Breathing 6-8-11



"Transformation"  completed 6-3-11

 I have been meaning to summarized my last week.  I really had good intentions to write on the weekend.  But as it always seems with me, time just gets away.  I'm back on a path again, not exactly the one I was on before this past week, but at least its a path.  My oldest has recovered from the shock of her car crash and is asking for a car again...to that I say, fat chance.  We just found out her $16,000 car has $12,000 worth of damage. So now we wait for our insurance agency to decide if they total it or fix it.  My Claire has been cleared for dance.  Thank God.  Up until yesterday, I had a tight grip on her making sure she got plenty of rest, fluid, sustenance, etc... We allowed her to mark her part but no more than that.  Last night was the first rehearsal that she actually danced and she brought tears to my eyes.  She will remain fatigued for some time but as long as she knows when to rest, all is good.  My son had the opportunity to dance the prince part in Swan Lake last night (rehearsal).  He is the prince Sigfried understudy. So I was invited to watch him perform his actual part as well as the understudy Prince Sigfried.  I have seen his Benno (best friend of the prince) and have always been amazed at his athleticism, but his prince...my boy actually acted the part.  Its one thing to dance well, its another thing to embody the part.  And this he did.  I was in awe.  My 16 year old son, looked so love smitten. I wish I had pictures.  I can't wait to see the actual performances this weekend.  Right now, this is what is keeping me in the game :)  I'm  thinking that Mr. Dan Swinson will have some pictures of rehearsals up soon. 

Another bright spot these past couple of days was the completion of "Transformation."  Because this piece is so textured, I was at a loss at how to seal it (since it will not b3e under glass).  I settled on my go to sealer, Dorlands Wax.  Worked like a charm.  I was able to finish and seal by Thursday of last week.  The wax cured for 24 hours and then I buffed the finish.  Voila, I was ready to let her go on Friday.  I wanted the recipient, Mrs. Hirsch, to open it while I was standing there.  Tears welled up in my eyes when I saw the joy this piece brought to her.  She was almost speechless but not quite.  The hugs and the smiles spoke a thousand words.  I think I will offer prints of this one if ever I get time to get my ETSY shop up and running once again. 

Swan Lake is this Weekend.   The Black Swan photo below is by Mr. Dan Swinson and is of one of our beautiful dancers.  If you live in my area and want something completely cultural to do this weekend, head on over to the Opera House.  This is a fantastic ballet and danced so beautifully by The Judith Svalander Dance Theater.  Both my Colin and Claire have big parts :)  I am a proud Mom for sure.  My studio time will be non existent until after Swan Lake.                  

                                                                         

Presented by:

Judith Svalander Dance Theatre

June 10, 11 & 12, 2011

Friday at 8:00 PM

Saturday at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM

Sunday at 2:00 PM

Tickets: $23.00 Adults & $16.00 Students

http://www.woodstockoperahouse.com/shows-June11.html

Paper Packets Are Assembled



A stuffed packet

I promised pictures and finally, finally I uploaded them from one of our cameras.  I have to say, some of the papers that were brought in were really gorgeous.  We also had rusted nails, dried blueberries (my favorite), onion skins, leaves, Easter egg dye tablets, tea bags, coffee grounds, and I can't remember what else.  There was a lot of stuff flying around :)  The participants made two packets.  One to hang at The Studio and one for home.  This first gathering was a lot of fun and relaxing.  We all talked and laughed.  It was a great way to kick off this collaborative.  So below are some pics from the evening.

Assembling packets



The evenings work, ready to hang



                                             

Donation piece for library in Moss Norway.

Finished, except for a little varnish :))))  Now I am moving onto my second piece and if I don't finish by this coming Monday, well then this piece will go into the mail.  I am giving myself an out on the second piece only because I am prepping for a class on Thursday.  Drum Roll please!  The paper packet class is a go.  I might have mentioned that below somewhere but I don't think that I formally stated that.  Currently I am cutting cardboard and screen for the packets.  I am really excited about this because I know we will all get some great papers to work with.  

