Connie's Works in Progress

Learning Batik Again

2011-09-24T09:57:00.000-06:00

Custom Orders

2007-11-01T11:27:00.001-06:00

"Star Of David"

for Laurie

This one was a real bugger to get right. The star is made from a thin sheet of sterling silver. It took me five tries to get the star right. The first 4 were made by trying to cut out the star with tiny metal scissors/snips. The points were very hard to keep straight. Finally, I pulled out the jewelry saw. Since the star is so tiny - the entire pendant is about the size of a penny - it was rather tedious to hold the silver sheet and saw the shape, while keeping all my fingers intact. But it worked. This is by far the nicest one.

It was then fused between 2 sheets of glass, one burgundy and one clear. The heat or something caused the silver to discolor a bit. It's almost as if it tarnished, which is quite possible. Prior to fusing, the silver was quite shiny due to the polishing I had done.

So the entire process was quite laborious. I'm certainly going to have to charge more on any future ones that include silver. But for a friend, I gave her a break. I also figure that it was a great learning experience for me - enclosing silver within the glass.

The pendant goes out in the mail today. I hope she likes it.

Max

2007-10-11T13:54:00.001-06:00

"Max"

Recently I helped out with some pet-sitting. This is Max. It wasn't easy getting him to hold still for a quick sketch.

ANNOUNCEMENT

2007-09-05T13:22:00.000-06:00

I am just about ready to open up shop on Etsy. The url is going to be connierose.etsy.com . Check it out!

Happy Day

2007-08-07T14:56:00.000-06:00

"Happy Day"

One of the prints made from the linoblock I carved.

Happy Day - linoblock

2007-08-07T14:54:00.000-06:00

"Happy Day"

Here's the finished linoblock.

Next Linocut

2007-07-24T21:05:00.000-06:00

"Happy Day"

This is the next linocut. I've sketched out the basic design and tomorrow I start to cut. It started out as a birthday gift (or card) for my Grandmother's birthday that is coming up soon. As it progressed, I was really happy with the direction it was going, but I'm not so sure this is the design for Grandma now. I may have to do another.

Camping in Michigan

2007-07-24T21:00:00.000-06:00

The 19th print out of 25. This one it looks like I loaded on too much ink to the linocut. I like the way the colors came out tho. Nearly all of it is done with Tombow brush markers.

Trying This Again

2007-07-24T20:53:00.001-06:00

I think I've managed to make better scans of the limited edition. This is the 1st print in the edition. As you'll see when I post some other prints, I definitely got better as I went along. I've also discovered that I changed the name of the artwork part way thru the project. It started out being called "Michigan Camping", but after the 6th print I somehow switched it to "Camping in Michigan". Oh well. This is my very first try at making an edition. I had 6 "artist proofs". Really only one that I would consider to be done well. The other 5 were sub-par.

This first one was printed on very thick handmade paper. I love the quality of the paper, but it obviously effects the how well the ink takes. The ink in the first 6 prints was also done with water based ink. For prints 7-25 I used oil based ink on Dick Blicks printmaking paper.

Scanning Artwork

2007-07-17T09:26:00.001-06:00

Scanning proofs didn't turn out as well as I'd like. I'll have to play around more with the scanner and get a better quality picture. In the meantime....here are some scans of the beginning of the edition.

I tried to manipulate this one and enlarge it. Unfortunately it looses clarity when I blow it up. But since I am at my office now, I'll have to play with it on my own scanner when I get home.

Camping In Michigan - First in Edition

2007-07-12T10:34:00.001-06:00

"Camping in Michigan"

Here we go. This is the sixth pull of this print and the first of the edition. It will probably be a limited edition, but I haven't decided the final number yet. I am going to keep the background the same and change the color of the tent on each one. With a large edition, it will definitely have repeats in the color combination, and I am anticipating only about 5 or 6 different variations.

