Valentine collage cards

Spent most of the day creating ten more Valentine's Day cards...

Working on More Valentine Day Cards

Making more Valentine Day collage cards today.
Paper puches, design scissors, self healing mat, brads, glue, etc...







Flatening - high tech process... my college dictionary and two pieces of plastic...













Gandalf helping by attemping to curl up in the sun on top of all the paper and ribbon! FYI the cat came with that name...













Rotary paper cutter, very handy to keep things on the straight and narrow...

Valentine collage blank note cards

Spent this afternoon making ten collage Valentine cards... used as little pink as possible.  Pink is just not my color.  These are mounted on white card stock which does not show that well in these images.  Just image about a 1/2" to an inch as a border around the central designs.

Cleaning Counter Work Space and Desk [Biz Corner]

So the main point of this reorganizing is when I paint Sumi-e [Japanese Zen style of ink painting] - my work area has to calm, clear and restful.  Even when I collage, I generally put materials away as I work - gets me up and down from the chair so I'm not an art potato.

before

After...







I even have my Bizzz corner of the workroom tidy!

Before

After!!!!

Cleaning my Art Space

Prepping for the New Year - Total re-organizing small art studio/office space aka the 3rd bedroom!

BEFORE!

Setting up soldering/jewelry making, organized collage materials, sorted WC Pencil material, Sumi-e, etc for ease of working on projects.

AFTER!!!!!!

Chair Affair - began working on my chair

I began working on my Chair Affair fundraiser chair.  The left arm was very wobbly... Lots of staples held the set cover and sheer cloth on. Took awhile to seam rip the cushion to use as a pattern.

Had to remove the left arm as it was very loose. Tomorrow I'll get the wood glue and put it back on...

Removing the fabric from back side of seat cushion.

Staple pulling implements!

Pulling more staples to release the chair cover.

Padding looks OK...

Used a seam ripper to take apart the seat cover to use as a pattern... hope I remember where the short pieces of cording went!

Black fabric for new seat cover...

Pinned and ready to cut the seat cushion pieces.

commission original sumi-e note cards

At Connections meeting in November, a member asked for an owl and also a chicken Sumi-e blank note card.  Made them last night and delivered them today... These Sumi-e paintings are adhered to a blank note card, stamped with my seal, signed and put into a plastic sleeve with the envelope. 

Intuition - The Galery at Towne Center Announcement

The Gallery at Towne Centre Presents:

Intuition

January 7 – February 28, 2010

Artist Open House Thursday, January 14, 5-7 p.m.

December 11, 2009, SHORELINE, WA – Intuition has been defined as “understanding without effort.” An artist’s intuition can then be described as an effortless capturing of the world transformed into art. Artists Judith Heim (watercolor/ink), Ellen Miffitt (collage) and Rick Scott (photography) will present their intuitive artworks at our new gallery show, Intuition, which opens January 7 at The Gallery at Towne Centre. Join us on Thursday, January 14 from 5-7 for a special artist open house. This is your opportunity to meet the artists, ask questions about their art and enjoy some refreshments.

About the Artists:

Ellen Miffitt – www.nine-lives-studio.com
Ellen Miffitt brings over thirty years of artistic experience in the arts to her personal expression and art instruction. After moving to the Pacific Northwest, she started painting sumi-e with Fumiko Kimura and registered “Nine Lives Studio” in Oct of 2002. “As an artist I am constantly involved with that process of transformation: spirit to image on paper, mixing papers to create new textures, combining a variety of papers to create collage. The idea of mixing and blending different materials is exciting and a natural extension of sumi for me. Embossing metal to create texture, modeling Precious Metal Clay to make jewelry and exploring other media are an outlet for my creativity.”



Judith Heim – www.judithheim.com
Most of my paintings are not premeditated. They start out as amorphous shapes of wet color. As I see subject matter emerge, I delineate it. Most of my imagery is influenced by the unseen world around me, the collective unconscious, and natural forms. I decided early on, that I did not want my art to be a noun. I like to create visual metaphors and maybe even a dangling participle or two! I see it as a spontaneous celebration of the journey.


