#1 - Take a walk, and either write down or draw everything you see on the sidewalk

So, here it goes. Number one. "Take a walk, and either write down or draw everything you see on the sidewalk."
We had Atlas this afternoon, so after Tim left, I decided to walk there with camera in tow before the service. Rather than drawing or writing about the objects, I took photographs of them. It made the walk go so much slower than it normally would have, but it was amazing how much I noticed that I never would have if I had just been walking. It made me realize how much trash people make. So many cigarette boxes. And lots of dog poo. My favorite find was a wasp's nest that had fallen beside the sidewalk. A lost little piece of summer. I picked it up and kept it. Automatically, it made me think of Lauren (my painting instructor). I think I am going to give it to her as a gift (good will offering?). I am tempted to put little messages in the hexagonal compartments. They seem like the perfect place for tiny scrolls. Here is the complete list of the objects I came across.
1. Ice
2. Leaves
3. 1/2 walnut shell. No walnut
4. Empty ziploc bag
5. Amoeba blobs in sandstone
6. Cat in the hat brochure
7. Honey Comb wasp nest
8. Colorful crumpled trash
9. Very faded comcast(?) ad
10. Cigarette buts
11. Tiny pinecone
12. Broken Christmas candy cane
13. "Need Nap?" moist towelette
14. Almost heartshaped rock
15. My reflection
16. Grafitti
17. Smashed pencil
18. Feather
19. Gummy Lifesaver
20. Book of Matches
21. Ratty cloth
22. Paper towel
23. Fake Christmas tree branch
24. Blue plastic screw
25. Newspapers
26. Broken glass
27. Blue rubber medical glove (freaky)
28. Juicy juice box
29. Banana Peel
30. Cigarette boxes
31. Seed pods
---> to see photos of all the items, visit my flickr site - http://www.flickr.com/photos/23431213@N05/sets/72157603842490820/


Besides just enjoying myself, doing this exercise will lead to two things. First, I am making a conscience effort to understand and connect with Lauren better. And second, whenever Tim and I go on a walk, I want to bring a trash bag and pick up garbage. Maybe it can be my small contribution to restoring Greeley.

A new Beginning

So, I have not been very good at posting to this blog, because it seems like it has been a waste of time. I seem to just post when I have new works of art to display, but I am not sure that anyone ever looks at it anyway. So, what is the point? However, today, I spent most of the morning looking at other people's creative blogs - most of which I cannot remember the name of off the top of my head, but who I found so inspiring. (I will post some names eventually) So, I decided that instead of just posting finished pieces, that I want this blog to be more about the creative process. I found a list of creative ventures that I am going to explore. Unfortunately, right now, I am a little tipsy - some delicious organic hard cider (because of super bowl - yeah giants!) and I can't remember or find the name of it. I will get it tomorrow. Anyway, I am going to try to do one venture a day and then post my explorations and what they lead too here. Hopefully, it will find someone (you?) and they will be inspired to do little creative acts as well.

New Paintings

Two new Painting. The one with the figures is called "In the Shelter of Each Other, the People Live", and the other is "The Nest" Both Pieces are very large. The bird piece is 5 ft by 3 ft 9 inches (approx).

Color!!

Some Pictures of the collage I made for the wall of my art classroom.

Here is the rest of "moon." Although, it is still not done. I want to incorporate all the pieces a bit better.

This is one I did a while ago, but only just finished.

Just a sketch...I am having a great time going through "Keys to Drawing" it is a great book.

A sad dead butterfly by Willow's apartment in manhatten.


These are pictures of a mural I am working on for Atlas's new child room.

Moon

A section of a larger painting I just did for "Moon"
Enjoy!

Come to the Edge

"Come to the edge"
He Said
They Said
"We are afraid"
"Come to the Edge"
He said
They came
He pushed them
and they
Flew

Just in case I don't get around to doing a new illustration for this topic. This is one of my painting I did a while ago. It is still one of my favorites. I have 18X24 prints available if anyone is interested... :)

Illustration Friday: Discovery

Geeky

Illustration for illustration friday...

Pangea!

Pictures from Pangea! A celebration put on by Wolverine Publishing and New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins. We had a great time, and met some really awesome people. Thanks!

These are some paintings I did in my Watercolor Explorations class I taught this summer. I had a wonderful time. There was about 5 of us (it varyed per day). I usually do not do much with watercolors, so I found it so refreshing to try something new. Next week I am teaching digital photography. I hope it is fun!

New art

Mwa ha ha ha ha

These are some older works I thought I would post. Hope you enjoy! Betony

Peace Art Show

A few pictures from the Mosaic Peace art show - my painting, and the poster/poster stencil. By the way - you can purchase a T-shirt with the peace design on it at www.cafepress.com/whatisatlas

Betony

I need to post a picture for my profile...

Catherine's Piece

A picture I did recently for my best friend Catherine. She is a cellist at the Cleaveland Institute of Music. I actually got to see her perform last night in a quartet in Denver. She is incredible. Enjoy!

Drawing

A new style I am excited to experiment. Happy December!