I Don't Think He Believes Me

I'm not depressed or anything, but tonight as I was sitting in my craft space, I felt that feeling "I have no other ideas left. The idea pool is all dried up and I don't have the energy to do anything about it".

My husband was in working on the computer when I announced: "Well honey, I'm out of ideas. I'm just going to sell all my craft stuff now. Just combine it all and sell it in one big lot on ebay." His response? "Mmmm hmmm".

"We can now use the extra space in the craft room as storage, won't have to worry about needing room for my art supplies"

"Mmmm hmmm"

"You know, this will really free up some time for me. I won't be spending all these late nights doing art. I can go to bed at 10:00 now."

"Mmmm hmmm"

"The kids will ask me if I have tape, glue, scissors and I'll just tell them 'the only thing we have like that is in your craft closet'"

"Mmmm hmmm"

"I'll really be saving money since I won't have to buy any craft supplies. I won't feel obligated to go to Michael's to spend money when they have their 50% off coupon".

"Mmmm hmmm"

It's a good thing I'm a procrastinator. If I weren't, I'd be packing it all up right now and listing it on ebay (I've got lots of great supplies). I guess I'll just have to sleep on it. Maybe tomorrow I'll get some genius idea that I'll need my paints and brushes for. I sure hope so!

More Block Prints

I've been working on some more block prints. I will be facilitating two workshops at Artlandish Gallery in the next few weeks and even though I'm a little nervous, I'm really looking forward to it. Above are some images I scanned to show the progression of this particular print.

The first picture shows the candle after I did one etching into the linoleum. I think doing some preliminary prints can be very helpful in showing you what other details will make the carving look more interesting. Even though I like the original sketch of the candle, I'm not completely happy with the final print. I think it would have been better to have something in between the second and the last image (but number 3 above is not what I had in mind). I think I should have left more background around the candle like in image two. I may try to do this drawing again, or I may try one of the other sketches I have hiding in my sketchbook.

Thanks for stopping by!

You Can't Always Get What You Want/The Honeymoon Is Over

After my last post where I sang praises to the addiction that is Ebay, I have come to know the darker side of cyber bidding:

I HAVE BEEN OUT BID!

It's cruel to win your first bid, giving you false hope and overconfidence. Only to have some "slick willy" jump in during the last few minutes of bidding on your next item and take away the object of your desires! I was so sure I was going to get that speedball lino cutter handle with 5 blades and ink. SO SURE. I was the only one who bid on it. I was so excited thinking about it showing up in my mailbox wrapped in a little package, with my name on it.

Darn you a***m for your bidding savvy!

Oh, Ebay! Where Have You Been All My Life?!

Ok, so I've known about Ebay for a very long time. I even have been signed up with them for probably over a year. But I never have done anything on Ebay other than look around a little. That is....until this week.

Because of Ebay, I am now the proud owner of a box of 36 Prismacolor Water Color Pencils and a Speedball lino cutter with blades at a fraction of what I would've paid in the real world! Oh man! Now I know why people get so hooked on online bidding. (I am currently waiting to see if I've won bids on two more items).

So, as I sit here typing this, (hurrying to finish this entry so I can visit ebay for a little while before I go to bed), I know that ebay can also be a dangerous place for a woman like me. One who has impulse control "issues", not a lot of disposable income, not a lot of storage space and gets a major rush from finding a good deal! Let's pray that I won't eventually have to mortgage the house to support my habit! :)

New Obsession

Ok, I know I'm no different than any other creative type. I love making things. I find out about some new technique or art form I want to try, become obsessed, buy supplies, check out books from the library, and make big plans to become a full time artist doing this new thing. Then along comes something else that catches my eye and I'm on to something even newer.

My latest "newest thing" is block printing. Although it's really an ancient art form, it's kind of new to me. I have loved rubber stamping for a long time and I've dabbled in carving my own stamps from erasers. But I think I may become addicted to lino block printing. I have a feeling it will be one of the art forms that stays with me for a long time. It's very satisfying to carve out an original design on a linoleum block, ink it up and press it on paper.

This is one I did this past week:

The tree on the right is fully inked from the first pressing. The one on the left is from a second pressing without adding any new ink. Let me know if you have any suggestions. I think eventually, I'm going to post a tutorial on how to carve your own lino block.

Thanks for stopping by.