My blogging river has run dry, but here are some drawings.

Just like the pile of un-archived reciepts, my blog is waiting to be written, with things to say, and half formed images and ideas, and before I can write those things here, they become stagnant and old news, because by then, everyone on facebook already knows, and I don't feel like writing it again somewhere else online.

Also, I've been working on a lot of projects that are not my own projects, so I do not want to share
them, they are secret!

This was supposed to be a place to share my daily output of practice and art experiments.
A place for myself to improve and have fun.

So perhaps I won't wait for the big update. I won't show ALL my art happenings and special advertisements...I will again make a simple attempt to post experiments, sketches, and works I'm working on for myself.  For the big more occasional important updates, you'll have to sign up for my mailing list. (email lydiaburris@gmail.com and say 'YES' to be on the mailing list)

SO, without further delay, here are the most recent things I did that I felt I can share.
I did these drawings at the last convention I was at: Contamination in St. Louis.



This was a sketch done in a brain candy book - with Sharpies.




Dick Starr and Johnny Bopp drew in my 'book of monsters' and the 2 drawings on brown paper, I did as a thank you. (The book of monsters was originally a 60th birthday gift for mother, but one that I would keep to travel and gather more drawings for her. Something for both of us to share. Now that she is gone, I'm still carrying on the tradition)

This was a watercolor painting I had started before but didn't like. I added ink while sitting at the booth, and faded the background to my liking.


This was a quick 'sketch' I did in someone's sketchbook. I love drawing in sketchbooks. I love the quick braincandy sketches too. My mind works so much faster and I come up with great ideas when I am on a laid back but 'do it now' mindset.

If you stop by 'Days of the Dead' in Indianapolis this weekend, come by and get a sketch.

a very magical weekend, studio, and an INTERVIEW

This weekend I was honoured to be a part of the Indy Magic Monthly crew, as our producer Taylor Martin had booked the world famous magician: Jeff McBride. Indy Magic Monthly has survived for 3 years and has grown from the ground up. Jeff happened to be coming through, and wanted to know who booked the magic shows in Indy - he happened to write to Taylor - and Taylor was able to respond "Me!". Not long after, we had him for a 90 minute show, 90 minute lecture, and a 4 hour class the next day, starting with a lunch.
Jeff McBride is perhaps one of the most inspiring and creative people out there - I was able to attend all the events and I am pumped up!! Even though I am not a ~magician~ (my bf is), I can apply almost everything he said to art. Someday D and I will get to his 'Magic and Mystery' school in Las Vegas.

I was also honoured to do the cover of the programs - I decided to do a painting. At the end of the events, I gifted the painting to Jeff. I think everyone that encountered him felt like they made a new friend. Jeff also gave me permission to make prints of the image (so if anyone would like to pre-order a print, let me know!)
Here's the program image (the print will just be the image)

acrylic and ink on bristol paper. 
original size: 11" x 14"

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While I'm talking about Indy Magic Monthly, and Taylor Martin, he is putting on a Show during the Indianapolis Fringe in August - I also designed the logo for that: 



Ink with digital coloring and text.

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Back to the McBride painting - I thought I'd show you my progress -

I started with a drawing, moved to acrylic painting (with no gesso!) and finally added the ink.



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in other news
I am going back to the STUTZ building to have a studio downtown!
I signed the paperwork and put a deposit down.
It should be ready by the end of the month. I cannot wait.
I will be offering workshops and tutoring in the space as well.
:) :) :) :) :)

INTERVIEW
I almost forgot to post this!
I was interviewed for the Days of the Dead convention!
Check it out!

Manic art with infinite colors and asymmetrical dreams

I've recently been wanting to make more manic art.
I'm inspired by cluttered madness. The crazier works of Gustave Moreau, Nick Bantock, Bill Seinkiewicz, Dave McKean and many many more.
I don't care if I have an audience, I find it nearly impossible to follow any convention (believe me I have tried!) So I am just having fun here.

First of all, let me show you an old digital layering piece I did.


I mixed about 3 paintings here and applied various layering techniques. I did this in 2009. I love the effect so much, I decided that I should not only do more digital remixes of my work, I should also try to emulate the effect in a physical work of art with paint and collage.

Here is a very recent digital layering.


(Text: "Stage III The inhibition experiment.
With great visual disturbance and complex asymmetrical dreams.")

And here is a work in progress of an actual painted work on canvas.
Its getting pretty manic - some colors possibly need to be darker/more muddy.

32" wide. Work in progress.

I'm not sure what I think of it so far, and this recent COLORFUL twist to my works, but I'm going to do some shows with them. We shall see!

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In other news, its very hot today, and I just might pass out in front of a fan. Time to put the AC in the window finally!

SELF DRIVE AGAIN?

Whoa nelly! Looks like I fell off the bandwagon for a while.
But it only LOOKS like I have!! Ok ok, I did ... a little.

But thats ok. Sometimes we need some time to process things, and sort things, and spend time with family and help with garage sales and prepare for work and thinking of ideas and sending things off to a CA gallery.