This donation piece is entitled, "Misty Floes."  I used papers from my art table and worked intuitively as I normally do.  The shading was done with both Neocolors II and Portfolio water soluble oil pastels.  The substrate is 300 lb watercolor paper. And so with that...my funk is over.

k

Moss Norway books for Children Donation: phase 1

I am so happy to have this little donation at this stage. Again, using "scraps" from a pile on my work station (and you know these are gems because I never throw them out), I created this larger postcard size abstract land scape.  It is yet untitled but given where I will send it, Moss Norway, it might have something to do with the climate in that part of the world :)  I need to do shading with my favorite Neocolor II crayons and also, I think I want to do a gesso wash but not sure yet.  I became aware of this little project, championed by David Sandum, through Twitter.  Here is the link to read more about it.  If you would like to contribute, scroll down to see when the drop dead mailing date is.  I can't think of a better way to unit the global community than through an art project such as this.  Kudos to David! 

k




http://davidsandumart.posterous.com/call-for-artists-twitter-art-exhibit-in-moss

Art of The Land Recap, My Perspective: 9/26/10

It was one of those never ending weekends...So much to do, running in circles, barely catching my breath... I don't think I could even regurgitate all here without burning out!  Suffice to say I do have comments on The Art of The Land Benefit for The Land Conservancy of Mchenry Country.  KUDOS to the TLC for a beautiful gallery show.  I have to say it was "the" event to be at this weekend if you lived around here.  Friday night was a pre sale of the art followed by story telling music and poems inspired by the land.  I brought my Claire to see the exhibit as she had extra credit points she could earn for her high school art class.  Yep, she had a good time.  She got all dressed up, very Soho if I do say, and she knocked em all dead.  Wouldn't you know that I don't have a picture of her.  I am so bad at that.  Then on Saturday evening was the one night gala.  Since the new space opened up in the Starline Gallery, there was great room to move around.  I took a few pics as you can see. And as I was basking in all that beautiful art, I started thinking about next years show.  I want the papers that are in my paper packets to play a significant role in my body of work next year.  Ecological Ethics in our Global Society will be the theme I will be working from (hopefully this class will be a go at The Studio School of Art). I think that this theme will fit nicely with land inspired art.

The rest of the weekend was taken up with an all day festival in Crystal Lake that my Colin and Claire were involved in.  They spent time at the dance studio leading mini classes for walk ins, handing out literature, and performing.  Long, long day.  I also ran to the Opera House to get my tickets for this years Nutcracker, yes I said the Nutcracker.  Tickets go fast around here!  My Colin is the Nutcracker Prince again along with Spanish Chocolate and Chinese soloist.  While Claire is Colin's partner in the Chinese dance.  Sunday I picked up art from the Art of the Land Show, did 4 other errands and then cooked dinner. I don't think I sat down till 9 PM (after throwing in 4 loads of wash).  Monday was a blessing!

El Valle de Paz





Found Art: 9-23-10

Snowscape
by Kathy LaRocco.  Mixed Media and Collage on canvas board.

Today I left my little 4" x 4" collage at the Starbucks in McHenry, Illinois.  I had been trying to get it out since Monday but we have had iffy weather and some deluges.  I used a little duct tape to secure the plastic baggie to an outside chair (check my fan page on FaceBook and you can see the pictures) http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Artful-Musings-of-Kathy-LaRocco/134584443222432.  It was gale force winds (well may I am exaggerating a little but ya know...its my art and I want someone to find it.  I included a little flier for the ART OF THE LAND fundraiser along with my found art write up. I created this small piece with scraps from "Blue Moon 12/31/09."  Nothing goes to waste!   I am a happy camper. 

Oh and I sold my first art print today on Etsy.  Thank you Karen!  The print was one that was inspired from my kids performances in an annual Nutcracker.  Its titled "She Bowed for Clara," and Karen received number 1 in a series of 50 prints.  Karen, someday, after I am dead of course, that print may be worth something (ahhh wishful thinking on my part). The second print has been uploaded to my Etsy Store.  Being a mom who has teens in the ballet and who has teens that do a nutcracker every year, it is hard to find "Nutcracker gifts."  Flowers were never appreciated by my children, and so that left basically really junky stuff, or really, really expensive gifts (like Nutcrackers made in Germany for 300.00).  So why not a work of art, an original work of art or an art print?  I don't know...just a thought.  OK babbling now. 

Off to feed my greyhounds.  Art of the Land begins on Friday and I am so excited.  More to come.
k

A Peaceful Retreat, Journal page 6-23-10

This has been another of those week in which I have not been all that inspired.  The e-course is going well, family time is going well, we are very busy indeed but that's OK, I think part if it is the monsoon season we are having.  One day a ton of rain, the next, a little, the next downpours and all through this are my headaches.  I am learning to let go and just take the time to put cold cloths on my head and literally chill out, but I have the fact that I my productivity is 0.  I really need to finish up my journal pages for class this Friday but I am so totally not motivated.  At least all the textured background are done and I have actually finished 2 of the 4 pages.  At the left is that hide glue background which I totally love.  I really want to experiment some more.  You know, playing with transfers, what can I put on top of the glue, will acrylic polymer media have a hindrance on the effect etc...  Sigh, one of these days.  For now, I am making this background as simple as I can because I really want the class to be successful.  So here is what I did with the background.

