Now seems a good time to remind us to stay focused on electing people who share our values. I made this the day after the Women’s March last year which turned out millions world-wide to protest an illegitimate president. If something bothers you, collage about it. It’s a powerful way to diffuse anger and feelings of helplessness. Enjoy!
Stay Woke
I experienced the 2017 eclipse by taking photos and video of the sun’s crescent found in between the shadows of trees. It was an amazing experience.
This video is a compilation of stills, videos, and artwork made using the Procreate App.
Bobby McFerrin’s music “Say Ladeo” from his album VOCABULARIES, is perfect, and OK’d to use. But, you might see some ads. Google’s trade-off for a wonderful free service, YouTube.
I’m still figuring out how to use iMovie and get the music to do what I want and when. Fun project, presented at our Video Club yesterday.
Seasons Greetings! 
I’d like to thank all of you for your friendship and participation in my life and art career. You have inspired me (Guitar and Water Signs series), pushed me to do the next big thing (airport show), and encouraged me in my vision to become a full-time iPad digital artist and photographer.
This coming year I plan to delve deep into learning my craft. And, of course, I’ll be doing some teaching along the way. Occasionally I will be blogging about my travels, iPhone photography and new digital collage techniques. You’ll also get to see how I use the Procreate app to accomplish the final result. Procreate now has a live video option that will record what you’re saying and doing in creating an artwork. You might see me on Periscope, just for fun.
Water Signs – Keeping and Eye Out
So, here are my goals for 2017: Be happy, be a good neighbor, mother, grandmother and friend; learn one new thing daily (and practice it) about how to use Procreate and FiLMiC Pro apps. My iPhone 6+ has a great camera for my purposes. There’s a lot to know about the different camera apps and how to use them effectively. Then there’s editing, both for photos and video with challenges like color correcting, and apps that help with that. Oh, my!
I’ll be looking for ways to share what I know with you, as well as put that knowledge into artworks and perhaps a short film. At this moment I have NO IDEA how to make a short film. But I did buy a book “Micro Short Filmmaking: A guided learning journey” by Robert David Duncan whom I met a couple years ago at a Mobil Film Academy workshop. I’m not sure if the ideas come first, or while practicing with apps and equipment.
Next time I’ll show you the lenses from Moment and other easy-to carry equipment. It’s raining now, so I’m staying in until Christmas eve!
Spoiled, but happy, in Southern California
Susie at Balboa Pier
Love, Susie
“Night Music Nostalgia”, photo collage, iPad Art, iPhoneography
Sept-Oct classes, new artwork and news! Hi everyone! Hope you had a wonderful summer. Mine was filled with naps!
First let me announce two new classes for September-October:
6 weeks: MONDAYS 10 am to noon starting September 12th – this coming Monday!
5 weeks: WEDNESDAYS 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm starting September 21st
Details are on my iPadArtSoCal website and there’s a contact form if you’re interested. First class is free, so come and explore.
Many of you like to hear what I’ve been up to, so here you go! Lots of photos in this one.
April ended with a car accident – car got rear-ended by a jet-lagged bimbo and pushed into a fire hydrant. Still hurting but am mobile and feeling a bit more like myself. Sleep is a challenge with the pain. But I’m ever hopeful. I did manage to create a photo collage from pictures of my totaled car and the 30 ft. high water burst from the hydrant.
“Water Signs – by Accident” – Aftermath Of Collision With Fire Hydrant, printed on brushed aluminum, various sizes 5 x 7″, 8 x 10″ and larger.t.
Many thanks to those of you who contributed on my GoFundMe page. It helped so much as I wasn’t able to participate in any shows, teach or market my work. I was in high momentum prior – feeling so good – then it literally screeched to a halt (pun intended). I’ve included the link not to solicit, but to let you know what a terrific site it is for raising money for things that are important to you.
It turns out, though, that Summer was a happy time for sales of original paintings, collages and prints – with many of you finally getting that artwork you’d had your eye on for a while.
“Night Music Sunrise” – printed on brushed aluminum, photo collage 40 x 30″
The biggest print went to a recording studio – “Night Music Sunrise”. A glorious 40 x 30″ photo collage on brushed aluminum! Hoping to see some photos of it soon.
I’ve really enjoyed creating the Night Music series. I love guitars, even though I’m not any good at playing my Celebrity Ovation. The look of them is so sensuous and the sound is so beautiful.
Before the accident, I took some photos at Guitar Center. They said I could come back and shoot the really expensive ones that were locked up. I’m hoping to get back there soon. My eldest grandson suggested photos of a maple bodied acoustic from a front/side diagonal view would be cool, as well as the Gibson Firebird.
Created for my son-in-law for his birthday – his Epiphone and fav song.
Here’s one I created for my son-in-law for his birthday: “Isn’t He Something” – photo collage of his guitar and favorite song “Something” by George Harrison.
My math genius and volleyball player grandson had a graduation, so, of course Grammy had to create something for him: “Derivative of a Higher Order” -and he certainly is!
“Derivative of a Higher Order” – photo collage, iPad Art, for math-genius grandson
The older grandson is a musician of a high order – guitar, bass, drums and anything else that makes a sound! For him, I created “Night Music Nostalgia.” The song “Cat’s in the Cradle” speaks to how quickly children grow up. You can see it at the top of this page.
In August, I took a train trip to Camarillo to see two of my high school girlfriends. One had purchased two of my artworks: “City of Angels” original collage and “On the Move LA” photo collage from Union Station. It was so fun to see my creations hanging amongst quite excellent paintings and pastel portraits. She is an amazing artist (which I had forgotten until I went there). My other friend is a dancer, so we went out for cocktails and music a couple of nights. And yet another friend I knew from the Valley was available for lunch. She and I took our first Experimental Painting and collage class together. It was at her party that I first introduced myself as an artist. So fun to catch up on a few years of news with everyone.
On the Move – LA, Union Station, Photo Collage, iPad Art
“City of Angels” – acrylic and collage on canvas, 30 x 40″ SOLD
One of my new collectors, who I finally met in August, purchased some of my early experimental abstracts for her new home in Seattle. They came right off my bedroom wall – favorites of mine. So happy they have a fresh point of view!
“Soulmate” – Acrylic Ink on Paper, woven with gold wire.
“Enchanted Waterfall” – Acrylic Ink on Mulberry paper, Eyelash Yarn for texture.
Again, many thanks to all who helped out with contributions and purchases. My fondest wish is that you enjoy all of your artwork and find something new each time you gaze upon it.
Delighted to get this missive off to you. Thanks for your patience. I promise to communicate again before the holidays – really. Let me know what you’ve been up to. I love hearing from you.
Love,
Susie