Future Projects

I've got some future projects I'll be working on over the next few months. I am going to start working on an upcycled/recycled clothing line for my web site right after Christmas. Along with the clothing line, I will make an attempt at fashionable tin earrings to add to my jewelry line.

I also found a small horse trophy at my local thrift store. I will use it in my next Texas Cowboy shadow book. This one will be my third one, Texas Cowboy III.

Right now I've been busy selling on eBay, watching YouTube, and researching different approaches to my upcycled/recycled clothing line. Watching YouTube is great! I can learn almost anything I want from the videos. I know...I am one of those late-bloomers on YouTube discovery but I do find YouTube intriguing.

I wish everyone Happy Holidays!

Mixing and Mingling: Talking About Transitions

I loved doing my assemblages. I have a few more that I would love to create, then I am moving on to other areas in art. I just read "Mixed-Media Dollhouses: techniques and ideas for doll-size assemblages" by Tally Oliveau and Julie Molina; and published by Quarry Books. I absolutely love this book! These dollhouses are another type of assemblage that I am looking forward to doing. I haven't decided when I will start my first mixed-media dollhouse but I do plan on doing at least one this summer. I have already sketched the "blueprints" out.

My current project is working with button rings and jewelry. Vintage, contemporary, and some may look gaudy but to me they look very pretty(my tribute to Penelope G. on Criminal Minds - she is a great role model!). I have been using old buttons, pieces of old and/or broken earrings and pins/brooches, new earrings, dragonfly charms, and new buttons. I have about 60 finished rings. I am going to make an attempt at Steampunk jewelry, and also metal stampings. A little exploring in this area, and then I will be making another transition. Either a new art/jewelry technique, but using the materials and supplies that I already have. My life changes everyday, so why not incorporate those changes into new forms of artwork. "Mixing and mingling " is going to be my motto for my anticipated art and jewelry techniques.

I want to tell that I am picking up a lot of endless information on YouTube. (Yes, I am just now discovering that YouTube has a lot of info that is a must for every artist to put in their knowledge database. If you want to learn something new, YouTube is the place to go. In fact it has become one of my favs online every night for the past week.)

Tell me about some of your latest art techniques. You don't have to give up all your secrets, just give me one that you think I might like, and that you are crazy about.

Putting It Together: Assemblage Art

It has been a while since my last post. No excuse for it. I did work on the website yesterday though. I worked on most of the pages, especially the Gallery page. I added my new pieces of assemblage artwork. I am also working on a layout to set up a Facebook page for SGS ArtWorks.

I have come across another artwork project series I am interested in - Assemblage Box Series. I love assemblage art. Michael deMeng is my favorite assemblage artist. I have finished four pieces so far, and they are in my gallery. (Some of my Boxes will be very creepy, but that's okay. That is how I let my ArtWorks be my therapy. Sometimes those old science fiction movies I used to watch as a kid are great inspirations for some of these therapy sessions.)

I am prepping a lot of pieces for the artworks I have already planned out in my sketch book. I have three more pieces started. I am just arranging the inside of each box trying to work out the perfect design element for me. If no problems arise, I may be able to finish those pieces this weekend.

I went to several garage sales today. The first time in many months. I also visited my local Salvation Army - which I usually do once a week. I found some great finds today. Old wooden plaques, frames, resin figures, small glass and ceramic items, dolls, Barbies, action figures, plastic columns and cherubs that are used for wedding cakes, a plastic salamander (which I am painting black with yellow spots like a fire salamander and use it in one of my assemblages), a broken wooden wall clock that has a vintage-look clock face, and a large assortment of plastic toy items.

Does anyone have any great finds for their artworks that they would like to tell us about? Brag away. I know I did, and will still brag about more of my finds in future posts.

Meditation Art Cards

Recently, I was given a commission to do meditation art cards. Very interesting cards. I did have to do research in the Pagan/Wiccan area for these cards. I have completed the elements: fire, earth, water, and air. I have also completed aether/spirit, moon goddess, earth goddess, triple goddess, horned god, marriage, love, money, and new job. Over the next two weeks, I have to do more research on divination, prosperity, health, healing, energy, knowledge, intuition, and many others. I am working on 3 to 5 per area until I find out how they will sell. I would like to do a small series on psychic dreams meditation art cards. The art cards are atc size - 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" so that I can place each in a protective sleeve. These are smaller than regular meditation art cards which I think are 4" x 6"? So far this has been a knowledgeable endeavor. There is so much about this religion that is very down to earth, and peaceful.

Working on the art cards, has given me even more ideas for areas of topics that I would like to research. Knowledge is very important, not only in one topic area, but in new topics that you find during researching a present project. I do not know whether all of this knowledge will help me with my art work, but I do know that I will be learning new things about many, many topics of interest, not only for myself, but for others as well.

Keep learning. Knowledge is power, especially for an artist.

Artist Block - Comes and Goes

Hello. Thank goodness school is out for the summer. My creativity has slowed, sped up, then trickled, and is now only mediocre. I have been doing a lot of art cards lately (about 100 or more), and selling some on eBay. Art cards are a great way to keep the creative trickle flowing until I can find more inspiration. I've been checking on the Internet, in art books, sketching, making notes, and taking digital photos. I am now at a stand still on creating art cards. Art cards may not bring in much money but every bit helps so I need to keep moving on those.

I am working on a commission order for a shadow book. I started cutting the inside pages today, and hopefully with that task, I might be able to generate more ideas for art cards as I am working. I already have about a dozen wooden panel collage assemblages created with lots of found objects. I need to start thinking about a marketing plan for those. I sold an 11"x14" canvas board collage on eBay, and I have listed another one. My eBay id is purdondepot. I may have to go back to "real" paintings and jewelrymaking. I like both of those but I get burned out very easily after a week of constant beading. But an artist has to do what an artist loves to do and that is CREATE. Maybe I'll do a combination of all. I hope I don't end up with something creepy like the collage assemblage I already have listed on eBay.

Well, tomorrow will bring me more ideas, and I will start creating again ....

Quilted Wall Hanging

Well, here is the finished wall hanging, and I am now on to new works - atcs and 3D collage assemblage. Check out the new 3D collage assemblage I just finished on the home page and in the gallery.

Fiber Arts

I thought doing an art quilt would be easy. It's only easy if you are not in a rush. I have most of my quilt top finished. I am attaching the batting. Once that's done, I will look again at the top to see if I can make anymore improvements before I attach the backing. Slowly but surely I will finish. I don't know if I will undertake a large project like this again for awhile but I will continue making smaller quilt tops for smaller wall hangings. Fiber arts are great and I will continue using them in my art works. I have already collected pieces for my next small projects. Fiber art techniques can be used in a lot of art projects.

If you would like to experience quilting, start with a small quilted piece, maybe 4x6? (Later, you may want to sew your 4x6 pieces into a larger quilt piece.) I prefer hand-stitching myself because with the smaller projects, small pieces of fabric, needle and thread, in a Ziploc bag, are a lot easier to carry in your purse or tote than a sewing machine. If you feel stressed at work, these smaller projects can be done at coffee breaks or lunch. Having these little quilted pieces to work on can be a stress-relieving distraction even if only for a few minutes.

If you feel like it, post some of your smaller pieces. Help inspire a person to find that creative light within themselves.

When I have finished the original quilt for hanging I'll take a pic and post it here on the blog.

Thanks.