Back from the city of New Orleans

I've sweated out my demons in New Orleans for a very full week. Now I'm back in the groove. Please come to McGuffey Art Center in Charlottesville this Saturday at 11:30 for our art making support group. malainajean@gmail.com for more info.

Eliza Evans, here in Charlottesville

paints portraits on little slabs of wood of the people who sit in front of her. She painted these pics of my kids. She said Llyr was the wiggliest one ever. I love them so much for not looking totally lifelike but also not looking like a caricature. And now I'm going to New Orleans for a week, so goodbye!

Resource for artists or workshop leaders

http://www.soulcollage.com/home/index.php
A very specific collage concept developed by Seena Frost, that I like to use in a much more loose format.

The incredible paintings of Julie Heffernan

These paintings move me. Not just because of the skill level involved, but they are classic and creepy and they look right at you.
Represented by PPOW galleries
http://www.ppowgallery.com/selected_work.php?artist=10

Changing the face of mental illness with one super sweet 'stache!

http://www.crayonmustache.com/

The incredibly awesome, good and generous Jason made this site. Then he listed a bunch of cool vintage toys (and other wonderful items) on Ebay and is giving all of the money to charity.

http://myworld.ebay.com/crayonmustache/

My book and poems are available for anyone to read and pass out for free, I hope they will help somebody. I am working on new written works and I would like for this website to showcase works of art, written or otherwise, by others in the mental health community. Thank You and Enjoy! -Jason

Today's little tip about burning things

I like to play with paper and I like to play with matches. I like things to look older than they really are when I use them in collage. Sometimes when I put fire to paper I get a big hot mess, drop it on the ground and burn that too. Soooooo....when you want to singe the edges of a paper, take it outside and burn it with a stick of incense. Thats a new trick for me. An old trick that I also love to hold a flame to the side of a crayon tip and drip the wax onto my collage.

My camera is broken so I can't show you anything I set on fire lately.

First quarter altered book

It is my journal and it all makes perfect sense to me!

Lynn Whipple, mixed media artist

http://www.whippleart.com/Lynn/lynn_index.htm

I like to think that I am the artist that the talented Lynn Whipple is. Its just that I am too busy to really dig in. Or too distracted. Or uninspired. Or I don't have the right materials. Or I am lacking in some other way. If it were not for those things I would be making big installations of gorgeous things.

Either way, I can look at her work and mooch good ideas for my journals and altered books.

By the way

Creative Expression and Healing Art Group

11:30 til 2:30 with potluck lunch

Saturday, May 22nd, in Charlottesville at McGuffey Art Center on 2nd st

Free and open to whomever

(drop me a line for more info)

Another way to recycle

Some people are so cool. Made from old cassette tapes. Credit goes to "Ghost in the Machine"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/iri5/sets/72157611954107572