On a side note, I've ordered some oil-based ink for future pulls. I will probably switch over to that once it gets here. Although, with a bit of a steady hand, it's added a bit of interest in the spots where I allowed the block to slightly run into the color. I've also ordered more Tombow brush markers - the earth color set.

Watercolor and ink.

Artist's Proof #5

2007-07-12T10:14:00.001-06:00

"Camping in Michigan"

This is the 5th Proof. I'll be keeping the first 5 pulls as Artist's Proofs. In this one I've finally worked out how I want to color them. The big issue has been the water-based ink that I used. It tends to run in to the colors if I'm not very careful. On this one I've used mostly watercolor pencils. The knots in the trees and the blue sky were done with Tombow brush markers.

Watercolor and ink

Running Some Proofs

2007-07-12T10:06:00.000-06:00

"Camping in Michigan"

This is the 4th proof I pulled. The first 3 were pretty rough, but I used them to practice with various ways of coloring. In the end, I found that most areas work best to use watercolor pencils. The knots in the trees in this proof were painted with regular watercolor, but even using my smallest brush it looks bad. For the next proof I switched to using a Tombow brush marker. I've also used the Tombow brush marker for the blue sky. The ground in this proof was painted with regular watercolor too.

Water-based ink and watercolor.

Lino Printing

2007-07-08T20:02:00.000-06:00

I am back to an art form that I have more confidence in. I'm going back to lino-printing. Here is the one I carved this week. It is a tent in the woods in Michigan. My tent, in fact.

Now we're talking!

Linoleum block carving.

Utah

2007-06-29T20:31:00.000-06:00

"Utah"

This one was done for Sarah, my daughter. It represents the scenery in Utah. Sarah and I took a road trip a couple years ago, and the ride through Utah reminded me of that trip with her.

Pen and watercolor.

Sierra Nevadas

2007-06-29T20:19:00.000-06:00

"Sierra Nevadas"

This one was done for my mother. It is representing the train tracks that wound through the mountains.

Grand Junction

2007-06-29T20:14:00.000-06:00

"Grand Junction"

This one I did for my grandmother, who used to live in Grand Junction. This is the scenery and the western slope of the Rocky Mountains as seen from the train station in Grand Junction.

Pen and watercolor.

Nevada

2007-06-29T20:05:00.000-06:00

"Nevada"

While away on vacation, I passed the time on the train by painting some postcards. I brought along a block of postcard sized watercolor paper, a travel size watercolor paint set complete with palette tray, additional paint brushes, watercolor pencils, waterproof markers, and some brush tip markers.

This one I call "Nevada". In the middle of the desert in Nevada, all that I could see was sand and sagebrush.

Pen and watercolor

Dude - Dia de los Muertos

2007-06-07T13:45:00.001-06:00

"Dude"

Dia de los Muertos

ACK! Okay, I have definitely lost interest in this project. I'm almost embarrassed to put my name to this. This is #29 of the Every Day Art Project. Finalmente!

Pen and Watercolor

Frida - Dia de los Muertos

2007-06-07T13:41:00.001-06:00

"Frida"

Dia de los Muertos

How could I do a collection of Day of the Dead without doing Frida? Come on! So here she is. She'll be #28 of the Every Day Art Project. Only one more to go. They changed the numbers to 29, due to some people dropping out.

Pen and Watercolor.

Sir Potter - Dia de los Muertos

2007-06-07T13:25:00.000-06:00

"Sir Potter"

Dia de los Muertos

This will be #27 in the Every Day Art Project.

I'm growing very weary of the project. Boredom is definitely setting in. I think I will be happy when this is over. Although I am having some anxiety about giving away some of my favorites. I'm going to re-read the rules on this thing. I seem to remember that I can send good quality prints of up to 9 entries that I just can't part with.

Pen and Watercolor.

Migraine - Dia de los Muertos

2007-06-07T13:21:00.000-06:00

"Migraine"

Dia de los Muertos

Someone had a headache the day this was created. This will be #26 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and Watercolor.

