((((((((((*mY sTuDiO*))))))))))

The studio: A room to which the artist consigns herself for life, is naturally important, not only as workplace, but as a source of inspiration. And it usually manages, one way or another, to turn up in her product.

~Grace Glueck

Crying Chicken

The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.”

~Arnold H. Glasgow










"Crying Chicken"......Created By Amy Maisel.......Mixed Media-Fencing Wire, Tinfoil, Wooden Bowl, Plaster Cloth, Encaustic Wax, Walnut Ink, Tacks, Nails, Metal Buttons.

My kids went back to school last week after what seems like a very short summer vacation. Well, I got up the other morning and took my daughter to school like I do every morning and when I pulled back into the garage...I saw all my wooden bowls sitting on the shelf. I have been lugging these bowls on our "MANY" moves just waiting to get inspired to do something with them. Well, I pulled into the garage and looked at them and thought.....Those would make some cool little animal bowls!!! So, I immediately went up to my studio (wooden bowls in hand) and set up to create my first wonder......"CRYING CHICKEN"! My poor little chicken! I used a new glue to set the buttons for eyes and thought it had set, but after leaving it for a few hours, I came back to see it had tears running down it's face!!!! Well, I love how these things may look like a mistake, but actually turn out to be quite awesome! SO, Crying Chicken now lives in my entryway greeting friends! Tears or not, I really do love her!!!

Vanity Free....Vanity Fair

The only cure for vanity is laughter, and the only fault that is laughable is vanity.

~Henri Bergson






Found Vanity Treasure.....Reclaimed/Refinished/Painted by Amy Maisel.....Acrylic Paint, MinWax

I found this on the curb outside my neighbors home!!!! It is probably a 1930s-1940s Piece and in pretty remarkable condition. It was missing a few parts here and there and I removed the side mirrors (to be put in later or some other kind of surprise)!!!! I actually put this piece in the garage about 20 minutes before a huge thunderstorm/dust wall...I don't know if I would have taken it all waterlogged and muddy!!! I painted it turquoise and then distressed it with minwax! I love how it turned out and it fits into my decor perfectly!!!!

(About a week after I refinished the vanity-I went to Anthropologie and bought these beautiful floral knobs. The hardware at that store is like going to a candy store!!!)

New Treasures

Art Unravelled had the most amazing Artists and Vendors there!!!!! I only wish I had more $$$ and more time to talk and shop!!! I met the most amazing people:

Ricë Freeman-Zachery...Author of "Creative Time and Space" and "The Creative Life" (AND I must point out that this woman has just as colorful of a soul as she does her hair and clothing!!!...Just by the way she walks through a room!!!
See her here: http://voodoonotes.blogspot.com/
I also met Eric Scott and David Modler....Authors of "The Journal Junkies Workshop"...Which I bought and they Signed....They were cool Guys!!! Find them here: http://www.journalfodderjunkies.blogspot.com/
I met Lisa Loria....Who I bought all those beautiful vintage earings from...WHich I cannot wait to make some wonderful mixed media pieces!!! Lisa is a fantastic Mixed Media artist...she uses amazing vintage finds in her work...check her out here: http://lisaloria.blogspot.com/
I met so many others...but cannot name them all!!! I had a blast though...such a wonderful experience!!!

Art Unravelled -Phoenix 2011

A pretty a day
A pretty a day
(and every fades)
is here and away
(but born are maids
to flower an hour
in all,all)

O yes to flower
until so blithe
a doer a wooer
some limber and lithe
some very fine mower
a tall;tall

Some jerry so very
(and nellie and fan)
some handsomest harry
(and sally and nan
they tremble and cower
so pale:pale)

For betty was born
to never say nay
but lucy could learn
and lily could pray
and fewer were shyer
than doll. doll

Written by: E. E. Cummings.








"POD HEAD NIMPH".....Created by Amy Maisel....CLass and Design by LISA RENNER ....Mixed Media Art Doll

This was my first year at Art Unravelled...I guess this was my first year for taking any classes (outside of college classes of course)! I really wanted to experience what all my favorite artist bloggers were talking about!!! I have lived in Arizona for 3 years now and regret I did not come until now! I had an amazing time and wish I could have taken more classes!!! Well, the class I did take was called "Pod Heads"....which spoke to me because of the mixed media with natural elements!!!! I also really wanted to try my hand at Encaustic wax (which now I am addicted)!!!! Anyway, I loved the instructor Lisa Renner and she is an amazing artist and sweet soul!!!! I hope I can take a class from her in the future!!! The piece I made turned out really cool and I love her!!! I created these really cool wings out of Wax, Wire and Tissue Paper!!!! L.O.V.E.

"SWEET TWEETS" Calendar

Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.

~Henry David Thoreau






"Sweet Tweets" Perpetual Mixed Media Calendar....Made By Amy Maisel...Class and Design by Shirley Varkoly-Seay a.k.a. Artsy Fartsy Fairy ....Mixed Media Art

I love this little shop in downtown Mesa called MYSTIC PAPER and they have cool classes all the time. Well, I tend to ponder on things a long time before committing and taking a class is no different! Anyway, I saw this Perpetual Calendar class over a year ago and have been wanting to take it and, well, here I am I finally did it! Funny thing is I signed up for it a week before the class on a Whim!! Well, I have no regrets!!! The instructor is the most awesome person ever...she is so warm, generous, fun and sweet!!! I love her designs that she comes up with and she collects all these fun fiddles for each and every calendar!!!!! I can't wait to make some of these for gifts!!!! THankS SHirlEY!!!!!

