Italian Futurism

While reading about another artist, Italian Futurism was mentioned. I was so intrigued to learn more about it, I reserved a few books from the library that very moment. Paging thorough the glossy illustrative pages of the book, I was drawn to the artist, Giacomo Balla. He didn't have many years training in art and was influenced by different art genres, especially post impressionism and cubism. He did his own thing using light and movement rather than following the violence of his contemporaries. I was inspired immediately. 

 For this Art Experience, we created our own artwork using shapes and colors that pleased each artist. With the passion of this process moving through us, my daughter and I spent another week working on several other pieces.

 A rabbit was found among the shapes!

Moving on to a more graphic design feel just as Giacomo Balla had done too.

The following pieces were created by my daughter!

Ukrainian Eggs

I have fond memories of making Ukrainian eggs with my mom and sister way back in the eighties. I loved spending hours creating with this ancient process; using the heat of the flame, wax and the many colors of dye to make traditional designs and to create my own. 

I could hardly wait until I could share this art form with my children! Hence, they had their first experience making Ukrainian eggs at a young age. For many years now, we also gather friends together to create these delicate eggs. It is fun to see the abundance of creativity unveil in deep vibrant patterns of color as the hours fly by.


 

Architecture continued to be a theme from drawing to egg dyeing. 

My daughter decided to make a cityscape too!

 The cat, pink and purple design and the rainbow are also her creations!

My daughter thought to use cotton swaps to add dye to smaller sections of her designs, so she wouldn't need to dye the entire egg each time. This technique also gave her many more color combination choices.

Melting the wax to unveil the finished egg.

If you are inspired to create your own Ukrainian eggs, there is little investment to hours of fun! 

When you have a moment, stop by the Ukrainian Gift Shop in Minneapolis to see traditionally decorated eggs, pick up supplies and watch these delightful eggs being decorated right before your eyes!

There is also a website with a shop and make sure to read their beautiful history of emigrating to America. http://www.ukrainiangiftshop.com

Colorful Handicraft

Long after our guests went home, I could still be found felting and sewing as this creation slowly came to life.  Inspiration was drawn from an H&M girl's dress (only if I could find the fabric in bolts!), many colorful rovings bought from a local farm and combining fabric and felting.  

 

 

As with my most recent projects, I had a difficult time taking a break until finished...I was continuously thinking of the whole process until the next time I could pick it up again.  My heart is full!

To the beginning...

Before the guests began to trickle in, my daughter and I started to play around with the scraps of fabric and colorful roving to warm up our creative hands and hearts.

 To spark the creative process, a few finished projects made in years past were brought out including this felted macaroon and these felt critters.

     

A bit of history!

Some years ago, I stumbled upon The Cute Book by Aranzi Aronzo. The animals were so adorable, I could hardly wait to get home and make one! At first, I stitched a few resembling the ones in the book and then was drawn to add a bit of quirkiness by using different colors, fabrics and buttons. I also thought these would make wonderful kits, so I put together a handful as party favors for my daughter's birthday party.

Then it was time to try out my own design, this owl.

Back to the Art Experience!

  My daughter decided to make a felted animal and created this cute Totoro!

I love creating with repetitive movements while the mind relaxes and becomes thought full.  Even though I didn't have a chance to make one, I watched as several of the girls created their own.  
 

My daughter's creation has many entwined memories for each fabric scrap was originally sewn clothes, costumes or quilts for her and her brother.

Whimsical

This was a relaxing and meditative art experience using layers of paint. Connecting with your own flow, the canvas was painted with many colors, followed by a veil of white paint where some of the color would peek through to catch your eye. When the paint dried the image was drawn and filled in with more color!

Hedgehog

Pelican by Mila

Tree with Multi Colored Leaves

Raindrops 

Being Crafty

All of these crafty creations involved much time, though every minute meditative. For me, it was putting together a puzzle without the original picture. I love this kind of creating!

Walking through one of the shops I frequent, I spot a stitched shoulder bag and said, "I want to try that!" Right now it is stretched over a canvas frame that I used while stitching the shapes and the herringbone design. It may be sewn into a pillow or a shoulder bag or...we will see!

This project reminds me of a patch quilt or a curiosity cabinet. The piece below is my daughter's creation!


 

The mosaic mirror had begun many years ago at "Beach Day" during the winter season! It patiently waited to be finished this summer!
All of the fragments are from our own broken dishes and contains many memories.

Human Nature

My enchantment with flowers began as far back as I can remember with my mother's flower gardens, always blooming and changing with the seasons.  Later, on our first date, my husband offered me flowers.  It was so unexpected and I love that he continues to do so, bringing back memories and creating new ones. 
We lived in London for some time and flowers became a subject in many of my pastel drawings.  As the flowers were wilting and shriveling, I noticed another beauty...a kind of humanness.  
One day when I was riding the Tube, an old man walked on asking for money.  I was observing the people look away trying not to see him.  I didn't have any money on me and blushed.  The old man became angry at the people and stepped out.  I felt for him.
When I arrived home I began drawing the wilted daffodils Johann had given me the week before and I was surprised what I saw in the finished pastel.  It was the old man, the people on the train and myself.  This is the day I saw humanness in everything.

Orange Inspiration

Doodles

 Raccoon with Hat

I love to doodle!  Usually I doodle when I'm listening intently and have a pen or pencil in my hand...on the phone, at a meeting, anywhere!  My mind wanders along with the pencil and soon after beginning, an image appears. Then I let my mind continue on that path.  When I doodle, I feel very relaxed and I enjoy going with the flow. Sometimes I will warm up by doodling to give myself some inspiration like with Raccoon with Hat. First I drew a continuous line...every which way, then I turned the paper around and around until an image showed itself to me and lastly I chose gouache for the color.