Resurfacing after the Big Show

Today is possibly the first day I haven't thought: "Okay, what am I forgetting to do for the solo show?" But in spite of the pressure (that I put on myself), it was wonderful sharing my art with friends like Deborah Olsen -- who came all the way from Port Townsend, WA for the reception.

Thank goodness I had Tally Oliveau to help me hang the exhibit... we were done in about an hour and a half.

And that evening, I can't tell you how thrilled I was to see one of my long-time Artfest friends Nikki Gamon: that girl has crossed the state of Washington to see me and my art. Twice. 

This is about the time of year we'd all be seeing each other at dearly-departed Artfest. So it was especially sweet to see them this year, especially the dynamic Canadian duo of Janine Shea and Nancy O. 

I'm not a party planner. The possibility of no one showing up, decorating, feeding people... all that kinda gives me hives. So I especially want to thank the following:

• The Mountlake Terrace Arts Advisory Commission, for the exhibit space
• The Husband for creating the reception menu
• Sarah Wyatt for inviting her friends from Mensa
• and The Husband and Tally again, for regularly talking me down from the ledge. (That's why I'm smiling instead of sobbing in that photo below.)

And for the people who couldn't make it to the reception because they were on the other side of the planet, I've done the next best thing: Etsy! 

(You knew that was coming, didn't you?) Prints of all the pieces in my solo show are now available in my Etsy shop. The originals are also in the shop, but I realize most Etsy shoppers gravitate toward the more affordable prints. Must go now... I'm off to mail thank-you notes the old-fashioned way.

Getting "creative" at the Schack with book arts

The best part of the Schack Art Center's "Creative World of Book Arts" reception was time: the time people took to study each wall piece, hand-cut work and altered books.

And my altered book "A Short History" is right there up at the front of the exhibit! Which makes me really happy, because there were some marvelous pieces of all sizes. Some of my favorites: the big wheel-shaped book cross-sections of "Big Sky Lawman" by Ellen Jane Michael...

Lisa JonesMoore's "Bone Metal Journal" (that bone is a bit of muskrat jaw)...

Jody Cain's "Splash"...

Speaking of Jody, she was one of the "artists in action," working her journal and answering questions. Other artists did demos of their work nearby.

And guess who came to cheer us on? Amy Duncan of Four Corners Design! Turns out she, Lisa and I all knew each other separately. The Puget Sound region is a bunch of small towns, really: I've heard "There are only three people in Seattle. The rest is done with smoke and mirrors."

The book arts exhibit will be up for a little over five weeks, if you want to see everything for yourself. Details:

WHERE: Schack Art Center, 2921 Hoyt Ave., Everett
WHEN: April 18-May 28, 10am-6pm Monday-Saturday, 12pm-5pm Sundays
COST: Free!

Makes me want to cut up another book! Are you working on a book-based piece of art? Let me know in the comments or on Facebook.

Solo art show in two weeks!

I cannot even tell you how busy I've been for the past two weeks with art exhibits... better just to dive in and tell you what I'm up to right now. If mess = productivity, I am clearly WINNING.

Here's what I'm working on:
My solo art exhibit at the Mountlake Terrace Library: I've found hanging hooks for the slatboard wall where I'll hang the show, I've sent a save-the-date email to some collectors, and I'm matting prints of the assemblages. (The actual 3D assemblages will be at the reception, but I don't want to risk them being knocked down from the display area.)

I'm about to dash off to the Schack Art Center for an artist reception -- three of my book-related works are in their current show, "The Creative World of Book Arts." (More on that later.) If you'll be in Mountlake Terrace on May first, here's the information for my solo show:

I have GOT to go -- will update you soon!