My on-line art class

 I have taken a number of on-line art classes in the past and enjoyed them a lot. When Coursera offered an art class, I was right there. Of course, 30,000 other folk are, too. I've been out of town and busy so I am just barely keeping up with the class. There are 5 assignments, only two of which are required. I am planning to do all of them though and I'm not sure about submitting any of them for a grade. I hate the pressure of getting it done by "x" time. So, I have decided to post my projects here on my blog and welcome feed back. No rude remarks please. Constructive comments are what I'd like.
This first project is a self portrait college done in a fantastical art style.

Self Portrait - a Fishbowl

Artist's Statement

This work is a collage of both found images and created pieces. Items were cut with a craft knife or scissors and assembled on Strathmore Multi Media paper with Golden matte gel medium. The green damask wall paper was a scrapbook paper from DCWV's The Luxury Stack which did not handle the gel medium well. I considered this carefully and decided to proceed since older wallpaper is often found on walls peeling and with imperfections. I believe that placing a hole in the paper to lay the blue-green cardstock below for depth added to my difficulties with the paper. The floor uses a frottage technique with Conte crayon on grey cardstock. The fish images are PS manipulations of a Clown-fish. I used them with a seascape created with cut patterned green tissue paper. The easel is from an internet ad for the Lyre Easel Adjustable B 174-1 . The painting is a photo transfer black and white cropped copy of a painting I've done in the past. I used an inkjet image for a dreamier quality than a laser print and did the transfer with the gel medium on Claudine Hellmuth's sticky back canvas. Diana is a PS manipulated image of the Louvre statue and the shelf is from an internet ad for a shelf on E-Bay, also PS treated. The table and tablescape are from an internet ad for a writing desk at Overstock.com. The scissors are from an article in Creating Keepsakes magazine and the yarn and needles are from magazine ads for Manos Del Uruguay yarns, the Olympus camera T-2 and from an article in Vogue Knitting magazine. The scrapbook albums and camera are from magazine ads for Pioneer Photo Albums and Michaels Stores. The sword of Asclepiades is drawn in AI and free hand. These photo realistic objects with the not perfect perspective and a variety of mismatched shadows enhance the dream-like quality of this art piece. The color scheme is red, red-orange, orange, yellow-orange, yellow, yellow-green, green and blue-green with neutral white, black and grey. By not using the violet tones the work has a warmer more inviting look. The neutrals add a more dream-like quality to the work. This is a glimpse into my life right now. I feel self-portraits elicit a bit of a voyeuristic quality; so, I used the fish swimming by the window, as if the room is in a fishbowl. The contents of the room reflect many things about me. I perceive Artemis to symbolically be my dominant goddess so she is looking over the scene as the statue on the wall. Art is and important part of my life as is my computer, scrap-booking, needle arts, reading and photography. The sword has a female symbol as a handle and is broken because my disability has prevented me from moving forward in my career as an OB-GYN physician. The Fiskars scissors are there to represent my on-line communities; the first I participated in was Fiskateers. The scrapbook and photo albums represent more than my hobby they also represent my family and friends and my memories. The significance of items on the floor only reflects my somewhat-messy self.                                                                   I believe I was successful in getting my audience to feel they are looking in on my life. I believe this represents a lot of where I am right now. While this was created as a specific assignment, I found this fantastical approach to be one that let me organize and synthesize my thoughts about not just my life but the process of art and its place in my life. I hope the viewer is intrigued and finds reason to linger over the image and consider the person who lives here; maybe,even to reflect on what kind of room they would construct to represent themselves.

Note: PS is Adobe Photoshop CS6 and AI is Adobe Illustrator CS6

Thoughts on Patient Canadians

Trees, so many trees. No, I'm not talking about the Canadian landscape. I'm reflecting on telephone trees. Canadians have adopted them full force with rarely an option for "representative". In the US, (as a Canadian would say "In the States") our telephone trees are often briefer than a few years ago and the option for a real live person, when you need one, is a pretty prompt choice with some companies. Not so, for Canada. When you do have a problem that can only be solved by direct communication you must wade through several trees to get there. The trees are long and convoluted complete with every disclaimer you can imagine. The staff cannot give you personal answers either, even after they have answered your specific request. For example, I needed to speak with a person about changing my mother's address since I am her power of attorney and have the authority to do this but I cannot just go to the website and do so and there is no local office here in Sacramento to drop by. The person I was finally able to reach gave me all the details about getting each page of the document certified as original and what I needed to send in but when it came to giving me the address of where to send all this info she sent me to a recording that gave the info. It was a very brief address.
I really am more American than Canadian because I do NOT have much patience with these. I am dealing with a lot as I settle my Mom into nursing home care. Very complicated and so many places to deal with and they all have telephone trees. Sigh! Since Canadians are patient and generally very polite. (four way stops can be a nightmare -You go first, no you, no you, please - Sigh again!), I do not see these going away or getting any shorter anytime soon, there will not be an outcry.
Oh, Canada!

