Channeling Georgia O'Keeffe (Part 2: Flowers)

Yesterday I posted about how much subconscious inspiration I have taken from Georgia O'Keeffe in my artwork, and I shared images reflecting our shared love of bones and shells. O'Keeffe is also well-known for her flowers, and I have a few flower photographs in her style.

Here are two of my favorite O'Keeffe flower paintings for comparison:

Jimson Weed

Blue Morning Glories

What do you think? Can you see the similarities? I can't wait to get started creating more directly in her style!

Channeling Georgia O'Keeffe (part 1: bones and shells)

{This post is photo-heavy. It was originally even longer, but I decided to divide the post into two parts. So, if this intrigues you, come back tomorrow for Part 2: flowers.}

I gave myself the morning off to spend some time watching the videos in the "Studying Under the Masters" class I purchased. The class is now in Week 5 and, while I enjoyed doing a few projects for Matisse in Week 1, I had no time to play in Week 2 (Cezanne), Week 3 (Gaudi) or Week 4 (Botticelli). I'm sure I'll get back to those later this summer, but I definitely wanted to jump into this week's lesson on Georgia O'Keeffe. I have lots of ideas percolating around in my head for creating in soft pastels, acrylics and water color, but in the meantime, I wanted to pull a few things out of my archive where I feel connected to or inspired by O'Keeffe. The first is the skull photograph I took several years ago in a nature museum. 
Another is an assemblage I did in a Michael DeMeng class (read about it here):

I also made this art journal page,with an image of an antlered fashion model:

Can you see the connection to these stunning works by Georgia O'Keeffe?

Deer's Skull with Pedernal

Ram's Head, White Hollyhock and Little Hills

Black Door with Snow

I hadn't ever seen the Black Door with Snow before looking at O'Keeffe images this morning, but I really like it.  Another unknown (to me) work which I really, really like is this one, titled Red Hills with White Shell:

It reminds me a bit of some of my shell photography:

I guess I can see now why I'm so interested in this week's lesson. I'm obviously drawn to many of the same influences that called to her. And I'm sure that my interest is an internalization and reflection of how much I have always admired her art work. I just don't think I realized it until today!  Are their artists whose work inspires you on a conscious or unconscious level? Can you see where I am channeling Georgia?

Inspired to Make Cards

Last weekend, Jennifer hosted a really fun blog event called "Onward and Upwards," which included many fun challenges. The challenges close soon, so I wanted to post my last entry.  This was for a "Be Inspired" challenge which asked you to be inspired by any of the posts from the blog event.  I was inspired by this post about making cards.
My cards used some random patterned paper I had on my desk and some Elle Studio journaling blocks (which were probably meant to be used for Project Life). What I love about these cards is that I started with some fairly standard products but then made the finished project completely and totally my own by using unique images from my collection. These images are not well-known or widely seen because they come from my heritage photos, my own photography, and ephemera from my travels, which I have turned into collage sheets.  I think my design sensibility in these cards tracks some of Sian's, seen in cards such as these and Julie Kirk's Pludering Pages (such as this one), but these still very much "me."  For years I collected rubber stamps and made cards based mainly on rubber stamp images. Right now, though, I'm really loving this style of cut and paste card.  It's interesting to realize that my style is evolving. What about you? Have you noticed any changes in your card-making, painting, collaging or scrapbooking styles?
******************************************
Edited to add: If you are interested in learning more about my collage sheets and how I make them, check out my post at this link.  Also, some time ago I posted a "recipe" or tutorial for using collage images in cards.  You can read that post by clicking here.

What's Your Card Style?

I created this card in response to the Ginger Snap Creations Monthly Color Challenge, Shades of Blue.  I used an alcohol ink monoprint for the background and one of my favorite collage stamps.  As I was making it, I was wondering about my card making style.  I'd say I'm heavy on stamps and photos, light on embellishments.  Not a lot of layering either.  I like quirky sayings and off-beat images.  I guess I'd describe my card making style as simple, vintage and quirky.  Do you think I got it right?  How would you describe your card making style?

Creativity Boot Camp Media, Take 2!

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."  Twyla Tharp


I'm very excited about taking the two week free class, Creativity Boot Camp, which you can learn about here.  Participants are to choose one media to work on during the two weeks, and I have chosen to work in plaster.  It's a media I love and one that I think can really become a signature of my artwork.  Sorry for the odd post yesterday asking about your media (the only content was an "x").  Not sure how that happened, but it was interesting to hear that many of you are still undecided . . . a couple of photographers, an art journaler and a digi-gal round out the list.  Really hoping people decide to do a variety of things.
The creative prompt for day 1 was "ivory," so I made this ivory house out of plaster and put it on an ATC titled "Run away. . ." The idea is based on the Twyla Tharp quote above.

Creating in the Style of . . .

I love these pieces.  I created them, and they speak to me on some very deep level about motherhood and the beauty of children.  But I have a problem with them.  I worry that they aren't truly "mine."  You see, each was created in the style of another artist.    "Homemaker" was created in a class taught by Judy Wise through Artful Journey. I modeled my collage on a couple of her pieces, called "Nonnie" and "We Were All Angels", found in the June 4 post on her blog, which you can find (with some scrolling) here. "House of Love" was created using an article by Kelly Rae Roberts in the magazine Cloth, Paper, Scissors. Edited to add: I found a link to one of Kelly Rae's prints that she has for sale which uses the same technique that I used for House of Love.  You can see it here. I have also made other work, which I love, based on classes I have taken with Connie Andrews.

