"Peace Be With You"

This is a piece I am entering in the Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival. It is a juried silent auction and I won't know if it is accepted for at least another month.

The day before I read about the show I found this plastic Jesus at a thrift store and picked him up and said to Nancy "He should be good for something" I wanted my piece of art to reflect my thoughts or Rodney Kings thoughts "why can't we all just get along" A friend told me about a bumper sticker that read "Jesus, protect us from your followers" I looked it up and it has already been widely used as well as "God, protect us from your followers." And besides, I really don't want to offend anyone.

After looking up the origins of "Peace Be With You" I found out that not only was this a phrase that Jesus used but it is used in almost every religion. The "stained glass" panel shows 10 icons depicting various world religions. Printed on the base is "Peace be with you" in English, Hebrew and Arabic. Collaged in the very bottom is Michelangelo's depiction of hell which is painted on the wall in the Sistine Chapel.

Tuesday at the Studio

It had been a few weeks since I had hung out at the studio with Marianne and Nancy. We had fun catching up on each others lives, painting, doodling and sorting through the artist trading cards (ATC's) that Marianne is going to deliver to the newspapers for publicity for our next show.

Pictured above is what I painted last night. The cool carving was just plain unfinished wood I found at the Idaho Youth Ranch Thrift Store and the chest was also just plain wood but someone had marked each drawer with a sharpie in some bad lettering.

I painted and collaged the chest with a cut up brochure from one of my favorite museums- "The Cloisters" in New York City. It is the medieval branch of the Metropolitan but is situated way north of the main museum. I had visited it as a child on a field trip, and had always wanted to return as an adult. I finally got my chance 2 years ago when I attened my last National Art Ed Conference which was held in NYC. I hiked all the way up there in the snow. Pretty cool.

Next step is to finish the chest and then figure out how to attach the two pieces, it will then be able to either sit on a shelf or hang on the wall.

P is for Prosperity

So this one was inspired by a friend that is currently unemployed, loves to play poker and is convinced he will win the lottery one day. Housed within a cigar tin, is a montage of items including a "million dollar bill"my daughter picked up at the Texas State Fair. An angel of Prosperity good luck charm, a gold letter "p", a photo of a business man with empty pockets and an Indian Head Nickel.

Asian Influence

This assemblage consists of a wooden window picture frame with handpainted bamboo detail, a collage with joss paper from Singapore, a lacquered vase from Hong Kong, an origami bird and a vintage mini budha.

Coastal Art

Wood tray with vintage beach photos, sea glass and sea shells.

3-D wall hanging with dried starfish, seahorse, coral, sea glass and seashells.

I have always loved the ocean and have always wanted live near the water, after taking a drive up Hwy 101 through California and Oregon this past spring I realized just how WINDY, it really is. Nice to visit, wouldn't want to live there. I'll have to settle for the water feature in my backyard in the High Desert setting. Sound of water...no wind. aahh...I'm a wimp.

Artist Trading Cards

As some of you know I am part of an artists group "The Gypsy Gallery" we are a group of 10 artists of various media who exhibit our art together and apart in many locations throughout Boise as we do not have our own 4 walls. As part of publicity for our August "First Thursday" showing on the Boise Grove downtown by the fountain we will be placing Artist Trading Cards aka ATC's around town prior to August 2nd. The Wording below is what is on the back of my cards. Maybe you will even find one!

The art you hold in your hand is an original Artist Trading Card (ATC) by Pam McKnight. If you like it please email me at: boiseartist@gmail.com
and let me know where you found it! If you don't want it, please feel free to pass it on to someone who might - or play the game and leave it somewhere for someone else to find!

Visit Gypsy Gallery at the Grove on First Thursday, August 2, 2009 from 5-9 pm. You won't regret it!!! Original Artist Cards from the artists are spread throughout Boise

Shrine to Lost Love

Having spent a large part of my life teaching and making art in Texas, I use a lot of Hispanic references in my art. For many any years I entered the Dia De Los Muertos Exhibit at the Bathhouse Cultural Center in Dallas.

One year I created a tribute to my beloved grandmother another year it was an alter to musicians that had died. This shrine is based not on a person that has died but on the memory of a lost love.

If you notice the electric cord, it can be plugged in and has a red light in the back.

