Katie to the Rescue

I thought it would be so simple. I was wrong.

My plan was to use 2 sets of bifold doors to display my paintings. I wrestled them out of my shed with the help of my brother. They smelled musty and were dirty so I cleaned them and left them in the sun in with the very slim hope that they would smell better. While they were sunning, I dug around and found some appropriate paint for them. Of course, I waited a day too long and it started raining so they had to be brought inside to be painted. I set them up using the backs of folding chairs for sawhorses. Bit by bit, I got them painted, but it isn't a very good job. Meanwhile, the Toyota dealership called me.

This, THIS is the time they want to put me in a COROLLA while they figure out what is wrong with the lift gate on my Highlander. Are you getting an idea of the problem? There was no way those doors were going to fit in the Corolla. I called my sister with the idea that she would help me and we could use her CRX. She was on her way out of town but was generous enough to leave me her car. Alas, the doors would not fit in it.  My brother also went out of town for the day. So much for siblings!

It was my niece, Katie, who came to my rescue with an enormous truck. She helped me get the doors to the museum and I got partially set up. I still have a bit of setting up to do tomorrow. Tonight I have to get my business cards, finish at least one painting, get the labels done and do a few touch-ups.

I know it is difficult to tell what is what in this photo. The doors to the right are still empty as the Command Strips needed to cure. I know that my friend Jacky has already claimed three mouse traps so at least I'll sell those!

Getting Ready

I'm having a booth for the first time! It is on Sunday, December 3, 2017, at the 5 Points Museum in Cleveland, TN.  I decided that even if nothing sells, it will be good experience. However, before I could even get my stuff together, a friend came to the Bijou for the first time and when she saw three of my mouse traps that I have finished, she announced that she wanted to buy them. That more than paid for my booth! 

Sold!

For Sale

I will have small things and large things at the show, so if you're close, drop by and say hello!

Her Name Was Sarita

       The making of Sarita

Stenciling in various colors

A few things about art are difficult beyond actually making the art. Naming the piece is one of them. I don't remember how I decided on the name Sarita, but I believe someone suggested it to me and I went with it.  It means princess, but rather than a princess, I always thought she looked like a co-ed from the early 60s. You know--pre-hippy. 

I hung the painting above a bright pink chair at the Bijou and Sarita looked very much at home there.

More stenciling and glazing

Several weeks ago, I said I would give a demo at an art gallery in Athens, TN. I then decided against doing an actual demo and thought I would just tell about the steps using various pieces of art.  When I arrived the director was dismayed that I wasn't planning to give the demo that she had advertised. Ever flexible, I kicked into high gear, scavenged their children's paint closet and I got my demo ready. In fact, all the participants got to make a small piece also. During my talk, I passed around papers I had painted and a few canvases. 

A face begins to appear

After I finished, the director asked if any of the things I had brought were for sale. Guess who I had taken? Sarita.  I left the painting there for her to consider and found out today that she did, indeed, buy it. I will miss Sarita, but I'm happy she has found a new home.

If you are wondering why I don't do a better job of placing the pictures in this blog, it is because they jump all over the place. Also when I edit, they are in one place but when I publish they may have moved.   I may need to look for another site for my blog that is not so unpredictable. Please let me know if you have any suggestions. I like FREE sites! haha

Face continues to emerge

Color is added

Sarita

She took a new Direction

My last blog was over a year ago, but I'm going to pick up the pieces and forge ahead.  I am trying to be much more disciplined with my art. To that end, I'm working daily (well...almost daily) and I'm back to blogging.



LAST year when I started this girl, I had an entirely different idea for her. However, my direction shifted when my art group basically told me my idea was crazy and that the sticks I planned to use would not last. This is not complete but you get the idea.

 

So I  took those sticks and built a neighborhood!

I call this piece Head of The House

Someone recently mentioned to me that all my "girls" had blue or green eyes. At the time, I agreed but looking at this one now, I see she has dark eyes.  I am thinking I may add some other color to her hair. What do you think?

Calligraphy is beautiful but I'm just not that fancy. Hand Lettering is more my style. I signed up for a short workshop, bought the tracing paper, ordered the Tombow pens --both hard nib and soft, got the packet of letter designs, took the class following all the instructions AND it turns out that to learn how to hand letter, one has to practice, practice and practice. It may be quite a while before I become proficient but I'm working on it. If you're an investor and looking for an opportunity, might I suggest tracing paper?  I am using it at an alarming rate.

