August Break 2013 - Week 4

Still having fun with Susannah Conway and more than 700 others participating in 

August Break 2013 

A month of photo prompts to post on our blogs, with little or no words.

Day 19 

Day 20 

Day 21

Day 22

Day 23

Day 24

Day 25

August Break 2012

August Break 2013 - Week 3

Another week with Susannah Conway and more than 600 700 others participating in 

August Break 2013 

A month of photo prompts to post on our blogs, with little or no words.

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14

Day 15

Day 16

Day 17

Day 18

August Break 2012

August Break 2013 - Week 2

Having fun with Susannah Conway and more than 600 others participating in 

August Break 2013 

A month of photo prompts to post on our blogs, with little or no words.

Day 5 - Close up

Day 6 - Diagonals

Day 7 - Skyline

Day 8 - Selfie

Day 9 - Taste

Day 10 - Red

Day 11 - Play

August Break 2012

August Break 2013 - Week 1

Thanks to Louise Gale I heard about Susannah Conway's August Break 2013.

I'll be joining more than 600 others who are going to take one photo each day in the month of August. Susannah gives a list of prompts that can, but don't have to be be followed. You can add words or not, post daily or not - no rules, just fun. Quoting Susannah "This is all about being present and enjoying taking photos just for the hell of it.'

My plan is to post once a week - we'll see how it goes.
Here's week one: 

Day 1 - Breakfast

Day 2 - Circles

Day 3 - Yellow

Day 4 - Love

August Break 2012

July Excitement

What a busy and exciting month it has been. I had the wonderful and unexpected opportunity to have my first solo show at the i5 Gallery in Gales Ferry, CT. 

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The opening reception was such a fun and exciting night. It was a joy to be surrounded by the many friends, family members and visitors who came to help celebrate.

I knew I'd been working hard the last year or so but was still surprised to see just how much I had accomplished when I got to see all my work displayed like this in one place for the first time. I am grateful to Marge Anderson, the owner/director of the i5 Gallery who did such a fantastic job of pulling everything together for the show and the opening.

 One of the pieces from the show that went off to a new home.
"Lucky Fish" in the office of Trade Labels Inc. 

Just outside that window is this beautiful koi pond full of live lucky fish.

Summer Color

I've had my mac book for a year and a half now and I was thinking about all the features in iPhoto that I have never used. Soooo...  this morning I tried something new and sorted through the many garden photos I've taken so far this year to put together this one minute slide show. It was pretty easy - I used the "scrapbook" template and choose Clair de Lune for the music which just happens to be one of my favorite pieces of classical music.

Postcard Exhibit

© K. Johnson 'Scent of Pine'- 6" x 4" collage on paper

For the National Collage Society Postcard Exhibit
The Downtown Gallery
Kent, Ohio
June 19 - July 20 2013

Make Mine Mini

When I began working in mixed media several years ago I started with some square panels of wood that were 2.5" x 2.5" on up to about 5.5" x 5.5". I never intended to make it a habit of working on a such small scale but it was fun so I kept at it. Only problem was I never felt like I had enough time for creating. I can't remember where but I read about the "5-10 minute rule" that it sounded worth giving a try. I would pop into my studio for 5-10 minutes in the morning before I left for work, glue a few things, cut or paint a few papers, then get in another 5-10 minutes when I got home and sometimes again before I went to bed. I was amazed at how much could be accomplish this way. I'm lucky enough to have some bigger blocks of time these days but I can still put that rule into action when the schedule gets crazy and creativity time is hard to come by.

Late last year Cloth Paper Scissors magazine announced a readers challenge called "Make Mine Mini". It was a call for art work that was 4" x 4" or smaller. I had an unfinished 2.5" x 2.5" piece so I made it my goal to get it finished and send it in for consideration. In January, I found out that I was chosen as a finalist and might have my work published in a future issue of the magazine. They didn't let anyone know ahead of time so I had to wait until the May/June issue came out. Looking through my issue when it finally arrived in the mail and there it was, my work on page 87! It's always a thrill to see your work in print. 

© K Johnson  "Grounding"

Tissue Paper, Napkins and Tea Bags

Do you remember making tissue paper flowers in grade school art class? I haven't thought about them until just recently when I saw a beautiful window display using them at an Anthropologie store. They were so pretty and brought back such good memories of fun crafty times in art class that I wanted to try making some again.

I painted some white tissue paper with watered down acrylic paints and thought I would also try using some some decorative napkins I found at the Christmas Tree Shop last year.

Tea bag papers work well too. They are the perfect proportion so are a little less fussy than having to cut the tissue paper and napkins to the right size. They are pretty strong and don't tear as easily as tissue paper does.

I remembered the basics of how to make the flowers but I found the rest of the details and easy to follow instructions at Rust & Sunshine.

It won't be long before I can fill vases with fresh cut flowers from the garden but until then these will do.

Just getting started...

Nothing like a pile of old rusty washers to get me started on some new mixed media pieces. These were a gift from my husband when he was cleaning out the garage.

I've never used any metal in my work before so this is something new and different.

I have no idea where these are going right now, I'm just enjoying the process.