Hold the Stars

Her hands helped hold the stars in place, and encouraged me to reach...

(maggie pittman)

Sign Language

To sign or not to sign. That is the question. For many artists, signing their work is a question of pride, integrity, and ownership. For other artists, a signature is like a period; a statement that the piece of art is completed. There are some major artists that sign all their work, usually in the bottom right corner. Their signature becomes an integral part of the artwork. Some artists seem to sign some works and not others. And there are artists that never seem to sign their work at all. My choice has been to sign all my work, but on the reverse side for 2-dimensional pieces and on the underside for assemblage and sculpture.

The Art of the Signature

Jackson Pollock

Roy Lichtenstein

Robert Motherwell

Jasper Johns

Alexander Calder

Christo

Willem De Kooning

Andy Warhol

Franz Kline

Robert Rauschenberg

Jean Dubuffet

How many of you sign your work? How many do not? And where? And why?

Paper Dreams

Paper Waffles

The Color of the Clear Sky

Paper Steps

Turn the Page

357

Sideshow

Behind the Scenes

Painting behind the scenes tonight. I am working on a lot of projects that I am very excited about but none that I can show you...yet!

A New Chapter...

As I say goodbye to 2010...

I think about the many moments that I have known this past year...

I think about those times where I aimed for the stars and soared passed them...

I think about the everyday miracles that I tend to take for granted...

I think about the times of darkness that took the colors away...

I think about the flashes of synchronicity that seem to seek me out...

And I think about the possibilities that have yet to unfold and of what the future may hold...

Thank you all for being there with me on my journey this past year. I look forward to all the places we will go together in 2011.

A happy, healthy, and creative new year to you!

Sense of Wonder

I always appreciate when I receive feedback that something I have made has inspired others. My artwork is nearly always visual in nature. But occasionally I feel the need to express myself in verse rather than through images. The following poem, which has been previously posted on my blog, has provided an instance where my inspiration has been paid forward:

After The Storm

When the thunder ends and the rain stops falling

When the sea is calm and the birds start calling

The clouds will part like a curtain drawing

Promise of an open door

When the air is clear and the wind stops blowing

The sun reappears and the earth starts glowing

A light so strong as if all knowing

Sense of wonder to explore

In that window, in that time

A clearing of a cluttered mind

A ray of hope, it all takes form

In that moment, after the storm

When this poem was first posted, it inspired this companion poem by Jill Zaheer from JazWorks:

It took me on a journey

Which I read to be my own

Visually traveling to another place, another time

Yet in my own home.

The picture was a visual visceral rendering

Of the traveling of my soul.

It was mesmerizing, calming, captivating,

Transporting me, transforming me,

Making me whole.

Within that magical moment described,

After the Storm imparts a miraculous, new ability to see,

After the Storm ...........

Is now a special part of me.

And more recently, it inspired JoAnna Pierotti from Moss Hill Studio to create this beautiful artwork:

If you know Jo and her husband Ron's story, you will understand why this meant a lot to me. Click here to read Jo's post about this piece. While Jo initially gave this to Ron, she ultimately and generously decided to send it to me instead. She assured me that Ron did not mind at all.

So thank you Jill and Jo, for what you each created has inspired me in return!

As Night Falls...

As we leave 2009 and the first decade of the 21st century and enter into 2010, I want to take this special moment to thank everybody who has visited The Altered Page this past year. Thank you for stopping by. Thank you for leaving comments and sending emails. Thank you for participating in my online projects. And even thank you for lurking. I appreciate each and every one of you!

In deciding what to post tonight, I looked back on my New Year's post from one year ago. It still seems so applicable and is one of my most favorite posts. So...I am taking the liberty of posting it again this year.

As night falls on 2009...



I remember the positives...



and the negatives...



the highs...



and the lows...



the moments of contemplation...



and moments of pain...



feeling calm...



and feeling alive...



climbing to new heights...



and being heard...



taking a chance...



and realizing the sky is the limit...



and throughout it all...



Wishing you all a happy, healthy and creative 2010. May every dream come true!

Buried Treasure - Revisited

Digging for gold! Again! This post is my contribution to the second round of the Buried Treasure collaboration. Links to each and every participating artist can be found in the previous post on my blog.





It is all about layers. I wanted to Dig Deeper for my second Buried Treasure post. On the surface, my blog highlights my mixed media artwork. But if you look a little further, you will find posts spotlighting my photography, poetry, drawing, travel adventures, and the like. Look just a little bit deeper, and you will find posts about other artists, other blogs, and links I love. It is all about layers.



In my first Buried Treasure post, I focused on my mixed media artwork. In this "re=post" I have captured some of my favorite things from previous posts that focus on everything else! There are links to follow, videos to watch, and images to enlarge. Happy hunting!



Favorite Window:





Favorite Original Poem:



After the Storm



When the thunder ends and the rain stops falling

When the sea is calm and the birds start calling

The clouds will part like a curtain drawing

Promise of an open door



When the air is clear and the wind stops blowing

The sun reappears and the earth starts glowing

A light so strong as if all knowing

Sense of wonder to explore



In that window, in that time

A clearing of a cluttered mind

A ray of hope, it all takes form

In that moment, after the storm





Favorite Photography Series:



Coastal Waters

Shot in Tofino on Vancouver Island













Favorite Reflection: As Night Falls



Favorite Street Art:



Mixed media(!) graffiti from Greece





Favorite Interactive Zen Website: Wildcard



Click your mouse and move. My favorite is mistyline but be sure to try all five



Favorite Drawing:



Drawn in my course with Danny Gregory on the first day of class







Favorite You Tube Video:

Bouncy Balls - all real, no special effects







Favorite Book Project - no binding necessary:



Book Bundles











Favorite Rust:

Details from the 2007 show at MoMA entitled Richard Serra Sculpture: 40 Years.

Thank you all for going on this treasure hunt with me!