Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Love Day


Pink Poppies, 2005, Oil on Panel, 5x7


I am not a big fan of holidays and the rampant commercialism that surrounds them, but I do find some enjoyment of them through my kids. I have spent the last few days helping my girls make handmade valentines for their classmates. We did decoupage on heart shaped wood cut outs. They turned out beautifully and I have a newfound respect for collage and especially for Modge Podge. You can put down just about anything, slop some Modge Podge over it and when it dries, everything is all sparkly and shiny, with layers, yet it's solid. I should put collage on my list of new things to try when I have some time to experiment. I love Lee Krasner's collages, particularly the ones where she used the cut pieces of her own figurative drawings.

Yesterday, I managed to fritter away most of the morning on the computer. I should be getting to work in the studio right away in the mornings but my husband got me a new computer with a big monitor and I can't seem to take my eyes off of it. Anyway, I did work for about two hours or so. I applied glazes to several paintings so that I can start with the color on them today (more on my process some other time) and also finished up a flower garden image. I had to finish up by 2pm so I could do my daily 3 mile walk (stupid new year's resolution), then the kids get home and studio time is definitely over at that point.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think more adults should spend time making holiday cut-outs, decorations, cards, etc. just like when WE were kids. It reminds us of being in the present and part of the cycle of things.

A new computer? In my house, we call it the "enticer" or the "devil's box." Yes, don't get sucked in or nothing will get accomplished! Unless you paint with it like I do. No mess! But remember to get up and stretch!

Tracy Helgeson said...

Nice to hear from you Pat! Thanks for commenting-you are right about making decorations, I always feel much more involved in an event when there is a hands on project. It seems as if our society is moving away from that, unfortunately. Maybe it's because of the "devil's box"!

Hey, I will be showing at Carrie Haddad again in November-hope to see you at the opening.

Anonymous said...

THat was fun to read./..I think I'll really get into it when I have a shred more time.....