Poor neglected blog

 Susan won the BPC certificate and Cindy the Scrapbook.com one. Your loyalty despite my going a bit AWOL last month was rewarded!
LOAD and my class work took a lot of time. I just did not have time to get creative on my blog.
I'm going to put some of my pages here to show you what I was working on. I got more into digi, shadows and everything. I, also, used Keynote on my iPad to create a couple of basic pages. I need to figure out more about that program. I'm thinking it can work a little like a Smash Book or Project Life in some situations.
Some of my new found digi skills:

The larger photos are the LO's I built from scratch following directions in Debbie Hodge's Get It Scrapped, Scrapbook Coach class. The others are modified quick pages or templates.

Here's an example of using Keynote: 

Yes, I did not finish all 31 LO's but I did complete 25. 

Some of my paper projects:

 You will notice an obsession with food this month. Must have something to do with my going on the medically managed weight loss program at Kaiser. It's not going to be easy. It's pretty boring and Cal's diet is worse than ever - he eats so many tempting "wrong" foods and I cannot even begin to suggest that weight gain might have something to do with his worsening arthritis.
I'm leaving him home while I head for Canada for a few days, soon. I will really be upset to not be able to eat a coffee crisp. Oh, well. I have to keep my improved health in mind.
The hot weather has come to Sacramento, I know it may not stay until July but I am looking forward to enjoying the pool!

Learning Makes My Heart Sing

Exuberant praise for educating? Yes! As school years wind down, it's a good time to reflect on education. I think I have a great deal of curiosity about the world. It tuns into taking a lot of classes as well as poking my nose into a lot of stuff. Sure, sometimes I make mistakes,; but, I try to mind politeness. Formal classes are one place where curiosity and nosiness really are safe. I just waxed eloquently, or at least verbosely, LOL! in comments on a recent Paperclipping podcast episode http://www.paperclipping.com/prt159-you-rocked-the-cluster-embellishment-mom/ about some of my favorite on-line scrapbook learning sites: Debbie Hodge's Get It Scrapped/Masterful Scrapbook Design http://debbiehodge.com/, Noell Hyman's Paperclipping video tutorials and Big Picture Scrapbookinghttp://www.bigpictureclasses.com/ . I like Renee Pearson's http://www.reneepearson.com/ site a lot, too. There is a mix there of very technical classes along with simpler material. When I participate in more challenging classes like learning the ins and outs of Adobe Illustrator, I really feel I've learned a lot!  http://www.lynda.com/  I am finally feeling comfortable enough in Photoshop to plunge into Digi scrapping more. It has, to this time, been much more of a toe dip. PSE is pretty easy as well as powerful but I really want to get to know  the formal program. I just have wound up design class at a local junior college. I've one assignment to finish. My back has been a real problem for me with college classes, especially with missing two weeks going to see Mom. My Pilates instructor will not be pleased with all the spasms I'll need to work out! Even one day a week for a class is physically challenging but I love learning too much to stop! I just cannot spend too much time working at a computer. of course, good ergonomics are important for everyone.
class projects:

I think that art and history classes are my favorites, Cousera https://www.coursera.org/and The Teaching Company http://www.thegreatcourses.com/have some wonderful classes. Naturally, the free part makes Cousera very appealing. Some of these classes are long and formal. I decided to try out a class on the history of Rock music on Cousera and have been delighted. The lessons so far have been 6-12 minute lectures. Of course, since I go hunting and listening on You-Tube http://www.youtube.com/ for all the great artists it really works out to 30-45 minute classes. 
I'd love to hear about any of your favorite class sites and will offer a $10 gift certificate to Big Picture classes for comments on this post. Don't forget to comment on my last post for a chance to win the scrapbook.com http://www.scrapbook.com/ shopping gift certificate in celebration of Scrapbooking month. 
I'm writing this post on my iPad as I sit here in bed this am. I'll try and add links and photos later today, when I get to a computer. 

View out the plane window on the 11 minute flight from Seattle to Victoria.

