NEW LISTINGS ON ETSY

These  are now listed on my Etsy site. 

http://www.lindadrake.etsy.com/

 I am lining up the art to sell,

 making room for new. 

Time to shop for that special piece of art that is calling to you.

Limonata.

I even love to say the name.

 I fell in love with this Italian lemon beverage and love the graphics on the can.

That inspired me to create a Limonata Art Doll.

She would be delicious in a kitchen with her spoon and fork arms/hands.

My love of Blackbirds often find their way into my art.  The sweet art doll is made from a very old license plate.. about 1936 I think.  The blackbird is cut from an old Utah license plate.  She feels

very quiet and full of wisdom when I look at her. She is called "Blackbird Spirit Woman"

This fun art doll called "Wishful Thinking" has a real wishbone in her head with a little bird perched on top.

She has the cutest specs on (from a garden hose holder I believe) and her legs are old carpenter rulers.  Her body is from a 1968 Kansas license plate.  Her head is in the stars!

She is wishing for you!

I had fun with this guy.. aptly titled "John Q. Public Focus".  I have become increasingly weary, as we all seem to be, with all the politic rants and raves and endless stream of rhetoric on tv, radio etc.

I have to turn it all off, and keep my mind on other things here in my studio.  Watch old movies on Turner's

Classic Movie channel, or listen to books on tape, or listen to music.  I create my own reality here in my studio!  

NOW to work on orders!

DADA ON A STICK

This DADA was challenging for some reason.  I used an old  brush that must have been used

for some strong varnish because I could smell it in the bristles when I heated them for distortion.

And noteably, I did it outside as I am fairly certain the fumes where horribly toxic.  Even the handle seemed

soaked with the old varnish.  Mind you old brush, but still present.  I started with his head using paperclay.

He just popped out.. and I loved his face.  After the clay dried, I lightly sanded it and then painted the colors.

Next I found some wacky wooden frog arms that I attached and I liked that they were open and out.

Next he asked for a bow tie and I of course gave him a polka dot tie.  An old button just seemed perfect to top it off.  Next his body.. I tried numerous things, and finally found an old nose complete with the

fuzzy mustache.. oh it was perfect.  But still I felt it wasn't complete.  Then I found in my junk box,

a wheel.  ohh sweet, perfect perfect. Even the outstretched  arms seem to say balance.  The challenge was I had to shorten the handle before attaching the wheel to comply with the 12x12x12 size rule for this Small Wonders Show. 

Here's what I am discovering the longer I do art.  I am beginning to get my level of "done".  You know, you

start a piece and when do you decide it's done.  Here's what I have found works for me.  It's in my gut.

I don't "think" about it.  I feel it.  Gut art.  Yeah..  that works for me.

DADA ECCENTRIC

Be ECCENTRIC.. it's a joyfull state to be in.  It's one of the delicious perks of getting older.  I am way past

caring what some people think.  I walk in joy and surround myself with positive people.  Keep the wonder

of life within me.  It's the only way to trek through life. 

And here's my dada eccentric - completed.  Two more to go.

(SOLD)

His body is an old can of some kind of goop that came with a twist off lid with a brush attached.

The Goop is long since hardend and remains in the bottom of this can.   The stem of that brush

reminded me of his spine and the goop his gut intentions.  I used old measuring spoons for his

arms, bending them to hold the "ballon" and the other one open ready to receive life.

I like this little guy.

ta for now.

DADA ANGEL

When I created this piece, I was feeling my father beside me.  Dad passed away over a year ago,

and when Mom wanted his workshop/garage cleaned out, I went through a lot of my father's stuff.

Dad always was working on some project.  He had a lot of artistic talent, and created some fun art, though

he didn't officially call it that.  He would of called it tinkering.  He was  great about saving things, so I have a lot of fun objects that I acquired.  The copper leg on this angel is from Dad's collection.He shaped it into this loop and hammered it flat, for what purpose I don't know.  I found it in a small bucket of  assorted copper wire that he saved, and now here it ends up in one of my art pieces.  So I know Dad was standing beside watching me assemble this piece.  I could really feel his energy.  And I could feel him smiling.  Because I know my need to create is greatly inspired by Dad.  It's nice to have that fire in your belly passed down from your parent, and a nice way to remember my father.

So this Angel title is appropriate and is partly created by my Dad.  Thanks Dad...

ta
ps I have no idea what the "head" was.  Just a strange piece of metal, and I am not even sure where it came from.  Will have to ask my husband, he might know.  The body of the angel is river driftwood, the wings are old pages from a book that I machine zigzagged with  blue green thread and then covered with beeswax. 

TWO BIRDS WITH POLKA DOTS AND BUTTONS

POLKA DOT * BUTTON FUN!

Sometimes, it's great to just play. And that is what I did this morning... I had these little shadow boxes that I bought at the thrift shop ( one of my favorite "art" material source ) and knew they would be a good art base to work from. Dictionary pages for the inner walls, a small aluminum mold perfect for the base to fill with shredded mail order catalog pgs. Soaking these shreds in the Mod Podge/water mix is super messy and drippy and tons of FUN, but great to fill, and arrange then when it dries, it's very stiff and permanent. I sewed the two muslin birds last night watching TV (couch art!) and they are happy now in their new groovy digs. And adding buttons and polka dots is just the very essence of fun... I have always loved both.

Might have to polka dot something else today... maybe my door to my studio.. it's looking a little neglected this morning.

Happy Polka Dot Day to you, ta