Saturday, July 12, 2014

Thank you Guitar School of NYC!

I won a Martin D-28 acoustic guitar at the June 21st Guitar Mass Appeal in Union Square! Here's the link to the article. Having trouble doing the hyperlink thingy..... SO so AWESOME!!!!!!

http://www.guitarworld.com/acoustic-nation-hosts-mass-appeal-guitars-union-square-ny#slide-18


Monday, January 20, 2014

New Artwork and a clean studio!

A clean studio makes all the difference in the world!

Zen - this piece was in a benefit show at the Carter Burden Gallery called 12 x 12. 
acrylic, watercolor and oil pastel on canvas

working idea for show in fall 2014 at Carter Burden Gallery
Working on this piece for the 5x5x100 show at 
Carter Burden Gallery, NYC.
548 West 28th St. between 10th & 11th Ave, 5th floor, #534
The show opens Thursday, February 13th, 2014 
and runs through March 6th. 
Stop in to the opening reception and say hello!

Sunday, September 8, 2013

It's been such a long time... it's good to be back!



 So here I am almost a year later...posting... I wonder why it takes me so long in between posts? I've done a lot of new work since my last post (in fact I'm working on a new series) but haven't taken pics of most of it so here is a piece from last year that I think reflects my question of not posting. I need more loyalty to my own work, to photographing and posting it regularly. To getting it out there and sharing it with the world. Once again I will work on making that happen...

There is a new show at the Carter Burden Gallery with artists David Cerulli, Angela Valeria and Vera Sapozhnikova that is great! Hope you get a chance to see it.


 Carter Burden Gallery
548 West 28th Street, #534
(between 10th & 11th Avenues)
New York, NY  10001
212.564.8405

September 5-October 10, 2013
Tues-Fri 11-5 Sat 11-6

In his paintings and sculptures, David Cerulli explores the internal and external structures of forms that appear to be in the process of transition or evolution. Drawing on patterns and structures found in nature, Cerulli’s work integrates the organic with the architectural, creating opportunities for the viewer to experience the internal and the external simultaneously. Cerulli’s sculptures exhibited in Still Working are the result of his three week residency at the gallery.

Angela Valeria’s work is inspired by the natural world, ancient deities, zoology, modern ecology, and the belief that all creation shares a common karma or destiny to which every individual, not exclusively human, contributes. Drawing on this inspiration, her work in a variety of media explores this inseparable link between the human race, nature, and the reciprocal evolution with all other life forms shared on the planet.

On the Wall, the unique public art installation created exclusively for the Carter Burden Gallery, will feature Vera Sapozhnikova. In her large panel painting, Spring in the City, Sapozhnikova’s use of bold brush strokes and colors evoke the optimism and celebration of that spring brings to the city and its inhabitants.

That's all for now. See you again soon. I promise!

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Flag Book class at The Ink Pad


I will be teaching this class at The Ink Pad on August 1st from 7 - 9:30 pm. They are on 7th Ave. and 13th Street in NYC. Call to sign up: 212-463-9876. The class fee is $35.00. For more information go to this link: http://www.theinkpadnyc.com/module/class.htm?classId=23979

Fabulous Flag Book with Liz Curtin



 

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Inner Critic Series





In an effort to start posting again I've decided to add photos of things I've been working on in the last year. Light on the commentary for now. Some of these pieces will be in a show I'm having in August.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

My Dad

This has been a rough year. My Dad died on March 14th after a long illness. I still have not gotten over it and probably never will. I miss him so much and have pushed away the pain of his passing so that somehow I can deal with it and get on with my life. But I haven't really. In some ways I've shut down so much that I may never open up again. I hope that's not true.  I hope my heart can heal and be whole again and love again and trust again.

That's my Dad with my Mom and nephew Adam about two years ago.  I miss you Dad so much and wish I could pick up the phone to call and say hi and hear your laugh and get your advice and just hear your voice. My world in not the same without you here.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

100 Accomplishments for 2010 # 1 - 10

This year I had many accomplishments and some disappointments. I worked hard to turn those disappointments around to get to a "better feeling place" about them, to accept them as they were so I didn't feel bogged down in guilt or despair at not having done them like I hoped. That in itself is a huge accomplishment for me. Mindset is everything and I've worked hard on that this year. It might be the thing I'm most proud of. So without further ado, here they are:

1. I decided to start using the Planner Pad https://plannerpads.com/index.asp datebook again after not using it for several years. They have a fantastic system of funneling down your to do lists into daily tasks that you schedule in to each day. I had a Planner Pad left from 2007 that I had hardly written in at all so I re-did the dates instead of buying a new one and it kept me on target and organized (for the most part) throughout the year. I was so happy with using it again that I ordered my 2011 Planner Pad and had it engraved with my name. I'll talk more about it later.

2. I wrote down all my passwords in my Planner Pad so they would all be in one place and I wouldn't have to go searching for them.

3. I started a bills to pay/ financial/ budget page on the first of the month notes page in my Planner Pad to help keep track of expenses. I did skip several months but got back to it towards the end of the year.  I plan to do it every month in 2011.

4. I turned around a situation at work that had me feeling really down and bad about myself at the end of 2009. I vowed that I would never let that happen again and I've been successful. I had let my mind talk myself into feeling bad and didn't catch it until I was in bad shape. I worked hard this year on mindsets and stopping the negative thoughts early and not letting them fester.

5. I collected inspirational quotes in my datebook all year and posted some by my desk at work, on my fridge or wrote them in my art journal.

