Thinking in Black & White & Backwards!

I had so much fun yesterday! It's not a surprise that in addition to color color color that I also love black & white. If you haven't had a visit to my blog Sometimes Things Are Just Black & White, I hope you visit soon & follow! My friend & fellow Artist Carol Rogala came over for a visit. We had coffee, chatted about knitting, and then she gave me a private lesson in linocut prints! I am so hooked now! I laid in bed last night thinking in black & white, thinking of what I'd like to do, portraits using deep cuts, crabs crabs and more crabs, chickens, the scene on the bay bridge with San Fransico peeking through the wires just before you reach the city, ... I couldn't stop! When I'm finished painting for the Olive Hyde Gallery show next month I'm going to get some lino, a few tools, ink, brayer, scraper, & paper and really give it some study. I'm a little embarrassed to show my first pieces, I need lots of practice and have lots to learn! It will take practice getting my brain to think backwards too. haha She started me off with the black background, the angel, and my 2nd print, the crab, taking more off, working on the white areas. Carving was more satifying that I thought it could be. I was totally absorbed. I hope I wasn't making weird faces but I probably was! LOL Carol's pieces are so amazing. The one she was working on is very intricate and a powerful social comentary piece which she excels at. She made me a print of her bee piece "Leaving Town" that I love so much. I'm going to frame it & hang it with a little bee ACEO she gave me as well. Isn't she adorable!?! and check out my wonderful bee print! She's my print Sensei! Clicking on her name above will take you to her website to see more of her art. Carol's art was recently chosen for the California State Fair's Fine Art Exhibit and she is showing some of her pieces at the Marco Fuoco Gallery next month. I can't wait to see what she shows. Last week when she visited I gave her one of my hats, and in return for this random act of kindness I got a wonderful lesson and a fabulous print! As she drove off, with her printing goodies and a few of my "May Pops" (passion vine pods), I couldn't help but feel very blessed to have her in my life and can't wait to play again!

Big Shout Out's & Thank You's go to Graceful Moments for featuring my art in an Etsy Treasury & on her wonderful blog! Fabricated Family for featuring my beauty shop girl in her fun fractured fairytale Treasury, SammysGrammy for featuring my art on the Cast Team Blog! and to BewitchingDreams for including my art in her yummy sushi Treasury!

My First...

...digital doodles are finished and I just listed them in my Etsy shop. I don't have photoshop, I have a very old program so it was a painstaking process but I enjoyed it. I have sold several t-shirts with a mermaid doodle like this one on them in my Cafepress shop. I am currently working on a crab & angels. I plan to revamp some of my old folk art paintings and turn some of them into digital doodles.
My right brain has gone on vacation. I can't paint a thing and I'm in mess mode. I am beginning to see a pattern. About every 3 months for a couple of weeks I can't paint. If I do I just ruin perfectly good canvas or paper. All I want to do is experiment, try different projects. I pull it all out! Glitter, paper, scissors, glue, needles, yarn, collage papers, sewing machines, etc... I make a big ol' mess. I having been working on these doodles in between messes. LOL Pictures may follow, we'll see. haha
I also started to sell (hopefully) a few of my photographs on Sometimes Things Are Black & White. I can't tell you how much fun I am having putting these black & white collections together. I love it. I added some videos too. I have a few more photographs that I would like to share/sell but haven't taken the time to load them onto the computer. Not enough time in the day lately, mess mess mess! Life is grand! I love to peel glue off of my fingers. It could be that I put on extra so that I can peel it off. Mercy Messy me!

Another Happy Place!

Introducing my brand new blog! My life is so full of color, but I also have a black & white side of life. I love black & white. Surprised? Open up my closet & drawers and that's what you'll find. It's calming to me & I need a little calm refuge! That's what this new "happy place" will be. I will be showcasing photos & links to my favorite Black & White items & fellow Artisans!

"Sometimes Things ARE just Black & White"

So I invite you to Follow me there too! If you have a Black & White item that you would like me to feature, please feel free to contact me! I'd love to see it. I will probably only be able to post once a week so I will be taking my time to really make each post creative, highlighting creative items & creative people. See you there!

The Blog Anniversary Party /drawing will be held on Tuesday May 25th. It's not too late to become a Follower for a chance to win an Original ACEO painting of your choice. I am going to be working on the festivities later. Party On!