Book Club

Tonight is the last meeting of a book club that I have been in for the last year and a half. So, in honor of this, I remind you to

Some of my favorites are: Time Traveler's Wife, Water for Elephants, Cold Mountain, Bluebeard, The Pleasure of My Company, Shadow of the Wind, Never Let Me Go, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Middlesex, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, The Kite Runner, The Constant Gardener and A Thread of Grace. Some that I haven't cared for but get all kinds of great press and word of mouth: The Solace of Leaving Early, Atonement, and The Poisonwood Bible.

I'm always looking for a great book. I haven't read a really, really good one in a while and am dire need of a great read. Please send me the titles of your favorites. Or, join me on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/as a friend.

Lorrie

Foreclosure on a Sunny day - Up close and personal

Foreclosure on a Sunny Day: I thought you might be interested in seeing what the house photo looked like in the artwork I did for my Altered Sister's Round Robin book, Foreclosure on a Sunny Day, before I altered it. It's not a great picture, that's for sure. What a dark, dreary December day it was! When I took it I was looking at the form of the houses rather than the surrounding stuff. I like the way the houses go up the hill.

Up close: And, here's the altered version that I used in the artwork...

Personal: The photo was taken in my husband's hometown, Olean, NY. As far as I know none of these houses are in foreclosure but a couple of them looked like they could be.

Lorrie

Altered Sister's Round Robin

The Altered Sisters have begun a Round Robin that will last for about 10 months. We've not challenged ourselves in this way for quite a while and it's time. We've each chosen a theme and started our books with one spread.

My book theme for this Round Robin is Altered Photography. I have always enjoyed Karen Michel's artwork and I've had her book, The Complete Guide to Altered Imagery: Mixed Media Techniques for Collage, Altered Books, Artist Journals And More, for years as I've always hoped to do more with my amateur photos. Not only is my book theme Altered Photography (in which all participants use one spread in my book and have to alter a photograph in some way) but I vow to alter a photo for each of their books as well, no matter the subject. I think this is the only way I'll begin to explore the technique.

Remember that book page I started at the Portage District Library Book Fair? If not, see the January 11 post for more info. Anyway, I started with an old Winnie the Pooh board book and turned one page into this:

And this is what the spread looks like now:

Foreclosure on a Sunny Day

The spread uses my typical bright colors but marries them with a horribly serious subject. Since I often use houses in my artwork I've been struggling with how to broach the subject of the banking and housing crisis. This is one attempt. One advantage to using a board book as a canvas is that I can carve into the piece. The word "foreclosure" is not written on the artwork but actually carved into it and helps provide a bit more dimension.

I've gotten some new subscribers lately. Welcome! And, as always, thanks to all for looking!

Lorrie

Brain Freeze not caused by Ice Cream

I've been spending way too much time on the computer. Come on, you know what I mean. Too much ruminating about what to say on the blog. Too much exploring on other people's blogs. Too much time trying to figure out Facebook (still not sure why I am doing that but I'm told it's good for marketing). Too much, too much, too much.

When I finally tore myself away today, I didn't have the gumption to get started on anything. I've come to believe that the computer is not unlike the television. It fries your brain. With TV, however, it is usually because the shows are so dumb that your brain doesn't get used. With the computer, it's because your brain gathers so much information it freezes up and can't function well when you're away from it. That's my hypothesis and I'm sticking with it!

So, my way of overcoming my inability to act today was to do something in the studio that is rather mindless. I made sheets of mosaic tiles. With mosaics, making the sheets of tiles is meditative, automatic, repetitive. The challenge with mosaics is putting them together and making something else. That's for another day.

Here are today's sheets of mosaics, all made from scraps of paste paper. And notice, I went right back to the computer to show you!







Lorrie

Arttechniques Fatbook Swap - Received

Yesterday's mail brought a box to our doorstep. I knew right away what is was. "The new Fat Book is here, the new Fat Book is here," I yelled in my best Steve Martin voice. (Of course, the kids looked at me as if they always knew I would be an embarrassment to them eventually. Thankfully only one of their friends was around to witness the disgrace.)


Since I've not gotten permission from any of the participants to post pictures of their work individually, I'll just show you what 120 4" x 4" pages look like splashed on the floor. Quite a pile, huh?




