Hudson Art Hop on September 11

September 11th is last monthly Art Hop this year. I can hardly believe it! This year has flown by…just flown!

To end the season, the focus this month will be on art education and learning something new. I will be offering materials to make your own postcard-sized collages. If you haven’t done much collage, then this is a quick and fun way to try it out.

Other locations will have projects to make, demos to watch, or artists to learn from. As always, it will be a fun time.

Download the Art Hop flyer to plan your visit.  Hope you can stop by on September 11th, 5-8pm.

p.s. The Holiday Hop will be Saturday, November 28, from noon – 6pm.

Akron Art Prize 2015

The Akron Art Prize is a competition for area artists. More than 200 of us will have artwork on display at locations in Akron during the month of September. Visitors are encouraged to check out the art then vote for their favorites. The winner takes home a $5000 prize!

My newest collage, “Roots and Roads #1”, is my entry. It is on display at Palladian Palette, 106 N. Main St., 2nd fl., upstairs from Akron Glass Works.

Venues are open for viewing each Thursday-Saturday from 12-9 p.m.

The contest run September 5th through the grand finale on October 3rd. If you have the chance, I’d encourage you to visit – and vote.

Get details about the Akron Art Prize here: http://www.akronartprize.org

Roots and Roads #1, a collage

“Roots and Roads #1” is the first in a new series of artwork that explores roots (where do we come from) and roads (where are we going).

2015 has been a year full of – let’s put it mildly – change. I’m in a bit of a lull (thank goodness) and now that I can take a moment to breathe, I am feeling the need to reflect, to look back and look forward. Trying to make sense of the pieces.

That introspection carries into my artwork, of course. I like to work in series, and have been mulling over several possible themes. One idea took cues from last year’s Portals series, which explored portals as transitions, both tangible (windows, gateways, arches) as well as intangible (memories as portals to the past).

Transitions. Yes. This is definitely a time of transition. I’m in a place of going from here to there, but with a strong need for roots, of a starting point, of grounding.

“Roots and Roads #1” is the first piece in this new series. How exactly this series will work out and what other pieces might look like, I can’t say yet.

To see how this collage evolved, visit http://www.lifeneedsart.com/gallery/roots-and-roads-1-a-collage/

A Common Thread, Collages, Numbers 1-8

As I worked on the All Buttoned Up series, I got to thinking about thread. The thread in that series had to be hidden, so I wanted to do a series that focused on thread.

As with that series, these are small postcard sized collages. Behind each collage is a piece of a wallpaper that has a great woven texture.

I love using thread in my artwork to add texture and detail. In some collages, the thread is literally “thread” – quilting thread or sewing thread. In others, it is more subtle: another thing that has a thready appearance.

If you are interested, they are available in my Etsy shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/lifeneedsart?section_id=14552472

Art Break Day 2015

Friday, September 4th is Art Break Day, a day when everyone is encouraged to sit down for a few minutes and make art.

Yes, everyone! You will be pleasantly surprised at how good you feel after only a few minutes of drawing or painting.

Stop by my studio that day: I’ll have lots of art supplies to use and some projects to give you inspiration.

If you can’t make it to Hudson that day, do something artsy for 5 minutes. Keep it simple – grab a couple of markers and doodle, or dig out that old set of watercolors and splash some paint around.

This year, I am fortunate enough to be able to give away “Art In Your Pocket” boxes, a pocket-sized assortment of art supplies. All you have to do is stop by and pick one up.

For more info, visit http://www.lifeneedsart.com/events/art-break-day-2015/