Alex's place

One of my ideas for the graffiti letters was to use them on painted canvas--this one is recycled canvas. I bought this painting of boats at a garage sale and then painted over it leaving just a bit of the color showing through. The letters are the graffiti letters and then I lettered the rest with white acrylic paints, adding a balck drop shadow. I made this one for my son Alex who we just took back to school in the Bronx. It was fun to do, but I doubt he will actually hang it on his wall....

I was gathering a lot of stuff for a care package--things he didn't have, like an ice cream scoop and aluminum foil and things I know he likes, like dried mangoes and chai tea. Whether he hangs this up or not, I like the way it turned out!

KEEP OUT

Been working on some ideas for the graffiti letters... I feel like they need to be used on sayings that are not so nicey nice. So I thought something like this, could be used on a kid's room door. I like the background which is a photo of some of the graffiti on the St. Louis flood wall, and I love the skulls at the bottom. It is 4 x 10 and would have a glass clip frame, but I think I want to use some old looking wire--not shiny stuff--so that it fits the look and still helps it hang well. Thought about black ribbon, but I think even black ribbon would be too cutesy. Saw some rebar tie wire at the corner hardware store that might work, but it was a lot of wire (but not a lot of money) and I'm not sure yet if I will use this idea. Anybody got any thoughts?

New York, New York

New York, New York! Just got back from dropping my son at college for his sophomore year! He is actually in the Bronx at Fordham University. We combined the college drop off with a vacation and made a loop through Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, Niagara Falls, Baseball Hall of Fame and then spent 4 days in New York! Had to get him moved into his tiny apt that he will share with 3 other guys. His rooom is about 7 x 9.... barely big enough for a bed! But the neighborhod right near his apt is actually kind of cool--alot of italian restaurants and delis--but on a college student budget, I doubt he will see the inside of most of them. After dropping him off, we drove through Gettysburg and spent about a day in DC. Whirlwind tour! A little crazy, but that's a typical vacation if I plan it!

Georgia O'Keefe look?

I know that this looks like the same photo as before, but if you look just above the Francis Park words, you can see an insect's wings..... I used this version for the cover of the Art in the Park program cover. I was going to wait til after my vacation (coming up soon--yeah!) to do the cover design, but decided to run out yesterday and take some photos cause the weather was gorgeous--finally! When I took these pics I was too excited to wait and the fair committee is equally excited with the results. They said it looks like a Georgia O'Keefe! But my husband wants me to say that he made the same comment first!

Gilding the lily

Took this photo this morning of a water lily in the park near my house. We are having an art fair here in the fall and I am designing the cover of the program. Really think I have to use this. I just love it! It's God's art in the park.... I may also make cards, notecards and prints from it. Doesn't really go with my Sign Language letters but I'll just have to take a detour.....

Besides finding this photo, I received good news this morning! Somerset Memories called and they are going to use my submission of Marian's Memories–a book of my mom's memories of growing up in St. Louis–as a featured article in their Dec issue! See my July 22 post for a picture of the book. Now I have to write the article explaining the ideas behind it and the techniques I used. This will be my first article so it's pretty exciting.

Artstravaganza

Since I became a juried member of the Best of Missouri hands this past June, I am now eligble to be in the Artravaganza show, October 24-26, at the St. Louis Artists Guild. Just got an e-mail that I will be on the second floor. Wanted to be on the first, but I guess since I am a newbie, I am relegated to the second.... But on the list, I did see names of some ladies that I have met before so that will be nice to see them again. One is a jeweler that I met at a VERY slow show last fall and she is one of the people who talked to me about BOMH! Her name is Mary Barge Hoar and her beautiful jewelry can be seen on her website at www.charming-designs.com You can also see her featured artist page at BOMH. The other is a lady that I have talked to at shows many times in the past and I love her hand-made snowmen! I try to buy one every year that I see her booth, but sometimes it is hard to buy just one! Her name is Gail Kelley, and if you've seen her snowmen I guarantee you love them! Her work can be seen on the Best of Missouri hands featured artist page.

So I am not going to whine that I am on the second floor! I am just going to pray that there is a great crowd and they don't forget to look up!