Friday - Weekly Wrap Up and the Summer Solstice Begins!

This week I decided to do a little dot painting. It's been a while since I've done one and it's wonky but in my own way, I adore it because it is wonky. I'll be hanging it on the Groovy Peace Wall as soon as it's been protected with matte medium.

 

With the leftover paint on my Gelli plate—acting as a palette for moments like this (because who wants to waste paint?)—I managed to pull six new pieces of collage fodder. In the photo above, the piece on the right started as an ink painting with black ink and colored pens. It wasn’t going quite as planned, so I set it aside. Now, though, I’m actually really into the way the leftover paint has interacted with the colors underneath—it almost looks like flowers. Pretty cool!

 

A year ago I made this mosaic and was disappointed in it because the white lettering faded into the mirror unless I held it like so. I finally decided to use a paint marker and ink brush combo on the lettering in black.

 

I love it! And it's back on the Celestial Wall where it belongs.

 

It's hard to believe but the end of June is almost upon us as well as the Summer Solstice beginning today!

I'll be heading away from the social media scene from Monday, June 23rd and will return on July 7th.

Lots of naps with the fur grandbabies are predicted.

 

In between those weeks I'll also be celebrating a few family members birthdays, a major holiday involving hot dogs and fireworks and a lot of time enjoying playing with paint, working on art journals and maybe even the next mosaic. Time will tell. I'm going with the flow!

Enjoy the first days of summer and expect to see a slew of photos once I've returned.

 

 

Enjoy the journey.

Cindy aka EarthMotherMosaics

https://artbyearthmothermosaics.com

A Proper Introduction

 Hello and welcome to my Universe. It occurred to me that perhaps a few of you don't really know who I am, although I've been writing blog posts for years and creating a lot of art along the way. It might be time to introduce myself to the new folks and re-introduce myself to those who have followed along.

My name is Cindy (Larason) White. I grew up in New Jersey in a sweet town by the Delaware River: Lambertville. It has changed a lot over the years, but my memories are set in and around the late 60's when I would walk across the bridge to New Hope. I loved this place (still do!) and found a whole world of art, theater, scents of incense and smells of the mossy covered trees by the water with a bit of a fish smell to it. Shad live in the river and they are a big part of the vibe. There were/are candle shops and restaurants and clothes, pottery and hippie shops. These walks around the town helped create who I am today. Here I am standing by the celestial and peace walls. A favorite spot in my room.

 

I always made something with my hands. From an early age, I remember trying to knit. My Mom did her best as a right-hander to teach this left-hander how to knit. But I never caught that wave. I also tried sewing on a machine, another favorite important thing my Mom did. Nope. There was a small foray with string art, hammering away at a board with nails for hours until my step-Mom yelled I needed to stop. The repetition must have driven her nuts. Not my intention and I did make her a few gifts as an apology which she truly loved, much to my delight. Kits for this craft are still available if anyone is interested in giving it a try. Here's one I thought was very cool - wine pouring into a glass made by stringoftheart. Nifty.

Somewhere after that I got busy with graduating high school and working as a secretary or typist in various jobs. I still managed to do a little bit of art but it was mostly doodling in lined pads using pens and colored pencils.

Once I got established in a job, I lived with my Grandmother and Uncle Bill for a few years until I found my own place to live with roommates in North Jersey and I got involved in dinner theater. What a trip that was. And there's not one photo showing I did it. You'll just have to take my word for it.

From there I moved to California and again had roommates. I met my ex-husband while working at Disney Studios and we had two beautiful daughters moving to Nevada to be near his family. After six years of a strained marriage, I moved back to Pennsylvania with my girls in tow and only what I could carry in a few suitcases to be with my family. One suitcase had a few clothes and essentials in it, but mostly it was filled with cross stitch magazines and supplies. I had my priorities straight.

At that point, it was a blur of family and activity raising my daughters with much help from my "village". I'll always be forever grateful for that help. I had a lot to learn about who I was besides a Mom and daughter myself, but I was slowly finding my way toward art once more.

