Tiny Treasures Show

Here I am at the Super Good Art Stuff Store in the Tennyson Street Art District on 9-7-12
What do you get when you frame your Artist Cards?  Tiny Treasures, of course

Don't you love the chalk board paint design they have on their wall?
Think I need to have a wall like this in my studio

Em at the Super Good Art Stuff Store posted on facebook that she was looking for artists
to feature for the month of September.  I've been wanting to be more visible as an artist.

Have been making my journal pages and artist cards for several years but few
(except those in the virtual world) have seen them up close and personal.
I am an introvert (OK, I do have a Leo moon), and so need to push myself to get it out there.
So here is my brave act.  

At my phase of life (doesn't that sound cooler than "at my age") I am embarrassed to say that

I can count the art shows I participated in on one hand.  Of course there were art things in

grade school and high school.  But I'm talking about as a grown up.  No big deal but I've
been telling everyone I meet, for the last 60 or so years that I am AN ARTIST.

There was that art show in the early '80s of the artists who worked at Art Hardware, an art
supply store in Boulder.  There was my BFA painting show in 1988 in Dekalb, Illinois.
There was a show of the art of Colorado art therapists work in Denver in the early '90s
(I sold a Neo-Expressionist  piece!).  Then nothing until I was part of an artist card show
at the Core Art Space in Denver a couple of years ago.

My goal is to make more larger pieces and have a show of them.  My poor introvert self
thinks that sounds like walking around naked at Walmart.  But my brave heart self is eager
to get to work. Let's say: walking around Sky-clad.  And let's make it at some nice, friendly
gallery.  More later.

Tiger Flower Card

Tiger Flower Cards

Imagine Crafts Fireworks Craft Spray, Sharpie Pen, Copic Markers, tissue paper collage
stencils, Inkadinkado stamp (Kathy Davis), K and Co. stamp ink,
Yasutomo iredescent watercolors, Pelican opaque watercolors

I've been neglecting my Healing Art/artist card blog lately, focusing on my Art Journaling blog.  I do make
artist cards  every 6 weeks, at least, for a botanical card exchange with my students at the Denver Botanic
Gardens, a class through  the Colorado Free University: "Impressions of the Gardens".  Have not always
been good about posting the cards I make for that class although there is a relatively recent post picturing
my student's card (they're great!). 

The above two cards may become artist cards but right now they are multimedia postcards (in the form of
greeting cards with a perforated edge so they can be torn of to send as a postcard).  I'm making thes cards
as part of the "International Mixed Media Postcard Swap Version 2.0

http://musingsonrealities.blogspot.com/2012/05/international-mixed-media-postcard-swap.html . 

I'm doing this swap for fun and also because I am working to make practical applications of my art.

Greeting cards came to mind.  I saw a greeting card with the perforated front panel so that the card front
could be  sent as a postcard at Office Max.  I fell in love with the idea!  Clever and supports recycling too.

These card images started out as a journal page (see how to directions on
http://creativecollage4journaling.blogspot.com/ ).  I then sized the image in Picasa (free microsoft photo
editing and sharing program http://picasa.google.com/ ) and printed the image on textured cardstock.  I hand
painted each image.    I just have to permanetly mount the images to my collaged background (also printed
from the image in Picasa) and attach to the perforated card.  Yes, I know they are currently attached to the
background crookedly, lol.  Then pop in the mail for the swap.  Now you can easily make cards out
of all your artwork---fun!

Remembered by Our Community

Remembered by Our Community

Card made using a newspaper photo, gold border stickers (Mrs. Grossman's), scrapbook paper background (K & Company, "Life's Journey"), Ranger "Glossy Accents", gold and silver stamp ink (Color Box). The candles represent our school community members.

I made this card in 2010 and just noticed that I had never published this post.  Time has passed and I am realizing the importance of remembering and acknowledging community members as well as being aware of possibility of making playing card sized memory cards.  Seems like these would make a discrete and meaningful shrine for survivors.  What follows is what I wrote about this card in 2010.

One year ago today Leigh was shot and killed by her husband in their home, during a domestic dispute, not far from where I live. She was the mom of two children at my son's charter school. I did not know Leigh personally but had seen her at community events and talked to her in passing. I recently ran across a newspaper clipping I had saved because I was saddened by this senseless loss of one of our charter school community members. Artist Cards can also become Memory Cards or shrines, acknowledging those who are missed. Remembering you today, Leigh.

