Times are a changing
look to the future through things from the past
I am in the process of embarking on a new adventure. For a long time now, I have been trying to evaluate - or more correctly, re-evaluate my artistic abilities. Not in being an artist, but in what kind of artist I should be. I struggle with doing a little of a lot, and not really focusing on one aspect. I am a "Jack of all Artistic Trades" and a master of none. It's time, time to take all of that doing a little of a lot, and make it into something beautiful.
My husband has always accused me of looking at things a little differently. I admit, I do not see objects in the light they were intended to shine in. I see the tines on a piece of equipment as plant hangers on the patio, I see an empty wine bottle as a lantern, an herb pot, a bracelet holder or a dish soap dispenser. I see propane tanks as candle holders - get the picture? Ask anyone who has ever junk shopped with me, they will tell you - the inner workings of my mind is not for the faint of heart and that most of my sentences begin with, "wouldn't that make a cool..." or "that would be awesome as...". They don't see it, but then again - they don't have to, and I'm ok with that. But once it's all said and done - out of my mind and now a reality, they do say - "Wow, I never saw that coming". So from this begins the journey, another phase in my artistic lifespan.
You know the saying - "you will know when it hits you", well that is exactly what happened to me. This whole shift in artistic vision was triggered by a project presented to me by one of the most wonderful women I know - Myrna Lyng. She asked me if I wanted to "do my thing" with an old metal box that her and her hubby has been keeping around for God knows what. We decided it would be donated as an art auction item at MSU's Northern Lights Arts Gallery's annual fundraising event. She told me to just work my "magic". So, I did, and in that project I found a purpose for my creative abilities. I have finally decided what I want to do now that I am all grown up. I have decided to pursuit my artistic dreams in the form of re-purposing, re-vamping, up-cycling, recycling...call it what you may, I want to create beautiful objects from junk.
It is going to be an interesting adventure - one that will involve several of my closest friends. There will be a lot of searching for the "right" object. There will be a lot of grumbling coming from my hubby when I bring another "treasure" home, or ask him to bring the truck to haul something home. But all in all, I know this is where I will find my artistic bliss. So bear with me as I launch a new website and travel down another road less traveled. I will still work on my digital art and custom projects for people, but the majority of my artistic free time will be spent breathing new life into old objects.
I hope you travel with me, I will post before and afters - and "along the ways". Who knows, maybe this will help you view the world in another light.
My husband has always accused me of looking at things a little differently. I admit, I do not see objects in the light they were intended to shine in. I see the tines on a piece of equipment as plant hangers on the patio, I see an empty wine bottle as a lantern, an herb pot, a bracelet holder or a dish soap dispenser. I see propane tanks as candle holders - get the picture? Ask anyone who has ever junk shopped with me, they will tell you - the inner workings of my mind is not for the faint of heart and that most of my sentences begin with, "wouldn't that make a cool..." or "that would be awesome as...". They don't see it, but then again - they don't have to, and I'm ok with that. But once it's all said and done - out of my mind and now a reality, they do say - "Wow, I never saw that coming". So from this begins the journey, another phase in my artistic lifespan.
You know the saying - "you will know when it hits you", well that is exactly what happened to me. This whole shift in artistic vision was triggered by a project presented to me by one of the most wonderful women I know - Myrna Lyng. She asked me if I wanted to "do my thing" with an old metal box that her and her hubby has been keeping around for God knows what. We decided it would be donated as an art auction item at MSU's Northern Lights Arts Gallery's annual fundraising event. She told me to just work my "magic". So, I did, and in that project I found a purpose for my creative abilities. I have finally decided what I want to do now that I am all grown up. I have decided to pursuit my artistic dreams in the form of re-purposing, re-vamping, up-cycling, recycling...call it what you may, I want to create beautiful objects from junk.
It is going to be an interesting adventure - one that will involve several of my closest friends. There will be a lot of searching for the "right" object. There will be a lot of grumbling coming from my hubby when I bring another "treasure" home, or ask him to bring the truck to haul something home. But all in all, I know this is where I will find my artistic bliss. So bear with me as I launch a new website and travel down another road less traveled. I will still work on my digital art and custom projects for people, but the majority of my artistic free time will be spent breathing new life into old objects.
I hope you travel with me, I will post before and afters - and "along the ways". Who knows, maybe this will help you view the world in another light.
