I haven’t been blogging about art (or at all on The Catbird Seat), but I have been making art.

I’m trying to get a portfolio ready to take to a local shoppe in Mountain Brook called A’Mano. They have some of the coolest and most interesting handmade gifts, cards, pottery and art in Birmingham. I have been directed there more than once, so I’m taking it as Providence, and meeting with their art buyer and owner on Thursday. Wish me luck!

In the meantime, I’ve created a temporary Mac web account that shows my artwork (photos only, no writing about each piece). My hope is that it has a polished look that showcases my artwork. If you’re interested, here’s the link: http://web.mac.com/lillybethart/

And, as the title of this post implies, I have been busy.

Here’s the proof: (click thumbnails to see larger photo)

Some of the photos aren’t color “true”, and a few of them are too grainy, but my hope is that you can, at least, get an idea of what I’ve been working on. (And working, and working.)

So, if it’s true that “Idle hands are the Devil’s workshop,” then Hell ain’t got nothin’ on me, baby.

…what do you think?

After seeing a beautiful and hip new bedding at Bellini, I was inspired to make my newest art: Sweet Baby.

I loved the large polka dots that make up the bedding. It reminded me of ice cream. (Turns out it’s called “Neapolitan Chocolate Pink”)

So, I thought a light, fun approach to the artwork might be perfect.

My intention was to do a mod-looking series solely with paper circles.

This crib bedding, though, and the clients who are inclined to purchase it, needed something…well, more.

So, just as I did with my own baby’s nursery art, I incorporated candy into the design.

Yes, CANDY.

Sprayed with polyurethane in countless coats to prevent melting, molding, or any other damage that unwrapped, real candy might be subject to, the M&M’s and LifeSavers seemed a natural fit for the color scheme and overall circle theme of both the art and the bedding.

The background paper is a milk-chocolate colored paper, the circles are white and a light true pink.

I think they turned out great.

What do you think?

After long last, here is the Ladybug that I did for sweet Lindsey’s cousin and her first baby.

Actually, this is one of two: Ladybug and Dragonfly.

The ladybug artwork reads, “fly!” and the dragonfly artwork reads, “be free!”

The nursery has a ladybug/dragonfly theme (duh!…right?!) with 4 different fabrics for the cradle, crib bedding and curtains.

The cradle bedding is cream-colored with a sage-green leaf pattern.

The crib bedding is a sage-green fabric printed with ladybugs and dragonflies.

The last two coordinating fabrics (for additional bedding and drapes) are red ticking and red/tan/sage green plaid.

Adorable.

As always, everything on the artwork is paper. This time I sprayed the paper with high gloss acrylic to try and achieve the shiny shell of a ladybug. The acrylic also doubles as a protectant from moisture.

And, as with “Up in the Sky” and “From my Yard“, I covered a simple 5″ X 5″ canvas in paper to form the foundation for the art.

To try and tie in the cradle bedding, and to create interest, I created a sage green “frame” from paper.

Here are a few other images. Click on the image to see a larger view.

Both Lindsey and her cousin seem to be very satisfied with the final outcome.

(If I had only managed to take photos of the dragonfly, you could see it too!)

Playing with new papers (e.g., vellum, tissue paper) and techniques (layers, spacers between paper, folding) I made this little piece for a girl or boy nursery. I’m hoping to do a kite one (and maybe a plane as well) to match it.

And if someone purchases this one, the next one I make will be a multi-colored hot air balloon

But for now, plain red will have to do. (grin.)

I think it might be cuter in person…I guess you’ll have to take my word on that, though.

I’ve started working on a new series called “From My Yard.”

Lately I’ve been noticing that we have some of the prettiest weeds in our yard. Well, the weeds aren’t pretty, but the flowers on them are gorgeous! We have honeysuckle, dandelions, something that gives off very pretty, delicate pink flowers, and clover.

Oh, and also a weed called Erigeron Annuus, more commonly known as “Daisy Fleabane.”

Terrible name, pretty flowers.

In doing this series, I’ve discovered a better way to display the cut paper artwork I do. I cover a canvas (in this case, a 5″ X 5″ canvas) with paper so that it has both depth and substance…and it doesn’t require a frame!

Without further ado, here’s “Daisy Fleabane” in cut paper:

Tell me what you think!

