My Birdsong

Art Truly Does Save

The new year brings January birthdays for my husband and our beloved Brianna. So it is always a month full of duplicity. A time for celebration and promise for new beginnings, coupled with sadness and loss. We have wonderful memories of holidays past, when the whole family was here, and those help us through these times. But some days are still filled with disbelief that someone so dear can be gone forever.

Trevor also heads back to college after a month-long break of holiday cheer and relaxation at home. It's hard letting him return to his other life on campus, some 10 hours drive away. When he leaves, the sense of loss is almost overwhelming.

That's my cue to hide away in my studio and get lost in my art. It truly does save. Above is one of my current works-in-progress.

So with cherished memories of the not-so-distant past of 2012 and the memories of when we all were together years ago, we carry on and look to a new year filled with art.

Color Keys to My World

Organizing is what you do before you do something,
so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.

~ A.A. Milne

There's nothing like being able to see what the paint looks like on the paper BEFORE you squeeze it out of the tube and paint with it! This is a great tip I discovered recently, and have now put it to use! Every tube of watercolor paint I own has been added to my personal color key. And I still have the browns and blacks to add!

Getting ready for lots of painting, so watch for some new pieces coming in the next few days! Hello to all my new Artful Gathering friends! Look forward to a wonderful summer with you during my online paper mache workshop, June 6 - July 17.

Happy May everyone!

 

So Many Fun Art Events Coming Up!

Hot air balloons are hot, and I'll have a few available at my next show, the Fourth Annual Tinsel and Treasures Folk Art Show, Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Alamo Women's Club, Alamo, CA. There's a line-up of fabulous artists who will bring their creative magic to the day.

Also after you've shopped and visited with the artists at the show, head for the Make and Take tables, where you can get inspired to make one or all of three projects, like this sweet Christmas Memories paper doll offered by Dede Warren. She designed this kit so you can personalize it with a family member's photo! What a wonderful gift it would make! Head to the Tinsel and Treasures blog to sign up and to see photos of the other projects offered. And sign up for the show mailing list for the latest news!

 

Next up...Halloween and Vine! On Saturday, Sept. 24, at Hermann Sons Hall, in Petaluma, CA, I'll be in the midst of a cadre of Halloween fans as I offer a table full of art that celebrates my favorite holiday - All Hallows' Eve!    I'll have mixed media collages, like "Nevermore", which pays tribute to Mr. Poe. There will be so many other "fangtastic" artists selling their works, you are sure to find that something special just for Halloween. Learn more about the show on the website, and don't forget to add your name to their mailing list! 

Then, it's Glitterfest on Saturday, October 15, at the Santa Ana Elks Lodge. This is always a great day with lots of art to choose from due to the 40+ artists there! It's not for the faint of heart! Head to the website for more information on artists and location.

 

Finally, Colleen and I are teaching a special event workshop together at Gilding the Lily, in downtown Fullerton, CA, on Sunday, October 16. "Winter wishes," is a one-of-a-kind light up lamp that is sure to become a family heirloom. 

We will have a great time building the lamp, creating a wintery scene and then sculpting and fashioning two sweet now ladies. You don't want to miss this! For information and to sign up, head to Gilding's classes blog.

I hope to see you at one of these events in the coming months! Cheers....Iva

 

It's already the end of May and time is just blowing by. I've been busy preparing for Tinsel and Treasures Folk Art Show set for Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, at the Alamo Women's Club, 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo, CA. I thought I'd share a video that was recently put together from last year's event. It holds just a tiny bit of the magic you'll find at the show. Other duties have kept me away from my blog too. 

In addition to taking care of my family (our son is now home from his first year in college - yay!), I've been taking an art class to keep me inspired and learn new techniques. It's always fascinating to see another artist work, and Mira M. White is not only a talented teacher, but a wonderful artist. She was featured recently in Pastel Journal, among her other credits. Here is just a sampling of some of her evocative art work. I fell in love with this piece. Just stunning!

 

Artist Mira M. White

Her Name Is Sophia And She Wears A Dress Of Stars

2010

Soft Pastel/Acrylic/Paper

• • •

Artist Mira M. White

Carnival City

2011

Soft Pastel/Acrylic/Paper

25"x37"

• • •

I hope you've been enjoying spring and new creative ideas and interests are sprouting for you as they have for me. Happy May!

 

Inspiration Comes with Two Tails or One?

 

I get so inspired by mermaid paintings from great artists like Arthur Rackham, Edvard Munch, and Peter Rubens. They all have different styles and they all seem to portray mermaids differently.