This is what the treasure box started as - rusty and old. But I saw something completely different.
| 
I scraped & stained with colored paint. I added scrapbook paper, silk flowers and glass gems - even a few rhinestones. The inside held a lavender painted lift out box. I added the verse and a special "note to self" on the inside.
|
Just Divine
Call it "Bo-Ho", "Shabby", "Junque"...I call it Fun. These latest jewelry creations were inspired by a friend who wanted something "not so cowgirl", well here they are. These necklaces are created with a little vintage, a little new, a little inspiration and a little fun. Each neck charm features a vintage image with a matching bit of inspiration on the back. My process is quite simple - find a verse, find an image, find a charm. The tricky part is finding the RIGHT image to go with the RIGHT verse and make it all come together with the beads and the charms. Sometimes it starts with the verse, then I can spend hours searching for the perfect vintage lady that looks like she is thinking exactly what my verse says. Other times I have the perfect image & struggle to get just the right words to describe what she's feeling. But most the time it just happens & I have no idea of how, I just know it works in the end.
All images are printed on archival paper, sandwiched between two pieces of glass & wrapped with silver metal tape. The various chains are joined with hand wrapped glass beads. Image charm is 1x3", chain is approx 32" long. No two the same...$45
All images are printed on archival paper, sandwiched between two pieces of glass & wrapped with silver metal tape. The various chains are joined with hand wrapped glass beads. Image charm is 1x3", chain is approx 32" long. No two the same...$45
Color Wheels
My inspiration comes from every where.
I was recently house sitting for my dear friends in Ft. Ransom, ND. For those who haven't a clue as to where this is, well - let's just say it's a little out-of-the-way community in the middle of God's country. My friends live a few miles away from the state park & once you come into this valley, the landscape is simply beautiful. Their home is situated at the foot of a hill and on the edge of their backyard is a horse corral lined with old wagon wheels.
This is a shot I took one of the days I was staying there. I was learning - ok, playing, with my new camera. The wheels lined up on the fence line just begged to be photographed. The raw image itself was beautiful - rustic, aged wooden wheels against the split rail fence. But I knew it could be so much more. I got home and altered the photograph with layers of colors and textures. This is the end result.
24x30 gallery wrapped canvas...$175
I was recently house sitting for my dear friends in Ft. Ransom, ND. For those who haven't a clue as to where this is, well - let's just say it's a little out-of-the-way community in the middle of God's country. My friends live a few miles away from the state park & once you come into this valley, the landscape is simply beautiful. Their home is situated at the foot of a hill and on the edge of their backyard is a horse corral lined with old wagon wheels.
This is a shot I took one of the days I was staying there. I was learning - ok, playing, with my new camera. The wheels lined up on the fence line just begged to be photographed. The raw image itself was beautiful - rustic, aged wooden wheels against the split rail fence. But I knew it could be so much more. I got home and altered the photograph with layers of colors and textures. This is the end result.
24x30 gallery wrapped canvas...$175
Wicked with Wings
Edgy, Funky, Inspirational - with not your typical Cowgirl Attitude
Recently, I donated a piece of wall art to an area auction, innocent enough, but then most of my adventures begin that way. The piece I donated was a Cowgirl inspired wall canvas. I was nervous about it being auctioned off, I don't really like being at events that my artwork is being shown or sold. I made arrangements with everyone at my table to bid on the piece, to spare me the embarrassment of it going "too cheap". The bidding started, and a couple of friends did get in on it, but before we knew it, hands were in the air and it was a hit. The piece sold for far more than I anticipated, which was a good thing, and it created a bit of a stir, another good thing.
So, home I went, hugely surprised and greatly motivated. I created several new versed wall art. From each verse, another began. I started to see the potential for this style. From the wall art came the home decor designs (blankets, cushion covers & flags) and then the t shirts. I am wildly, wickedly proud to announce my latest creations - Wicked with Wings, for the Cowgirl with a little naughty and little nice in her...and the rest they say, is history.
Recently, I donated a piece of wall art to an area auction, innocent enough, but then most of my adventures begin that way. The piece I donated was a Cowgirl inspired wall canvas. I was nervous about it being auctioned off, I don't really like being at events that my artwork is being shown or sold. I made arrangements with everyone at my table to bid on the piece, to spare me the embarrassment of it going "too cheap". The bidding started, and a couple of friends did get in on it, but before we knew it, hands were in the air and it was a hit. The piece sold for far more than I anticipated, which was a good thing, and it created a bit of a stir, another good thing.
So, home I went, hugely surprised and greatly motivated. I created several new versed wall art. From each verse, another began. I started to see the potential for this style. From the wall art came the home decor designs (blankets, cushion covers & flags) and then the t shirts. I am wildly, wickedly proud to announce my latest creations - Wicked with Wings, for the Cowgirl with a little naughty and little nice in her...and the rest they say, is history.
 | In the beginning... This is the verse that started it all.
I found this anon. verse several years ago while working on a high school senior marketing campaign - it became the t-shirt bonus for that year's seniors. After adapting the verse & design to suit the Horse World, I had it printed as a canvas. All my other verses in the Cowgirl series are ORIGINAL, written by me, inspired by horse world life events.  |
