Self Explanatory...

Nice new business cards!

Embellishments

On my western themed pieces I've started using silver or copper conchos to enhance the stencil images. The idea occured to me and I thought it would either look really good or really bad...so I ordered a few conchos to test the idea out. 

The Dogs

These are the dogs in my life, Poco and Elliot. They actually belong to my roommate but I love them both like they were mine. Poco got "Old Dog Syndrome", which is like a stroke, and  finally died earlier this year. I miss him. But, Elliot is a sweet, sensitive little dog that makes me happy. I was amazed how the stencil images capture exactly what the dogs look like. Poco was always bent to the side a little when he sat down and Elliot often has a worried look on his face. I enjoy doing animals, they usually come out great. 

My Work Space

I really love my workspace. I have a great drawing table with cutting boards to use with X-acto knives and a sheet of glass for using a hot knife. My favorite toy is my overhead projector - just like the ones they used in school. Cutting stencils is delicate work that takes a long to time produce and its so nice to have such a comfortable place to work. The stencil process involves a lot of computer work, too. I have to scan images into my laptop and create silhouettes, print out hard copies or transparencies, as needed. Its a complicated process with many steps....but its really fun!

Art on the Square

McKinney Texas has a thriving town square. There is always something going on there - music, art, stores, restaurants, galleries...its really a fun place to go especially on weekends and holidays. These are pictures of my table set up for Second Saturday - artists set up tables and demonstrate their art techniques and of course have work for sale.

An Iconic Jesus Christ

What you're seeing here is the drawing I made of an iconic style Jesus figure underneath the mylar stencil sheet. The stencil is already cut - you cut out the black and leave in the white. With stencilling, you are always thinking in negative space.

Chief Joseph Stencil

Chief Joseph was the first Native American stencil I cut and he remains my favorite, although the others I've done are really wonderful. They seem to be perfect subjects for detailed, good looking stencils.

This photograph shows the piece near the beginning stages. I add silver conchos to the sides and sometimes on the image itself. The conchos add a lot to the flavor of Native American work.