To find out more information on Day of the Dead follow this link I found on google:
http://diadelosmuertos.us/article/day-of-the-dead

It's fun when work is play

Some new additions to my "ABC's of Every Little Thing"
"S" is for Shoes
SOLD

"N" is for Ninja
3" W x 5" H x 1 1/2" D
$15

Red Roses
$15

"M" is for Monkey
SOLD

Randy Rabbits
$25

"P is for Pigs
$20

Perfect Pears

Back to Double Alliteration Titles: Perfect Pairs (Pears), double entendre, need I say more.

Saturday Market

I was pleased with my first showing at Saturday Market. I sold 6 pieces and 3 cards. I had lots of positive feedback which I needed to hear...don't we all need that. Two of the adjectives I kept hearing to describe my art was fun and whimsical.
I had told Marianne that I was waiting to buy my own canopy to see how my first day would go, if this was something I would even do again and she said oh, it's lots of fun, even if you don't sell anything just seeing all the people etc. and I agree It was nice to be out, It didn't hurt either that the weather was really nice and my set up was on the shady side of the square so I didn't get hot until almost the end.
My husband was out of town with the truck, so I had to borrow a car and then my daughter overslept and didn't come to help me. So the logistics of doing it all by my self were a little daunting. But I did have my friend Sharki who lent me her car -ride her bike over to help me set up, so that was nice. Now I need to get busy and make some more stuff! Nancy was a doll and found me a couple cute little things at a garage sale that I can use in a project.

Back after 6 weeks

Just returned from a 6 week road trip were I had planned to do lots of art but the weather was not cooperative. Since I have been back I have been busy, busy getting ready for First Thursday and Saturday Market. I have made some collage greeting cards, and continue to work on my assemblages. Tues. night was fun at the studio with Nancy and Marianne working on a large painting of The Saguaro National Park we visited in Tuscon. Last night was a Q &A with a museum curator out at Wood River Cellars in Eagle, ID. This coming Saturday is my first time having a booth at the Saturday Market in Downtown Boise.

Mosaic Table Top and Welcome Sign

This table has been on my project list to do for over a year. It was my husbands table and it was the one artistic thing he had asked me to do since moving into our house 16 months ago. I had looked at some measly mosaic supplies in town... got the business card of a local mosaic artist...was going to take a class... etc. finally a new JoAnne's opened in town and I had some 40% of coupons...no more stalling. I bought some grout and some mosaic glue and a package of broken colored glass. When I got this home, I realized it would not be nearly enough to cover the top. I made a couple more trips for grout but wanted to make the table more personal than just "bought broken glass" My daughter came over and we started going through my collections...I added river stones from my friends that visited New Zealand last year, seashells from South Padre Island Texas, my polished gem collection from Knotts Berry Farm that I got when I was eight years old. A New York Subway token...some glass "stones" leftover from a large sculpture project that I left cemented in the back yard in my old house in Texas.

While in Mt. Shasta California I picked up a plain "Welcome Sign" on the bargain table. I was going to use this for a project to sell and meanwhile stuck it on a nail outside our front door, Bill said "while you 're at it, why don't you decorate the sign to match the table" good idea! I added paint to match the side of the table and glued pebbles we found on the beach in Santa Cruz. Now I'm keeping that one too.

A Place for Everything

I bought this little shadow box/dollhouse cabinet at Idaho Youth Ranch Thrift Store. I had all the little dolls and toys from my mom's childhood, my childhood and my girls. First I collaged and antiqued the cabinet(it was a pepto-bismol pink), then I added all the 3-D figures and beads using "liquid nails" It also has a Plexiglas cover to keep out the dust.

New Work

Collage/Assemblage of one of my favorite pastimes, as well as most artists and teachers I know. $50

This purple piece is made in a cigar tin, with a credit card cut for the frame surrounding a postage stamp from England. Beads and baubles surround the image and a dusting of gold unifies the piece. In keeping with my Alphabet theme, I have named it Purple Pence. (the postage stamp is marked 6 1/2 pence) $25SOLD

Kay Seurat Jewelry: Honor Roll

Kay Seurat Jewelry: Honor Roll

Kay's Jewlery class was lots of fun! I still can't believe how a little block of clay can turn into real silver charms in one day! Click on the underlined words to see our work.

