THE DESERT'S ART

I'm not sure, but this might be my favorite of the face sculptures at Rosario's.





I have no idea what caused the strange lens flare in this photo. It seems rather fitting somehow though...


Check out Rosario's blog

I'll be posting artwork I photographed while visiting with him in San Felipe.

J. Rosario Torres

The Baja trip had many highlights.
We had the good fortune to take a tour of the J. Rosario Torres art studio.
It was wonderful. He is an amazing artist.

As we wandered through the grounds we came across face after face. Each one more compelling than the last. I took a LOT of photos. I'll start with some of the faces and try to update with more of his artwork soon.


I love the wire work on this.

Trip to Baja

I loved everything about the trip I took with Linda and Tom Hanson down to San Felipe, Baja.
The art work we saw ranged from the sublime, like the image above, to the ridiculous, like the image below.


The colors in Mexico are amazing. Everything is so intense.


Lots of textures.


It is all very inspiring. I'm hoping we can go to Baja for field trips on some of the art retreats Linda is planning. :)

Take another look at that first photo. You see this sort of recycled artwork everywhere. I can see where Micheal DeMeng gets some of his inspiration.

Happy Winter Solstice!

Click on image to see it sparkle.

Rate this UTube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAbuuIzCt1w

Jessica from Cre8it has some videos up at UTube!
I love her techniques.

Sheer Heaven Transfers

Geodeco Thingies challenge

A while back I started playing around with folded shapes, trying to use up some scraps of pretty papers.
The technique sort of 'caught on' and other people started doing variations on the concept.

After Midnight Stamps

sent out a challenge and received some wonderful entries.
Check out the results:

Geo Deco Thingy Challenge

Headed out to Gustav's with my friend Juliet to try out a new beer. This one is a hazelnut something or other.
I think it is listed on her website, Brew Chicks.
Couldn't resist snapping this photo of the beautiful color when the light shone through this brew.

Off to Tucson for gourding classes

Linda and I do not pack light. LOL
What would we need for four days in Tucson? EVERYTHING we could fit in the car.


The drive was wonderful. Arizona sunsets are always spectacular.

We had been really looking forward to taking gourding classes from Bonnie Gibson.
Check out her website! Arizona Gourds

Bonnie has a great book out. Her charming and talented husband took all of the photos. It is a beautiful book and would be worth having just as eye candy. Even if you can't get to one of her classes, the book is a good way to get started. It is available from her website. She carries a lot of fascinating products too.
I couldn't resist and bought 'stuff'. But it was stuff I had never come across before. :) I'll post pics when I get everything unpacked.

Bonnie is a delight. Not only is she a wonderful instructor- she is a truly charming lady.
Her gourds are amazing. Seeing photos of them on line doesn't really prepare you for the impact when you see them in real life.
If you ever get a chance to take a class from her- do not hesitate. I had a lot of fun and learned so much.
I'm finally getting over my fear of using a power tool. Bonnie is very supportive and takes the time to make sure everyone is safe and still expressing themselves freely . She encourages you to use your creativity. ( And she brings a bottle of water and sets it by you when you forget you need to keep yourself hydrated in the Arizona heat.)

This is my very first gourd attempt. I still need to do some finishing on it. But, Wow!, I was able to make something I can feel pretty good about right off the bat.
I can carve with my dremel tool! This is too cool!

I loved working with the waxed linen adding coiled basketry to this gourd.
Linda and I stayed up late in our motel room having a great time coloring our gourds with Luminarte's Radiant Rain sprays and Stewart superior Memory Mists. I added some clear gourd wax after I got the colors I wanted- highlighted with some gold colored wax too.
I'm hoping to add some woodburning details to this (and I'll finish up the weaving.)


I was getting a bit better using the dremel tool by this time. You can get some great texturing effects.

This is one of my favorite techniques! I need to keep working on this and get it all smooth and perfect. :) I really like the way it is coming along.

This filigree technique was the last class of the session for us. I was finally feeling like I was really getting the hang of carving with the dremel. With any luck I will locate my flex shaft and it will be easier on my hands. LOL
I felt like I had a lot more control at this point. I'm still sloooooow- so didn't get very far. but I think I'll like this when I get it finished.


The faux basketry was a lot of fun. It was so much easier than I had expected.
This still needs some painted detail for more depth and realism.
I need a REAL woodburning tool. Wow! The one Bonnie let me borrow was awesome.

Japanese Garden

Japanese Garden

Silly Quiz

Opal embossing enamel quiz

Find out what color of Opals embossing enamel you are. :)

Colors don't show up well in this photo. The lighting by the bar is not good for photography.
Nice to have some of my shot glass collection displayed. The shelf had looked so tacky before spraying it with the Radiant Rain mists, I hadn't been able to talk myself into hanging it. Looks great now. :)

Geo Deco Bug

Patty Dennis, one of my favorite artists, made a geo deco thingy that looked like a bug. I decided I had to give it a try.
I suspect I'll be doing more versions of these. ;)

Radiant Shelf

The Radiant Rain color sprays are great for refurbishing worn wood. Interesting colors and patterns emerge as you layer it on.

Lots of bees

For someone who is afraid of bees, I manage to get quite a few decent photos of them.

Another bee

Glenn Otto State Park

Edgefield Lodge

Follow the leader.

Inspired by Jessica

I need to play around with this again.
I like the idea- not real happy with this version.

Yellow Flowers

I managed to get a couple of decent shots of some yellow flowers. :)

Another Flower

Our friends have a beautiful garden.

Not a Perfect Rose

This is not a perfect rose. It is still beautiful.

Bumble

Gotta love the zoom lens on the new camera.

Bumble bees do not stay in one spot for long.

I think this shot might work for my composition class this week.

This is my favorite of the bunch. Reminds me of "Kilroy was here" grafitti.

Death and Afterlife

Another book in the Dark Themes round robin. What happens when you die?
I have no particular religious beliefs.

I've always found the Mexican Day of the Dead traditions appealing.
I love this stamp design from After Midnight. My sister drew this laughing skeleton. :)
The headstone is a photograph from a nearby cemetary. Photocollaged them together and did dry embossing.

I did some dry embossing on the rose photos. I take a lot of flower photographs.
Sketched in the branches with a Sharpie Marker.

Another of my sister's stamp designs. I just used the skull portion of this one.
I used real dirt and sand in this. Adhered with Golden brand GAC. I hope it holds up.


More bones. I have bones going down into the earth on the first page and coming back up and turning into flowers on the second page.

More time wasting fun