The messy stage...

...of the photo transfer process.  It feels raw and pieced together - going to let it sit for a while to wait to see what might come next.

Morning sky...

It is such a treat to enjoy winter morning sky colors through my bedroom window. 

Today's work

I continue to work to blend the images as I piece together parts of the photo transfers...

And here's a new collage inspired by a photo of a sunset at Huntley Meadows...

Huntley Meadows

Photos from an evening walk with Chad today at Huntley Meadows.  There was still a thin coating of ice over much of the wetland.  Walking back, we saw two beavers swimming and popping up through the thin ice - the first time I have seen them, fascinating to watch.

Photo transfer

My latest photo transfer on a collage from several weeks ago - next step is more collage but going to sit with this a while first.  Really liking the lines of the bare trees - enjoying those in our environment again too as we head toward the first day of winter.

Watercolor practice

A scene from early fall behind our house.

Commitment...

I've been thinking today about my commitment to this idea of practicing everyday.  Some days it is more of struggle and I feel like I stretch the definition of making to find something that fits.  Other times it feels like this commitment hangs over my head as more of a burden than a joy.  Mostly, it is about return and accepting what is.  In reality there are many kinds of making and the kinds that I aspire to practice don't always fit into my day.  These are times to be present to other ways to create - creating space to be with family, food for nurturance and celebration.  At the same time it is good to return to an artistic practice in the more traditional sense.  And it is worth celebrating that return. Small steps help - to begin with getting out materials and just experimenting helps.  

The reality is that the making does feed me.  I'm thankful for the way the commitment to daily making keeps me coming back to practice.  

Here is today's watercolor practice...

And a felted version of a labyrinth ball...

First layer

Clay and collage

I spent an hour on the porch this morning working with clay - it was just warm enough with a jacket to enjoy the fall light this morning.

This evening I began my first collage in a long time...

...inspired by this photo of Huntley Meadows this week.

Louisiana Swamp

We spent the morning on a boat tour of the Honey Island swamp.  

This watercolor was inspired by the cyprus trees and colors of the swamp.  

Watercolor Practice

Awed by the colors of fall today.  Here's a small watercolor of colors behind our house...this tree was the focus of a collage last spring.  It is fun to return to it with fall colors.

Final four...

Collages complete this series for Art-O-Mat.  One more here with a small stack of rocks - maybe a theme to continue in another series.  

Also my afternoon of experimenting with printing with teachers at Emmanuel Preschool.

And a couple photos just appreciating the colors of fall in the woods behind my house...

...this sapling is a favorite spring and fall.

More practice

Mini collages completed tonight - added a cairn to one.

And the last four in this series - will add the ripples to the water tomorrow.

Also a photo of branches and light through leaves from my lunchtime walk at Monticello Park in Alexandria.

Clay day

Spent the afternoon working with clay today.  Here is one completed labyrinth ball...

...and a couple more that will be completed another day - they are in a plastic bag to keep the clay soft until I get back to add the coils to make the path.

I also revisited this sculpture along the Potomac river.

And I'm thankful for my morning with young makers learning to bend and attach objects with wire.

More making in the kitchen...

My making today was cookies - some baked and others frozen for a sweet treat on another day.  We so enjoyed the frozen cookie dough from my son's orchestra that it seemed like a good idea to freeze some of our own.  

And I enjoyed a long leisurely walk with the dogs at Huntley Meadows - enjoying beginning to see the colors of fall...

Return to a Familiar Landscape

Walking at Huntley Meadows today it was lovely to return to a familiar landscape and notice how colors move toward fall.  Below is a photo and the collage it inspired...transfer coming next...

Catching up and new space to work...

We had planned to be away this weekend and plans changed so we find ourselves at home.  It's good time for catching up on projects and process toward creating better spaces for working.

Here are a new batch of labyrinth touchstones for Art-o-mat...

Some new frames - the large one was completed today and the smaller ones were cut a while ago and assembled today.

Here is my new workbench space in the carport, complete with a new miter saw for frames.

And the latest layer of photo transfer on this collage - trying to be patient and wait til morning to peel it back so that the glue fully dries and I get the best transfer.

Water collages...

Playing with the color in the water in the foreground in this collage and adding new texture with the white paper that represents a new photo transfer...

Also created some new collages in my water and stones series for Art-o-Mat...

New layers...

Time and slowness...

Working on my Bald Head Island collages today.

I added some new layers of color to this one...

This second one is almost entirely redone with a new layer of collage over the entire surface.  The photo transfer came out much too dark in the first try.  I've reprinted a lighter image and will try again tomorrow.  Last week I worked quickly - just needing to begin and get things going.  This week I'm trying to slow down and pay attention to lessons learned in my process last week.  As much as I'm eager to see the new transfer, I'm going to wait until tomorrow to be sure this layer is really dry.  

Oh, and an update on Java's portrait...he liked it so much he wanted to sign it - see lower right corner.