I decided I wanted to start working on my dream of making really cool artwork out of recycled materials.

These are 1/2 inch strips of paper that have been rolled and glued together.

My small collection so far.
2+ hours worth of work so far.

Eventually, these will be a fully functional chair!  If I don’t go insane first!!!

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He is in a nursing home.

He is only 64.

This breaks my heart because he is DAD to me and has been for the past 24 years.

I have never really known what to get him for gifts and now it is even more difficult to figure out what will make him smile.

His collection of shirts is the envy of all who see it.

Here are a few of his shirts:

 This is funny because my Mother-In-Law always insisted he get out of bed by 8am…only to sit around the house all day.

I wanted to get him this shirt by Aunt Becky but I am pretty sure it wouldn’t go over well at the nursing home…or with my Mother-in-Law

I decided to draw him a picture.

Dad has always loved trains.

When he was well, he gave my son a Brio train set.  He was soooo happy to be able to give that to my son.

We recently gave it to Chandler’s cousin and Dad was happy again to see another grandchild inherit the gift.  Even with his dementia being as progressed as it is, he was completely aware of how special it was to see Chandler give his gift to his little cousin.  Dad talked about the time when he gave it to Chandler with perfect clarity and he had a big smile on his face.  It was wonderful.

I was going to draw a picture of a real train but I decided that Dad would be happier with a picture that reminded him of that Brio set and all that it means to us.

So I drew him this.  It just needs a frame.

I really think he is going to like it!!

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Then IT happened!  The heavens opened and Bravo’s Work of Art shone down upon us!!!!

I was hooked from day one.

I DVR’ed every episode EVERY time it was on.  I didn’t care if it was repeat number 5!  I couldn’t get enough of this show!!!

The first season aired.

Time came for Season 2….and went.

After a year without my obsession, Season 2 aired (when Season 3 should have been on, had they been on schedule).

My love affair with Work of Art resumed!!

The Suck Lord

Now the time has come for Season 3, which technically should be Season 4 and we still don’t know if Bravo has decided to air it.

Please, Bravo! Please please please!!!!

Don’t take the ONLY reality/competition show I like away from me!

In the 70′s, it was popular to do reversed paintings on glass.  The piece was painted on the back of a piece of glass with the foremost highlights being painted first and the background being last.  It really was amazing.  I could see how frustrating it could be to finish the work, turn the glass over, and realize that the cheek bones were not highlighted and shaded properly or that little white dot in the eye was off.

My mother did these paintings all the time.  I don’t know how many of them are still floating around.  I have three of these paintings of hers.  One is of my daughter.  It is wrapped in a box somewhere and I really don’t know why.  I need to get that on a wall.  Another one is of the girl in the corner with the dog.  I wish I knew the name of the piece.  I loved that painting as a kid.  I always felt I could relate to that girl although my mother never put me in the corner.  She was too Italian for Time-Outs!  The hand was preferred.

This is an image I got from the internet, not my mom’s painting. I would credit the source but the person said specifically NOT to link her (or him) to the painting. So I won’t.

I am sad that this painting has a crack in the corner of the glass and since the glass IS the canvas, there  is nothing I can do about it.

It’s Funny How Death Changes Our Opinions

My mother also painted one of a Spanish Dancer.  I don’t know if she sold it or gave it away as a gift but one day (in the mid 90′s), my sister was at a garage sale and IT WAS FOR SALE!  She bought it and took it home to my mom.  It was unbelievable, really.  But my mom’s signature was at the bottom to prove it!

My mom insisted it be hung on the wall.  The thing was enormous for the space and my sister (and I) thought it was completely gaudy.  Nothing against Spanish Dancers (in case you happen to be one) but between the size and the colors, how could we ever make this work?

When my mother died, that painting transformed before my very eyes and I wanted it.  BAD.  Lucky for me, my sister still found it to be gaudy and thought it was going to be a headache to get rid of.  She joked that she would have to pay someone to take it.  I asked her if I could have it.  She was thrilled and said “yes” and I was thrilled to have it.  I think it is absolutely stunning.  The painting is proudly displayed in my living room and I have received several compliments on it.  One person asked if I would sell it.  My answer was, “There is not enough money in the world that would convince me to sell that painting!”  I truly meant it when I said it and I still mean it now.

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Did you know that the Public Market in Rochester has an annual art festival?

I found this out a few years back.  I submitted my application with my $40 non-refundable application fee with 3 photos of my work.  It was a juried event so I was pretty determined that I wouldn’t be accepted and I would be out the 40 bucks.  But I made the cut!  I was thrilled.

The booth space is free (probably why the application fee is non-refundable) and I can’t tell you how many incredible artists were there!!  It was so inspirational to see the various pieces of work!

There was jewelry, garden art, paintings, drawings, paintings on found objects, paintings on old garden tools and old framed windows, micro drawings on bottle caps…the possibilities for what you can submit and what you will see there are endless!  And it wouldn’t be a proper festival without awesome music and food!

I was thrilled to be there to show off my stuff and I was surprised when I sold some stuff!!  Other people were actually interested enough in my work to spend their hard-earned money on it!  What a feeling!!

This year’s Artist Row is Sunday, September 16th from 10am -4pm.  I wasn’t going to submit work this year but now I am thinking…Hmmmm….

Check out the Website HERE!!!

(Disclaimer:  These opinions are my own, I took it upon myself to spread the info and I am not receiving any compensation, monetary or otherwise, for this post).

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And now that I have this song on my mind, you can too!  =)