Time for Fall

My Fall Heart Tree is finally done. Yea! It took a bit longer than I had hoped, but at least I got it done before the first official day of Fall. For those of you who haven't seen my other seasonal trees, it all got started last Christmas. I was taking down the Christmas decorations and grousing about winter. I told my hubby, David, that I wish I had some hearts to put on the tree to celebrate winter because otherwise, it just was grey and blah. He said "do it!" He said, "We'll leave the tree up all year." So I did it. First was the Winter Heart Tree, then the Spring/Summer Heart Tree. And now we have the Fall Heart Tree. I think I like this one the best because, in addition to the hearts, there are dried flowers tucked in between the branches. Because I don't have a sewing machine, all the hearts are completely, lovingly handmade. I hope you like my Fall Tree.

Last Days of Summer

It's nearing the end of August, and people are getting in their last picnics, last family barbeques, last vacations and last trips to the beach. It's even possible, depending on where you are, to fee a bit of a chill in the air in the mornings, like biting into a crisp Red Delicious Apple. This colored pencil drawing is about the last day at the beach for one little girl. Do you remember yours? As a child, time sees timeless, and yet, it inevitable passes, drawing summer to a close and bringing the excitement of fall ... new clothes, new school supplies, going back to school, etc. But enjoy the summer while it lasts. (And one really neat thing about this piece is that it was purchased by a woman from Portugal.)

WIP ~ Work in Progress

Normally, I am the only one who gets to see my artwork as it evolves. I thought others might be interested in seeing that process. A WIP is a work in progress, a work that isn't yet finished, a work that I am still having a dialog with. The process begins with something I've found. Then I begin to arrange natural objects, along with paint and manmade objects on my chosen "canvas." In the past this canvas has been a piece of tree bark mounted on a pine panel. (If you want to see an example of a bark piece, visit my shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Raedawn) This will be the first natural assemblage that isn't mounted on bark, but instead will be mounted on a shallow wooden box.

One day I was walking down the ramp to the loft building that I live in and I came across a tangle of thin branches. I looked at it, picked it up and looked at it some more, and then put it back. The next time I was on the ramp, I decided to take it home. Even if it was fragile, I wanted to make something with it. That was when I noticed the rest of an abandoned nest in the rafters above the ramp. Then I looked over to the next section and saw a Robin sitting on a nest. I had an abandoned Robin's nest ... what a precious treasure. I went and talked to the Robin, who seemed to sit and listen patiently because she didn't fly away. Later my husband and I would see the little baby Robins in their nest. This added an even greater to the artwork I had already begun.

The first two steps in the process is what you see here. I had first put the nest to one side of a piece of freezer paper (so it wouldn't stick). Then I sprayed it within an inch of it's life (with matte medium). Later I went back and got out two of my rubber stamps and stamped spirals on the left side. I put a plastic snake on the bottom. (I've often used plastic snakes in my work. I paint them carefully, and I've had several people at shows ask me if the snakes are real.) My husband looked at it and said he didn't get it. LOL

What you see here is the next stage. I went back to the table, put the nest in the middle, put a torn photo of myself behind the nest and added another snake. This time the two snakes were then arranged in the V shape you see in the piece above. I also added a small beautiful stone. The next time my husband walked by he said, "Wow, oh now I get it." He didn't realize what I had already known ... that I would be moving the nest to the center. So this is the stage the work is in now. I want to saturate the picture of me and print a smaller version so it's easier to see the face within the nest. And, of course I need to paint the snakes as well as the pine box it will be mounted on. I'm not sure what else I might add ... stay tuned.

You can see a picture of the baby birds too, above. Aren't they too cute.

This is a WIP (Work in Progress). I am going to be setting up a second Etsy shop to sell the many wonderful strands of beads I've collected over the years. I recently made the decision to focus on my visual art, and, while it's difficult to see my beads go, I'm going to be selling them on Etsy. I have everything from semi-precious to Czech Glass, to bone and shell. My hubby, David, photographed a picture to use in my banner. It gives you a sense of the lush quality of the beads I have. I'll keep you posted and write an update when I open my new shop.

Primal Grace

Grace comes of its own. You may want it so much; you may even pray for it. But it will come to you in the most unexpected way at the most unexpected time. It will overtake you and fill you with Beauty and Love. Receiving Grace is one of the most primal, basic experiences we may have. When the experience is over you are left breathless and filled with Gratitude.

This mixed media assemblage is done on a piece of tree bark. It includes paper and a feather. It shows the hands reaching up to receive Grace. It is 14 x 3 x 5/8 inches.

Welcome Spring

Today is the first day of Spring. Here in Lowell, Massachusetts, it's still grey, cold and wintery ... all the more reason to finally put my Spring Heart Tree up. For those who are not familiar with the origin of my seasonal trees, the impetus began over a decade ago. I always loved to play dress ups with my house at Christmas, and along with the tree, which had a few quilted hearts on it, I also had hearts scattered around the house ... in bowls, on shelves, and in nooks and crannies. But when I took the Christmas decorations down, I would inevitable get a let down. Not only was my house no longer dressed up, but outside the weather was grey and blah. For years I thought I should make some Winter Hearts, but was deterred by my lack of a sewing machine. For some reason, this year, nothing got in the way, and I happily made Winter Hearts by hand. For anyone who wants to see the Winter Heart Tree, scroll down a bit and you'll see it.

I'm in love with my Spring Heart Tree. The colors and the feeling of Spring really make me feel as if I am welcoming the new season with all of my heart.

The Silence

In the ancient Vedic literature of India there is a concept referred to as the "Cave of the Heart." This sacred space is both the seat of our higher Self, but is also the location of an intimate connection to the Source. The Vedas urge people to spend as much time in the Cave of the Heart as they can. One way to do this is meditation; another is contemplation. And sometimes, some people may just find themselves there as it is also a magnificent source of creative energy. Here are the words to a song I once wrote:
Listen in the Cave of your Heart
the Silence echoes your name.
Do you answer the Call
to come home again.

This mixed media piece, "Cave of the Heart," is an ACEO assemblage. ACEO stands for "Art Cards Editions and Originals." ACEOs are small 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches. Usually they are flat, and I have done some ACEO colored pencil drawings (you can look back through my blog to find them), but this was my first attempt to translate my larger assemblages, which I can no longer do because of lack of studio space, into a smaller format. The components are: mat board, dirt with aluminum foill, paper, paint, mother of pearl star, matte and gel medium. My "Cave of the Heart" is very earthy. The lotus is also a sacred symbol in Hindu art and literature; it stands for the purity of the Self rising out of the muck of the ego.