Blue Room

Blue Room, 6 x 6" ©2011 K. Hambric

Another collage placed on Etsy this morning.

To me -- a little dark, a little mysterious.  This piece represents my fear of depression -- of going into the blue room.

I guess many of you have noticed by now that this isn't one of those happy, bubbly blogs.  I just can't do that.  Not with that fear of the blue room deep inside of me.

But, hey, if it is a happy piece for you, that's great!

I love that tree stamp. I really didn't want to have to carve one, I thought I could find an easy way out.  For quite a while I searched Ebay, Etsy, office supply shops and online stores for those good, old-fashioned rub on architectural symbols.  Apparently, those things just don't exist anymore.  Also, I dream of finding a stash of Letraset rub on letters and numbers in all sizes.  Really.  I dream of it.  If anyone out there knows where I can get my hands on these things, PLEASE let me know. 

Believe it (or not)

A new piece!  On Etsy.

Hourly Wage, 6 x 6", mixed media collage on board

It only took, what, 8 months!?!







This was one of three pieces I sent in to Seth Apter for his forthcoming book.  Originally, all three pieces were rejected (and I was quite dejected), but in the end, one was accepted.

I'm really enjoying the collage process.  I do like glue.  And paint.   The process is messy, but still somewhat precise.  We all know that I cannot veer far from right angles.

I made this piece several months ago, and have experimented with an even looser style since, which I may explore even more.

Stay tuned, something else might appear here.

Thanks

Thanks to those of you who read my latest griping session and actually commented.  You've all made me feel better.

I will be sharing a few new pieces next week.  Perhaps actually putting a few up for sale on Etsy.  I'm waiting for some hangers to come in the mail to complete them.
For a recent car trip, I pulled out some older magazines from my large shelter magazine stash.  On the cover of an issue of Western Interiors Magazine, was a fantastic (to me) abstract painting.  Quite large, painted possibly with a brayer or large, rigid plastic tool (yeah, that sounds nasty).  After my trip, I rushed to the studio, found small pieces of gesso board and a couple of old credit cards and went to work with my limited paint colors.

I've made several mistakes.  Some mistakes I've repeated several times.  But now, even though my paintings look nothing like the piece on the magazine cover (wouldn't that artist be a tad angry?!?), I've come to the point where I actually like the results.  And, of course, I'm sticking bits of paper and other collage elements onto these pieces.

So, I've been avoiding Etsy.  I've been avoiding my blog.  I've been avoiding even talking to other people about what I'm doing (yeah, I'll talk to myself about it).

But I know I hear those other people talking.  I hear bits of conversation in my head. 

How can she say "I'm working" when she has nothing new to sell?  

She's only playing.

She should really go out and get a job.

I think the attic heater has done its job.  I have caught up with my social media.  I'm now heading up to the studio.  I plan on having a damn good time and something to show for it.  Eventually.

(raspberry mouth noise)

I had plans for posting some new pieces and tossing about a few uplifting and motivational words and phrases.

Not. Gonna.  Happen.

I'm just mentally limping along right now.  I feel like an actor in an action movie.  You know the one.  He's shot.  He's holding his side.  He's pulling himself along with just one arm.  He seems to think that just by pulling himself to another spot he will get better.

It's kind of like that with me right now.  Except it's all in my head.  And it's way far from being an action movie. 

So, I'm going to eat some chocolate.  I'm going to purchase some books online.  I'm going to go into the studio and do whatever the hell I want no matter how stupid or insignificant.  I'm going to walk through the cold and shitty weather to my yoga class, and the only reason I'm doing this is because I have already paid for it and it hasn't hurt me yet.

More Mess

So, I'm still playing around with paint, paper and glue.  Still buzzing around like a hummingbird reluctant to land on anything.

 I began this piece by splotching some black paint around the edges.  Ochre then called out to me.  A map of Mexico City followed and then bees and letters and stamps.  And then more and more and more, until I think there is just too much.  Fun, though.  And dark.  Because I am a dark person.
 

This piece came about as a result of an accident.  On a previous piece, I had glued down a piece of black paper.  Seconds later, I wanted to move it.  Some of the paper remained behind.  I quickly reapplied the piece in the same spot as before, but I could not get the streaky, peely paper look out of my head.  I decided to design a piece where paper would be randomly glued down and ripped off before it dried in place.  Then I went on to stamp and scrumble and paint and glue and stick more more more until I think there could be a little much.  Or maybe its just right.  Or maybe it thoroughly sucks.

The point now, for me anyway, is to keep seeing how many or how few mistakes I can make while moving quickly and intuitively.  Hubby asks how much these pieces are and when we should put them on Etsy.  I'm trying to tell him that the point now is just to make something.  Anything.   What I want.  Not what I think will sell.

My Favorite and Best

My all time favorite art and design books.

More of my favorite books.

The best art tool ever purchased.  I love my fabric and beads, but these guys have taken me over.  They are the most expensive art tool I have ever purchased, but they are worth it.

The best technique I have ever learned -- carving my own stamps.  I have hundreds now.  I love them all.  I even love the way they smell!

My all-time favorite and best art tools.  That's a chopstick in the middle -- very handy (much like the hand).

What are your favorite and best?

A Chance to Give Someone a Chance

The talented Paula is holding an art raffle.

Click here to see how you can win The Wonder Horse or her Wall Dancers piece.

I'm angling for one of these pieces myself, but in order to help Paula move into a studio in an area where people actually appreciate art, I'll lessen my chances. Go have a look!