Rick Scott – www.photographybyrickscott.com
What an amazing experience to be able to express and share concepts, ideas and views through my images. While challenging, it is an extremely rewarding experience. I have been fortunate to be able to share my work in galleries, public and private showings and private collections. My work has taken me across the US, Canada, Europe and Asia creating compositions in which I attract the viewer into the work using light, color, shape, form and texture.


The Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday 12-5 on the lower level of the Lake Forest Park Towne Centre. The address is 17171 Bothell Way NE, Suite A-141, Lake Forest Park, WA 98133. For information on the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council call 206-417-4645, see www.shorelinearts.net or e-mail info@shorelinearts.net.

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to nurture all of the arts in the community through programs and events, arts education, advocacy, and support for artists and arts organizations. Proceeds from the Gallery at Towne Centre help fund these programs and events.

Holiday Wishes

Wishing you Merry Christmas

&

A Happy New Year

Nine Lives Studio, aka Ellen Miffitt

Mitt Z wore herself out playing with the scrap yarn.

I was winding into balls for a class weaving project

Nine Lives Studio PO Box 11133, Olympia, WA 98508-1133

My website includes galleries, artist information, exhibits, classes, etc.:

http://www.nine-lives-studio.com/

For those wishing to know specifically about my classes: https://sites.google.com/site/ellenmiffittartist/

For those wishing to contact me please use my Gmail account:

9livesstudio@gmail.com

Some of my older pieces of art are in an Etsy Shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/NineLivesStudio

Currently I’m putting images for t-shirts, etc on Café Press:

http://shop.cafepress.com/nine-lives-studio

Watercolor Pencil class at Art Center @ Manitou

Painting with Water Soluble Colored Pencils Thursday Jan 7, 14, 21 & 28 from 10 to noon



Want the look of watercolor and the control of colored pencil? Water-soluble colored pencils can match anything watercolor do, plus have the ability to create effects impossible with watercolor. Discover this medium's exciting versatility with techniques such as wet-on-dry, dry-on-wet, wet-on-wet, and much more! Learn about materials, tools, and techniques, and then apply this information to create a painting. Participants bring watercolor paper & watercolor pencils to class.


Have questions or need directions? Art Center at Manitou 4806 South 66th Street. Register by e-mail retha77@juno.com or phone 253-584-3605.






http://www.manitouartcenter.com/

Banned Book Exhibit - Kirkland Library News

News about the Kirkland Banned Book Exhibit...










Dear Banned Book artists!

Thank-you for being a part of a very successful show! Three thousand people saw the Banned Books show on its first day alone! There was so much interest in your works of art that many requests for sale were made. Awareness on the Banned Book issue was raised and your work is getting ALOT of attention! So far its the most highly seen Banned Book show yet.

At the opening each artist went around and talked about their book and art piece. Elsa had made cookies with the letter "B" for us.

I apologize for not getting this message to you sooner but my "Art Shop" project has taken all of my time and attention. I have felt remiss that I have not had the time to get to you sooner. 

You all should be very happy with what you have done and folks keep pouring into the new library looking at your work every day.


Thank-you,
Rebecca
Studio Phone: 206-920-2260
"The Art Shop" 108 Central Ave, kirkland,Wa 98033


Dec 10-11 ,11-7 everyday except the last sale day 11-4

Big Blue Marble Art Exhibit and Sale

So happy to have Oracle, a collage, purchased at Big Blue Marble's Holiday Exhibit today!

Auburn Enameling Class

Had a great time guiding first time enamelers today  - Enamel for Holiday Projects class that ran from 9 to 4pm...

They got the hang of it fairly quickly and mad some amazing pieces - some art accidents as I call them that turned out beautifully.

Global Art Project called Peaceful Soleutions

My vision of peace... the contentedness of cats curled up: safe, sound, warm, plenty of food, adequate shelter, tender loving care and lots of love.  I wish that for the world... people's rights to be safe, healthy, have adequate shelter and food, free from oppression, fear and hate.

