Here are a few of the 30 collages I made for the Forgotten Works Show. I was pretty pleased with most of them...with 30 you have to expect a few near-misses. But who knows? Those may turn out to be someone's favorites. These are some of my favorites.








Forgotten Works Challenge
Tashiro Kaplan Building

The Tashiro Kaplan Building
115 Prefontaine place South
(in Pioneer Square)

Sneak preview (no sales) - Wednesday, December 3, 5pm to 8pm
Grand Opening - Thursday, December 4, 5pm to 9pm
Open Sale day - Saturday, December 6, noon to 5pm

That's it. Sunday it's all over.

Friday....

Here's a picture for you to look at, because things were getting pretty drab and texty around here. I used another version of this image in one of the 30 collages I'm doing for the Forgotten Works challenge. They are just about done, but I must stop doing "stuff" to them! Honestly, I tweak things to death sometimes. They've been fun, and I plan to keep going and put the extras in my Etsy shop. Maybe I'll get some scans up over the weekend.

So, Tuesday was quite a day wasn't it? I'm certainly pleased with our dignified and intelligent new president, not to mention the obvious milestone his election is for our country. I enjoyed sharing the memorable evening with friends in the studio - and they were all very good sports about my tiny, black and white TV! Lena dropped in with her friend Beth, who was visiting from the East Coast. I did meet Beth once before years ago but very briefly, and it was nice to see her and cement her face in my memory. And Elizabeth, who originally introduced me to Berkeley, was there too. Laurie and her daughter Rexy dropped by earlier in the day on their way home from the polls. Laurie has started a weekly Haiku/art challenge on her blog. If you like to Haiku, give it a look.

Things have been busy around here - much to do and I'm only about 50% functional thanks to this cold/flu whatever it is that I have. If I owe you an email or something else, I WILL get it to you soon, trust me. Everything Is just taking twice as long these days.

Yikes!

Has it really been over two weeks since I posted? Ugh - I guess so. My excuses (this time) are that we were very wrapped up in planning a 25th anniversary party (for ourselves!) and then there was the Finn Bazaar and then I got a cold. The anniversary was lovely, the bazaar is always a good time and I still have the cold. SO...anyone who is planning to come by the studio tonight be warned. I promise not to cough on you or the cookies, but more than I can't guarantee.

There is nothing in particular planned for this evening, but you can always find something to do. I am working away on my 30 pieces for the Forgotten Works Show, and the TV will be on (the picture anyway) in the background if you want to follow the election returns. The place is a bit of a mess, but not hazardous. You're welcome to drop in. But vote first!

Collage Free-for-all Friday the 17th.

That's tomorrow - I hope to see some of you there. Bring your inner five-year-old. Bring a friend! (If you're bringing more than one friend let me know so I'll make sure to get out enough chairs.) All materials and tools are provided, but you're welcome to bring your own special stuff if you want to.

Missoula is a wonderful little city, and I look forward to sharing some pictures and stories. But not right now.

Monday, October 6

I want to remind you all that there is NO Art Party tomorrow. But please DO consider coming by a week from Friday for the Collage Free-For-All...Crazy-go-nuts with a glue stick. It should be fun.

I'm participating in a journal round robin along the lines of True Colors. This is my cover. I sent it off last week. I'll get it back in a few months (I think) with spreads done by 8 other people - all in my color scheme of "cool" blues and white. I have a couple of other people's journals that I'm working on right now...in their choice of colors. It's a good challenge to work in color schemes that you might never have thought of yourself. I am going to have to get friendly with some brighter colors than I usually hang out with.

My friend Laurie, aka Loudlife, has made her 100th post to her blog, and is celebrating! You should go check it out.

And here is a fun webtoy where you can upload an image and find out the ten most prominent colors in it.

See yousoon,
Liisa

My new favorite webtoy...

Wallovers, at the National Gallery of Art website, lets you draw tiles in a bunch of different layouts...and they all draw at once. Does that make sense? I guess you should just go take a look. But don't go unless you have some time. You can't not get hooked. My only (small) kvetch is that you have to take a screen shot to save your design. But it's not such a big problem, really.

Forgotten Works Challenge -- new venue

From an email I received this morning:

"As some of you may have heard, Greg McCorkle (the person who was booking and running the art shows at the OK Hotel) was kicked out of the Gallery OK without warning or explanation. It seems that the building management is no longer interested in having art shows there and they were totally unwilling to honor commitments that had been made. Due to this turn of events I have found a new location that will serve as a much better space for the Challenge. We will be showing at the Tashiro Kaplan Building at 115 Prefontaine Place South. The show will be in the community room at the TK space. The Tashiro Kaplan is an arts building and all the street level businesses are galleries and they are all open for first Thursdays. This new location is one of the most active spots on Artwalk and it will give the show much better visability and publicity. While I am sorry to see the changes at the OK Hotel I am very excited about moving the show to a new home."

So, the Forgotten Works Challenge is on almost as planned. I hope to see you there.

Yep, fall is really here!

It's official...as of yesterday, it's fall. About time, if you ask me.

Blocks were fun! There are a few blanks left which I'll save for the Collage Free-For-All on October 17. If you didn't make it last Friday, maybe you can do one then. And remember tonight is Image Transfers...caulk, tape, heat and gin.

I've added a few group shows to my calendar for this fall: the Second Annual Banned Books Project, at the Kirkland Library; Breasts of the Northwest at Lowell Art Works; and The Forgotten Works Challenge VIII...not, apparently, at Gallery OK. Do follow that link...I just found out about it myself!

Creative Blocks and Image Transfers

Ahhh, September! I loved fall as a kid...loved going back to school. It's still my favorite season of the year and we are kicking it off in Room 206 with two very kindergarten-ish projects in one: cutting and pasting, and blocks. Cutting and pasting on blocks. We'll cover blocks (cardstock or wood) with collages of our personal creative bugaboos. Get them out in the open where you can keep an eye on them. Here's one side of my block. My work always looks better to me a few days later; the moral of the story is not to judge newly finished work.

As usual, all basic supplies are provided. There are heavy paper blocks, glue and lots of recycled paper/old magazines/miscellaneous to cut up. Also as usual, you are welcome to bring your own stuff if you want. If you bring your own favorite scissors or craft knife, you won't have to share. Not that sharing is a bad thing...but, well, you know what I mean.

The standard cardboard block is about 2.5 inches to an edge. There will be a few larger wooden blocks available at cost. These are 4" to an edge and cost $4. If you want one and would like me to gesso it for you ahead of time, email me. If you have a question or are a first-timer in need of direction, email me as well. We like to see new kids on the playground!

Also please note: there will be an extra Tuesday night Art Party next week. Come mess around with caulking, heat, packing tape and gin. But not all at once. Oh, did I mention that we'll be doing image transfers? Bring along some laser or toner-based images if you like, but there will be plenty of odds and ends available for experimentation.

Until tomorrow, or Tuesday...
Liisa

First Tuesday

Yes, we're on for tonight, with no particular program...continue working on your altered book, or start one...or start another one. I have two journal projects I'm getting ready for. One is a color-themed collaborative journal (think "True Colors") in a Yahoo group, and the other is a fantasy journal challenge (I couldn't think of a better way to put it just now) that Mrs. Staggs is hosting at the Merryville Community Art Center (I made up some of that) starting TOMORROW!! I can't hardly wait.

Hope to see some of you this evening.

And doesn't it feel like fall?