Recipes, Medical History and Being Crafty

 

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Two of the artists in our painting group, Pieces of Eight, have inspired me this month. Jean Thomas did a journal workshop in which I participated and I learned how to make the handmade journal, above. 

During a recent doctor visit I was asked when a certain injury happened, when pain recurred, etc. and I thought that it would be handy if all that was written down in a certain place, with all symptoms, because who remembers the dates of medical problems? Fay Picardi gave me a nice little sketchbook for Christmas, and I decided that I would use that for my medical history from here forward, and include sketches of my pain locations. And of course, being me, I have already included a sketch of my doctor. To give the book more importance and assure I would actually use it, I used my newfound knowledge to fancy up the cover.

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Unlike my travel journals, for this one I say the less entries, the better!

Carmen

Tree Frog, 10x10 Collage on Canvas

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I am very partial to tree frogs; they are the cutest of reptiles. This collage is made of torn and cut magazine pages and is mounted on stretched canvas. The canvas has one and a half-inch deep sides and needs no frame.

Watermelon and Iced Tea, 14x11, Collage on Canvas Panel Still Life

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This collage is made entirely of paper torn from magazines and fixed to a canvas panel with liquid medium. It makes me think of a summertime barbecue. I must thank my friend Fay Picardi for finding all those beautiful pink pictures in a fashion magazine. They were perfect for my watermelon.

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Audrey Hepburn, 16x20 Collage

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Audrey Hepburn was one of the most elegant and appealing women who ever graced the Silver Screen. Much of this collage is made up of torn pages with scenes from her movies. I must say, it's not that easy to make eyes from little pieces of paper--not that I'm complaining. I'm pretty proud of this portrait.

Detail

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Femme Fatale, Collage on Canvas, Portrait of Woman

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Just returned from my show at Paradise Found on Anna Maria Island, and I'm very happy about my sales. I met so many nice people and had a great day!

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Simonetta, 16x20 Collage on Canvas, Botticelli's Venus

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This collage is made entirely of paper torn from fashion magazines. It is a partial view of Sandro Botticelli's famous painting, Birth of Venus. What a challenge! The fun part was her hair. Much of it is from Charlene Theron's "J'Adore" perfume ad. Collage, especially in color, takes me twice as long as oil painting--sometimes three times as long. I do love the result, though.

Simonetta was the woman believed to be the model for Birth of Venus. Read all about her life in our Pieces of 8 member Fay Picardi's book Simonetta.

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P.S. The painting Hot Cubans has been reinstated on Etsy, with no explanation about why it was taken down in the first place.

Cleared for Takeoff, 10x10 Collage on Canvas

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I like painting spoonbills, and when I really want to challenge myself I do a collage spoonbill. I think just picking out the pieces in magazines and figuring out how to use them effectively is a lot more work than laying down oil paint.

This is on gallery wrap canvas and needs no frame.

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Simonetta, 16x20 Collage on Canvas, after Sandro Botticelli's "Birth of Venus"

$420, Buy Now

One of the members of our painting group, Pieces of Eight, has written a book about Simonetta Vespucci, the beautiful woman who inspired Botticelli's painting, "Birth of Venus." Fay Picardi's fascinating book, Simonetta, takes us to the 1470s during the Italian Renaissance in Florence. Simonetta was considered the greatest beauty of her time, and today, over 500 years later, her face is seen everywhere in Florence--even on T-shirts. Her life was short, but her beauty endures.

Fay's book launch will be on November 6th 5:30 to 7:30 at Derek Gores' art gallery in the Eau Gallie Arts District. If you live in the Melbourne, Florida area, stop by; our painting group will be exhibiting our very diverse and surprising interpretations of Simonetta. There will be a booksigning and Fay will give a short reading at 6:30.

Books and art! What could be better?

Rooster Collage, 8x10 Collage on Wood Panel

$55, Purchase Here

The Pieces of 8 painting group was challenged by Donna Vines to do collage, and she showed up with a massive amount of beautiful papers for us to use. This was really a fun project, and I love the way the black paper, which had many fibers in it, created fuzzy edges when torn. It gives the bird a feathery look. I guess you'd call this "Barnyard Chic."

