Where I've Been

It's hard when I've done artwork that I want to share but I have to wait until its been published. It has to be treated like I'm moving it over to another burner to simmer. I haven't posted to my blog in a couple weeks, which could make a person think "she must not be doing anything". A wrong perception my absence might be giving out.

Actually I've been quite busy pursuing my "Art/Artist Journey", especially considering everything. I had another product review and artwork published last week at www.papercrafterscorner.com that has been well received. I did a lot of sketching last week in preparation for an acrylic painting that is now almost finished. The "Joy of Six" show at Tannery Row Gallery in Historic Buford, Ga was over on April 10, so the pieces for that show came home and are now on a Local Tour of sorts. Last week I got to meet Sean Hannity at a Book Signing, and that was fun. Then I also had to plan and pack for an extended Art/Scrapbooking Retreat weekend I went on. Got home last night and in true "Brenda Jean" fashion, I unpacked everything and put it all where it belongs. Today I am exhausted and have done next to nothing.

TanneryRowArtistColony.com sponsored their annual Plein Air Festival in Historic Burford this past Friday/Saturday, which I had planned to be a part of before the out of town retreat opportunity came up. Going down to Lake Jackson for four days though, I couldn't past that one up! The location, however, screamed out for some Plein Air painting on my part, so I spent a few hours Saturday having fun outdoors with my watercolor pencils.
If you go to www.ratcliffretreat.com you can see where we stayed, right on the lake. It's a beautiful place, and I did this picture sitting out in the back yard, facing the very brownish looking Lake Jackson. The house next door has this gorgeous area next to their boat ramp which I noticed Friday and just had to go capture with my watercolors. The sun flipped in and out from behind the clouds every few minutes, so I had to just do the best I could with the light.

I've gone swimming in the lake when I've visited here before, with my friends freaking out at the idea of swimming in water that looks like that (you can't see anything, Brenda!!). The water is way too cold from winter right now so I had to admire it from the shore. Would have LOVED being out on one of the many boats that passed by all weekend. One can't have everything though.

Anyways, I have more to share, but not today. Remember, do something creatively, seriously, because it truly warms your heart and gives joy to your soul.
bj

It is finished, and woven artwork

I LOVE to write! And, to be in my studio working on artwork has got to be something akin to what's it's going to be like in Heaven. Then there's the 'take a product, see what I can do with it, and then write a Review about it' adventure. Sometimes when I am finished doing one or the other, or both together, my brain feels like it's been through a triathalon (Spelling 101: this word is NOT in my Webster's 33,000 most used words book here so am not sure I spelled it right. Maybe it's not a 'much used' word???)

Anyways, my brain felt like that TOTALLY when I finished the "Motion Six-ness" piece currently hanging at the Tannery Row Artist Colony/Gallery in Historic Buford, Ga. What a ride that was, exhausting but exhilarating when it was over. I turned around and wanted to do it again like any self-respecting person would. LOL

I'm kind of there again at the moment. I've played and played with the Tim Holtz Grungepaper, designed a number of Art projects with it, have more ideas swimming in my head, written a Review and submitted it and the projects to the editor/owner of www.papercrafterscorner.com for publication. No monetary gain from this one, however, it pushed me once more Artistically, AND one never knows what might be around the next corner. So I do for now what I can do.

In the meantime, I was at http://myrnawacknov.blogspot.com/2010/04/start.html "Creativity Journey" last week reading one of Myrna's posts. She is a fabulous artist and I am inspired by her work and her ability and willingness to experiment outside the box on a regular basis. In one of her posts followed by comments from several of us, the issue came up about what to do with paintings you do and then hate. I mentioned a technique I learned from some of my Artist friends at Tannery Row Artist Colony. You simply cut it up into strips, then use those strips to weave a painting.

Today, since I can't show my grungepaper artwork until it's been published, I thought I would share a different piece of artwork. Upon completion I took it up to show my Artist friends, and they loved it. There was no "I hate this" canvas in the studio here to cut up, so I used a wallpaper border piece, along with other papers, and cut them all up. And being the "I wanna try something a little bit different" person that I am, the strips were cut in different patterns and widths. Of course then I found that made the weaving a bit more challenging, LOL yeah more like a LOT more challenging, but I ended up liking the result. The choice of the dark blue mat really punches out the sunflowers. This is in a white 12x12 frame and looks lovely on my dining room wall.

Until next time, go find something creative to do. Doing so brings an tranquil peace to your soul, and joy to your heart.

Artist in Residence Working

Haven't written anything in a few (maybe a few more??) days, here nor on FB.
Last Friday evening I went with friends to a play downtown at Theatrical Outfit. It was the opening of a new one so we got the che Inexpensive tickets. Think the play was titled "Brownie Points", or Brownie something. Whatever. I didn't like it. One MORE play by them that's Racial in its theme. There was (being opening night and a new play) a "talk back" time after, and many in the audience were apologetic and ashamed of our White Race. The Anti-Defamation League members were obviously pleased. And this is all I have to say about that.

