A New Year and Some New Work.

Happy New Year and Holy Crap! I haven't blogged since May???? I knew it had been awhile but was surprised at how long the while really was. I have been busy with the usual stuff of life. In my world this means the day job, cooking, laundry (still working on that cleaning the house thing) and creating. I continue to explore abstract art. It is my passion. I adore their serendipitous and intuitive natures. I have said this before but there is something very elemental about abstracts. The artist creates them from somewhere within themselves and the viewer brings their own inner self when considering them. I believe that when an abstract work calls to a viewer the artist and observer have connected on a level from below the surface. Very special.

If anyone reading this is on FaceBook please consider 'liking' my artist's page. Click on DeniseAumickArtist

 12x12" Multiple layers of acrylic paint and molding paste.

 

12x12" Multiple layers of acrylic paint and molding paint.
 

16x10" Acrylic paint, molding paint and glazes.

Some stuff I've been working on. The top two are acrylic paintings with multiple (as in MANY) layers of paint slashed on with a palette knife and then scraped back.  I have titled these 'Old Friends' and 'Relationships'. These measure 11x14". 
The bottom piece is a paint and papered mixed media collage that measures 16x20". I'm calling this 'Water FALLS'. 
Been a bit busy!

Still creating collage pieces based on Laura Tringali Holmes' challenge of using a vintage target image. This one is created from paper shapes from a magazine. Looks kind of Romanesque with some organic type of suggestions rising out of the columns to meet a new day.

 Building A Mystery - 16x20" Paint and Paper

Secret Numbers - 16x20" Paint, Papers and Stitching

 

 Spring - 8x10" Papers and Stitching

 

Emerge - 9x12" Papers and Stitching

 

Wonder if anyone sees or reads this blog any longer. It's been quite awhile since my last posting due to computer issues and just plain human operational error! Blog neglect aside, I have been busy creating art. In the past months, inspired by the Target Practice collages (see previous post) I've been exploring the world of paint, papers and glue. Above are some samplings. I plan on continuing with these and have a thought of creating a series inspired by my love of quilts....we shall see...one never knows what will or will not take shape.

Target Practice Collage Challenge

Laura Tringali Holmes is a collage artist who has challenged creative types to transform vintage paper targets into art. You can read Laura's interesting and candid personal backstory about these targets here http://lauratringaliholmes.blogspot.com/

I have risen to the challenge having created 10 art pieces so far. Below are some photos of some of these. They are all mostly 5x7" and created on canvas board.

If anyone wants to join in the fun Laura has created an open FaceBook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/161991817319872/ 

Lots of outside work got done this weekend and...some hand stitching (hooray for me). The white cylindrical object is a piece of women's exchange (money) from New Guinea. Not sure about right now but in the past women in the back parts (head hunting tribes) were not allowed to have money so they bartered using various shells and bones. The more spectacular the exchange token was the more it was worth.

I'm exploring further expansion of my abstract mixed media pieces by hand stitching on them. This piece uses coffee & blueberry stained mulberry paper stitched with linen thread, combined with antique book pages on watercolor paper textured with molding paste and acrylics. The final added element was hand stitching with cotton thread through all the layers. It measures 11x14".