collage

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One of the things that I think held me back artistically for a long time... was this preconceived notion I had, that to be an artist you had to specialize in something. ONE thing.
As in... I make jewelry. Or... I carve walking sticks. Or... I am a photographer.

Well... that is not me. Perhaps I have schizophrenic tendencies... but I feel like I wear alot of different hats. I am a photographer. Yes, I also draw. Oh... and I have been making jewelry since 1995. And... well... I have quilted and done embroidery of all kinds since the 70's. Plus.. wait... I have studied herbology and know how to make all kinds of potions and lotions that would make my Irish gypsy ancestors proud (I hope). I believe in recycling and re-purposing items... and incorporate them into all kinds of paper goods, mixed media, collage and more.

So where did that leave me?! Be it good or bad... this notion was also supported by several other artists I knew ... and it sort of re-enforced this idea ... which meant in my little brain... that I must not really be an artist. I was simply someone who liked to do alot of different stuff... but didn't really excel at much of anything.

Well. For those of you who may be reading this and wondering... yes, you can be an artist... and STILL do alot of different kinds of art/ craft.
And so... I bring you... samples of some of my "stuff"...


...jewelry (beading, wire-wrapping, metal fabrication, resin, altered and more)... and prayer beads of all faiths...


... all kinds of recycled paper goods such as envelopes, collage, mixed media, and more...


...making birdhouses, birdfeeders, and carved walking sticks...


...crochet... needlework... and quilting...
OH! ... and I like to take pictures :)


((all photos by Elaine A. Russell -- except the last one... which was taken by BAJ))

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*photos by Elaine A. Russell


...cold, tired..... and well; actually exhausted beyond words. But I am leaving you today with some photos I took at Starbuck's today. I had to run a couple of errands... and I stopped in to get a small coffee to tide me over until dinner. The sunlight was streaming in the windows, and leaving these gorgeous shadows on the funky wallpaper there... and I just couldn't resist...

More photos and interesting (hopefully) repartee tomorrow...


And who knew?!
In the bathroom there... was this series of little photos printed on the paper towel dispenser
... explaining exactly how you should be washing your hands...
Good to know! I guess not everyone's momma made them learn this?!
(so I compiled them all together into a sort of collage... just for grins)

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................artwork by Elaine A. Russell


I feel a little better about things today... mostly because we all went out to Starbucks for an iced coffee... and to Chili's for a light dinner... and then tonight I picked up a couple plants at Home Depot to fix up the pots on the front patio. The coffee was excellent... the food was delicious... and the plants I got are gorgeous.
Working in the dirt always has a therapeutic effect on me... and I always feel better when I have healthy plants around me.
As of tonight, I also have a huge pot designated for herb plants to cook with. I have always had an herb garden, but these past 2yrs I haven't had the time to prepare one as I have been traveling back to PA so much. I have missed that.

About my photo for today -- I did this piece almost 3yrs ago.. but came across a photo of it today. Using this photo, I added the vintage TTV layer to it... making it new and fresh. I had made it for a former friend... who may not even have it now... so I am glad I kept a photo of it. And while it was not that great an art piece... I do love yellow prairie cone flowers; which was my inspiration for the piece.

To see more about these kind of flowers: Look HERE

yes, hollyhocks


According to Wiki: The hollyhocks comprise about 60 species of flowering plants in the genus Alcea (Ál-ce-a) in the mallow family Malvaceae, native to southwest and central Asia. They are biennial or short-lived perennial plants growing to 3.5 m tall, with broad, rounded, palmately lobed leaves and numerous flowers, pink or yellow in the wild species, on the erect central stem.

I noticed that I have been taking lots of flower shots as of late. This is nothing new for me... I have always done alot of botanical oriented photography. Just "new" as in "again."
I think alot of it has to do with the abundance of flowers here in ABQ. The weather is just perfect for alot of species. ... escpecially... hollyhocks. Who knew there were so many varieties ?
I remember when I was very little that my grandmother had a bunch of them growing along a shed in the back yard. They seemed sooooooooo tall... and so decadent.