I learned embroidery but only really the basics in high school and after my Mom passed away when I was a teenager, I didn't do much art at all. I did try, but the muse was too sad to do anything other than breathe.

Fast forward ... once I discovered cross stitch (both on cloth and plastic canvas) I found something I could do when the kids were playing, sleeping, eating. Every chance I got, I was making something in cross stitch.

When I broke a Blue Willow plate given to me after my Grandmother passed away, I had to find a way to save it. As I cried sweeping up the shards, I was determined to find a way to salvage at least some of these pieces and make something with it. That was in 2005.

It's now been 20 years in my mosaic journey. I've slowed down for a few reasons but I'm still making them and still enjoy the Zen time it provides me while I am sitting with tools and tessera in my hands studying a substrate. I like to share photos, so here is a tool, tessera and substrate.

I'm now 70 years old and my poor hands are tired of repetitive work using the nippers. I did discover dot painting and although I have tried a few different proper tools for that art, I have found the other side of a paintbrush and toothpicks work just fine if not better for me.

 

The large crescent moons are dot painted on hand cut cardboard. The center circle moon and stars was done on a jar lid. There's a few tins, water color and mosaics on this wall. Along with a wooden cheese board my Dad made around the time I was born. He gave me all he had (about 6) and I put mosaics on every single one of them. He loved it!

Now, giving myself something else to do during the week and concentrating on making mosaics Friday, Saturday and Sunday has helped my hands heal. And my heart still loves mosaics work. In this way, I can still do what makes me happy and keep my hands from pain.

Finding another outlet for mosaics was easy. Every evening I started drawing using black ink on everything I could find from cardboard box pieces to scraps of junk mail years ago. Streaming something while doodling was a way to relax. As time went on, I started exploring the use of alcohol ink markers and "real" paper in pads which produced some fascinating art. The colors in alcohol ink are amazing.

I added some doodles and photographs using the website Zazzle creating mugs, throw pillows and tote bags. I haven't made a lot of these items but what I do have you can find on my website.

 

I've been making doodles for years and have made my own books to store them, placed them in folders, left them in the pads I've doodled on (both sides of the paper usually).

After scrolling around YouTube, I discovered the world of junk journals. Wow, what fun they seemed!

This junk journal was about 80-90 pages. I haven't done another one exactly like this one yet but I hope to do more in the future.

 

This page is a favorite. I added a coin purse that holds a small watercolor painting inside.

That led me to start making my own stickers using magazines and my doodles. I'm still creating what I call "Sticker Doodle" books. It really is fun! Sometimes I dedicate a color, other times a subject.

Just a few (seriously) stickers I've made from magazines.

 

One of the best pages so far in the Sticker Doodle book, adding stickers and well ... doodles on the page.

 

 

In January this year, I found a free online 5 day collage paper making class through Instagram taught by the amazing Catherine Rains. If you're interested, this free course is still available to take. Believe me, if you've ever been interested in collage or how to make some really interesting designs on paper, Cat can show you way to make fodder you'll use for years!

I have to say, this part of the journey was life-altering for me. I found I could add paint both in watercolor and acrylics to paper with some really cool designs or just different colors blended or separate and make fodder to use in collage. This was mind blowing. My hands appreciated the break from using the mosaic nippers and I was still creating art similar to mosaics. Kind of.

I've given myself a challenge to make a small collage for 100 days. I was keeping track of it on Facebook but I didn't continue with sharing that. I don't love each page I make but I am having fun using papers I've created in interesting ways. I'm learning the colors I really like and those I'm not crazy about. I'm leaning toward red and yellow or gold more than I thought I would. Of course earth tones are still a favorite and lots of blue gets added in almost everything I do because I love the color blue! It was my Dad's favorite color as well and now that he's gone, I feel like a little bit of his spirit is in the blue papers I create.

