Birdman, and My Antiques Haul....

Over the summer we were enjoying a nest in our big climbing rosebush.  It's now deserted so we retrieved the nest, and ever since I've been trying to figure out how to use it in a piece of art.  Then my friend Val gave me this birdcage looking thing as part of a birthday present (sorry Val - I can't promise I won't take apart and just generally beat the shit out of gifts these days!) and I had the beginnings of what I needed. I wanted a head, and I finally resorted to sculpting one...

Bird nests fascinate me, the work involved in this thing!  The little bits of ribbon and things woven in...amazing....  I put chicken wire underneath to secure it....

And yesterday was 2nd Sunday, which in Sacramento means the Antiques Fair.  And I had a banner day, I must say - it's always pretty hit and miss, but my antiquing mojo was on....And since I love it when other people do this, I took a few pictures of some of what I bought...

I think the most exciting was a box of old watercolor stuff, a wonderful black metal box full of mummified little watercolor tubes, and 4 tins of little watercolor sets and old brushes - I got a great deal, depending on your perspective of course.... And the little baby with the blue dunce cap on, just cracks me up. He's got the most startling little, ummm, pee pee going on...

I have plans for this old brownie camera... and almost hidden behind the camera is a kitchen utensil, some kind of beater, that Karen from I am Rushmore uses to great effect for background texture.  I'm stealing your idea Karen, I'm confessing right now!

I can't believe I haven't posted yet this month. I started an online class with Misty Mawn that's been absorbing my time, although I haven't done anything yet that's post-worthy.  Learning from her is really a wonderful experience on many levels, for anyone who has thought about taking a class from her. I think everyone in the class would agree that as we're learning new art skills and techniques, we're also learning things about ourselves.  Online classes can also be such a supportive environment, as the other students really help and encourage each other.

The class started with portraits, with an assignment being a number of self-portraits. It made me think of this piece I made a while back, which had a lot of meaning for me. It's hard to see from the picture, but there is a soldered birdcage in front of her face with an old key hanging from it.