Summer is Over

Well, it's been awhile since i last showed up here. So what's new with you? Kidding! 2020 as I say is a dumpster fire of a year. But somehow in between I made some art and wrote a few books and created a lot of illustrations. Like always I find inspiration in nature.

 

This little foxy and her babies doing drive by visit.  The deer and their babies are regularly looking for apples. And I have been bringing my dolls out into the flower beds.

 

We just have to keep doing, keep exploring, keep being yourself. Listen to yourself more often and if you feel overwhelmed, turn off the tv and social media.  Enjoy every day. 

Wearable Art with Meaning

 I hope everyone out there is keeping well and self-isolating during this horrible COVID-19 pandemic. It's such a stressful time. I consider myself so fortunate that I teach and I still have a paycheck. We're all under a lot of stress. The past few weeks have been bonkers building all of my classes online all the while learning the software and helping my co-workers do the same.

 Amidst the drama and the dust starting to settle I need to get back into my studio, which has been horribly ignored the past three weeks. Today I tidied it a bit because my studio is now also my virtual classroom.

These images are little oil paintings which I turned into brooches. They are embroidered, beaded, and embellished. They are in honor of the one-hundredth anniversary of women having the right to vote. Stay safe and be kind to one another, and remember to vote in November. Some of our ancestors died to get that right.

Saul Magazine

 

SAUL MAGAZINE

I am proud to announce a project that I have dreamed about for a very long time. 

It has kept me busy for the past few months, Saul Magazine. It all started in my publication design class at Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth, because I had a belief in the skills of my students. My pupils were asked to interview people or answer a list of Q&A questions provided, create layouts and artwork to inform and the rest, as they say, is history.

You can order hard copies online, or simply read it.
Either way, I hope you enjoy the first  issue of Saul.

  If you would like to buy a hard copy you can do so at my Blurb storefront. Follow the links above.

My Art Situation

Holy cow, has it really been a year since I last posted? I've been giving all of my love to Instagram. Sorry Blogger. It's summer and I am up in our home in Northern New York recharging my batteries.

I am getting a studio together. The small step ladder above was retrieved from a trash pile and has  become my new easel. As I sit painting the sound of song birds waft through the windows. Rabbits bound across the lawn stopping to nibble on green grass and sometimes the little doe who lives in the trees just beyond visits. We throw her apples, and who new deer love marshmallows so much?

Teaching can be mentally exhausting. This time of year is all about refilling my tank. We leave for London  in a few days and I already have my museum and gallery visits planned.

The moral of the story is to remember you can't give on an empty tank. If you can't remember the last time you did something for you, what are you waiting for? Make something, do something. And make sure it's delightfully decadent.

Art Dolls

 I am still working on clay cloth combinations. Who knows, perhaps this is where the universe wants me to be.

 These girls are now on my Etsy store. I call them Forest Fairies (Bird and Fauna) I drew and painted on their little bodies. Soft colors, which is a departure from my electrifying circus colors.

Today I am cleaning my studio. It was such a mess I couldn't focus. Do you get like that too? Seriously... a friend commented to me "OCD much" uh, yes I guess so. Honestly, I couldn't set a cup of coffee on the table. Sorry I haven't written here much, will be better now that I have ditched Facebook.

Don't forget to look for me on Instagram @Vixterina and you will see more posts. You can always say hi!

Getting Where I Need To Be

I have a bad feeling my thumb is going to be naughty for a very long time. Went to the doctor a few weeks back and he said it was a cyst on the knuckle: suggested surgery or as a hold over he could try to drain it and cortisone shot. Don't want surgery. Is my foot better from surgery? No.

 So while my thumb is being naughty I am going to keep it bandaged and keep on sewing and adding clay parts. I have to say I love the doll I have been working on. Here is a head shot. I held her out in the bushes but it was so windy... her hair got wild. She'll soon be listed on my Etsy store.

One Month Until NCECA

The count down starts. Flying to Pittsburgh for a reception at Morgan Glass gallery and NCECA. It'll be the first time I travel without my husband since.... ever? Actually when my parent's died... but I digress. (cue the Debbie Downer music!) Dang. But on a brighter note, the show at Morgan looks great. If you're in the area pop by. Visit these two little dears.

Brexit Sessions. 

And this piece is called We All Have Demons, Some Are Just Cuter. 

I can't wait to fill my suitcase with ceramic tools. And seriously if you're there... please say hi. I am a real chatter box.

Going with the Flow

I hurt my thumb. Smoothing out a piece of clay. I've done it thousands of times and this one time my thumb said no. Not wanting surgery I've been terrified with the thought of going to a doctor.  They have a thing with cutting. And is it ever really better when they cut? 

 In the meantime while my thumb is healing I have been exploring making dolls out of fabric. Drawing patterns and playing with shapes; what I did right and what's going horribly wrong. But it's all learning and playing. Darts are now my best friend. Who would have thought?

Holiday Time

Goodness me, it's been too long. I've fallen in love with Instagram (@Vixterina) and have neglected my good old trusted blog. Just in from a long Monday at work and seeing all sorts of marketing for the holidays I thought to myself I should do a holiday sale.

