Update with Pics

It has taken me far too long to get back here, and for that I apologize. This NaNoWriMo thing coupled with the eight hours I spend on the computer at work have not inspired me to make time for a new post. Speaking of NaNo, I am well past the halfway point with my word count. Today's goal is 36,674 if I want to be finished by the 30th. I wanted to work ahead this weekend to give me some cushion, but I was not as motivated as I thought I would be. There is still time. Not sure whether I am coming up with anything that can really become anything with edits, but it feels like I might be surprised. Once it is finished, I will let it sit a while before I return for another look. I have a book that I introduced to my writer's group that I will probably do edits and rewrites on first.

As for my artwork, the Gift Bazaar at the beginning of the month went well. The response at seeing what I do with old softballs and bowling balls was very positive. People seemed interested in my inspiration and my process. I ended up selling half the items I brought with me. I am currently working on orders that I took that day and one since then along with a few Christmas and Winter themed pieces. I have included some pictures for you below of my art and my display the day of the bazaar. Sorry for the quality. I guess I need to work at my technique so that I am getting better shots.

We are just a few days away from "The Big Eat." Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I hope that you all have much to be thankful for this year. I know I do.

Happy Halloween!

Couldn't let the day go by without acknowledging my favorite holiday. The traditional "boo-chos" (nachos) on the menu for supper, then a spooky movie (The Eclipse), and taking turns answering the door. Will be taking the night off from time in the studio. Back at it tomorrow after work. Probably some late nights while I wrap up. In addition, it is the first day of NaNoWriMo on Monday, so I will try to get in my 1,667 words before everyone gets up for school and work. Gonna be a challenge to stay on track for the first week with still so much to do for Saturday's Gift Bazaar. I expect there may be some catch-up up to do starting next Sunday. Hope to have pics of my finished softballs in the next day or so, and more pics from Saturday's event next week.

Have an enjoyable Halloween. Back again around Wednesday.

Making progress!

Very productive couple of days in the studio. Finished all my sculpting in a couple of hours last night. I have to say I REALLY like working with paper clay. So easy to manipulate, dries hard and quickly, and seems very well suited for what I am doing. I was also able to get the remainder of my foam sheet pieces cut out and ready for painting. As I work, I sense a change in the way I approach the balls now. I am less concerned with maintaining the appearance of the balls (ironic that I ever did given my lack of interest in sports) to seeing them primarily for their shape. Now I am using them solely as an armature for each piece. Be interesting to see where this all goes. Hope to have some pics of completed pieces up this weekend. I should have about a half dozen ready for their close-up by then.

Still here and covered in paint

Been a few weeks, so I feel I should make a brief appearance. With the fast (too fast) approaching Gift Gallery coming up, I am now in the thick of getting some things finished up while starting as many more as I have room for in my work space. Weather was nice when I got home from work, so I was able to get most of my sawing and drilling done in the driveway. Very wet and dreary here today, so much of it will be spent in the studio. Got up at the crack of stupid (for a weekend) and had a productive couple of hours already. It feels good!

Had the second of the three introductory writer's group meetings last Wednesday. Made myself step up and have the group critique my first page of "The Gingerbread Lady" novel. Was happily surprised at the comments, and the groups interest in reading more. When you write only for yourself, it is difficult to let others see your stuff. I worried, naturally I think, that I was deluding myself, that I had the chops to be a writer. Feeling a little more encouraged now. Once the bazaar is behind me, I will take a month off from the heavy duty painting and sculpting to focus on writing. Got an idea brewing for November's NaNoWriMo, and one writing buddy (Kathy Steffan, author and my writer's group facilitator). Even keeping an eye on the area writing get together's coming up for the Madison area NaNoers. With the MacBook, I can now writer places other than home, so it might be fun to check out at least one "write-in".

Well, that's where I'm at at present. I will post photos of my finished softballs, as well as my table at November 6's bazaar as soon as I am able.

Till then, enjoy the dwindling days of fall. Let's hope the snow here will hold off until after Thanksgiving at the earliest.

Save the Date

Everyone is invited to attend Advertisers Press’s Fall Gift Bazaar on Saturday, November 6th 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.
Address is 2222 Parview Rd., Middleton, WI. Over 20 artisans and vendors available for you to shop from and to purchase unique gifts for that “someone who has everything” on your Holiday list. Start your shopping early and enjoy a cup of cider or coffee while you shop. Admission is FREE. Hope to see you there!

