The Art Factory

Working on New Bannor and Logo for The Art Factory

I am house cleaning all of my sites right now. My blog needs a face lift .  Here is the new bannor  along with a very rough draft for a new logo.  Let me know what you think.  The logo is not finished will probably make it look like a factory  but not sure. 

 

Spring

What a wonderful day to just get out and do something.  There is so much green out there.  I was beginning to think we would only see white and be shoveling till June.  I love hanging wash on the line.  It always smells so good.  I hope Spring is here to stay!!

I was struck at how green the moss and grasses are at this time of year.  I think I saw a Leprechaun!

My chicks and Hens and Hosta is starting to emerge.

Hanging up wash always makes me feel good.

Isis decided she likes the snow and the shade better than the heat!

Snow Snow Snow

Well once again the white stuff is taking over the East Coast..  This is a cold wet snow that sticks to everything especially the back of your neck.  You shovel it and it just keeps growing.  It is beautiful. I tried to get outback to feed the birds but gave up and just threw the seeds on the ground.  They will find it.  Lots of cardinals out in the yard, hiding in the trees and bushes. The trees are layered in fluffy white snow. Great for downing power lines and splitting tree branches.  My dog is now sleeping after a fun morning in the snow.  She loves it.  I am ready for Spring! This is a great day for cleaning, crafting and just being lazy!!!!!

Blizzard 2010

The snow itself is beautiful but the clean up is not! My dog loved it, jumping over banks of snow and frightening birds and small animals.  She had way too much fun. She is sleeping now.  After shoveling around 6am I started to take some pictures. Hope to get out and take some more.  Working on several art pieces, will be posting those soon. 

This was some sun flower seed pods covered in snow. I loved the colors that came out when I worked with it in photoshop. It reminds me of a winter sunset.

Could not figure out why my one boot had snow on it and the other did not. It was a snowy wet day.

This was another seed pod from flowers past.  I like the brown, gold, and orange hues. 

This is a wagon that I use when I am gardening. I hang it up on the porch to keep it dry. Thought the colors were interesting.

Here are my bushes covered in snow. 

My puppies friend came to visit.  They had fun in the snow.

I have come to the conclusion, snow is for the dogs! Hope everyone is safe, warm and at home tonight!

Feeding the birds.

I enjoy looking at the birds in winter.  I can remember when my children were young we would keep our eyes open for different species of birds that might happen past. We had nut trees all around the neighborhood and woodpeckers loved to visit. I wish I could be more simple.

"I hold three treasures close to my heart The first is love, The next simplicity, The third,overcoming ego."

LAOTZU

I think the birds are going to love the suet. I found some great dried flowers and green ivy on my way to the bird feeder. 

Trying to find my way.

Trying to get an idea for a new Threadless competition.  Artist block comes and goes and the harder we push the harder it pushes back.  I think it is important to remember how small and free we are. I came across a reading in The Essence of TAO An Anthology of Quotations, published by The Five Mile Press and compiled by Maggie Pinkney, that seemed to sum it up. This quote was written by LAO TZU writter of The Tao Te Ching.

"Something infinite, older than heaven and earth, silent, solitary, and vast. Eternal, unchanging, yet ever evolving throughout ten thousand things.  Not knowing its name, I call it Tao."

Sometimes it's ok to be small and filled with the mysteries of the world.  

I like the way this turned out.  Now I have to get back to my original project!

Think Spring

Trying to work while living with a three year old husky!

I have so many projects that I need to get started today.  I need to clean out my art studio, get my Threadless submission started and prepare for my New Pee Wee Karate class, starting today.  My problem is I have a crazy 3 yr. old Husky named Isis.  She wants loved and played with all day long.  She is under my chair at the moment.  The only reason I am actually on the computer and typing is that I found a new trick in the treat department.  We get her doggy chips that are dry and not very exciting.  She loves cheese!!!! I decided to combine the two.  I pressed a slice of cheese  on both sides of the chip treat and placed it in the microwave for about 06sec. till it was bubbling a little bit.  I then placed the plate with the cheese chip in the freezer for around a min. to cool down.  She loved it! She has now moved to the sofa and is taking a nap.  Now I have to get going with all of my tasks for the day.  We will see what I get done. That is if she is really napping.
 

I agree Bob. I think I have to keep looking for just the right picture and theme. It is always difficult to create a self portrait. It is like creating a visual resume of yourself. It is always painful but fun.

Working with Photoshop for Photo Album

Today I came home from work and crashed.  Think I might have the flu.  Thought I would work a bit on layers and textures with Photoshop CS3.  I used two photos I took of roses and my daughters picture.  Hope she does not mind.  Did several layers different shades and opacity to come out with the shade I liked. I then worked with the eraser and brush to add and take away the black smudges, to give it a distressed look.  I added the flower layers and worked with the opacity on each rose and also erased parts and added smudges to give a distressed feel. I then made a new layer with my daughters cut out. I like it so far.  I think this is a good beginning. I am still working a bit with making my own brushes.  Sometimes they work and sometimes they do not.

Dog Toy

My dog is driving me crazy.  She has ripped up her dog pillow and she is bouncing from one sofa to the other.  I decided she needed a new toy.  I drew a bone shape in illustrator and photoshop printed it out and laminated it.  Cut the fleece material using the bone pattern and chain stitched it leaving a hole to stuff the bone.  I cut several pieces of old sheet and stuffed it into the bone and pulled some of the sheet material out of the small holes I cut into the fleece.  Finished stitching it and gave it to my pup.  She does not eat material she just likes to pull it out and shred it.  What a nut. She had so much fun she is now taking a nap. Now onto the wash.