Vanity Reigns with a Paper Crown

I think it was complete coincidence that when I was finishing up this piece that there was one of those cheezy made-for-tv movies on the late beloved Diana on! She by no means was vain...but I did think of the analogy of using paper to compare and describe crowns. I rather think that she would have readily crumpled her crown to just be a normal beautiful woman and mother.

Anyway, I used up my very last chunky slab of wood and this is what I created....I did buy some canvas paper, but I think I'm addicted to working on wood. It allows me to do all the sanding, painting, collaging, and then sanding and distressing and the integrity of the base remains unchanged.

When I tried my process on the canvas paper, it all literally came apart! Ugh, what a disappointment.

I personally would rather invest and build my collection of Golden acrylic paints and mediums....so I don't really have enough in my art budget to keep buying canvases, but probably in the long run that's the way to go.

Any suggestions?

Crimson Resplendence!

She always knew how to light up a room....when she went to the swanky Slipstream Lounge she lathered herself in crimson.Art processes...This is a mixed media collage on a chunky recycled wood block (approx. 5.5 x 5.5 inches). The background is a layering effect that I used frequently in my collages which is a process of using layers and layers of vintage text from old dictionaries, foreign language books etc. I layer them in a criss-cross pattern and then sand off the layers until I'm happy with the resulting depth effects I am looking for. I then use a variety of acrylic paints and ink for the background and distress the heck out of that. When I'm happy with the background I find a muse for image transferring sand that and then add my own detailing and colors to her. And voila!

Hope you enjoy!

Goodbye Grandma! I will miss you!

I just received a call that she passed, thank God in her sleep.

She was 95 and still the most beautiful woman I ever knew. She was the matriarch of my family, she was my rock. She never understood why in the world I would leave southern California (Newport Beach, no less) for cold places like Chicago and eventually Indy. Whenever I saw her or spoke to her, I would say that she was one of the few people I thought of or was reminded of EVERY day. She would smile, but I think with the miles apart she doubted me....

I think now she knows that I do and always will.

Thanks for letting me share.

"Follow Me to Nowhere; Lose Me When You Get There"

I'm no 'wordsmith' to be sure.....but what I wrote here is exactly how I've been feeling with regards to art and inspiration. After doing that art show a few weeks ago...my mind is really blank.

From where I sit
From where I stand
The perspective is unclear
The journey I tread on is a knife's edge
All my colors and creativity elude
Like sand through my fingers
Where have you gone?
My soul aches, my heart waits
For your return
Was it you, was it me?
Did I watch too much TV? (*)
OUTBOUND:INBOUND:SIDEWAYS:CROSSWAYS....
The path still goes nowhere
But in circles
Follow me to nowhere;
Lose me when we get there
For a torment of time
My mind has no allegiance to my brush
I see what I want
But lose you in an instant
Ramble on for the time is now
To release the grasp of the elusive one
Sit tight, till the time is right
Try as I might, I'll not fight
The Elusive One this night

(*)::: The portion/lines "Was it you? Was it me? Did I watch too much TV?" are lines/verses from Pink Floyd's "The Final Cut"

Inspirations

This is a collage on chunky wood I created a while back for my boyfriend's mom this year, which I would say is inspired by one of my favorite artists! If you are familiar with Teesha Moore and her use of vibrant colors, brilliant sense of whimsy and provocative journalling, you are probably also a fan....if you are unfamiliar with her....check out her blog and sink into the decadence of her art.

tee's spree's: how I spent my summer

No art today :(....

We did manage to get all of our annoying 'moving' chores done though! I also cleaned out the computer and deleted all my old art and uploaded it on flickr.

These were from an altered book I created I titled "Women of Destiny".

It's really interesting to run into art done a year ago and compare it to current works.

Tonight we're going to have some cocktails at our corner bar....then take a walk and see where the road leads us.

:)

Little House of Dreams

I've had strange dreams all week....nothing scary, nothing with impending doom....just strange places kinds of dreams. Places I have either been before, or places I have dreamt of before. There's always a house.....and there is always an oceanside. Sometimes there are these fabulous clothes....in gorgeous jewel colors and extravagent fabrics. The styles are unknown to me....it's much more about the textiles.

The house always has a million little ornate rooms....hallways that bend and the lighting is very minimal.

Any dream analysis people out there who can tell me what this all means??

;)

More later.....hopefully I can finish some art today....This collage I included was an altered book page I did a loooong time ago...It seemed to fit for today.

"Her Beauty, Her Weapon" by Kristen Peterson

This is a mixed media collage on a 5.5inch by 5.5 inch chunky wood block. I used these great vintage NRA target practice sheets for the images in the foreground. The woman is someone I found in an Italian Vogue a long time ago.

The background is composed of over 4 layers of image transferring and acrylic washes. Sometimes its the back ground that gives me the most difficult problems......But when I added the ascending circles, it was like magic.

To blog or not to blog.....

I say, Blog! Baby!

This one, I promise I'll be dedicated to....Collaging Kristen will be about my ups and downs as a mixed media artist.

I am primarily self taught and find most of my inspiration from fashion, pop culture, my own surroundings and music.

More on me later.....just wanted to start this thing and see where it will take me!