Sumi-e Bird

Back to painting...

I'm out of practice and loving the feel of the brush in my hand, travelling over the lumps and bumps of hand made paper. It grabs and drinks in volumes of liquid in thirsty unforgiving gulps so I must remember to load the brush real good. Unless I want a dry brush effect and then that is like riding a bucking bronco over the lumps and bumps and valleys but what a ride. Must remember to breathe. I am never in control but love every second of the process. The results are always a surprise. Especially when I haven't done it for months at a time. Well, here's my sumi-e painted bird.

The first thing I do is grind the ink stick with a tiny bit of water in the stone well. See that tiny dipper? It allows a literal drop at a time.

The ink well is missing as I rinse it immediately after using. I've got many different colours of ink stick. Is it possible to be in love with art materials? Paper? Colour of inks? I think so.

Well, back to the drawing board. Thanks for popping in. See you soon, I hope, N, x

Meditation Zine

DC: 193: Prayer/Meditation

This week's drawing challenge pushed me to design my first real 'zine.' The theme Prayer is interpreted by my self as 'Meditation.' Thank you so much TammieLee for hosting this event and choosing such a lovely theme for us to consider.

Firstly, this is a prototype, a design idea, a learning curve, an experiment. It is a zine about meditation and the graphics are collaged tea bag paper (used) with watercolour birds and stitched (oh it is awful but oh well) outlines for veins, etc. With all of its warts and (hateful due to machine issues, etc.) stitched boo-boos.

Here's some stems with tired worn out brown leaves from a lotus plant.

This is the entire 8.5"X11" sheet filled with old lotus plants.

We find a colourful bird has found its' way into the lotus grove.

Birds have been painted, and machine stitching added to denote veins, etc.

Words have been added.

And the pages folded and cut. It's ready to be born into a zine proper:

Front Cover.

Page 2 and 3.

Page 4 and 5

Page 6 and 7

Back Cover.

So I learned a great deal. The beige on beige is boring so I have in mind some very colouful bugs to add...next time. And I want to do hand lettering for the type. And use brown thread in the sewing machine. And to play with the machine to get control over what I want to happen on the page...

And so dear readers, thanks for dropping by. Click on Tammie's blog to see what others have added to this great drawing challenge this week. Bye for now, hope to see you again soon, Love Norma, x

P.S.
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to a friend who sent me a surprise gift in the mail. Her art inspired me no end and launched me into a whole new world of tea bag collage. Thank you so much Kim Henkel.

Pink Horse

DRAWING CHALLENGE INVITE (All are very welcome here!) To join in this fun challenge, just leave a comment below and I'll add your name to the list. When you've completed your offering/contribution to the challenge, I'll link your name to the list so everyone can come visit your site. So, to join in all you have to do is: a) leave a comment below indicating that you are IN the challenge, b) do your art piece, drawing, painting, sculpting, photographing, installation, whatever your expression is, c) let me know in the comments section below that you're ready to show your art and I'll then go in and link you in the players's list which will be at the bottom of this post, d) on the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of April, visit the folk on the list who are playing along so you can see what they have done. It's easy to visit the list, as they are all in one spot at the end of this blog post and are all highlighted so all you have to do is 'click'! I hope you will join in for the fun here.

DC No. 192: Pink Horse

Well, judging from my last post it looks like it took just under a month to get my dining table up and running and back to normal (ahem). This is what it looks like right now, March 21st, that is:

I got a neat little wood display case that is very narrow, wall hung and with a glass door. Perfect for my little books. Just bringing your attention to it as it contains a few books at the moment.

So working on the dining table was impossible and I moved over to my other actual work table, equally messy but where I work most. My work desk is overlooked (freudian slip) by a religious figure as I do need help in the cleaning department:

Most times I feel like the saying in the post card:

I knew I was going to do a little book with a pamphlet binding. Here's a pile of visuals and I chose the horses on the post card for the front cover:

I made a selection of papers from my favourite paper mill (Canadian I am proud to say.):

Then I went to 'the SUITCASE':

The suitcase contains paper, and I opened it:

I'd found an image of two horses, one of them pink, that I liked and had chosen. Perhaps I should use this pink gun found in the suitcase? Perhaps not:

I surveyed my pencil crayons:

And then got down to work.

