Absolutely the last entry for 2010

Art outside of a bookstore/gallery on Frenchmen Street in New Orleans. FM Books in the Marigny I believe is the full name.

(I posted the wrong entry to this blog.)

As the year comes to a close I start thinking about some of the things I saw this year that I could create. Some of them I did create over the holidays. I decorated wine bottles and filled them with M & M's which added to the Christmas theme.

I had thought about buying chargers, but I could never find the color I wanted and the price I thought was a bit much at $1.99 or higher. I finally caught a sale at Wal Mart when they were have price, 4 for $2.50 which put them at about .62 cents each.
They work well with the decor and now I can decorate them to add a little more style and art. I'll have two that I can display as art and if I like the way it looks then I can decorate the ones on the table in a similar fashion.

Since I'm big on recycling, the possibilities are endless as to what you can do with the stuff that you have.

You really don't have to spend a lot of money because most of what you need is lying around the house. Candles, scrapbook paper or newspaper, hole punch, glue or hot glue and photographs. You are only limited by your imagination.

Thank you for stopping by and do come back next year as I present more art and craft ideas.

Last Entry for 2010

Can I take a trip? I had been going back and forth with this for quite some time. I wanted so much to actually get away to clear my head. Work on some art and immerse myself in my creative process. Every now and then it is good to have a change of scenery and to be with different people.

I’ve been wanting to go back to the Big Island to create some art and to spend time with a friend and pick up my belongings. I know when the time is right it will come together. I had opportunities to go other places, but I just didn’t feel it at that time. I believe in going with the vibe in just about everything that I do.

As this is the last day of the new year this is the last entry of 2010. For most of us it was a scary year. We didn’t know if we were going to have a job, funds to pay bills or even stay in our homes.

2010 was filled with happiness and sadness for some of us. I tried to get my own talk show and even be a part of Good Morning America, but it wasn’t meant to be. We had the opportunities to be with family and friends. We tried on new hats and took time to reflect on what life offered us. No matter what happened, we are still hear and we can make a change in the new year. Exercise, get healthy, quit smoking, etc.

I’m doing laundry and getting the house in order. You want to start off the new year with clean clothes and a clean house. Of course I’ve always spent the new year by myself which means I end the new year by myself. It just depends on how you look at it and it is after all my choice.

The new year will bring lots of new opportunities and I will begin a new journey. I hope to bring out even more of my creative flow and that I can share it with a larger group of people. You can find out more by checking back to see how this journey unfolds. I want to thank all of you who came back on a regular basis. Those that became followers and maybe I helped to create a conversation between you and your friends.

Have a safe evening, and I lift my glass in a toast to wish you all a happy new year.

Coming up: Writing the Levee Board

If you cut a past the links below you can access some of my work.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ArtographybyDlonzo/OpenYourMind05?authkey=Gv1sRgCJSywryBj-P3XQ#


http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1482690&l=a6c1abc89d&id=763163743

www.cocanola.com

www.artbydlonzo.blogspot.com

http://filmlover4pg.blogspot.com

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=104918806

Creating gifts and decor for the holidays

One of the crosses that I created in 2007.

There are many things we can make ourselves that we can share or use to decorate our spaces. We first learn to do this when we are kids in grade school. We learn to make cards, or small Christmas trees. We then move on to creating larger works of art or crafts.

I surround myself with my art as well as that of other artists. I have countless books that I look through to get inspiration from time to time.

During Christmas you see so many things that you'd love to have, but you either don't have the space or the price seems a little rediculous. For me I have to look back and think because I know I can make something that I see for little of nothing. I usually stock up on supplies when I find a bargain so I have most of what I need.

I've always admired the angels that you see, but I'm not going to pay $24.99 or higher for something to use once a year. I thought wouldn't it be great if I designed something that I could just leave up all year round. Then you don't have to worry about where to put something as you have placed something in that spot after Christmas. If of course that is the case then make sure you take photographs and you can remember where everything was the previous year. Then you can make changes accordingly.

If you are going to make a seasonal display here are a few ideas I'd like to share. Take a jar, or grits or oatmeal box and removed the wrapping. Cover it with colorful ribbon or scrapbook paper. Fill it with your favorite candy or flowers. You can also buy some candy canes and put them all the way around and still fill it with other candy or flowers. It's a multifunctional center piece.