For some, the mysterious women of the sea are beguiling sirens trying to lure sailors to their deaths. While for other artists, mermaids are innocent beings just wishing to be human. Above all, it seems artists of yesterday and today vary as to whether mer people should have two tails or one. 

Disney's Little Mermaid is a one-tailed kinda gal, while the smiling saleswoman of Starbucks, sports two. I like the depictions of both, as evidenced from two of my latest paintings found here and in my Etsy shop. But I probably favor one long tail that can be swished from side to side. Of course, this all leads back to my own art and how I illustrate these mythical creatures. 

I've been creating a variety of mixed media paintings, and my mind keeps coming back to the ocean and these sirens of the sea. 

Mermaids seem so lonely to me and yet, so at peace in their underwater surroundings. The vibrant colors of the ocean floor teeming with life provides great opportunities for the artist to splash bright colors in an ordinarily dark world. I imagine the colorful living landscape seems to be like brilliant flowers in springtime, attracting passers-by to stop and enjoy them. I just wonder, do mermaids swim to these beautiful oceanic gardens with two tails or one? 

 

 

 

Dreaming of the Sea

I can hear the sea calling, as I prepare for my next show, Glitterfest Spring, in Southern California, Saturday, March 19. Not that I will be visiting the Pacific on my trip, but I have been researching and reading about the ways people enjoyed the treasures brought forth by the ocean. You see, in times past, ship captains would come home after a long journey at sea and present their loved ones with shell encrusted boxes. These signs of love make me so nostalgic, and I am creating my own take on the long ago tradition. This along with other boxes will be available at my booth.

Additionally, I have been learning more about the lore of mermaids, who were believed to be as fickle as the sea itself. They were thought to be fierce like a raging storm and then quickly become peaceful and serene. I love the mysterious nature of them, along with their magical beauty. All of this lead me to create my next folk art workshop at Gilding the Lily in Fullerton, CA, to be held Sunday, March 20, the same weekend as Glitterfest. "Enchantress of the Sea" is a glass theater, and you can click here for more details and to register.

Can you hear the crashing waves?

Preparing for an Underwater Party

 

I hope you will join me Saturday, as I prepare for a Mad Tea Party! I've invited many guests from the deep including some lovely mermaid friends of mine. There will be many others participating, thanks to our hostess Vanessa Valencia. See you in the cool blue ocean right here on Saturday!

Discovering Precious Moments

Our son was leaving the house and noticed a bird fly out from our porch. He noticed that it came from the area where we keep a wicker chair and where I have hung a concrete owl. The sculptured owl's wings are spread and it has two glass marbles for eyes. It was made to hold a votive, and the eyes light up casting an eerie glow over the piece.

Here, I used the flash on my camera and you can see how the eyes glow. Well being a curious young man, Trevor wondered what the bird was doing. When we first moved into our home, the overhead porch light had been left partially open and a bird had nested inside it. Of course, we were careful not to turn the porch light on for fear we'd burn what little babies might be inside. 

But there was no open porch light this time. So after leaving the house several times through the front door and noticing the same behavior from this bird, our son decided to peek inside the owl. Lo and hehold, what do you think he found?!

You guessed it! A sweet little bird's nest complete with five dainty little eggs! You can't tell from the harsh light of my flash, but they are the loveliest shade of blue. Isn't it ironic that a small bird would choose to make a nest inside the sculpture of a carnivorous owl? I'll try to take pictures along the way, without disturbing the little darlings to be. What would be ideal is if I could snap a pic of the bird on the nest! It reminds me of our families and holding our loved ones close. Like the Mermaid Queen and her little mer-baby in the Under the Sea theater, I created and now have listed on eBay.

Precious moments like these happen everyday. All we need do is recognize and take a few minutes to enjoy them. Soon our son will be flying the coop on his way to college and our nest will be much quieter. I am cherishing the time we spend together. Remember, each day is a gift. 

Bathing Beauties Now Appearing

Several treasures from the seashore featuring sweet bathing beauties have now been listed in my etsy shop. Getting ready for grads and dads in the coming weeks. Happy summer!

My How Time Flies!

Preparing for Glitterfest Saturday, May 22, 10 am - 3 pm, at the Santa Ana Elks Lodge in Southern California. I am immersed in images of mermaids, bathing beauties and treasures from the deep. Stop by and say hello. And for all you Halloween lovers, I'll have a small display of my latest creations celebrating October 31. Hope to see you there!