C. W. Moore Exhibit

"Spring Reflection" Original Acrylic 26"x19" $200
"Junction Landscape" Original Acrylic 26"x19" $250
Original Acrylic $100 "San Miguel de Allende" 18"x24"

What a beautiful day today. 70's and sunny! Last night I went to the studio and hung out and visited with Marianne and Nancy and talked about possibly going to Art & Soul in Portland in September. Hope that works out. I worked on two projects which I am finishing up and will post later.

This Saturday Nancy and I are taking a metal clay jewelry workshop. Should be fun and different.

Pictured above are my paintings that are currently hanging for a 6 month show at the C.W. Moore Building @ 5th and Front St. in downtown Boise.

My Mexico

Sunday was an artful day. Nancy and I went and hung out at Susan's Studio and worked on some projects together and visited. I completed this collage while there. I had started it a few years ago and then had put it aside. I should have taken a before picture as it looked very different. The center bark painting and the 4 milagros hidden on the mat were all bought in Mexico. Then I embellished the mat and the frame and added the "Loteria" cards and 3D items on the frame.

It was a nice change of pace working at Susans...(note to self- do not lean over to get something on the floor when seated in a rolling office chair on a slick surface) Afterward we went to see the documentary " Who Does She Think She is" about 5 women artists and their struggles juggling their art and their families. Little did we know a BSU documentary class was meeting there that night and after the movie they had a Q&A with 3 local women artists. It was a nice surprise.

So this week is spent getting ready for "First Thursday" I will be showing with the Gypsy Gallery at 6th and Main in Boise from 5-9 pm.
I finally got some nice tablecloths, the cheap $1 store ones I used last time looked horrible. Put hangers on work, boxed things up. Bought some wire racks at a JoAnne's that is moving. Got my permanent Tax ID # and am still working on re-photographing all my work.

I Will Be Good

So, how did I come up with this idea? Well, there were 3 distinct and different ideas that converged together.

#1 was I had bought a bag of "school" items from the Salvation Army a few months ago. I was a school teacher for many years, so I know these were items meant to make a door or desk ornament for a beloved teacher...in order to be a little different from the iconic mug and/or apple. But I did not want these to go towards the basic.."Oh, this is cute..I think Ms. Smith would like this kitschy item."

#2 My daughters went off to college and left me with all their art and scrap booking supplies. (somethings just don't make the cut as they are not "cool" enough) I'm betting in a few years they will want them back. Anyway within their belongings I found a Vintage Stock Photo Book!
I flipped through it quickly to see what it was and this photo of the boy with the dunce cap immediately stood out as something I might use at a later date.

#3 I decided to start my project using the boy in the dunce cap and some of the 3D school items. Then I had to consider what was he in trouble for? and/or what was he thinking about? I have been working out at the gym a lot lately and am getting stronger- so have been egging my husband into wrestling matches-hence the wrestling photo. So the thought bubble could be what he got in trouble for.

Clutter or Inspiration part 2

Last night Nancy came over and we hung out in my studio since Marianne was out of town and Kristy wasn't going to the shared studio space across town. We were very productive while we listened to Obama in the background. Above is a picture of my spare table which I had to clear off for Nancy. On it are finished projects as well as some newly acquired items from the local thrift stores.

ABC, 123, what will I make today?
my tiniest miniatures, rubber stamps, pocket watch and pen nibs....
more rubber stamps and my collection of miniature vessels....
...my French collection....one of my fondest memories is traveling to Monet's Garden in Giverny and to Cezanne's studio in Aix-en-Provence with both of my daughters.

Clutter or Inspiration

I just finished reading the book "Art Making Collections and Obsessions" by Lynne Perrella. Which made me of course reflect on my own collections and obsessions and how it relates to my own art. I have also been reading "Living the Creative Life" by Rice Freeman-Zachary, and reading Rice's blog and thinking about where creativity comes from and how I get the ideas I do.

I wanted to show my studio and how sensory overloaded it is. The picture above shows a corner of one wall. Not only is my own art on the wall but that of both my daughters. I was their art teacher in elementary school and am quite happy that they are still making art while in their college-years.
My art and my treasures. I have a story for every piece...
...and every piece tells a story.
My Asian collection....
..and my mask collection. These all give me ideas and I now feel free to use these pieces in my art. As I get older and think about leaving this earth (Don't worry I'm not dying anytime soon...but I will turn 50 this year) I think about why am I saving all this stuff. No one will probably want it and I might as well use it in my creative endeavors.

