CAT ON A WARM TIN HEATING ELEMENT

One cool Cat.
Morning toast.
Cat on a warm tin heating element….

Tizzy cat warming his old bones on the heat
vent before breakfast…….
(Also reminds me of Whistler's "Arrangement in Gray & Black" (aka Whistler's Mother).

WHO KNEW?

December 15 is NATIONAL CAT HERDERS DAY!!
Con molti ringraziamenti al mio grande amico, Tomasso Di Paola
che mi ha mandato questa notizia di oggi.❤❤❤
Without a doubt, my new favorite holiday!!
Finally, something to celebrate on a magnificent scale.
Maybe a RODEO!!
Too late for this year…..but will be ready next time!!

©Tomie DePaola art - all rights reserved 

NEW TRICKS, OLD CAT

Add caption

This might look like just another 

picture of a lady holding a cat. But to me 

it is a long leap in learning to "draw and paint" 
on my trusty IMac and IPod with a stylus and software. 

My biggest problem? 
It doesn't take many written directions to make my 
eyes cross and my brain stall out. 

Video tutorials are better, but they seldom to 

never cover that moment's difficulty. 

Now you know why I never considered

Law School or (heaven forbid) Medical School. 

I learn best when I have a problem

to solve. Here I wanted to build a scene with

more than a figure and with textures.

Couldn't rely on rulers and templates for straight

lines and smooth shapes. (Yes, Virginia, real 

artists often draw straight lines WITH a ruler).

This unfinished garden is a beginning try at some

computer "magic". I created only one of each flowering

plant then copied it across to repeat the plant.

I could also flip the art for more variation and

changed colors as well. Good fun for Illustrators.

I find my old way of working, preparing a strong 

sketch to work from by layering new

sheets of tracing paper over the old sketch

and re-drawing, refining, altering is too

cumbersome with stylus and screen. 

So I now start with big scribbled shapes

of color and wittle away, add and subtract,

duplicate and continue on, much easier.

I'm concentrating on shapes of color

rather than outlining shapes. Still shapes,

because that's what I see, shapes, color and 

pattern. Apologies if this is more than you

want to know and YOUR eyes are beginning 

to cross.

Learning more each day. Good mental and

creative exercise. And the BEST part?

No mess to clean up and no dirty paint water 
for Cats to steal a (yuck) drink.

Wrote this a while back...just before life took 
some unexpected turns including a new hip.
Picking up where I left off…and moving on.
CC

iMac, iPad, iFred & Me

My gray and white fluffy left arm rest at work.
Notice his opened eye....for the nearby mouse? 

     
   Finishing revised sketches for an 
assignment. 
   Original pencil sketches drawn
by hand, but the computer helps
making requested changes.
   The best part, no mess!
   Finished art will be by hand in pencil, 
watercolor and color pencil.
   
   But the time spent learning to draw 
and paint on my iMac and iPad have 
not been wasted.


PS: Not every gray and white fluffy left 
arm rest will lick your fingers and purr......

Paul Monasevitch / Marvelous New Work

Gorgeous new abstract painting by Paul Monasevitch
click on image to enlarge

So exciting to see this new work by abstract expressionist 

painter, Paul Monasevitch.

Paul Monasevitch is a fine painter and I am delighted 

to admit, my brother in law as well.

I love his paintings for their space, color, movement, 

texture and they are big, but never overwhelming.

Lively yet soothing. 

This new work is so engaging. 

The eye moves through the richly colored and decorative 

elements as they seem to float together and apart as if 

in creamy liquid.

Paul describes his painstakingly careful and time consuming

methodology on his web site http://www.paulmonasevitch.com/

A terrific opportunity to view Paul Monasevitch's work in person, 
including this new gem:

"Paintings by Paul Monasevitch" at the Marlin Gallery, Camden County College. Artist's Reception: May 30, 2012, 5 - 7:00 p.m.; Gallery Talk 6 p.m. 

Press release: http://www.camdencc.edu/pressroom/detail.cfm?customel_dataPageID_1445=24618

2012 So Far

 ⓒCarolyn Croll 2012/ Silkworm with 
Mulberry (after Maria Sibylla Merian)

Six days in.
So far: 


Discovered my lovely 
blood-red Bokara, scored 
on sale when Wanamakers 
went out of business years ago,
totaled by wool moths.


Imbibing massive amounts 
of chicken soup, tea w/lemon 
and honey. Gargling through
my annual head cold.


Received an email requesting
permission to use "part" of a 
piece of my sample art from 
the internet, after the requester 
had lifted, altered and used 
it twice. 
Permission denied. 
Property of a client.


Another year begins........ ACHOO!
:~)

MyPad

Red Cat, Carolyn Croll ⓒ 2011

One tiny step for cat art, one GIANT step 

for me on my Ipad.

So proud of myself. Did this quickie sketch

of a red cat. 

Marks the first image I made on my Ipad using the SketchPro app

AND then somehow managed to transfer it to my Mac without

quite knowing how I did it. 

If I can figure that out, I intend to do it again.

Stay tuned.......

A Natural Master

bell-flower Frond, JoAnne Russo, photos Jeff Baird & Rachel Portesi, with permission

JoAnne Russo's striking large embellished
pods on their graceful textured branches
drew me in to her display at the 2011
Philadelphia Museum of Art Crafts Show.

blue-bud/ Joanne Russo, photos Jeff Baird & Rachel Portesi, with permission

Upon closer inspection her spellbinding naturalistic 
forms become otherworldly in their scale textures 
and colors. Organic in material, waxed

linen cord, Renewable Palm ivory (Tagua nut) 

beads dyed. Looking even more closely, a zipper and/or

ordinary hook and eyes.

chameleon, JoAnne Russo, photos Jeff Baird & Rachel Portesi, with permission

Her love of nature evident in every imaginative piece.
Surprises rewarding those who look a little closer.
JoAnne's enchanted work reflects the skills she has 
acquired over 30 years as a master basket maker.