Back to the angel. If you take a wine bottle with a long neck you can decorate it with some felt. Depending on if you want it to be only used for Christmas or leave it up all year round pick a color that will work for any season. Felt comes in all different colors and styles. You can even find embossed or glittered felt.
Cur out your wings from cardboard and cover them with felt. You could even do two sets of wings and that way your only changing the wings for the holidays.
Take a doll head or a round wood block and glue it to the top of the wine bottle. Paint or draw on the eyes and mouth. Attach a halo and finish decorating your bottle with some sheer ribbon or fabric. This can also serve as giving you a seasonal look that can be removed after the holidays so that your angel can remain out all year round. You can create arms using colorful pipe cleaners. The possibilities are endless, just use your imagination.

You can also take a wine bottle that has a bowl shape to create the face of a Santa or an elf. After removing the label, put on some squiggly eyes, a beard, mustache and eye brows. Use the long neck at the hat. Cover it with felt and add a pom pom at the top. I've given you the tip now make the idea your own.

How Many Times?

How many times have you walked into a store and saw something that was really interesting, but the price seemed really high. Then you might think to yourself, I wish I could make that myself. As an artist depending on your medium, you might be able to do it. You can even take a course. There are many things I have thought about doing. One is glass blowing, but I can't take being around too much heat. I used to create my own ceramic jewelry and other objects. I have a few pieces I am still working on, but they won't get a final firing. I'm just painting the bisque to give it a natural look. The items range from really small images to large scuptures to hang on the wall or drap over a mantle.

It seems to cost a lot to create art, but usually you can make several projects for the price of just one item.

The next time your out and about, keep a small note pad with you. When you see an item you like. Make notes of what you would need to make the item and compare the price to the materials. If its a sale you can't pass up then go ahead and buy the item if you are going to use it and its not just going to take up space.

Thanks for stopping by and come back again.

Candy Arrangements

If you like candy, but you keep it on hand for guests, why not make decorative arrangements. There are many things that can be done. One can get great candy dishes or one can take jars and make their own. Find a jar with an unusual shape, decorate with ribbons or scrapbook paper and then fill with candy. Another thing that you can do is to make a candy floral arrangement using tootsie pops. Wrap pops individually or a few in colorful tissue paper and then arrange in the jar. They make great gifts for anytime of the year. People love getting gifts that aren't planned and those that are handmade add that personal touch.

Thanks for stopping by, do come back again.

Take care
Open Your Mind
Dlonzo

More with scrapbook paper

The latest in scrapbook paper art. I have several sketches of dancers and I took another drawing and created a silhouette using the colorful scrapbook paper. You can make your own work of art with the right frame and matting. Be creative, cut out butterflies or dragonflies. Create an entire scene cutting out intricate detailed silhouettes using various scrapbook papers and colors. You are only limited by your imagination.

http://www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=58144381
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54325957
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54365247

Scrap Book Paper

ART

Scrap booking is all the rave these days. I feel like those people that say things like, everyone is doing, blah, blah, blah. Of course there are some people that have no clue about this phenomenon.
Scrap books are nothing new, but the concept has changed slightly by creating colorful sheets and books that people don’t have to do as much work. Scrap books can be very simple or very original and artistic.
The possibilities of what you can do with scrap book paper is endless. Here is one project that I created which can be framed and hung on the wall as instant art.



I drew on the opposite side and then cut out the image reverse it and then you can glue it onto another piece of scrapbook paper or anything to create art.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back often. Remember things happen when you believe.

Divas

An early image of the painting, Divas.

Every artist has their way of creating. Sometimes I can create something in a matter or minutes and then there are projects that take years. I’ve been working on a painting called Divas, that is on a piece of canvas measuring 16 x 20. I’m using acrylic paint. It derived from an idea and it took form, but the colors keep changing. I hope to complete the piece by tomorrow night.

When I complete certain projects I reward myself. When I do that, it gives me the incentive to want to create more art.

All artist go through a period of not being able to create, but when you can its one of the most therapeutic things a person can experience. It can be relaxing, and it offers a look into the psyche of the individual creating the art.