6. I started working with Stacey Curnow http://www.staceycurnow.com/blog/ who is a Life Coach. She has a fabulous blog called Midwife for Your Life. I can't say enough wonderful things about Stacey. She is kind, generous, thoughtful, insightful, supportive and right on with her assessments. She always knows what to say in response to what I am going though or being challenged by. She has an amazing capacity to remember quotes, books and other reference material that pertain to the subject at hand. If you are looking for a coach I recommend Stacey highly. 

7.  As part of my job I teach crafts at our senior center every Monday morning. Every week I need to come up with a new idea. It's been a fun year learning all kinds of new crafts. I'll post a sampling of the projects we've done soon.

8. I've taught Mixed Media Collage to older adults at Hudson Guild Senior Center for 3 years and 9 months and I LOVE it! I've had some of the same students since the beginning and new students join periodically. This year we worked on an 8 month long collage journal project! My students are so amazing and I have watched them grow and become better artists each year. It is so gratifying to see.

9. My brother Mike came into the city to spend my birthday with me in early March. I called and asked him to spend the day with me and it was one of the best birthdays I've ever had. The weather was so warm that all the roller skaters and buskers were out in Central Park. we had a blast hanging out there all day listening to good music and people watching. Later we hit a movie and had dinner.

10. I treated myself to an ACEO (artist's card, editions and originals) from Lisa Call http://lisacall.com/ for my birthday. I subscribe to Lisa's blog and I'm always impressed with her honesty, hard work and beautiful artwork. My 100 Accomplishments for 2009 was inspired by Lisa doing it on her blog. I got the most comments about that blog post.

I hoped to get all 100 posted by January 1st  but that hasn't happened so I decided to post 10 or more at a time. Once I get all 100 written I'll post them all together.

Friday, December 31, 2010

Closing Out 2010, Welcoming the New Year



One of my goals for the past few months has been to post more consistently on my blog. I'm happy to say that I've reached that goal for this month. So here is my last post for the year. I plan to work on my 100 accomplishments for 2010 and post that in the next few days. In the meantime I hope you have a wonderful New Years celebration wherever you are.

I have so many plans and goals for 2011 that I am very excited about. I'll be sharing them in the months to come. The word I've chosen for the new year is CHANGE and I intend for many changes to take place, big and small. I hope all your dreams and aspirations come true for your new year.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Art Journal Every Day

http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/HostedPics/ArtJournalEveryDayLogo-150.jpg


Julie Balzer  has done it again! On December 31st she'll post the first of many Art Journal Every Day topics. This will continue throughout the new year with many artist's participating including ME! Can't wait to get started. I brought my art journal with me while visiting the family for the holidays so I can get a start on it.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Evolution of a Box Piece

 I found this drawer lying on a table in the room where I teach collage. At first I thought it was wood but when I touched it realized it was plastic. I was disappointed at first but then decided it didn't matter.  Nobody claimed it and it had my name all over it so I took it home. Here is what I did with it:

The inside of the box was covered in red flocked paper. Yuck! I should have taken a picture of it but didn't. I glued this vintage marbled paper inside to carry the antique look I was going for. I found these papers on the street along with covers for an old dictionary. The covers I used to make a journal that I showed in a previous post.


Next I glued this wonderful sheer fabric with roses to the outside on two sides. It used to part part of a blouse. I wanted to cover the plastic and integrate the outside with the inside more.


I have all these vintage sewing notions that I've been wanting to use in a piece and this was the perfect opportunity. The small card on the right holds woman's garters. The  larger card on the left holds hooks and eyes and has beautiful text.  I made the spiral from a bit of cloth covered copper wire that was fraying and hung it from the top of the box with some waxed linen.


A numerical table got glued to the back wall and an old green tape measure is down on the bottom.

 I think I'll call it Sewing Box

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Monday, December 6, 2010

My Guest Post on Julie Balzer's blog



I am delighted to be a part of Julie Balzer's Holidays Handmade. Every day there will be at least four posts (and maybe more!) with a different crafty focus. My post airs on Sunday, December 12th. I'll be showing you how to make fabulous pins from jigsaw puzzle pieces. Here's a preview of the project.




Thursday, December 2, 2010

Sleepless Life

Am I destined to not sleep? Can one be predestined to never get enough sleep. Why me? I ask myself. I'll be on my way and the slightest noise, the heat coming on, a change in temperature, the asshole that lives above me walking back and forth, back and forth right over my head, the floor boards moaning, dropping something just as I'm falling off. Then I'm up and agitated, my mind working overtime, my heart racing, my jaw clenching, my anxiety level sky high.

I wonder how I can live in a small box with people on top, people underneath and sideways, everywhere. I long for open spaces, tranquility, peace and quiet. Blissful peace and quiet. Is that possible in this world and if so where is it? Where can I go to get a good night's sleep?

I feel a big change coming on and wonder how it will take form. I resist it. I long for it. I need it. Desperately. More than you'll ever know. Things that I've done for years I don't want to do any more. Or at least change the context. Or the location. Or the audience. Or me. I want to be something else. Not someone else. I just want a new life, a different life, a more fulfilled life. Perhaps this is all a new beginning and the inner stirrings to make the change happen. I don't know. But I'm going to find out.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Thanks Giving

As Thanksgiving approaches I am reminded to give thanks for all that I have and all that I cherish. My father just got home from the hospital and I am so grateful that he is feeling better and on the mend. I spent more time talking to my siblings, especially my sister, these past few weeks and that makes me so happy. I've been cleaning up my apartment and getting rid of years of accumulated stuff and though it is sometimes hard to let go of things it feels really good to have more space and see a positive vision for the future. Peaceful surroundings, space to create art, inspiration, music, comfort, love...

 Below are some ATC's that were in a recent show, Small Wonders: ATC's & ACEO's. Enjoy and have yourself a wonderful Thanksgiving full of family, friends, love, gratefulness and good food!