Small Steps...

I've been in bed for the better part of two days fighting off either a stomach bug or a bad food reaction.  It took down my husband and I - I'm thankful to our kids for continuing to run the household.  This evening I had my first real meal in two days and wanted to get back to making something.   I spent some time on the computer working with images for new transfers.  I had thought I would actually apply the transfers but then felt tired again so for today this small step is enough...

Playing with Sky Colors

A bit of my watercolor play tonight.  This was just a bit of time, the last 20 minutes before sleep.  It brought a sense of peace and quiet to my mind at the end of a full day.  I was tempted to write about cookie baking, gift wrapping and making dinner.  There is making in all those things.  But it felt better in the end to stay up a little later and honor the spirit of this project which is about making but also about honoring myself as an artist.  This time with watercolor is self care and I am glad I took the small step to show up and honor that commitment.  

Evening Skies

My son was very patient as we took several detours in our ride home from picking him up at school.

These skies were just too beautiful to miss...

Thanksgiving

My making for Thanksgiving day included doing my part to make our meal.  It was fun to work together as a family to cook.  We had a quiet Thanksgiving here so it was a leisurely day of preparations.
My sons and I made muffins and pies from our pumpkins and used apples we picked in October for apple pie.  The boys decided to dress nicely on their own and were excited to use the fine china and silverware and to set the table.
Today I'm thankful for my family.

Today...Making and Makers

I began the day with very young makers - exploring construction with loose parts.  

My own making centered around clay and returning to a practice of creating clay labyrinth balls.  

And this evening I was inspired by getting to meet and hear a talk by Callie Curry, the artist best known as Swoon.  

Also discovered the inspiring work of Liz Ogbu and delighted in their discussion and sharing of ideas about building and connecting with people who will inhabit built environments. 

Wabi Sabi

I'm reading "The Artist's Rule" by Christine Paintner and the sixth chapter introduces the idea of Wabi Sabi.  It is an Japanese aesthetic that speaks to finding beauty in things that are imperfect, broken and impermanent.  I have been thinking about how beach glass or in this case river glass embodies this for me.  Tonight I spent some time sketching a couple of my favorite finds this week.

Framed!

Bald Head Island collages now complete and ready for delivery next weekend.

Also got back to visit this amazing sculpture at high tide...

Transfers and tweaking...

Scrubbed the transfer off this collage today - think this is the 5th or 6th layer on the water in the foreground - still some paper to remove and will add a bit more color back in but getting close. A good reminder too that it's about the time practicing more than the results so there isn't always a dramatic change to show.

Completion...

I'm muddling through a lingering headache today but found a focus in adding finishing touches to these two collages...one more to complete and then on to framing...

I returned to my weekly practice of walking at Huntley Meadows this morning. Fun to notice how much the landscape is already beginning to change toward fall.

Different kinds of making...

Today I joined a group of teachers in exploring design with loose parts.
On the way home I stopped along the GW parkway to photograph these beautiful yellow flowers along the Potomac River...

Tonight I made cookies and ended the evening with this small watercolor - once again inspired by the salt marsh at Bald Head Island...

Last minute watercolor...

I painted this watercolor this evening in low light on the balcony of our hotel.  Thankful for the ocean view and a colorful sky and this time to relax...

Ephemeral Art Making...

I spent the morning with teachers planning for studio activities for 2,3 and 4 year olds.  One theme we discussed was using loose parts and the opportunity to work just with designing with objects.

It was a fitting connection that this evening our theme for the Community of Hope gathering at St Aidans was Art and Nature.  We spent our quiet time arranging natural objects on a round cork base. 

Here is my creation...

And here are the others created in the group...

...so fun to see all the variety in both the materials chosen and how they are used.

Visual Note Taking...

We made the most of the last day of summer and spent the day kayaking Little Hunting Creek and then enjoying the last day of the season at the neighborhood pool.

My pool photo is about making memories...

On our kayak ride I enjoyed observing light and forms and imagining them in new collages...

Working from memory...

Driving home last night I loved watching the colors change as we neared sunset driving north on route 20 out of Charlottesville.

Tonight's watercolor is inspired by some of those colors...

I X Art Park

Today my kids and I made a journey - to Charlottesville to see a watercolor exhibit by my friend Werner Sensbach.  Along the way we visited IX Art Park and had a mini art camp reunion with Frannue, one of the cabin counsellors.

My making for today is photography, pictures to document our adventures...

Tokens...

My watercolor this morning is a different size format, allowing me to show a wider view of the marsh.

I sealed it with clear acrylic and left it in the guest book as a token of thanks for a lovely stay.

On our drive home, I created 8 more mini collages for my latest art-o-mat series.

I love that these will one day be bought from vending machines.  

Full days and quiet moments...

Another full day here on Bald Head Island.  The kids and I kayaked early this morning, exploring the salt marsh.

Then we rode bikes as a family to the light house and climbed to the top for amazing views of the island.  

We enjoyed all our meals here at the house on the screen porch enjoying the amazing view of the salt marsh.

Watercolor provided a bit of quiet time for me again today looking out at the colors on the marsh...

It was also a great day for viewing and photographing clouds...

This evening we stopped at a trail that's part of the BHI Conservancy to see more views of the salt marsh - collecting images to inspire more collage practice once I'm home...

Salt Marsh Inspiration...

Spent some time today beginning art pieces inspired by the view of the salt marsh here in Bald Head Island.

Here is my morning watercolor...

And the beginning of blocking in colors for a collage...