Oh, I do so miss my old Fuji camera that died. It was old, it paid its dues. It had a long and happy life but eventually the little gears that moved the lens started to strip and it stopped focusing. It's certainly not the time to buy a new camera. So I am using a camera a friend of mine retired, an old Olympus, and I have just never learned its tricks. Add to that the unreliable quality of the light (or lack thereof) in Seattle and I just am not getting pictures as good as I would like. Plus, really I'm not a photographer. I have an eye for to composition of a shot but lack the technical know-how to really get what I want. Perhaps when I am able to get a new camera I will take a class.
Enough whining! Sorry! I've been working on some necklaces and will be listing them for sale when I've sorted some details out and gotten better pictures.
This necklace has a knitted base, a gorgeous variegated ribbon yarn that wanders from fuchsia to rose to salmon, accented with a flash of silver. The clasp is a button and loop. The button is a Czech glass button. The focal point of the necklace is a soldered charm of a detail from one of Frida Kahlo's self portraits, accented with glass and crystal beads.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Frida Necklace
Peacock in the Orchard
Trees
Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918
I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day, 5
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
I can't remember what grade we learned this poem at school, probably 6th grade. And I think I agree that trees are nature's poetry. No pun intended! The trees in Seattle have been getting a good long drink this week, with all the rain. I am looking forward to "May Flowers" - though actually there are quite a few April flowers out at the moment. I seem to spend too much time talking about, and thinking about, the weather. How human! Let's see, what else is new with me ... I went to a workshop at Worksource, a WA State agency that partners w/ WA State unemployment to help people find jobs. Learned a few things. Of course it would certainly help if there were more jobs available in my field. I am thinking of switching fields. I don't really want to but sometimes one must make choices like that. The thought of going back to school at age 41 is not entirely pleasant. And I will keep trying to make a go with my art as well. In addition to painting, this week I've been working on some new jewelry ideas that are somewhat unique - it's hard to find unique ideas in that arena because so many people make jewelry using the same basic techniques but I think I may be on to something! Maybe I will take some pictures later today or tomorrow. Perhaps there will be some more light later! It's a bit of a concern in my parts!
Peacock in the Orchard
8 x 10"
watercolor and ink on paper
Available on Etsy.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Raven Sings the World Alive
I've been painting birds lately. And I'm not done yet, either! Spring must be inspiring me to pull out the bright blues, mossy greens, and delicate violets. I just listed 3 on Etsy, a heron, a raven, and a peacock.
I've always loved herons, and used to watch for them on my school bus growing up, as we traced the shoreline. Crows are everywhere in Washington State, and Ravens are not uncommon either. In the winter when everyone else heads south, there are still crows and gulls and other seabirds. Unfortunately there are not a lot of peacocks wandering about, other than at the zoo, where they pretty much go wherever they please. I think there are a few feral peacocks on Vashon Island, where I grew up, but none of them lived near our farm.
Anyway, if you are interested, check out my birds on Etsy, and happy spring! (If you are N of the equator!)
April Give Away Winner
Stay tuned for another chance to win next month!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Ravenwood (detail)
Ravenwood
watercolor on paper
2008, 16 x 20"
Ravenwood seems to be the most popular piece in the show I currently have up at Capital Hill Presbyterian. (See my last post for more info!)
"Paint the flying spirit of the bird rather than its feathers.” ~Robert Henri
My paintings at Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church
Please excuse this iphone photo! These are some of my paintings hanging at Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church in Seattle. They'll be up for the month of April. The Church office is often open during the day if you'd like to stop by, and of course the church is open Sundays. I was there this evening as part of the Capital Hill Art walk, and it was nice to meet some new people! The church is a beautiful old building. My paintings are actually hanging in the back of the sanctuary. The smaller paper fragments on the wall are part of a permanent installation by artist Robroy Chalmers.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Heron
Happy Easter!
It's been a beautiful sunny weekend. Yesterday I lay in the sun and read and later painted by my sunny window. I finished Tim Power's latest, Hide Me Among the Graves. It's a sort-of sequel to The Stress of Her Regard. Only Tim Powers could combine Shelley, Lord Byron, Queen Boudica, Christina and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, ghosts, and vampires - and set it under london - and make it just about plausible. A wild romp indeed.
And I am listening to the audio book of Little Big, as read by the author, John Crowley. The audio book just came out. I love Little Big and it won the world fantasy award in 1982. This version is a version sort of edited by the author, I was sort of surprised because my copy was the original, and part of me wants to go through and document all the differences but fortunately I've resisted the urge.
Today I went to visit my friends the Backmans for Easter. It was fun watching the kids hunt for easter eggs and then watching them see how much sugar they could consume before their parents put the breaks on. I still do not know how people manage to be parents 24/7!
This Heron is my most recent painting.
Heron
7.5 x 9.5"
watercolor and ink