Buttons, Beads and Fossils

I inherited a large tin of old buttons and beads. This has been my inspiration this week, digging through it and seeing what I could do with them.

I am an "out of sight, out of mind" sort of person- so I keep a lot of my assemblage items on a wall of cubicles from Target that my patient husband put together for me.

This nautilus fossil was one of the items that I have kept even through our massive cleaning out phase of moving across the country. It was given to me by my daughters kindergarten teacher 15 years ago. It had a crack in it and had been glued back together so not sure if it is worth anything as an artifact but I think it makes a perfect piece of art. I have glued it to a metal plate stand so it can stand up on it's own.

I had picked up this wall hook from JoAnne's not too long ago 'cause I thought it would be good for something. Added buttons and gold acrylic ink. Now I like it, hope you do too.

Art Was Her Saving Grace

This one has been brewing in my head for a while. Everyday I move around the pieces, adding and taking away elements, changing the title and the theme. As it stands now it is named "Art Was Her Saving Grace" Many of the pieces are items from my dollhouse from the 60's, the painting is a watercolor that I completed a few years ago. All the household chores surround her but she keeps her wits about her with her art.

Here is what I finally did with the polymer clay tiles that I baked in the toaster oven. I glued them on a frame then added seed beads and antique buttons to fill in the area around the tiles. I then used acrylic gold ink to paint over the seed beads. The edges of the frame are painted with a pattern using acrylic paint. I collaged patterned tissue paper on the mat and downloaded the 1920's photo from someone from one of the yahoo groups I belong to. Thank you whoever you are. The photo and mat can be removed if someone wanted to use the frame for a picture of their own.

Silver City 2

Last night I took my silver city sketches to the studio and tried to figure out what to do with them. I came up with two collages. The first one (above) shows details from some of the metal work on the light fixtures. With watercolor detail on the mat.
This collage shows my "picassoesque" wood burning stove which was the main source of heat for the dining room, a collection of glass bottles from behind the bar and one of the solar powered original light fixtures that also helped light the dining room in the Idaho Hotel.

Silver City Inspiration

Picture post card perfect. My husband and I had the opportunity to snowshoe into this old mining town in the remote Owyhee mountains in Idaho. The roads are closed all winter and the only way in is to walk or snowmobile. It took us 4 hours to go about 5 miles and a couple thousand feet in elevation.
Day 2 was an optional hike to SawPit Peak. I decided to stay in town and explore and take photos. We were privy to a tour of the Drugstore, which it's newest drug was dated 1906. We also got to go in The Masonic Hall. Our hotel was built in 1863. Our bed and furnishings were all original. The light fixtures are all original and are now run by solar power. It was like staying in a museum were you are allowed to touch stuff.
Some of the blind contour sketches I did while relaxing at the hotel. These will probably be incorporated into some kind of collage.

This Is Our Home

If you read my post on January 16th, I told about a photo postcard I had purchased of a woman and child in front of a house around the turn of the century. Penciled on the back is "this is our home" no names, dates or location. The door knob plate was the piece the store would not sell because it had lost its tag. I went back a week later and they still didn't know anything about it. One of the guys there said "for pete's sake just sell it to her for 50 cents." Then the lady said "how about a dollar" and I said "I liked his price better" and she said "he is not in charge" so anyway I was happy I got the piece. I had the Italian metal picture frame for a while just waiting to use it for something. The keys, pin, and buttons are from my great aunts home in New Jersey. SOLD

Vintage Sun Valley collage

At my last "First Thursday" showing, one of my visitors- after looking at a collage I had done on Idaho, suggested I do a Vintage Sun Valley Collage. As luck would have it we spent a few days at Sun Valley last week and I collected some images to use in a collage. I also found some 3-D Vintage Ski Christmas Ornaments. One was a ski boot, which is attached to the top of the black frame (not shown)

Good Art matches the sofa....right?

...or the bedspread in this case...we got a new bed spread so I needed to redo the art on the bedroom walls. I have always been fascinated with the simplicity of Japanese brushwork and the Zen circle. The gold foil squares in the center of the circle are Joss papers purchased at an Asian Market.