Thanks for stopping by, Do come again and why not become a follower of this blog while you’re here. Open Your Mind. Relax, enjoy and believe.

Coming up: More on Road Home, Writing the Levee Board, Keeping my head above water, Can I take a trip? Losing a job, how does one cope?

http://picasaweb.google.com/ArtographybyDlonzo/OpenYourMind05?authkey=Gv1sRgCJSywryBj-P3XQ#


http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1482690&l=a6c1abc89d&id=763163743

www.cocanola.com

www.artbydlonzo.blogspot.com

http://filmlover4pg.blogspot.com

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=104918806

Creative Art Project

In the world of art there really aren’t any rules as to what you can do to create something interesting. Art like beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Not everyone gets it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t art.
I wonder how many people throw away their wall clocks when they are no longer working? I came up with an idea to keep the clock if I couldn’t get it to work anymore. If you buy a clock for under $3.00 you don’t want to buy parts that will cost more than it is worth. I’ve turned those wall clocks into frames for photographs and art. You start by pulling the clock apart. The you can cut out a piece of scrapbook paper in the shape of the clocks face. You can then print out a photo from your computer or take a regular photo and center it on the scrapbook paper. Once the photo is in place you can cut a piece of matting or use a piece of cardstock to create matting for the photo. In most cases the photo won’t touch the glass or plastic facing of the clock so you can decorate around the photo as you please. You can do collages or get really creative and frame a flower or a memento that you love.
Once everything is in place, put everything back together and hang up your new creation.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again. Become a follower and know when I make a post.

Talkin' about Art

The image is called At Gun Point

Art can be found in just about everything. Just the way we set up a room is considered art. There is an art to interior design which in the entertainment industry is called set design. Think of your home as a set for the movie or play of your life. What is it you want the audience to know about you.

If you like art then you want to show that on the walls. If you like open spaces you want to present that as well. Perhaps family is important then you would want to let a wall to be a dedication to family and friends.

A few techniques to use to make sure your pictures are displayed at the same height or that they look well together. Take some newpaper and trace the frames and then cut the paper to that size. Fine where the hook is and mark it on the paper. Do this for all of the frames that you are planning to hang. Then tape the paper to the wall so that you can see if the layout is appealing to you. If the frames are all the same size then which pictures goes where won’t be an issue.

If your pictures are of various sizes then you want to make sure the pictures can be seen and you’ll put the larger pictures on top and smaller pictures at eye level. The layout depends on the area and the color scheme of your walls. Some walls look great with just a few pictures and I’ve seen walls where there are dozens of pictures. It’s all about presentation and the color of the frames as well as the image inside of the frame.

The easiest way would be to get all of the same type of frame not necessarily the same size. Make sure you buy matting for your pictures so that they don’t touch the glass in the event you decide to change the image or if you ever encounter moisture in the home. This will make it easier to transfer the image to a new frame.

Thanks for stopping by, Open Your Mind. Relax, enjoy and believe.

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The Art of Gardening 101

sunflowers taken in my yard.

Have you noticed the price of produce at the grocery store
lately? It keeps going up. I won't go into the details of how
many chemicals are sprayed on produce before you eat it as I
am sure you have heard it all before. However, if you are a
regular veggie eater, then did you know you could have a
year's worth of produce for the cost of what you are paying
now in one month? Interested? Here is all you need:

- Packets of seeds (pick whatever you want to grow)
- Some dirt (either in a pot or in the ground)
- Shovel
- Water

That's it. Seems simple, right? All you need to do is plant
the seeds at the right depth, make sure they get some sun and
water, and in no time at all, you will be eating fresh produce
all year round without paying a convenience premium.

My new camera

I picked up a new camera and I'm now familiarizing myself with what it can do. I'm slowly advancing into what the digital world of photography can offer. The hardest thing is figuring out a gimmick. It's not like 35mm so basically I'll just charge for my time. I can put images on disc or directly to someone's laptop and they can decide if they want to print them, etc. I can also create DVD's but that is time consuming so the client has to be sure of what they want or give me total creative control. Each time I create a video it gets better and better because that is what I am striving for.

I was going to upload some pics, but I can't seem to get it to work from this laptop. I'll try again.
Thanks for stopping by and do come again for hints and tips.