3.2.08

My Creative Journey: Making a Valentine

“How do you come up with ideas, and how do you figure out how to turn the idea into a tangible object?” I’ve been ask that frequently and it’s difficult to answer! To help answer the question, you’re going to come along with me during the process while I create a piece of art. The Flying M, a local coffee shop invites local artists to create and donate a piece of art for their annual “Valentines for Aids” fund-raiser. I’ve participated for the past six years.

Day one: I’ve been thinking about love (suitable subject for a Valentine project don’t you think?) and the natural phases people go through. Looking for love, falling in love, being frightened about falling in love, the blissful part, not-wanting-to-be-in-love-anymore, and well, you get the picture. It’s risky to put yourself out there. What if nobody wants you? What if you get hurt? That’s it --the risk of love! So, how can I show that?

Day two: Being in love is a great feeling – like you’re walking on air or flying. Love is risky business too – it can be fleeting and scary like driving down the interstate holding onto a balloon outside your window. Poof! It’s gone. Some ideas are starting to take hold. I want to convey the great feelings along with the tension associated with taking risks.

Day three: Clean out box - scrape, sand, the worn parts. I’m going to use balloons as a major part of this piece so I think a sky background will be just the ticket. Paint the background w/blue, purple, and black and carve out stars with a very high-tech artist tool -- a wooden skewer.

Day four: Cover sides w/ red hand-printed paper that contrasts nicely with the deep blue background. I use “Yes” glue – the best glue in the world for paper.
Day five: I dig through my studio looking for objects of inspiration. I realize I’ll have to construct my own balloons so I cut out several heart shapes from a piece of form-core.

Day six: Modge-podge the form-core with old music, and vintage dictionary pages. In order to make them 3-D I stuffed a bit of paper inside as I was layering. Then I typed the title “Inspired Risk #1” on my old typewriter and inserted it in a tiny vintage metal piece, covering it w/ melted beeswax.

Day seven: Glue vintage printer X’s and O’s along with old game pieces and dice on the top of the box. I use E-6000 which is pretty toxic so I glue fast, and get out of the studio!
Day eight: This is tricky because I’m working with a tiny mannequin that’s made to move into different poses! I get the humanoid into a pose and glue it down only to have it un-pose itself! Finally it stays put and once again, I get out quick.

Day nine: Nothing says “risk” like falling off a ledge into a bed of nails! I drill holes in the bottom of the box and tap in nails – pointy side up. I attach thin wire to the balloons and glue them to the box. So they appear to float, I glue a wooden block behind them. I also glue the title piece on and hit the road.
Day ten: Is this done yet?? It may seem like a lot of days, but the actual time spent on a piece is between 9 and 20 hours. There’s a lot of down time -- waiting for stain/paint/glue/modge-podge to dry.

My idea of wrapping the wire around the hands to make it look like the figure is holding the balloons is NOT working. I get out my trusty drill and make holes in both hands to thread the wire through. It looks awesome! I play around with the wire so it appears natural and then curl the ends. Finally I put a dot of glue to hold the wire on the hands and it’s done!
Inspired Risk #1
10 x 18 x 2

February 3: Today I delivered the finished assemblage to The Flying M. They usually have about 250 artists contribute pieces which are then displayed in the shop. For about a week the public can bid on their favorites via silent auction sheets. The money raised benefits SNAP – Safety Net for Aids Program. If you live around Boise then head down and bid!


Spring Aspens
Inspired by a little clump of Aspen trees nestled into a hillside between Ketchum and Boise. 16 x 20 x 2. Acrylic on wood panel. 250. Sorry, this one is sold!
Board Ranch
Painted from a photograph taken North of Ketchum, Idaho close to where the original homestead was located, and where I once lived. 24 x 36. Acrylic on board. $500. Sold, private collection.

Grace
Assemblage with vintage children's blocks, keys, and kitchen utensils inside antique wooden box. 10 x 16 x 2. $200. Sorry this one is sold.
All Things Will Come
I created this piece for a very special person who is studying Japanese and philosophy at USD in California.
24 x 36, acrylic on board with vintage oriental paper.

15.1.08

By The River
Cottonwood trees line the Big Wood River in Ketchum, Idaho. Painted on wood panel. 24 x 24 x 2. $300. Sorry this one is sold!
Fairfield
Painted from a photo taken out my car window by Fairfield, Idaho. The sky felt so big that day! Wood panel: 24 x 24 x 2.
Sorry this one is sold!

13.1.08


Truth & Justice
Ornate & rare carved vintage box with porcelain angel holding the word "truth" for all to see; old book & watch parts, game pieces, vintage pressed metal, jewelry & other things Canadian born Victoria loves. 9 x 14 x 2. Commissioned. $200. This one resides in Australia.

12.1.08

Reflection Canyon
Returning sound waves and light from canyon walls outside Boise inspired this piece.
24 x 24 x 2 Acrylic,antique paper on wood panel. $200.00

Our Lady of Safe Travel

Antique love letters, foreign stamps, exotic trinkets, vintage jewelry, antique dollhead.

13 x 20 x 2 collage box, $175.00

Our Lady of Everyday Miracles

Miracles happen in the most mundane places -- say, like the kitchen where fabulous food is prepared, the laundry room where clothes emerge clean and folded. You get the idea. Antique procelain doll head, clothes pins, kitchen utensils, etc.

12 x 20 x 2, Collage box, $200. Sorry, this one is sold!

Corvus Genus

The Crow is thought to bring good luck and is pictured holding the world in his beak.

Acrylic on canvas , 16 x 20 x 2. $200. Sorry this one is sold!

Our Lady of Impossible Gardens

Vintage seed packets, combined with twigs, antique porcelain doll head, vintage jewelry and game pieces -- after all the perfect garden is a gamble!

10 x 20 x 2 Collage Box, $200.00

11.1.08


Our Lady of Infinite Potential

Everybody has it, but sometimes you need a bit of a push! There's still time to get in the race and become the queen you know you are inside. Antique rake, porcelain dollhead, game pieces, watch faces, tucked into a vintage box papered with real estate documents.

12 x 20 x 2. Collage Box. $200.00 Sorry this one is sold!

Our Lady of Trophy Wives

A fitting tribute for the perfect wife. All the appropriate accoutrements: vintage Monopoly money, trophy, soldiers trumpeting praise and crystals galore.

11 x 20 x 2 Collage box. $200.00

The Secret
Vintage porcelain angel, book parts, jewlery, game pieces, gold rim glasses, and antique doll head tucked into a fabulous ancient box--all add up to ask, believe & recieve.
Collage Box 8 x 16 x 2. $200.00. Sorry, this one is sold!

Every Day is an Adventure!
Client's personal collateral including school reports, antique maps, photos.
20 x 11 x 2. Private collection.

The Measure of Love

Assemblage with antique paper, found objects, real 4-leaf clover, and gold foil.
Collage box, 7 x 11 x 2. 175.00 Sorry, this one is sold.

This Little Piggie

Collage box, 8 x 12 x 2. Assemblage of antique music paper, vintage game pieces with hand stamping.

150.00 Sorry this one is sold.