Stick

What I wanted to get across in this picture was, well, a dog. I wanted to capture the energy of a dog racing toward you with a stick in its mouth, eager for you to thow it again- the life and the excitement of a dog in its element. We had a black and white springer spaniel- Solomon. He loved to play "stick".

This picture is made of: pampas grass, cotton, aucuba, banana peel, cornflower, mulberry, corn silk, ferns, lichen, various leaves and some mica to add sparkel to the eyes.

It Won Third!

This winter I spent hours thinking through, researching and making this picture to be entered into the Philadelphia Flower Show. To my surprise and delight it won third place. The overall theme of the flower show was "Springtime in Paris". I entered the pressed-flower category of a Paris Cafe'. Audry Hepburn movies were helpful for research. Dent de Lion Cafe' was named after the yellow flowers we, in America, call dandelions. For those of you who don't know, I am reading the French novel by Victor Hugo, Les Misereables. Reading it has given me a great intrest in France. Although Victor Hugo's novel is set in 1830's France, I brought many of its characters to a more modern day scene, except for the family at the bottom, which is my family. Below shows who's who. Jean Valjean is the main character in Les Miserables. He adopts Cosette, who loves Marius. The black tabletops in this picture are made from black hollyhocks with corn husks underneath them to give them a more interesting texture.

Inspector Javert's world revolves around the law. He chases Jean Valean (who is a parole violator) throughout the book. Javert took two tries. The first Javert was too big.

Marius is not a waiter in the book but it seemed like a good thing for him to be in this picture. His clothes (in the picture, not in the book) are made out of banana peel and his apron is black hollyhock.

Theses revolutionaries are plotting a better world. They all end up dying on a barricade.

Black hollyhock is the material I used for all the little curleys on the chairs. OK, these two characters are actually extremely poor and would not have clothes like this. But I wanted to have lots bright colors in this picture hence, the fancy clothes. The Thenardiers are criminals. Their daughter Eponine is in love with Marius which is just too bad because he loves "someone else".

And this is my family. Everthing in this picture is natural. Philadelphia rules state no color enhancment.

Here is a list of the plant material in this picture: creeping raspberry, birch bark, aucuba, bloody dock, dandelion, thyme, butterfly bush, ferns, statice, cornflower, rose, lettace, black hollyhock, corn husk, gray poplar, money plant, variouse fall leaves, black-eyed-Susan, banana peel, onion membranes, cockscomb, Japaneses maple, corn silk and some sort of a dead iris type foliage.

TO SEE THE OTHER PRESSED FLOWER PICTURES THAT WERE ENTERED, CLICK HERE. THERE WERE SEVERAL DIFFERENT PRESSED FLOWER CATEGORIES IN THIS SHOW SO MAKE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THEM ALL.

Winning third was a great 16th birthday present. I also got to go to the Les Miserables musical with my grandma, my dad and my brother.

Yee Haw!

I’ve been making pressed-flower cowboys ever since I sold my pictures on cards for $2. My very first cowboy was inspired by a piece of plant material that reminded me of a cowboy’s vest.

This picture is made of: maple, mulberry, banana peel, bark, tendril, orange peel, cockscomb and aucuba

Shapes

The trees in this picture are made by cutting different shades of brown leaves into thin strips and then gluing them in such a way that one side of the tree is darker than the other, with a natural transition from one to the other. It seems like pretty tedious work but I really enjoy it, sliver by sliver forming each branch. I haven’t figured out what the cardinal on the branch is looking at or thinking about. I just felt inclined to put a cardinal there.

This picture is made of: corn husk, various brown leaves, raspberry, maple, tulip, money plant, banana peel and orange peel.

Wings

What is our fascination with butterflies? It seems like anytime anyone sees a butterfly it brightens their day. Most of us don't get that way about horseflies. “Butterfly” was one of the first long words my two-year-old brother, Eli, learned how to say. Anytime one would fly through the yard he'd exclaim, "bo-fly.”

This picture is made of: cosmos, statice, bark, corn silk, delphinium, banana peel, aucuba and maple.

Mom's Bird

The robin is Michigan's state bird. Mom grew up in Michigan. She was proud to "own" this bird. When she got a lot older she learned, to her dismay, that the robin is also claimed by two other states as their state bird.



This picture is made of: hydrangea, maple, money plant, cotton, banana peel, mica and various fall leaves.