One of my prompts this weeks theme is a peaceful retreat (from the theme places you have visited).  I actually gave this some thought.  One of the first things that popped into my pea brain was my experience in the Catedral de Sevilla.  That was way back in 1992 but I have never forgotten the feeling I had when I first set eyes on the altar.  I waded through photos I taken of the cathedral and found one of a facade. The original photo was taken in bright sunlight.  I popped it into photoshop and played with the filters and what you see is what I got.  One can't visit a place like that and not feel an immediate connection with our Lord (or some force more powerful than us).  The cathedral was cavernous.  Bigger than any cathedral, church etc...that I had ever seen.  And yet, that connection that was made when I entered through the door made it feel so intimate and familiar.  Even with hundreds of tourists milling around, there was a reverence and quiet that is hard to describe.  The prayers I said there still ring in my soul and I am so blessed to have experienced it all. 



Here is a little video I found on YouTube of the Cathedral.  The quality is so so but it will give you an idea of the beauty, the grandeur, and the holiness of this monument to God.
k

Day 14: 28 Day Challenge

Kaitie, Colin, Claire

Last day of Spring break and we spent it at a beautiful outdoor shopping mall in Oak Brook Illinois.  My teens had never been there and my husband and I used to hang there many years ago.  It was a great day, in the 7o's, and bulbs were just showing their blooms.  We hit all of Claire's favorite stores and some new ones too.  Colin was happy because he spent it with Marc at the bookstore and then he got to go to his mecca, Best Buy.  We hit a sushi bar for dinner and arrived home not too long ago.  For my creative work today, I had about 15 minutes and I sealed the landscape that is below so no real pictures for today.  But I will leave you with my three children on Easter!

Day 12: 28 Day Challenge

Two precious hours is what I had today in my studio... We basically kicked back and realxed today after running all week long.  I finished this landscape that I started in my March Mixed Media and collage class.  Using the artist crayons (Neocolors II), I added just a few more refinements and decided enough.  All I have to do now is seal it with the polymer varnish.  I also had some time to work on AIR.  I added two more transfers making it a total of three and now I am hating the work.  I am not sure how to fix the darn thing and basically I feel like chucking it in the garbage.  I should have used only one transferred image, I think...  So now I have a challenge in front of me, what do I do with it?  Right now it is drying.  If I get time tomorrow I will take a critical look at it.  However, I highly doubt I will have the time.  Easter Sunday in our house hold is about Mass, celebration, and spending time with our family (my children's Aunts, Uncles, Grandpa)... Of course, it is also about the food :)

May you all have a blessed Easter.

k

Day 5- 28 Day Challenge

Here are the pictures from my class last night. I definitely am the proud instructor of emerging mixed media and collage artists. And today I worked on my in class sample collage from last night. I still have a way to go. Need a focal image and more shading... I also spend time today wiring some finished works and framing a triglyph (my phases series). These pics are bad but they are proof of my work today. Although framing/wiring works isn't exactly enjoyable for me, it is all part of the part in parcel of getting ready for a show. If I am able to sneak in some time tomorrow, I definitely want to work more on my landscape and finish ASAP.

This one is mine.

Framed Phases

K

Day three- 28 day challenge

No pictures yet...those will come way later maybe early tomorrow. My creative afternoon is being spent packing for the Mixed Media and Collage class I am teaching this eveing and tomorrow evening. We are doing a landscape that must include 5 altered papers (different) and one focal image that says spring. And so in class I will start/demo the technique. That is two hours of creativity! Yea me. I love patting myself on the back because no one else does. I will take class pics on my iphone because it is convienent but the quality is pretty poor... Anyway, those will be coming!

