My wall mosaic is growing. The little canvases are quite a bit of fun. My visual journal is XXL all the way. The pages are a bit over 10 by 13. Working on a teeny tiny 8×8 or 5×7 or 6×6 boxy canvas is a completely different experience.
I’ve applied self-leveling gel to 2 of the canvases, but think I would prefer a thick layer of resin over the top. I think that involves mixing 2 different substances together then pouring. I like the idea of having a limited time to get the resin on the canvas, the strong odor necessitating a gas mask (?), and the vague possibility of a disasterous result. So thrilling!
The investigation I’m conducting on working outside the book continues.
And so does the fog. Just look at Moss Cottage floating in a dense layer of mist. If I can’t have rain a nice blanket of fog will do just fine.
The barometric pressure seems to be wreaking havoc on the collective psyche of the cat posse. The Missus has taken to spraying the ornamental grasses. I thought only boys did that.
Someone else is pole vaulting off the counter every few minutes.
I finally got to the bottom of the flattened out crop circle effect in this pot. I blamed it on the other 2.
Yes, maybe this is turning into a cat blog. I’ll lay off the cat posts just as soon as they stop doing such wildly entertainintg things. I can’t say when that will be exactly.
Okie Adams died in the house fire in my neighborhood late last week. I was intrigued by his bango-making history, which I heard about on the news so I googled him and found this:
Okie has a long and colorful history in the Southern California banjo building scene. I knew and worked with him in the mid-to-late ’70s as he was building block pots for Stelling banjos. The last time I saw and talked with him was early this summer at the Topanga Canyon Banjo/Fiddle Contest. Although hampered by old age and poor health, he was still active and happy, still building banjos then.
Okie was a fun, generous, humorous, non-conventional person to know. He helped many of us along as we were growing up in the banjo scene, leaving his mark permanently in our lives. A straight shooter, strong on clean living, hard, accurate work and faith, he took me in and taught me some of his trade and philosophy at a time when I was needing both work and skills. I know a number of others for whom he did the same.
and this:
I’m playing a banjo that was made by Okie Adams. Okie’s philosophy in making banjos is “…the heavier the banjo the better it sounds.” I bought this one from him in 1969; at that time his heavy banjos were 20 pounds, however in later years some of his banjos went up to 50 pounds. I consider myself lucky not to have met him in his 50-pound phase. Anyway, it seems like the older I get the heavier this banjo gets, but boy, it sure does sound good.
You never know who’s living just around the corner. Okay. Enough waxing poetic about life’s brilliant cast of characters, I’ve got wee canvases to stencil. Someone hand me one of my cans of paint and a fat cap! Clear the decks!
Please keep the kitty shennanigans in your blog. I laugh out loud at them. I, too, thought only toms did that. Hmmmm.
the little canvases are great; just the right size to work on and finish in a short time. If you do the resin I hope you show the steps because I have often wondered how this was done. I also have wondered about the gas mask avatar… now it makes sense 😉
oh dear M.A. – lovely stuff here – and those fun kitties – wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving…
spinach salad by Boone…
xox – eb.
Glad I found your site. I love these canvases.
Now THESE are bloody fantastic! Bravo, dah-ling!
Love the little SQUARE Canvas pieces! I love squareness (word?) I don’t think so but it should be! That is why I still use old 120mm film cameras.. All for the LOVE of the square! Funny I have always had little travel journals and I am trying to be bold and make a large canvas piece. You are the complete opposite. Your work is great; I love all the layers and graphic elements. Happy Thanksgiving! Thanks for the stencil tip!
Your canvas’s are great! Fog in CA…snow in CO…season’s changing!
Happy Thanksgiving Ms Moss!
ooooooooo love all the new work. So amazing.
I have worked with resin. yes 2 parts- mask is good, but it is absorbed thru your skin, not necessarily lungs- measure carefully, mix really well, and use a straw to blow out any bubbles. I can’t wait to see more. BTW do cats go to super cute class??
Love your cats and their shenanigans! Their photos are precious. Please don’t ever stop giving us these illustrated reports. Love your blog, love your art journals, love your way with words. Keep it up!!
Oh, I am sooo sad for the banjo maker! Sniffle…
But the cats are so cute, they helped me feel better… xoxoox
We have had SO MUCH FOG!! It’s L.A., for heavenssake!
I have not worked with resin yet. And I love these canvases. LOVE!
chris
I read you every day.. what a divine life and talent you have. Then you you had to go and put a picture of your wonderful house on the blog….now I am jealous! Keep makin art! and talking bout your posse.
I love the canvases!!!
Pati
You are the best, my dear.
Reading about Okie Adams was very interesting. Funny how insular our lives are nowdays. A few decades ago, you would know who all your neighbors were.
Oh and the canvasses! Go faster! I want to see the wall of mosaics.
Awesome.
How do you keep doing it. Your posts are sooooo goood. You find the best stuff. Your cats are freakin’ stars. Your work is awesome and getting better all the time. And now canvases!! I am genuflecting and giving you the salaam salute and everything else. I totally heart you.
I really love the canvases, Mary Ann! Are you ever thinking of selling any???
I love the art, but I love the cats as well. Please don’t stop! My cats can’t stand the thought!
what’s not to love…
canvas.
cats.
cottages.
just when i think it can’t possibly get any better ye blow me ships outta da water matey!
Hey, those canvases are pretty cool. and so was my mail art!! thank you very much!