Montego Bay - Frustration

I have just returned from a friends and family cruise that included Jamaica.  I was very frustrated to be riding in a contracted van and not able to stop and take pictures of lovely (to me) old and tumbled down houses near the farmers' market.  I don't konw that I would have felt safe walking anyway.  But I sure wished I could have.  Pictures to follow.

News on the Art/Creative Front

First, the butterflies aren't going to make it.  One of the boys put the chrisalyds in the butterfly hatchery by himself very early one morning.  He took them out of the cup, off the lid, and TAPED the paper they were attached to to the butterfly mesh house.  He must have accidently squashed them in the process, because some are flat and some are shrinking.  So, we'll try again with another cup of caterpillars. 

I was overjoyed to find one painting last week, though without permission.  (I handled that.)  I had a large board on an easel that I had planned to paint on for months and months.  He found some acrylic paints and went at it.  He painted a very nice picture and we have it sitting on the fireplace now. 


The other is in the process of painting on a smaller board now.  He's painted over his work several times but is enjoying it.  I would so love for one or both of them to enjoy art!

Transformation One

Our caterpillars have attached to the top of the container and they're starting to form into chrysalids.  They grew very fast as caterpillars and performed just as advertised. 

The garden is not ready though.  We have about 10-14 days to get it ready to receive the new butterflies.  They can go find a place, of course. But I want to have the garden ready.  I'll post pictures as we progress.

Creating - Butterfly Garden

Our butterfly hatching kit arrived today.  Tomorrow the boys and I (with Dad's help hopefully) will start a butterfly garden in the backyard.  First we have to get rid of thick grass.  I'm planning to use the cut and cover technique.  I just don't want to dig it all out and the boys aren't old enough yet.  I found good sites for plants for this area and I have a few yard ornaments and a piece of iron fence we can use to decorate.

One resource I read said to leave some natural area nearby.  No problem - rope it off and stop mowing!

On Enchanted Learning I found a butterfly calendar.  We're each coloring one and then will give them to the grands.

Pictures to follow as we progress.

Floundering

This is supposed to be my art/photography blog.  Well what is here for the last few months is what I've done..... nada!  Since leaving Nebraska I have not been inspired to take photos.  Even though there are interesting old buildings and artifacts here too, I am just not there.  I think I need a new urban/suburban photographic interest.  New buildings don't call to me, but street scenes do. 

On the other hand.  There is just so much photography I want to do just for me.  I've yet to discover a reliable market for photos as art.  I enjoyed making the little houses from my photo snips and sold a good number for Haiti relief.  But again, how much market and how many small house magnets do I need.  There are gifts, of course, but I'd like to think someone would find enough value in what I do to pay for it. 

I've been yearning to paint, but again, not sure of subjects and I don't even know if I really can paint.  I just have this hunger to do so.  I guess I should do it to satisfy myself even if I can't really....

I am going to work on some designs to go on tshirts etc for my boys' elementary school and put them in cafepress.  That might be fun.  Go Mustangs!  So, watch this space and see if the muse strikes.

What are you up to?

One Photo a Day - hahahaha!

Well, I took two photos in a row in this project.  I'm not giving up.  I still like the idea.  My life/mood/muse just haven't cooperated.  Daily life with twin 7 year olds (ADHD) is challenging and I lost a dear friend recently and I grieve over it.  Ever onward.  I need about 90 photos to catch up!

I've fallen in like with making treasuries on ETSY.  It is so satisfying to search for art I like and make collections.  I've seen some treasuries that make art themselves. 

Artistically, I'm currently lazy.  I have yet to find an inspiring/motivating subject since we returned to Houston - going on two years.  I'm not drawn to modern buildings or nature shots.  I'd like to continue with old structures, and there are some nearby.  I'd like to shoot the old neighborhoods in the city but have not journeyed there.  One that I have always been drawn to, Freeman's Town, seems to have been replaced by condos.  I'd like to find any remants of the historic village.

I will have new work or the chosen work of others to report soon.  I'd like to hear from you.  What are you working on?  What have you seen?

A Project for 2011

Today I started a project to take at least one photograph per day.  Since I didn't start on the first, I'm calling it 350 or So .... instead of 365 Photos.  I was inspired by some conversations amongst photographers on ETSY. 

My first photo isn't very artistic, but she is sweet.  I snapped the boys' puppy Fuzzy in the backyard.  A better shot will be her following or tormenting Hank.  She runs under him and all around him and it must tickle his hair.  He just dances!  Soon he gets enough and growls at her.

