Trying out some new techniques that I have wanted to try for a long time. Having fun! Day 71: Hammered screw sideways on metal; Day 72; Rolling mill, 100 grit sandpaper; Day 73; Etched metal. Ironed the design on the metal using a laserprinted transparency; Day 74: Set of ball burs, smaller burs are easier to manipulate; Day 75: Key in hydraulic press. Not as detailed with 24 gauge copper, thinner metal is better; Day 76: Made bear silhouette with die-cutting machine. Put through rolling mill, metal picked up texture of cardstock; Day 77: Used bear cut-out from previous day, put through rolling mill; Day 78: Loving how the die cuts are working in the rolling mill, especially how the cardstock leaves texture too, bird; Day 79: Die cut in rolling mill. Had to try the UP!; Day 80: Hammered copper piece on concrete stepping stone that finally melted out.

Is it really April? Hard to think this journey is nearing it’s completion…but this has set me on a path
of working on art daily..making it a practice that drives me. I find I have been creating more of the
batik watercolor pieces,…enjoying the process, and the excitement of what literally lies beneath!

On January 20th, the first day of the 100 Day Project, I discovered a butterfly in our apartment. What a good sign, for me, but not as inspiring for the butterfly(?) I thought of how butterfly images remind people of transformation during Dia de Los Muertos celebration in November. I thought of the lack of flowers to pollinate outside, but how the warm indoors offered this butterfly to exit it’s safe chrysalis. Some honey and water was offered, and I did see the butterfly drink from a droplet of water off of my finger the first day! A few days later, it was gone.

The photo with two profiles of my self, one being in papier mache, were taken in February. The paintings on the wall are from two best friends who live far away…..

Day 61: Rolling mill, two pieces of grosgrain ribbon, trace of wire imprint from backing plate I’ve been using. Oops!; Day 62: Rolling mill, tulle with accidental wire imprint; Day 63: Rolling mill, rice paper, one time use; Day 64: Rolling mill, decorative paper, one time use; Day 65: Rolling mill, dismantled steel scouring pad, one time use; Day 66: Rolling mill, dismantled copper scouring pad, one time use, like this one, smushed copper pieces can be used for mixed media projects; Day 67: New technique – etching, printed design on glossiest paper at Office Max, works great, one time use; Day 68: Etching, used Staz-On ink on a stamp I carved from rubber, not as crisp because of texture of rubber; Day 69: Rolling mill, 1/4 inch frogtape, not very exciting, hardly any texture, one time use; Day 70: Hammered copper piece on old steel Victorian hook with a brass hammer.

Here is a fun work I am in process of creating for the Oasis Gallery’s Art in Bloom Silent Auction. Of course since was in Marquette I had to do my own fun take on a distinctive seen from Marquette, Michigan.
It’s almost completed now!

When I cut shapes and colors out of magazines, I save them for future collages. I loved these two faces and was happy that they both found a home in this particular Collorage.

As I was rearranging these shapes and colors, I found a similarity to the motifs of Native American textiles and rugs emerging in the final composition.

As I was cutting these shapes I was struck by the blue spheres. A “blue moon” is a rare occurrence, but for this Collorage artistic license allows me multiple blue moons. 🙂

These warm colors of pinks and orange evoke the heartfelt emotion of affection.