My sketchbook has been sorta ~blah~ lately because I still feel like I'm waiting for the right book. (that perfect sketchbook from England that I havn't ordered yet because shipping and VAT taxes are too expensive, and my plan of ordering several and selling them is even more expensive.)
But I'll share the latest anyway.



The second image above was a study inside the Palace Theatre in Louisville KY.
 
The second page is my own personal study of a bag-worm sac. I was curious.


** I'm also wanting to pursue studies and sketches of things I normally don't study and sketch (like anything real besides faces) So I did a digital landscape, based on a photo from D's and my drive to Vermont.


** I also sent a work to the Hive Gallery's "Circus Circus" show in Los Angeles CA.
I will not show that one here until it gets put on their website - but I will show the first one I created. It didn't turn out as circusy as I wanted, so I created a different piece to send.
This one seems to be a back-and-forth metaphor for life and death, youth and old age, and the energy that transfers between them.

7.25"  x 7.25"  acrylic, collage and oil on wood. ... available

** And finally, this is a gift for a friend who inspired me and gave me an exercise bike. Our conversation led me to do this piece. (Jeffrey, if you see this, ah well, the surprise is ruined, but I didn't want to wait before posting it! - It will be in the mail as of Thurs afternoon) 

7.25"  x 7.25" mixed media on paper, mounted on wood

the charity birdhouse pictures

Finally, I got these on my computer.
My previous post explained the birdhouse and the found poems.
The charity that is auctioning these arty birdhouses is for homeless - not only do they find homes for the homeless, they help build them community.
Stay tuned for more art soon. I'm deciding to be mysterious again and not share EVERYTHING. 

Found poems

The charity Birdhouse is done. Abstract colorful background, abstract trees, abstract bird on the front, and 2 found poems on each side of the roof. These are phrases and words cut from novels, ficton and non.
 I have not indicated with any symbols or spaces the specific cut pieces of text. I just typed it together, and added spaces for easier reading in type.

They read as if pulled from a dream.

"Fluffy White Feathers were suspended from a circular chandelier.
Two great white wings swayed back and forth.
They have great power already...
Then inexerably, light from the sanctuary materialized and
dozens of tiny feathers waved wildly above the branches.
Something like laughter pounded the trees. "

"Standing deeper in the grove, light fading,
at least for the moment.
Two black feathers chimed.
Something had unleashed smoke.
Sudden and surprising,
a half-grown figure started to emerge
wildly creeping forward
Beneath his cloaklike wings
crystal arms sprouted.
The resulting movement reveales broken bits of questions."


I will post photos on another day. Right now I'm interested in the images conjured by just the poem.

Every day should be an adventure

Time for an update!!

It always seems like so much has happened since I updated last.
Lets see, since the last time.. I have:
- Re-Defined my goals, and switched gears
- Learned that its best to just say 'NO' to narrative/ sequential illustration.
- Looking toward the gallery scene again.

Gallery stuff
I have started a relationship with the HIVE gallery in Los Angeles California - I sent a work for their May group show, and will be sending work to them throughout the year. I am very excited about this. I will also be submitting a work for a call for artists at another California gallery. Lets see what happens!
Also, I just picked up all my work at Euphoria Restaurant, and took some to Urban Optics in Broadripple (Indianapolis, IN) for the May gallery walk show.

Life reminds me of a Charles deLint book lately
(ok, I'm copying from my facebook status yesterday) "The afternoon was spent at a beautiful house in the woods, full of intelligent creative conversation over a cup of coffee, followed by gifts and a sense of wonder, and a Marmalade cat. Next I spent over an hour in the old studio getting inspired by wooden pieces and clock parts. Then I taught a drawing workshop. The day ended at a tavern full of mostly magicians and creative minds, where I ate and made more connections and had even more great conversation."
And today after work, I picked up art from Euphoria, then Dave and I went to see the "100 acres" show at the IMA. We didn't walk the entire path, but we did see most of the sculptures at the beginning. We saw floating rings, a ship, giant funky cartoony skeleton bones that one can climb on, a strange igloo like structure in the middle of the lake and a weird yellow 'bench'. Then we spent a fair amount of time confusing the wildlife. We saw a deer, after video taping it, we spoke at it with funny voices until it ran away. *grin*

ART!
Ok, Ok. Bring on the ART.






"Metamorphophobia" - One of my newest pieces. 8" x 24" oil on panel (2" sides)


"Into Beyond" - I started this quite a few months ago and just finished it.18" x 26" acrylic and collage on canvas.


In process painting another birdhouse for the "Partners in Housing" Charity. Serious good help for the homeless, not to just acquire a home, but also to build a community.

Now for some sketches from the sketchbook. 
  
  

One last random Tid-Bit:
So, yesterday I drove to Bloomington to pick up an exercise bike offered by a faculty acquaintance from college - That is what inspired the whole magical day of making connections and great conversation.
I have now ingested the name of the artist "Leonard Baskin". I was given a William Blake poem book with some Baskin Illustrations in it, and I have a book called "Moon-Whales" by Ted Hughes, also with Leonard Baskin drawings in it. A name to add to my ever growing list of favorite artists.