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.

xoxox dada

(SOLD)

I finished this sweet guy this morning.  I tried to not get the blaring glare in the photo, but it wouldn't go away, sorry...  He is full of love with a big heart that I scratched xoxox on.  I used an old metal horn and a caster wheel for the legs.  The arms are some crazy spiral metal from something.. I have no idea what.  The head is a piece of  metal I fished out of local cabinet shop's firepit.  I think the spiral metal arms came from that same place. The wood is a sample piece from the kitchen design place where I score pieces of wood.  They will often toss this kind of stuff in the dumpster where I rescue found goodies.  I used an old coffee can to cut out the metal wings.

  Keeping your eye open for junk is always fun.  You spot something, you haven't an exact idea what you

are going to use the found piece for, only that you like it and might use it in art at some point.  Then there is the hard part of collecting  found objects.  They accumulate!!! and before you know it, your studio starts to look like Sanford and Son's!  But I always smile when I think about the end result.  Where the stuff came from, even some from far away sources and here it is, all come together to create art.  It's magical.  It's a nice way to recycle.

And even a better way to start my day.

ta

NEW WORK FOR UPCOMING SHOW

Last night, I  started on a series of 8 pieces of art for an upcoming art show at the Aspen Chapel Gallery called  Small Wonders.  We are to do 8 pieces of art 12 x 12 x 12 size limits that will show from November 18th through Jan 3rd.  And since I have just received my book Who's Your Dada? ( a marvel of art, by the way)....

I decided I was in the MOOD!  So I hauled out my stash of JUNK and started pulling pieces..  Now mind you this is just the tip of the iceberg on my collection.  And as you can see it's a great pile of STUFF.  Rusty cans, odd metal shapes, bottle caps, drift wood, well, you get the picture.  JUNK!!!!!

   So then I started playing.......  and here's what I came up with within a short time.....

A nice beginning.. all just layed out for possibilities..  have no idea where this stuff will take me.  Just have to

let the junk guide me along.  Play with a sense of FUN!

Old wooden hanger wrapped in cloth, old doll legs, rusty tin lids:  a start. 

But then this piece was completed this morning.

What is a little hard to see in this picture is the body is an old mini ham can..  and inside sits a very

old kid's shoe.. complete with a bell.  The "feet" are those rubber coated baby spoons.  The metal wings

cut from an old tray from Campbells Soups... an old canning funnel, and of course an old doll's head.

I found this sweet little kid's shoe at an old mining dump in Utah.  Complete with the bell.  It touched my heart.  You just wonder who's shoe it was, and where is that person now?  Certainly has no clue I am

taking his old shoe and putting it into an art piece!!!  Life is just amazing, isn't it?

One down, 7 to go.

ta-da

HEART SONG

This is a mixed media assemblage I created this morning. The background board I found at the dump. Yep. When my husband goes to the dump, I love to tag along and sometimes can score some cool stuff. I found this board in a pile of wood that appeared to be from an old house.

Her head is piece of strange scrap metal I found and have been saving for years. They had two holes punched in the metal which became her eyes. The body is another piece of scrap metal

that had a body shape when I picked it up somewhere, can't remember where. Her arms are a doll's arm on the right and a spring on the left. Her feet are from some old piece of metal I found up in the mtns.

Her hair is threads and twisted paper clip wires.

Her eyes glass with a rusty bottle cap pounded flat then cut to create the eyelashes.

Her lips a piece of thin copper cut, tinted and creased to create lips.

I used the words for one of my favorite songs by Jack Johnson title "HOPE"

which I love.
Like her? Yep, I do.

ta.