Art Book Collaborative: May

In April, I took a class at Art Is You which revived my interested in acrylic inks. This page is for Nanette Zeller, whose book theme is "Forest for the Trees".

A tree lives by its roots.

Change the roots and

you change the tree.

Change the trees and

you change the forest.

                     unknown

Artists' Book Collaboration

I've been working on a page for Gabriele DiTota, of Melbourne Fl, whose theme is "Earth, Wind and Fire".  I Had some wonderful fabric that looked like fire for my quilted background, then added some burnt trees and grass in the foreground. Hope she likes it.

FIRESTORM
2016

Martha Ginn sent me my May page for my art book a little early.  Lucky me!  My theme is
Habitat" and Martha's spin on it is delightful.  She has quilted a colorful cityscape on to a neutral background, then added some little people in the windows.  I adore it!

Martha Ginn
2016

Home Is Where Your Family Is

Today I received a wonderful fabric page for my art book "Habitat" for this month.
Leni Wierner is the artist and her page is machine stitch appliqué with great fabric selections for the critters in the tree.  I am in love with it!

Home Is Where Your Family Is"
Leni Wierner
5 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches

Artists' Book Exchange

Janice Paine Dawes sent the first page for my art book for  February. It has a beautiful vintage image of a Chipping Sparrow in a textured nest and grass on a beautiful painted background.  In her artist's statement, Janice says "Habitat...is the place we return to time and again. It is the place we have our family until they leave the "nest".  It is the place we remain even as "empty nesters".  A resting place is the ultimate habitat."

Janice Paine Dawes

The first February page I sent out was to Janis Doucette, who's theme was "Seeds".  It is a paper mono print with screen printed Dandelions and stamping, 8.5x10 inches.

Dandelions
February 2016

Sandy Donnabed chose "Arial View" for her theme and I sent her an 8x8 inch hand painted fabric that I had pulled multiple thermofax images on, quilted it and sewed an image of a "flying man" on it. The design reminded me of the view of a city as you descend in an airplane.

Flying Man
March 2016

Artists' Book Exchange

When the Arts in the Cards trading group ended, I was delighted to have the opportunity to work with 9 other artists from all over the US in art book collaboration. Each artist has determined a theme, decided on the size, and made a cover for their art book.  We began the exchange in January, creating a page and sending it to the first person on our list of artists.  We each receive a page for our own book, and so it goes every month.  My theme is "Habitat", with 5 1/2x 7 1/2 inch pages.

Habitat , back cover

Habitat, front cover

Dia de los Muertos

I have been borrowing the Mexican "Day of the Dead" tradition every November 1,  by assembling ofrendas (altars) that honor my mom, dad and dog.  Remembering them fondly and loving the memories warms my heart and soul.

There are many Mexican women in my sewing class that I thought would like to transform 

upcycled denim jackets into Dia de los Muertos jackets.  These are some samples I did to inspire them to make their own.  

It's a Wrap

Artist trading card theme for September is "It's a Wrap".  When we exchange our cards, they are often  tucked into wraps of painted paper, painted envelopes, special papers.  Sometimes the wraps are as interesting that the cards they enclose.  I've been saving them because they are much too cool to toss, and when this theme came up, they were perfect to use in bits and pieces to create another art piece.
I really enjoyed this process and had enough wraps to make many more than needed!

Paper collage with paint and stenciling.