The purpose of this swap was to share a technique using recycled/repurposed materials. Some of the techniques I've done before, some I've wondered about, and some I've never thought to pursue. I'm now intrigued by many of the shared wonders and have some fun new things to try.

I've not done a swap for a long time and I had almost forgotten what a kick it is to get the return package in the mail. If you're thinking of participating in a swap: go for it! I learn something every time and almost always meet some new artists that I enjoy too.



Lorrie

Arttechniques Fatbook Swap

A couple of months ago I joined another Yahoo group (like I needed another group) called Arttechniques. I joined at a good time as sign ups were just beginning for a Technique Fat Book. Each artist was to send in to the hostess 4" x 4" samples of a particular technique that used recycled materials in some way. Well, I can do that!

The response was enthusiastic, to say the least. The number of "players" continued to rise until the swap was closed at 120! That meant that each artist had to make 120 4" x 4" pieces of art using the technique that they had chosen. I chose paste painting (big surprise there!) and made six large sheets, then cut them down to 4" x 4": easy. Then I had to glue the brief instructions of how to do it on the back of each 4" x 4" piece: hard, time consuming and a big pain.

Anyway, my pages were shipped off at the end of February. In return I'll get 120 sheets back each with a different technique shown. The hostess of this swap is really on the ball and I'm told that the return package is already on it's way back to all 120 players!

Here are some of the samples that I mailed out:


These are unusual for me as I used black as my base color. I never use black but it was leftover from a workshop that I taught. This was a challenge for me and I had to keep going over the dried paste with new colors in order to brighten the sheets up.

I did get frustrated a bit, but trying new things is often why I do these swaps anyway. And this one should be remarkable: 120 swappers, all with techniques using recycled materials. I'll show more pictures when I get the package back.

Lorrie

Kreativ Blogger Award

I've been named a Kreativ Blogger by Gera Scott Chandler at Amused Creations, http://amusedcreations.blogspot.com/. I'm honored that she chose my blog as a source of inspiration. We found each other through the One World, One Heart giveaway last month. She works in polymer clay and I work with paper. Nonetheless, we apparently inspire one another as ideas can come from anywhere, anyone and any medium.

I explored the internet a bit to learn more about this "award" and discovered that it has been given to all different genres of blogs: art, religion, writing, etc. The requirements have varied over time but the main idea is to provide a list of things on your blog that inspire you. You then pass on the names of other bloggers that may have inspired you so that they then may inspire others. Lots of inspiration being thrown about! So, basically it is like the children's game of tag "you're it", or if you are on the cynical side, like a chain letter that arrives in the mailbox promising 96 different pairs of socks.

I choose the more enticing tag analogy and provide this list of seven things that inspire me (in no particular order) and three other bloggers (also, in no particular order) that make me think, smile, drool and/or stop in my tracks for a bit:

* Color - I don't have any brown in my house except for a wooden floor (which I love), kitchen cabinets (which I like) and one chair (which is just ok). To offset the brown chair, there is a fun small, orange patterned ottoman that goes with it. I especially like to observe the way one color will play off another.

* Water - I am always drawn to water. It is never the same: calm/dangerous, sparkly/dreary, blue/black, shallow/deep, cold/warm and so on and so on and so on.

* Vacation - Our annual week-long vacation to a cottage "up north" on Long Lake near Traverse City, Michigan is always special for so many reasons. Actually, I guess most any vacation is inspiring. New mental images can be provided for such a very long time afterwards.

* Teaching - I always learn when I teach. If I didn't continue to learn a bit of something from my students, I don't think I would continue to do it.

* Other artists - Enjoying the company, support and talents of other local and online artists is immeasurable. I am in awe of some because of their talent, others because of their generosity, others because of their ability to talk about their work in a way that is illuminating and not boastful.

* Learning - I love taking workshops because learning always can enhance what you are doing or will do in the future. I'm not usually very social during a workshops because I become so self-absorbed. If I'm ever in a workshop with you, please don't take my concentration and lack of conversation personally.

* Family - My kids are talented, bright, fun and eager (most of the time, I'm not delusional thinking they are perfect!). My husband is working harder for much less payoff right now. Nonetheless, as he must, as we all must do, he keeps going.