I am no less impressed today.


.......................photos by Elaine A. Russell

**If you like these photos... check out my friend Leau's blog. She has some cool hollyhock photos as well ---->

connections -- reflection -- communication



photos by Elaine A. Russell



Communication. An ability we automatically take for granted, and yet.. so easy to completely screw up. Just a tone.. just a mis-used word... can change the entire context of a conversation... and bring things into a completely different light.

As an example... did you know that the word SET has the most definitions of any word in the english language? Yep. SET has 464 definitions in the Oxford English Dictionary.

And then... Even with people you have great connections with, it can sometimes go astray. And then there's the whole emotional context that can go along with things.. and completely cause us to muddle things up. A mis-interpretation, a misunderstanding... it can all mess us up.

I think I read somewhere that the english language is the hardest one to learn. Actually -- I think it's broader than that. I think it's the language of trust. To be able to get past supposed transgressions; and move on to closer, more solid ground with each other.

I am so glad to have good friends. I am so grateful that my hubby really knows me-- and still loves me. I am grateful for my kids who laugh with me... and not at me ( or at least.. not to my face). Such simple things...and yet, so important.

Summer BBQ at the Factory on 5th



--------- photos by Elaine A. Russell, taken after the Factory on 5th -Summer BBQ

This past Saturday, there was an artist "meet and greet" as well as a fabulous Summer BBQ at the Factory on 5th. Lots of people arrived early in the afternoon and stayed long after sunset. Amongst the delicious brats, dogs, and even steak... potato salad, tabbouleh, chips.... fruit salad and desserts ( and of course, drinks of your own bringing )..... there was lots of conversation, laughter, enthusiasm, and stories............. Excitement about the resurgence of shows at the Factory. A Grand Re-opening !!! coming on July 24th.
More info to come...


getting charged up

photo by Elaine A. Russell



Getting charged up ....for a couple more shows --which is awesome. I am going to be participating in a photo show, and also the Grand Re-Opening of the Factory on 5th. Both shows are coming up in the next few weeks... so stay tuned for details.
On a side note...
I have finally caught up with most of my mixed media projects. This is very cool, because I'm kinda OCD, and now I can work on new projects without feeling guilty about old projects that I have never finished. It's just the way it is.
Also on a side note...
Today I went to eat at the Korean BBQ place on Central (http://www.koreanbbqhousenm.com/index.html). The only time I had sushi, and liked it... was when I was pregnant with my son (a lifetime ago) when we lived in Mississippi. I have been to several sushi restaurants since then... but never found any I really liked, until tonight. The sushi was fabulous. The wasabi was awesome. Even the iced tea was good. It was a little pricey ( dinner worked out to be $16 per person )... but it was really good.



what's it all mean



top photo and middle photo by Elaine A. Russell, bottom photo by Kristin Russell/ treatment by Elaine A. Russell

so what does it all mean. pop stars, icons, and ordinary people amongst us dying at alarming rates.. or so it seams.
trash magazines predicting the end of days... money troubles, world issues, hunger, joblessness, fatique, health problems, troubles and tribulations....
not that this is anything new. we have been having issues since we arrived in this world.
do you trust the culture of the day >> the scientific and knowledgeable minds that be ?
do you rely on tradition, religion, that which speaks to your soul...
do you sit on the bench of life and wonder... what is happening in this world.. can I effect a change... am I all that I can be in this world....
and then there are tensions that cause us to snap and argue with those we love. to inadvertently hurt one another. crisis and failure. ebb and flow. high and low tides.
what is the answer ... is there an answer... and some would say -- what was the bloody question ?
today is a flux of emotions. common sense tries to prevail. the heart speaks louder and louder.
be gentle and caring with one another.
do the best you can.
let go and release that which is left.