I was laying in bed waiting to go to sleep the other night, when a flash of an idea came to me: why not use the 'channel' where the blade runs along to slice through paper, on my paper cutter to draw a crease in paper to act as a fold line? Wouldn't the width of the bone folder I have run along that channel nicely? Honestly, I don't see why not is what I said to myself just before I drifted off. And then forgot about the whole brilliant idea upon waking the following morning!

Until I remembered it earlier this day. It launched me. I have had the idea for a long time, that a person (me!) could make things from what they (me!) already has. So I jumped up, found some suitable paper and tried the running the bone folder along the channel to score a piece of paper idea. SUCCESS.

That was the leap off of the tall diving board, creatively speaking. I decided that I could make a little book and be a host of the wonderful paper swap for this week at the same time. So I rushed to action, sourcing out things in my home.

Time for some words. I went through the stack of books I keep for cutting up and as I scanned the pages, really, a story evolved on its' own from the first page I looked at. Suddenly the picture I chose now has a story to it. And it's taken on a life of its' own. This is the muse at work. A surprise for me, and a surprise for you at the same time...I think this booklet might be a story about two gay guys. It's called PINK HORSE, starting from an image of two horses, one a pinkish hue. And I chose a bunch of pinky, purple papers to do a collage with and beyond that I knew not what it would be. But, I found a picture that I've been long long in love with and decided to use it in the centre (chosen mostly for the pink tie and purple vest in the image) and then stumbled across some lines on a page in an old book, and a story emerged. All by itself. I think it is about a jockey. Is he a former jockey? Did he retire? Get kicked out of the community? Feel shamed in some way? Maybe he is still working...a current jockey. In any event, he is feeling sad. I decided to tuck his friend into a pocket in the previous page so our jockey can just get a glimpse of him. Perhaps his friend is just a memory. Or a fantasy of the night. We really do not know.

So the idea popped into my head to search for the 'pansies' image I have somewhere...somewhere...I began the search...and didn't find pansies (though now that I think of it, pansies would be 'guilding the lily',) but came across a bookmark with the word COCK written in large pink letters and I'm thinking of using it to tuck into the pocket with the friend. And then I came across another little box of papers which contains quotes, and the first quote I came upon says: " Ancient lovers believed a kiss would literally unite their souls, because the spirit was said to be carried in one's breath." Okay that quote will definitely be tucked in with his friend in the pocket. On with the search. Be back soon.

Well it didn't take long. I found a cover image. And so I'm going to throw out the whole idea of doing a collage on the front cover. I'm only going to use the horses image from the very first bookmark cover design idea. Back to searching...aaaaaaaand it's done! Quickly, I came across a pink horse (another one), pink lipstick, and an image of a Japanese actor with a lipstick 'cross' over the lips. Perfect. Now time to dig out the glue.

Okay this is getting to be too much. Even for me. A believer (in the muse; in serendipity.) I was cutting out the pink horse image to start to glue it down, and swished away a section of my messy work desk, and what fell onto my lap? The following quote: "My inner male loves and supports me." Nuff said.

I just cut and pasted and glued to my heart's content and here is the finished book. It's a small 'pocket' book with only 6 pages plus the front and back cover, but it is a story complete unto itself nonetheless. The inside pages being planned:

Our fella is feeling very sad indeed:

All of the images have been chosen:

And the binding selected:

And the book, completed. Here's shots of inside pages, and front and back covers:

The last photo is the front cover. The title of the book is "Pink Horse" and it tells the story of a man who is very sad. The visuals show pink lipstick, a Japanese actor with a lipstick cross "X" on his lips, 3 different pink horses, and other horses so perhaps this guy is a jockey. There are a quote and an affirmation about the 'inner male' and about 'a kiss', and the word COCK written in large capital letters. Two pockets hold some of these things.

Well, my muse took me on quite the journey this time round. I do not judge my muse, only obey.