As for other blogs that inspire me, I nominate the following three bloggers and hope that you might find them inspiring as well:

Joanne Thieme Huffman at Ad Libitum, http://joannethiemehuffman.typepad.com/

Kathy LaRocco at Artful-Musings, http://artful-musings-of-kathyl.blogspot.com/

Lulu Moon at How Art Saved My Life, http://lulumoonmymuse.blogspot.com/

Have an inspiring day!


Lorrie

Florida

Certainly there are enough pictures of Florida's beautiful beaches and palm trees out there in the world. With my tiny snapshot digital camera I cannot add anything to this genre of landscape photography. However, I can add a couple of photographic memories from my trip with my son to Florida that are just my own. (Geographic update: son was in Tampa for the Olympic Development soccer camp; after I dropped him off, I left for Marco Island to visit my parents; hubby and girls were the true troopers and stayed home in the cold.)

Anyway, I hope this first one will remind you of a beautiful sunset somewhere. I've been lucky enough to see incredible sunsets in many places including Washington's Pacific coast, Florida's Gulf coast, California, Lake Michigan, Cape Cod, France, many inland lakes and even in often cloudy England. No two are the same and even if the sunset of the evening is a "dud", it still is special because you slowed down to look.




I am fascinated and disturbed by pelicans. Have you ever seen a more ugly, yet simultaneously graceful, creature? If one thinks hard enough, surely there is a lesson somewhere in that for humans!



More soon. Being away from the regular routine sure gets you behind in a hurry!


Lorrie

More New Collages

Here are a couple of new collages that I made last week. I love the old illustrations from the 50's. Check out her tiny waist! Ha.

Here's to hoping that your home fire is burning or that you are at least staying warm!

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Warning, I'm going to brag: Right now I am enjoying a couple of days in Florida which is a welcome relief from the frigid winter we've had in Michigan. I'm here because my son was one of about 80 boys from across the country invited to attend the national Olympic Development Training soccer camp in Tampa. I dropped him off on Wednesday and pick him up on Sunday. He will be completely on his own with boys/coaches he has never met before. The level of soccer should be amazingly high. This will stretch him in more ways than one. Meanwhile, I'm not running, kicking, heading, trapping or scoring. I'm doing nothing, which in my mind, was equally well earned!

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Lorrie

Women's Expo report

I had guessed that the Women's Expo would either be a boom or bust situation for me. I was right and it wasn't on the "boom" end of things. After Friday night, when it became readily apparent that most of the ladies attending were not really buying things but were looking for giveaways from vendors and a fun night out, I changed my tack.

On Saturday I started pitching my classes. I teach locally but what seemed to push people's buttons was the idea that if someone acted as a hostess and got together a group of ladies on their own I would gladly come to their house to teach a class (for a fee, of course). The lady in the booth next to me does home jewelry parties and was selling/booking a boatload. I hope that this comes to something. And if you are a new reader that stopped by my booth; talked with me; picked up a business card and are now following up on my blog: Welcome and I thank you! A party at your house is great fun for everyone. Please scroll through to look at some of my work.

Here is a picture of my booth:

I always try to jam as much as possible into the booth and, in looking at this picture now, I think it shows. I might be better off just showcasing some work rather that trying to show it all. Advice from anyone in this department?

Nonetheless, I met some great ladies and had numerous people make very nice comments about my work. I always appreciate that! In the end though, this show was so much work and had so little immediate and obvious payoff. The key, I think, will be in any follow up efforts I make.

Enough whining. More new collages in the next post. And, I'm off to Florida and warm weather tomorrow. What's to complain about?

Lorrie

New Collages

Tonight and tomorrow I am participating in the Kalamazoo Women's Expo at our local convention center. I've been reading up about different ways to market art and think it makes good sense to do more than just the art/gift shows. Typically, women are my buyers so a Women's Expo seems like a reasonable alternative. I hope this strategy works! I'm told that there will be about 60 exhibitors. I think it will be salons, decorators, massage therapists, etc. I am the only artist.

In addition to my usual stuff like handmade paper fish and mirrors, mosaics and cards, I purchased new business cards, made some new signs, made a bunch of 5 x 7 digital prints that look really nice matted in 8 x 10 mats, and made some new collages. Here are two of them...





