Shadowbox Art

I am having a love affair with shadow box frames. I really enjoy images and little baubles and tidbits of whatever-ness. If it strikes my fancy I hoard it and save it for 'who knows what'. Every once in awhile I get enough items of a similar theme to make a piece of art out of. The texture and dimension of this art is too fat/thick/goobery...for a regular frame, but that is exactly what makes it appeal so to my senses. Thus,...the love affair. Shadow box frames have got to be one of the best inventions since those gadgets that cut and core your apple at the same time. (Disclaimer, these photos are blurry and leave much to be desired. But you get the idea. I still claim to be one of the worlds worst photographers.)

This piece is made of a bunch of 'romantic' little something-or-others that I saved up.

This one is sentimental because some of these skeleton keys were found in the apartment building that my grandparents had owned. When they passed, the building was cleaned up for sale and my mom brought many keys home. She shared these ones with me.

These both hang in my very red powder room and make me smile when I see them.

Creative Man

Nothing sexier than a creative man, right? :) (Maybe I'm speaking only for myself,...but creativity in a guy is really appealing to me.) My husband made these masks several years ago and they are still some of my favorite pieces of art in our home. He was in the graduate program for architecture at the U. of U. and this was one of the many odd assignments that he was given. Due to the fact that he is very artistic and meticulous I think they turned out beautifully. They say that most artists suffer for their work,...well he certainly did. He had me paper mache his face, which took a looonng time. Then it wouldn't dry so I had to blow dry it for him. (Which at first was too cold, and then it was too hot......................)
He spent hours marking slate with a utility knife, and then carefully breaking it. he glued it piece by piece onto the paper mache. I watched as these beautiful masterpieces emerged. Then I selfishly bugged him about retrieving them unharmed day after day until they were finally graded.
I searched high and low for shadow box frames deep enough to shelter them, and short of having them made there weren't any. I ended up mounting them on several layers of cardboard and decorative paper. (Tons of glue, and then I even tied them down,...you can never be too careful, eh?) To my delight............they were fantastic. Sometimes I still stop and stare at them. Thank you talented hubby!

Favorite Spots Friday

Art from the 'Oil on Canvas" collection of Mary Fielding Adams Summerhays.....

I know that I have already posted a piece of her art and mentioned how much I love it. Mary has been my friend since junior high school, and is still a dear friend today. She was also quite the artist then and is an amazing artist now. (Her art is growing more and more well known in Utah.) These are all pieces of her art that I have collected over the years.....(bought, begged, borrowed, and stolen....joke!) This first one is my favorite because I fell in love with it on a trip

to Utah. Later when a wedding anniversary rolled around my husband had sneakily bought it for me and surprised me with it. It really speaks to me.

My terrible lack of photography skills just did not do the next two justice. They are so beautiful,...and here they just look yellow. sigh.

Mary hates this next one and will probably be quite dismayed at my posting of it. It is quite the funny story actually. I told her that it had a very fairy tale-esq feeling to it and that it would look darling in my daughters room. She was actually going to paint over it and I thought that was soo sad. So, when my hubby went to purchase the still life for our anniversary, she told him that he could only buy it if he ridded her of this painting also. Who can argue with that??!!

So, here's where the 'favorite spot' comes in. When I was able to go to Utah over Thanksgiving Mary allowed me to wander around her house and photograph some of her art. It just filled my well to soak in all of the creative energy.

Above is a painting in progress of her niece. Her work area is so cleverly created on the corner landing of an unused stair case. Such a great use of space and an honestly cozy ambiance.

I believe that this next one is unfinished.

I adore this last one. She said it is unfinished because the berries are to have more red.

Thank You Mary for a delightful evening in your art filled home!!

Favorite Spots Friday

"0 Gravity"...Acrylic and Sharpie on canvas.

My youngest son painted this when he was 8 years old and I fell in love with it. I don't know whether it was his use of colors and shapes, or his movement and expression, or the entire composition. I just love it! Well, we finally got it framed and mounted on the 'kids wall if art' in our home office. So,...as I am sure you can guess.........the wall of art is today's favorite spot.

Kids art speaks to me because it is so uninhibited, free, and fresh. I think that it makes some of the best decor in a home.

Favorite Spots Friday

This is a little corner of my kitchen that I just love. I have eclectic taste, and I like a little bit of everything. I follow no rules in grouping things together, but I do try to have as many original pieces as possible. I studied art at the University of Utah, and have made many artist friends over the years. It has become a bit of a hobby for me to collect original artwork. Art is soo unique in that it is, in a sense, almost a piece of the person who made it. So much emotion and energy goes into each piece. When I have an original piece of art from somebody, it is so personal... (almost fragile and vulnerable.) Like they have trusted me with something delicate.

These two pieces are fun because they are the only real Wedgewood that I own. Obviously not a friends art work, but sort of original none-the-less.

Oil on canvas by Mary Fielding Summerhays, a dear since Jr. High school. (That was a loooong time ago.) Her art is growing fairly well known in Utah.

Ya,...Costco special-just really liked it. :)

This fabulous little lady was 'potted' by my mother in law. She was one of many amazing creations. I was just fortunate enough to get my hands on this one.

There you have todays happy spot.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!