Thursday, June 29, 2006

Artwords ~minimalism~


This week's artword - minimalism. I must admit I'm not a big fan of minimalism or contemporary art. I especially don't like bold, primary colors. When I'm 100 and they do the "Lennea Retrospective" they'll call it my "earthy period". heehee. I like sepia, mocha, sage, burgandy, straw - all those nice, calm, muddy colors. These colors suit my personality - laid back, calm, serene. I seek experiences that invoke peacefulness and serenity. I enjoy an occasional splash of color - a yellow rose, an orange sunset, a bright lime - but I live in the calmer colors. So, I knew I wouldn't enjoy using traditional minimalist primary colors. I decided to do minimalism with minimal use of color. I started layering a variety of mocha and straw colored tissue papers. Pretty for a background, but not too exciting. I like to be calm but not in a coma! So, I had to add some gold and amber beads and bits, then decided a bit of mica would look beautiful. I was about to leave it alone when I discovered this piece of old leather stamped with the word treasure. It was just the right shade of brown - so on it went. So here is my entry - not minimalist in the traditional sense of the word perhaps, but minimal in the use of color...and it looks great on my bedroom walls.

Monday, June 12, 2006

Artwords ~Secret~


THis weeks artword~Secrets. I think it's just human nature to be curious about other people's lives. Do those perfectly manicured, thin, put together women have secret lives of chin hairs and dust bunnies? I choose to think they do (makes feel better about myself)! For this challenge I used vintage images of women and their lives from a 1930's women's magazine collaged on 4x4" sturdy matboard and tied together with vintage ribbon.These magazines always crack me up in the same way "Leave it to Beaver" and " the Brady Bunch" cracks me up. These women are waaaaay too happy about doing the laundry. So what are some of the secrets of Perfect Women? Glad you asked...

1. serves meals to family on paper plates
2.washed child's hair with dog shampoo
3. plucks stray chin hairs
4. doesn't separate colors
5.has drawer full of skin firming creams
6. counts running thru sprinklers as bathtime
7.counts ketchup as a vegetable group
8. alters clothes with safety pins and staples
9. packed school lunch of pop tart and tic tacs

Of course, these aren't MY secrets...I,uh just made them up....really....

This set of cards is for sale on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7422580935&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

artwords - Play


So this week's artword is play. As an artist, I get to play nearly everyday! I Play with color, ephemera, shapes, texture, words, brushes, inks, stamps... and this has given me my joy back. I had forgotten how to play - how to abandon myself to playing. When I forgot to play, I forgot a big part of what God created me for. God is pleased when a dog is being a dog, a flower a flower and when I am being me. When I am doing those things that make my heart sing, my soul soar and time stand still - I am being the authentic me and I believe God is pleased.