The Magic of Macros

For years now my gardens have been my blank canvas. It's a never ending work in progress and always full of surprises.

I love photographing the flowers and have many times used them in my graphic art. One of my favorite approaches is to go into the garden after a rain and take some macro shots. It's amazing when you see the perfection of simple flowers and sometimes weeds this way.

Take time to smell... and macro the flowers!

Best... Canace

The MAD Museum!

What an amazing and fun place! I must confess... several of my Steampunk pieces are in this museum. If you are at Stratford Upon Avon in the UK it's a 'must see'.

Best... Canace

MISSING: Mojo

I know I'm not alone when it comes to this... THE MISSING MOJO. Sometimes it can be scary and unsettling when the creative muse isn't happening. I think at times we as artists just need some time to breathe... to recoup our creative energies. When this happens to me and thank goodness it's not often... I like to reorganize my studio. Trust me, it was probably long overdo. I get all fussy making sure everything is in its place and labeled accordingly. LOVE all those little drawers! Usually while I'm organizing I will come across something I may have forgotten I had and it gets me excited to do something with it.

If I'm not in the mood to organize sometimes I'll sit with a nice cup of tea and my art books. Hopefully something will trigger and I'm back into my Mojo. 

If all else fails I weep my worries to 'The Biff".. that I've 'lost it'... that I'll never get my Mojo back. Each of us by now knows that we just have to be quiet and encouraging.. .that this too will pass.

Most recently I had the longest missing Mojo in a long time... very unsettling! But now it's back and I'm bursting with ideas again.

This is my latest piece called (I think) "Timekeeper". While organizing I found the old clock case.. a rather odd shaped one I think. That, and one of those antique hanging receipt holders and some lovely brass gears and I was once again back on track. I must say it was fun painting the stormy background.

So nice to have found my Mojo!

Have a great weekend and remember, sometimes you just need to breathe and allow the muses a rest.

Best... Canace

It's Sunday... sUnDaY... SUNDAY (echo please)

Yep, it's Sunday and today is the day that Seth Apter from The Altered Page has featured my  still life on his blog post "It's Still Life" along with some other fascinating and beautiful stills. He will feature a new collection next Sunday the 22nd. What a great way to get to know other artists! I hope you'll stop by Seth's blog to see my still life and have a tour of the other artists as well.

 Seth is the author of "The Pulse of Mixed Media" and I'm happy to say he has two new and exciting  DVD workshops available too. Look on the sidebar of his blog to see video previews.

Happy Sunday!

Best... Canace

Something a little different...

When you are a mixed media artist it's hard to say which medium or technique is your favorite. The beauty of being mixed media is the ability to follow your muse in any direction. Today I'm working on a new copper jewelry piece but a couple of weeks ago I was totally into painting and collage.. last week it was assemblage. Tomorrow I'll probably be working with clay... who knows?  In the meantime I thought I'd share one.. okay .. two of my most recent collage paintings.

This one has my more typical color scheme with lots of texture. I love playing with molding paste!

This painting was an exercise in using colors other than my usual and trying to keep things light.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Best... Canace

Call to Artists !

Currently on exhibit at the WVFA Gallery...looks like it could be very diverse and interesting if you are in the area.

CALL FOR ART!

“HIGH NOTE” Exhibit runs Aug 15 – Sept 28, 2012  Warwick, N.Y.
Opening Reception: Wednesday, Aug 15, 6-9pm
Artwork should reflect a music theme or be inspired by music in some way. Open to all mediums. Work should not exceed 36” in any direction, must have clean mats, undamaged frames & be safely wired for hanging! Gallery wrapped canvas doesn’t need a frame.

ENTRIES DUE BY JULY 13
1. Email to info@femiford.com with subject titled: HIGH NOTE SUBMISSION
2. Email up to three digital images (jpg format) of your work. Images may be used in PR, Postcards, Website, etc. and should not exceed 3MB each.
3. Image filenames should include your last name, first name and art title.
For example: Ford_Femi_Tulips.jpg
4. Include link to website / online portfolio if you have one.
Download full details here.
I have exhibited with WVFA before and probably will again. It's a lovely space and Femi is a delight to work with.


Have a great art day..
Best... Canace

Today in the garden...

