spirit of seeing 2009 mixed media vintage postcard

I generally don't like to post new work I'm creating specifically for an upcoming "hang" [showing], but I'm so excited by this inspiration, I thought I could at least preview it. I have several more of these, and they will actually be part of an installation at Mode Organic Salon [on Roosevelt] in Seattle, so even by previewing these, one would have to stop by in person to get the whole feel. I plan to combine organic material from which to hang these pieces, which will lend itself nicely to Mode's cozy organic atmosphere.

spirit of understanding 2009 mixed media vintage postcard

quiet in chaos 2009 mixed media vintage postcard

london peek-er 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

This piece is created from a vintage map mounted on plywood, and the bird is made from a page out of a vintage program from the Ice Capades. It's actually my program; I'm a [reformed] collector of whatever, and it pains me to call this treasure vintage--but let's be straight, it's vintage (by Etsy's standards 20 years at least), NOT antique.

did you hear something? 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

This little bird is created from an illustration from a vintage English (as in European) book for girls.

the cat, the bird, and the feather 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

The bird in this piece is created from a page from a vintage children's book [that my partner in artistic crime, Heather, gave me].

2009 6"x 6" mixed media

I actually don't remember what this piece is called. I created it and sent it off to Florida, to Studio Gallery of Grayton Beach. I remember it had a good title, something to do with singing.

The birds are created from excerpts from a vintage children's book.

and the tree was happy... 2008 30"x 40" mixed media

This is probably my most favorite painting I've ever created. It was a commission piece--a family tree. The client and I went back and forth because she wanted muted colors, and I [if you've noticed] am a loud color girl. I called her over often to look at it while working, because I was so afraid I would go over board with color. Maybe that's why I like this piece so well, because it's not entirely my idea.

Incorporated into it are leaves made of vintage cookbook recipes, and blossoms made from snippets of cotton. The title comes from a line out of Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree.

el capitan 2008 16"x 20" acrylic

This is one of my favorites also, adapted from a photo of my oldest son's dog Brutus. He's enjoying a boat ride on Lake Chelan--lucky dog.

jail bird 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

I think the black and white stripes give this bird an old school jail house rock feel--hence the name.

flag feathered friend 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

I'm always looking for something other than wires and branches to perch my birds on. Today I passed by a car lot that had flappy flags over-head, and it inspired me to created this piece (although in real life the flappy flags might be too unstable for a bird to perch?--I don't know; I'm not a bird expert).

dans le jardin bird 2009 6"X 6" mixed media

I wanted to create something light and airy, and it somehow seemed french when finished.

spring 2009 24"x 24" mixed media

This painting is an adaptation of a photo I took last spring. Its creation came from my hands and head while listening to inspiring music. This piece is mostly cathartic expression of color--painting for the sake of painting.

divine bird 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

Most plywood has a "good side", and with each of my plywood paintings, I try to pick the best side on which to paint. This piece did not have good side. In fact, the side I chose to paint is actually the side I would generally shy away from, but instead of trying to fill in all the cracks and sand down all the bumps, I decided to enhance them by letting the imperfections shine through (like I say, imperfections = charm).

lemon love bird 2009 6"x 6" mixed media

I entitled this piece with love, because I LOVE my new lemony colored spray paint [I kind of want to lick it, but I know it will probably disappoint like when you try to eat flavored chapstick]. The bird in this piece is created from an illustration of A Christmas Carol, taken from a vintage book, and the flower is cut from vintage drawer lining paper.

pleasant 2009 4"x 4" mixed media

This little painting is created from acrylic and spray paint, featuring a bird made from a vintage illustration from a book.

upcycle sign birds 2009 11"x 33" mixed media

This piece is created from an upcylced sign. It was sitting outside the back door of my work, basically where we put things that are to be recylcled and thrown away. It was a shabby chicish sign (white). I asked what it was doing outside the door (because it seemed perfectly useful to me), and my boss said, "you can have it" (he must have seen it in my eyes).
It was so great; this white painted sign, in terrific condition with hangers already measured and aligned on the back. All I had to do was paint it. BUT, on a very rainy sleepy day, I began painting it. It was coming along well. The colors good, the birds perfectly shaped and painted--it was all going well...until...I went to mount the birds on the painting. I unthinkingly placed all 3 upside down. It was my mad painting skill. I had created such a nice branch in which the birds would sit, that it looked just as good upside down (maybe that's not a good thing). It wasn't until I flipped it over until I realized I had placed the birds upside down (and not on purpose like in some of my work), and had ruined the beauty of the sign being pre-hung.
So there you have it. By the way, I re-wired it, although the original hangers are there too, if one was inclined to hang it upside down.

girl on a string 2009 12"x 16" mixed media

I personally love this one. The colors and content. The bird is fashioned out of a vintage cookbook recipe and the girl from a vintage illustration from a book.