how i spent my day....

cemetery images taken at st.ferdinand and sacred heart
cemeteries. florissant & st.charles,missouri.
i will use these images to create atc's for an upcoming
art-e-zine swap,i futzed around a little in photoshop with
them,but my plan is to alter (not altar ;) these manually.
i really enjoyed seeking out and photographing these gorgeous
statues....nothing compares to their beauty and purpose.
i will post the finished atc's in a few days...

are you a HSP? i am

i subscribed to this newsletter awhile ago
after my friend,pat,gave it such a glowing
recommendation...all of these have been right
on the money,but this one has particularly
...truly hit close to home,it is a bit wordy,
but well worth reading...take a minute

"Highly Sensitive Persons "
June 28, 2005
"Dear Denise,
This letter is a bit more difficult to write because it
hits close to home. Apparently 15 percent of the general
population are what psychologists now call
"Highly Sensitive Persons," or HSPs. Among creative types
the percentage is much higher. In part, it's the sensitivity
that makes us creative. Carl Jung suggested that we are
just introverted, shy or depressed. Recent research
indicates that HSPs are genetically programmed to be that
way. Getting rid of the condition would be like changing our
eye colour. HSPs have valuable assets that have traditionally
been given a bum rap by the not-so-sensitive majority. Highly
sensitive persons often grow up feeling they're outsiders.
We are easily hurt, stressed, frazzled and overwhelmed.
The worst afflicted don't like loud noises, crowds, ruckus
or confrontation. We are known to shut doors on others.
On the positive side, we hear, see and feel more, and have
more empathy than regular folks. Often loners, we have
vivid dreams and keen imaginations. So what's the problem?
The trouble is that we often live and work with a sense that we
are flawed. And what we do or create tends also to be seen by
us as flawed. Much of the obsessive perfectionism in art comes
from this source. Also, as HSPs, we tend to withdraw into the
processes of our work. Withdrawal increases sensitivity.
Psychologist Elaine Aron, a leading authority on HSP, and an
HSP herself, says: "We are extra-sensitive when the time comes
to show our work, perform it, explain it, sell it, read reviews of it,
and accept rejection or acclaim." This is a central dilemma for
many artists: "How do I manifest my innate sensitivity in a
not-so-sensitive world?"There are many ways. One of the
handiest is the simple realization that many we interact with
are not so sensitive--dealers and even collectors, for example.
They may not know or admit it, but they couldn't get along
without our sensitivity. They need us. And we need them. A
sensitive person needs to learn how to interact in this lop-sided
world. Humour and playfulness are valuable. So is immersing
oneself in the history of art and artists. The timeless brotherhood
and sisterhood of art (which includes other HSPs) gives us a
sense of community and a philosophic balance. The knowledge
derived from like-minded companionship gives a feeling of
"I'm okay--you're okay." More than that, one finds that the
world needs more HSPs--these days, more than ever.
Best regards,Robert
PS: "There is an aristocracy of the sensitive. They represent
the true human tradition of permanent victory over cruelty
and chaos." (E. M. Forster, "What I Believe")Esoterica: For
the current clickback I've asked Andrew to put up Elaine Aron's
self-test for sensitivity. You can do it yourself in less than three
minutes. I thoroughly recommend her book
"The Highly Sensitive Person." It's a thoughtful and gently
written insight based on her 25 years of counseling and therapy
with artists and others in her San Francisco practice. As well as
HSP facts, health issues, relationship considerations and tips
on following your sensitive bliss, Aron gives solid, no-nonsense
keys to thriving in what so many find to be an overwhelming
world. "
http://www.painterskeys.com/

anders,toby & sally...pet names for my babies

the babies...andy 22,tony 20 & hannah 15 (july 17th)....
i captured this kodak moment at our family
reunion today,everyone was in rare form,
despite the verry hot,humid day spirits
were high! if you look close you can see
everybody else in andy's circa 70's aviators...
hannah needed to offer a ponytail holder to
tony and tony's shades are hiding a knot &
gash between his eyes from his hockey game
on thursday night....characters these three...
love 'em lots!

for celine's book

last journal i worked in for this "reveal the artist
within"rr with celine,kristi,jaylene,jen o.,jen s.,jill,
kathy,leandra,melissa,nea and sarah.
sarah sent me jen sebast's "book",got it yesterday...
it is the most beautiful thing...not a book at all,
but a fabulous box with loose pages inside made
from watercolor paper. Luscious.

becky's paper bowl

becky's fab paper bowl
here is the paper bowl that becky fierberg
created at the june american art alliance
meeting,becky wowed everyone with her
quick wit,charm and talent...thanks 2u!
love this bowl....faboolicios!

