Stained Glass Unicorn Vomit - First Look

Mind you, that is just the working title. I've been working on the ink part of this on and off for a few years now. This week, I decided to make a few more steps towards its completion and started in with the watercolor. Can you say mega-mandala. This might take a while.

I Cleaned My Room

I figured that was a good way to start the new year.  My little spice rack collection has grown. I was given two for Christmas with the disclaimer that they were pretty scary in their current condition and I was under no obligation to use either of them.  The country-fresh maroon one (you know the color, complete with the edges all fake sanded/worn down to the pine) needed an immediate triple heart transplant.  Three little metal rusty heart blobs were pried from below the bottom shelf to reveal holes, where I inserted some hardwood pegs. Then I made and attached little facing boards to each shelf so they looked complete. Some putty took care of the many holes where the overzealous factory worker did his handiwork with a pneumatic staple gun.

The lime green shelf had already received one makeover before I got it.  We took care of some structural issues then proceeded to paint over the pink swirly roses and yellow sponged squares. I could have seen that color scheme in a twelve year old girly-girl's room - it was probably where she displayed her fingernail polish and My Little Pony collection. It took three coats of paint to hide all the ugliness, but they both sure came out nice.

So now, I just needed space on the wall and perhaps a shuffle of other items to better color coordinate.

So here is my corner. Ta Da!

And everything in its place... except for the huge pile of papers and crap that I put on the chair behind me.

I didn't realize I had so many colors of India ink until I started racking them.

My tall ink bottles were the inspiration for needing another rack. The original on the right was too short and too full. You can see it didn't take long to find modifiers to dangle from the little pegs.

Like a giant game of Tetris as I try to pack books and supplies into drawers and shelves.

I only have about a quarter of the table for working space - the rest is taken up by the laserjet, and the wide format scanner (hiding under the quilt) and printer.

String Theory

I have this theory. It involves the complex topography of knotted string and nieces.

Do you remember making friendship bracelets? (I must admit that I still do this.) I'm thinking two of my little nieces have hit the magic age where this would be a great activity for them.  So I've gotten the big packs of assorted perle cottons and an instruction book for each as Christmas gifts. I've also made each of them a bracelet to wear, plus one for a younger sister so she won't feel left out.  The wide one is special free-form one - not sure who's stocking it will end up in.

These are fun to make, and really quite fascinating when you think about the knot structure. There are so many color possibilities I want to try together.

Instar - In Color

I had finished my drawing, Instar, with the black pen and ink work and had called it done.  A friend wanted a print, but in color.  In this version I've added an over-the-top amount of color and pulled out all the iridescent paints too. You should see this baby sparkle.

My husband says it should come with a warning that the viewer might suffer from epileptic seizures upon gazing too long or hard.

In it's glory...

I'm happy to report that at least the intermediate recipient was delighted with the results.

IF: Mesmerizing

I've been wanting to participate in Illustration Friday back since bicycle (a looong time ago.) I have decided to end my procrastination today.  I'm also ending a long stretch without blogging. Being the last day for this week's word, my entry was rather quickly sketched, but I submit it for your entertainment.

"Mesmerizing." I first thought of a hypnotist, but realized the way to truly mesmerize a kid was by turning on the television.  BTW, these may look like my kids, but they would NEVER be caught watching a show with a purple dinosaur, so these must be somebody else's kids.

Road Trip

I took the girl down on a quick trip to Portland last weekend. Plans had changed unexpectedly, leaving the weekend open to hook up with a group of fellow stitchers.  We carpooled up with a friend from Pendleton, which was nice both from the aspects of companionship and cost.  We also had the benefit of Sue's being raised in Oregon and knowing all the cool spots to visit en route.

We'd always just taken I-84, but Sue showed us an old Highway 30 that runs parallel for part of the trip. Not for those in a hurry, but perfect for those who want to see some nice waterfalls and cool old government sponsored park projects. Some photos for those of you who have never experienced the beauty of the Columbia Gorge:

We got a bit of stitching done. My model stitcher Carol from Seattle was there so I got to see how one of my models was coming along (I'm quite excited about it!) Did a little bit of geocaching and took a visit to the local brew pub. I'm planning a trip with my son next along the same route, except perhaps skipping the pub. ;o)

Fourth Instar

A few more sections have been completed, and this piece is almost done. I made a boo-boo in the cobra and will have to doctor it with a bit of white paint. I've left it there for now for entertainment value to the type of person that likes to look for mistakes. I still have the outer side triangles and a few inside spots I want to add to. Five instars is a common number in nature, so watch for its fifth.

 

This is another sketch I made. I know, it makes no sense, but that has never been a limiting factor for me.  I do so like cephalopods. The title is "Oct-ane."  My friend Cindy is going to show me how to make etchings and I think this sketch will be the basis for that lesson. I'm excited, as I've never made prints that way before.

Third Instar

More progress on this one. Still have quite a ways to go. I need to get a wide format scanner. There is a lip around the perimeter of the glass on this regular size scanner that prevents the art from sitting directly on the glass when I use the 11x14" paper block. I think it leaves a slightly fuzzy out-of-focus look.

Robot Beetle

I needed to make up some samples to help advertise the Stamp Making Class that I am teaching this summer to kids.  I figure the beer bottles and other things I've been recently carving are not really age appropriate.  The younger kids will certainly have a share of different techniques we will practice, but the older kids will get to have even more fun by carving their own stamps.

Draw something, carve it, print it!

So, if you've got bored yet creative kids this summer in the Tri-Cities, you might want to check out the gallery's schedule of kid workshops.

Private Label

This is a bit of an inside joke, and a bad one at that, but I thought the little ratty came out cute so I am sharing him.  We enjoy drinking different beers and have recently started brewing our own.  We like the Belgian Piraat Ale (see the bottom picture), and just bottled our own version from a clone recipe.  My husband and BIL enjoy mispronouncing things and continued to call this the Pee-rat beer.  It's still two months before we can drink it, but as it was time to label these bottles, the mental connection stuck...