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Wanderer, 5x7 Abstract Collage on Paper, Matted to 8x10

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This abstract is made of watercolor paint and torn textured paper, affixed to watercolor paper. It is matted in an 8x10 mat, below.

My abstracts are few and far between, but, like Zentangles, they are very relaxing and fun to do. Right now I am working on a seascape that has some problems to be worked out. Sometimes the emotional side of art gets in the way of the technical side and I have to step away, analyze, and think for a while. In nature, the sky may be beautiful, the waves impressive, and the water a brilliant color, but if I can't make it all hang together in harmony, I haven't got a painting. So...back to my thinking.

Carmen   

Tree Frog Collage, 10x10

 This is the collage version of my previous tree frog. This way is much harder. It is more tedious, and strains my brain. Still, I enjoy it.

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The Cottage on the Hill, 8x10 Collage

So every day the news is basically the same: a body is found, a car crashes through a house, an elderly person is lost, a bank is robbed, someone is bitten by a shark or an alligator. Well, maybe the animal bites don't happen every day, but the rest--yeah, pretty much every day.

When I am tired of all the tragedies, I like to retreat to my own little world, with purple hills and steps made of candy, out of reach of errant cars. A little whimsy is good for the soul.

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The Loons, 10x10 Collage on Canvas

I saw these beautiful loons when I was in a boat on Big Lake in Alaska. Hearing their mournful calls from far away is quite nice, but they have some other calls that are not as appealing. Male and female loons look alike, but the male is a bit larger. They can dive to depths of 32 yards and can stay submerged for fifteen minutes. That's my loon lesson for the day.

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Big Apple, 10x10 Collage on Canvas

Every collage is a new adventure. It seems that when I get down to the last details, I spend a great deal of time going through magazines for just the right pieces. When the illusion comes together it's a very happy thing.

PURCHASE

Spoonbill Ballet, 10x10 Collage on Canvas

This is another Spoonbill by request. I love doing these things, but they do make my brain tired. First, I draw it; then I scout the magazines for the colors, shapes and values I need; then I have to picture whether each piece will create the proper illusion. Then I make a huge mess and get glue all over my hands. I have dispensed with the waste of time and effort caused by trying to use a brush. Fingers work quite well and are much more easily cleaned.

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Spoonbill Collage, 10x10

I've done this guy in oils, and I have to say, this was much more of a challenge. Sometimes I find the perfect piece of paper but the quality is not good; however, in the end my paper scavenger hunt worked out.  I am very happy with the result. I never tire of Spoonbills, with their gorgeous plumage in my favorite color, and a face like a spoon. Nature has a sense of humor.

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Artsy Shoes

Been in a blue funk lately and decided not to pick up my paint brush this week. The idea for decoupaging my shoes has been simmering for a while, so yesterday I did a little torn-paper therapy.

Spoonbill in Flight, Collage 10 x 10

 I always reach a point in a collage where I think, "Is this going to work?" I was having trouble with the wings until I found some pink Gerbera daisies that worked just right.

Side View

This painting may be hung without a frame.

PURCHASE

Steve Jobs, 24 x 30 Collage

This was a brain strain, but Steve Jobs has my undying gratitude for the products that I use every day, so it was worth it. I am not the most patient person (my children are nodding), so anything I can use to easily manage images and documents is absolutely essential to me. It's a lot easier to work hard on a portrait when you are inspired, and my only regret is that I didn't buy Apple stock years ago. I would be able to afford all these art supplies now.

As far as collage goes, this should hold me for a while. I'm going to use some squishy, expensive oil paint now.

Cindy's Cardinal, 4x4 Collage on Stretched Canvas

This is my last little bird collage. It's way too much work for such a tiny piece of art. It was fun, but takes more patience than I actually have. To be a woman of a certain age, I am remarkably impatient. When does that mellowing stuff set in?

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