Small Works

I have been working

in a studio that is almost completely packed..

I have a few paint jars..

a couple of adhesives, 

4 paint brushes,

a pencil and a small bag of ephemera..

a bit challenging..

but I did manage to finish a few small

pieces...

and I am working on 4 more...

for my 

December Small Works 

show at 

EsScentuals

just sneaky peeks, mind you..

but peeks nonetheless...

these are tiny pieces... which for me is more challenging than

working large..

having space and freedom for me is liberating..

but then I am claustrophobic..

they are still unnamed..

but they are the first pieces in a big show..

dragonfly and butterfly

all torn or separated...

damaged but unbroken...

Thanks for being there, you faithful readers 

and silent lurkers..

how blessed I am to have your continued support..

 I appreciate you, everyone.. 

ciao, ciao!!

July Journal Pages

precious little art is going on right now...

but you know that art journal pages always happen..

creativity 

just 

squirts out..

July art journal page detail of paper wing, Caterina Giglio

I have been giving much thought to my new series..

of wings..

this series is less about the whole beautiful creature..

and more about the damaged wing, the the broken and patched,

the wing that flies in spite of the stitches..

the scars and hidden wounds..

Journal pages detail, July 2014, Caterina Giglio 

a lot of writing this month dear readers...

underneath... just below and on top...

desires, dreams wishes

and on top, affirmations...

of health and healing, happy new home, beautiful new life...

the wing below is hand drawn on cardstock and the feathers are torn from 

an old book, collaged and painted gold, embellished with pen and ink..

Two page spread, Art Journal Pages, Caterina Giglio

Ingredients: collage, gesso, acrylic paint pen and ink, antique book pages, staples, thread, cardboard

and now off to pack

and sort..

which sounds dull and boring..

but really it is

so very exciting

to be flying home..

xo

What's in a Name?

on first glance, gentle reader.. 

you might think

that these photos were taken by me..

but you would be wrong..

"We all grow up with the weight of history on us. Our ancestors dwell in the attics of our brains as they do in the spiraling chains of knowledge hidden in every cell of our bodies"

Shirley Abbott

Photo by Mary Giglio

they say the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree

and that is true, 

or in this case, the lily...

"The songs of our ancestors are also the songs of our children"

Phillip Carr-Gorman

Photo by Mary Giglio

these photos are the capture of my dear Auntie,

Mary Giglio...

who I have just recently had the pleasure to become reacquainted...

you see for much of my life my aunt was a nun

and I rarely saw her on holidays..

Photo by Mary Giglio

and though she has been out of the convent for many years, 

we have just recently been in touch with each other...

and so happy am I 

that we are...

Do you ever stop to think about who you are?

I am so blessed to know what my name means..

to know where I come from..

and from that knowledge, 

I know where I am going..

Photo by Mary Giglio

I can see in her photos what we value

what I was taught..

and what is precious...

Photo by Mary Giglio

She told me that she no longer paints or draws..

but she loves photography..

and she regularly sends me wonderful photos

that speak to my heart..

and come home in my soul...

the DNA in my eyes sees the same things

that her eye spies..

"We who with songs beguile your pilgrimage... 

And swear that Beauty lives though lilies die. We poets of the proud old lineage

who sing to find your hearts,

we know not why,

What shall we tell you?

Tales, marvelous tales

of ships and stars... "

James Elroy Flecker

in looking at her photos, I can see the faces of my

grandparents, my aunts, and uncles..

my cousins and family..

my father..

and I am reminded how very sweet is

life..

xo

blog hopping

We are off again..

taking a long holiday...

and I am ready for a blog break..

unplugging from my internet..

reading and resting... 

so I am leaving you with a blog hop..

the first artist below

is amazing.. his work is beautiful...

I am delighted to say that I won this beautiful piece of art

in a giveaway.. recently...