2nd place!

"through her eyes"
i am very excited to have won 2nd place
for this piece at the union ave.gallery
hanging with the american art alliance,
last week! the show remains there for
about a month then on to the u.city
library!

visit celine!

you must experience celine's new "blog"!
it is loaded with inspiration and joy!
this is one i will check out everyday!
you,go,girl!

girlfriends cover...

...book to share with carol & carla!
i am almost ready to send this on,this little
collaboration was carol's idea,you always have
the best ideas,sister girlfriend...and thanks for
sending this great book to play in...way fun!

circle journey
this cj will be sent between my friend mary b.
and me! i really love this idea and am in the
process of a second one between carol & myself!
carol and i have already completed one...it truly
has been a wonderful connection for us!
the cj above is covered in foofala paper,with an
unbleached titanium stamped design and the
way cool image is from my friend marie otero's
fabulous visual poetry rubber sheet collection!
you MUST visit marie's LOST AUSSIE DESIGNS
you will be blown away by her amazing talent!

a survivor

my atc in honor of karen, for
the Art for a Cure atc deck ,
soon to be available here
race for the cure this weekend!

spoils from the ARTWorks Weekend...

uncle bob reliquary...my creation
what a great weekend!
jeanne elmer came from kc to
teach a workshop on 3d soldered
shrines! jeanne is an amazing
artist and teacher...very giving &
patient!she taught us how to create
wonderful pendant shrines, each
student produced a gorgeous,very
sweet keepsake...each one thoughtful.
what an honor and pleasure to have been
a part of this class.
many thanks to you,chris & sharon for
your tireless efforts putting this
weekend together...you 2 ROCK!
take a look at jeanne's website

aunt ginny...the back of my shrine

paper art dolls

...the finished girls!
what a fun workshop today! thanks to pat,nancy,
carol,anne,ruth,angelica,denise,christine,patrice,
ellen,susan & shirley for your generosity of spirit
and wicked good humors! all of you dolls!xoxoxo

ArtWorks Weekend!

paper doll parts
"ArtWorks Weekend"is upon us and I am doing my gathering
for my Paper Art Doll Workshop! there are piles of papers,
embellishments and tools,paints,h20s,glitters and ribbons!
i am very excited about this workshop...all 12 spots filled up
and i am ready to inspire and be inspired by the terrific
artists who will be in attendance! the photo pile above are bits
and pieces of the dolls that i created!
then sunday i will be taking a class taught by jeanne elmer,
she will show us soldering techniques and we will create a
sort of shadowbox necklace....many friends will be there,and
i think that there is still space for a couple more lucky artists!

NEW atc inspiration...

here @ ART-E-Zine
*grunge & numb3rs swap*
gillian has done it again!
thanks shauna for hosting!
xooxoxoxoooxoxoxoxoxoo

i call this...

"velvet blossoms 4u"!
i found these gorgeous repro flowers
at a local emporium and gathered them
into a bunch,tied them with faboooo
wavy edged shear ribbon and tied
them onto a 5x7 canvas that i painted
and stamped on (my new favorite
stamp...fun little circles!)....this is for
a dear friend...hope she loves it!

green & bronze

my work in rhonda scott's green & bronze
journal...this is a lucsious book,every spread!
rage the page true colors round robin is now
complete!!! yehaw! view the other journals
here if you wish!

3d collage

"secret bee" 8x10 layered paper collage 2005
playing with papers and molding paste and a new
product,to me...."pearl opals",thin slices of pearl
resin with opal chips fused inside,very fun stuff.
also fun is the art glitter institute "diamond dust"
sprinkled here & there and the hidden paper bee!
this piece is framed in a simple black frame...ready
to be hung in an upcoming show.