Do What You Like. Like What You Do!

Home For Christmas - Collage

There is a saying that the secret of life is doing what you like.

I was invited to show with The Urban Individualists Group at the Artworks Gallery in Richmond, Virginia. The theme “Do what you like. Like what you do.” is Chris Ludke's inspiration. The photo below, from the exhibit, shows two of Chris' en plein air paintings.

Paintings by Chris Ludke

I selected Home For Christmas for a variety of reasons. I enjoyed working on this collage. Everything just seemed to fall into place. Again, Muse or Synchronicity... The canvas was just the right size. A piece of junk mail provided the night sky. The postage stamps and an envelope dated 1935 were just what I was looking for. The letter is from Chris. And as much as I value email for speed and an immediate response, I still love getting real letters in the mail.

Do you do what you like and follow your passion? And by doing what you like, does it bring you happiness and a sense of freedom? As Artists do we have the luxury of doing what we like and creating our own happiness? I think every Artist answers these questions just by creating.

Home Is Where Your Story Can Begin...

"Where Your Story Can Begin"  ATC

Today is the opening of the Second Annual Artist Trading Card Show and Swap at the Carlisle Arts Learning Center, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Up to one hundred cards will be on display. The theme is "HOME".

My second entry is "Home is Where Your Story Can Begin". When I think of "Home" more often than not I think of moments and people, rather than buildings and objects. I think of stories I am lucky to have passed down to me from my parents and grandmother...and stories about my grandfather passed on to me from my Mother.

Looking through my collection of photos I came across this wonderful group shot. I thought it would be perfect! I decided to use a page from the telephone book as a background. The Muse was working with me again...I opened the book to a random page. It fell on the page with my Mom's entry!

The substrate is illustration board. The photo is circa 1920. I also incorporated hand made paper. The photo was altered with Golden Interference Fluid Acrylic paint. I love the purple shimmer it gave to the photo. I added Distress Inks to the telephone book paper and then covered it with Golden Interference Gold Acrylics. I wanted a "warm and fuzzy" feel to the card. The final touch was the quote with words cut from an old dictionary.

If you are in the Carlisle area do stop by. The show runs from today until October 12th.

Who says unlucky things happen on Friday the Thirteenth!