Linda, I have Day 3 and 4 accounted for :))))
k

Finally, my finished sample! 11-22-09

It is definitely Nutcracker Season. I am in the throws of major rehearsals, school shows (my son is participating in) and all around craziness. But that is a different story. Needless to say I am very preoccupied and have not been able to keep up with Facebook, Twitter, my online shop nor my blog for some time now. Guess I know what my New Year resolution will be! OK so I am done with teaching classes for this year. Friday night was my last. I will miss the gals but hopefully will see some of them in January when I repeat an earlier class that I taught back in the summer. More details to follow once I am sure of the dates. This work is a sample that I did in the October class with papers we made. I finally added my details and presented it to Lucy at the Studio for future/prospective new students. As a side note, we are working with soft gel matte medium to adhere the papers. The students are totally new to collage and as much as I would love to teach Jonathan's method, I don't think it is economically feasible for new students to have to buy those supplies along with all the other basics that one has to accumulate. I do think that all the work that was produced in that class was wonderful. So we will continue in this vein. This scene was made up as I did it in front of the students. I actually added the details myself. I think the foliage turned out OK for someone who can't draw :)

Later I will up load finished student works from this last class. They are abstracts and wow... I still have to finish the demo piece I did but hopefully I will get it done soon!

k

Final Thoughts on the Art of the Land Gallery Show (9-26-09)

Since the Art of the Land show, I have been so busy. During the week after the show, we had Grandpa over (the children's grandpa that is) for the entire week, my husband caught some kind of crud, and then this entire week I have been laid low with evidently the same crud. No art time, no class prep (for next week), no life. I am not feeling sorry for myself although it sure sounds like it :) I have used this down time somewhat productively, art productively that is, in giving some thought to this gallery show/fundraiser. So, I realized that I really enjoyed the entire gallery experience. It was shortly after doing an outdoor fine art show that I knew this type of venue was not for me. The gallery opportunities in McHenry County are few and far between and when I was invited to participate in this fundraiser, well I went for it and I am so glad I did. Although I have had several gallery shows, including one with the Raue Center for the Performing Arts, none compared to the dazzling evening at the Starline.

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County had a connection with the Starline Gallery and so that was the beginning of this collaboration. For one night, about 20 artists were treated to a beautiful show, glamorous people, great appetizers and wine, and fabulous music. The Land Conservancy made about $3000.00 which for the first time doing this kind of event, was great. Artists contributed a portion of all their proceeds to help. I have to say that my personal "Meet the Artist," openings have not even come close to this extravaganza. I was sort of like a doe caught in a headlights glare and I must have really looked like that because I was told to close my mouth on several occasions. It was almost overwhelming. My husband and I had an exciting "date" night, I got to meet some very talented artists, and learn a little about the good work the Land Conservancy is doing. There was a considerable amount of work to view and unfortunately, I could not get close enough to all the pieces to really "dissect" them. The gallery is really fabulous but there were so many people that there were often more than 5 people deep at any given work. And that is a really good thing because we know a lot of folks viewed the work. The "bad" thing is that it is often hard to make a decision on purchasing a piece in just one viewing. So, I am told via email that the Land Conservancy group loved this evening, the idea, the art and want to make this an annual event. YIPEE. To be a part of this, is not only very gratifying but it gets my creative muse off her duff! I have a head full of ideas that are competing right now with my head full of crud! Can't wait to start creating again. I want to do another abstract landscape of my Santa Fe vistas that never seem to leave my spirit. The colors, the patterns, the smells, Santa Fe will be in my blood forever. Hopefully I will have a small body of work prepared for next years show and I hope it will grow into something as beautiful as what the Land Conservancy is trying to preserve.

k

Abstract Landscape 8-30-09

No title yet, the work has not grown on me just yet. I still need to varnish and will probably give the work a satin finish. The papers use in this piece were all altered by yours truly. Some of the papers I used included tissue (not sure what kind of tissue this was but it is stronger than the type you get in packages, although I have used that kind of tissue as well), paper towels, magazine papers, and brown paper bags (like the ones from the grocery store). Final size is 6 by 12. This is an example for my upcoming class. After the class is done I hope to at the very least double mat it and maybe it will go into my etsy shop. Still deciding.

I am hoping that in my next class we can make an abstract in this vein. We are also going to make that rather "small" series that I posted below. In September we will alter papers on two consecutive nights and then use those papers to create the landscape and abstract series. I added grasses using markers, acrylics and artists crayons and there is small flock of geese up near the moon that I stamped and then dusted with Pearl Ex (a mica dust). Fun

Now that I have gotten back into some abstract work, I have an urge to do another series based on some photos I took in the southwest and some photos I took while in the mountains near Blacksburg VA. (not sure which mountain range that is). I do want another gallery show mid year next year and maybe even before then! As an after thought, I managed to find the perfect already cut mat for the three 4 by 4 inch collages (below) and a frame to go with (yea Michael's). I used that 40% coupon and I am good to go. I try to present my class samples in a finished state but sometimes I don't always succeed. :)

k