50 Complete...

So here are collages from today's practice...

And the complete new collection of 50 for Art-o-mat

49 mini collages...

New series for Art-o-mat almost complete - here are the latest from today...

Last snow day...

Another busy day with kids home from school but a moment for practice this evening.

Practice session...

So the snowcation continues and with it a funny schedule.

For today I return to collage practice...

Remaking...

Today I made a collection of felt stones...

...I reused the wool from this felted wreath that's been unraveling on my front door for a while.

I didn't get to the organizing I'd planned but did get out to enjoy the beautiful light on the frozen river.

Played a bit with watercolor tonight inspired by this image...a good reminder that not every experiment is a masterpiece!

A plan for organization...

Today I realized I need to organize my collage papers to make it easier to work in a larger format.

And I realized that organizing will take more energy than I have after a full day outside.  I'm thankful for the joys of a sunny day, walks with good friends, and enjoying snow creations made by neighbors.  

So the organization will come tomorrow and for tonight I just stay with showing up to practice - with one small collage...

Cleaning Out Bookshelves

Today my biggest accomplishment was clearing bookshelves...making space.

One thing I noticed as I organized and made piles to give away was how many books seemed to focus on the challenges of choosing a creative life.  I gave away most of these.  A couple titles I recall were "Art and Fear" and "On Not Being Able to Paint."  I flipped through and realized I may have read parts of these and I'm sure they came well recommended at some point in my life but today I wanted to make space.  One that I kept was Twyla Tharp's "The Creative Habit."  It seemed like one I might get back to for encouragement.  I like the idea of habit and it seems to tie in well with my work toward a regular practice.

Mostly, the act of giving away these books opened space for more making and served as a good reminder I want to put my time toward my practice.  

This evening I completed a collage..

Added more layers to a second collage

And began a new collage...

When I got stumped for what to do next in the new piece, I returned to my mini collage practice - now up to 35 of 50 for a new series for Art-o-Mat.

Snow day...

Today was a full day of enjoying the snow: walking, watching the dogs play and sledding in our back yard.

I loved watching the creative process as my husband and sons designed and shaped their backyard luge run.

For me I return to my making practice with a small collage inspired by colors of light on snow today...

Blizzard Collage...

This evening I made a blizzard collage - inspired by the view of our back yard.

Different kinds of making

Today I made cookies and lots of trips outside to shovel, walk and admire the snow.

And here at the 11th hour to stay with my practice I made a small collage...

It sort of mirrors the colors in a larger collage I've been playing with the last few days - the photo transfer of the trees is the newest feature...

Snow

A beautiful morning walk at Huntley Meadows newly covered with last nights snow...

Beautiful light and shadow...

And animal tracks in the light flaky snow...

Lots to return to for artistic inspiration in the coming days home in a bigger snow. 

For this evening I continue my practice with mini collages...

Inspired by the morning sky...

So I was inspired by the morning sky today but didn't get out to capture a photo.

Have been wondering what to do with this little experiment of a photo transfer on wood panel.  Tonight it seemed just the thing to add the morning sky colors with acrylic ink.

Making a connection...

Today my kids and I made a trip to Greater Reston Art Center to see installations by Patrick Dougherty and Rebecca Kamen. 

My kids would title this first photo,

"Will freeze for art"

Inside we explored the installations of Rebecca Kamen which were accompanied by poetry and a soundscape by her collaborators.

A special treat was getting to meet the artist in person - she was there early to get ready for a program in the afternoon. Her work is inspired by science and hearing her talk about seeing connections in the patterns and work of neuroscientists and astrophysicists was just fascinating and mind expanding.  

Here are a few photos of the installation...

And then back home to a bit of my own practice for today...

This one may take a while to dry...

Trying something new - a larger size board and thicker fibers in the papers - will get a better sense of how it looks in the morning when it's dry...

Bits and pieces

Working with collage is working with scraps - and then those scraps make more scraps...

...my work area.

Today's mini collages each began with choosing a scrap from the top of a pile and then digging for colors to go with it to build an image.

Playing with color...

Mini collages today...

Also looking back at old series and noticing how I can't help but show the trees in their current season - so far this one is all bare branches.

Adding layers...

I added layers to my latest experiment with photo transfer - the transfer darkened the image so I am playing with bringing back color...

Here was the earlier version...

...and my mini collages for the day.

Collage together...

It's been a while since my kids sat and did art with me so it's been fun these last two days to have my son sit with me and see his mini series of collages develop alongside mine.

Also did some more experimenting with photo transfers - results coming soon...

Collage...with a companion

Today I began a new collage that will get a photo transfer tomorrow...

And completed two mini collages...

...with my son working beside me creating his own mini collages of our dogs - Kona (red collar) and Java (green collar).

Creating Structure for Making...

Today most of my making was making edits to documents for a grant application.  I would much rather be doing creative work.

However, I'm trying to reframe and see that this sort of making as less a distraction and more a way of tending the structure around my work.  Completing an application required me to reflect on where I am and where I've been recently as an artist and that's helpful.

I did make time for one mini collage...

Showing up

Today I made a resume.  It took most of my creative energy and still needs a few small edits.

It was tempting to let that count as my making but wanted to wind down a bit with materials.

Today's making was more about showing up to my collage practice - it was a short visit - I made a change - adding new layers to my experimental piece with photo transfers.

Small steps

Today I tried carving a mini labyrinth in clay - plan to use it to try making a clay stamp to make more...

And today's mini collages - inspired in part by sunset colors in the sky this evening.