Auction to benefit Oaxaca's street children ends tomorrow!

Oaxaca07–sand painting artists, originally uploaded by jomoma58.

Your Bid Helps Support Educational Opportunities for Children in Oaxaca, Mexico...

Go to this website as soon as possible and place your bid on a beautiful handmade shrine, and support educational opportunities for the street children of Oaxaca, Mexico. I had the opportunity to visit Oaxaca in the fall of 2007, and still 'get emotional' when I reflect on the lovely people I met there. More information about this auction (and its beginnings) can be found here.

Pictured above: some very talented sand painters, near Oaxaca, during Dia de los Muertos, or "Day of the Dead " festivities. I don't know their backgrounds, but you can see that they are a talented young bunch, with lots of positive energy! They had just completed a beautiful sand painting, which you can see on my flickr.com site...

Wendy's class is this weekend!

Angel in Flight, by Wendy Lee Lynds

My friend, Wendy Lee Lynds, has an art workshop coming up in Everett, Washington, this weekend: April 4th and 5th, called "Visual Journaling". Are you or someone you know interested in chronicling the life and times of YOU??
Come, have a blast in this fast-packed, fun two day introduction into the joys of journaling.
now's the time.............

here's the link for more information and the scoop on how to register!
Arts Council of Snohomish County

Up to my knees in ArtFest trades and taxes...

"beach in a bag" artist trades...

Collage bag trades...

My raw materials for artist 'trades' for ArtFest...

I've been 'knee deep' in tax forms, numbers (that don't add up), and ArtFest trades all week. This morning, I finally said "*&#@*&% the taxes, I'm FINISHING my trades!" Artist trades, for those of you who haven't been to ArtFest or Art and Soul out here in the Northwest, are a VERY big part of these art retreats. Artists make little 'gifts' for each other, to trade, or just give away. It's a wonderful and unique experience. Well, I have 75 done, and will do another 25. Taxes will have to wait until Monday... For those of you going to ArtFest this week, I can't wait to see you there. I'm in Dorm 225, room #5.

Thanks for voting!

I wanted to thank all of you for your help in my decision on what artworks to submit to Lark Books call for art for their upcoming publication: "500 Found Object Works". My finalists were: Margarita and Marigolds, 33000 Words and Countdown to Nada. These can be seen on my flickr site. Or, in my web gallery, ArtID.com. It was a tough choice, as they only allowed three submissions. Your words of encouragement were wonderful...

Fooling around with colors...

I decided to try futzing (sp?) around with backround and text colors on 'ye ole blog'. I've been clicking different color buttons for 45 minutes now. What do you think: black or dark gray backround? Boredom and insomnia, aahhh....

I'm just bursting...

My beautiful and talented daughter was just accepted into Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver, B.C. We have all been waiting on 'pins and needles' for months now. She was also accepted into Western Washington University, as well as Portland State University. But, her heart lies in Canada (and art school). She just told me this morning that she's so excited to have loonies and toonies in her purse, and a bit apprehensive about having to constantly convert to metric!! I discovered this wonderful little art school on Granville Island (in Vancouver) a couple of years ago, and instantly thought about my daughter. We went up for a visit a year ago, and she was completely hooked. She has worked very hard to keep her grades up and get all of her college applications and paperwork in on time. She deserves this...I'm so proud of her.

Photo: self portrait, taken by my daughter.

To the Sea completed...

I've just completed the clipboard shrine "To the Sea". It's a very quiet piece for me. It celebrates beach walks, contemplation while at the beach and the wonderful treasures we find in the sand. Some of these shells and sticks I found at the beach at Fort Worden, in Port Townsend, Washington (the site if ArtFest in about 10 days). The center piece of the shrine is an old book I cut a niche into, to hold the glass piece inside. I've also used encaustic wax and graphite/mettalic pigments.

Days with my Father

This is one of the most moving websites I've ever visited, called "Days with my Father". Warning: if you've ever lost someone dear to you, especially a parent, get out that box of tissues before you visit this site. I wish I could have done this beautiful of a tribute for both of my parents...

My Classes Now Listed on TeachStreet.com

I am thrilled to announce that I now have all my upcoming classes listed on a fabulous website called TeachStreet.com. Now, you can conveniently go to one website to find out all about my upcoming workshops! This wonderful site is for both 'teachers' and 'learners'. You can peruse profiles about teachers and available classes all over the country! Trust me, it's worth a look.

http://www.teachstreet.com/teacher/jonesmoore

Fun with Wendy...

My assemblage 'in progress.


Wendy...hard at work.

I had a great 'art date' with my new art friend, Wendy Lee Lynds. She's a fabulous mixed media and collage artists, who also teaches in the Seattle area. We decided to have an 'assemblage day' at my studio. She worked with some antique box frames and some cool old metal pieces and text, and I worked on yet another clipboard collage/assemblage. Since it's sea creature and ocean oriented, I may bring it to the ArtFest 2009, and put it up in the gallery show. Wendy and I had great talks about assemblage, rusty things, odd collections of stuff, collage and how to teach a good workshop! And, of course, we compared notes on our favorite mixed media artists such as Larry Calkins (teaches at Pratt Art Center in Seattle), Lynne Perrella, Michael deMeng, Juliana Coles, LK Ludwig and Claudine Hellmuth. They are all masters at what they do, and teach fantastic workshops.

Clipboard Shrine-ology: Registration now Open!

