful.  It's on watercolor paper rather than fabric so I am not sure what to do with it now.  I will for sure scan onto fabric and perhaps try to frame her in some interesting way.

{Fa,la,la,la,la, la,la,la}

I like to add a new Christmas tree to our holiday decorations each year and this year it is this hand made tree I got on Etsy .  I have bought a few items from Middleburg over the last couple of years and they have all been splendid. I change them out through the seasons.

{New - Old Explorations in Fiber Art}

Taking some time to go back to the simple basics.

Just a little simple hand stitching.  My creative energy is moving away from bright colors and larger pieces as in my art quilts.  I have been gathering paler, neutral colors but still batiks which I have been eager to start using.  The hand stitching projects will probably end up in art journals of mine and those I create for resale.  I will also be exploring more machine stitching such as words, flowers, hearts, stars, wings maybe even bird cages, houses and windows. 

{Kathy have you seen this garland}

I got this garland a couple of years ago and would like some more but can't find it here.

Maybe you can find it on the other side of the country

just for the details

{Mistletoe}

More Photoshop photos of the holiday festivities.

Photos have taken on a whole new beauty just waiting to be used.  I want to start art journals

using old family photos.  They will need to be scanned first.  But the art journal will be well worth the time

and effort to scan and alter the photos.  I think I'll starting with Christmas family photos.  A Christmas art journal has such potential.

{Images of the Season}

Our little "Charlie Brown" tree.  I love the natural imperfections of Christmas trees that are not shaped to perfection.  I like the "holes" - it gives some space for the bulbs to actually hang free.

{Oh' Tis the Season}

Even with just a simple one step Mask with Photoshop Elements a plain photo can be transformed

into Art. 

O morning, you beautiful glorious-skied heaven,

how fortunate I am to open my eyes to you

{First Attempts at Soldering}

This was my 3rd attempt.  As you can see from my first 2 it is quite an improvement 

These were my first 2 attempts.  I was ready to give up after the first.

But tried it again.  And even again.  Which did produce a barely useable piece above

Sister's Art Journal part 4...

The final 2 pages in my art journal are lacy linen inserts.  The stitching reads wink between the lines.
sort of like these 2 pages in the book.

Sister's Art Journal part 3...

Creating an Art Journal for myself is such a pleasure.  I think back to how we stored photos before art journals.  There were either kept is an old shoe box or put in photo albums.  Nothing fancy just picture after picture.  But oh! The Art Journal takes these photos to a work of art.  I still have boxes of photos that I need to get to.

Sister' Art Journal part 2...

Sisters Art Journal...

More Photoshop techniques...

These photos are all very basic first steps in my exploration of Photoshop Elements possibilities.

Self Portraits from VisualPoetry workshop...

Having a really delightful time using the new techniques I am learning from theVisualPoetry workshop. 

Playing with photos like this is like getting a tattoo without having to commit to it for live.  and  ohhhhh the options




It is a happy talent to know how to play

                   ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

VisualPoetry lessons ...

This was our first lesson.

Quite a difference

Other examples of workshop lessons.

These only use a couple of different layers and

blending modes but the more I use them the more

I begin to understand them

Other more subtle differences

VisualPoetry Workshop - Week 1 Lesson 3...

I am learning so much about Photoshop Elements from
Susan Tuttle's - VisualPoetry workshop. This is an altered photo from Week one, Lesson 3. It has been so frustrating trying to use Photoshop Elements. And I could only scratch the surface of what it could do. With Susan's workshop I am having fun and learning all kinds of great stuff.

{Thank You}

We had a great time yesterday

and I wanted to thank everyone who came out to support Art

and the artists.

{Les Femmes des Montage Fall Show & Sale}

This is it our big fall show.

The one everyone waits for.

It's our 5th year now and we'd love to see you there

Today, Saturday November 7, 2009

Hassayampa Inn

Marina Room (between the Inn and the APS office)

11am to 8pm

Reception 5-8pm

Catered by the Hassayampa Inn

Cash wine bar available

Music by Sequoia, Classical Guitarist

10% of the profits from the sale

donated to "Arts in Prescott Schools"

{New Items for Saturday's Les Femmes des Montage show}

Felted vine scarf.

Knit with hand dyed yarn I got from the Navajo Indians

Mohair wrap/scarf
and a simple black wool scarf with a silk ruffly fringe