There is nothing like a dream to create the future. ~ Victor Hugo
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Feeling Symmetrical
I've been doodling little graphic motifs in my spare time. I don't really have any purpose for them, they just go into my archive of flourishes. Here are a couple from this week. I'm thinking that they might make nice little boxes or bags. Must ponder, Marilyn.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Ink and Brush Work
Last night was cold and rainy. It was a nice night to be indoors where it is warm.
My fascination with flower patterns continues so I painted this.
It's good to try new things, don't you think? My friend JR talked about "skating in the middle" When he took up rollerskating most of the people just went around in the outside edges in one direction, but the cool kids would dance and do tricks in the middle. At first he thought he would never be able to do that but after a while there he was spinning and groovin' with the best of them. Now whenever he needs to learn something new or take on a challenge he thinks back on that learning experience.
How about you? Are you an autodidactic? Do you like to learn new things? What new skill or hobby have you taught yourself?
"It's good to be creative!"
Warm thoughts, Marilyn.
--
The things that one most wants to do
are the things that are probably most worth doing.
My fascination with flower patterns continues so I painted this.
It's good to try new things, don't you think? My friend JR talked about "skating in the middle" When he took up rollerskating most of the people just went around in the outside edges in one direction, but the cool kids would dance and do tricks in the middle. At first he thought he would never be able to do that but after a while there he was spinning and groovin' with the best of them. Now whenever he needs to learn something new or take on a challenge he thinks back on that learning experience.
How about you? Are you an autodidactic? Do you like to learn new things? What new skill or hobby have you taught yourself?
"It's good to be creative!"
Warm thoughts, Marilyn.
--
The things that one most wants to do
are the things that are probably most worth doing.
~ Winifred Holtby
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.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Book Report
I'm a sucker for buying old books on eBay, especially ones on arts and crafts. I got this little beauty a couple of days ago.
It's full of wonderful instructions of things to make with paper. That's the good news. The bad news was that most of the color prints in the back of the book had been torn out. What good is an art book with no pictures? Not to be daunted I tried to see if I could figure out how to do some of the techniques just from the directions. This is what I have so far. It's been fun to puzzle out the process.
When was the last time you learned something new? What was it? I did this print with a little paper stencil. The book really emphasized the space between the motifs.
Wishing you the right amount of space. :-)
Marilyn.
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Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em, 'Certainly I can!'
Then get busy and find out how to do it.
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.
It's full of wonderful instructions of things to make with paper. That's the good news. The bad news was that most of the color prints in the back of the book had been torn out. What good is an art book with no pictures? Not to be daunted I tried to see if I could figure out how to do some of the techniques just from the directions. This is what I have so far. It's been fun to puzzle out the process.
When was the last time you learned something new? What was it? I did this print with a little paper stencil. The book really emphasized the space between the motifs.
Wishing you the right amount of space. :-)
Marilyn.
.
.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em, 'Certainly I can!'
Then get busy and find out how to do it.
~ Theodore Roosevelt
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Friday, January 8, 2010
What are your priorities?
How was your first week of the new year? So far so good here, nothing surprising has happened yet. I'm trying to acquire a few new good habits like drinking more water and reading more books. This year's had more "a dip the toe into the water" sort of start. I have piles upon stacks of things I need/must/want to do but what should I do? What is going to be best for me, my family and my career? Oh, ponder, ponder, ponder...
On thing that helped with all this ponderage, was to do a ten minute list. It's easy, get a piece a paper and for ten minutes write down all your possibilities and choices. My list had everything on it from "finish the books I'm working on", to "try out new recipes." Then take a highlighter and make the five or so things that are the most important. For me, making good books and taking care of my family are my highest priorities. I also have a bunch o paper toys that I'd like to make. I'd also like to do a half a million other things too but I need to pick and choose.
How about you? What are your priorities? What new things would you like to learn this year?
Let's get crackin'!
Marilyn.
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Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful.
Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path.
You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging,
only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.~ Sir Winston Churchill
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Sunday, January 3, 2010
Ducks, Hearts and Bugs
Some kind and generous person sent me a gift card to Art Supply Warehouse. There wasn't a name included in the envelope so I'm at loss as who to thank for such a thoughtful gift. This did not stop me from trotting down and spending it. Nope, not for a minute, art supplies are the siren call of every artist I know.
Most of the work that I do doesn't take more than pencil and paper, scissors and glue. But I still love wandering up and down every aisle, mooning over Winsor & Newton paint boxes and inks. I bought a cutting map, new exacto blades, four bottles of Daler and Browney pearlescent ink and some new drawing pencils. (Staedler Mars Lumograph 2B and 4B if you are curious, the kind that my friend Bob Singer uses.) The cutting matt allowed me to try some more intricate cutting techniques, so I made these...
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What is your art supply vice? What makes you swoon? What item do you have too many of but can't resist? (Mine is rulers.)
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Wishing you a creative week!
Marilyn.
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--
There is an artist within each person, and everybody has the capacity to find creative genius in themselves.
~ Annette Moser-Wellman
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Most of the work that I do doesn't take more than pencil and paper, scissors and glue. But I still love wandering up and down every aisle, mooning over Winsor & Newton paint boxes and inks. I bought a cutting map, new exacto blades, four bottles of Daler and Browney pearlescent ink and some new drawing pencils. (Staedler Mars Lumograph 2B and 4B if you are curious, the kind that my friend Bob Singer uses.) The cutting matt allowed me to try some more intricate cutting techniques, so I made these...
.
.
.
.
What is your art supply vice? What makes you swoon? What item do you have too many of but can't resist? (Mine is rulers.)
.
Wishing you a creative week!
Marilyn.
.
--
There is an artist within each person, and everybody has the capacity to find creative genius in themselves.
~ Annette Moser-Wellman
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.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Tiger goes on an Adventure
This is Tiger. She is going for a walk in the forest.
There will be squirrels and trolls. There will be other tigers too.
What do you think will happen?
Perhaps Tiger will find something new. Perhaps Tiger will make some new friends.
,
What do you think will happen next?
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Marilyn.
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"Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It's your place in the world; it's your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live." --Mae Jemison...
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