White-teapot, JoAnne Russo, photos Jeff Baird & Rachel Portesi, with permission

Guild- cactus, JoAnne Russo, photos Jeff Baird & Rachel Portesi, with permission

You can learn more about JoAnne Russo and see much more of her 

extraordinary work at:

http://joannerusso.com/

   

Uncommon Cents

Real change at the Philadelphia Museum of 

Art Crafts Show.

Sculptor, Jeweler Stacey Lee Webber 

is out to nickel and dime us in most 

unusual ways. 

Originally from Indiana, she now

lives and works here in Philadelphia,

PA.

First to catch my eye, copper Abe 

Lincoln silhouette earrings.

photo: Stacey Webber / with permission

Made from vintage solid copper US pennies.

There are Washington and Roosevelt pieces

fashioned from antique silver American coins
as well. 

photos: Stacey Webber / with permission

Earrings, cufflinks, bracelets, pendant

necklaces, long coin chains and money

clips.

photo: Stacey Webber / with permission

photo: Stacey Webber / with permission

Some of her most unusual pieces, hand tools.

Hammer, mallet, hand saw, architect/builder's

plum, tape measure and full size ladder.

Three American flags made of pennies remind

me of the flags my Grandmother displayed

from her porch railing on the 4th of July.

photo: Stacey Webber / with permission

All constructed with enormous care and craftsmanship

from old coins.

See it all at Stacey Lee Webber's delightful website:

http://staceyleewebber.com/Stacey_Lee_Webber/HOME.html

Love at First Sight

(click on images to enlarge)


Went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Craft Show for inspiration.
What I found was L O V E.
At first sight, Mark A. Perry's fabulous
carved wood goat. 

photo Mark A. Perry, with permission from the Artist

Then I spied the huge Running Sheepdog 

Pie Crimper? 

photo Mark A. Perry, with permission from the Artist

And it was an antique carved
scrimshaw pie crimper that gave
Sculptor Mark A. Perry the inspiration
to carve his gigantic Dog Crimpers.
(Some have dog bone wheel spokes).
The cream colored Sheepdog at full 
sprint, shaggy carved hair blowing 
in the wind. 

There is also the sleek ebony Great Dane
pushing his giant crimper forward.

photo Mark A. Perry, with permission from the Artist

And other breeds can be found among 

Mark A. Perry's FaceBook photos.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-A-Perry-Folk-Art-Sculptor/44280329948?sk=photos


This extraordinary Folk Art Sculptor is self-taught.
A perfectionist, learning his craft studying and duplicating and
taking inspiration from past excellence.
To see more of his exquisite Peacocks, gilded Fish, 
an enormous Grasshopper (sporting glass door knob eyes), 
elegant weather vanes, stoic tobacco shop Native American, 
cocky long necked Rooster and marvelous mysterious modern figures,

reminiscent of antique Italian Santos
visit Mark A. Perry's marvelous website:
http://www.folkartsculptor.com/

photo Mark A. Perry, with permission from the Artist

Still more to come.....stay tuned!

Quilts Grow In Brooklyn

The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show 

may have just ended. 

However, so much wonderful work can still

be viewed on the artists' websites.

photo:D James Dee, by permission of Erin Wilson

Erin Wilson, a Brooklyn, NY artist, has cats, 

and makes wonderful quilted hangings.

Urban, lively, jazzy even, but not disturbing or noisy.

Abstract reflected images in each quilted square, 
or is it an interior scene? 

Curious, colorful and in town. 

Like visual clues to an as yet unrevealed mystery.

Wonderful color ways, clean opaque goache-like tints tones and shades. 

Erin builds the small squares individually. 

Careful choices from scraps of fabric.

Then assembles them into hangings. 

Unified by color and shapes. 

Some like hieroglyphics. 

To see much more, visit Erin Wilson's website:  http://www.erinwilsonquilts.com/

photo:D James Dee, by permission of Erin Wilson

MORE TO COME............stay tuned!

BOO!!

When Edie Weinberg sent me Tony Johnston's 
delightful "scary" story, BOO, A Story 
That Could Be True to illustrate I couldn't
wait to start.

ⓒ Carolyn Croll 2011

A ghost story for early readers, begins in the 
grand tradition. Oooooo!

ⓒ Carolyn Croll 2011

Naturally, there is a ghost. But what's 
with the pickle?

ⓒ Carolyn Croll 2011

The Farmer and his Cat start hearing scary sounds.

ⓒ Carolyn Croll 2011

More funny than scary.

Not going to give the ending away, 
except to say this book practically 
designed itself.

ⓒ Carolyn Croll 2011

Many thanks to Tony Johnston for 

this wonderful story!

And also to marvelous Edie Weinberg 

for asking me to do the pictures!

 

My Comfort Zone

(click on images to enlarge)

Probably the result of all the years I spent as a student. 

Elementary school, junior high, then high school. 

Plus 4 years of art school. 

Followed by nearly 20 years teaching 2-D Design, 

Fashion Illustration and Children's Book Illustration, 

part time at the old alma mater, the Philadelphia College of Art.

(now the University of the Arts).

September first has always been my new years day.

Heat and humidity won't last much longer.

School starts.

Put on socks.

And a sweater.

Can't wait!