Fuzzy Feline

One advantages of the medium of pressed-flowers is being able to match textures as well as colors. If I was a painter I'd have to figure out how to illustrate fur with the way I manipulated the paint. But since I'm a pressed-flower artist I can just grab a fuzzy pampas grass head that already looks like cat fur to illustrate cat fur. I like making pictures of cats.

This picture is made of: pampas grass, cotton, poppy seed, banana peel, fall leaves, chrysanthemum and mica to add sparkle to the cat's eyes

NEW STUDIO AND ART GALLERY!

This has been a prayer and a dream of my family's. I now have my own art gallery and studio. It's on the same property where I've done my art shows in the past. We're not exactly sure how we'll plan my time yet - maybe I'll go over there to work twice a week or something like that. We'll see. But it is all exciting.

Unfinished Work

These are unfinished pictures waiting to be worked on. I may continue on the paths they seem to be headed, or I might cut the tree out of one and put in in another picture or take the cat's eyes to put in a totally different picture. I have two other pictures sitting in this sort of state, and I am working on another picture.

Luke 2:1-20

(I made this picture for a WWPFG Christmas card contest. I won second place.)

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Ceasar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cerenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them; and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, let us go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the sayings which was told them concerning this child.
And all that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, and it was told unto them.
Luke 2: 1-20

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

This picture is made of: fern, cornflower, Queen Anne's lace, onion peel and a fall leaf.

Dulcimer Doll

Nathaniel, my 12-year-old brother, who plays the mountain dulcimer, was in need of a Christmas ornament for his dulcimer group's gift exchange. So I made him this one. The doll is just one of those normal ones that I make dozens of. The dulcimer is brown mat board colored with a marker and hot glued together. The fret board is cardboard with pen marks for the frets. The strings are made from sewing thread with wire tuning pegs. It really doesn't take long to give something an extra touch.

O Holy Night

Recent Art Work

My 4-year old sister Autumn's birthday cake - October 17th.

My 6-year old brother Asher's birthday cake - October 22nd.

My 2-year old brother Eli's birthday cake - November 18th.

The Harvest Festival

Here is a slideshow of my biggest art show of the year. It happened last Saturday. It went well.

Autumn

Autumn is my dad’s and my mom’s favorite season. Hence, my 4-year-old sister, who was born in October, is named Autumn. Autumn enjoys helping me find “bootiful” leaves for my pictures.

This picture is made of: Japanese maple, Queen Anne’s lace and cotton.

Here's my "bootiful" sister -- the real Autumn.

Weekend Events

This weekend I will be demonstrating and selling my corn husk dolls at these two separate events:

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Friday and Saturday, November 5-6, 2010

(I'll only be there on Friday)

Nacoochee Valley Farm Ole Fashion Farm Field Days

9:00 AM - 7:00 PM

This event will feature horse, mule, oxen farm work demonstrations as well as bluegrass music, art, pottery, barbecue and horse drawn vehicle transportation from parking lot to barn, field and vendor areas.
Nacoochee Valley Farm utilizes horse drawn farm equipment for field work and has free range hens, sheep, cattle, and hogs. This event is located at Nacoochee Valley Farm. For more information click HERE.

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YOU ARE VERY WELCOME TO COME TO EITHER OR BOTH EVENTS!

11 Corn Husk Dolls

I had a very good trip to Michigan. My grandpa made a nice working set up for me in the garage, where I made corn husk dolls. Above is a slideshow of the 11 dolls. Of course I wasn't just making corn husk dolls the whole time. The trip was peppered with activities and nice times visiting with family.

Talk To You Later

Yes, this is the first time I've made a corn husk doll holding a cell phone... or any electronic device for that matter. I was asked to make a pink corn husk doll holding a cell phone, so I made a pink corn husk doll holding a cell phone. She is going with us for our family trip to Michigan. We're leaving tomorrow and returning Wednesday. This doll is going to live with a friend of my grandparents up there. If you need to get a hold of the doll or me while we're gone, just call one of our cell phones.

Animal Hair

In the past, when I've wanted to illustrate sheep I'd use cotton balls for the wool. But lately I've been using real sheep wool to illustrate my sheep wool. It's really nice to work with. I ordered it off of the Little Barn website. While I was there I also got some camel hair to experiment with.

Here is one way I used the camel hair.

I bought it with my corn husk camels in mind but it also works for human hair.

I still did use some for my camel hair. I also mixed in some maiden grass.

I have more nativity pieces to post later.