Thoughts to ponder

                                                                       "Inner journey"

This is another watercolor expressing the inner life.  I am pondering the various voices which would try to get our attention as we go about our lives.  The voice that is often the loudest,  (ego), reminds us to look out for ourselves, to fear the unknown.  The quieter voice, which we can only hear when we are quiet, says we are all connected to our loving source, trust this Presence, share what we are
given. This is the source of our peace and joy.  We make the choice which voice to listen to, whether we are aware or not. 

Thoughtful Artworks

"Whispers of Soul"

This is a water media collage containing certain words and phrases expressing my thoughts regarding the inner life.  These meaningful artworks often reveal something new which gives me fresh insight into life.  Sometimes they are reminders of truth I already know yet have forgotten.  It is indeed true that we need frequent times of stillness and quietness in order to listen deeply to soul.  This is our peace and our joy.

Encore Exhibition

"Patterns"

Fused glass on metal assemblage

It has been a while since I added to this blog...life stuff does interfere!  The above image shows another glass on metal assemblage recently completed.  The title is "patterns", but it is also about different textures.  I enjoyed moving the pieces around until balance and harmony was met.  I have been told this piece looks very complicated,  but that is because of the variety of patterns and textures involved.  when I do an assemblage with such variety I have to remain aware of keeping balance and unity, otherwise chaos reigns.  Artists as creators live on the edge of chaos for this is where the creative fire is aflame.  This fine line is where we are happiest and creativity flows.  We are co-creators and are happy because we are with the flow of life.

I have watercolor weavings  on exhibit as part of a 13 artist show at the Nagel Warren mansion in Cheyenne.  These are watercolors in which I explored various techniques, or which were unsatisfactory on completion   They were given new life by cutting up and weaving together.  There is always something we can do to improve  artwork.  See the poster above.

43 Human Dramas

Glass on copper assemblage

Enameling, (glass fused to metal by means of intense heat), was my first serious art medium.  The idea of putting glass grains on copper and fusing them by heat,  and to watch the colors emerge as the piece cooled was utterly fascinating!  It is still fascinating after 40 years working with this ancient art form.  I have explored many of the traditional techniques of enameling; cloisonne, champleve, plique a jour, basse taille, etc.  Today I am interested in the relationship between enamel- copper- heat, especially using firescale,( copper oxide formed as the copper is heated).  I can use just one enamel color and get a range of other colors by the use of firescale.  the glass on copper assemblage in this post utilizes this property.  I had a lot of fun in the process of this wall piece.  It has received several awards in art shows.

Paper making

                                                                         "Rock Stories 1"
                                                                        paper pulp painting

The handmade paper making workshop I presented a couple of weeks ago has sparked off ideas to develop more fully.  This is one of the delightful gifts in life; we can't help others without also receiving gifts ourselves. There was a delightful playful spirit with all of us in the workshop, and maybe new ideas are incubating in others, also.  it was a real joy to share this fascinating medium.

                                             
                                                  playing and exploring with paper making

Paper pulp painting

I am back  home after a wonderful weekend attending the Society of Layerists in Multi media 30th. conference.  This art society consists of a few hundred artists who are interested in the interconnectedness of all life, things of the Spirit, Consciousness, the sacred mystery of this human dimension.  See www.slmm.org

                                                                             "Out of rock"
                                                                          paper pulp painting
We met in Taos, New Mexico, the weather was glorious,  and there was a light and joyful sense of belonging throughout the members present.  I presented a handmade paper-making workshop which was fun to prepare  and was well received by attendees who played with paper-making and explored this fantastic medium.  I have no doubt new ideas are already being nourished in the minds of these gifted artists of the spirit.

"An Ancient Song" 

Here is another mixed media artwork with a poem I wrote during a time I was really aware of the Oneness  of all life.  During my morning meditation there was a brief second when the veil hiding the mystery of life was lifted, and this poem was the result......  The art work came a few years later.  There was deep joy in completing this artwork.