Author: JP Dawes Artist

Fast Friday Redux

| JP Dawes Artist

Lots of times I start something for one of these challenges and post it on the Fast Friday blog just to have something started. If I feel it has good bones, I might take it further until I feel it is a good composition. This was one of those pieces. It was done for the curvilinear perspective challenge for this month and I was the host.
I added 2 overlapping layers of circles done in perspective as the original photograph is. I pulled some of the color from the surrounding batik into the photo transfer and pulled some of the light colors into the batik. I like the depth and perspective this finally has. 
My word for 2011 is Persevere….this piece is one of the reasons I chose that word. It is too easy to just chuk it into the trash, but really nothing is a failure if you are willing to take the time to analyze and work with it.  Just my quarter on the subject and it works for me.

Reduce Reuse and Recycle ATC

| JP Dawes Artist

I forgot to post the latest ATC from our Arts in the Cards trade this month. I reduced my stash with a bit of batik, I reused some postcards that were damaged for the backs and I recycled the colorful bird feathers that have lived in a drawer for 6 years. 


The quote says, ” Day after day and all my days falling like leaves upon the lessening time, fluttering away.” That expresses how I feel sometimes at this time of year when my birthday is less than a month away. 

Fiber Art Jewelry

| JP Dawes Artist

I finally got some of my fiber art necklaces photographed and for sale  in my Etsy shop. (There is a link at the top of this page if you want more information). 


The first one is one of my favorites and it took many hours of pains taking work to embroider and bead this antique crochet piece. 


There is one listed with an image of Christ’s Sacred Heart on leather. The other one is an image of my silk quilt, Angel Trumpet Splendor, applied to leather. The images on leather is a technique I discovered recently and I’m sorry to say I won’t be sharing the ‘how to’ for a while. I hope you enjoy seeing these. 


Miniature Colored Pencil Paintings

| JP Dawes Artist

I love to create little miniature drawings and paintings.

These little pieces are colored pencil and India ink on acid free mat board. I started doing these a few years ago when I had little bits of mat left from openings cut for larger works. Since they were never a standard size, I started cutting them into 2×2 inch pieces. These are small enough that I can carry them and the high quality pencils with me where ever I go.

I sit them on shelves, next to baskets or where ever. They are a nice unexpected art surprise.

These are just small enough that you could even add a pin on the back to wear for Spring! They are listed in my catalog of Etsy art. There is a link to a page at the top of my blog. If you click on any of the images it will take you to the Etsy site.

Another experience passes into memory.

| JP Dawes Artist

Our little park model mobile home in McAllen, TX sold today. That part of our life experience  is now memory.

Ron and I sat here last night and listed some of the things we would not have done or seen if we hadn’t been there for a few winter Texan seasons.

I would never have experienced the Ropas and been able to have all the wonderful ethnic textiles I have in my stash.

We would never have experienced the Mexican Flea Markets where there might be a stall of chickens next to a stall of fresh vegetables.

We wouldn’t have seen the desert cacti in bloom as far as we could see while driving back from South Padre where the beach that day was full of man of way jelly fish.

We couldn’t have gone to the Killer Bees Hockey Games or the farm team basketball games.

We met some wonderful people from all over the northern hemisphere and enjoyed many dinners and fun times. We experienced mariachi bands, ballet folkloric, a boys choir from Mexico City, art walks and galleries  and too many other things to mention.

We will miss all of this, but there will be new experiences waiting for us around the next bend.