Registration just opened today for my upcoming workshop, "Clipboard Shrine-ology" at the University of Washington's Experimental College (ASUW). The class is on Saturday, April 25, from 10–5. We will be having some real fun with clipboards, various art media and found objects. No experience required!

The Salvage Studio closing retail doors...

My favorite divas of "salvage"–Amy, Lisa and Beth–and makers of cool stuff for the home, are closing their retail store after this weekend. Here's more information about their sale:

Our Goodbye to Retail Sale will be held
March 20 & 21, from 9am to 5pm each day

The retail store is located (north of Seattle) at
650 Edmonds Way in Edmonds, Wa
a short drive off of I-5,
west on Hwy 104 (edmonds way)
before the hill down to the
Edmonds/Kingston ferry.

I would recommend getting there early, as I'm sure they will every last piece. Their website is:
http://thesalvagestudio.com/

They also have a great new book out called, "The Salvage Studio-Sustainable Home Comforts 

to Organize, Entertain & Inspire". These women are extremely talented, and I wish them the best of luck!

Bunker door at Fort Worden

Bunker door, originally uploaded by jomoma58.

Rust and hand prints...it can't get much better than this. I'm CRAZY about this stuff! I wandered around the old bunkers at Fort Worden last weekend, in Port Townsend, Washington. It had been cloudy most of the day, but the sun popped out just in time to reveal the glorious colors of rust and old paint. ArtFest 2009 will be taking place there in about 3 weeks, I can't wait!

Beach at Fort Worden, Washington

Beach at Fort Worden, originally uploaded by jomoma58.

It had just snowed that morning...

Snow in March!!

Snow in March, originally uploaded by jomoma58.

I was up at beautiful Fort Worden State Park (Port Townsend, Washington) last weekend, and guess what I woke up to? White stuff, everywhere. I felt as though I had awakened in a completely different place. It felt very much like New England, in winter (I've never been there, it's just how I imagined it, though). If you are one of the lucky ones attending ArtFest in April, be prepared for 'funky' weather...more pictures of Fort Worden can be found at my flickr site.

The "Girls" Cheat Death (PLEASE Vote!)

The "Girls" Cheat Death (PLEASE Vote!), originally uploaded by jomoma58.

A finalist for my submission to Lark Books call for art for "500 Found Object Works". (The book will be about works of art and craft using found objects). This piece was originally created for "The Breasts of the Northwest II" an art exhibtion showcasing  the breast in art...this was my visual comment on those who have overcome breast cancer, with a nod to Mexican Day of the Dead style shrines.


PLEASE VOTE through 'post comment' for either:
1) The Girls Cheat Death OR
2) Countdown to Nada

Countdown To Nada (PLEASE Vote!)

Countdown To Nada (PLEASE Vote!), originally uploaded by jomoma58.

A finalist for my submission to Lark Books call for art for "500 Found Object Works". (The book will be about works of art and craft using found objects). This piece is a comment on the horrendous rates at which our planets' trees are disappearing.


PLEASE VOTE through 'post comment' for either:
1) The Girls Cheat Death OR
2) Countdown to Nada

I value your opinion!

I am submitting three images to Lark Books to be considered for inclusion in the upcoming publication "500 Found Object Works". The book will showcase art (and craft) made from found objects. I am having a tough time narrowing my choice down to three images. If you have the time and energy, I would be grateful if could you visit my web gallery at:

http://artid.com/jonesmoore

and vote (post your comment on this blog entry) on the three pieces that best represent works using found objects. I personally have eight favorites: 33,000 Words, Countdown to Nada, Dear Tom, Margarita and Marigolds, Mary with Blue and Red, 14 Squares with Chicken Bones and one  called "The Girls Cheat Death" (pictured above: a shrine made totally of found objects, dedicated to those who are overcoming breast cancer). I am also considering another piece  called "Captive Heart"--it is a shrine, also (pictured below in a previous post). If you don't have the time to do this, I totally understand. If you do, thanks so much!

"Captive Heart" shrine just completed...

I've just completed another 'clipboard' shrine. It's made with found objects and encaustic wax.  I dipped a fabric heart in the wax several times (this was too fun, and now I want to dip everything!). These are starting to be a bit addictive. I will be teaching workshops on how to do this in April and June. Please see the sidebar for my upcoming workshops if you are interested in learning how to do this. If they are not yet posted in the class catalogs, please contact me at: jomoma58@yahoo.com for more information. This shrine is now available in my Etsy shop.

Street Children of Oaxaca Online Fundraiser

Please visit this wonderful blog (by artist Rebecca Brooks) and learn about the fundraiser for Street Children of Oaxaca. I was in Oaxaca (city) in 2007 for a shrine workshop with Michael deMeng. It is a most magical place, full of beautiful people, art, souls and history. The fundraiser consists of an online auction of some beautiful hand-made cigar box shrines. The bidding for these shrines started March 1, and will continue through March 31. A wonderfully worthy cause, and you will get a great piece of art for your efforts!

Pictured above: ofrenda in Oaxaca, Mexico

Spanish word for the week: la posada

la posada
English Translation: inn, guesthouse, lodging
Spanish Example: Debe ser muy agradable dormir en esa posada.
English Translation: It should be very pleasant to sleep in that inn.

(YES! It was extremely pleasant sleeping here, in the open air, listening to the surf...aaahhhh.)
Pictured: View from Casa Bougainvillea in Sayulita, Mexico