I follow 

Eric Adama

and his blog is called

Cerulean

Art work by Eric Adama

you have to go and check out his work

very cool ...

and the next artist is

Brian Kastle...

and this journal page is just 

amazing don't you think?

Brian's blog is called

A Paper Bear

and he teaches classes in art journaling...

and the last blog

is written by

my friend 

Roxanne Evans-Stout

River Garden Studio

and she is teaching a class in

my old hometown, Fort Collins, CO... so if you can make it in August..

it is being held in a very cool place..

Momo Lolo Coffee house

owned by my dear friend, Sarah Fishburn and her husband, Colin Gerety

Art Book by Roxanne Evans Stout, made with her stencils, from Stencil Girls

I would love to be there to play and make art, but alas, 

I am moving..

as you know...

she said pouting seriously..

So take a minute to give yourself a beauty break and check out some 

wonderful art blogs...

and please tell them that I sent you to go have a look see...

Wishing you all a safe and peaceful holiday

dear readers...

xo

decollage

it seems I do a lot of ripping and tearing 

in the studio..

decollage

gluing things down and then

realizing that it does not have that atmospheric effect I want...

I tear it off and paint over...

tissue paper butterflies that I copied from an old book on butterflies.. dryer sheets and old book binding

for this new show, I will be using wings of all sorts...

and creating my own wings, some will be hand stitched..

or gilded

but all will represent freedom...

flight and moving to a higher, broader consciousness.. 

wing bits and old papers..

On my walk yesterday, I found these lacy skeletonized leaves..

which looked like wings to me...

and I just started on some tiny canvas, above and below..

the base coats... just  wips but after four layers..

I am happy with where it is going..

Paint and walnut ink, collage, decollage, and transfers on canvas..

and digging through my stash has been fun and disconcerting..

I have quite an unorganized mess..

so that will change in a larger studio

with a big walk in closet..

It is hard to believe that it is Friday again!

time just flies when you are packing boxes...

making art and sorting life and memories...

I think I will put my feet up early tonight

and have a glass of Cabernet

my one weakness you know..

back to the studio... 

C4N!

Walking with John Muir

We have had several gorgeous days here...

perfect for early morning walks...

so I have been taking John Muir with me on walks...

it is easy for me to be drunk on nature.. 

and though I have few mountains here,

there is beauty at every pond..

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul."

John Muir

Early morning light is so mystical...

and it is wonderful to be up with the Mourning Doves, Robins

and Red Wing Black Birds...

Ducks and geese...

the dew still fresh on flowers..

and Crepe Myrtles are blooming...

yes, beauty abounds... gentle reader..

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."

John Muir

I am hoping to have some work

in process to show you on Friday...

as well as June journal pages...

May your week be sunny and bright...

ciao, ciao!

taking flight

packing happens... 

gentle reader...

little by little, each day, 

I manage to get a couple of boxes filled...

so I have been sorting through my stash of old books...

antique prints...

and ephemera...

because I am working on a new series

of wings...

bird wings...

butterfly wings..

angel wings...

dragonfly wings...

"Art is the stored honey of the human soul, gathered on wings of misery and travail."

Theodore Dreiser 

I am close to finishing a deadline

for a piece that you will soon be seeing...

 sneak peeks

undercover right now, but it will all be revealed in perfect time...

"Aerodynamically the bumble bee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn't know that, so it takes flight anyway."

Mary Kay Ash 

and I am working on new pieces for a 

December show at EsScentuals

a small works show

my book of feathers

pointed me in this direction

and I am excited to get some pieces finished for the show

before we leave...

"Our hours in love have wings..."

Cervantes

don't you just love 

the butterfly wings 

cut in half like this?

I love the symbol of the wing... of freedom..

"We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it has forever"

Carl Sagan

I always feel so fortunate to have

such great representation.. the allowance to conjure up 

whatever my heart desires..

such true freedom..

and cannot wait to show you

what I have been working on...

til then...

have a lovely weekend... dear hearts

C4N!