Assemblage is the Cat's Meow!

Just a quickie Show & Tell for you today...  The latest art swap on AFA that has caught my eye is all about Cats, they must be created in mixed media as well as hang like an ornament... how could I resist?! 

Below are photos of my finished  Alley Cat Gang... (Heads are sculpted out of polymer clay, bodies are made of aluminum from soda cans & covered in tissue paper, paws are mini erasers... all components are assembled with twisted wire)

 Tange                                 Satch

Rusty                                  Smokey

Short & Sweet... Thanks for taking a peek!

Until next time, Keep Creating!!

Let the Dominoes fall where they may...

I've always enjoyed a good fast paced game of Dominoes (truth be known, I am the reigning "Domino Queen" in my social circle)... little did I know what a versatile art supply that I had stashed away in the game closet for all these years!! A few months ago was my first exposure in using dominoes when I participated in a Domino Dolls Swap (check out "March 24th" post). I had so much fun that when I saw the sign-ups for a Domino Books Swap, I just couldn't resist joining in once again! After this project I have to admit that I am hooked for good... just say the word "Domino" and I'll come running to make whatever you ask for!!

Domino Books consist of 2 dominoes as the front & back covers of the book with accordion folded pages attached inside. The sky is the limit on how you choose to decorate your dominoes as well as what the pages will be like! The main ingredients here are imagination & FUN!!!

Below is a picture of my finished books. (I covered my dominoes with layers of brightly colored tissue paper collage and ink details, a ribbon is attached to the back to enable the book to be tied closed.) 

  

Completed Domino Books

Below is a picture of the "accordion" pages that I created in my trusty Janoodle style for the inside of my books (this pic really doesn't do them justice, even if I do say so myself!)

"Accordion" pages inside Domino Books

As always, thank you for popping in to see what I've been up to!

Until next time... Happy Creating!!

In the Good ol' Summertime... it's Fair Time!

August means "Fair Time" in Northeast Washington State! For several years, I have been privileged to be the Judge for the Kid's Fine Arts Division. After spending most of yesterday fulfilling my duties, I found myself leaving the pavilion a bit frustrated for the first time. I try my best to be more supportive than critical when awarding the ribbons and I always take the time to write positive remarks on each entry form. I have tried to explain to the Kid's Pavilion Superintendent the need to separate the age divisions when hanging the show (I come in after they are hung and do the judging) so that a senior teen's work (age 13-17) isn't hung next to a junior's (age 8-12) or even next to a primary (age 2-7). I take into consideration the age of each artist when judging. As the judge, I can see the age code but others don't see the age of the artist. I may give a 10 yr. old a Blue ribbon for their effort and a 17 yr. old only a Red ribbon for theirs, when hung side by side it appears not to make sense to the viewer. Sometimes even the kids question "why" when comparing their work to others. I was told by the powers to be that they would give my request some thought for the future but the show is hung and ready to go for this year... Hence , the reason for my aforementioned frustration. Oh well, it's not about me... it's all about the kids!!

Soooo, speaking of Art that is about me... I have never participated by entering any of my own artwork in the Fair's Adult Division, this year I thought it would be interesting to join in the fun! I created a Mega-sized Janoodle that I decided would be my entry. I wasn't sure how my colorful abstract work would be received but I went ahead and delivered my entry in time for judging. 

Below is a photo of my award winning "Wild Garden"... Much to my surprise and pleasure, I received a Blue Ribbon and a Purple Judge's "Special Award" for my effort! 

"Wild Garden" @ Northeast Washington Fair

Thanks for stopping by... Until next time, Ciao!!

Come fly with me!

Welcome to today's Show & Tell... I'm currently on an art assemblage kick, I love that "A little bit of this and a little bit of that" is the only rule of thumb (along with your own unique imagination) for a successful creation. Today's post showcases my efforts from another AFA swap for Mixed Media Birds. The only requirements were that the birds needed to be three-dimensional and be able to hang in the style of an ornament.

Below are pictures of four different species of "Northwestern Corkies" ... 

(the heads are created from polymer clay and the body from a bottle cork with additional supplies of wire, aluminum can, tissue paper and assorted fibers)

NW "Twist Beak" Corky

NW "Vulture" Corky

NW "Canary" Corky

NW "Red Crowned" Corky

  

Thanks for popping in, I hope that you stop by again soon!!

Until next time, Blessings to All!!

 

Now you see me, now you don't!

As far back as I can remember, I have always loved a challenge... especially an ART related challenge!  Today's Show & Tell is from a swap that I recently signed up for on the ATC's for All website. The swap challenge here is to create an "ATC Fan" that when closed, it will fit into a 2 1/2" X 3 1/2" sleeve as well as conceal a hidden treasure! I have participated in Fan swaps in the past and I have always enjoyed myself. What's not to like?... designing, cutting, painting, assembling... some times it works, sometimes it doesn't ... but, in the end... fun, fun, fun!!! 

Below are some photos of my Fan Swap efforts... the first pic shows all of the "closed" fans as they appear when stored in their sleeves. The next two pics show the "surprises" that are revealed when the fans are opened!

Closed Fans - "Garden Hideouts"

#1  Dragonfly     -     #2  Caterpillar

#3  Snail      -     #4 Hatchling

  

Hope you feel inspired to create some ART today!?

As always, Thanks for stopping by ... Until next time, Ciao!!