Day 66 using ink stamped paper, roller paint off-casts, circles/dashes I drew on paper and acrylic paint in metallic gold using a bottle cap for the circle, piece of credit card for the lines and end of the paintbrush or toothpicks for the dots

 

I also purchased a Gelli plate that I have a love/hate relationship with. I am trying not to spend too much money on paper, so using what I have can be challenging. The better the paper, the easier it comes off the plate. I'm still in the very early stages of learning how to use this plate. Paint is also a thing ... I don't know that I'm using the best ones for a Gelli plate but I'm using what I can afford. It'll have to do! Sometimes I get some amazing pulls from it, and other times ... not so much.

 

I just started painting on old pieces of junk mail I collected thinking I'd use some of them for journaling. Instead I am using them for collage. Nothing is wasted! Not even the mail we used to put out for recycling. 

 

I'm using cardboard (cereal boxes, pasta boxes, etc) to cover in collage as well. I even have some cards/tags I'm making using an old deck of tarot cards with some missing. These appeal to me as does making mosaics on empty wine bottles, microwave plates, tin can lids. Reuse/recycle!

Old tarot card with collage - "In the midst of difficulty lies opportunity"

 I've shared my art journey here daily recently and really try to represent all the things I love to create art to the best of my ability. Each day I do something, some times I do all of the things. It's fun, rewarding and exhausting. Some of the things I shared in this post, will be seen in other posts. It's okay to skim or skip any or all of these posts if you are not into reading them. Just look at the pretty pictures. 😊

It has become a nice routine to do art daily when I'm feeling physically well enough, we just recently had a fight with COVID. Now that kids and grandkids aren't needing me as much, I have time to play!

I hope you've enjoyed this glimpse into who I was and who I now am.

 

Enjoy the journey.

Cindy aka EarthMotherMosaics

https://artbyearthmothermosaics.com

 

Thursday - Wrap-Up

Wrapping up a few long sessions in artful endeavors this week. There's all things I love to create in this post, so get a cup of your favorite beverage and relax. Enjoy!

 

For Father's Day, I created this small watercolor for my Father.

Really diggin' this 12 inch peace sign. It might head on over to my Etsy shop soon.

Or I might just let it be on the Peace Wall for a while.

Back in August 2022, I started working on this 13 inch square mosaic. I did the moon and clouds and then let it sit for a very long time. I sat and stared at it every time I was in the Purple Palace because it sat against the wall on the opposite wall of the door.

Grouting using my hand is rare. But when the tess I use is all different thicknesses, it's necessary. Besides I like to get my hands dirty.

"Shine On". "We all shine on, like the moon, the stars, and the sun." After a few years of waiting for inspiration, I believe it was worth it. I love using the "feet" from old plates here in the background. I save all the dish pieces I cut, for this very reason.

8x10 inch, painted in acrylics and Dragonfly Glaze, then some doodles I've cut out with words on here too.

8x10 inch, Regatta, with sailboats on the bottom, a fun boardwalk attraction on the top left and some kind of funky looking moon doodle on the right. I gave this to my grandson recently because he has learned to sail this summer.

8 inch sun sitting in the "to be grouted" pile. I like this one.

8 inch moon waiting patiently for me to begin the mosaic magic.

A 4 inch dot painted sun, not yet finished but close.

And of course there are tons of doodles, truly too many to share this time. I'll no doubt do a photo dump on Instagram during the weekend. I hope you get a chance to see them all!

 

Until next time ... ☮

Enjoy the journey.

 Cindy aka EarthMotherMosaics

https://artbyearthmothermosaics.com

Support Independent Artisans, Designers and Crafters for your gift-giving needs all throughout the year. Thank you!~Cindy, EarthMotherMosaics

World Art Day, April 15th - My Favorite Day

Monday, April 15th was World Art Day! Held each year on the birthday of Leonardo da Vinci – World Art Day provides an opportunity to affirm the role of the visual arts in our world. 