It's a bit cooler today so it seemed a good time to have a walk around the gardens to see how things were growing. I took some pics along the way.

He's just a baby and a regular visitor

Yellow Swallowtail in motion on bee balm

Phlox

Echinacea

Sun bathing at the small water garden

African Daisy

The Little People

Frogs really do sit on lily pads!

 Hope you enjoyed your walk through the gardens...

Best... Canace

SCAM on ARTISTS - Be aware

Yesterday morning I received what appeared to be a legitimate email requesting information about several of my assemblages including one that had been published recently. I was a bit suspicious as the inquiry had four pieces listed on the subject line and the body of the email didn't refer specifically to any one piece or request more detailed descriptions etc.

"It began with: I am highly delighted in your art and am interested in the piece I add to the subject line."

I responded to the email with the pricing information and when the reply came it became very clear that this was a ploy to extract personal information about myself; name, address, telephone number and Skype ID.

I am guessing that either this person got  my email address from my website or from the publication and this is a new ploy to appeal to the artist's ego thus making it difficult to withhold the information they are looking for. Please be aware and wary of any emails inquiring about your work. If they ask for your name, address and telephone number, don't use Paypal, insist on having someone come to your studio to pack the art work for shipping etc. don't buy into it...  don't give them any information.

If you have had a similar experience I would like to hear about it. We need to look out for one another and get this warning out so that no one has their identity stolen or worse.

What a shame that these devious minds are always finding new angles to attack innocent people and now are preying on the art community.

Have a great week and may all your sales be legitimate and rewarding.


Best... Canace

Bizarre Art Contest and UFO Festival

I've mentioned before how Pine Bush, N.Y. is considered the UFO Capital and last year they held their first UFO Festival complete with parade. This year in conjunction with the festival the Pine Bush Area Arts Council had a call to artists for a 'Bizarre Art' show. My first thought was how much fun it would be to sculpt an alien, which I did, only to find out later that they couldn't take 3-D pieces. BUT... I also did a painting and honestly I can't remember if I called it 'Sighting' or 'Encounter' but either way... I won! I won the contest for Bizarre Art!

Encounter

 Saturday, April 28th will be numerous lectures about sightings and abductions etc. along with the parade in the afternoon. Then Sunday there will be a cook-off and car show, then the reception and presentation for the Bizarre Art contest. I will take some pics and post them later on so you can all see what our local aliens look like. ;o)


Have a great weekend!

Best...  Canace

Sunday Snippets

Sunday snippets

A Treasure Chest of Shrapnel

If you are an artist, you know that many times you will see something that immediately triggers a work of art. My daughter knows me very well.... for Mother's Day or Christmas and even on my birthday she will come up with the most unusual gifts that she knows I'll love. In this case it was last Christmas when she gave me a little wooden treasure chest (which itself was great) full of what I called shrapnel. It was filled to the brim with dirty/rusty/verdigris/bent and twisted pieces of metal that someone had salvaged from who knows where. The minute I saw what was inside it hit me what I wanted to do with it all.. no question about it and total concept in place.

It's an assemblage called "Legacy"
 
 There's a bit of a sheen in the photograph but the actual piece isn't shiny and has many color washes of blues, greens, rust etc.

Legacy Close-up

The funny part about this project is the vintage baby shoe. I bought the pair about a year ago at a flea market and they were in like new condition. Certainly not acceptable! So I had my husband run over it a few times with his truck, leaving it overnight. Nothing. I left it hanging in a tree for a week. Nothing. I know.. I'll bury it! So I did.. I buried it in the garden for three weeks! Yep...  nothing. That shoe was as white and undamaged as the day it was sold and has to be the finest quality shoe I have ever seen!

So what you see in the picture is purely distress techniques. I have to say that this project was pure fun.. creating rock texture, painting it all different colors and embedding all the juicy shrapnel along with the baby shoe. And if you look closely you will see the tiniest bit of moss behind the shoe. A little ray of hope.

 Thank you Sweetie!  ♥



Best... Canace

Update ....He Made It!

If you read the previous post you will know why I'm so excited. I just got  notice from the UK that GrungeBot No. 5 and all the other pieces arrived at the museum intact this morning. The director was so thoughtful, he even photographed the boxes for me. They have been so wonderful to work with. He said that they should all be on display the end of this week or beginning of next, at which time he will photograph the displays for me.

