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This is another digital painting based on a photograph of our dog, Budz.

I first did a sketch based on a photograph in a fashion magazine.  I then scanned the drawing into Photoshop and used a wet brush to create the background. In the process, I painted right over a hand.

I then digitally repainted the dress, adjusted the colors, sketched in a suggested hand, removed the green area from the right, and extended the background area. I was going to entirely redraw the arm and hand behind the head, but decided instead to stop.

Another version with more vibrancy on the color.

A couple drawings from my sketchbook.  Both are based on images from a fashion magazine.  I enjoy sketching, and one goal this year is making an effort to do it on a more regular basis.

The other thing I’ve been doing is adding hand stitching to my Artifications quilt.  I exhibited the quilt this past fall in Houston.  However, the quilt kept calling for hand stitches to follow some of the curved secondary patterns in the design.  I thus removed the hanging sleeve and part of the facing and have been hand stitching it with red variegated perle cotton thread.

I made this one for my niece.  :)

by Julia Triston and Rachel Lombard

When I first read this title, “How to be Creative in Textile Art,” I sort of rolled my eyes.  Was a single book really going to cover that broad of a topic?  However, I then saw the book was published by Batsford, meaning excellent work coming out of England, and I gave it a try.  Wow, this book did not disappoint!

The first thing I noticed was the feel of the book. It’s cloth covered, but hard bound, and it is very nice on the fingers. Better still is the content. I love looking at sketchbooks, especially those that show the visual growth of ideas into their eventual fiber form, and this book is loaded with them.

The first main section of the book is called gathering. It covers ideas on how to use a sketchbook for selecting a theme and setting boundaries within that theme; and it continues on with collecting information, recording, evaluating, putting order to your project, sketching, stitching samples, and so on. You’re encouraged to gather and explore everything that you think may be relevant to your project.

The three other main parts of the book are exploration and development (which goes through design development); moving on to stitch (with more ideas, samples, and experiments); and making and evaluating (finalizing your design and creating you textile). There are also some health and safety info, a glossary, further reading, organizations, suppliers, and an index.

The sketchbook above, called the Lion Sketchbook by Rachel Lombard, contain textures that were created with plaster, threads, dripped candle wax, and plastics.  Wow!

Authors Julia Triston and Rachel Lombard, two artists and teachers, share several of their processes from ideas through finished work.  The result is a book that is more than just eye candy; it’s some serious food for creative thought. Highly recommended!

Sue Bleiweiss
Jane Davila
Jamie Fingal
Gloria Hansen
Leslie Tucker Jenison
Liz Kettle
Carol Sloan
Kathyanne White

I’m excited to start the new year with being part of a new group of talented artists from different areas of the country.  In addition to supporting each other in our individual artistic journeys, we hope to provide inspiration to others through our group exhibitions, publications, website, and blog.  We’re are all excited about our group and we’re looking forward to sharing our journey with everyone.

The thing about a digital file is that you can keep altering and altering and altering.  With fresh morning eyes I did this version, which I like best.

This evening while watching the Giants win over the Cowboys, I did a quick pencil sketch of my dog, Bud-z.  While I like his head, I have issues with other areas.  Rather than toss it, or try to change it, I decided to scan it into Photoshop and see what I could do with it.

I used the custom shape tool to create a patterned background on the top.  I also used it to create the checker board pattern on the floor.  I then added a wash of lavender color to different areas.

The version on the above left uses a watercolor filter, and I punched up the color.  In the version of the right, I added back some of the detail in the dog and some additional color in the pattered background.

Next I added a frame, adjusted the colors.  On the right, I adjusted the colors again.  This gets addictive!

Who stole these Slingerland Silver Sparkle drums???

My older brother, Bob, is a musician who lives in San Marcos, California.  On the 23rd of December, while he was home, someone went into his garage and stole his 1965 vintage set of Slingerland drums  from a storage cabinet!!  It’s bad enough to have your home violated and possessions stolen, but at Christmas time makes it even more sad.  Plus, this wasn’t just a set of drums; this was a piece of his musical history. For a complete description of what was taken, read his ad on Craigslist here.

