Mission Accomplished

Whew!  I finally finished a selection of Altered Mouse Traps made and they are ready for delivery tomorrow.  I hope that I have enough so my friend, Jean, can choose among them.  Here they are:

Last Saturday on a very cold day in Nashville, TN, my SIL received her Ed.D.  I'm so proud of her. It was a long hard road but she just kept on plugging along!  Of course, I didn't get a pic of her in her impressive regalia; this is at the restaurant where we celebrated.

Kay Simpkins

It's a busy season for this family and my niece who was a teacher for many years, just finished nursing school and will receive her pin tomorrow. Another proud moment. As soon as she qualified to be an LPN, she started working and going to school. I know that was very difficult because there are just 24 hours in every day--even when one needs a few more! Congratulations to Sara Berk!

To Catch a Mouse

One of my friends wants to use altered mouse traps as a conveyance for the money she is giving family members.  I need to make about 15 of these but sometimes, I just get stuck. She already has 2 which I gave her last week,  and I made these today. Not sure about all of them. What do you think? Try to ignore that on one, I put it back together upside down!  I needed a better place to take the pic as these are full of shadows.

You may remember this girl from my last post.  She has had some rhinoplasty. Of course, as I post this, I see more problems. Such is life!

The weather has been rough both here and in ATL where one of my sons lives.  I am glad to report that we are all fine. I wish I could say the same for those people who have been injured and those who have died in the fires in and around Gatlinburg, TN.

Do-si-do

Today I was a docent to a class of 8th graders at the Hunter Museum of American Art.  I always think of it as a do-si-do around the museum for some reason. The students were from a small town in Alabama and had travelled for two hours. They were a good group, and I enjoyed it very much.

On the homefront, my client picked up the piece that she commissioned. That was a thrill for me! Perhaps later I can see it in her house...more specifically over the mantle in her bedroom which has 13' ceilings. She said she was glad to get it before they held the company Christmas party at their house because she will open up the house for people to look around.  Wow!  That was nice to hear.

Had to wait while the technician tried to discern what was wrong with the tailgate on my car. Of course, everything worked fine so he said there was nothing he could do. The manager intervened. After a little meeting of the minds (they met mine), the manager decided a call Toyota Headquarters was in order. Result:  no definitive answer, but new parts were ordered.  This is what is did during the wait. Yikes, I just realized how bad the nose it!  Perhaps, I will work on it a bit more...

It is obviously unfinished and may never be finished, but it provided some very needed practice.

Nibbled to Death by Ducks

Sometimes I just do not know when to stop. I'm afraid I need to do more with this painting so I keep putting a bit here and a bit there. Pretty soon it will look as it is has been nibbled to death by ducks! Please excuse the poor job of photo cropping I did.

I originally started this piece as a commission, but have no idea whether or not the potential buyer will like it. At first, I was worried about that but now have decided that if she doesn't like it, I'll return her deposit and submit it to a gallery. That decision is very freeing.  In the meanwhile, it can happily hang in the living room of the Bijou!

I haven't thought of a name for it.  Any suggestions?  

Halloween Cleveland Style

Halloween had gotten to be a big deal everywhere and that certainly includes where I live in Cleveland, TN.

I live on a street with a lot of traffic and no sidewalks so I do not decorate for Halloween. Well, it is a reasonable excuse so I'm sticking with it. However, a few blocks closer to town, the street is blocked off and hundreds of people (thousands?) go door to door receiving their one piece of candy. I thought I was going early at the end of my 3-mile walk today, but I arrived AFTER the parade of trick-or-treaters had started but before it reached a frenzy. Later in the evening, it was one continuous line of people going from one house to the next.

Beautiful leaves.  Note the flag--most houses had one.

Not sure if the kid in the first photo had been abandoned or what!

 These people do not seem to be getting that baby.  I'll check tomorrow and see if he is still there!

There seems to be something in the trees and bushes across the street.

Mystery solved.

I was trying to get a picture of this witch but evidently, the boy who had waaayyy too much candy was photographed. He had a companion who was equally chubby.

Notice all the ways in which the neighbors blocked off their yards so that only the walkways would be used.  It is nice it saved their yards, but it didn't do much for my pictures!

Star Wars fans, you were not left out!

 The sounds of Karaoke filled the street, but it was difficult to get a good pic without barging my way to the front.

 One of my friends giving directions. She had people giving out candy in her driveway. 

I'm not sure what was going on at this house (2 pics above) but there were some strange noises emanating from there.

A creepy clown with a jaunty walk.

There is a tale about Tall Betsy who comes out on Centenary Avenue which is where I got these pictures. The Tall Betsy link will tell the tale.

Tall Betsy with Will Jones, Katie Simpkins (my niece) and Joel Simpkins (my nephew). 

(Shhhh...I happen to know that Tall Betsy is Bailey Jones who made the video for Tall Betsy.)

I'm sorry that you can't see her costume better as it is really well done and, let me tell you, that hand that is on Joel's head is creepy looking for sure.

I also didn't get pics of the block party on the town square where among other things to see and do,  M&M Mars has Treat Street! Have I ever mentioned how perfectly lovely it is when I can smell chocolate in the air from the M&M plant?

And, that, my friends, is a glimpse of Halloween Cleveland Style.  Perhaps next year, I'll add pics of the crowd at the block party in town!