CIFI~Art Doll Challenge Pieces

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities.

~Theodore Geisel




"FLO-The OWL Mail Carrier".....Artwork by Amy Maisel.....Mixed Media Art Doll


"Roo-The Mushroom Hunter"......Artwork by Amy Maisel.....Mixed Media Art Doll

The Theme for the Challenge of the 2011 CIFI Art Retreat was "The Enchanted Forest". I love childrens stories, movies and art and was very inspired by all of these things when creating my pieces.

CIFI....Creations in Fiber Inc.

You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself.
~Alan Alda









"Wisdom of Love~Tree Goddess".....Artwork by Amy Maisel.....Mixed Media

My first Art Retreat in Albuquerque, New Mexico this past June was an amazing experience for me!!!! I made some wonderful new friends there and created artwork I have never thought possible for me! I Stretched my creativity to new places, learning about new products, techniques and styles. My teachers (Sherry Goshon and Jean Bernard-Two amazing artists)at the retreat were amazing. I have taken many college art courses in the past, but nothing like this. It was stretched so far beyond that any borders of the box! They were a great DUO, and I hope to take classes from them again in the future!!!!

Hardware Store Art Doll

Progress, under whose feet the grass mourns and the forest turns into paper from which newspaper plants grow, has subordinated the purpose of life to the means of subsistence and turned us into the nuts and bolts for our tools
~ Karl Kraus




Hardware Store Artdoll.......Artwork by Amy Maisel.......Mixed Media Wood and Hardware

Recently I went on a family trip to Breckenridge and on one of my many walks, I walked by a free-be pile from a garage sale......Well I couldn't pass up all this old hardware, like: old metal wheels, locks, keys, glass slides, hinges, etc!!! An older gentleman was looking at the stuff too and said "What a bunch of Junk" and I said "No, these are treasures"! He then Hmmmmmfffffttt. and walked into the garage.....they were his old "Treasures"!!!! I came home and made this Funky Guy out of some of those old treasures and a few new ones!!!

Not Your Average Barbie Doll

“Zest is the secret of all beauty. There is no beauty that is attractive without zest.”
Christian Dior quotes (French Fashion designer, 1905-1957)







Butterfly Barbie.........artwork by Amy Maisel........Mixed Media Altered Barbie Doll

My art group did this project based off of the original class done by Barbe Saint John at Art Unravelled. We used all kinds of Jewelry bits and pieces as well as game pieces, plastic toys, etc. We then used Apoxy Sculpt to attach all the pieces. I used a candle votive and other metal finds to make mine into a Garden Butterfly Barbie!!! I glittered her up and added some butterflies to complete the look......Love my Altered Barbie!!!!!

A Dog's Life

A Dog's Life

It's a dogs life!
What fun to play all day.
To dig holes & bury bones
and have a safe little nap
in my house!
Woof!

~Me



A Dog's Life....by Amy Maisel.....Gouache Watercolor

When I painted this little picture we had a Bassett Hound named "BLUE"....well he was anything, but blue!!! He was very colorful indead! He howled at everything and buried every bone we gave him....HE would even try to bury them in the corners of the INSIDE of the house!!!!! Then after a very active day when we had had enough of him.....he would take a nap....and look ever so peaceful!!!! UUUUUuuuuuuggggghhhhh! Naughty dog!!!

Gypsy Story Stones

Gypsy
Broke my heart on the road
Spent the weekend sewing the pieces back on
Crayons and dolls pass me by
Walking gets too boring when you learn how to fly

‘Cause I’m a gypsy, are you coming with me?
I might steal your clothes and wear them if they fit me
Never made agreements just like a gypsy
And I won’t back down ‘cause life’s already bit me
And I won’t cry, I’m to young to die if you’re gonna quit me
‘Cause I’m a gypsy, ‘cause I’m a gypsy





"Gypsy Story Stones"...........by Amy Maisel........River Stones, Wire, Acrylics, Fibers, Beads

I saw some river stones on a walk one day and thought of ways I could incorporate them into my art! Well, I collected a few and they sat in my studio for quite awhile! I don't know when I came up with the idea, but I went into a Frenzy making them on New Year's Day/Week!!!! I really love how they look, all scrappy and tattered, yet, Colorful and fun!!!! They all can tell a story!!!

FAMILY

A family
is made of love and tears,
laughter and years.
It grows stronger
with the passing of time.
More precious
with the making of memories.

sometimes a family is made of ones
you don't like for a while.....
But you love for a life time.
It's a gift whose value is found
Not in numbers but in its capacity
to love.

It's the place you find
someone to encourage you.
believe in you.
Celebrate with you and comfort you.
A family is where your heart
feels most at home because you're
Always wanted, always welcomed,
Always needed,
Always Loved.
~Author Unknown




F.A.M.I.L.Y. Artbooks........by Amy Maisel........Paper, fiber, photos, cardboard

I made these two albums for my parents using a template I found at HobbyLobby. I traced an actual book onto cardboard cereal boxes and then used various decorative papers, stickers, photos and fibers to decorate them.