As usual, the picture quality is terrible, but here is the latest series I’ve done for Bellini.

No time to write about it…photos will just have to do. (Cut paper, layered and mounted on 5X5 canvas colored with a crayon.)

On one of the earlier posts here at Lillybeth, PaulF asked what this art is called.

I’ve oft wondered the same thing myself.

It doesn’t appear that there is an official title/technique for this art…but I have found others that do (kind of) what I do.

I found the first three through a Google search (search words: cut paper art) I thought you all might appreciate seeing their work.

First is Barbara Buckingham, an artist who makes Historic and architecturally important gates out of paper. Very cool. Here is her “Tyrolian Gate”:
Barbara uses “occasional watercolor and small accents” (like pearls or gold beads) to enhance her gates. She also sometimes uses multiple layers of black paper to achieve the depth and shape of the wrought-ironwork that makes gates so unique.

Next comes Chris Natrop, a trained artist who does a variety of gallery installations, and who incorporates watercolor, tape, and a host of other acoutrements to render his art. His work seems to be quite well-received in L.A.

His work is incredibly complex. Though I can appreciate the artistry, I wouldn’t say his work is something I like.

Third on the list is Peter Callesen. Holy Cow. This guy is incredible.

His work is actually closest in theory to mine. He takes a single sheet of white paper and folds it into 3-dimensional shapes. Differences are that he uses A4 paper (lighter weight than the cardstock I use) and glue to hold his shapes together.

Oh, and he is really really really artistic and professional, and I’m…well, I’m just starting. (grin.)

His work inspires me to further develop my flowers, and to see a greater picture. Instead of a static face-forward view of a flower, to incorporate action and/or different perspectives.

Anyway, here’s a sample of his work:

Much like Chris Natrop, he is a trained artist whose installations appear in museums and galleries. (One day, maybe!) If you click on the link to his site, be prepared to kill some serious time.

And lastly, my sister recently sent me a link to an artist she found on dooce.com: Jen Stark. Her “sculpture” (cut paper) is just so very original and cool. I think you’ll like it.

I think she’s a fairly new graduate of an art school in Baltimore. Take the time to go to her site, click on “sculpture” and work your way through the numbers. I don’t think you’ll be sorry. It’s pretty amazing.

So that’s it.

So far, these are the only artists whose work cutting paper resembles mine (granted, these folks are highly-trained artists and their work shows it). From what I can tell, no one has named or classified this type of art.

It makes me wonder what God was thinking when He gave me (a pharmacist-turned-SAHM-turned pharmacist) some of the same ideas as these real artists. It makes my want to raise the bar on my own work and see what becomes of it.

I’ll let you know when that happens. (grin.)

The sweet “Baby Faces” have found a new home—at least until they are sold to their permanent owners.

The kind folks at Bellini in Homewood, Alabama have taken my babies on consignment with the hope that they will find a market that appreciates them. (Many thanks to Sue Sue Harris for her support!)

If you are local (Birmingham area) and are interested, stop by Bellini and check them out. I would willingly and happily do them in different mat colors/styles and different frame colors/styles to suit your nursery decor. Just let one of the ladies at the store know.

If you aren’t local, you’ll just have to click on the photos below (again, not great photo quality. I apologize!) to see the finished product(s). If you or a friend are interested in ordering one or more of the set, just click the “Contact” button above and fill out the information accordingly. I will respond to you ASAP.

If you are just a dear friend or family member who has been with me in this process, pray that my little ones are as well-liked to future mothers as they are to us! (And, of course, that their value will result in their sale!)

Nothing would make me happier than for a new mother or mother-to-be to find them a delightful addition to her nursery.

It’s true.

So, without further ado, here are “Happy”, “Sad”, “Angry” and “Asleep [girl]”…collectively known as “Baby Faces”…

You might remember this post in which Paul posted the work in progress for my very first art commission.

After a few revisions (a couple of them didn’t meet my quality control) and a quick trim to the colored borders, we finally ended up with the four flowers shown above.

Below are various views and “poses” of the Purple Daisy, Turquoise Water Lily, Orange Tiger Lily, and Blue Forget-me-not in their complete, and semi-completed state.

Click on each one to see a larger view.

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The best part about the Final Four is: now they’re done and I can get busy making new artwork!