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Sunday, April 18, 2010

She's Baaaacckkkkk


I can whisper and croak. It wears me out but at least I am no longer completely mute. Stephanie and I travel to our photo shoot on Friday for the plaster book with North Light. I feared finding myself lost in a distant airport, unable to ask for help. But that will not happen now. I can ask for help. And Stephanie is going to watch over me like a powerful goddess. I am going to take the plunge. If I fall on my face I will tell you. But I plan not to wobble.


There are elves in the studio again. Wrapping up doll heads in plaster gauze. They are very strange and beautiful.


If you do this, lengthen the noses and slim down the cheeks so your scultptures evolve from the doll proportions of baby-ness. I got this idea over at Tory Brokenshire's blog where she and her friends altered doll heads with Sculpey clay. Brilliant, I thought. And then I got to work.


I want to make more santos. I love the way plaster chips and ages. Plaster, plaster, plaster. I'm even dreaming of it. No one that Stephanie and I know of has done a book on plaster. It is scheduled to come out early 2011. We will show you the good stuff and hopefully there will be a resurgence of this common and lovely material on the craft scene. It can do nearly anything.


This is my new life. I am a little whopperjawed but still vertical. It is fascinating, really. What we can do. All of us.


Inspired by Lynne, I stretched some plaster gauze onto paper and did a painting on that, scribing lines into the plaster and building up layers.


After the first day I had this and liked the freshness of it. The plaster showing through. Whites sparkling. Sometimes it is a mistake to kill all the whites.


But then heck, I wanted more texture, more color, more puttering. So this is the "flushed" version. I say that because her lipstick is smeared; I think her beau slipped into the studio overnight and they had a kissing session. Remember when you kissed the beloved for so long that your lips swelled a little and you got the razor burn? (sigh) not TMI I hope.

She is my angel with the broken wing.


And here I am taken yesterday morning when my dear Shellie, Steff and Nate visited (daughters and grandson) bringing me a lei and pineapples from Hawaii. As you can see I'm not too much worse for the wear.

The sun is shining in Portland and the chipper-shredder is humming away in the garden. It soothes me to know that life goes on no matter what. New babies, the sun rising on schedule, energy and vitality everywhere I look. 99.6% of the world is perfection, kindness, beauty. That's good enough for me. xoxo

40 comments:

Angie in AZ said...

Somehow, somewhere, I missed knowing exactly why you were having surgery or what type of surgery. But what I do know is how happy I am to hear you are doing so well! You look and sound wonderful! LOVE the painting. Can't wait for the book to come out too! The doll heads look amazing. I think I'd really enjoy the sculptural part of a project of this nature. Just one more thing to try....
hugs!

Ro Bruhn said...

So gad to see you're up and about Judy. You are looking wonderful. Your plaster experiments are as fabulous as ever. Looking forward to seeing the book.
Take care and enjoy your trip.

Kathryn Zbrzezny said...

Your welcome whispers are the shouts of joy! yay! ~Kathy

Anonymous said...

i'm so happy your back and you seem to be doing great...i knew you would! you are an amazing women and artist!! looking forward to seeing the new book.
be well!!
BIG hugs and smiles~ jill
nalettejm@yahoo.com

Snap said...

There was never any doubt ! YeeHaw .. she's back! Wishing you well.

snowbird42 said...

I know an artist who uses Hydrocal the same way as plaster cept its much harder.
So happy you are back and with voice.

Cindy Woods said...

Whoohoo!! Do you see me clapping my hands, jumping up and down, and cheering wildly?! I am SO, So happy and relieved for you. And you look absolutely mahvelous, absolutely YOU! Let the good times begin! xoxoxoxo

rebecca said...

oh my...
how you sooth the eye.
pineapples are a symbol of welcome...

welcome to the world you beautiful soul!!!

xoxoxoxo,
rebecca

marcia said...

I love your blog and I love your art. The painting is beautiful.

you seem like a very special person


~marcia

Lelainia N. Lloyd said...

SO glad you are on the mend!! YAY! xo

Laura said...

Glad to see you back and mending. Will continue loving thoughts. Looking forward to the book.

Gwen said...

You look wonderful, Judy! I am so glad your spirit is strong. All good wishes for a successful and fun trip. Looking forward to the book.

kluless said...

So good to have you and your sunny outlook back! Good luck with the trip and the book. I can hardly wait to see it. Anything you and Stephanie colaborate on is destined to be stunning!

Candace said...

I am happy you are back. Doll heads, it must be something in the air. I have started altering -- gulp! -- BARBIES!
Can't wait to see the book.

And listen, wobbly is okay. I've done wobbly. Piece of cake....

X
Candace, Still in Athens.

say**yes said...

You look MAHVELOUS!!!! You are nothing short of amazing! I'm sending you lots of hugs and kisses.
This beautiful Spring green and flowered world welcomes you back. xxxxxx ooooooo Patsy

Jacky said...