Life Imitates ART---unfortunately

You may have seen my mixed media piece entitled Head of the House.  If not, see below:

I hope this piece is finished.  I am thinking about seeing if a gallery in Chattanooga will accept it along with a few other pieces.   Anyhoo...back to life.

For about a month, I have been walking 3 miles just about every morning.  Last Thursday, I had about .5 miles to go when I tripped and hit the pavement.  Not to worry, I caught myself with my nose and forehead!

This is me 5 days later.  No idea why I am smiling!  

There is a silver lining to this saga, I happened to be about two houses from my sister's when the Great Trip/Fall occurred.  Stunned, I managed to get to my feet, gather up my glasses and cell phone, and stumble to her house.  Briefly, I considered walking on home not knowing that I had an egg on my forehead the size of a softball.  She opened her door and ushered me right to her bed where she iced my head and bandaged my scrapes.  She then sent a pic to her daughter, Sara, who is an ER nurse. Sara said to go to the hospital for scans so we did.  All was okay. Whew!!

Caroline Berk: Sidewalk Nurse!

(don't blame her for the strange looking photo; I added the nurse's cap via Photoshop)

Thursday I am scheduled to be a docent for 4th graders at the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga.  They will probably be wondering why I made up for Halloween so early!

Life is always exciting!

I'm taking Art 911 and not a minute too soon!

I did not intend to take such a long vacation from posting, but it happened, and I have been called on the carpet for it.  So I am firing the blog up again right now!

You may think that I have scads of work to share, but unfortunately, I took a vacation from painting also.  I say unfortunately because one needs practice to improve.

I wish I could remember to take BEFORE photos.  I am taking an art class which is about techniques to save paintings that need major reworking.  Here is one in progress. It started out with some very bright colors, as you can see.

Here it is in its reincarnation. I don't know where I'm going with it.  Not sure it will be a vertical or horizontal piece. Stayed tuned to see if this turns into anything interesting.

  

 I liked the piece on the left previously, but it did not pass the MMIA jury so I tried  to incorporate some of their suggestions. It was a disaster. A. DISASTER. So I am reworking it.If you look very closely at it, you may be able to see the myriad layers under the black. This is 12x12 (or 10x10, I can't remember) and it is also in the early stages of being reworked.

And finally another challenging piece. What to do? Where to go? I am thinking that I will add rust to it. The challenge is where and how.

I welcome any comments and/or suggestions you may have.  So please leave them in the comment section or email me at vickistyons@me.com.

Exhausted

***Remember: If you are not viewing this blog with a green background, you need to click on the title. 

This past weekend I took a two-day workshop in Dalton, GA at the Creative Arts Guild.  It was led by Louise Farley who has a wonderful loose style of painting.  It was amazing to see her stroke here and there and watch as these strokes quickly turned into a wonderful painting.  I encourage you to click on her name and see some of her work.  Louise has a studio in Charlotte, NC.

The workshop was about using Yupo paper. The word paper is very subjective as it is more like plastic sheets. Sometimes Louise starts painting one side of the painting and then folds (careful not to crease) the sheet over so that it meets the other side and transfers the image to that portion of the page. If you look at the paintings here, you can see that technique used in some of them.  It is not meant to be an exact replica of what she has already painted but a jumping off place to continue creating.

My attempts are accurately called attempts.  Loose may look easy, but it truly is not.  Lousie added strange unexpected colors using both paint and oil pastels.  How does one even think to do that?

Oh, my!  Now that I posted these, I see a giant eye in the misty water of the lower painting!  I haven't decided if I am going to try to do more to these and just leave them.  The EYE, however, will have to go!

It was fun, I learned a lot and got to spend some time with some very talented and enjoyable people. What more could I ask?

The Making of Reno

ATTN:  If you are not reading this with a green background, you need to click on "the Making of Reno."

This weekend I am taking a class about using Yupo paper in Dalton, GA which is about an hour from Cleveland.  I am afraid that I may be out of my league: unfortunately, that won't be anything new!

Speaking of new...here is what I am presently working on. Of course, I failed to take pics at every step. However, I remembered to get a few.

Background with various yellows plus stenciling

Two more stencils were used

Glazing was added

More glazing

 One preliminary drawing.  Everything is much easier when I use a pencil and ERASER! When you see the painting, you will realize that I didn't actually follow this picture--I may regret that.

Right now it looks as if she has a huge lump on her right temple and she is wearing a hat with a string hanging down. I hope it doesn't look like that in a few days!

If you have suggestions, let me know. I can use the help!

There is a new Head of the House at the Bijou!

If you are not reading this on a green background you need to click on the title above (There is a new Head of the House at the Bijou).

I spent time collaging some paper houses today. Seems easy enough, but it actually was not--even for quirky little houses--ESPECIALLY for quirky little houses.  The one below is on a zebra tray which was not a good choice for a background. I  I didn't take individual pics of the others.

However, here is what I did with them with thanks to my good friend, Lorraine, for the suggestion.

(Since I originally posted this, I have altered the headdress a bit.  

Hmmm...Should it be Vesta who is the goddess of the Hearth or should she just be called Head of the House?  More work is needed, but I hope to finish her very soon.

I'd love to read your comments--The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly! Either here under Comments or you can email me at vickistyons@me.com or, of course on Facebook!