Mercury and my right foot
















My left foot - a happy black cat....







Putting the eye details on my right foot cat








Right foot cat all finished

Using paint, markers, henna, stamps, ink, etc, decorate the soles of your feet, reflecting your vision of peace. Wrap black fabric around the feet, then photograph them so only the soles are visible. Send the jpg image (labeled yourname.jpg) to footforthought@gmail.com, indicating GAP feet in the subject line. There is no fee to participate.

The images will be incorporated into a peace montage, and sent to another country as part of a global art exchange in April 2010.
Detailed instructions are available at 1000footprints.blogspot.com
Deadline: December, 31, 2009 [this is an extended date]
Contact: Suzanne Gray

Big Blue Marble Saturday Exhibit

Framed my Rainy Days #2 for the Saturday Big Blue Marble Exhibit & Sale...

I originally thought to put it in a 14"HX11"W frame but it looks really good in a 10 by 10" frame, double cut mat with black being the inner color.

Not sure what other two pieces I will enter...

Submitted art to La Familia Gallery LLC for their upcoming exhibit “Daydreams: Images to Carry Us through Winter”


Sanguine Saunter

Swash Foam

La Familia Gallery is an artist-run exhibition space located in the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood of Seattle. Dedicated to furthering the visibility of the arts across cultures and communities, LFG focuses on where fine art, music, literature and performance intersect. We offer member artists a space to create and market passionate projects that reflect their own unique blend of style and messaging. For more information, visit www.lafamiliagallery.org. 


Location: 117 Prefontaine Place South , Seattle, WA 98104
gallery@lafamiliallc.com  206-903-0627 or 1.888.907.9119

Silver Soldering Class at Tacoma Metal Arts Center

Just got information about this new art center - signed up for a silver soldering class - been over 40 years since I soldered and need to relearn techniques - serendipity as I was thinking I needed to take a class!
Tacoma Metal Arts Center

Grand Opening Party Come on down to the Tacoma Metal Arts Center on Friday December 18 from 3-9 pm for snacks, drink and free silversmithing demos throughout the evening.
Location: 711 St. Helens #102, Tacoma WA 98402 [ Market St between South 7th and St. Helens] 253-227-1694

Holiday Jewelry Sale - December 13-23  Check out our Holiday Sale in the jewelry gallery featuring the work of Micki Lippe, Sarah Loertscher, and many other exceptional local artists.


Gallery Hours:
Dec. 13 - 16: Sun-Wed 11-7
Dec. 20 - 23: Sun-Wed 11-7


Workshops: there is still room in our holiday workshops
Enamelled Earrings on Sunday December 13
Silver Soldering on Sunday December 20


visit http://www.tacomametalarts.com/ for details

ahBadaBing ceiling tiles

Retouched up the "Mafia Parking Only - CAPISH" ceiling tile for ahBadaBing restaurant in Shelton.  Brian came by this morning and was so pleased with my two tiles...  we get a free pizza when they open.

Finished the second ceiling tile for the new Shelton restaurant "ahBadaBing"

Stenciled my "MAFIA PARKING ONLY - CAPISH" sign first...

Image below - edged the sign and started painting a brick wall...

Next the Mafia man in the shadows...

More bricks... tommy gun, light fixture, and ground.

Closer look at the sign, lamp, brick wall, hint of details on suit.

Finished with a dumpster...

Details of Shoreline Exhibit "Intuition"

Just recieved the details of the Shoreline exhibit and the other artists that I will be hanging with...

 title of the exhibition is Intuition.
January 7 – February 28, 2010  Open: Tues – Sat. 12-5 pm

Open House – Meet the Artists
Thurs, January 14, 5-7 p.m.