Yes, after 3 months in the hospital and just before discharge the decision was made that Mom could not return to assisted living and needed a nursing home. So, off I flew to Victoria, BC to get that done. Way too much pressure! I'm not sure how long it will take to recover and I still have so much to do. I'm anticipating a trip back in early June. Meanwhile, a lot of details to take care of. I lost Mom's good jewelry, not much but it was a consequence of my rushing and trying to get things done. Sigh!
Oh, well. She is in a safe and good place with lovely gardens.
I'm behind in my classes and my pain level has gone up a notch. Still, life is pretty good.
The newest grandbaby seems to be thriving, the second oldest one turned 21 today and we are going to a ballet performance tomorrow that the eldest grandchld is in. She's graduating from college. Hard to believe that much time has gone by! All the grandkids seem to be healthy - and that makes us happy!
Victoria was lovely as usual and I got to spend some time with several family members - always fun.
At the last minute dashed to Berkeley to Scrapbook Territory for National Scrapbook Day. Had a lovely time, Daniela Costa was a great hostess, as usual.
I'm participating in Lain Ehmann's Layout a Day scrapbook challenge for May. All my LO's are in my photostream on Flickr. You can link here http://www.flickr.com/photos/46661359@N03/
So, a little late for NSD but just in time for Memorial Day I think it's time for a give away.
How about a $25 gift certificate to Scrapbook.com? Just make a comment on this post to enter. If you do not provide an e-mail address with your comment you will not be entered into the drawing. Too hard to find winners without that info. Prize winner will be determined on Memorial Day, May 27th. Good Luck!

Getting a Little More Scrapbooking Done

Yes, this has been on Facebook. It's a page inspired by Debbie Hodge's class at Get It Scrapped called "Scrapbook Coach" http://classroom.debbiehodge.com/. I like learning how folks develop their pages. I always add my own twist, kinda like using a sketch. I should credit the products I used here. The papers, blue letters, and stickers and twine are from Lawn Fawn. The yellow letters My Little Shoebox and the gems from TPC Studio. Buttons are stash. The adhesives are all from Scrapbook Adhesive 3L used the EZ Runner for most of the project, the foam dots on the arrow sticker and parts of the banners and and Dodz for the buttons.

I think templates in digi scrapbooking are basically the same thing. 

I'm trying to learn photoshop and digi scrapping. Here's a recent example from a class at Jessica Sprague http://www.jessicasprague.com/.

Do you sense a recent theme? LOL! Having little grandchildren is the best inspiration. I've got to visit the young ladies on the coast. They make delightful pages, too. Not that the "old fart" grandkids don't get pages made about them, their photos just tend to be more self-conscious, as so many of ours are, as we get older.

Now, I do firmly believe that scrapping one's own stories is important. In fact, in my attempt to learn more about Adobe Photoshop I'm taking Cathy Zielske's "Clean & Simple" class at BPShttp://www.bigpictureclasses.com/clean-simple.php . I'll try to post some of those pages, as I complete them.

Hope everyone is having a great spring. What plans do my fellow scrappers have for National Scrapbook Day?

Then and Now, two layouts

Here are two layouts. This first is the final (except for maybe some small staples at the bottom of the "and" element as suggested today in the "Office Hours" at Masterful Scrapbook Design. Cindy says I offer a lot of free advertising; but, only for products I believe in; so, it does benefit me if they keep going!

At any rate, the layout offers a bit of Bohemian Style. The multiple colorful patterns and mix of elements give that feeling. The problem with the first iteration is a lack of cohesiveness among the elements. There is in both layouts an underlying block structure with half inch borders with some irregularity on the sides. The second attempt brings that irregularity more evenly along the right. The darker elements are not balanced in the first layout. In the final one the "and", the leather fringe and the dark photo with the flower tag make a visual triangle. Shapes are repeated more in the final page, too. There are now three circles and three bracket shaped elements. The multi-colored dots and the yellow dots show up in three locations as well. Arrows and clustered tags are also seen in three groups and colors repeat around the page. The journaling has room to breathe in the final layout and using only one feather is more effective in the design. Additionally, I think I would have had to add the word "feathers" to my sub-title and while Metis people did use feathers they were not as prominent a feature as they are for First Nation people.  Our Metis culture had its origins in the fur trade and certainly fringe and floral beading patterns are prominent  parts of traditional costumes. I think the story of the Metis sash deserves it's own page and is not a part of the displays I saw at the museums I visited. Metis are not well known in the USA but I believe it was Robert Kennedy who ensured our recognition in the USA. In Canada, of course, we are a prominent part of the history of our confederation.

The layout is a good example of non-vintage  photo heritage scrapbooking. 

I need to make more scrap pages about other areas of my heritage. I think knowing where we come from gives us better insight into who we are, though it's only a small part of our makeup.

I did do genetic testing and my Metis/First Nation genetic makeup is pretty tiny. Not surprising since one of the earliest Iroquois family I can race was a captured white guy. Nonetheless, the cultural input was there.

Interestingly to me was how much of my genetic make-up was from the Viking contribution to my Acadian and French Canadian background. Makes me appreciate my high school experience at LCBI (the once Norwegian Bible College). Funny how heritage and experience can collided!