Illustration Friday - Heights

1987 doodle - recycled for IF

Deep into the studio de-stash this week, so no time for a new IllustrationFriday doodle. This week's  prompt is "heights". Here is a scribble from a comics class (I mostly slept through) in 1987. wow -  amazing how much life has happened since then. Be sure to visit the IF site to check out some more interesting interpretations of the challenge. If you are feeling inspired, grab some paper (or mouse)  & remember to share.

1987 

Just for kicks, here's a crop of a self portrait from the same class. 

Why on earth do I still have this junk? Gotta tell you: it is feeling pretty good tossing out all kinds of old baggage this week. But it sure takes a lot of time (I have a lot of stuff- haha). 

De-cluttering, family & work have been keeping me busy. I am looking at probably another week or 2 of digging deep (I am tempted to rent a dumpster). Then maybe I will be able to use my creative space for something besides digital-art!

Pathfinders Flying Pig Automata Kit

The Dude was home sick from school today, so between naps and coughing jags we put together a fun wooden Flying Pig automata from Pathfinders. I'll post a pic later this weekend once the boy gets it painted. A fun project for kids (& grown up kids). 

What are you up to the next few days? What ever it is, I hope you have a grand time! Best wishes for a wonder-filled weekend.

Tel Aviv, early '90s

desert dawn ACEO

Tel Aviv

Just caught the bus at 5 a.m.
The road seems rough this time
Sunglass armor wards off the dawn
Two bottles of vodka and still not in love

Your voice raised crushes my ears
Made deaf not by fireworks
but too much strong drink too fast
and the too honest whispers you poured over me.

I've decided to participate in Writers' Jam 2011 . It is a venue running through the end of the year where bloggers can share their random blatherings on everything from politics & news to poetry & fiction.... hmmm.... those may not actually be all that different. Buh, you know what I mean.

To participate, click the above Writers' Jam link for details. (Basically just jot down your scribbles, hit post but remember to add #creativity in your tags). If you have a few minutes to spare, sign up over at broowaha.com & check out what everybody else is rambling on about.

What does it mean around here? Basically an excuse to share my silly scribbles that I never bother sharing. Thanks for your patience with my chatter.

Sunday Sketch - Face Forward

Face Forward - Polaroid Emulsion Transfer of Charcoal Drawing

Okay, Okay - I'm stretching it on the "sketchbook" thing. This polaroid transfer was originally a charcoal drawing .... which has since been embellish & added to my Artsnark Etsy shop.

Face Forward - charcoal & mixed media

As I'm (again) behind schedule, this is my quasi-sketch (enter knowing wink here).  If you want to see some real sketches, toss Sketch Sunday or other variations into your favorite search engine - there is a lot of great stuff out there! If you have time, post your own & let me know so I can come see.

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Off topic #1: Had fun at the local Chalk Walk yesterday & took some pics that I'll share tomorrow.

Off Topic #2: Cathy Minerva is still looking for art & handmade donations for the Somer Thompson Foundation silent auction in April. Find out more HERE

Off topic #3: There are still a few days left to enter the The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain book giveaway. Just comment before 3/24 and you are entered in this random drawing.  Click Here for details.

Self Portrait

Passing Storm self portrait - altered photo

"Apathy can be overcome by enthusiasm, and enthusiasm can only be aroused by two things: first, an ideal, with takes the imagination by storm, and second, a definite intelligible plan for carrying that ideal into practice." - Arnold J Toynbee

"We have to get used to the idea that our next idea is far more powerful than the idea we had last." - Everette Bogue, Far Beyond The Stars

Wordless Wednesday

Little Dude's Self Portrait

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By the way, today is the last day to enter the random drawing for a pair of earrings from Liljya.etsy.com. Leave a comment on this blog before 1 a.m. EST on 6/17 to enter. Click Here for photo of prize & details.

speak no evil

speak no evil - work in progress

As I've mentioned before, when I don't have time to make stuff I get cranky. Well... cranky is an understatement. Since my mother always told me "If you don't have anything nice to say then say nothing at all" (advice I rarely heed, I must admit) the Speak No Evil Self Portrait challenge over at Creative Souls seemed a perfect fit today.

I only had about 45 minutes tonight, so I decided to shut out the world & see what happened next. The above digital collage combines an altered photo of a cocooning caterpillar, a couple of charcoal drawings, a Polaroid transfer & some basic photoshop elements tweaks. Yes, it is a bit meh - but I think it has potential as a sketch for something better

....And I'm (a little) less cranky :D

By the way, if the Creative Souls challenge link doesn't work for you, it may be because you are not a member. So why aren't you?? It is fun, free & easy to join. Simply sign up over at CreativeSouls.ning.com. Got imagination? Welcome aboard!