Bob says, “It is a well-known fact among drummers that pre-1966 Slingerland made in Niles, IL, such as my dearly departed, are legendary and considered the “holy grail” of drums. They were the same drums as played by Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa, many other renowned guys. Back then they were considered the best drums you could buy. Mine were in such fine condition, perfect really and made jaws drop. Often other drummers or people would come up to me at gigs to say “those are the BEST sounding set of drums I’ve ever heard!!”

If you’ve seen these drums, please contact the San Marcos Sheriff at 760-510-5200 or let me know so that I can pass along the information.  If you are the grinch those stole these drums, please return them to their home.

Here’s an article from the San Marcos North County Times posted December 29, 2011.

Happy Holidays!

The above is the digital painting I did of my friend’s dog, Molly, as a present.

Here’s one I did of our dog, Bud-Z.

Sandy from California!  Sandy, you won a copy of Jill Berry’s Personal Geographies, Explorations in Mixed-Media Map Making book. I wrote you in email and hopefully you’ll email me your address so that the publisher can send you a copy of Jill’s book.  I was torn among several comments, but Sandy I loved that you would want to, in part, honor your great-aunt who owned a knitting store.  I can only hope that one day my one of my great nieces would want to remember me in such a loving way.  Sandy, I hope to hear from you soon!

Thank you everyone for sharing your comments.  I hope you consider purchasing Jill’s book and making your hand map.  If you do, please do be sure to share a photo of it with me and Jill.

“You don’t have to be a world traveler or a professional cartographer to embark on a grand journey of self-discovery through map making. Personal Geographies gives you the tools and techniques you’ll need to create artful maps of your self, your experiences and your personal journey. Chart the innermost workings of your mind, document your artistic path and create an unfolding maze of your future dreams and goals.”

So say Jill Berry, the engaging author of Personal Geographies, Explorations in Mixed-Media Map Making.   In this full color, 144 page book published by North Light Books, Jill takes you on a journey of making artful and expressive maps of your self, of your experiences, and of your plans, projections, and possibilities.  It’s an intriguing approach to exploration of not only the world around you but the world within you.

There are 21 map-related projects throughout the book that feature a variety of mixed media techniques.  There are flip book maps and post card journals, maps that explore different memoirs of life events, such as vacations or holiday memories, and maps that chart your perfect place.  A nice touch are the maps and their stories from 17 contributors.

I was particularly drawn to the hand map. The project focuses on a “collage of your hand using imagery that symbolizes people or places that have contributed to what you do with your hands.”  I immediately thought about the people in my life who have encouraged me to use my hands in artistic ways like my dear aunt who did exquisite and complex crochet patterns using the finest thread and multiple needles and my father who was a musician and enjoyed sketching. What would I collage together to create such a map?  What might you?

What would you include on your hand map?

If you’d like a chance to win a copy of Jill’s book, leave a comment telling me what you would include  on your hand map.  On Saturday, December 10, 2011, I will pick a winner from the comments and the book publisher will send a copy of Jill’s book directly to you!

If you want to increase your chances of winning a copy of the book, check out these blogs, also offering a copy of the book:
Friday, Nov 25    Aimee Myers Dolich
Mon Nov 28         Carla Sonheim
Tues Nov 29         Diana Trout
Thurs Dec 1          Gwen Diehn
Friday Dec 2         Jane LaFazio
Monday Dec 5      Judy Wise
Tues Dec 6            Lisa Engelbrecht 
Weds Dec 7           Lyric Kinard  
Thurs Dec 8          Orly Avineri
Friday Dec 9         Tracie Lyn Huskamp

If you don’t want to wait until the 10th, you can go to this post on Jill’s site, scroll towards the bottom, and learn how you can get 35% off of the retail price from now until December 9th. You can also buy a signed copy directly from Jill at the same site.