hair-do ladies

"Red" 12x12 Acrylic and collage on panel

It's all about the hair.
I've been having the best time creating these portraits. Acrylic painted faces and collaged hair and brows using the paper I made with the Gelli Plate. Reproductions of them will soon be in a hair salon! Perfect, right?
Actually the series came about from a conversation with a friend of mine that owns a salon... he was looking for artwork after a re-model and had seen this older painting-

"Is My Hair too Blue?" acrylic and collage on paper (sold)

We decided that a series of "hair-do ladies" would be fun salon art... Can't wait to see it placed!

vince

Vince ~ 4x4 acrylic, fabric and stitching

I think I'm keeping this one...He will be my guardian muse angel....for the studio. :)

precious

"Precious" ~ 4x4 Acrylic, fabric, stitching

Any "No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency" fans out there? While she doesn't really resemble Mma Precious Ramotswe... she reminds me of her. Here's more about the series if you're interested...
I'm still having fun with these teeny tiny made up portraits... I'll have to do some manly angels soon, I think.

hannah

Hannah ~ 4x4 acrylic, collage, stitching

She seems so sweet to me.... and not just because of her halo.

norah

Norah....see the shiny bits?

Norah ~ Acrylic, fabric, stitching

I slopped some hair color onto the pristine white paper background... so I decided to try colored backgrounds to cover up my mess. I like it! I stitched the wings and then painted some iridescent medium on them.
It's interesting to me that they seem to develop personalities as I refine their features.

sara

"Sara" 4x4 acrylic, fabric, stitching

Having fun with these....Trying to figure out how to frame them to their best advantage.

they walk among us

4x4 inches... acrylic, fabric, stitching on watercolor paper

In my daily travels, I come across lots of Every Day Angels... trying to celebrate them.

the gang's all here

Lots of little collages all lined up and ready to go

I have framers fingers... lots of picture wire was tied and cut today. These wee beauties will be available at Synchronicity Gallery in Glen Arbor, MI.....other than the two that have sold since I posted this picture on Facebook. (Thanks!)

caution tape

Caution Tape 6x6 Acrylic Collage with stitching

I stole this title. From our youngest son's new song... of the same title. The song is not yet mastered or mixed... if it was I would definitely share.

paper quilting

Paper Quilt 6 6x6 Acrylic collage and stitching

Slightly new direction..... Still playing with the paper printed with the Gelli Plate!

gazing

Gazing 6x6 Acrylic Collage with stitching

I think I'm out of that gorgeous turquoise paper... Time to use the Gelli Plate again... So much fun.

sunbeams

Sunbeams 6x6 Acrylic Collage and stitching

Still at it..... Cutting. Pasting. Sewing. Mini bits of fun.

a good egg

A Good Egg 6x6 Acrylic Collage with Stitching

Slipping into a more vibrant palette.... A bit circus-y?

cabana

Cabana 6x6 Acrylic, Collage, Stitching,

Still using the reams of paper I made using the Gelli Plate. I'm enjoying this process...It's a nice combination of painting, collage and quilting-ish. Some of these will be available at Synchronicity Gallery in Glen Arbor, MI this season.

true confessions

Lake View 2 12x12 collage this is where it is at the moment.....trying to salvage. I'm not sure if I'm done or not...I'm mad at myself.

Where it was yesterday.... after I had the bright idea mid painting, to turn it into a landscape. Geesh.

One of my constant struggles in painting is having an idea or concept, and sticking with it. The smart thing to do when these "other" ideas come up is to write them down and try them on the next painting. Stay the course. But if I'm the least bit distracted.... I veer off course into another idea. 

The trouble with this, for me anyway, is 

1. I never complete the original idea...which is sometimes a good one.

2. Because the base of the second idea is on top of a different idea...it's not a good solid place to start.

I've been lazy. 

The best way to stop this flighty behavior is to actually write the concept down on tape or a post it...and have it right near my palette. 

To remember the WHY I'm painting this in the first place. 

Where's that sticky note pad?

construction site

Construction Site 6x6 Acrylic Collage

I love the smell of sawdust...I'd wear it as a perfume.

balance

'Balance' 6x6 Acrylic collage

Wish it was as easy to achieve in life as it is in collage...... I'm balance challenged.

northern lights

'Northern Lights' 6x6 Acrylic Collage with stitching

Still playing cut and paste and sew with the Gelli Plate papers that I made....You'll be seeing these for a while... I made LOTS of paper. :-)

Muse

"Muse" 6x6 Acrylic Collage with stitching

Still snipping, gluing, stitching... I could stay in the studio for a really long time doing these.

mini collage...with stitching

"No Plan At All" Acrylic collage with stitching 6x6

"Sky At Night" Acrylic Collage with stitching 6x6

I've been in the studio... almost exclusively. I occasionally emerge...blinking.

I've been making papers using the "Gelli Plate". It's a bouncy rubbery gelatin-like substance that allows you to make mono prints with-out a press. I'm addicted! Now I'm trying to use all these amazing  papers I've made.