What Gets Me Going............

It is not possible to make a prediction from where inspiration for a new piece may come. For me it could come from anywhere, and at any time. Sometimes what I create does not even remotely resemble whatever it was I saw, read, or felt that inspired me to create. I can honestly say that whatever spark I took from something I saw, read about, or felt will never be a copy. Not too many years ago I used to feel it was cheating to even look at anything, and use it for inspiration in some way. I thought that any ideas I would have should be solely generated by me.....as if I lived in a vacuum. However, I soon realized that what there is in the world are really spins on what already exists.

I think of all the ways to be inspired seeing something like a found object that once was something so obvious is the greatest challenge. To look beyond the blatant meaning of something and see another vision is more difficult than creating something from scratch. That is one of the reasons I choose to work with found objects. I feel happy or should I say relieved that we as artists do not all have the same vision when we see something that inspires us. We could all take one single source for possible inspiration and come away with a million different ideas.........the potential of everything to be something is the greatest reward of creation.

Here are a few things that inspire me.......

Just a Few of My Favorite Things...........the Before..........the After Awaits...........

Random Acts of Art...........For a Desolate World

Wow.......is what I have to say .......when finally I notice something so obvious, something that has been right there in front of me all the time, and I thought it was only my idea, or thought. Such is the idea I had titled Random Acts of Art for a Desolate World. One day when I was walking up my front steps looking at the air vents in my foundation, I thought wouldn't it be great if you could see art in unexpected places........like inside the vents. When I found out ............duh......that Random Acts of Art is already a concept embraced by many I felt like that little sixth grader, who long ago ran up to their teacher and showed him what I thought was a brillant idea. He looked at me with his one eye (his other was glass) and remarked something like this.......Susan, there are not many new or unique ideas in the world.....mostly there are only ideas that have been re-invented. Man, that was hard to take thinking any ideas I may have in the future would only be the "backwashed" thoughts of others. I am not sure I really subscribe to this belief, because after all don't we all think we are something special, and that what we do, think and feel is just like the first time ever for any of these things. So, with that being said......... and sort of sincerely beliving I am all that.......here are some plain old random art visions..........with no rhyme or reason........which is how it should be in art. There should be no rhyme or reason for any art you see, or create ......otherwise it would be craft.....and strictly for a utilitarian purposes. Following are some random works of art........some created by me and some photos by others......but then if you believe my sixth grade teacher......we all had a hand in the creation of everything, as it was always there before us.
Overgrown Brothers From Log Family Robinson.........
Unbearable Soul...
Paws with a Cause...
Alien Baby in the Shadow of Man........
Keepers of the Pins and Needles.....
Dog House paws to refresh..........<

Buffalo Girl Won't You Come Out Tonight...........

Machine Cuffed.......Sew......... For Your Needs Wherever you Go

Clown Town Bus Stop.......Meet and Greet in the Street...
The Gratest Show On Earth
Hep Cat a Few to the Bar......

Foundling.......

Random works of art appearing who knows where, or why!

Hello My Honey Hello ...Hello My Lag Time Post........

TA DA it's a bird.........it's a plane.......it's a new post long over due. Well, let's see I have lots of reasons why.....but none of them really make-up for the lapse in time. I never wanted to be that one......... that one that was a fair weather poster......posting only when convenient. I so apologize for living out my worst fear in that respect. That being said I do have some new works to share. So, as with the Pope deliberations.......there has been some smoke coming out of my chimney, and a creative fire down below. I never know what fuel I will use until it happens.......sometimes I wish I could plan things out ahead, but how can I know what I need to use to create until it just happens. To be surrounded by inspiring raw materials is the key to new ideas and creations. I can only imagine how it would be if everyone in every aspect of their life.....just winged it. How would that be.................fun, and unexpected.............Hopefully just like the following.
Fly Paper Performers Touring Circus
DogMa
Beware the EYEDZ of Things........
Ball Heads in the Circus Getting a Leg Up
Unbearable Lightness of Being..........What?





Peep Show
Mary Widow in Row House 24

John Cougar Mellow Cat

Jethro's Dog and Pony Show

Fox Drama Regroup in the Coop

Northern California Story Kind of Like Westside Story

I feel pretty..........Oh so prettyI feel pretty and witty and wise............but that partial song refrain is not going to cut it when I am faced with creating a new blog post. For I fear at this point it will be Much Ado About Nothing..........I am working to the left of me working to the right of me back in the saddle again........The American Folk Art Festival will be upon me soon http://www.hallidayhouseantiques.com/FolkArtFestival/and so will my daughter's wedding, and a million other things. I took a brief break from studio work tonight, as wedding planning reared its head. I plan to be right back in the studio.........tomorrow.........during my working hours of about 10pm until 2 or 3 am.........the usual studio hours......hopefully many creations will be spawned during this time. I will have a few new things to post soon as I am working like a madwoman...........to complete body of work for the show (pun intended)..........some will also be experiments. In the meantime.........I must be content to post a few pictures of things that have been reincarnated from past lives and will be part of the show once again...........
Knock offs of the Knockdowns...........

AWWWWWWWSpareUsGus........no more about sword fighting..........

Bored Feet Just Lumbering Along.......

Buffalo Girl Won't You Come Out Tonight

CATSSS UP

Circus Mates Hocus and Pocus

Unlike the Fortune Teller.......this is the Don't Do It Teller

Evil Richard the Employee of the Month

So.........
In the midnight hour she (being me) cried- "more, more, more"
With a rebel yell she cried- "more, more, more"
That's what I need to do MORE MORE MORE>>>>>>before May 7th Billy and I agree........

Here Come Da Paintin's................................

Wow............I never thought I would be one of those people who leaves a blog post up for an eternity, but apparently this past month I have been. Guess I should not let a few things like a third complete knee replacement, my mother having open heart surgery, plus moving her, my daughter's wedding planning and, me getting ready for a show get in the way of my blog. Sometimes it's the little stuff that trips you up. So, without further commentary...........here are a few paintings.......wish I did not know anything about painting techniques, etc.........it is difficult to paint around them, over and through them. Planning to paint more...........for the May 7th show..........have the bug.......temporarily!

Great Expectations for Dickie the Backwards Penguin Boy
Fly Paper Performers

Fantom Performers

Ewes Day Out
Luck Be A Lady Tonight

Leaders Are a Quarter a Dozen

ENDGAME..........

Time for Father Christmas...........

Kriskindle Market

If you are within a 200 mile radius of Napa Valley then you are in for a treat. Dolph Gotelli, an aquaintance of mine, who is also known as Father Christmas has an installation on display of his vintage Christmas toys, and antiques at the Napa Valley Museum. He only does one-of-a-kind shows, and although I have seen another one of his shows they each have their own unique personalities. The museum has constructed a special set to showcase the 35 windows that offer a look at Gotelli’s winter wonderlands, each created with rich and intricate detail. The show details follow;
“Dreams of Toyland”
• On display at the Napa Valley Museum in Yountville Nov. 20 - Jan. 23.
• Admission to “Dreams of Toyland” is free for children under 18. Admission for adults is $5, for seniors 60 and older is $3.50.
• The museum is at 55 Presidents Circle, Yountville on the grounds of the Veterans Home of California. It’s open daily, except Tuesdays,10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• For details, call 944-0500
Mrs. Snuffleberry's Kitchen
Wittenham Clump's Treehouse

Welcome Father Christmas

Midnight Walk

O'Hare's Budget of Good Things

A Peek Into Fairyland

Teatime in London

Images by Caroline Thompson

This show is magical! Don't miss it!!!!!!