So pleased you are doing so well and looking so 'chipper'.
What a fantastic time you will have with Stephanie, look forward to seeing your plaster creations.
I love the Santos also and have been keen to have a play. I saw the ones the group of girls made and they have really inspired me too.
Your dolls head with the plaster looks fantastic and I look forward to seeing your finished Santos.

Enjoy your trip.

Jacky xox

Ocean Lotus said...

what a lovely way to start a monday but to see your beautiful work, read and smile in your words and poetry and to hear that you are croaking and traveling and mustering on - i can't belive that head was once a doll head..such creativeness simply can not be held down....

Anonymous said...

Wow! You look beautiful and strong and it's terrific about your voice. Your creativity amazes and inspires me.

Lynn Cohen said...

You look marvelous da'ling!
I am so happy to learn that your voice is allowing a whisper and a croak! I bet it just keeps getting better and better. (don't forget your white board so you don't wear your new voice out!) ;-)

All your plaster art is delicious.
And yes, I do remember "kissing sessions" with sore lips and whisker burn! LOL What memories!

sharon said...

visualize a whole room full of happy dancing in your honor, judy! plaster looks intriguing.

And so it goes... said...

Yippie skippie! She's back! Wobbly is good... You may have temporarily lost your voice, but we hear you loud & clear! in every crevice & swirl of your plaster...in layer upon layer of your exquisite color...in your soulful journal pages... You are still heard! Have a ball in Ohio! So so so looking forward to your book...
deb/debbie/debra

Jill Berry said...

GO Judy!!!! It is amazing how fast you got back on that horse! I am so, so happy that your voice is croaking back and you are on your way to your photo shoot. Looking forward to hearing more magic things.

Dede Warren said...

I love this post Judy. I've recently discovered your blog and enjoy your energy, and positive outlook. Two things one should never be without! I can't wait for the new book to come out, as I'm loving all the plaster art online lately! Safe travels this week and on your return home.

Stephanie Lee said...

I love seeing your smiling face!!! So radiant and strong!
I'm so looking forward to our journey...getting messy and pretending to be geniuses. It will be it's own sort of dreamland.
Croak croak, ribbit ribbit. hug hug.
oxoxox

(p.s. I shared your blog with my mamma and step dad and they fell in love with you. How could they not?!?!?!) :)

Tory Brokenshire said...

That is very good news Judi an artist has a whole lot to say, The heads are fun, I love yours.

Paula Phillips said...

I love that flushed version! :)
Beautiful journal pages, thanks so much for the inspiration.
Much Love

Clare Wassermann said...

there you are

lynne h said...

ah,judy, croaking!!! this is very smile making... and plaster on doll heads - brilliant! and your painting on plaster cloth! i'm running around in excited circles here (figuratively speaking : ).

you look damn good...

xo

Marit said...

Every time I visit you, you make my soul grow a little... you are awesome! I learn so much from you, only by reading your blog. Thank you, thank you, glad you're back and doing well. It's not about how loud you say the words, it's WHAT you say (or whisper) what's important!

Deb's Artful Journey said...

Whooohoooo! I am so glad that you're doing so great... you look fabulous! I am thrilled that you're well enough to go with Stephanie to photograph your plaster book!! I cant wait to see it. (I took a plaster class with you this summer & struggled with it, but have kept with it and now think its very cool!)

Have fun! Take care! You are an amazing healer - for yourself and others.

My best to you.

Chris said...

Judy, you look so pretty. And I'm very intrigued by your plaster book. It's cool to have someone along with you on the journey.

Do I know about bruised lips and burn? yeah.

Thank you for sharing.

Kim Rae Nugent said...

So good to hear that you are on the mend! I know that you will have a fabulous time at Northlight! It was hard work but deeply satisfying. Take care
Hugs,
Kim

Pilar said...

Dear, Sweet, Judy, so good to see your beautiful face, pages and proses.I am so looking forward to your upcoming book on plaster with Stephanie.Sending you lots of love and healing vibes. xoxoxo

Katherine said...

So good to hear/see you're on the mend...and keeping such a positive perspective as usual! Such an inspiration.

I'm so excited to hear about yours & Stephanie's plaster book...cannot wait to get ahold of that one!
Katherine

guy said...

Whoever accessorized your photo with the pineapples was genius! You look great my dear!

Anonymous said...

Your voice always come through loud and clear Judy, gentle spirit. You never left!

Teddi said...

love your work! thanks for sharing your soul :)

Dori Patrick said...

Welcome back! Sorry to hear about your recent challenges. Looks like you are back to having some fun! Love the plaster on the dolls idea! How clever!

Kelly said...

Great journal pages.

tlccreates said...

oooo, I just found your blog and can't wait to see what you do with plaster. I have worked with it as well and it only confirmed to me that it has tremendous potential.
Here is a plaster mural that I did for a hall at church. It is 4'x8' and at the height for children to touch it.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3662/3363921645_6b783ca36e_b.jpg

I hope the book is available soon
Best wishes
tlc