Cliffs and Lighthouse

 
 

This painting was a challenge for me!  It needs more layering but I think I will move on to a new painting and come back to it later.

Winter Blue Jay

 I have been taking a class and working in pastel this past month.  I love the vibrant color, feel and freedom you get working with pastels. I will need to continue to experiment with different papers and techniques and hope to eventually show some of my work.

Mobiles, Hearts & Wreaths

 

Bernardo Winery

You might be wondering what I have been doing since my last post. I have been creating art from driftwood! On Friday mornings I am at the Rancho Bernardo Winery from 9am to 1pm selling driftwood mobiles, wreaths and table top trees. I use found objects I find at vintage flea markets to add interest and a story to my mobiles.The wreaths and trees include shells and are really beautiful!
My husband and I were both raised near the beach in San Diego and have traveled the California coast many times seeking out beautiful places to beachcomb and look for shells and driftwood.  My new driftwood art is a way to express our love for the ocean.

 

At the Fair!

Here I am in front of my camel drawing, 'Desert Traveler' at the San Diego County Fair Fine Art reception last night. No ribbon but I felt honored to be exhibited with all the other artists and their wonderful work.

Market Bouquet

I was inspired by our local farmer's market and the beautiful bouquets they sell.  My goal for this drawing was to make the bouquet the focal point by rendering the figure in graphite with just a little added color to help the eye travel.

Broken Beauty

I used pastels to create this painting of a sunflower.  It has been quite a while since I have used pastels and I experimented using broken color to create movement throughout the painting.

Desert Traveler

I have been away from my blog for a long time!  Thought I might update it with this colored pencil drawing of a camel I did for my 2013 Christmas card.  It was accepted to hang at the Del Mar Fair this year.  Camels have always been comical to me with their long legs and protruding lips.  They do have beautiful eyes that give them an endearing quality. I think I have captured that in this drawing.

Red Heels

This figure painting is acrylic on canvas that I did more than a year ago. I am thinking of entering it in a juried show but can't make up my mind if it is finished yet!  

Bird in Flight

This is supposed to be an owl but I think it looks more like a hawk!  I used a water soluble pencil for the sketch and watercolor to finish.

Borneo Bead & Silver Errings

I am using old Portuguese trading beads I brought back from Borneo years ago to create these  earrings for my booth at the North Park Festival of the Arts May 18th. They will be one of a kind with each set  having it's own unique design!

North Park Festival of the Arts

   I will have a booth at the North Park Festival of the Arts on May 18th with my friends Avra & Linda.  Avra will have acrylic paintings on wood panels and small hand crafted paper covered boxes, Linda does beautiful botanical drawings in colored pencil and I will have mixed media pieces, vintage collage and wire wrapped silver & bead jewlery. Please come and check us out! We have called our collaborative effort "Art Friendly".

Beautiful Hike

 

 

This is beautiful Cuyamaca Rancho State Park where my husband and I hiked yesterday. The air was crisp and clean and we saw deer, woodpeckers, blue jays and a flock of wild turkeys!

I sketched and painted as we lunched along side the trail to Stonewall Peak which you can see in the above photo.  It was very peaceful as there were only a few other hikers. Stopped on the way back for a piece of Julian's famous apple pie.



San Elijo Arts & Crafts Boutique

I wanted to thank my many wonderful friends who came to the Arts & Crafts Boutique this weekend.  It was a beautiful day (NO rain!) and a successful event.  

You are Invited to the San Elijo Holiday Boutique

Poinsettia & Bird

This is one of the wreaths I will be selling at the San Elijo Holiday Boutique this Saturday from 10am-4pm at the San Elijo Rec Center on 1105 Elfin Forest Rd. in San Marcos. I also will be showing my framed vintage collage collections, corn husk dolls & quilted backpacks made from Balinese sparkle fabric.  Please come & browse, there will be arts & craft vendors, entertainment & food!

More Corn Husk Dolls

Here are more Corn Husk Dolls created this morning!  I use a 1 1/4 inch wooden ball for the head.  I drill a hole large enough for a  long wooden meat skewer to fit in and use a little hot glue to keep it tight. Next I soak corn husks in warm water to soften them.  While they are soaking I use pruning shears to cut the bottom of the skewer so it doesn't show under the corn husk skirt.  The piece I cut off is hot glued to the skewer for arms leaving room for a neck. I then dry the corn husks & trim to length with pinking shears. I attach the husks around the skewer with raffia.  You can use either fabric or corn husk to make the apron in which a slit is cut and pulled over the head. I use raffia to belt the fabric. I then make a square of fabric & fold it in a triangle and attach it with a couple dabs of glue to the head.  You can see that I sometimes add bangs and braids using the raffia or corn silk. I like to individualize the dolls by adding embellishments such as brooms or small found objects to the arms, apron etc.

Corn Husk Dolls for Thanksgiving Table!

 I have been busy today making Corn Husk Dolls for an upcoming Craft Show. The dolls can be placed at each table setting as a decoration & gift for Thanksgiving.  A yogurt cup or short glass is used underneath to keep them upright. They also look great on a wreath or with cuttings from the garden tucked under the skirt and hung on the door as a swag.

 

 

 

 

I baked Holiday Breads for the Craft & Art  Show at the SD Safari Park this week... from left to right - Cranberry Orange, Chocolate-Chocolate Chip, and Banana Walnut.  They were all delicious and I just about sold out!

Flamboyant Flamingos

A little bit of this and a little bit of that! In this watercolor painting I used a wet into wet process on top of gesso in the background. Also, a little alcohol, salt, and negative painting.  You can see a faint hint of stenciling to finish it. I had hoped the colors would be richer but the pastel effect created by the gesso gave it a "flamboyant" feel.

More Collage!

I have been busy creating collages from objects found in thift & vintage stores.  I try to included a piece of my art in each piece. Still looking for a slingshot to put in Red Wagon's pocket!

Red Wagon

Love Letter

Bride & Groom

Breakfast Cocoa