Thank you for joining in for this week's drawing challenge and I hope you've all had a blast and I know I'm going to have a blast visiting your sites to see what you have done. Bye for now, and thanks for dropping in. All the best to you, with love, Norma, x

P.S. If you want to join in on this drawing challenge just leave a comment below on this post. I'll make a list of who is joining in this time.

THE PLAYERS: TammieLee, Melodye, Veronica, Lucia, Mano, Ariane, Nadine,

Change is here...

Metamorphosis
DC: 190

With my help, my dining table (that comfortably seats 10 but sadly is not much used for eating) has undergone a metamorphosis this day. Here are the BEFORE shots:

And here is the AFTER shot:

To see more metamorphosis visit ROSE. Ariane has chosen this timely topic for this week's drawing challenge. Thank you my dear! Thanks for coming by today; see you soon I hope, Norma, x

Cocoon

DC: 189
THE CATECHISM

I've felt the pull to do a collage and so for this drawing challenge, that is what I've done. All I had was a black and white photocopy of a whole group of cocoons from a white butterfly [common cabbage type] that were attached to a tree. Not much to go on, and pretty boring really. But the muse piped in and suddenly an old drawing study plan of 'lines' for an image of a single female sitting in a boat came into play, quickly followed by some lines from an old Reader's Digest condensed book so old the yellowed pages are practically falling out of the spine. They struck me, these lines. The word 'squaw' jarred my mind. It's an awful word. But I think used often in past times. And the idea that the teaching of the catechism to 'squaws' was of import really strikes me, almost a physical sensation, as I've recently been thinking of residential schools and about the idea of taking the 'indian' out of indian kids in their charge. The schools I know of were run by priests and nuns.

Bits and pieces fell into my hands as the collage completed itself on the page. After it was done these questions came to mind as I viewed what I'd just made:
1. Did Mrs. Feake have a knowledge of good and evil? Is the snake symbol her friend or foe?
2. As the snake with the forked tongue is facing the catechism sentence, what does that say?
3. As the snake with the smile on its' face is facing the lone woman is snake her friend?
4. Is the lone woman sitting in quiet repose reciting the catechism to herself in serenity?
5. Is the lone woman making plans to leave her situation and fly like a butterfly once her cocoon phase is over?

The poem is by Ellie Daphne van Stralen. The lines are from 'The Winthrop Woman' by Anya Seton, c. 1958.

Patrice is our host this week for the drawing challenge and her blog will direct you to the other players participating in this challenge. Have a look at what they have done. There is always such a variety of interesting, inspiring, fabulous creative offerings here. Thank you for dropping in today, and I hope to see you again soon, Cheers, Norma, x

All sixes and sevens...

SIXES and SEVENS
drawing challenge no. 187

Our host this week for the drawing challenge is the lovely Nadine! It's been far too long since I've been able to play here and so I am particularly happy to join in. And, as usual, I wondered what I might possibly come up with. My mind blank, teetering on the edge of the abyss of panic, my heart beginning to race a little, my logic reaching for possibilities, I go to bed discouraged in my own ability to ever make anything interesting, truly creative, original, nice and in particular something that others might like, again. This happens every time. But absolutely every time, the panic is followed by a kernel of an idea. It grows. I relax. I find BELIEF again that maybe I can think of something original and that I love and that others might like. I relax more deeply. The muse enters into things. I begin to trust. I relax quite a lot now. The muse and me are working together on something. That something for this drawing challenge is a little book. SURPRISE!

And so it grew. My ideas always grow. Too big for a challenge and done in one week, actually. I'm always full of "this is going to be...or, when this is finished it will..." And so again with this week's challenge.

But here is my little book. The feeling I get when faced with signing up for a new challenge repeats itself every time. As outlined briefly above, I doubt, worry, panic, relax a little, allow an idea to enter, relax a little more, allow the muse in, relax a lot, and get down to work. That is my personal experience of being all sixes and sevens. It's not comfortable. It is always worth it. And as always, I won't be able to complete my project for the deadline but will show you what I do have done, and describe the rest.

