Up On My Roof

Or send in the clouds??? My home and studio are all on one floor but there is a stairway up to my roof. This allows 360 degree views, oh my. I know I take way too many pictures but that doesn't mean I won't keep taking them. This morning, the sky was filled with dark clouds. Watched to see what the sunrise might bring. It did not disappoint, it was not the sky filled with color but it was filled with clouds.

Here are a few different angles for your inspiration on a Monday morning.

East

North

South

West

North-East

Tea Two Ways

Most of you know that I love my morning coffee but that does not mean that I can't make room for tea. I especially like a spice tea on a gray, rainy, morning. Which there are not a lot in AZ but the last two days have brought some well needed rain. So, this morning as I write this and have my left over tea bag. The question is what do you do with your tea bag?

This weekend and all next week I will have tea two ways. After drinking my cup of tea, I will put the tea bag, and contents in my vat of pulp to create tea paper. It is best to put used tea bags in the pulp, otherwise you will create a dark color from the tea leaves. As your hands go in the pulp to pull a sheet of paper, you will also be staining your hands. The tea leaves create a beautiful textured paper.

Want to learn more about tea papers? What to learn more about making paper? If you do not want to commit to a workshop yet, come by this weekend: Feb. 17th and 18th between 9 am and 4 pm to see a free demonstration on how to recycle materials and make handmade paper. Plus, there will be lots of art supplies on sale, along with special deals on hand pulled prints and a few prizes.

For more information you can check out the web site: http://www.lindaharrisonparsons.com
or e-mail me at: lharrisonparsons@gmail.com

Tea Two Ways: In my mug and under my mug

Paper made using tea bags, flowers, lavender, leaves, maps and old art papers

Handmade paper, recycled art papers with tea leaves, fern, flower pedals and fibers

Red Moons and Purple Mountains

Up early this morning to try and catch the Blue Moon -Blood Moon. I should have pulled out the tripod but it was before coffee and well it just didn't happen. I took a couple of photos of the moon in the dark, not great but documenting the moment. As the sun was rising to the back of the house, the mountains were turning purple. Not a lot of clouds to reflect color today but the mountains were especially lovely.

I am sure there will be more full moon photos tonight, possibly sitting around the fire pit with family and friends.

Art Organizing

My studio at the moment is looking like someone shook it up and left everything where it landed. I have been working on multiple projects. Finishing a long overdue piece for my grand-niece, working on new works for upcoming pastel show. Lots of company, lots of new photo references. My web site is still looming over me to be updated. Throw in a few more shows to submit to, reception for Idea Museum coming up, February's Open Studio - Y-ART - Yard Sale and of course paper making. Okay, taking a breathe, so I am trying to make a list or lists. I am also working on class projects for July at Common Ground on the Hill. This year I will have two classes, one is Art of Nature 1st week and Art of the Bird 2nd week. The 2nd week will be an advanced class working again with live birds to draw from and take reference photos. Just thought of all the mounds of paper around my computer, that would be stuff I need to log onto my computer for taxes. Hmmm...

Okay, first things first, make my lists, then into the studio, clear some space so I don't trip over stuff and finish the pastel that is on my drawing table. It is a start....

Here are a few of the things that I have finished so far this year.

On The Horizon

I started this year like everything was a distant horizon. January is almost gone and there is much to be done. Paper making is coming in February along with a Open Studio YART Sale. The Open Studio will be February 17 - 18th, it will have demonstrations on hand made paper, art supplies - equipment for sale, along with other yard sale type things and sign up for the paper making workshop, other workshops or art lessons. And so it begins....Almost forgot the opening at Idea Museum in Mesa is February 8th.

Just around the corner in March is the Desert Botanical Garden Paint Out every Saturday in March. Followed by SAL/DBG Art Show in April. Included in April will be a pastel show in Sedona, I will be doing a demonstration April 9th from 10-4:30 at the Sedona Art Center, special events gallery. There may be another show in Cottonwood, still finalizing details or maybe a street mural in Phoenix. 

These are just the local shows. In the distance there are a few opening in Canada, work on the east cost. Workshops on the east coast in July...more on that soon. And I am sure there are things I need to follow up on and send in applications, proposals, etc.

I am included in this months Southwest Art Magazine. The AZ Pastel Artist Association has a two page spread on the upcoming national exhibit in Sedona. One of my images is in this layout. 

Back Lighting

And maybe a few shadows. January has been a busy month, lots of company this year. With company comes sharing some of our favorite places. This month includes trips to the Desert Botanical Gardens, Tonto National Forest, Liberty Wildlife, MIM (Musical Instrument Museum) and hanging in our backyard for a few sunrise, sunset and owl encounters.

Yesterday, we were at the DGB in the afternoon, as the light was changing the cactus were in back lighting. This can sometimes be difficult but it can also be dramatic. The light coming from the back pushing things to the front into darkness creating silhouettes. You can play around with settings on your camera or you can go with the drama. As I was allowing the drama to happen, I realized there were some colors in the sky. A rainbow of sorts but here in AZ, not really any rain, let alone moisture. There must have been something up there in the sky that allows light to reflect and create a spectrum of color.

As the late afternoon sun was going behind the mountains, the shadows were getting longer. The brightness, extreme back lighting became softer. There were a few clouds. Which in AZ I find come and go quickly. Last night they came in just in time for a little sunset show. A very nice end to a lovely day of lights and shadows.

 

Art Review of 2017

At the start of each year I generally post personal pictures of places we traveled, things we saw, friends and family. 2017 was an especially busy, eventful year. We moved full-time to AZ to start the year off. It took January into February to unpack and find places combining two studios &  households. June through August we were on the road. The road trip was sparked by the thought that I needed to teach a workshop back east in July.

What amazed me as I was going through road trip pictures, visitors, family and friends to AZ, photos from additional trips and taking care of our health I got a fair amount of Art Work done. Not just the creating of art but doing demonstrations, teaching workshops, taking workshops, creating work for special shows and even winning a few awards along the way.

Here is a little collage of  some of the things that happen in my Art World: