Challenge complete

I belong to this grand group called Mixed Media Mischief Makers- a hysterical bunch of, you guested it... Mischievous mixed media Artists! We just finished the current challenge (actual end date is tomorrow- Can you believe I actually finished on time! I am Always behind! ) This challenge was based upon "Wicked" or the "Wizard of Oz". My offering to this challenge is "the two faces- Which witch will you be today?" OK - so I took emotions from a current "real life" dilemma and read into the whole good witch/bad witch scenario- but it works in the end- and helped me work through issues! what more could I ask for?

A 20x16 canvas with layers of pain, liquid paper clay, glaze, molding paste, paint and a green interference (to make the Emerald City glow)

The Witch mask is a free sculpt mask with creepy purple eyes and a felt hat and ribbon accents all sliced through the canvas, resealed and glued down so that it it three dimensional. I have to say here - that I usually have a real hard time with the whole green faced witch. It's a lifestyle. But I worked through it to complete the challenge and it was OK since it was based upon the character in the book/movie. And reading further into the two main characters, I have always interpreted the green witch being "bad" because of being so jealous - which is reflected by green..... so you see...

I can't wait till the next challenge- Alice in Wonderland... this is gonna be fun! A great change of pace. challenges, that is. They make you think/create/travel in directions down roads that you usually don't travel.

Back to the studio...

Have a great weekend!

As promised...

Organics

based on the Elements

Some are in a state of "more done than others" :0)

just a snippet.

Pieces of parts- to get your imagination going.

a tease.

(Hey, a woman has to maintain some sense of mystery!)

I should have completed photos next week. They have to be finished and delivered by Wednesday. Until then.

In the Meantime :0)

OK- so I know that I promised to post a few of the in-process/sneak peak of the "Organics" and, I promise- I will. But some time you just have to break up the monotony of things. So- while the studio was frozen, I had to find other creative outlets- which interesting enough, led me right back to the studio. In an attempt to "warm" things up and boost the inspiration level of my work space.. I took a bunch of these........

And added a bit of this and that. A LOT of that wonderful German Glass Glitter, a few sticks, a bit of wire and a whole lot of ribbon. And now when I look up at my studio sky, it looks like this:

This of course is a "night view"- So I ran back out to the studio the next morning to get a "morning view" And I was not disappointed - the lovely pink goodness that envelopes the inner core of the studio was crowned with shimmery bursts and (since I always have to respect the dark side that rules over my Muse) Long, sharp pointy stuff that looks as though, should you take one step out of line - they will get you! Muah ha ha!

My stock of glass glitter has been severely diminished and the bottles are now under constant surveillance of the Guard:

Along side a constant reminder: A small chip board that I altered a while back

"CHOICES~ For The Cure Of Stuck- Stuck. In A Rut"

When things start to get redundant -it's time to make a few choices and shake things up again!

So there you have it. One more inspirational quick fix for the winter BLAHS... Every little bit helps. For those that live half their lives in temperatures below 25 degrees - you know how important it is to find little things that just make you happy. Looking up to sparkles, music blasting from all corners of the studio, the warm glow from the heater, and the stream of visitors and well-wishers that stop by to lookey-lou on progress made, share a glass of wine or just bask in the warmth of friendship, firelight and creativity. These are the things that get me through these cold months. The days are starting to get longer and brighter- soon they will be getting warmer. And a whole new exciting season starts to breathe at the studio- I just can't wait.

As for my new inspirational glittery goodness - they are staying. I can only imagine how they will sparkle when the sun hits them in the morning. Should be quite a show!

Just a quick note

Busy, busy, busy... wow- feast or famine rings true, doesn't it..

I am working on a commissioned series the "Organics" - almost finished 5 pieces! whew!

I will give a sneak over the next few days, as things progress.

Why is it that when you paint- you come up with all of these grand sculpt ideas and when you sculpt- all you want to do is paint? Ahh - those Muses! Always teasing!
Until later :0)

All Hail....

All Hail: Pinky and the Brain!!

Narf. **snort**

All Hail: Those in your life that spark your creativity,

make you laugh,

urge you to dance

and encourage you to fly!

Thanks guys!

:0)

Welcome and Happy 14th~

Greetings and Salutations!

Come on in, have a look around~ and welcome to The Wadsworth~Noll Studio!

We hope that you are enjoying your travels with the blog party! A great big Woo HOO for our hostess!

I will just give you a bit of a background, and then shoosh you out with a hug and best wishes~ and hope to see you again! Please feel free to browse in the gallery or pop on over to The Giggling Goblin at Etsy - I will be updating that shop shortly. Sooner, if the temperature stays above freezing!
I am a mixed media artist with a concentration on my Poppets of Persecution. I have been working with mosaic, acrylic, and re-purposed sculpture for over 20 years, and have been working with clay for the last 10 of those 20. Wadsworth~Noll Studio was created as a dedication to the great women that have gone before me~ Those that have influenced my life, my decisions and are the constant voices in my head :0)

My grandmothers and great aunts: two paternal- two maternal - "Wadsworth" and "Noll". One great aunt is currently still with us, creating and painting in sunny FL at the wonderful age of 92. What a blessed woman!
Don't get me wrong~ the men in my life (meaning my father and grandfathers) have had an incredible influence on me as well just in a different way. They have given me the tenacity and courage to stand on my own. Honor and integrity; an infallible support system, and gardening skills!

I love Valentine's Day because the Gerbera Daisies make their appearance! A brilliant display brought to us, usually from our neighbors to the north (these particular Gerberas were grown in Canada!) Yet, unlike the crocus and grape hyacinths - I don't have to wait until the ground thaws for the prospect of Spring. I LOVE Gerberas!! From February thru November~ I can get these babies to bloom and re-bloom. A perpetual inspiration and reminder of what a simple dabble of color can do- how it can just make your whole day POP!

Now- normally- I am not one for cutsie~cuties little bunnies and such~ However, during a recent road trip across the country, I happened to have had a very substantial birthday and to celebrate this very substantial birthday, we happened upon a Cracker Barrel for a very early breakfast. On our way out, this little guy caught my eye - and it was love at first sight...

I'm not sure what attracts me to this little guy - but I just could not imagine not finishing up the travels without him peering through the back window, teasing the passer-bys . I think maybe it was a moment-hare'y (sorry - could not resist) serendipitous situations when we had both fallen down the same rabbit hole; or perhaps I had fallen down and he was clambering to get out..

Either way he has come into the realms of Wadsworth~Noll and has settled in just beautifully, even if I do hear him muttering now and again about the cold weather!

Long day here at the studio~ Last night, though I had several other things to finish (A Wicked challenge for starters~ my bad - sorry guys!) these little guys just kept popping to the surface- wanting to be seen, waiting to be heard - so not there are more U.F.O.'s to work on - and a time slip that is not expanding!

So, in and out on this glorious, yet very brisk, chilly day . Warm your hands by the fire.
Grab a glass of wine, and enjoy your travels!

Best wishes and warmest regards to you all.

Happy travels - and Happy Valentine's Day!

May your day be filled with joyous bits of delight and wonder!

Through Different Eyes

As artists, we are always looking for the next inspiring moment. Everyone is always telling us to look at things differently (as if we don't do that already! LOL). This philosophy has been passed on through the ages : "Walk a mile in an others shoes" ;“We can always choose to perceive things differently. You can focus on what's wrong in your life, or you can focus on what's right.”;“Reality is a question of perspective..."; "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."

You get the idea. Think out side the box. Try to look at someone elses' perspective. Don't be a lemming. Try something new.

Ok. so . to that end. I have been going through old photographs (oh - I LOVE THIS) and started playing around with them. Looking at things that I have created over the years. And (this is so cool!) what I wound up doing, was manipulating them into basically the negatives of what they were. The opposites of which they were intended. A very simple maneuver, no degree needed. I just inverted the colors. But what an effect it had... textures and details popped, that I had never noticed before. Persona's and moods flipped into something I never intended. And, the thing that has inspired me most - is that it all works. In some crazy philosophical hooboo jooboo it has reinforced that every dark has a light, every grump has a smile! Opposites may be opposites, but they compliment each other and ultimately one can not exist with out the other.

Alright! So enough mumbojumbo - here is what I came up with. (of note - if your wondering what the originals looked like - they are located in the gallery to the right!)

My Sweet little ornies are now Zombie Kids in a box- check out the smile on the last one on the right!

BOO!

The Perfect Black Heart Valentine

And in case your not sure - these are my FAV!

If you have a chance to play , I strongly suggest you try this very simple - very pleasing thing. Inspired by your own work! Imagine! LOL!

Wips, Whims and Wondering When it Will be Warm

Beautiful isn't it! Blue sky, snow gently perched atop pine trees. A veritable winter wonderland. Invokes thoughts of horse drawn sleigh rides, gliding down the ski slopes, making snow angels and warming before an open fire with hot cups of cocoa. Hmm. Nice vision... warm thoughts. good vision.. Now let me show you what it looks like close up.....

Still beautiful. Still serene. Still a wonderland. The problem is is very simple....

I HAVE HAD Enough! It is freakin' cold! And it has been cold for long enough. I have been unable to step into the studio for over a week because the temperature in the studio is one degree from hell freezing over! LOL. I have been forced to move all of the "freezables" into the house. Now, under normal situations that may not be to bad. But I have a LOT of stuff that freezes! paints and additives, various clays and chemicals that just don't like the cold! And I live in the perfect little stone cottage under the tall trees. Really. I mean.... really little! If you read my deed, you would laugh! It states that my cottage is 600 square feet. Which, is the perfect home. Just NOT filled with a studio! The walls are closing in and to make matters worse, the seed catalogs have started to arrive! OMG! Torture! Dreams of little buds popping out of the ground; vibrant, fragrant flowers enveloping the senses at every turn. Digging in the garden, the warm earth in your hands....... And then you actually look outside! I know they do it on purpose - to torture us!!! Seed Catalogs. By the dozen. Arriving at my door. Intended to give hope of a Spring soon to bloom. :::sigh::::

A bite verbose today. Can you tell?! LOL!! Oh, all right. I will just say that I have started posting the vintage items in the Studio Clean Out Sale over at Etsy. Which winds up being a positive side of not being able to spend countless hours in the studio... Lots of time to catalog and photograph. So, go check it out. Only a drop in the ocean of items are listed now - but more are on the way. So check back often. In the mean time, here are the promised updated photos of the Wip(s) in the works::

A few more steps and tweeks and "Melancholy" series is on its way! Although with this pose~ this one looks like she is ready to cast a spell!

Melancholy Molly Pettigrove

With everything in the house, it is very easy to get paranoid~ like there is always someone watching you...

The wise one. The elder Goblin. Also known as... Hey Grandpa- your still nekked!! Get your shirt on! ( I think cabin fever has set in - Its not that I am talking to these little creatures- I do that all the time- its that I think they are answering me back!

According to the weatherman ( I JUST checked this!) - it is supposed to be above 30 degrees this weekend - which is... WOW... There may be hope for a studio thaw by Sunday! Turn off that cell phone and LOCK the door!!!

Yeee HAAW!!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! And wherever you are:::: Stay warm!!!

My Morning View

There is nothing insignificant in the world. It all depends on the point of view. ~Goethe