Yo Ho - Dia de los Muertos

2007-06-07T13:16:00.000-06:00

"Yo Ho"

Dia de los Muertos

A pirate's life for me! This will be #25 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and Watercolor

Heidi - Dia de los Muertos

2007-06-07T12:45:00.000-06:00

"Heidi"

Dia de los Muertos

This one I call "Heidi". She will be #24 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and Watercolor.

Miranda - Dia de los Muertos

2007-05-21T14:19:00.000-06:00

"Miranda"

Dia de los Muertos

This will be #23 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and watercolor.

Play Ball - Dia de los Muertos

2007-05-21T14:16:00.000-06:00

"Play Ball"

Dia de los Muertos

Baseball season is here! This will be #22 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and watercolor.

Tambourine Man - Dia de los Muertos

2007-05-21T14:13:00.001-06:00

"Tambourine Man"
Dia de los Muertos

Tambourine man is running to the party! This will be #21 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and watercolor.

Luau - Dia de los Muertos

2007-05-21T14:10:00.000-06:00

"Luau"

Dia de los Muertos

This will be #20 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and watercolor.

Ya Mon - Dia de los Muertos

2007-05-21T14:06:00.000-06:00

"Ya Mon"
Dia de los Muertos

This will be #19 in the Every Day Art Project. I'm definitely feeling the need for something tropical.

Pen and watercolor.

Spike - Dia de los Muertos

2007-05-21T13:57:00.000-06:00

"Spike"

Dia de los Muertos

This will be #18 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and watercolor

Recent distractions....

2007-05-14T21:33:00.000-06:00

"Bailey Warhol"

My favorite art subject - my cocker spaniel Bailey.

Aloha - Dia de los Muertos

2007-05-10T10:12:00.000-06:00

"Aloha"

Dia de los Muertos

I'm feeling the need for something a bit tropical. Spring Fever might be the reason. I don't know. I've also got a bit of a spring "bug" too. It's hard to get motivated. This one will be # 17 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and Watercolor.

Peace - Dia de los Muertos

2007-05-03T06:47:00.000-06:00

"Peace"
Dia de los Muertos

This is an old hippie, still waving the old peace sign. This will be #16 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and watercolor

You're Fired - Dia de los Muertos

2007-04-26T08:25:00.000-06:00

"You're Fired"
Dia de los Muertos

I'm not projecting any death wishes on anyone. It's just that some characters shout out to be drawn. This will be # 15 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and watercolor.

Oh Baby Baby - Dia de los Muertos

2007-04-26T08:21:00.000-06:00

"Oh Baby Baby"

Dia de los Muertos

A little bitty school uniform on a pretty big girl. This will be #14 on the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and watercolor.

Tia Maria - Dia de los Muertos

2007-04-23T12:41:00.000-06:00

"Tia Maria"

Dia de los Muertos

This was just a fun one. It will be #13 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and Watercolor.

Toothache - Dia de los Muertos

2007-04-20T07:52:00.000-06:00

"Toothache"

Dia de los Muertos

Today I had a tooth pulled. This is a reflection of how I felt. This will be #12 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and watercolor.

Sheriff - Dia de los Muertos

2007-04-19T08:16:00.000-06:00

"Sheriff"

Dia de los Muertos

I had fun doing the plaid shirt. This one is a sheriff flanked by some large cactus. This will be #11 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and watercolor.

Faux Stained Glass

2007-04-18T18:53:00.000-06:00

I live in a townhome with a strict HOA in charge. We are not allowed to change our windows, but I AM allowed to change the window treatments as long as they are not offensive. This is my faux stained glass window treatment. I used a roll of thick plastic, cut into rectangles, and painted with glass paints and trimmed with stick-on leading lines. After the sections were painted, I punched holes and hung them with "s" hooks. It gives me a bit of privacy from the prying eyes of neighbors, but also allows the sun to shine in.