 So now four of my pieces are in their temporary home in the United Kingdom. Ya think GrungeBot No.5 will come back with a British accent?  ;o)

Have a great sunny day!

Best... Canace

Now living in the United Kingdom...

Most times when I do a show or sell a piece of my artwork I'm happy that it has found the home where it belongs, but this time I'm feeling all sorts of separation anxiety. Maybe because it's this little guy and the fact that I'd just finished him... didn't have enough time with him. His name is GrungeBot No.5.

I packed him up to ship him along with 3 other pieces at the request of a museum in the UK for a Steampunk Exhibit. I've been watching the tracking and he's now there but being held for customs. Poor little guy. :o(
Look, his heart is breaking..

The museum representative has been very understanding and has promised that he will notify me the second the boxes arrive. He's also going to take pics once the pieces are in place... can't wait for that. But....  I still feel sad that I sent GrungeBot No.5.

They were so generous paying for all the shipping etc... and we're excited on both ends for the exhibit to be in place. If my pieces sell they're not even going to charge a consignment fee..  how much better does it get?


Well....  it would be better if I hadn't sent GrungeBot No.5 and I hope he comes home soon. I've given permission for 3 months possibly more if they still need/want the pieces. Too long for the little guy.....  and me.


Have a wonderful weekend... and send good wishes to GrungeBot No.5....that he gets out of customs soon and will be at his new (temporary) home at Stratford Upon Avon.

Best... Canace

Something fun, funky and Steampunk

Have you heard of animusic? I hadn't until today and I think it's very Steampunk and fascinating. Here are just a few examples for you to experience.









Enjoy!


Best... Canace

Wow... my name in lights!

Okay, not just my name and not necessarily in lights but it's the next best thing.

Seth Apter of 'The Altered Page' is including me in tomorrow's post (February 25th) of 'Master Class' along with other artists who were asked the question:

'If you could take a class from one artist from anytime in history, including the present, who would it be and why?'

This has been a fun road to follow with all of the poignant questions as well as the opportunity to learn about other artists and their work. Thanks for the opportunity Seth!

I hope you'll pop on over to The Altered Page to view the post.

And don't forget that Seth's solo exhibition and book release reception is March 26th! The details are on his blog.


Best... Canace

Oh my... I've done it again....

Disclaimer: This was totally not my fault.

Here's the story....

A friend of mine invited me to photograph his 1700's house and barns last week. It was great fun rummaging through the barns and through the house. It's a rental property now and is currently empty because of flooding last summer. As a result there was extensive damage to the lower level of the house. Mainly the cellar which had a massive walk-in fireplace. If those walls could talk!

Anyhow....  while exploring the cellar we saw this poor old cupboard up-ended and laying on its side. I suggested he take it home for his wife as it was a sweet old thing. Long story short... he offered it to me as it would only be left there to rot. Well.........  I couldn't possibly let that happen! So, once again, here I am with a new/old cupboard in serious need of help.

Break out the sandpaper!

Poor old  thing... it needed a home

Look at the great crackling!

Ohhh.. and look at that heavy rust!

So here are some picture of the process over the course of 3 days.... 

First a major scrub-down, minor scraping and primer

..didn't want to lose the authentic crackle

 

 

 

Some nice clean white paint

I saw this lovely French advertising graphic on the Graphics Fairy site (Thank you Karen) that needed to be on the front of the door, so I printed it out on 8 sheets of paper and traced it onto the door. This was no easy feat as the wood was very bumpy and crackled.







Here I am painstakingly painting in each and every letter and scroll. (I must be insane)

The #$@! lettering is done!

The hinges are all cleaned and ready to fit

Tons of scraping/sanding/adjusting to get the hinges to fit properly (still insane)

And....



wait for it..............





Tah dah!

I'm really very happy with the results. I sanded the edges and around the handles to give it some age, the door fits beautifully, the drawer slides nicely.. and it's ready to be put in place. (What place?!) Hmmm... that one could take longer than the whole restoration!

Hope you enjoyed the process of yet another rescue.

My name is Canace and I'm addicted to neat old cabinets...

Have a great week!

All best,
Canace