I certainly do! As fate would have it, a lucky roll of the dice got me the opportunity to design the 2009 logo for my fav-o-rite art retreat... Art & Soul. The theme is Rock and Roll and I've been working on the art all week. The finished design will be used in advertising for the event, made into tee shirts, and even a rubber stamp! How cool is that!
Here's a photo of the sunset over Ocean Grove taken this past Saturday. See all the wires? The town of Ocean Grove (est. 1869) is so old fashioned that there are no underground electric, phone, or cable wires! They actually connect from the poles outside right to your house! But... I wouldn't have it any other way.
Here is a purse I made from a wooden box using Ranger's Faux Mosaic Kit! It's actually a 3 step kit that uses grout, paper and a three dimensional gel that you apply over the paper. It gives the illusion of mosaics, but without the weight. So it's true... you can take it with you.
Well, I finally finished my canvas for the Belmar Arts Council "Circular Art Challenge", where 12 canvasses will be selected to be made into café-style tabletops for the council's new cabaret area. All entries will be on display from August 9th to 27th. The opening reception will be held on August 9th between 5 and 7PM. The twelve winning circular acrylic paintings will be selected that evening by a voting process. So if you're in the area come check it out and vote for me!
Inspired by how I sometimes feel about myself, this photo was taken by me, developed in a darkroom, and the words were added manually! The saying was drawn onto a piece of acetate that was placed over the photo halfway through the printing stage. It is featured on a scrapbook layout I did for Claudine Hellmuth's new inspirational Scrapbooker's Creativity Kit!
Sometimes in everyday life you see patterns. How you use them is a different story all together.
Here's a picture of my final "project" I made in a cake decorating class I took this past Spring. I wish I had it right now to eat, but alas, it is too hot to bake in the Summer.
It's Claudine Hellmuth's new line of Studio paints, gesso, mediums, brushes and my favorite... sticky-back canvas sheets in letter and scrapbook sizes! I got to design this line from the logo and branding on up. It was so much fun to work with such a talented, whimsical artist. And I was able to bring her style through on the packaging. My favorite assignment to date... ever!
Imagine my surprise this evening, while reading on the upstairs porch, these two Turtle Doves landed very close by in our tree. I made the "whooo, whooo" sound (they coo like owls) and they kind of looked at me like, "okay, you're alright." They stayed there quite a while, primping and preening, while the kitties looked on very intensely.
Here is a pair of jeans I made using just a black Sharpie pen. I drew swirls and swirls all over the place. It took forever. I thought they turned out pretty cool. And I put them in the wash and they came out fine. Maybe one day I'll fit into them again.
I used to be afraid of the clown game at the boardwalk stands growing up... you know, the one where you have to squirt water into the clown's mouth, until a balloon on top of his head popped. For the longest time I thought I was afraid of clowns. Turns out it was the sound of the balloon popping... because it always surprised me.
A well-deserved and much needed weekend spent just relaxing. My kitties joined in too out on the second story deck. Just soaking up the salt air and the sea breezes at the shore. I just love summer time!
Sometimes things aren't as they seem to appear. Sometimes your eyes—or is it your mind— plays tricks on you. Sometimes it's harder to look at the real thing than it is to look at its reflection.
Ooooh, boy! It sure is hot here. We've had a warm spell of 90 degree weather lately. But typical of the New Jersey shore, it's also hazy and humid! I love to keep the windows open, to get the sea breezes and to hear the waves crashing at night when all is quiet. But I think I'm going to have to turn off the fans and turn on the AC...
I had so much fun the last time I randomly chose a photo and blogged about it, that I thought I'd do it every Tuesday! So... this is a photo of one of the gigantic Ravens I encountered during my recent trip to Seattle. Those birds are huge there! I've never seen Ravens so sinister looking! They were pretty darn cool.
You're spinning, spinning, spinning in your little shell... and you're spinning, spinning, spinning 'round the edge of your little world... and you're holding on and laughing... or wait... are you crying... is it excitement... or fear...
This past Saturday was my hometown's 4th of July Parade. Every year it takes place the first Saturday of July on Main Avenue of Ocean Grove. Such a nice parade... and against the backdrop of this quaint Victorian town, it really feels nostalgic.
In honor of the birth of our Nation, I've pictured a red, white, and blue version of some of my favorite Adirondack Paints... sort of a birth of Creativity for me, if you will.
Woo hoo! I have Thursday and Friday off and plans of fireworks, the boardwalk, beach, relaxing, thumbing through craft magazines, studio time, and First Night Asbury... It's a fun event where an an entire street of galleries, shops and restaurants stay open late and you can walk around with a glass of wine and some nibbles.
I love you with all my heart. Thanks for being my best friend.