Location:  The Gallery at Towne Centre ,  Lake Forest Park -
Inside, lower level , 17171 Bothell Way NE, LFP, WA 98155


Intuition - Artists
Judith Heim - watercolor, ink  www.judithheim.com


Ellen Miffitt - collage  www.nine-lives-studio.com


Rick Scott - photography   www.photographybyrickscott.com



Shannon Tipple-Leen,  Visual Art Coordinator


Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council,  18560 1st Ave NE ,
Shoreline WA 98155  206.417.4645
www.shorelinearts.net

The Atlas of Gifted Ideas @ Henry Art Gallery in Seattle

This sounds like such a great idea - I have sent in some poetry and Sumi-e images! Pay if forward by gifting...

12/17/2009 - I was not accepted - thought it was a very open invitation but they only selected about 20 entries... or at least that's what the showannouncement letter seems to say.

The Atlas of Gifted Ideas



An atlas is usually a collection of maps, charts and tables, most commonly of the earth’s geography, but there are also atlases of the solar system, moons and planets and things further out. In the end, an atlas is a collection of visual material and text on any subject of interest. We are longing for an atlas of gifted ideas.


Atlas is the brother of Prometheus. Prometheus plays with fire and Atlas has to hold up the skies; he creates space and separates the divine from everyday experience; his duty is not to mix up things and to keep the overview. We would encourage you to play with both of them: to burn your fingers and to walk out towards the divine.


We invite you to participate in a collaborative, artist-powered project called “The Gift Shop” at the Henry Art Gallery in Seattle, Washington. We are in charge of the space for three weeks, beginning December 18th. During this time ‘The Atlas of Gifted Ideas’ will unfold, with your gifted ideas illuminating the ceiling and walls. With a spirit of generosity and an openness to the contingency of chance we will bring together ideas in the form of drawings and poems: mingle them and give them away like new fortunes.

Please send us your drawing, image or poem to pass on, to position, to communicate, to travel and join ‘The Atlas of Gifted Ideas'.


For drawings and images: send a .jpg file in a resolution which would allow a black and white print 8 ½ x 11”.


For poems, send a simple word document.


The Atlas of gifted ideas will be a world in black and white.


All images/poems must be received by December 11th at the latest. Please send them to atlasofgiftedideas@gmail.com


The opening date of this constellation is December 18 at 7pm in the Gift Shop at the Henry Art Gallery. We would be happy to see you there.

Shaw Osha & Heide Hinrichs

Artist Trust Auction selection...

Every year I try for this Artist Trust fundraiser - odd to compete to give away a piece of art... but its a very worthy cause for sure.

Dear Ellen,


We would like to thank you for your generosity in submitting images for the 2010 Artist Trust Benefit Art Auction. The auction art selection panel, made up of local curators, gallery owners, working artists, and collectors functioning independently of the Artist Trust staff, met this week to look over submitted images. Our list of artists has grown to 1,400, but we only have space for 180 pieces of art. This makes it a competitive process to donate. Unfortunately, your work was not selected by the panel for the upcoming auction on February 20, 2010.

I encourage you to either apply next year or perhaps join the auction in other ways. We depend on our artists and a variety of volunteers to make this event a success. If you are interested in volunteering or attending the auction, please contact me. We would love to have your involvement.


Sincerely,


Lele  Barnett


Development Associate & Auction Art Coordinator


Artist Trust


lele@artisttrust.org


206/467-8734 x16


866/21-TRUST (toll free)


1835 12th Avenue


Seattle, WA 98122


www.artisttrust.org


Save the date to Dream! Artist Trust's 2010 Benefit Art Auction, February 20, 2010.

Ceiling Tile for Shelton Restaurant

Swimming with the Fishies!
Here is the process for painting the ceiling tile for ahBADABING, the Mafia themed restaurant, opening soon in Shelton WA

Prime the tile....

Adding the "water" color... acrylic paint and soft sponge brush.

Above image: Water and "wrapped" body shape base color finished...

above image and below: cinderblocks - near head and feet of wrapped "body"...

Image below: Cinderblocks with rope and water plants added

Added the fish... below left side of tile

Below: Middle section of the tile

Below: right side of ceiling tile