Both of these collages are 6 x 6 and mounted on a frame. I priced them at $28. Ah, pricing... always a difficult thing.

Our weather forecast for tomorrow stinks so I hope I do well tonight. I'll let you know.

Lorrie

Exhibitions

The last couple of posts about my large handmade paper houses are a good lead into how to exhibit your work. I'm certainly not an expert in this department but I have exhibited locally in group shows as well as in individual shows. I was the Exhibition Coordinator for the Handmade Paper Guild of Southwest Michigan for several years and that helped tremendously in my knowledge of pulling together a good show.

Keep in the mind the exhibits I've done are the kind where the artist(s) does a good share of the work. I have yet to get my work into a big time gallery (know of any?!?) where they do your marketing and hang the show for you. There are certainly pluses to that situation, such as less effort on the part of the artist to get the show marketed and pulled together. But, you also might loose some control over how your work is presented.

Here are a few things that I've learned over the years about exhibiting:

Have good signage both inside and outside the venue. This is important for several reasons: It helps visitors find you. It helps people remember you. And, it looks professional.

Showcase your important work (the reason most people come to the show) but have a variety of other price points and sizes of work for people to look at and choose from.


In the case of this show, we had quite a bit of space to present work that related to the show but was smaller and less expensive. This show was at a small gallery and sales were really important to her so this approach worked. At other exhibits you might not have the opportunity to show smaller/less expensive pieces. And sometimes you may want to have the focus solely on the big stuff. Each exhibit will be different.

The gallery owner suggested that we have cards made of the focal pieces. That way, if someone wanted to remember the art but couldn't fork out for a big piece they at least had a memory of it on paper. This turned out to be a good idea. Our names are on the backs of the cards so we can be contacted, if desired, and we've continued to sell these cards in a pack of six long after the show came down.

This little blurb about exhibiting is just the tip of the iceberg. And, hanging a show could be an article in itself! Yikes! Anyway, I've written an article on the subject of exhibiting that I'd be glad to share. In return I would ask that you become a subscriber to my blog or add my link to your own website/blog. Also, if you have any tips for me, I'd love to learn more too.

Lorrie

Happy Valentine's Day

As I've mentioned before, I belong to a group called the Altered Sisters. We meet monthly and share what we've been working on and also share our work with one another. We started as a book altering group but moved on from there. At our February 2nd meeting we each brought two Valentine postcards and then swapped amongst ourselves. I did some "found poetry" cards and invite you to take a look...

Here's hoping that you are with the ones you love today and always.


Lorrie

One World One Heart Giveaway Announcement

Today is an exciting day in cyberspace. Throughout blogland there will be over 900 winners announced as a result of the One World One Heart giveaway event.

Here's a recap: On January 19 Lisa Swifka at http://oneworldoneheart.typepad.com/ started the 2009 One World One Heart event. In it's third year, this event is designed to bring bloggers of the world together. This year over 900 bloggers were involved. Personally, I gave up trying to get to all the blogs on the list after visiting about 300. There were just too many on the list to even attempt to visit unless I spent just about every waking hour on the computer!

If you look at the event solely by the numbers you'll find that there were 85 participants in 2007, 426 participants in 2008 and 911 participants in 2009! People from 28 countries participated. Maybe the leaders of the world should just blog and giveaway stuff so that the world becomes a peaceful place! Ah, so simple.

Here's what I learned from all of this:

* I was overly obsessive about trying to visit all the sites right then, right away, right now at the expense of other things I should have been doing. Reminder to self: If I do this again, pace myself!
* In general, I don't care for music on a blog. It is always a surprise as it often blares out and I found I didn't like much of what I heard which made me leave some sites quickly. I'm not a music hater or snob, I just don't like it in this setting. Gentle reminder to other bloggers: go easy on the music.
* There are so many generous people out there. I made a valiant attempt to get to many blogs but I know I missed a bunch too. Reminder to everyone that participated: Wow! What good people you are and I thank you!

I had 223 people post a comment requesting that they win my giveaway. Amazing!

And the winner is Beth at http://meanderingthreads.blogspot.com/. She is a quilter with beautiful things on her blog. I have contacted her this morning and will get the artwork shipped off.

Many thanks to all of you that visited me during this event. And special thanks to those that came, spent some time with me and made a connection. I look forward to fostering those new friendships.