Churning it over in my brain. But not on my little cups, the big stuff. The expensive stuff. Just for a day or two. See who is watching. Did I mention only the expensive stuff? Feels sort of naughty and fun just thinking about it.

Beep Beep

Here's a little something I just brought down to Artisan's on the Ave.Women are on a roll and this little sculpture let's you know all about it. When I was younger I didn't give women's rights much thought, but I am thankful for women who blazed trails that allowed me to attend college, vote, and work and perhaps one day the wage gap will go away. And it might be easy to forget but there are places on this planet where women can't attend school. Educated women can be hard to control.

 The resistance, the calls to Congress are being made by women. So throwing it back old school: you go girl. And to the young girls live your life for you. Have a child when you want one, buy yourself a diamond (don't wait for or settle for a boy). Be good to you.

Upcoming Shows

I am in my studio cranking out work. 3 Shows coming up. I've got two of my happiness cups about to be sent to The Missouri Western State University Clay Guild in St. Joseph, MO. They are sponsoring the National Ceramic Exhibition titled Twin Cups.

And I am also building a teapot for a show at Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery in Pittsburgh, PA, and a show at Piedmont Craftsmen in Winston-Salem, NC. My crooked little fingers are busy. And happy. Sometimes I think I thrive on deadlines. Will post images when I get them together.

Bee Keeper in Art Doll Quarterly

Happy to say that my Doll B Keeper is included in the latest issue of Art Doll Quarterly magazine.

 This doll is up at Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery in Winston-Salem, NC if you want to see her.

It's always a really nice surprise to come home from work and pick up a favorite magazine and see my work. From dragging tail to chipper. My husband leaves magazines on the couch for me so I can drop and veg. (thank you Jody) And thank you to Jana Holstein for publishing my dolls.

1984

I have just ordered a new copy of George Orwell's 1984. Seems so timely. This doll is inspired by the Million Women's March. Wearing her pink cap and her big pink box is inscribed with quotes from Orwell's book. Seemed appropriate. This pussy is a tiger.

Scooter Sculpture

Latest check, the world is still a mess. I wish we could scoot out of here. So this lovely gal reflects my feelings. Driving me crazy. Can't watch the news.
Trying to focus on happy but somehow she looks sad. Or is it pensive? (oh don't say Pence) LOL.

 Can't think of a name for her? For now she's Scooter Girl. Goofy just like me.

More cups

I've got more cups. Happiness cups because the world is on fire. Happiness: Boom.

Going to post some pieces soon of my Women's March inspired pieces. Wearing their pink pussy hats.

Happiness Cups

Most of us can probably remember hearing our elders complain about how the world has gone to hell. It sort of seems like it has. So rather than belly aching about it, I have made happiness cups.

These cups can make you happy. Fill it with candy. Happy. Fill it with flowers. Happy. Fill it with vodka. Very happy.

Wishing you all a happy new year. Watch my Etsy shop for a lot of happiness cups. Hold good thoughts and believe it can get better.

Holiday Sale on my Etsy Shop

It's that time of year. I have going on in my Etsy shop! Just in time for the holidays. Have fun and Merry Christmas.

Sketching you own ideas

I have been sketching for the past 2 days. Developing my ideas. Gosh, how I wish more people would sketch their own ideas instead of stealing them from other artists. Stealing is bad.

Sketch. It's good for you. Be creative, unique and you.

New Bits

Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving. I've had an awful upper respiratory infection and have been knocked out for a week. I've actually had it for over a month but it knocked me on my butt this week. I've got my antibiotics so I am hopeful it takes care of everything. So I've been doing a bit of painting and reworking old figures when I am able.

 I think I have finished these two.  A person sent me a message and referred to the "lavender bird girl" so I am calling this one Lavender Raven.

 And keeping with the bird theme this is Chicken Man even though it's a girl. Do any of you remember Chicken Man? The adventures of the white winged warrior- The most fantastic crime-fighter the world has ever known! Or am I the only weirdo out there?  I can remember hearing it on the radio when I was very little. It's a bird, it's a plane... no it's Chicken Man! He's everywhere! He's everywhere! Bock bock bock bock!!! (Please, excuse me. I blame it on the NyQuil).

Being the explorer that I am I just had to Google it and of course I found it on YouTube. So won't you join me in my cough syrup antibiotic madness? It's really so silly but it brings back really fond childhood memories. Had almost forgotten about it. Enjoy both chicken men.

New Little Faces

Spread love everywhere you go: First of all in your own house...kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness. ~ Mother Teresa 

 I told my students today that if you have passion for what you do you will find success as an artist. If you live your truth and are happy you can't go wrong. Here I am at 50. Nothing pulls me from making art. It's my comfort in the sea of madness that engulfs our world.

These little faces calm me. Fresh faced and freckles provide a sense of innocence that I still believe in. The past few weeks  have shown me that I need nice people around. Cut ties with the negative.

Kind people who think make my heart sing. Find a way to let your heart sing.