Saturday, March 31, 2012

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Happy Spring!

Little Sprout Talisman


















These Little Sprout Talismans have popped up in my art garden! They're made with  vintage escutcheons,  wood leaves that I carved and painted, and miniature images from ancient alchemist's illustrations. The one above has a Mexican milagro dangling from the bottom. The milagro (milagro means miracle in Spanish) represents an ear of corn. The one below includes a tiny twig. The alchemist's images are coated with clear resin to protect them. There are hooks on the back for hanging.

Little Secret Garden Talisman

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Lost and Found Angels

Lost and Found Angel with Crown of Copper Vines


















These angels are part of an ongoing series inspired by the carved wooden figures that reside in an old Spanish mission in my hometown of Tucson. The church is nick named the White Dove of the Desert. I've visited there since childhood. In the church there are frescoes of angels painted on the ceilings. Carved angels and saints are suspended form the walls. Much of the artwork has been damaged over time and although beautiful restorations have been done its still a bit weathered inside. I've always found this particular church to be a place of mystery and sanctuary. Whenever I visit I leave with a renewed sense of hope.

All of the pieces in the series are made from carved fallen aspen wood, found, re-purposed and reclaimed materials. The aspen wood was gathered in the mountains of northern Arizona and New Mexico. The wings are made from antique ceiling tin.

Lost and Found Angel with Crown of Purple Vines

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Bottle Cap Hearts

Botttle Cap Hearts


















 "Wherever your heart is, that is where you'll find your treasure." ~from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Many Hats

I think an artist has to put on many different hats. No, these aren't always real hats. There's the creator hat. Traditionally this was the french beret. The entrepreneur hat...faux fur??? The trapeze artist hat...because artists often have to jump through hoops! I'm thinking though that the trapeze artist hat is actually more of a hair style...a ribbon, flower...shaved head?  The truck driver hat... maybe a baseball cap, this also might involve chewing something, gum...tobacco...beef jerky.... the end of a pencil. Personally, I like to chew gum when I'm driving my art around.

More on the hat and the gum thing later. For now I've just put on a new hat called "the contestant hat". Yes, I've entered a contest. It's called Artist Wanted: A Year in Review. Maybe you'd like to enter too!
Mother and Child















Please check out my online portfolio,  vote, share, tell your friends and maybe put on a new hat! The deadline to vote or enter is February 7