Saturday, July 2, 2011

The lost week...

Sometimes the weekend finally comes and I sit here at my computer and wonder where the last 5-7 days went... and then I remember all the mundane things that ate up my free time. The last two mornings (because I work midnights, and that's what's left when I get home at the end of work) were spent on dentist's appointments. My teeth are clean, have been treated with fluoride, and I now have 1 less wisdom tooth... and now my mouth hurts.

So, if I disappear this weekend or this post seems exceptionally disjointed - that's why.


I made this painting probably about 3 years ago. And I finally got around to listing it on etsy. I also recently used its digital copy in my butterfly project. Which you can see here or in the picture below:






I sample or recycle my own creations a lot, I suppose. I mean, when I painted that painting 3 years ago I wasn't specifically thinking "I'll scan this for this specific project that I plan to do at this date." Because, really, I'm not a plan-on-a-schedule type of girl. I think things happen separately, simultaneously, and often cumulatively. And sometimes that means having an idea, letting it sit there for a long long time, and then finally just doing it.

Long before I finally actually did the butterfly project or painted that painting I was thinking about how cool it would be to decorate with butterflies — like as ornaments — as evidenced by my summer decor from this post. All those monarch butterflies were sort of a preliminary learning curve with photoshop and printing and aligning the front and back of an image on a print so that it could be cut out without any off-set... and that I used fishing line to hang them was probably an due to something from the 3D class from my freshman year at the University of the Arts. We had to build a cube frame out of balsa wood and then fill the cube without gluing anything to the frame - the easiest way to accomplish this was by suspending things with fishing line - which is thin, clear, and almost invisible and made to support X amount of weight...

So, every now and then I think about how nifty it would be to take the idea for the ornaments and convert that into a mobile or a wall hanging... so that's what I'm going to work on this weekend — which is also what's in the last 2 pictures. First I had to line up my images, and now I have to cut them out. Only time will tell how long it takes me to getting around to actually suspending them from something...

Have a good, relaxing, productive weekend — and a Happy 4th of July!

13 comments:

Jenny Woolf said...

Thanks for visitng my blog! Hope you enjoy doing this project this weekend - it's a beautiful idea.

kenju said...

Sarah, thanks for visiting my blog and for the anniversary wishes. I love your butterflies.

R. J. said...

Ouch! I can relate to the wisdom teeth because I looked like a chipmunk when they took out all four at the same time. Your butterflies are wonderful. I am so jealous of your talent to be able to produce those. I have been playing with the watermark techniques to copyright my photos--any recommendations? I've tried Photoshop but a very old version. Not ready for prime time yet.

Nancy said...

What a great idea. I can't wait to see how your new project turns out.

Hope you mouth feels better. Eat lots of ice cream. :)

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hello, We are home from our wonderful trip... We loved it --but there's nothing like HOME.

I laughed at you wondering where the past 5-7 days have gone... I am wondering where the past 3 weeks have gone. Our trip was fast and furious... Can't believe it's over!

Love your butterfly project.
Hugs,
Betsy

Bob Bushell said...

I love your beautiful paintings, it's great.

Lisa Gordon said...

I think these would make a beautiful mobile Sarah!
Sure hope you post a photograph of it when you're done. I would love to see it.

Happy 4th to you!

Lisa Gordon said...

Sure hope that tooth feels better soon too!!

Sylvia said...

Hello Sarah,
Lovely butterflies !
Enjoyed your bluebirds post, what a beautiful drawing !
I don't like going to the dentist :-(
Hope you're feeling better soon.
Nice Sunday,
Sylvia

Dave said...

Everything has a purpose huh Sarah? Waste not want not. Those butterflies will make a good mobile - Dave

Hilary said...

You're so incredibly creative. The painting looks wonderful coupled with the butterfly.

I hope your mouth stops aching soon and that you're having a good 4th.

Nikki said...

Ooh did you get pain killers and then paint? I'd like to see that ;)

I have no idea where my time goes either.

Catherine said...

Time really does go so fast doesn't it? And indeed mostly on mundane stuff! But look at all the creative things you fit in-between! :)

Happy Week to you Sarah!
xo Catherine