My Obligatory Rooster

I rarely spend 3 day holiday weekends at home, but that's what I did last weekend, and it was lovely.  I spent quite a bit of time at my art desk, although I don't have a lot to show for it.  I'm making myself try and get better at watercolor, doing some exercises and practicing some things. This is not easy for me, I'm not patient with myself and want to immediately just be good at what I'm trying and have something to show for it (who doesn't, right?) 

I did do one finished page in my little watercolor sketchbook - I figured it was about time I painted a rooster - doesn't everyone have to do one sooner or later?

Exposing Myself

Do I know how to write an eye-catching post title or what?  But it's the truth - I'm consumed by an upcoming event that it going to make me feel very exposed.  There's a really cool vintage antique show twice a year for the last few years called "Roses and Rust" that's in my hometown, and I always go. It's getting to be pretty big-time, I see it written up in magazines quite often now.  There's always wonderful vintage goodies, and I've gotten a lot of my bits and pieces I use in my art there.  So I've been thinking for a while that if all the people going to this event love vintage, rusty types of things, wouldn't they maybe like art made with vintage rusty things?

So I finally screwed up my courage and sent in a vendor application along with pictures of my art, and was accepted.  It's coming up in October, so for a while now my head has been spinning with what to make, how on earth to price items, how to display them etc. And the biggie - what on earth will I do with all this art if nobody buys it?  I look at my dusty art journals and wonder if I should just be safely, happily working in them instead.  But of course my answer to myself is I'll never know unless I try, and I guess at worst my friends and family will be getting art for Christmas and Birthdays for some time to come...

This is my most recent creation - I think I'm through with my brief Rooster phase now...

At the top is my favorite section of ruler, from an old extendable one, that I've been holding on to for a long time, it was hard to let it go...

I decided the cows needed a fence...

Back to the Art

My hands are looking more like normal again - paint, ink and wax spattered.  But it felt good to get back to creating something.  I took some art materials with me on vacation, but as usual I didn't touch them.  I always imagine that I'll want to sit and look reflectively at the scenery and sketch, but it never happens. I'm usually too deep into a good book when I'm on vacation.

This is on a 2" thick canvas, not sure why I didn't take a picture from the side, I like how the sides turned out.  Lots of layers, collage materials, and wax. Can you see the face?