I don't have to go get her out the the further reaches of the yard; she'll follow Hank anywhere.

A Photographer I Admire

I 'met' a photographer through Flickr when we lived in Nebraska and I started shooting a lot.  We commented on each other's photography and shared sites.  I was looking at Flickr today and looked up his photostream (Flickr term). He has 50 some pages of wonderful photographs now. 

If you like landscapes, old buildings, vivid colors, and/or unique perspectives, you'll enjoy his work.  The link is included here.  I encourage you to take a look and leave him comments.

Good viewing!

http://bit.ly/hSZyAe

Astounding Underwater Sculpture Garden

Underwater Sculpture Haven

Artist Jason deCaires Taylor - You have to see this.  An artificial reef of human sculpture has been started near Cancun to relieve eco pressure on the natural reef caused by tourism.  The first link is to a gallery of stills.  The second is a Youtube of the site.

Youtube of the underwater sculptures

What dedication and generosity!  And what a good idea to create an attractive diving site that harbors sealife in order to relieve the natural area.  I'm just blown away by the art, altruism, and ingenuity of this artist and foundation.

One statue has a bladder inside that divers can fill so she blows bubbles.  Fish are hanging around and taking shelter and plant/animal life is already attaching to the sculpture.  I'm sure there is more footage available upon search.  I'm off to find it.  I just had to write this first.

Art House Sketchbook 2011

Time's up.  My sketchbook titled "I am a Scavenger" is to be postmarked by January 15.  I have a few pages to go but could send it anytime.  I have enjoyed making pages, mostly collage, on the theme.  I have a stash of left over paper, fabric, thread, and objects I have found.  One prize is a cup of shattered auto glass.  It is a cup of jewels.  As I worked, I developed an awareness that scavenging is recycling.  It may be a bit more focused on the finding, but both repurpose, reuse, fix, and rescue.

I selected this theme because I am a scavenger of sorts.  It is most evident to me when I walk.  I always expect to find a small treasure on the ground, street, or beach.

Art House displayed pictures of visitors to an exhibit of sketchbooks.  They had small stacks of sketchbooks and sat or stood leafing through them.  That would be very interesting.  link:

Art House - great place to see art.     In a few days I'll put all the pictures on Flickr and a link here if you'd like to see more scavenging.

Photograph Review - Brown Pelican

This is a photograph from an artist who sells on ETSY.com.  Her shop name is Eyeshuttertothink.  Great name for photography, eh?  I asked her if I could feature one of her photos here because I admire her work.  It is quite diverse in subject and style. (http://eyeshuttertothink.etsy.com/) I had another shot in mind as I started to write; but as I was looking for it, this one caught my eye; and looking at it brought tears to my eyes.  So this is the one!  It is called Brown Pelican.

Why tears?  Isn't that what art is about - feelings evoked by images?  I don't know why; it isn't a sad picture.  I think it is the beauty, wisdom, solitary condition, .... don't know for sure but he is beautiful and striking.  You will soon find a comment below from the photographer herself about her views on the photo. 

Please share your views, too.

Brown Pelican is reproduced with permission of the artist.  All rights are reserved.  Do not copy.

What's in a Treasury?

I'm posting some Treasurys from ETSY at the end of the blog posts. These are collections of ETSY sellers work that I picked out (curated) as interesting, beautiful, inspiring, etc. Take a peek.

The Little Houses

I'm working on new ways to incorporate the Houses for Haiti in art pieces. I've finished two 6 by 6 collages and listed them on Etsy. So far not much interest but it is so hard to get visibility there.

I like putting them in settings. One is a farm scene and the other a neighborhood using two houses.

One charitable buyer is making pendant necklaces from the houses. I'm eager to see those. Some of the Houses for Haiti artists made earrings and pins from them. Most of mine are too big. I really had magnets in mind.

I haven't made any lately and wonder if I am through or not. Waiting on the Muse, I suppose. I really like working in collage and am thinking of trying photos only as collage material. hmmmmm

Happy Christmas shopping! Let me hear what art you are seeing or making.

Next post will feature a photographer from ETSY.

Monday Monday

I reworked some notecards in Cafepress last night. The current images were tired looking to me. I'm punching the old ones up and adding some. I'm thinking of ordering 10 sets (one image each) and mixing my own sets to sell on Etsy. I think I would rather have mixed images, myself. You?

I'm also reworking my web presence a bit. I have a FB page, blog, website, Etsy shop (2), and Cafepress shop. Each points to the others. The website is redundant and I have to pay for hosting, so xnay on the website (holycowstudio.com). Its either that or cut the rest and put a sales function on the website. I think Etsy and Cafepress can handle that better than I can. I'll keep the domain name for a while in case I change my mind.

