>Process

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It’s been five days and the leaf prints I have been working on produced some striking results!.  They are really time consuming and unpredictable in their outcome, however.  I will put up an album with final works in the near future but I am unable to replicate in photograph the metallic sheen and luminosity that bounces off some of these gorgeous prints.

While working on these, I definitely made some mechanical errors (like weighting down the prints far too long in too great of heat, producing some fusion of materials that made it impossible to use some of them).  Next time, I’ll know to work with fewer sheets, remove the weights quicker, and allow each to dry individually under lighter weights.

Once the prints dried, I sorted them all and pulled out the “frame-worthy ones” which either were prefect as is or required some simple outline work with paints and fine markers to punch them up and make the subject pop.  Final step is selecting mats.  The picture above shows two mats I had on hand and was just tooling around with them to check how they’d work around some prints I had completed. I will need to purchase a mat cutter before too long. Any suggestions readers? 

Back to process:  those prints that aren’t deemed “standalone frameworthy,” I either incorporate into abstract work, as in the photo to the right, or will use in collage work.  Toward that end, I’ve been collecting and categorizing scraps, other materials, washi, and other papers. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this weekend is it for collage work. Can’t wait!

>More leaf prints underway

>Pulled out all stops to use up my entire fall leaf collection, and decided to bring in more colors this time.  I must have produced upwards of 30 leaf prints today.  In 100 degree heat on the patio.  All cleared out of leafs though, which, as Martha Stewart says, is “a good thing” (although in a totally different context, of course). 

I really enjoyed this project as it gave the opportunity to really experiment with color combinations.  And since I used some metallic paints, too, I think these combos will produce amazing results.  

The bummer is I have to wait for them all to dry.  It can take a week since we’re in the middle of summer with its high humidity.  I trust, given what I could see beneath the blur of the protective lining, that it will be worth the wait.

>But there was a ray of sunshine in the day too.

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I stopped by Operation Stand Down Nashville to drop off that organization’s proceeds raised during my art show last month.  Bill Burleigh, executive director, wasn’t there, but I rounded up a staffer to capture the above pic.  It was exhilirating seeing my mixed media piece front and center in the lobby, right near the main entrance to the offices!  I think the painting fits just perfectly there and am so proud they do too! 

If you don’t know about this organization, it offers a myriad of services year round to veterans, and over one weekend each October, runs a “stand down” event providing shelter, food, clothing, medical, legal, job and other services to homeless veterans in Middle Tennessee.  I happened upon the organization in 2005 when I was a reporter for the local newspaper.  I have continued to volunteer as my time has allowed, since that time.  Love the organization, management, and vets it serves! 

>Challenging day

>It was supposed to be my painting day, but personal problems crept in.  I would have dearly loved to work all this out with paintbrushes and paper or canvas, but it wasn’t possible.  In the end, there may be a greater understanding between us, and some growth I hope.

The heatwave is still here and takes away the desire to paint out in the sunroom.  I have more leaves to “play with,” along with some wonderful treebark I collected the other day at the river.  Barbara Rembert has promised to bring in a book by one of the leading collage artists in the world on Saturday for me to borrow.  I can’t wait!

>Mindful that we all have our own "higher being"

Yesterday morning, I attended a private counseling session to figure out the best path forward on various issues.  It was eye-opening but for the purpose of anonymity, I can’t go into great details just yet.  I have to realize though, it’s not up to me to fix all things.

In that session, even before exploring options and paths forward, the counselor noted that mistakes are and will be made.  “Recoverable” ones are those that present a chance to move forward in the end.  “Non-recoverable” ones are those that can cause permanent harm – either physical, mental, or societal.   Time will tell where this leads and I have to summon the courage to allow it to play out, recognizing we all have our own higher beings.

Thankfully, I have painting class today and look forward to immersing myself in it.

>My notecards are on sale at Hastings Bookstore

>They have accepted a supply of my notecards, canvas totes and wine giftbags for sale on consignment at Hastings Bookstore on Memorial Blvd. in Murfreesboro.  The process was quite simple and I’m eager to expand into other retailers.  If you know of any boutique/book/card/giftstores that might be interested in my array of eclectic items, let me know!  There’s a finder’s fee involved!

>Leaf prints: striking!

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I couldn’t wait.  I dismantled them before they were completely dry and perhaps they would have taken on even stronger delineations and colors.  No matter, they came out truly striking, especially the ones using metallics and black!  With a lil’ help of photoshop to round out some rough edges to the paper, they are definitely frameworthy as standalone pieces or in mixed media works.  I have posted many of them in an album here, at my facebook page… Enjoy!  

>A week into lifechanging decision

I don’t want to curse things, but so far so good.  It was a matter of setting barriers and boundaries to protect myself and those I love.  I see tremendous progress, and am very encouraged that my decision was the right one.  Still, I hate to see my loved one struggling and suffering.

>Finally using my 12 year old leaves from Connecticut!

>I lived in Connecticut for much of the 1980s and one of my favorite things was the annual fall trek to the Heublein Tower with my husband, bff, and our children. Perched atop Talcott Mountain in Simsbury, it offers a fabulous view of the region.  In fall, of course, there is nothing more exquisite than New England foliage, making this trek a journey taken by thousands each year.  The last year we lived in Connecticut before moving south, I gathered a variety of leaves.  Small ones that I put into a rubbermaid airproof container and forgot about.  Until converting my studio last summer when I stowed them on a shelf with other “diamonds” offered up by Gaia, a.k.a. Mother Nature. 

David, my British hubby, has always thought my packrat ways not only incompatible with his tidy, neat, minimalist lifestyle, but also a waste of time and effort.  But, loving me as he damn well better, he has always tolerated this, as long as I could find a place for things.  He began to grumble last year when I claimed and took ownership of the patio room for my studio AND claimed half of the garage AND STILL HAD the upstairs bonus room for my international consulting business.  He tolerates it all as long as things are in their place.

I’ve got good news for him:  At Barbara Rembert’s water media class the other day, I was introduced to leaf printing.  The idea is to take old leaves, place them on paper, douse with watered down paint, cover with crumpled wax paper, press them so the veins and outlines of the leaves make a fossilized imprint on the paper when they have dried.  Not only do you get the leave’s imprint, but a glorious background too, if you use good vibrant colors.

I experimented with this method on Saturday and yesterday morning got busy with the Connecticut leaf collection and a myriad of other leaves I collected last fall too. Stepping beyond Ms. Rembert’s primary colors, I dug up some metallics to try it with too, and even black and white.  What I’ve produced are some wonderful pieces I plan to use for the collage work, as small standalone images, and who knows what else.  I can’t wait!

One thing the Summer heat is good for is drying things quickly so these works were dry by this morning.  Which reminds me, I gotta go water the garden.


>Eyes: Not so wonky anymore!

>After visiting a specialist in Nashville who treats the bizzarre disorder I’d been diagnosed with, I started doing the eye exercises for real – simply following a pencil or finger with the one “wonky” eye while blocking the other eye.  It seems to have done the trick.  I’m comforted to know I probably don’t have some serious illness that’s caused it but have to get a physical all the same.

The eyes are better but the mid-south has been sweltering under above normal temps for 33 days now and today, the first full day of summer, was the hottest day yet.  Not to whine but … how can one “enjoy” summer when all outside activities have to be done under cover of darkness or early dawn.  The poor dogs are miserable since they’re not supposed to be out in temps above 85 for any length of time.  

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