Lorrie

Domesticity Series - Half-wit and Hopeful House

Here are two more from the Domesticity series...

Half-wit House
25” x 46”
Handmade paper, mixed media, $300

In Half-Wit House you see a once organized life swirling away at an awkward angle. Thoughts were still strong but focus was lacking. Many ideas, and some responsibilities, went into a black hole not to be seen again.

Hopeful House

22’ x 46”
Handmade paper, mixed media, $300

Eventually, more good days than bad became the norm. Dare I hope for wellness? Hopeful House shows arrows pointing the way with a bright yellow-orange sun actually shining again.

Hopeful House has become my favorite and it hangs in my home in a hallway that I pass by numerous times a day. It is a constant reminder that hope and gratitude are a state of mind. Despite the daily news in the world, no one can take away your hope unless you let them. This might make you think that I'm a natural optimist. Actually, it is quite the opposite, so I need that daily reminder!

Lorrie

Domesticity Series - Healthy and Heavy House

Several posts ago I showed a couple of my large (about 24" x 48") handmade paper houses. These were originally done for a two-person show called Domesticity. I made the houses and my papermaking friend, Vicki Berglund, did large (about 48" x 48") beds. We took this show to three different venues and had great fun in the process. By completing this series, we each grew as artists and became better friends. We complemented each other nicely. When I needed a push, she pushed. When she needed a push, I pushed. This two-person show was a great solution for us as we shared the considerabe load of putting on an exhibition. If you are thinking of showing your work, a one-man show can be overwelming, but a two-person show is manageable. Just be sure you pick the right person to exhibit with or you might find yourself worse off!

The houses were created to show my frame of mind during a one-year period in which I was not well. There are seven houses in the series: Happy House, Hell House, Heavy House, Healthy House, Half-wit House, Harmony House and Hopeful House.

Healthy House
20” x 46”
Handmade paper, mixed media, $300

Healthy House feels good, looks good, and seems to smile — just as a woman should.

Heavy House

22” x 46”
Handmade paper, mixed media, $300

This piece, titled Heavy House, visually gets right to the point. The house is huge but the roof is small—my body was getting bigger but my brainpower seemed to be diminishing.

Here's hoping that your "house" is in order and you're feeling good!

Lorrie

Whole Lotta HeART - Part Three

One more post about last weekend...

You may recall that I mentioned low single digit temperatures. Add a strong blowing wind and you have a recipe to stay inside. But no! After the class on Saturday I drove only a mile to the Frankfort beach to see what Lake Michigan looked like. Despite the frigid temps of January 2009, the Lake was not frozen. In these pictures you can see the beach with open water beyond. I was only able to stay out in the elements for a couple minutes as my hands started to freeze up (no gloves on!). Lest I paint a dreary picture of Frankfort, MI, you should know that in the summer this place is paradise with a lovely beach, a cute little town (with a great bakery, and after all, what's a town without a great bakery?!?), a huge, sparkly inland lake called Crystal Lake, Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore just up the road and beauty everywhere you turn.

My kids went skiing that same day at a nearby resort. Here are my girls and their cousin with only their little noses showing. They had a ball skiing but were inside more than usual to warm up. I wonder why?!?

Makes me cold just looking at these pics! Stay warm out there.

Lorrie

Whole Lotta HeART - Part Two

Here we go with more pictures of artwork created by students at the Whole Lotta HeART retreat at the Crystal Lake Art Center this past weekend. On Sunday Pam Yee taught how to turn one the sheets created on Saturday into a book. Everyone made templates for the binding, measured and folded the spine and sewed. All managed to get some pages decorated and no one left early (except for one student that had quite a drive in front of her). All photos are courtesy of Pam Yee.

Both days were quite full as we began at 9 in the morning and finished at 4. And, as you can see from these pictures, Day 2 of the workshop was much less sloppy than Day 1!

All students went home with new knowledge, a large stack of paste painted papers, a beautiful handmade book, new friends and memories of a fun, creative weekend. Pam and I went home exhausted but smiling. Sharing our knowledge and seeing such enthusiasm for our artistic love is a grand reward.

If any of this sounds of interest to you, please let your local art center know.