I believe in things unseen. Miracles, magic, ghosts, favors granted from the divine, synchronicities, quantum physics, prayer, an intelligent universe. I believe. But my belief is not always comfortable and at times quite the opposite. My ego who very much wants to control things and is very incompetent and some say, run by the devil himself, just has to have a say in things. The devil might whisper "prove it" and I say back "I don't have to, for I believe." These are general musings I realize, but so is my drawing challenge offering this week.

As I sit and think of things 'universe' I think of stars first, so I made a small book of 65 lb. recycled art paper inside and my beloved Saint Armand paper for the cover, using a Japanese stab binding in the shape of STAR. The first page of the book shows a very small drawing of a field at dusk with the nighttime stars beginning to twinkle. At the bottom, a quote cut from an old recycled bible: for we walk by faith, not by sight. This is from 2 Corinthians 5:7. The meaning for me is that I don't have to see things to believe in them. I believe I have a muse that will never leave me or fail me. I'll leave it at that.

Lincoln said: "To believe in the things you can see and touch is no belief at all; but to believe in the unseen is a triumph and a blessing."

Now we come to the part where I won't be able to complete the whole art idea by the deadline for this week. My little book is meant to be written in, drawn in, or whatever one desires. It will snug into a little pocket which really will be a pendant pouch on a rope, worn as a necklace. The pouch will be woven (I have a table loom I call Saint Agnes) from textured wool and strips of paper rope I make from bible pages (shifu Japanese paper rope.) It's gonna be great I tell ya! Famous last words.

I like the idea of affirmations and one could write these in the little book necklace to refer to, remember, quote to one's self (might come in handy at the dentist's office) and I like the idea of the card no. 17 of the Major Arcana in the Tarot. Card no. 17 is STAR. This might have special meaning for some. As I worked on this small book, the meaning of it grew as it grew into being between my fingers and needles et al. I see this piece as a 'prayer book' of sorts. For it has a bible quote and is illustrated ever so slightly. So it can be that for some, too. Okay so what does this thing look like for heaven's sake! Here is the cover. Shown beside a dime for scale, and threading instructions for drama (HA!):

Here is the front page illustration. Pencil crayon, ink. I haven't done any art for months so I'm critical of this but it does give a nice idea:

Drop by to visit Nadine who will direct you to the visuals for all of the folk playing along this week. You will see all different kinds of wonderful offerings here. Nice to see you again! Cheers, Norma, x

p.s. just ignore the blue colored chunk in the middle of the blog. I can't get rid of it.

Love Paris

I started working on a few wee books for my first Christmas Craft Fair, and have stamped some with my new hand-carved stamp. I had it made yesterday in Chinatown by a brilliant artist. The stamp, also called 'chop' is small and this guy doesn't use a magnifying glass...and, he works without glasses. He carves directly into the stone! The chinese character ideagram means 'return' which I chose specifically because of the meaning as it relates to the cycles of a year. We return to the same place but see it differently, with new eyes. Snowflakes are discovered anew each year, for example. Nature returns. We return. All return.

The red cinnabar paste takes a bit of time to dry. So while I'm waiting on it, I started to make pages for a new little stack of books (small stack as I work so darned slow.) I started gathering the supplies and materials together and came upon a colour picture of the Eiffel Tower and that stopped me in my tracks. I knew I had to make a wee book in honour of Paris and that led to hours and hours of finding supplies, garnering ideas in my head and hands on cutting, stamping, sewing, pasting, embellishing; I'm still at it so who knows what else will transpire. I work with an idea in my head, but my hands as they work on the item, always do their own thing. Which is always a surprise to me, and always comes from my 'muse.'

So instead of making a small batch of books I'll be making one book about Paris. So it goes.

I glanced up at one point and realized my work desk was a sight to behold. A flurry of activity. I bet most of you work like this. Here's a few photographs:

The cinnabar paste is drying.

 Pages are folded and awaiting selection.

 So busy these days no time to replace dead flowers in vase on my work desk.

And no time to pack away Halloween decorations.

Here's a few reference books on my work table.

Well it is time to get back at it! Hope you are all well and enjoying yourselves. Talk soon, I hope, sending love to all, Norma