Wordless Wednesday - Self Portrait With Hat

Want to play along?

Post your photo. Then go to WordlessWednesday.com & add your link in the comments. There is also a Mr Linky, so you can click through & see what others have posted today

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Couple of reminders:

Today is the last day to enter the giveaway for Steve Loya's book A Splotch Monster Compendium Vol 1 plus a postcard & ACEO. Click here for details.

It is almost time to draw the random winner of 250 custom printed business cards from Uprinting. Enter before 1 a.m. (EST) on 1/16 Click Here For Details

Monday's Muse, Music & Melange - BLISS

The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure. - Joseph Campbell

blissed out

There are rare moments when everything falls into place. All the "small stuff" falls away & simply being is enough. 1 of these epiphanies was forever frozen about 15 yrs ago.

This photo popped into mind when I heard that the current Melange Challenge is BLISS. A scan, some tweaks & a print on photo-canvas. I pulled out some paints, pencils, markers. Then lots of "small stuff" got in the way until the weekend chaos ended & Monoral's Kiri brought things into focus.

So what are you listening to today? Pop by Musical Monday & share. To view other versions of bliss or add your own, click HERE for Melange blog. To see & share some inspiration visit Monday's Muse on Maternal Spark.

A final note: The next Thursday Giveaway will be on July 9th. The winner gets one of my art boxes, customized with their choice of image & text. Click HERE for details and a photo of a similar piece. To enter the giveaway just leave a comment on this blog before noon (EST) on July 9th.

Misc. thoughts & digital collages

..Nothing contributes so much to tranquillize the mind as a steady purpose — a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye.

- Robert Walton in Frankenstein


1890 meets 1990 in this altered self portrait.

It amazes me just how lost I was for most of my life (but especially back when this photo was taken). The creative urge was present yet I was fragmented & easily distracted. It was only about a year ago that I started feeling comfortable in my own creative skin. I wake up each day with new images to make. (For more info on my "jump start" click HERE)

Don't get me wrong, I am far from found & still searching. But now I seem to have a map, albeit an invisible, intuitive one. The last 15+ years have brought many responsibilities. I am still easily distracted and can get frustrated by the lack of studio time. But something has clicked & I feel lucky to realize just how much I'm enjoying the journey.

Where is all this coming from? Some talented wonderful people I "know" are having challenges of their own just now. It has caused me to step back from my grumbling & appreciate how fortunate I am. I too have been lost in the dark and in despair. I guess this is my awkward attempt to let them know that they are special, they are loved & that this too shall pass. Your friends, family (& fans) really are here for you.

Ok, switching gears. When I started typing today, I intended to post about a few new pieces in my etsy shop, ArtSnark's Artifacts. This is my 1st attempt at selling prints. I generally prefer to make one of a kind pieces but decided it was time to get some of my digital collages out of the computer & into the world. Please let me know what you think. They are being sold matted but I'm still a little vague on what pricing should be.

I was a child and she was a child, in the kingdom by the sea...
- from Annabel Lee by E.A. Poe

Poe's Muse

Edgar Allan Poe's wife (& cousin) Virginia died of tuberculosis at age 24. When she died Poe is said to have realized that he had no images of her & had a watercolor portrait made of her corpse. This is the only image of Virginia known to exist. She is thought to be the inspiration for the many tragic women found in his writings. Poe's Muse is a blending of Virginia's image and a 1848 daguerreotype of the author.

You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been

- From Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley's Portrait

In the summer of 1816 a group of friends were forced indoors due to inclement weather. They entertained themselves by reading ghost stories. The host, Lord Byron, challenged his guests to write their own frightful tales. Mary Shelley, then 19 years old, created Frankenstein.

Mary Shelley's Portrait fuses an 1840 portrait of Mary with a page of her original manuscript and an illustration from the 1831 novel.

Anything will give up its secrets if you love it enough...

-George Washington Carver

Lady Slipper Orchid

One of my 1st memories is of the lady slippers which grew in the dark woods behind my grandmother's house. I remember reaching for the lush pinkness & being told not to touch. Somehow I was made to understand that these flowers were special. Almost sacred, although that word came much later.

Decided to play around with drawing & painting on this print. I digitally altered my photo of a Paphiopedilum Orchid. After printing, I went over it with watercolors and colored pencil. You can't really see the details in the above pic so here's a closeup:


Hey, if you've made it this far, thanks for your patience today! Seems I had a lot more to say than I realized ;-D Though I don't always get back to you, all comments are read and greatly appreciated. Also if you leave a comment before noon (EST) Thursday May 28, you will be entered in this week's random drawing. This Thursday's amazing prize has been generously donated by Etsy seller SlyViolet. For details and photos of this fabulous prize CLICK HERE. Thanks again for popping by