So, I worry if these pieces are somehow not my art. Kelly Rae Roberts has written her opinion about this issue.  It's a very reasonable opinion, but it still worries me because I'm not sure I follow all her rules, and I think of myself as a very ethical person and artist.  I just know that I internalize what I learn, and I'm sure it comes out in what I teach and sell.  So, I don't work in her style anymore.  Tim Holtz has never published anything on his philosophy, but I have corresponded with him by email, and his approach is "go for it."  As long as you don't reproduce his class handouts, he's all about teaching and putting the ideas out into the universe.  He figures nothing but good can come of it. I find it all very confusing and a little disturbing.

My children are adopted but they are "mine" to their core.  I wish I felt the same about all my art.  Thoughts?

Updates, A Poll, and A Giveaway

Updates
Thank you to everyone who has stopped by my blog! I'm thrilled that people are responding so well to it.  I wanted to provide a few updates/answers to posts from the last few weeks.

First, the Dina Wakley class "Graffiti of My Life" is almost over.  We still need to do the book binding and covers, but our pages are done.  I'm featuring one of my favorites up top.

Second, Kathy M asked if I was looking to teach in my area, and the answer is generally yes.  I really enjoyed teaching at a LSS in town before it closed.  I just don't see myself travelling very far to teach because, as much as I love to teach, I don't love it enough to go through the work of finding a venue and establishing a new group of students. Ideally, I'd like to do something locally.

Third, with regard to my post on finding a signature style, Keitha wanted to continue the discussion.  So, I have a few things to add.  Tami, at Get it Scrapped, will be teaching a class called Styles. In it, she says you will experiment with a variety of different styles to see what appeals to you and what your style might be.  I remembered an exercise I found in Ali Edwards book, A Designer's Eye for Scrapbooking.  She suggested taking six of your favorite layouts and jotting down for each one:  the materials you used; any special techniques you used; and what you loved about each one.  By reviewing your notes, you can get a sense about what your style is. I've done this exercise occasionally with my layouts and pieces of art and found it very helpful.

Fourth, Mel asked what I plan to do with my Latino Service piece.  Right now, my plan is to hold onto it as part of a collection I'm developing on Latino Heritage. I've been very intirgued with the idea of organizing my various art pieces into collections that share common themes and/or techniques.  The idea is not fully developed yet, but one goal I have for this blog is to help catalogue my art into these various collections.

Fifth, I did decide that this piece is done.  It just needs a title and a signature.  Thanks for your feedback!

Sixth, Gennifer asked what I planned to do with my "Organic Art" pieces.  I think I will frame those and hang them in my studio someday.  The someday being when I actually have a studio!  I envision a white mat and black frame.

Seventh, Jen commented on how much she liked the idea of collage dominoes as gifts.  I have photographed a few and attached the picture below.

Finally, Kimberlee guessed that art created by Michael DeMeng in my "strong sense of style" post was art by Liz McGrath.  I checked our Elizabeth McGrath's website, and she makes some very, very cool stuff.  In related news, Michael DeMeng is back from his trip to Mexico, and he's got some awesome new posts on his blog.  Check it out!

A Poll
I am interested in what you most like seeing on my blog, so I'm setting up a poll.  I envisioned the blog as showcasing my mixed media art (like this and this), but I've had very good reactions to the cards and scrapbook pages I've featured.  Yesterday, I just went with one of my photographs. (If you want to check out a post that features a card, two mixed-media pieces and a scrapbook page look at this one.) Please take a second to vote in my poll and let me know what you most like to see here. If for any reason, you can't vote, you can still participate in the weekend give-away. . .

Weekend Give-Away
For the weekend give-away, simply vote in my poll and then post below saying "I voted."  Feel free to add other comments as well. As always, you can post as anonymous, but will need to put your name in the comment, so I can tell who you are to send you a prize. I'll pick a random winner Sunday night, 9:00 p.m. California time.  The winner will receive a collaged domino!

A strong sense of style

Look at these two pieces of art. Do you know who created them? If you're familiar with the artists, you will know them without peeking at the answer below. Even if you don't know the artists, you can see the differences between the two and easily believe that each has a style that is instantaneously recognizable as their own.

I am fascinated by artists who have developed such a strong sense of style. I wonder if they revel in it or feel boxed in by it. I am sure it helps "brand" them and make their art more salable. It also seems to make them more of an Artist with a capital "A" because you can recognize a Van Gogh or a Monet when you see it. In many ways, they have created their own signature "look." I know I'm not quite there yet. I have some sense of my own style. My collage, "Wings," which I feature on my blog, includes many of the elements which make up my style. But I haven't settled on or created a unique signature style - one that people look at and say, "That's a Maria Ontiveros." I have one in mind, but it's still in the incubation stage. I'll be sure to share it when and if it works out.

In the meantime, here's a list of artists who I think have a strong signature style:

Tim Holtz

Claudine Hellmuth

Ali Edwards

Dina Wakley

Tara Whitney

January Hooker (a local artist, without a website, but you can get an idea from this picture)

And, oh, here's where you can peek at the answers:

Harmony

Creepy Baby