It's Friday....RIGHT???

Because that means the only thing I have to do today is go to the Honeywell Center to meet the gallery director for lunch, and to pick up some work from a show that ended a while back. The picture above is part of the gallery, which circles a theater. It is large--very large--as I found when our three person fiber exhibit hung. That was a beautiful show, even if I do say so myself. It was an interesting blend of fiber work; three distinct styles and we mixed them all together through the gallery which at first I had great hesitation about. But it was beautiful and kept the eye from stopping at the end of one persons work. There was flow.

Last evening I went to the Maconaquah Elementary School Art Night, with some of the Co-Op people. I held a chair down---simply could not lug art. Next year, I shall lug again!!! It is a fun thing to go to; there are 700 pieces of art made by every school attendee hung all through the halls, then the professional artists are set up in the gym, where the kids and parents can walk through, ask questions or just look.

And yes, I should have stayed home because I was tired and sore but oh well. I was bad. (sorry Tristan......I really tried to listen to you!)

I did manage some time in the studio before I took off. Was all gussied up to go, and working with metal leaf. It ended up everywhere! On the work table, on ME, and some on the piece of art where it was intended. That probably was NOT the time to be doing that. This afternoon I am heading back down, and hopefully can grab an HOUR to really do a bit of work. I tend to grab minutes, and am learning to be content with those.

So enjoy your Friday; last I heard it is finally supposed to be good weather here and maybe I can open the sunroof on my car! And not freeze......

Thank God it's Friday!!! Go have fun!!!

The Art of DECAY: or Why Co-Op Theme Night Is Fun and Introducing Kathy Lauman's Work!

(Image copyright Kathy Lauman, 2009, all rights reserved)

I wish I could take credit for this piece. It is from our art group that meets monthly, and we pull a one word theme as subject matter for every alternating month. As luck (or lack there of) would have it, the month *my* word---DECAY---was to be shown, I was here at home, newly released from the Horse-Pistol and really pouting.

This was done by a very talented lady, Kathy Lauman, who has a way with both words and collage. She is a natural for altered art and has a tremendous sense of humor with her work. You must click on the photo to read the text---you MUST!

I remember the first meeting Kathy came to, quiet, reserved, shy. I think we asked if she would return and she said yes. One of the first pieces we saw was of the building the Cafe is housed in, and it was hinged to stand, with tiny details in the windows and Kathy talked about what inspired her, and about why she had people, etc. in the work.....should have had an inkling at that time that there was more to come! Then we had Bernadette's mixed media class, Kathy signed up and suddenly we were absolutely blown away at this treasure of art hidden inside her! It was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had; watching her make an absolutely incredible piece and being able to have a storyline to go with it! I mean, it flows. It doesn't seem like work--she takes diverse bits and supplies and there is always something going on with the characters and when it's done, you're whisked right along with the whole drama happening in the work! It's like being Alice and you've fallen down the rabbit hole and emerged in a different world--FUN!

So, since I felt there was probably a little bit of *Anne* in one of those characters depicted---probably Dee, just probably---I had to buy this and bring it home to hang in my studio, right above my worktable.

Now every time I am at a standstill, not able to decide what to do next or just burned out on decisions, I have something wonderful and light hearted to take me away for a short while and make me laugh.

And try and figure out if I am Dee or if I am Kay.......

I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this one, and those of you who know me well do too! ;)

Please leave comments for Kathy here; I know she will be checking the blog and will be anxious to see what everyone has to say!!!

And I demand that you do that! NOW!!!! (whip cracking) LOL!!!!

Valerie May: Artist, Friend

"Art feeds my spirit, nourishes my soul."

Valerie May

All photos in this post were provided by and are the exclusive

property and copyright of Valerie May, 2009.

"Falcons Facing West"

"Oriental Yin-Yang Collage"

"Light One Inverted"

"Greek Collage"

I thought I would simply start today's post with an artist's quote and ART. Pure, beautiful, unadulterated ART. The type that makes you stop in your tracks to look, pulls at your heart (and checkbook!), things you want to either make or make your own.

That is the type of work Valerie produces. After a long drought of not dealing with art she joined the Community Artists Co-Op--in fact, she was at our very first meeting--and has not looked back or stopped since. (please click on all the photos to view in a larger format--there is so much detail to enjoy that can't be seen in the smaller size pics.)

Val has an art degree but has a very Zen approach to what she does. While she can produce *exact copies* (extremely realistic paintings) her view is , "Been there, done that, why go back?" One of her favorite quotes is from Picasso:

"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

And indeed it does as is evidenced by what she consistently produces.

I envy her ability to work with abstract in an apparently easy, nonplussed manner. She says she can teach me. I am thinking that she might have met her match on that one...."Little Miss Anal-About-Details" doing an abstract??? Oh, but I want to!

I could rave extensively about what I find appealing in each piece but I'm not going to. I want you, my gentle readers, to look deep into them and see what speaks to YOU. And please leave posts here directly to Val, because she does not have a blog yet, and she will be able to read and answer any questions you may have.

And now one more little tidbit I have to admit that I had been keeping secret.

At our LAA Show, Val sold a painting called "Quilt In Oil". The buyer chose to remain anonymous. Well, Kiddo, it is hanging in my kitchen. I had looked and looked at the piece loving it more each time I saw it and knew, at the right time, it would come home with me.

So I proudly own an original, and couldn't be happier!

I hope you all enjoy this small sampling of Val's talent and her delightful use of color and composition. She is truly one of a kind!

Now go do something creative and use your day well!!! OR ELSE!!! ;)

(I'll chase you with my cane....HA!!! Okay, you can get off the floor and quit laughing now.....)

Introducing my friend and photographer.....

Photo provided by Vicki Venable-Miles. All rights reserved.

....Vicki Venable-Miles. When I checked her blog "My 2009 Project 365: Just Me and My Camera...no edits*" and saw this pic, I had to coerce her into letting me do a post and link! Now, with my recent self mutilating activities, and my off the wall sense of humor, this photo was just too good to not share! I e-mailed Vicki and asked where on earth she saw this to shoot it and here was her reply:

"The hearse was on U.S. 31. I first saw it north of Markland Avenue(Kokomo)...had to chase it to Boulevard to get the pic. I thought it was going to cause a wreck...not only was it fun, it was being driven rather quickly. Either, they were in a hurry to start Spring Break or they had already started!"

You have to go to her site for the rest of the story!
Vicki is the type of photographer I admire; she shoots and only uses computer software to crop and file photos, the same way my dad and I worked in the darkroom. It is the majic in making photos by having a good eye and the skill to get the shot. Nothing artsy-fartsy...good plain photography.
I have one of her black and white prints hanging in my front hallway that always gets nice comments. Of course, I am such a sucker for B&W work......I still have all the equipment in the cellar to develop and print my own B&W. Where I would find the supplies? That's another story.

Photo provided by Vicki Venable-Miles. All rights reserved.

Here is another nice shot of something I would like to be out wandering around finding, daffodil buds. The pic is also clickable to go to the post.There is also a nice selection of Rural Indiana photos---it gives you an idea of how far out in the hinterlands we live.

So that's my plug for today gentle readers. Please go take a tour of *my* part of the country, thanks to Vicki! Leave a nice comment and let her know you've been there. (you can save the acerbic comments for ME since I love them sooooo much! LOL!!!!!)

See you all tomorrow! I have PT so not sure when I will be putting up a post.