Lorrie

Whole Lotta HeART Retreat - Part One

What a great weekend! The Crystal Lake Art Center, Frankfort, MI hosted a retreat that included myself as the paste painting instructor and Pam Yee as a book instructor. I taught on Saturday and Pam worked with what we had made during the paste painting class to complete the One-Sheet-Wonder book form on Sunday. We had eight enthusiastic students enjoying themselves in a warm, cozy, creative space. Frankly, inside was the only place to be as the outside temps were in the low single digits! Many thanks to Lee and Eliza, who helped organize this retreat and enjoyed participating in it too. Additional thanks to Greta, Audrey, Carole, Bev, Diana and Marcy for attending and making the weekend so pleasant. Each time I teach, I continue to learn myself and this is one of the reasons it remains to be a joy to be out there meeting such wonderful people.

(Notice that my shirt doubles as a rag. Saves me always looking for something to wipe my hands and tools on!)

The day started with me giving some history about paste painting and talking about supplies. Quickly, however, we got right down to business. I demoed the basics and they went at it. I demoed some additional techniques and tricks and they went at it. By late morning everyone was confident and turning out some great work. To keep it interesting they did have some "assignments" throughout the day: do the front and back of one sheet in contrasting colors and/or textures that would be the base of their book; emerge beyond their typical color palette and use two colors that they hadn't used all day; and, pick a sheet that they didn't like too terribly much and rework it with more paste/more color/more texture.

At one point in late afternoon when the energy in the room was starting to wane a bit, we did a round robin. We each started a sheet with one color and then passed it to the left. Each of the artists then added their "mark" to the sheet. It could be additional color or additional texture or both. Amazingly, rather than getting muddy, many of these collaborative sheets turned out to be some of the best of the day.

You may have noticed that this post is only "Part One". "Part Two" will show pictures of the the bookbinding day and some of the finished books. Stay tuned...

Lorrie

Book Arts Fair (again) and Crystal Lake Art Center (again)

I know I skip around from subject to subject: paste painting, mosaics, handmade paper, book arts, sales, puppy, etc. I hope that makes the blog interesting rather than confusing. I write about what is top-of-mind for me artisically, which, just like my life, is all over the map.


Anyway, today I'm heading back to the topic of the Book Arts fair at the Portage District Library. The library has put up some better pictures than I posted and has some fun descriptions of what went on during the entire exhibition (it's up til February 10, by the way). I would encourage anyone with interest in the paper/book arts to coordinate or participate in an event like this. There is some wonderful energy when people get together to share their loves. Here is the link to visit the "official" site. http://artonbooks.com/bookartfest/


I'm off tomorrow to beautiful, but cold, Traverse City, MI. We've decided that the whole family will go, including the pup! I will be teaching at the Crystal Lake Art Center in Frankfort on Saturday. (A spot or two is available if you have the urge to paste paint in the warm and cozy Art Center. http://www.crystallakeartcenter.org/blog/whole-lotta-heart-girlz-weekend-jan-24-25/ ) Simultaneously, my kids, my sister and her kids will ski at Crystal Mountain Resort which is just around the country corner. Dad will hold down a spot inside the lodge and catch up on some reading and be the go to guy when you're hungry or cold. A win for everyone involved! I'll post pictures when we get back...



Lorrie

One World, One Heart

(It is 10:31 pm on February 11 and I'm closing the entries down now. I know it's not midnight yet but I'm pooped and heading off to bed. Many thanks to all that visited and entered my drawing! I'll announce the winner tomorrow.)

The One World, One Heart giveaway has been going on since 2007. In the words of the hostess of One World, One Heart, "The original idea behind this giveaway event was to bring bloggers together from around the world who may never ordinarily meet. It closes the gap of the blog community and enables us to interact, discover new and wonderful people, and in the process possibly win a prize or many prizes along the way."

This seems like a good idea to me, so I encourage you to stay a while on your visit, let me know what you like and any suggestions you may have. If you leave a comment on this post you will be entered to win my giveaway. Please be sure you leave an email address so I can contact you if you win. This little party ends at midnight on February 11 and I will contact you on the 12th if you are the winner.

Be Sweet

5" x 7", mixed media on canvas.

If you would like more information on this event, click on the One World, One Heart logo in my sidebar. Thanks for playing and it's nice to "meet" you!

Lorrie