Bird Bliss for Soiree

We were amazed when the Cardinal couple started nesting in our butterfly bush, so close to our porch. It has been a wonderful spring, verdant because of rain and more birds than ever. Perhaps all occupied space was taken up in the trees on the property. They inspired me to push myself to do another series for the Art Sale Soiree, 2 weeks from now.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Cardinal Bliss, watercolor, drawing, Poppy petals & sepals, collage, 15 x 11"

The Cardinal is our state bird, most welcome in the winter, bringing cheer. If I did not love the effect of the transparency of the Poppy petals, I would not go to the trouble it takes to glue down such a delicate object.

I'll share 1 more, the others will premier at Lynn's soon.

©Kathleen O'Brien, Vermilion Flycatcher Bliss, watercolor, drawing, Elderberry blossoms, collage, 15 x 11"

You may notice the elderberry blossoms in this one, which I posted about gathering a few weeks ago. there are 2 things I love about this bird; the name Vermilion, one of my favorite colors, and that it catches flies, one of my least favorite creatures.

And speaking of couples, we have adopted a nick name for ourselves, along with the birds; "country copulatives". It is a phrase lifted from W. Shakespeare's As You Like It, recently enjoyed outdoors at Josephine Sculpture Park. It is showing this weekend, it's so fun.

New Collages at Art Sale Soiree

I love creating events with an appointed date. This gives me perimeters by which to create new work. For my trip to Boulder and the Soiree event at Lynn's I wanted to travel light and bring non framed works on paper.

© Kathleen O'Brien, "Dear Swallow", watercolor,
drawing, botanicals, stamp collaged, 11x8"

All I will divulge now is about this series of 8 collages that have a vintage Romanian bird stamp. There is a drawing of postcard with a message, of my universal language, to that bird.

More later...

Walnut Ink Drawings

Premiering at the Art Sale Soiree - 30 Walnut Ink Drawings. They are my favorites and after much thought I decided that I could part with them.

© Kathleen O'Brien, "Where the Bees Are", walnut ink drawing
with A&H card, 11x8"

Each drawing has a 1894 Arm and Hammer Trade Card, gorgeous chromolithographs, that can slide out of the Japanese paper slips so you can read the back. I did not want to glue them.

© Kathleen O'Brien,  walnut ink instructions with A&H card, 11x8"

I made the ink from walnuts form the back yard tree. Each drawing comes with this print of the instructions on how to make the ink, if you dare to get really messy. The ink is such a soft lovely sepia brown.

© Kathleen O'Brien, "Follow the Photon", walnut ink drawing
with A&H card, 11x8"

The drawings are in 2 sizes, 19 x 13" and 11 x 8.5". many of the lines are light and subtle, it is difficult to photograph them and see on a screen, so please come see them in person June 28 at the Art Sale Soiree.

Art Sale Soiree

© Kathleen O'Brien, detail "Dear Bullfinch" collage 11 x 8"

Music by Dexter Payne 

June 28, 2013

6 – 9 pm

Hosted by Lynn Thoré
 4350 Agate Road

Boulder Colorado 80304

Please join Lynn and I for an evening of art, appetizers and music. Some things you will see (and could take home with you!) are Collages, artisan made Walnut Ink Drawings, Take Me Along Journals. You will be serenaded by Dexter’s melodies.

 

if you can come tell me here obrienk@burginwireless.com so I can roll out the red carpet for you

information;  http://www.kathleen-obrien.com
Kathleen; 859 734 7731 until June 19
                859 612 4289 after June 20

Lynn; 303 444 5336

http://www.dexterpayne.com 

take me along journals

Sometimes I love working small, really small. Thanks, Elizabeth for the suggestion to make journals. Their title is Take Me Along Journals because they will fit in your purse or pocket.

© K O'Brien, a few Take Me Along Journals

Each is hand stitched and has an original collage - I love them! I am taking them along to my Art Sale Soiree at Lynn Thore's home June 28. More on that later!

© K O'Brien, a collage on a Take Me Along Journal

to do or not to do...

Sometimes at the end of the day I wonder what I did (though I never stopped)  and why I did not cross off anything from my to do list. Well, "must catch Bee swarm" or "must gather Elder Blossoms" was not on that list.

© K O'Brien, Elder Berry Blossoms on the bush

Last year I planted an elder Berry bush so I could make Sambacus Syrup for colds. Figuring the biggest challenge would be to keep the birds away, I was surprised this (busy) morning to notice the blossoms were falling. 

© K O'Brien, Elder Berry Blossoms gathered

Since botanicals are a main component in my collages, I was thrilled to have a new kind to use, and set about gathering the wet from rain beauties. Of course, some blew away...we're working with gentle things here.

© K O'Brien, Elder Berry Blossoms ready to press 

Now comes the long task of placing them away from each other, after getting the dew off, on sheets in the phone book before they wither. This process from start to finish takes over 2 hours and more time to press and dry. So there is plenty of time to consider why I do this. 

In my art work botanicals represent and express the fragility, strength, beauty, intelligence and power of the earth. They are what I see and interact with every day.

© K O'Brien, Forget Me Not, Hydrangea & 4 Leaf Clover
on Belonging & Longing 2 detail 

Looking back, flowers have always held an important place for me from Flower Power, to making flower Essences, to Power Flowers, to growing many varieties on our farm for table and the Bees. In my opinion our very existence depends on things botanical.

Lots of Lilacs

Every moment that I can, I hang out with the lilacs. This year they are surrounding us because the ones off the west porch are mature. Weather has been mild enough to keep the windows open. The whole house has that fragrance, appeasing me for times I must get some work done. This for me is the true meaning of spring fever.

©Kathleen O'Brien, East yard with lilacs, columbine, arugula, phlox & fig

This is how they look on the upper terrace from the east porch. They hide the driveway and greenhouse & barn. Of course, there is the ever present mower.

©Kathleen O'Brien, lilacs looking down on house + cute Corgi 'o mine

This is how they look from the driveway, and what greeted everyone who came to the giveaway yesterday. The event was a charmed one. Most everything went to good use elsewhere, everyone had a good time. People took home a potted lilac, Irises descended from Long's garden lineage, seeds, art supplies and other treasures.

One really nice surprise for me was selling this collage. Thank you, Laura, enjoy it for years to come!

©Kathleen O'Brien, Belonging and Longing 1, watercolor, drawing, hydrangeas combined into collage, 15 x 11"