Cardboard Book and What it's Like Being an Artist

What is it like?

to be an artist..

I was asked that once in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean

and I shrugged it off,

by laughing..

"How much time do you have?"

I mean where do I start?

there are so many things

that set us apart ...

I thought about that last week as I was 

stitching together 

my cardboard book,

I ordered a single book from Amazon

and it arrived in one of those 

cardboard box dealios..

you know what I mean..

cardboard wrapped around the book..

and when I looked at the remains of the cardboard..

after I enthusiastically ripped it open to free my book...

I thought, 

I could cut the flaps and make a great book

out of it..

and I realized that that is what it is really like to be an artist..

at least, it is my experience, 

but I know I am not alone..

Cardboard book in process, stitching signatures, Caterina Giglio

I see possibility everywhere..

even in

 trash and debris..

I am definitely an up cycler..

recycling is my nature..

Old lost buttons find their way to my

studio..

a onesie, scrubbed clean

and 

serving well..

It is so rewarding to 

create..

Cardboard book, with jute closure, Caterina Giglio

something from nothing..

Hand stitched mixed media book, Caterina Giglio

making beautiful pages

from turmeric..

and images from onion skins...

Hand dyed pages, onion skin and avocado, Caterina Giglio  

using up

bits and pieces of string

and upholstery threads...

Onion dyed page in Cardboard book, Caterina Giglio  

and the more things I create,

the more ideas

I seem to have..

it is an endless flow..

one idea gives birth to another..

For me,

being an artist is freedom..

freedom to create whatever I want..

experiment and try new things..

and speak authentically..

Cardboard book, mixed media, Caterina Giglio

now, 

off to the studio..

I am working on my journal pages

and Part 4 of my Art Journaling Process

for filming this week..

thank you, gentle readers...

C4N!

Mixed Media, Works in Progress

I know you know..

I have never been a fan of sharing my

works in progress..

Mixed media painting and photograph, Caterina Giglio

I suppose it is because

my vision for the piece and what you see, are so very different..

but there are times,

like now...

Photo, Caterina Giglio

when all I have to show for myself 

are a collection of pieces in process..

the photo above I shot of our pool.

right after a rainfall,

and I loved it so much, I decided to paint it

Large Canvas in process, Caterina Giglio

The canvas is large, 36 x 48

and will fit perfectly in my home..

I have a lot of work yet to do on it, 

but, I am excited about it..

and I am still working on a series of portraits of my 

dear friend, Gina St. Brigid 

I finished the small one below 9 x 12 

Mad Gina

which I love, 

both mixed media..

Mixed Media portrait of Gina St. Brigid, by Caterina Giglio

The large piece below is 16 x 20 both on cradled boards

The Rain Makes My Hair Curl..

is almost finished and I plan on doing several more..

Mixed Media portraits of Gina St. Brigid, Caterina Giglio

also in process is a cardboard book..

currently giving me fits..

Turmeric and Onion dyed pages, cardboard book in process, Caterina Giglio

while I adore the signatures (or pages if you are unfamiliar with

bookmaking)

stitching into the cardboard is extremely trying...

Turmeric and avocado dyed pages in cardboard book, Caterina Giglio

but you know me, 

I have already decided that I will do it again, because 

I will conquer it..

Cardboard book in process, Caterina Giglio

I am thoughtfully contemplating my art journal pages 

for this month and I am thinking

I need to use stitches to illustrate

the words below..

Art Journal page in process, Caterina Giglio

on the mixed media table are a few new works..

sneaky peeks..

Tissue Paper butterfly on mixed media, Caterina Giglio

tissue paper butterflies and dragonflies 

and the beginning of an article

for Somerset..

a proposal at least..

So ...

you may not see these for a while..

who knows?

so, there you have it, dear readers..

everything in process...

I cannot even begin to share with

you all the projects in my head and written in my notebooks..

so many ideas, 

I am truly blessed..

and I thank you as 

always

for stopping by..

Ciao, Ciao!