The plants still get enough light and the cat still loves to lay on the windowsill.

It looks pretty nice from the outside too!

Click on the image to see a larger version.

La Reina - Dia de los Muertos

2007-04-18T07:38:00.000-06:00

"La Reina"

Dia de los Muertos

The Queen flanked by two pineapple sceptors. This is #10 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and watercolor.

Rainy Day - Dia de los Muertos

2007-04-17T11:32:00.000-06:00

"Rainy Day"
Dia de los Muertos

This will be #9 in the Every Day Art Project. We were expecting some rain in Denver that day, and I own a terrific yellow slicker that was given to me by my daughter.

Pen and watercolor

Easter Basket

2007-04-17T11:25:00.000-06:00

"Easter Basket"

This was created on the evening before Easter, along with the previous painting. I was missing my daughter, who has moved to Canada to live with her boyfriend. I had sent them an Easter package, but it didn't make it in time. And I had no reason to dye eggs, since I am vegan. So I was creating my own little basket. This will be #8 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and watercolor.

Easter Bonnet - Dia de los Muertos

2007-04-17T11:21:00.000-06:00

"Easter Bonnet"
Dia de los Muertos

This is #7 in the Every Day Art Project. It is a lady with her Easter Bonnet. I created this one on the eve of Easter.

Pen and watercolor.

Sgt Welsh - Dia de los Muertos

2007-04-09T10:40:00.000-06:00

"Sgt Welsh"

Dia de los Muertos

Several years ago I bought a wonderful cap at a surplus store in Massachusettes. It has the emblem for the R.A.F. and the former owner wrote his name: Sgt Welsh. I love this cap. This will be #6 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and watercolor.

Repose - Dia de los Muertos

2007-04-09T10:36:00.000-06:00

"Repose" - Dia de los Muertos

A lady on her settee. This idea was taken from a print that I have hanging in my bathroom. Of course, my print is of a living woman, but it was such an old painting that I'm certain the woman is now amongst los muertos. This is also #5 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and watercolor.

Presidential - Dia de los Muertos

2007-04-09T10:32:00.000-06:00

"Presidential" - Dia de los Muertos

Not that this is anyone in particular. It is however, #4 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and watercolor.

Notre Dame Cruiser - Dia de los Muertos

2007-04-06T07:34:00.000-06:00

"Notre Dame Cruiser"

Dia de los Muertos

This one is in tribute to a devoted Notre Dame fan.

It is #3 in the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and watercolor.

April Fool's Dia de los Muertos

2007-04-03T11:10:00.000-06:00

April Fool's Dia de los Muertos

My first piece of artwork for El Dia de los Muertos. It is a jester (or fool) in celebration of April Fools Day. This is piece #2 for the Every Day Art Project.

Pen and watercolor pencils

Re-worked for Every Day Art Project

2007-04-03T11:01:00.000-06:00

Re-worked the 3 men in the park. This was drawn bigger on a 6x6 sheet of sketch paper. Again worked in pen and watercolor pencil. This is the first art piece for the Every Day Art Project.

The assignment is to produce one 6x6 piece of art every day for 31 days. Once completed, they will be mailed in and then distributed amongst everyone who participated. I will receive back 30 pieces done by 30 other artists. Each of them will get one of my pieces. The 31st piece will be included in a "zine" that we can purchase. I assume we are to nominate our best piece for the "zine".

For added interest, we are being asked to work in a new material or new style or explore something new in creating these 31 pieces. My challenge of something "new" hasn't been clearly decided yet. I am not good at watercolor, so I thought that would be a good challenge for me. Also, I have wanted to work on Dia de los Muertos style artwork. So maybe I'll do a little of both for this project.

Personal crit: I can do better.

Sunday's Sketchcrawl

2007-04-03T09:08:00.000-06:00

City Park in Denver - April 1, 2007

Three older gentlemen watching a pair of younger men playing tennis. It was a beautiful day in the park.

Pen and watercolor pencil.