Lady Tree

Stay Grounded, Reach for the Stars

Metallic markers (Office Max), Pitt pen

Stand Strong, Be Fruitful

Metallic markers (Office Max), Pitt pen

These are a couple of "Lady Tree" images that I have been doodling since the early '80s.  I think this image is important to me because it reminds me about my relationship to earth and sky.  "Stay Grounded" and "Reach for the Heavens".  I used this image on the cover of some of the invitations I sent when I ran a woman's group called "The Year of Women Dancing".  It was an empowerment group based on the power of the group and of being heard when you state what you want to create in the future.  The group ran for many years and was my impetus for going to graduate school to get my Art Therapy Masters.  I think I like the more lyrical/abstract woman tree although I like them both.  I doodled both of these images while watching a Time Life movie about Ancient civilizations in one of my Art History classes that I teach.

Impressions of the Gardens ATC (Students)

Karen E., Joe W., Stephanie K, Ben K. Jennifer H.,
Anne Marie F., Stephanie K, Shannon B, Joe W.

Karen E., Deb S., Julie B., Karen B., Jennifer S., Jennifer S.

Ruth J., Vicki M., Shannon B., Jennifer H., Jennifer He.,
Stephanie K., Patricia L., Lisa J., Megan S.

I teach a 6 week long class at the Denver Botanic Gardens through the Colorado Free University, I think I've mentioned this before.  It is the source of much of my delight in life.  On the last week of class I ask students to bring a botanical trading card that they have made during the class, one for each of the other students, and me of course!  Some used colored pencils, watercolor pencils, watercolor, markers, even photoshop to add some final pizazz. 

This is an adult education course that is held in 6 week increments throughout the year.  Students are (to name a few backgrounds), software engineers, librarians, college students, nurses, doctors, graphic designers, entomologists, grade school teachers, artist with experience and artists just beginning.  We learn to see and create like artists through observation, practice, learning about techniques and materials and the art elements and principles. 

Mainly its a time to relate, relax in the Denver Botanic Gardens, experiment, be in a creative and supportive environment and de-stress in general.  I'm not sure who has the most fun--probably me.  And I fall in love with my students and their art again and again.  Just had to show you what they made and traded!

Lotuses with Watercolor Pencils

Opposite Page with Lotus Detailing
Inktense Watercolor Pencils

Further Page Entry

More Lotuses with Watercolor Pencil

Visual Journal Page

Lotuses with Watercolor Pencil

I've included the whole journal page here--I wanted you to see how I make my botanical artist cards.  I use a card sized template to draw the rectangles on some of my pages.  This size is so great because it keeps me from being daunted by the prospect of filling the whole page with detailed drawing.  I like gradual steps (think Kaizen) and often use small format to try out new techniques as well as give myself the opportunity to complete a piece or multiple pieces in a time limited studio session. 

Love botanicals and have been working to improve my color layering skill. This is a first attempt with layering--usually draw directly with the watercolor pencil and then add water. I think that some of my lines are too dark but like the yellow and green where it is subtle and the buds on the left. Important to take what one can from each drawing--rather than just tossing out a "failed" drawing take the time to see what works and what doesn't and why. Every time I make a painting I learn new things! This time I found that I could lift color with a wet brush. A technique I have used with traditional watercolor but not as much with watercolor pencils. It is all about the color--and I am glad that this drawing will stay in my journal to reference in the future.

Of course I must mention the beautiful lotus.  The lotus reminds us, through the presence of buds, full blossoms and seed pods that there is an endless cycle of life-death-life and all exist in the eternal now.

Impressions of the Gardens Trade

Survivor Orange ATC

Inktense watercolor pencils

This is the latest trading card, made from a journal sketch, for the Impressions of the Gardens class, week 6.  On the last day of class everyone brings artist trading cards made from their art work done during the class.  I've been teaching this class for around 2 years now, through the Colorado Free University, at the Denver Botanical Gardens.  Teaching basic drawing, observation and creativity skills for new and advanced artists.  The class lasts 6 weeks and fun to experience how different each group is.  Also great to experience the 4 seasons at the Gardens.  This sketch is one in a series I want to do with "survivor" growing things--plants and trees who are shaped by their environment and yet bloom where they are planted.  This plant is in "The Orangery" at the Gardens.  I like that this drawing sort of has a Matisse feeling to it.