 

I love an excuse to be creative (although I don't need one) and this week is as good as any to do some new art pieces.

 

I'm still working with cardboard; cutting it into shapes and then dot painting. I found, for some odd reason, the crescent moon I cut out was hard to get exactly right. Perhaps it was the angle in which I had cut it. It was the first attempt and something I will definitely work on.

 

 

Here's where the moon and sun have been placed on the walls in my room.

 

 

Some adjustments will be made with the art on the wall in the first photo. More small art will get placed in a few gaps I see here.

I've been doodling regularly but only a few made it to the end. At some point, many get lost in thought. Those get cut out and saved for future use. Maybe for a canvas.

One practice doodle this week turned out fairly nicely. I'm getting better with petals (photo above shows them as well) but I still need to work on my free handed circles.

 

More mugs, pillows and tote bags will be added to my website and all prices throughout the site have been changed. These reflect the materials and shipping increases plus my 19 years of experience.

 

Here's a new one called "Hippie Flowers". I think it's groovy.

 

Until next week ... ☮

Enjoy the journey.

 Cindy aka EarthMotherMosaics

https://artbyearthmothermosaics.com

Support Independent Artisans, Designers and Crafters for your gift-giving needs all throughout the year. Thank you!~Cindy, EarthMotherMosaics

Spring Is Officially Here!

Yes!! Finally, Spring has arrived for us here in PA. It's still cold in the evenings but during the daylight hours it's warming up and the bees, birds and flowers are coming alive. Look at our beautiful array of color from the trees. They are amazing and only last a few weeks so we're enjoying them tremendously.

I have been doing website things and not doing a lot of art but have managed to get a few tins ready for the grouting pile.

Finishing touches on the tins need to be determined but right now I'm leaning toward adding words printed on paper somewhere within the tin. They don't really do much for me as they are, but I'm not finished with them yet.

The website now has an official section for Mugs, Pillows and Tote Bags. I tried to make it easier to navigate through this section since there isn't an extra tab to add them separately at the top of the site. Once you click on the link that includes "home decor", scroll down to the section showing these items. If you click on mugs you'll see they come in 11 oz and 15 oz. There are 5 designs in all 3 items so far. I do plan to add more doodle art this week plus include my photography as well. I'll share that info here next week.

You might also notice should you decide to look through the mosaics that are available for purchase that the prices have gone up a little bit. I have tried over the years to give the customer a break on my art and usually would undervalue myself at the same time which isn't fair. I recently took a business course and have learned how to price my items. I now have 19 years experience in making mosaics. It's time I include that in the price as well. I'll be changing everything price-wise all across the board with my mosaics. At the moment I've gotten all the crescent moons and a few "for the home" items with the new prices. That will all be fixed by the end of this weekend.

artbyearthmothermosaics.com

I recently purchased some Sepia colored ink pens and have been teaching myself how to use them, what size I like and what designs I like doing with them. They are different than black ink pens much to my surprise. Even the barrel that holds the ink is slightly larger, giving my hand a minute or two to adjust to the grip.

This one isn't shaded in yet but I do love making these optical ones.

 

The most fun this week was dot painting. I'm so darned proud of this. I cut out this sun shape using a cardboard box and did a decoupage on it with recycled paper scraps from the computer and mail that would normally get tossed into the bin. Then painted it black (took a few coats) and started in on the dotting. I LOVE the gold paint (first time using it). It's still slightly wet here from the dragonfly glaze I love to use these days on black painted things. It sparkles! I have a few shapes cut out and will keep at it now that I know what works. These might creep into the website eventually for sale. Fun to do and using recycled materials makes me happy.

Until next week ... ☮

Enjoy the journey.

 Cindy aka EarthMotherMosaics

https://artbyearthmothermosaics.com

Support Independent Artisans, Designers and Crafters for your gift-giving needs all throughout the year. Thank you!~Cindy, EarthMotherMosaics