AT school

So, today I am at school in my computer class. Andrew and Melissa left this morning for parts East and I will miss them a lot. We got to spend time together at the Library on Monday and Tuesday nite at Melly's and went to the Farmers Mkt on Wednesday and then hung out for a bit at my house. It was wonderful to see them both. So far I have done nothing with my Art since the last post, but as Scarlett says, "Tomorrow is another day"...I'll think about that tomorrow. Saw Curtis' Mom today and took a walk..she lost her rings (50+ years worth) and I said a prayer that she will somehow get them back. I am also sending out wishes to Dorothea that her illness will not be prolonged and painful and that she will be treated with dignity and love. This blog is supposed to be about creativity, but I guess not only...after all, my life is many things, not just my creative self, although that is the part I most enjoy. Andrew and Melissa saw my collages and commented, so that was gratifying to me. I guess I really want to be known, one way or another...so I close today because I have had my say and after all, I am in school....

Happy Monday

So, today is a happy day and it is Monday...Andrew & Melissa came down from Simi and spent the day with me...Love seeing them...I am here in the library with them right now and I'm writing in my blog on Andrew's computer which he brought with him. Very fancy...I have done not much on my collages this last week and I did not go to my Art class last Monday or this one so I guess I really just need to do my own work...Andrew said I should keep working on my collages and I think he is right. I seem, for better or worse, to be drawn to the cutting of paper and the gluing of paper and the looking for images to cut out and etc. I am happy making stories with the images I am able to find. Anyway, this is short because I have better things to do with the time...mainly spending it with my son and his wife...Yep.

It's raining

Today I feel quiet and it is raining off and on..I, of course, am at the Library. I attended a workshop on Clutterology...the same lady with one leg that I took a class on giving seminars with at Culver City some time ago..Nancy Miller...she has books and CD's to sell at $20 each..BORS (back of room sales) She gave a good talk for l hour and I thought to myself that it is a pretty good gig ... the room was full and so she probably made a few hundred dollars for the talk...at least more than $l00 Not bad for an hour and probably a couple of weeks preparation before to produce the book and CD, etc...maybe a Month. I learned that I already know how to de clutter and that there are a lot of people with the problem who seek help...Most of whom are smart enough to know that they already know what to do...only they don't..like I don't...what was most amusing was the number of people who left the lecture and headed straight for the used books for sale..is this an oxymoron? It is some kind of Moron for sure. I know, for I was there. I will go home soon and put some more stuff in bags to donate and I will mull over all this stuff in my head and in my Living room, kitchen and "junk room" ... All rooms are "Junk rooms" in my world...My world is changing..I am changing..and today I feel quiet and it is raining.

It's raining

Today I feel quiet and it is raining off and on..I, of course, am at the Library. I attended a workshop on Clutterology...the same lady with one leg that I took a class on giving seminars with at Culver City some time ago..Nancy Miller...she has books and CD's to sell at $20 each..BORS (back of room sales) She gave a good talk for l hour and I thought to myself that it is a pretty good gig ... the room was full and so she probably made a few hundred dollars for the talk...at least more than $l00 Not bad for an hour and probably a couple of weeks preparation before to produce the book and CD, etc...maybe a Month. I learned that I already know how to de clutter and that there are a lot of people with the problem who seek help...Most of whom are smart enough to know that they already know what to do...only they don't..like I don't...what was most amusing was the number of people who left the lecture and headed straight for the used books for sale..is this an oxymoron? It is some kind of Moron for sure. I know, for I was there. I will go home soon and put some more stuff in bags to donate and I will mull over all this stuff in my head and in my Living room, kitchen and "junk room" ... All rooms are "Junk rooms" in my world...My world is changing..I am changing..and today I feel quiet and it is raining.

So...the class at the Getty was the BEST! So Good! Egg Tempera, here I come! The cement pigments made no difference at all to Don's piece, so that was a bonus. We worked on top of the green face with several values of a dusky pink color made 4 or 5 steps to white. The work done with tiny cross-hatch strokes on top of each other. The darkest pink went first on the cheeks, nose, forehead, etc. for the dark tone which was then obliterated by more and more layers of succeedingly lighter layers. Mine is a little light, I think, but the overall effect is of SKIN. With the slight blush of color on cheeks, etc, glowing from underneath. I told the teacher about Beer glazes because she had never heard of or used them. She was interested. Anyway, I love the effect that I got with the Egg Tempera, and it was a wonderful day. I had fun and felt satisfied with what I accomplished. I will use the materials and technique in the future, I am sure. On Monday I attended the class that I did the blue tree in and we worked in black and white only with cut outs, chalk and paint. I was not as thrilled with the result I got, but I do feel stimulated to do more with black and white, only I like working in the Collage medium with it instead. Taking classes is stimulating me to do more work of my own, so that is a good thing...also, getting rid of Directv is helping even though I still watch the basic channels there is less of interest on so I get up and work...I am also, little by little divesting myself of excess stuff, especially books...we'll see...hope springs eternal in the human breast...Pandora wasn't all bad............

Now what...

So, today I am helping with Jake because Melly is sick...I spent the night...so No work on the Art for the last couple of days. I am, however taking a class at the Getty in Egg Tempera...also known around town as Egg Tempura...haha...and I went with Don to buy Artist Grade dry pigments and I gave him a catch up class in the first stage of the Icon painting we are working on. He had to miss the first class to do a family thing. I had to improvise about the green and use my cement pigments so we'll see if it makes a difference in the long run. Also, I sent for the color chart from Kesler? re: the historic and earth colors. I'm not sure it will be important to me to work with authentic stuff or if I will care more about final result of surface. I do love the surface. I like a lot the idea of Egg Tempera...the workability and the eventual permanence. It dries immediately but is water soluble for about 2 weeks until the yolk evaporates and hardens. Tiny strokes put together like pointelism side by side ...hatching and cross hatching. I have always liked that..I've worked in ink a lot and love building up darks with cross hatching, etc. I think that this Egg paint and ink may keep my interest for a long time. I really just want the freedom, financial and obligation - wise to work at my own pace with no pressure to produce and have the joy and wonder of discovery...to let my mind follow the threads that come up instead of snipping them off so I can take care of obligations real or imagined. I need a benevolent keeper. Maybe that's me. Can't wait to get back to work...Original Sin is calling.

Keep working

So, Ive been working on more collages. I worked out the black and white one and used the xerox again on a second black and white and now I'm distilling the second black and white even further. The first one uses the blue tree in black and white and a arm and apple and a couple of figures...Original sin...and the second plus ones use the tree with a mystical lady and a snake...one will have a butterfly and another will be a small square with just the lady and the snake..and maybe some more with some of the same imagery. I still haven't put any color in but I will. I did use a pencil to beef up some of the black parts and then xerox again. Lots of cutting and looking and thinking. I also copied the blue tree in color and cut it out so that will be another part of the series. The blue tree feels symbolic. Of what, I can't say , but symbols don't always have to be explained in full. In fact, I am in charge of the whole works and I am saying that I do not have to define the symbol and that in spite of no definition that it is, in fact, a symbol. I cancelled my Directv so that I will not be seduced by all the choices..we'll see if it works. I am serious about living the choices and invoices that I actually believe in. It is really hard, however, to be disciplined and correct in behavior according to what I believe when there is no one to applaud my effort. Hard to be alone and keep myself motivated and happening. Hard to live without the ATTAGIRL that I wish for. Somehow, an ATTAGIRL from yourself is less exciting. Anyway, I am still working on my ART. Better late than never. With or without applause. I am working!