cribbage board art

I use colored pencils quite often.  It really bugs me when the tips break off.  To compensate, instead of it being a loss and a bother to resharpen, I save the broken tips in this little paper pouch you see in this photo.

I found this cribbage board at a second-hand shop, brought it home and painted parts of it.  It turns out that the saved pencil nibs fit nice and snug with a bit of glue. Recycled art it is.  It lost its function as a game piece but became a decorative wall art.

Happy Holidays

where ever you may be.

Some years back I made a quick sketch while visiting Kona, Hawaii.  Every once in a while when I come across this sketch, I scan, reprint and add more to it.  Essentially, it is decaying with each generation of print, but at the same time, vibrance is added with each new layer.  This is probably the fifth generation of the original sketch.

Printed paper and color pencil.

mini art

When I paint, there is always a scrap of the same material that I use for testing colors and techniques.  Many times these scraps eventually become art themselves.  It's like a casserole,  mixings of this and that, which inevitably becomes art unto itself.

Watercolor, color pencil and ink.
Two and a quarter by three and a quarter inches.

Liquid.  One of my two favorite words.

3.5x5.5"

gridded liquid

Acrylic/watercolor mix and ink.  8x10"

thought processing arena

This morning I came across this sketch that I started about a year ago.  Today it's finished it.

Ball point pen on copy paper.  7.5x7"

tooth and nail

This here is genuine, authenticated migraine therapy art.  I have had them for years but always opt to spend the hours doing what I call 'comfort art'.  No head under a pillow one hibernating in bed  Just natural light and a very quiet space with paper and pen.  Since I've been working on this style of art the past few days, maybe it's a premonition of a migraine to come.  If it wasn't so much challenging fun and soothing comfort for the brain, the headaches would be the terrible awfulness that migraine people all know all so well.

Ink on bristol board.  8x10"

water and fire

A study created with watercolor and color pencils.  7x3.5" each.

musical art

Seeing music with colors, shapes and patterns.  This art was influenced by the Cuban orchestra musician and composer, Xavier Cugat.  This represents about 100 hours of work, over three months' time.  I loved working on it.  11"x14" watercolor

Here is a sampling of his music:
Xavier Cugat's "Brazil"

Fate

The path of our lives may very well be predetermined.  We exist primarily within, the nurturing comfort zone we need.  We can study, learn, process, and then project a more personal customized, and adventurous self.  Where we came from and where we would like to go.  There always seems to be resistance, the persuasions from others we know and trust.  But fate prevails...we are who we are.  Like it or not.

oil and water

Fun with shapes and lines.  Also known as "Fibby Buzzles".

rubber fish art

I found these rubber fish at the thrift store and had to incorporate them into art. This is a cabinet door painted with acrylic. The fish and glass bubbles are embedded in a thick polyurethane. I suppose this qualifies as both art and craft.

close-up

The rubber fish are embedded in thick ENVIROTEX-Lite polyurethane, which give the background a realistic look of water. This art is really sturdy. I think it would look great on a wall near a swimming pool.

framed flower

I found this oval frame recently. It's fun for creating optical illusion art. There will be more of these.

Ink on bristol board.

springtime at the power plant

Acrylic on masonite. There are two layers here, the flowers above the background. This isn't quite finished, and may never be finished. It's been a great experiment and learning exercise.

The objective of this piece is to show the electrifying energy of springtime flowers.

flame

The aura of a candle flame. I have a thing with ribbon-like lines lately.

pieces

During spare time, I've been creating several 3D Pop-Up works of art. I think they become more interesting when done slowly over time. These pieces are folded paper painted with gouache.

coffee and pie a la mode

Playing with perspective and dimension. My mother always said don't play with your food, but this was fun.

the four elements

Gouache and ink on watercolor paper.

lawsuits

Today's postings are playing with words and action.