Family Reunion 2008

I have not stopped since I got back home from my family reunion in August. Above is a preliminary design for the official Tee shirt that I screen printed one by one on Sat and Sun with the help of a few of my cousins. It was an art weekend for me as I also lead the group of us in making books for my Mother Roberta and her sister, my Aunty Janice with whom we all celbrated their 80th and 85thBirthdays perspectively.

This is the group shot from my camera, but there where a lot of photos taken as two freinds from Finland got the job of taking the picture of all the family. they both had 5 or 6 cameras to shot. There were over 50 people who came from all over the state and country, and seven people from Finland all camping in the redwoods of Mendocino County. We had one flush toilet, no hot water, (we did have the use of the sauna) and way too much food!!!. Camp Serenity truly is an incredible place.

Here are the two octagenarians, Roberta and Janice. They really are quite spry!

As soon as I got back it was into the studio as I have a lot of shows going on.

I've been have too much fun drilling Mermaid tears (sea glass) and rocks.

I love these bracelets.

http://www.youtube.com/v/ed20HTRU-Sk
My cousin Lise Henriksen came the the Old Mission Show Alternative Art show of July 4th and sent me this link of a poem by Shel Silverstein that she put to my crow images. It is short and sweet so take a look.

Getting ready for a few shows

I have been working long hours getting ready for a show in Santa Barbara. On the 4th of July, Syd and I will be showing and selling our wares at the Alternate Mission Art Show at 2227 Garden Ave at the corner of Pueblo and Garden from 10am-5pm, and on the 6th we will be at Dinosaur Caves at Shell Beach off the 101. I have books, paintings and jewelry. Below are a few things. Sorry the photos are lousy but my photographer is on vacation!!

Red Belly

acrylic

6" x 6"

Yellow Belly on Cigar box Lid

Acrylic

6" x 8"

Buddha Spoon Bracelet

Sterling Silver Spoon with fine Silver, copper, turquoise, and coral

"Delphos"

Sterling Silver Spoon, Fine Silver, Copper, Peruvian Opal,
Coral and Carnelian

Did you know that Delphos means both fish and womb in greek and that the fish is a symbol of the Great Goddess BC? I love history.

Mixed Media Self Portraits- I'm featured in the preview

Here is the link to the preview of "Mixed Media Self Portraits" in which an "eye" primer I wrote is featured:

http://www.quiltingarts.com/shop/MixedMediaSelfPortraits.html

I can't wait to see the whole book which will be out Sept. 1st 2008!!!

Meanwhile I have been working very hard in Studio. I promise to share photos soon.

Mixed Media Jewelry- Weaving and Metal Clay

I have been having a lot of fun making jewelry. This one below is woven-remember making baskets with pine needles. Very similar, but with SS wire on a bottle cap. I love finding uses for all those bottle caps I save!!

"Crow Weave"

Found Objects ,Sterling Silver, Collage, Mica

"Dancing Women"

Fine Silver, Iolite

I made a impression with two part silicon from a friend's glass perfume bottle and cast metal clay.

"WHoly Man"

fine Silver, Brass, Citrine, Garnet, sterling silver,24K gold

This is a hollow bead, the form was made with cork clay. I sculpted the face and added 24k goldcasting grains for the eyes.

"Three egg Nest"

Fine Silver, Sterling Silver, Pearls, Garnet

I have not been successful photographing these nests I make. Sorry for the poor picture.

"Buddha with Coral"

Fine Silver, Sterling Silver, Coral, Turquoise

I don't tire of the Bhudda.

Featured Artist for 1st Thursday

June 5th was the 1st thursday of the month and I was featured at Santa Barbara Arts at 128 E. Canon Perdido in Santa barbara.

I gave a demonstration on Metal Clay which was well received.
Thanks to Georganne Alex, Shelly Niro and Lynn Adams, the arrangement of my work looked pretty good,

and abundant in the Gallery. One man accused me of hogging all the creativity, which of course is absurd.

The weather at the show at Dinosaur Caves on June 1st was hot. Unfortunately, I got a sunburn as I was thinking it would be like last month. Silly me. Next month, I think Syd and I will use a tent.

Lots of deadlines keep me busy and creative

Art From Scrap in Santa Barbara is having their annual Assemblage and Benifit Show on June 14 at the AFS Gallery on garden St. in S.B. Below is my entry. I had such a great time making it. I hope it gets in!!!

Hubert the Earless

Assemblage

6" x 11"

Hubert the Earless- detail

Often on Medeval and Renaissance paintings you will find a tablet usually with the artist's name and date of execution and possibly some information about the scene or the artist. Here we learn about Hubert's reputation as a "rascally yea-forsooth knave".

Chickens continue to appear in my work

I have been extremely busy with teaching and shows. Life is good, full, rich, and chickens continue to be in demand.

Captain Cockerel J. Calhoun

Acrylic

5.5 x 7.5

close up

Mixed Media Self Portraits and MM jewelry

Here are a couple of spoon bracelets I made on Monday. I went to an estate sale over the weekend and they had these beautiful Sterling Silver spoons. They work much better than the first one I made. The teaspoon fits much better on the wrist. Also, I borrowed Syd's daughters bracelet mandrel which helped a lot. I really enjoy pounding metal.

Dragonfly
Presence Creates Peace

Here is the cover of Mixed Media Self Portraits, a book I made a few self portraits for and wrote an article about my process. I also did a brief tutorial on how to create eyes. Not sure what was printed from what I submitted, as I have not seen the book yet. It is supposed to be out in September 2009

In April my family and I went to the Yucatan to visit one of the seven wonders of the modern world. It was awe inspiring as the Maya were a complex people. The carving on all of the ruins were fantastic.

We stayed in Cancun at a very nice hotel. It was a rather bizarre experience as I didn't feel like I was in Mexico, except when I stepped out of the hotel.
Incredible color of water. Ruth was in the pool most of the time
or playing in the sand.
I think I drank more in those few days then all of last year!!!






Persephone in Spring is a piece I have been working on for awhile. I'm not yet happy with it.
Here is "Fin Maiden" a piece I've not yet finished, but I'm liking it.
Syd and I are showing and selling our wares at Shell Beach Dinosaur Caves every 1st Sunday for a few months. May 4th was very cold. I hope it warms up!!

Eve's Map

Silk Screen on Map

The following collages main image is a print I made from a drawing I did.

The print is made with my Gocco printer.

Sun Rooster

Year of the Rooster

Pagoda Rooster

Travel Chicken