I love Power Point

On Saturday I gave my second Power Point presentation for my local branch of the National League of American Pen Women. This is a group of women who are professional writers, artists and musicians. We are working on including performers also.

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One of my cards

 

My presentation was showcasing my work of the last two or three years. Much of it is craft oriented. My work has been getting simpler over the past years. There was a time when I could not put anything on paper. So these simple cartoons are something like me re-learning process. Not re-learning my art, re-learning how to focus. I lost that for awhile and was very scattered.

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Some of my funny characters

 

I talked about how I draw simple characters and cut them out. I use them on different products like boxes or cards.

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“Cave” painting on wood

 

I talked about how I find free items like left over wood pieces from furniture makers or wallpaper books from last season. If you know where to look you can get fabric, carpet squares, wire and all sorts of materials that people just throw away.

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Accidental abstract

 

I talked about how I found myself cutting the edges from cards and making more art from not only the cut edges but the paper I used to color the cut leftover edges. I am getting to the point where it’s hard to throw anything away.

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Sketch of upcoming book

 

I discussed the process I use going from quick sketch to finished piece. I also talked abut the new children’s book I am working on. I showed the illustrations but I won’t show them here. You will see them when the book is published this summer.

I say the presentation went okay. I didn’t hear any snoring so I guess I did good.

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New art district show

Saturday was bright and sunny. There was electricity in the air. Something new was happening. The brand new Light Rail was in full operation and at each station there was an event.

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Having ridden up and down the entire line the day before I was only interested in one of the events: the Pop Up Art Festival being held in the new 40 West arts district.

40 West sign

It wasn’t a big festival. Just a block long. But it was enough for me. And this is after all, our first street festival. I know it will grow.

Chalk drawing

Chalk drawing

 

I have been going through what Karen Salmansohn calls a vortex. I had been  disconnected from my community. I feel now the time has come for me to get out into the art community and assert myself again. I asked the Universe for the impossible and I got it. My own, right at my front door arts district and gallery.

Poster by Buddy Bravo Designs

Poster by Buddy Bravo Designs

 

I got to meet my neighbor artists and see what they were up to.

Poster by artist Buddy Bravo Designs

Poster by artist Buddy Bravo Designs

 

I asked all kinds of questions as if I were an amateur They each had done something I was interested in.

This is Buddy Bravo

This is Buddy Bravo

 

I met the young artist who won the Mayor’s award for his graphic art. The smile says it all.

How cool is this?

How cool is this?

 

What a nice way (between snowstorms) to welcome Spring.

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Art along the Light Rail

On Friday I went out to the grand opening of our new light rail line. I rode the rails from one end to the other. At each end there were events going on.

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I was glad they opened this on Friday because Saturday was going to be a nightmare. I knew every Coloradan would be out to ride the rails for free.

That’s exactly what happened and people bitched about it. What did you expect?

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By the time I got to the station at the other end the festivities were over. That’s fine. I was ready to get back on the Light Rail and go home. I had been out for hours.

This new rail system means that I can come home from a night on the town without sitting at a dark lonely bus stop hoping I did not miss the last bus. That was okay in my 20s and 30s but it’s not so fine with me now.

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First Friday

On First Friday I went with one of my artist friends to attend a gallery opening. She was one of the artists.

I haven’t been out on a Friday Art Walk in a while because it was either too dark, too cold or too crowded. But since it was a good friend and I was looking for something to do I accepted her invitation.

Of course I took my camera.

I love looking at outdoor public art. There will always be someone bitching about their tax dollars going to some piece of art they don’t like, but really, who cares?

art on Tennison

It says something on the bottom but I don’t remember what

Jennifer Getson with her painting on the left

Jennifer Getson with painting. (left)

This is a not-so-great photo of Jennifer Getson who is primarily a pastel landscape painter.  She took a different approach to this painting and although you can’t see it here, it came out rather nice.

Colored "bells" made from oxygen tanks.

Colored “bells” made from oxygen tanks.

These were fun. They are three sizes of oxygen tanks with the bottoms cut off and refashioned into bells. My only complaint was the rubber tapper (shown at top) which muffled the sound. Since it was an indoor spot that was acceptable. If I were to purchase this I would replace it with a metal tapper.

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An impromptu dance

We were provided with music which was so wonderful that it prompted one guest to grab some cloth and dance.  That is the nature of us artists. We will almost always put on a show for you.

art piece carved in cement

This piece was seen at a park where more musicians were playing.

bikes

Is it just me or is the universe askew? This bicycle wheel looks a little odd. I took this picture because I love the play of shadows.

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Here are the same bikes with the flash so you can see the colors. No shadows though.

As we decided to leave the wind kicked up and got very cold. We managed to make it to the car without getting blown over: it was that strong.

Even though there were more restaurants than galleries, we managed to have fun.

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