Eleanor

 Eleanor has found a lovely new home in a Senior Community,

right next door to a handsome fellow named George.

They also live side by side in my sketchbook!

I've also been taking a new class in mixed media collage on canvas.

We are working on still lifes, and began with an underpainting in acrylic.

I've already worked on applying pieces of paper to the tablecloth and will continue 

next week with the other elements. I'm hunting around, looking for some of the 

nicer papers I have saved to use in this collage.

I hope you've had a great week, dear readers.

I have no idea who visits my blog (well, I have a few ideas!)

but I appreciate your taking the time to read and view my posts.

Happy Spring!

As I hear rain and sleet flicking against the window behind me and watch the weatherman on TV predicting snow all day tomorrow,  I try to convince myself that it is, indeed, Spring. I have purchased a little primrose plant and some tulips from the supermarket, to tide me over until shoots actually push through the hard winter soil. Spring will come, but it is definitely taking its time!

This morning we had a beautiful dawn, as recorded by my neighbor in this photo of my house. This is the back of the house and you can see the porch I love so much over to the right. Unfortunately I was still sleeping at the time this was taken and missed the lovely show!

I've been taking an evening class in Paper Collage this month and it's been a lot of fun. We have one more class left, then we'll go on to a new one - possibly drawing. The same core group of people  (including me) take classes together, so we have great camaraderie and many laughs as we work.

The first piece is the one I'm working on, and a sampling of others' creations are below

We are doing these pieces on canvas with an acrylic medium holding the paper in place.

I hope all who read this will have a great weekend.

I'm crossing my fingers that this will be our last snowfall of the year!

Happy Spring!!

Ready For Summer?

It seems impossible that Summer is just now on the horizon. After a very rainy Spring, trees and all things green are extremely lush and full, as if it were already the middle of July. A real perk for us  New Englanders has been a recent block of perfect days, with sunshine and cool breezes. Open windows and the sound of birds chirping have had the cats stationed at screen doors and on window sills, alert to any wildlife or neighborhood "outdoor" cats who might pass by.

                                                                                      Original Cut Paper Art by Judy Hartman

I've been seeing so many beautiful photos of flowers and gardens on blogs from all parts of the country and other countries, but it is just recently that I've noticed my own perennials coming into bloom.

The lilies are bursting out,

while the hydrangeas are timidly showing a few blue blossoms.

Original cut paper art by Judy Hartman

Soon, the whole

 bush will be brilliant with periwinkle flower balls,

and I'll be gathering some to put in my mother's milk glass vase - a summer ritual.

Paper Collage: "Joy rises in me like a summer's morn."

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

I finished up the paper/painted collage I was working on back here. I'm not thrilled with my lettering, but was happy with the result of writing on tissue paper with a permanent Micron pen, tearing the edges, then being able to incorporate it seamlessly into the collage with acrylic medium. That will be useful in future attempts!

Speaking of future attempts, as I've mentioned before, I've recently been considering the direction I'd like to take with my artwork. I had been receiving newsletters from one of my favorite art quilt and mixed media artists, Lesley Riley, and recently signed up for a one-on-one coaching call with her. Lesley helped me to see where my strengths lie, gave me the validation I needed, and encouraged me with solid, workable advice. Now to get to work!! (Actually, I have been doing that!) You can read more about what Lesley has to offer in the way of coaching and classes here, sign up for her newsletter, or listen to her podcasts on Art and Soul Radio.

I'll be taking a break from blogging, from now until July 1, when I'll be back with a new blog design and some new work.

Hope you have an enjoyable first day of summer on Thursday, celebrate all the beauty nature is pouring out on us, and manage to find some time for creativity. I won't be posting, but I will be checking out everyone's blogs and seeing what you're up to! Take care...

Cleaning Spree!

Time to Purge!

Perhaps I should have been cleaning, instead of making a collage?

Have a great day!!

Junk Mail Collage!

Last Friday I took the day's junk mail and recycled it into this collage.

(The scraps went into our normal recycle bin.)

Now isn't this more fun than regular recycling? I may do it again.

Also, I came across this school photo of myself this weekend,

and got a kick out of the similarity between it and my profile picture!

Just a FEW year's difference!

In my Catholic school uniform, hair - already curly -

made more so by rollers, maybe 6th grade.

A fun find!!

Hope your week is getting off to a great start!!

A Day of Remembrance