A Medley of Mixed Media

This is why I need pictures of everything I do! Some of these I had completely forgotten about.

Fresco (sold)
This was an early mixed-media piece featuring quilting, gesso,
impasto, paint, and strategic ripping.

"Generations", 24x36 (sold)
Inspired by Fran Skiles

In Vino Veritas (sold)
Highly textured and embellished drawing on stitched paper.
Inspired by a friend's refrigerator magnet!

The Quiet Hunter (sold)
small art quilt

Heat Source (private collection)

Traveling Companions (private collection)

The Wanderer (sold)

A Farewell

On March 10 the world lost a kind and gentle soul, as well as an incredible artist, when Oscar Silva passed away in his sleep.  I can't think of a better tribute than that written by his great friend and partner.  "We have lost a talented and clever artist - he will no longer urge us to look at objects for the art that is inherent in their very structure - no longer to push the limit - we are left a little hollow by his leaving us."

I didn't know Oscar well, but whenever I ran into him (usually at art openings), he was so kind and generous that I always wished to know him better.  We always think "there's plenty of time" ... when there isn't, always.  I am among the many who will miss him dearly.

Below are a few of my favorite fiber and mixed-media artworks by Oscar.  He may have been best known for his use of his own hand-made paper, rug canvas and hardware cloth, as well as unusual found objects, especially objects from nature. His creative mixture of "hard and soft" elements is one of the things about his work that intrigues me most. Please see his blog for much more.   http://www.oscarsilvaartist.blogspot.com/

Art of Meditation
Oscar Silva

Milagro
Oscar Silva

Red Sky at Night
Oscar Silva

Prophet
Oscar Silva

Asiatic
Oscar Silva

Wood Nymphs
Oscar Silva

Nomad
Oscar Silva

Seed Quilt (detail)
Oscar Silva

September, 2012 exhibit of
"The Charismatics of Fiber"
Oscar Silva

Please see Oscar's blog for much more.   http://www.oscarsilvaartist.blogspot.com/  (I hope it stays on-line even though he has passed.  It is a wonderful exhibit of much of his work, and his written statement about each piece is often a work of art in itself.)

Book of Secrets

This little Book of Secrets is made from a gallery-wrapped canvas as the front cover/secret box, with paste-papers as the pages. I still haven't inserted any images in the cut-outs ... when will I ever get around to that? But I still love the little book, and it's "secret" charm.

There Were Never More Devoted Sisters

When my sister and I used to fight when we were little, our mother used to sing this song to us, and we hated it! Now we are living together (who'd have thought it!) and love the song, each other, and this little memento of our childhood.

Dr. Feelgood

From a workshop with the fabulous Michael DeMeng, here is my favorite little finished piece:

and a detail shot:

A Mixed Media Experiment

Wanted to play with some paper, paint, wire screen, and gel medium this past week while I was on Retreat, and this is the result ...



"Mask". Click on the picture for better detail.

de ting about DeMeng ... (aka Art Unraveled Part II)

OK, I might as well come right out and admit it. Michael DeMeng is my current Pretend Boyfriend, knocking long-standing favorite Kevin Costner right out of the saddle. I mean, Kevin's still cute and everything, and he still makes my heart go pitty-pat, but Michael? Michael is not only the author of Secrets of Rusty Things (see http://www.michaeldemeng.com/ and http://tinyurl.com/2tvrun), but he's a great teacher, a funny (and cute) guy, and did I mention cute?

Seriously, it's rare to find an artist who is also an excellent teacher. I would highly recommend jumping at the chance to take a class from Michael DeMeng. He kept our class at Art Unraveled, "3D Polaroid Assemblages", hopping with excitement and laughter. I'm planning to take another class (or two) with him next year as well. Well worth the price of Art Unraveled, all by himself.



A fuzzy picture of a kind of cool assemblage, if I do say so myself.
I loved the process of creating the "rocky" frame.




At work in class.



A fantasy self-portrait.




Patricia working on her assemblage piece.



I captured a better photo of Patricia's fantastic assemblage.




Michael "critiqueing" my work.



Me, Michael, and Patricia, at the end of the day. I told you
we had fun!