what a difference a year makes

a lot has changed in the past year

everyday I am getting stronger

cancer free, working part time,

creating lots of art and back at the gym

even taking zumba classes

( mind you I'm the drunk looking girl at the back

with a big smile on my face and

 just so grateful to able to participate )

a special thank-you to all my friends,

family and healthcare providers

for all your love and support

I couldn't have done it without you

 

check out my new blog

http://nancylynndonaldson.blogspot.ca

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above photos by eugen kertesz for the facebook page

Humans of Toronto 

last minute gifts

it has been a busy month

with life getting somewhat back to "normal"

I've also got the creative bug!!

(must be the full moon)

 I have a ton of jewelry supplies

and when I found a container filled with chandelier crystals

I got inspired

I think they work well with the pearls and metal

a few extra crochet projects

a change purse and zebra slippers for sadie

and just a couple samples of the over 20 encaustic painting i've  done

over the past few months

encaustic class

getting back into a routine is a great feeling

i've always felt that creating art is my form of therapy

and since my surgery i've wanted to do something that

represented my spine

so last week i got the idea for using railroad tracks

luckily there is a hobby store close to my home

once i chose my color palette the rest just fell into place

i just started creating texture

layers of wax and then scraping, back and forth

until i achieved the desired effect

once in a while i used my iron

im happy with the results

 

 

 

a few details from the above painting

on the good days

last month, well at least i think it was last month,

(time is so confusing right now)

my friend leslie jane moran

sent me this enormous gift box

filled with at least 20 balls of  the most unique yarns and all different

OMG!!! i was so overwhelmed with this wonderful and extravagant gift

and of course i knew what i was going to do

last christmas before i got sick i was having such a wonderful time

creating these wonderful free form crochet purses

that i knew it would be easy for me to do while in rehab

you just can't make a mistake

(no matter how many meds your on!!)

not sure if i will make another purse

leslie put the bug in my ear by saying

"can you make a jacket"

hummm......................

(i'll keep you posted)

thanks again leslie for lifting my spirits and keeping me from going crazy!!

encaustic class

i love creating texture

practicing techniques and learning new ones

sometimes by accident

sometimes i have an idea and other time it just happens

and it always makes me happy when someone loves what i do

this time i made something just for me

above, the start of my canvas and details of the sky and ground

this symbol is from a book that was given to me from a shaman in new orleans

i am beginning to understand and it has inspired me to create this painting

not sure where i will hang, somewhere special for sure

playing with fire

being  inspired by patricia baldwin seggebruch  new book 

and since i already have a blow torch

i decided to try her wood glue burn technique

who new glue could look so wonderful after a few minute

(above, wood board and painter tape covered with glue, remove tape then torch

until glue bubbles and wood burns- details of the experiment)

i love the texture it created!!

and once i ran out of glue i switched back to shellac

(below, top left-metal powders mixed with shellac over wax

top right-shellac over wax, wax rolled rose and paper

bottom left - metal inks on wood first , wax and then shellac burn

bottom right-metal power mixed with shellac on wax)

creative festival

this years creative festival for me was all about fiber arts

last year as i wondered the show i discover gio gaudet

and his wonderful felted coats

so this year when he was offering a class

i was excited to sign up

his work is amazing and now i appreciate just

how much work goes into one piece

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my second class was creating texture and dimension

with christine alexiou

this is something i can do while watching tv

hopefully i will finish my sample before christmas!!

clearing my head

with a hundred things on my mind

classes to take (at the creative festival) and

teach  (encaustic at busy b's and christmas tree pin at john bead),

 which also includes lesson plans, kits and samples

crocheting, putting the garden to bed and

all my regular chores and work

i needed a little break

and nothing works better than a walk on the beach

the water always sooths my soul

above a photo taken on my iphone of the luety lifeguard station

using the "hefe" action in instagram

inspiration

my friend maria teresa hernandez

is exhibiting

her drawings, encaustic painting and sculptures

at propeller

"holding the big picture

a journey in art therapy"

i am fortunate enough to be able to watch maria work during

our once a month classes together

she is a wonderful artist, person and true inspiration for me

if you get a chance, head down to 984 queen st west at  ossington

on now until september 9th

inspiring friends

thanks girls for a wonderful time!!

scenes from the bay

inglis falls


harrison park

grey rd. one

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still going through my over 400 photos

above just a few of my favorite

more soon

now is the time to unite the soul and the world

now is the time to see the sunlight dancing as one with the shadows

~Rumi
(waking to this view every morning is truly inspiring)

sunrise on the bay

it's that time of year again

spending 4 days on georgian bay with my dear friends

dede and mary, creating art, eating , drinking , telling stories.

laughing, lots of laughing and enjoying the spectacular view!!!

being inspired

another fabulous texture challenge

above, one of my photos covered with 3 of the textures and some text
deborah seligman

juilet slemming

karen dorcas

ludgera

johanna

marion

joanne

kathleen

autumn

texture challenge

sometimes a simple touch can make a big difference

for this weeks challenge i have several to choose from
(above a photo of peeling paint which looks like cracks)




one of my encaustic painting (left)

(the inverted one works greats as a mask)

taking it a step further i added a color layer

it gives an umber tone to the texture

the key it to play!!! and see what can happen
if you would like to try this challenge

simply download the textures on my flickr

and have fun!
next week i will post the results
so please e-mail your samples

nancy_allpulpedout(at)_yahoo(dot)com

being inspired

it is nice to see so many people where inspired by my texture last week

(above, one of my photos and texture)
below are the amazing creations

ludgera






karen dorcas

autumn summerfield

eden clare

deborah seligman

joanne thieme huffman

kathleen holley

glory mooberry

marion bockelmann

kathleen amt

karen

a special thanks to everyone for playing along

it is so inspiring to see how everyone used my texture