These are pictures for consideration in the Fantasy show that is coming up at the Impact Artist Gallery for February.

I spent time today trying out various ideas for fantasy themes since this is our next show at the gallery.  This is one that I won't be printing out, but it is rather interesting. Fun to try out various ideas. I will print out several pictures to put in the show.

I have been creating some new works in Photoshop. I like working with landscape backgrounds and adding people,animals and objects. Then, I use a cutout filter in order to give the work the look of a painting.  This could also be used as a reference for a real painting in the future.  I am also doing research on fashion illustration and enjoying what I am finding for different designers. I started taking a fashion illustration class that will go for six weeks. It is great motivation to work with others and try new approaches.  Below are some of my latest Photoshop work...

I am working on several things these days. I am doing sketches of clothes from movie musicals. I watched some old films on U Tube and most remember a dress from "Call Me Madame" worn by Vera-Ellen. I will try to do that dress to sent to the next issue of "Paper Doll Studio News"...
   I am also planning to start the wearable art outfit for Susan to wear and have now purchased several patterns of 1950's dresses to use as a base, but will add my own ideas with lots of ribbon. Of course, I could go off in a different direction all together if I wanted to try something with old clothes stiched together in a new way or parts of old clothing put together. I saw a dress today in black and white that is getting me to think in some different ways.
   I am also doing a five day challenge on Facebook with my art. I am using some things I have done in the past and just put on some of my stuffed dolls today. They are creating a buzz already!! Guess I should start doing more of them to sell!

this dress is my inspiration for an Wearable Art outfit. My version will not be in the same colors and will probably look quite different in the end, but sometimes it is good to find something that will be a starting point.

It is so cold today with below zero temps. The sky is clear with sunshine, but it will fool you if you think about stepping outside.  I have actually been inside for a week! I am doing sketches of clothes from old musicals for the dress a doll in Paper Doll Studio News. I am also making plans for the Wearable Art Show in April. I have a vision of what I want to do now, but will need to make it a reality and that is not always as easy as just the picture in your head!.

Page Three from the art manifesto.  To read this in order, go down a couple posts. These were scanned in a tif formatt and so are bigger files. This is why they are in separate posts.

Page two of the discussion about art from 1955. I do not know the author's name.

I was re reading an old manifesto about what art is from 1955. This was the time of "abstract expressionism" and I was a new college student just exploring art and meeting artists. I got this from Corban LePell,an artist that certainly contributed to my idea of what artists were like in that time. Some of the ideas expressed here are worthy of consideration today.

Views from my windows of the snow storm that left everything coated in a white layer. We had high wind with the snow, so this is the result. The storm past by quickly and now we have sunshine!

We had a lake effect snow early this morning that has closed down the city and highways around the area. Now, it is clearing up but it is brutally cold. Schools are  closed today. I will add some pictures later of the scene from my windows.

I spent a lot of time today on the computer and enjoyed looking at work by early magazine and book illustrators. I did add some to my Pinterest files also and many did show up on Facebook too.
It has been a brutal cold,windy and snowy day.  It is a good time to be indoors for sure!! I love looking at art, but also need to be doing some work of my own. I will practice watercolor fashions this week and begin a dress for the wearable art show too.

Here are two of my sketches drawn from live models at a meeting. I like doing these quick sketches and capture some of the personality of the person.

I love going to look at the Crane Cam all year. Now, the cranes have not returned,but it is still beautiful to watch the changing light and weather conditions.  It is very cold this week all over the country. I took two pictures and used a cut out filter to make them look much flatter. I will do a series of paintings based on some of the pictures I have saved over several years. These cut out styles help the get the shapes correctly drawn.

I enjoy using old toys for my pictures and put them into different settings. Here are two old doll houses out in a field.  Today, Valerie left to return to her job and I do feel a void here. I know I will be OK as I get busy with new projects for art. Paintings, collages and digital pictures will be able to keep me interested in life.

This has been a very dark and rainy day but I have been busy cooking. this is unusual for me to do but since Valerie will be leaving tomorrow, I decided to make ham balls that my Mom used to make and I wanted to do something nice for Valerie. She invited a friend to come to eat with us and we had a good visit and recalled lots of memories, lots of laughter too. The ham balls really didn't come out very well or at least didn't look too great as they were covered with a dark syrup. Still tasted OK! Also did some scalloped potatoes that were nice. We will have a very cold week ahead so it will be a good time to do some art. I am inspired to try new paintings!

Day 2 of my New Year Posts

I will add a new work created in Photoshop everyday. This was something I did for several years and then got out of the habit, but plan to continue this practice again this year.  It is a cold,grey day for Jan. 3. I am going to the Albright Knox to see an exhibit of Printed books from the 1960's and 1970's. The show ends today, so I must go if I plan to see the show. Valerie is here for only a few more days before she returns to her job so we will enjoy these last times together for awhile. Always it is hard to have her leave again, but this has now been going on for 12 years!! I will add thoughts and give some idea of what is going on here just for a record of my life.

Happy New Year!! My plan is to add a post now every day. I did this for some years and then got involved with Facebook instead and certainly have put a lot of pictures there. On this Blog I will get back to doing more original work either created myself with traditional materials or on Photoshop.  Today is very cold and windy and we will have friends over for dinner. I will make \Beef Stroganoff  and Valerie is making a Pear Tart. I don't do very much cooking but it is good to get back into making some favorite dishes. I especially like to use old receipes from cookbooks put out by the Methodist Church in Cozad,NE. I like using dishes made by older cooks I remember from years ago. Nice way to have this connection.
I will write more at a later time.