I would love to hear from you and if you are unable to reply, you can always email me at vickistyons@me.com

Sticks and Stones

Unfortunately, I have been rather unproductive this week.  I had planned to make a headdress using twigs for this girl, but let me just tell you--my art group really panned that idea.  They said the sticks would decay or be broken off the canvas or...whatever.  So I am going to plan B and saving the twigs for a girl to put in the Bijou!

Plan B is for a headband but it will fit her differently from what she now has, and I am hopeful that I can make her hair look right!  Oh, yes, I am also planning on her having a nose.  In fact, I think that next week she will look very different and much better.

You saw this last week, but it is just about finished now.  The Cyrillic letters are actually painted on as are the Greek ones.  The Greek word is not very obvious in this photo.  It needs a bit of touch-up here and there, and then it will go to the MMIA jury.

On a More Personal Note:
Today is the one-year anniversary of my house break-in, and I was a bit hesitant to leave.  When I went to the grocery store, I left my computer in the room with Brooklyn.  I knew it would be safe there or we could follow the blood trail.  I am a bit on edge because the chairs were stolen off my porch two weeks ago.  Evidently, there is a target on the Bijou!

I have less than two weeks to get my paintings ready for submission to a juried show.  I can send 5 for jurying, and I really hope something will be accepted. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Uninvited Guest

Because July 5 was oh so nice I decided to take Brooklyn with me on an errand.  We were gone probably for about 20 to 30 minutes.  Upon entering the house, I immediately noticed that my computer was missing and then I realized my iPad was also gone.  Yikes! 

First call was to my sister who thought I was joking but when she realized I was serious, she came right over and arrived shortly before the police.  

Now here is the thing, the Bijou was in a terrible mess and in dire need of cleaning.  The dust on all my furniture made it easy to SEE the finger prints but more difficult to actually GET a finger print.  Note to self: Keep house clean.  This is my guest room where that white box on the dresser had been opened.  No valuables there...only handkerchiefs. The police took the box hoping to get DNA.  

Oh yeah.  See the walls?  They are not in a prep stage; they are meant to look distressed.  

Nothing in this box either except for remote controls and pencils.  Another dead end for my unexpected company.

This dresser drawer didn't yield much either or if it did, I don't remember.  I may have had some money there.  Another note to self: Get this drawer cleaned out!

In case you are wondering, these drawers are not dirty as they may appear but I distressed them.  The bottom two drawers are on my "to do" list. 

Ok so what else was gone.  Well as far as I can see they took my fingernail kit.  REALLY?  Note to police: look for perp with nice nails.

Also gone was a check I'd written for a whopping $11.51.  More on this later.

The following day I dug some change out of the bottom of my purse and walked over to my "shoe" bank, lifted my hand to drop in the money and....it was GONE!

Have I ever mentioned that I love Cleveland?  The policeman who was here Sunday stopped by on Thursday to tell me they had a guy in custody.  Remember that $11.51 check?  He had it but it had been altered.  He was arrested on other charges but at that time had not been charged with the incident here.

STAY TUNED!

As Promised

Some of My Works in Progress

I have several paintings that are in progress.  I guess I am waiting for inspiration to hit me when I actually know that one has to make the effort in order to get said inspiration!

 I know it is not an good photograph but perhaps you can get the idea.  Much more work needs to be done. The bits of color on it are from deli paper that I designed along with some stamping.  Oh and I altered some National Geographic pages using a cleaner.  

The piece below does not have such a mystical quality to it but I think I would like that if I knew how to achieve it. Part of this is raised and a grout type product was used to achieve the look of the hair.  He (Fat Head) will have more color in his final appearance.

While walking with Brooklyn, I saw these:

These crepe myrtle blossoms were huge and hanging out over the sidewalk. Beautiful even after the rain had given them a beating.

Speaking of rain.  I thought this was an interesting way to divert the way to the gutter.  If you look closely you can see there is also a drain under the rocks.     

 

The small bridge captivated me.

I had been raining and pouring around here and more is expected.