Checking in

Happy first Sunday of Fall y'all! Things are beginning to look very autumnal in this part of the country, and I'm in the mood for all things fall. 

Was planning to wait until my current WIPs were further along to post again, but I am already feeling like a new entry is overdue. I guess they are still works in progress, even if they aren't where I envisioned they would be. 

With the Fall Gift Gallery event coming up the first weekend in November, I have my work cut out for me. Right now I have 4 repurposed softball pieces going, and a list of others to begin when I have made room on my workspace. Below is a picture of what I am working on. In the front is a black bear (a commission for a friend of a co-worker). Behind that is a bat (with unpainted foam wings) which will be a hanging piece. Then I have the very start of a scarecrow plant stake. Lastly I have a rubber duck ball which will have bubbles, a small bar of soap (which I am still not sure about) and an acrylic "puddle" base.

Funny story about the small pink bar of soap. After forming the bar out of paper clay, I pressed carefully selected macaroni letters spelling out "soap" into the wet clay and set it aside to dry. The next morning when I went downstairs to feed that cat, I found it facedown on the concrete floor covered in dust, cobwebs, and cat hair. Apparently someone thought it made a great toy for batting around during the night. I suppose I should be happy that I found it so easily since it could easily have ended up under the washing machine or some dark corner of the laundry room. When I picked it up to return it to my work table, I discovered that the cat had also eaten all of the letters off. Guess she wasn't aware how tedious a job it was sifting thorough the dry pasta letters to find just the ones I needed. I guess the imprint they left behind is probably better for what I was going for anyway. Thanks Twyla?

I am also working on some more traditional painted pieces when I am not inspired to work on the softballs. Here is an older painting I rescued from my stack of canvases to be painted on or to re-gessoed and repainted. I am reworking what I had originally sketched out, giving it an autumn look by setting the scarecrow in a pumpkin patch, and adding the colored maples in the background. I love crows, so I envision one or two making an appearance here as well. Still not completely happy with it, but as of yet, I can't put my finger on the what or why. I welcome comments or suggestions! Sorry that the accompanying picture is a little blurry. I am just learning to use the digital camera. I was also working against a failing battery, so I kind of rushed it. I promise to make the next shot sharper, so that you can see the details.

I have a few other ideas percolating for a couple of other canvas paintings. As soon as I 

have something on those, I will post pics.

Guess that's all I have for now. Time to head back into the studio. 

Until I post again, take care of yourselves. 

My favorite time of the year!

Well, it is now the end of August and only days away from Fall, my favorite time of the year. I know that fall doesn't officially begin till mid September, but as far as I am concerned, we are close enough. There is so much that I look forward to when the temps begin to drop and the green gives way to browns, reds, yellows and oranges. There is just something about the feel of the autumn months, the brings me to life. I feel much more energized and inspired once we get beyond the heat and humidity of June, July and August. Doesn't hurt that besides raking leaves, the outdoor tasks list begins to dwindle, and I feel like I can once again focus my efforts and energy elsewhere.

Got some fun Halloween themed art project formulating which I will post pics of as they begin to take shape. Now that I have discovered that there is a whole division in the art world dedicated to Halloween art and things of the macabre nature, I look forward to trying my hand at creating some pieces in that vein as well. I only hope that my work comes half as close to the awesome things I have seen on this blog network and elsewhere in my trips around the web.

In addition to the visual arts, I am still working on some writing projects. I am signed up for NaNoWriMo to take place in November, and I have joined a writers group to be held at the library in the coming months. At this point the group is just a short-term thing, but it sounds like the plan is to make it a regular event if the interest is there. I know I would welcome having a group of peers to work with. If things go as planned, (there I go planning again) I hope to be working regularly on my series of "midwestern gothic" novels, and featuring artwork described in the books on this blog. Think it could be a fun challenge to find a way to "marry" both my writing and my art. Will see how it comes together.

Well, that gets us somewhat up to date for now. Following is a picture of the laminated paper project that came out of a workshop I did back in June. Finally got around to the finishing touches. Liked the medium, and once I can get a hold of the gel used, I will try some more. I see a monkey in plaid pants in the future!

Any way, till my next entry, here's to living the creative life!