I'll put one of the new notecards at the top of this post.

Arthouse Sketchbook Status

Here are a couple of pages of the sketchbook, "I am a Scavenger" for Arthousecoop.com.

This is a fun site for artists and an easy way to see current fresh art. I like the projects because they give me a deadline to drive to.

My first few pages are from bits I picked up in the last month or so in anticipation of the sketchbook. I love to find shiny or colorful or texture 'things' lying around - especially on the ground. It is fun to see how several finds seem to fit together.

I'm thinking of a collage scrap book with the boys to save their papers and bits and jibs from the school day along with their own art additions. They both like to draw.

I haven't done much with the little houses yet except to list some on ETSY. They aren't selling and I don't know if it is the art or the cause. I guess I'll check via the Etsy forums. Your thoughts?

Time zooms!

I have been thinking "I really want to get back to my blog...." for a YEAR! I can't believe it. Well, here I am and I have strong resolve to keep up.

I started this blog when we lived in Nebraska and I rediscovered photography as a medium of choice. There my "voice" was definitely old, abandoned, shabby, worn, architecture and rural artifacts. We spent a year in Corpus Christi Texas and now we're back in Cypress, outside of Houston. I honestly have not found the same calling voice here. I see rural buildings and artifacts because we are still near the 'country'; and they still call to me, but not in the same way.

I have not been shooting, other than some action shots of my twins playing football. I may try some digital 'work' with them.

My current project uses scraps of the photos from Nebraska to make little house magnets as a charity contribution. I'll include a picture of some here and they are in my ETSY shop which is linked from my holycowstudio.com site. All proceeds go to Haiti relief.

I am charmed by the idea of using images to create images. It's another form of collage which I love.

I'm also working on a sketchbook for ARTHOUSE (arthousecoop.com). The title/theme is "I am a Scavenger". And, indeed I am. I pick up jibs and bits off the street, out of magazines, out of the bottom of my purse, etc. I save scraps of paper, fiber, metal, glass, etc. All is dumped in a basket of materials and becomes fodder for collage. I recently scraped up a handful of shattered tinted auto glass from a parking lot. It looks like black diamonds!

I sold a collage last week on ETSY. I so love to think someone likes a piece and wants to have it. It's some form of cosmic communication for a thought/feeling of mine to create an object and then to connect with another person. Silly?

ttfn

SOLD!

Yea! I sold two photos yesterday; this one of the windmill and another sepia homestead that looks like an old photo. (Etsy.com)It is such a boost to know someone wants my work. Nice to recover some cost, but the biggest gain is someone else's interest.

Rainy, power out and on, muggy. It's Houston!

Signed up for another ART HOUSE project - weekly projects, sent by email. Good for stimulating the muse.

I've been working on the railroad - nope on other stuff!

I spent the last two days doing hearing screenings for elementary school kiddos. Hard to find more fun than hanging out with other moms, teachers, and loads of adorable kids.

Today I made a "fan page" for HolyCowStudio on FaceBook. Of course, I can't even find it myself now, but it's there with a few photos and some snaps from my iphone. Iphone and FB have connected with many people I would have missed. Many of my cousins' and siblings' children FB so I get to 'talk' to them. I am one of the few of the "old" generation who is very digital.

I haven't taken new photos, but have been post processing some of the hundreds I have stored. I sold two this week from Etsy.com. I added a few journals to cafepress.com and am contemplating teacher gift journals for the boys school - want to do a custom cover for the school - Go MUSTANGS!

I got my ceramic buttons on ETSY finally - at http://holycowpaper.etsy.com. I really want to make more of them for quilting, clothing, and collages.

My most exciting recent work is joining Art House and committing to a sketch book or art journal for a traveling exhibit. Check it out on http://arthouse.com you can still join by 11/2.

I'll post progress there and some here. What are you working on?

Studio a wreck

What do you think of this angel girl? Right now I think she is my muse peeking out from life.

I haven't yet opened/cleaned/arranged my pottery studio since we returned home. But I have joined a wonderful group of women who meet weekly to share various art and craft activities. It keeps the muse alive.

We are in Kindergarten now and that is fun. I volunteer several days a week and am getting to know other mothers and some grandmothers.

I do have a space to work in the house and more art supplies than two artists could use. Now to get busy!

PS:

Oh yeah, and now I can reopen my clay studio and "clean" art space inside. I can get busy!