c o b a l t i k a

110107

i have decided to discontinue this journal, as i already have, um...3 others? the few posts that i put here, are merely pasted from my *real* journal: cobaltika:journal. i am taking my favorite links with me, so i will still visit "my typepad people". i am also going to attempt to open comments at my real journal, so perhaps nice visitors will come (and spammers will stay away!!)

102507

even though i have been a little quiet on my own journal this month, i have been as busy as a psychotic bee at artsomofo.

here is everything completed this month, so far. *with commentary!*

it has been an interesting personal exercise, for sure. i will probably have more to say at the end of the event. i am pretty sure i am going to complete all of my goals (daily pencam, 31 collages, book of 31 daily pencam images). i have worked every single day on *something*, but i feel a little "behind" on completions. i know i will catch up this weekend.

other things? not too much. or maybe later... i seem to be in a phase of thinking much, but saying little. i'm sure i'll be back to uncontrolled blabber eventually!

101407

: : : : : : :

the daily pencam book. in progress. it is one of my artsomofo projects and it has been coming along very well. especially after yesterday. it is a little simple and naive, gluebookish, i guess, but i like it. i am not so pleased with the quality of the images (but jeez, they *are* pencams!), because i did not want to use heavy photo paper, as that would add far too much bulk to the book, so used ordinary paper. but when complete, i will finish all pages with dorland's wax or varnish and that should brighten up the colors. anyway, it is fun.

i loved the storms and rain yesterday. it meant we had to stay in and not go out to do errands, as there is no window on the driver's side and we can't drive with black plastic on the window. i have some heavy clear plastic to tape on for winter, but we haven't done it yet. a tedious chore to avoid for as long as possible. yes, it is tacky, but my car Saffire is a DNR car. she receives vital fluids and that is all. $250 for a new window is better spent on travel or artToys! but today i am already feeling a little restless and not only do i want some FOOD, i would also like to wander around a little with that new Diana+.

it is very fallish. there are leaves down everywhere.

092807

i am not exactly sure i want to be showing these yet (or ever). but sometimes you need to just throw things out in the world. upon clicking, there are a couple more on flickr. they are pieces in progress. recycled photos, papers, paint experiments, stamps (hey! one is a bonkers stamp!), clipped text tale, beads and etc. when they are finished, there might be stuff sticking out of the edges. they will probably have a hanging thing and become objects. sometimes i wish i could quit making small things and Just Get Big. but i am terrified. i alternate between liking these and hating them. being a libra is so difficult.

la vie en rose (la mome) was amazing. i was afraid it would be smarmy and my poet would be cranky about sitting in those uncomfortable seats at liberty hall to see it. but not, it was intense and stunning. when i told betsy she *must* see it, she said "oh i saw it in paris last summer, on the champs-elysees. without subtitles." that girl!!!

i am so glad it is friday. and i am so glad i am going to texas next week!

091607

last evening i felt evilly restless, almost cranky, so decided to take a walk in the alleys. i have not walked in the early evening for quite a while, as it is hard to go back into the heat after i walk home from the office. but now it is cool and wonderful. i could hear all of the football noise from the stadium and though the streets were filled with parked cars, not many people were out. this town smells like buffalo bob smokehouse, with the underlying fragrance of mildewy basement. i had my camera. click the pic for more if you like.

090207

181 white street : 8x10 beeswax collage on canvas

this might be one of the last whitish, over-balanced, waxed things i make for a while. of course never say never. i like it, but it seems so uptight. i am sending it to the WhiteOnWhite collective anyway, assuming i will find a large safe padded envy pretty damn soon. i like it but it feels so rigid. i am trying so hard to move away from that ... structure. oh it is hard.

it is a good weekend and i am so happy that i still have tomorrow. all chores were done yesterday, so today and tomorrow are only about long walks, cooking and the artTable. and of course more reading. last night i stayed up until past 1am finishing a wonderful tale (Drop City). and some movies i found at traci's when i was feeding the kitties and looking for shelby. this morning we took a long long walk in north lawrence. sure i had my camera. but i was not really inspired and the images tell. i realize i am no longer enchanted here, even with the almost-change of seasons. it is very sad. i try, but it feels so forced. i know my time here is done. my girls are gone. why am i still here? yesterday in the Merc, the little checker looked at my $$card and said "are you margaret's mom?" and i felt so validated. i am their mom! i still am! today i made green chile stew, which was really more like soup, but good anyway, with bolillo and butter. of course we had no *real* bolillo, but i made do with a leftover baguette from the Merc. it is the time of year that you can smell chiles roasting in new mexico and i wanted to smell them in my house. i love roasting and skinning the chiles. and i have worked on a new book that i am excited about, but terrified i will ruin before i finish it. erf. but man i really like it...

i miss everybody.

080707

i am inclined to do nothing but whine about the late summer weather, as i always do this time of year, but that is so non-productive. it is why i am quieter. it is why there are few if any new images. however i am sick of feeling so lethargic, like a big greasy dumpling. only wishing to lie under the fan and read novels. even the office is so stuffy. hot hot everywhere. i can hardly wait to wear my fleece and boots again. be COOL.

there. i’m done now.

i have been trying to paint again. i really don’t know how. i went to the basement to pull out some old paintings to see if i had once figured it out. i was mortified and immediately began recycling them, covering with asian newspaper and gesso. now i have lots of blank new canvasses. i still don’t know how to paint though. there are textures and patterns in my head, but i just don’t seem to know how to layer to make those visions happen. it is very frustrating. a few weeks ago, i read the journal of a woman painter who has recently published a book on acrylic painting techniques. it didn’t look like one of those how-to-paint-a-puppy books, but seemed to be about texture and light and layering. that’s what i want. can i find the bookmark? NO.

any hints or links would be SO appreciated. i don’t want to copy, but i just need some new skills or tricks.