Saturday and Sunday were spent at the Heirloom Productions Stamp/Paper Arts Show. I got to meet face to face one of my new best friends. Here she is, (this is where you take a bow, Susan)
Susan is a LOT of fun, and I am so happy to call her my friend. She is the owner of www.PaperCraftersCorner.com, so you will just have to check her/it out. We had fun, and I had fun introducing her to different people connected with the show and all. Sunday I had a fabulous time working with Melissa Baldwin and her friend Valerie at Melissa's vendor booth, The Stamping Studio. It was like being back on stage as I spent the afternoon talking to/entertaining ladies as I walked them through making the adorable greeting card we had for them to make free of charge. Brenda Jean was just totally in her element there. The only bummer was that I got home and THEN remembered the camera in my purse. Rats! I have no picture of my wonderful day with M and V.
So, I'm back in the studio. Painting. Getting panicky. The opening reception of my first gallery show is SaturdaY, February 20, 6:00-9:00 p.m. at Tannery Row Artist Colony. We artists have just a few more days to finish our works. Aaaaaaaawwwww!!
Here's a pic of one piece "in process".
Ho-Hum. I KNOW, right??!!! Well, it's the background. Now I've gotta lay in the foreground for the piece to "speak" and say what I want it to say.

P.S. Did I mention how much I LOVE Golden products? Have been doing "experiment boards" trying different things with grounds and gels before putting anything to canvas. However, today I did gesso over part of another piece I'm working on for the show so I could start that one over. Oh well. No one was standing here saying "you can't do that" (thankfully) so I did it. Big W!!! N E Ways, its back to the paint for now.

What creative thing are you working on or doing? Remember,
it soothes the soul, and brings joy to your heart.

For The Birds

Morning chore done: Clean out the nesting areas around the house because even though its only January, some of my birds are already giving signs of "decision making" for the upcoming season. And, since my "Petey the Stampin' Up Bird Punch" Review was published the other day on www.PaperCraftersCorner.com, I figured this is the perfect time to share one of my "Bird Stories" that I've written, along with a pic I took mid-December of one of my Male Bluebirds and Female Cardinals sharing the birdie bath out back. I hope you, the reader, enjoy my little story here.

My Birds are Little Pigs

I so enjoy my birds. They are very entertaining and fun to watch. Each one has their own variety of chirps, and even if I don’t actually see one of them, I know who’s “fussing” at the moment just by listening to them. They each have their own mannerisms as well, and sometimes one or another will decide to act up with a “territorial” attitude, and we have a little tiff on our hands.

Hmmm, I can hear your response, especially those of you who have been very close friends for a long, long number of years.

“Brenda, when did you get birds? Where do you keep them in that tiny house? And, what about the cats?!”

OK, here’s the story. I have this non-verbal agreement with my birds.
If you fly over my house and/or yard, you’re in open air space.
If you happen to make a quick pit stop in my yard, you’re just passing through.
If you happen to start showing up on any kind of regular basis anywhere in or around my yard, you’re a frequent visitor.
If you build a nest in one of my trees or on my back porch and settle in with a brood of your own, you’re MY bird.
If you’re a Bluebird couple, and you decide to call my bluebird box your home for a season, you’re MY bird. Hey, and thanks for leaving a filthy mess for me to clean up when you decide to move out.
And, if you eat from my bird feeder out back here, and take your baths in the water I’ve put in the birdbath close by, it’s obvious that I am financially supporting you. That’s right. You’re MY bird.

They say (whoever THEY are) that variety is the spice of life. That certainly is true with my birds. I have them from the tiny Hummingbirds who finally said “Adios” the beginning of October after an extended stay, all the way up to the redheaded woodpecker who loves peanuts. So I’m generous with the variety of food that I put out. I buy the bird food that has it all, something to make everyone happy. From the tiny little seeds that sprout almost immediately after they hit the ground, to sunflower seeds, raisins, red berries, to peanuts.

The little Finches, Wrens, Titmice, and Carolina Chickadees all gather around as soon as “Mom” puts another round of food on the table. They can get downright rowdy, as they elbow each other to see who can eat the most in the shortest amount of time. When the Cardinals step up to the plate, the little ones flutter and get a bit nervous. It’s when one of my Blue jays wants to try getting into the feeder rather than eating on the ground, the little ones jump quickly up onto a tree branch. The Jays, beautiful as they are with all their shades of blue, are quite clumsy and they rock the feeder like it’s out in rough seas. The little ones don’t like that. My Red headed Woodpecker though, he’s real creative, and has a lot of savvy at the feeder. He’ll clamp his feet to the edge, then hang almost at a 45-degree angle while he stretches his neck up to get his beak into the feeder. It’s so funny watching as he wades through the stuff, seed and such flying everywhere onto the ground until he finds a peanut. Then he takes the nut up to a tree branch where he can eat in a comfortable position before he comes back for more.

I do love my birds. They are just one more source of entertainment around here, and their songs of praise to their Creator are such a blessing to enjoy. It’s just that they’re pigs! They’ve made it clear that, if I’m game, they’re more than willing to eat me out of house and home. So I have my birds on a diet. Every third day, I’ll put a bunch more fresh food out. That means they have to eat every crumb before Mom gives them more. I’m just not willing to totally spoil these little “oinkers” around here.

Hey, can I claim them as dependents on my taxes in April??
Brenda Jones