Fireplace Mantle on Valentine's Day

2007-02-18T16:34:00.000-07:00

Ink and watercolor pencils

New Glasses

2007-02-13T14:31:00.000-07:00

Charcoal sketch

Taz and Bailey

2007-02-13T14:28:00.000-07:00

Charcoal sketch

SketchCrawl

2007-02-13T14:10:00.000-07:00

Watercolor and pencil

Goddess

2006-05-09T12:04:00.000-06:00

Plaster cast in clay.

Snake in the Grass

2006-05-09T11:59:00.000-06:00

Sculpture in the Round - plaster and raffia

Weather Pixie

2006-04-25T09:46:00.000-06:00

Today I added a little Weather Pixie to both blogs. I ran across it on another person's blog and had to go out and get my own. She changes her outfits according to the weather report where I am at. If you want to get your own, go here.

Pendants

2006-04-20T09:31:00.000-06:00

Charged : (brass, nickel, silver, stone) - front and back shown

Moss : (brass, silver, stone)

Out On a Limb : (brass, fused glass)

2006-04-17T12:39:00.000-06:00

Golf Ball Necklace - golf balls, copper, brass (acid etched, hammered, and stamped)

Concept: An interpretation of Go For Baroque by Roy Lichtenstein.

2006-04-17T12:32:00.000-06:00

April's Fish - Copper, Brass (hammered & stamped design)

Caffeine Injection

2006-04-17T12:06:00.000-06:00

Caffeine Injection - Brass, Copper, glass, ceramic mug.

Concept: Inject the caffeine directly into the vein. The little coffee mug is printed with "I love you" on the side. The cylinder of the syringe measures "Venti, Grande, Tall, and Short". The stone atop the plunger is offset with the intention of representing a large spill of coffee.

Method: The cylinders, interior and exterior, are acid etched. The brass cylinders were hand-formed. The glass "coffee spill" on top of the plunger was rivetted on.

This is me - cents

2006-04-13T09:43:00.000-06:00

Vegan, Artist, Lesbian, Mother . . .

Connie's Works in Progress

Learning Batik Again

Custom Orders

Max

ANNOUNCEMENT

Happy Day

Happy Day - linoblock

Next Linocut

Camping in Michigan

Trying This Again

Scanning Artwork

Camping In Michigan - First in Edition

Artist's Proof #5

Running Some Proofs

Lino Printing

Utah

Sierra Nevadas

Grand Junction

Nevada

Dude - Dia de los Muertos

Frida - Dia de los Muertos

Sir Potter - Dia de los Muertos

Migraine - Dia de los Muertos

Yo Ho - Dia de los Muertos

Heidi - Dia de los Muertos

Miranda - Dia de los Muertos

Play Ball - Dia de los Muertos

Tambourine Man - Dia de los Muertos

Luau - Dia de los Muertos

Ya Mon - Dia de los Muertos

Spike - Dia de los Muertos

Recent distractions....

Aloha - Dia de los Muertos

Peace - Dia de los Muertos

You're Fired - Dia de los Muertos

Oh Baby Baby - Dia de los Muertos

Tia Maria - Dia de los Muertos

Toothache - Dia de los Muertos

Sheriff - Dia de los Muertos

Faux Stained Glass

La Reina - Dia de los Muertos

Rainy Day - Dia de los Muertos

Easter Basket

Easter Bonnet - Dia de los Muertos

Sgt Welsh - Dia de los Muertos

Repose - Dia de los Muertos

Presidential - Dia de los Muertos

Notre Dame Cruiser - Dia de los Muertos

April Fool's Dia de los Muertos

Re-worked for Every Day Art Project

Sunday's Sketchcrawl

Fireplace Mantle on Valentine's Day

New Glasses

Taz and Bailey

SketchCrawl

Goddess

Snake in the Grass

Weather Pixie

Pendants

Caffeine Injection

This is me - *cents*

This is me - cents